>Music: Cheryl Cole – 3 Words (Album)

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I was really hoping this review would read; “It’s amazing!” FULL STOP.

Sadly, that’s not the case. ’3 Words’ is too much Will.I.Am and not enough Girls Aloud.

Of the 10 tracks on Cheryl’s debut album (I’m not counting Heartbreaker because a) it is terrible and b) she only sings one line) there are only a handful of potentially good songs. If you thought ‘Fight For This Love’ was a slow grower then you really have got your work cut out with this album.

It kicks off with the title track and what will be the second single ’3 Words’. At first it seems an interesting and quite brave choice but, having listened to it several times now, probably the right one. It’s a fairly understated affair featuring bloody Will.I.Am. Monotonous lyrics from both parties involved over the top of a simple guitar riff with a pulsing electro bass line that comes and goes.

The next decent song is ‘Fight For This Love’ – I think we’re all familiar with that by now and have formed our opinions so lets swiftly move on…

A few more filler tracks later and along comes ‘Stand Up’. This Taio Cruz produced gem is probably my favourite song on the album. For a start it’s the one that sounds the most like something Girls Aloud might have churned out and also because it’s the song that makes the most sense for Cheryl to be singing.

The album comes to a close with the token ballad ‘Don’t Talk About This Love’ and then some more Will.I.Am on ‘Boy Like You’. Now, this song has been causing a small amount of controversy, mainly on Twitter because Frankmusik has accuse Cheryl and Will of ripping off one of his songs…well at least the sample which is taken from Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Little Lies’. Read more here…

All in all a bit of a disappointment. Perhaps the songs are all growers but when Cheryl’s peers are banging out instant smashes (Alexandra, Gaga, Leona (no, really – listen to this)) ’3 Words’ might just end up being left to collect dust on the shelf.