Lea Michele is a gorgeous, likeable, classically trained singer who rose to fame through television, about a school that is oddly filled with students who can sing and dance on command. Come to think of it, that sounds alot like Ariana Grande, and indeed so do the backstories of the long-delayed "Yours Truly" and Michele's debut, "Louder". With such a broadway-ready set of chops, it's quite a mystery how this record didn't materialize sooner, especially when backed up with a show as popular as "Glee". Well, the answer may lie in what also held-up Ariana Grande's much-deserved solo career: the fact that both artists made their names with covers of other songs. Sure, they most often sang better than the original artist, but this also doesn't provide much of a catalyst for a record of their own. Sure, they look appealing and have nice personalities, but even then, this doesn't go hand in hand with being distinctive from the other faces in the crowd. The stories separate when Ariana Grande garnered more mass appeal because of her quirky characters, and ultimately out shined the rest of the her cast-mates. Lea Michele didn't have this luxury, as Rachel Berry is also engaging and outgoing, but was placed on the same plane as the rest of the talented "Glee" cast.
That is, until the death of Cory Monteith, one of the show's biggest stars and also Michele's fiance. As tragic as it was, it inevitably did help propel her solo career, as she finally had a bigger profile than the show. Quite literally, Michele and company took advantage of this open window with lead single "Cannonball", a loud and proud empowerment anthem supposedly made in the wake of Monteith's death. As you might've guessed, this isn't the only instance throughout this record that his presence is felt. Actually, by and large, this album is based on Michele's relationship with our fallen "Glee" hero. Whether she's willing to burn with her man, complaining of a drunken heart, tired of being left empty handed, or even walking on eggshells in a battlefield, every track on the record alludes to Monteith in some context. Even the thumping title track, another song meant for self-empowerment, comes off as a plea to hear her lover's voice one more time. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but as moving as it all sounds on paper, in practice "Louder" is under-done, due to its full-on frontal assault of power chords, Broadway-styled EDM pop, and Michele's slight on-record personality. The latter is the most problematic, because no matter how hard it tries, no matter how actually loud the record gets, it just doesn't have much bite, not much connection at all to the phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes persona Michele has taken over the past few months. Everything is flattened out, non-surprisingly to fit modern pop standards, but "Louder" was meant to be a record of promise, a certain triumph that proves Michele can stand on her own, not as a member of an ensemble. It'll definitely please those who have loyally followed her this far, and while radio didn't treat "Cannonball" well, there's still plenty of big pop hooks that can work their way into your head (after you can discern what Michele is belting out). The only huge disappointment is the closer "If You Say So", the one song that addresses the Monteith death straight-on. With Michele singing to the bleachers, she ultimately over-sells the song and reduces it to a vocal showcase rather than a lovelorn ode to lost love. However, the thing to remember through "Louder", is that it is a debut, so Michele can't quite escape the pitfalls of over excitement or naivete. But, she does manage to best Ariana Grande's "Yours Truly" in one key way: if Grande was channeling Mariah Carey in her album, than this is Michele's "Katy Perry" record. Since this sticks with trends that are current, "Louder" is fresh, not outdated, the songs are indeed original (almost sample-free), and although Michele doesn't scale the dizzying range of Grande, she can sure fill the stadium quicker than her peers. "Louder" isn't an indicator of whether or not "Glee" is a successful launch pad for solo-stardom, but it does show promise.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Cannonball 2. On My Way 3. Burn With You
4. Battlefield 5. You’re Mine 6. Thousand Needles
7. Louder 8.
Cue the Rain 9. Don’t Let Go
10. Empty Handed 11. If You Say So
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