Being Somebody

by Jon O'BrienAt 16 tracks long, you certainly get value for money from Liberty X's sophomore effort. It's just a shame a little quality control wasn't exercised as there's a decent album trying to get out of here, but you have to wade through several aimless dirges and retreads of past hits to find it. The Richard X produced "Being Nobody" is the standout, a rare example of a mash-up, in this case, Human League's "Being Boiled" and Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody," that works perfectly and makes you wonder why the two songs haven't been sewn together before. "Everybody Cries" is a close second. A sweeping ballad with soaring strings, it's their most grandiose song to date, and the best showcase for their under-rated vocals so far. But they are not the only highlights. "Watcha Doin Tonight, with its opening motorcycle riff is a funky answer to Christina Aguilera's Dirrty; "Forever" is a lovely tribal-inspired ballad; and "Close Your Eyes" is the kind of effortlessly slick pop that worked so well on their debut. But whilst half of the album is bursting with ideas, the other half seems stuck in a rut as several samey, watered down R&B tracks start to merge into one another and the likes of "Jumpin," a live favourite on their 2003 tour, gets lost amidst "everything-but-the kitchen-sink" over-production. Being Somebody will certainly establish their credentials as songwriters, having penned ten of the tracks here, but they certainly need reigning in a little for album #3 if they're going to fulfil their early potential.