Gareth - 1/20/2012

Not the type of album I would usually purchase, fundamentally a pop record from one of the contestants from the world dominating X Factor. Olly Murs was a contestant in the 2010 edition of the X factor. The first release from the album 'Please don't let me go' went straight to number one and the second single 'Thinking of you' entered the charts at number four. The Album 'Olly Murs' was released on the 29th November 2010.
Olly Murs has done very well for himself in such a short space of time, this is no doubt to do with the cheeky chaps instant likeability and lad next door personality, but I feel its also largely to do with how he has been marketed, which again I'm sure is no doubt at least loosely based on his already existing personality and interests in music. Very cleverly marked as, well almost a modern day Mod, with trilby hats never a miss, Harrington jackets, small coloured shirts, tight jeans, brogues and dog tooth checks.
The songs themselves, a mixture of pop, pop ballads and a nice blend of pop infused with reggae and soul, going hand in hand well with the way he has been marketed, all of these things have made Olly Murs a forced to be reckoned with.
The record label and management of Olly have also brought in great song writers, either to write for or co-write a majority of the songs with o
Olly Murs, some well-known and some not so. The song on the album 'Ask Me to Stay' was co written with Chris Difford formerly of Squeeze. Contributions from more contemporary artists include the song, 'Heart on My Sleeve', in part contributed my James Morrison, with Ed Sheeran helping with 'Love shines down'.
The album starts with the track 'Change is Gonna Come', which with its drums and piano reminds me of sixties Rolling Stones, with 'Sympathy for the Devil'. The song 'Busy' is a very catchy number "we spend all our time lying side by side, going nowhere, its really something, getting busy doing nothing" you just can't help but sing or at least hum along every time. An early personal favourite of mine is the song 'Accidental' about a man planning many ways to catch the eye of a particular lady but making out its more coincidental or accidental rather than well planned and thought about moves, maybe with an element of stalking.
A Fantastic album and I am sure Olly Murs is only set to get bigger and better; I wasn't sure when buying the album but was instantly won over. His second album came out on the 25th November 2011 named 'In Case You Didn't Know', which has already bagged a another number one single from it in the shape of 'Heart Skips a Beat', in part written by Samuel Preston previously of the Ordinary Boys and of celebrity big brother, who also contribute another track to the album. Following one from this album, I am now converted and will never rule out purchasing an album from an X factor contestant and I will definitely be buying Olly's second album before too long, brilliant!!