if time can kill and time can break

BETTER IN TIME
Leona Lewis
Spirit

Rating: A-

Conquering both sides of the Atlantic with her stone-groove single Bleeding Love, Leona Lewis continues her career breakthrough with her second effort, Better In Time.

Originally released as a double A-side 2008 Sports Relief single with Footprints In The Sand in UK, Better In Time is perhaps the best track off Spirit. It boasts of a breezy, light and upbeat radio-friendly sound which is somehow, unsurprisingly, similar to the likes of the numerous smooth R&B ballads by Mariah Carey - the diva whom Simon Cowell bravely compares her to and blatantly sets her career trajectory after. It's like Always Be My Baby - it has this rich, feel-good quality that nearly makes it impossible to remember that the song is actually about breaking up.

Even with its likeness to a pop gem such as the aforementioned Carey single, I highly doubt if Better In Time has the quality to transcend generations. And truth be told, it is a rather weak attempt for a follow-up to something as original as Bleeding Love. But what's sadder is that Better In Time is actually the best that Spirit has to offer.

*******

Going coming, thought I heard a knock. Who's there, no one. Thinking that I deserve it. Now I realize that I really didn't know. If you didn't notice you mean everything. Quickly I'm learning to love again. All I know is I'm gonna be okay.