Queen of gossip pages no singer
You probably can't expect too much from the debut solo album of a television star-turned-singer. Looks or gossip are what grabs them attention, followed by musical style and performance. This is especially true for 27-year-old Kym Marsh, whose divorce from British actor Jack Ryder - rather than her songs - hit the headlines.
Like many pop stars, the former singer with British band Hear'say debuts with sickly ballads and acoustic songs.
The melodies in Standing Tall can be quite tedious. Imagine a divorcee and mother-of-two singing about her new-found love with innocence. I found myself more comfortable with the down-to-earth lyrics of Because of You, a song about her mother-child relationship.
What is more, her voice lacks timbre. She has been compared to Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia, and in acoustic songs she also tries too hard to conjure up Karen Carpenter.
If she wants to make a lasting impression, her voice will need a lot of work.
