Customer Reviews

Instant Star

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first started seeing commercials for the show Instant Star, I was skeptical. I figured it would be some cheesy, stupid TV show for fans of American Idol or similar shows. While the show isn't the best I've ever seen, the music is what keeps me watching. I wish SONGS FROM INSTANT STAR was available in the US, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I can buy the soundtrack for myself.

Highlights of SONGS FROM INSTANT STAR are:
*Time to Be Your 21 - This is actually my favorite song off the soundtrack, and I think Alexz Johnson's voice sounds fantastic. The lyrics are pretty easy to relate to, and I just like the general tone of the song.
*24 Hours - The 24 Hours music video is on The N a lot, so chances are you've heard this song even if you don't watch the show. Teenagers can relate to the lyrics, in my opinion ("I can't have, everything I want, they say I'm just too young, but it's not my fault"). It's catchy, but gets a little bit old after you listen to it over and over.
*Skin - I just heard this song for the first time on last night's episode, and it's right up there with Time to Be Your 21. The lyrics are sad, and Alexz's voice is the best on this song.

I haven't heard every song on SONGS FROM INSTANT STAR yet, since you can't get it in the United States, but from what I've heard, it's amazing. Alexz Johnson might not get much attention or radioplay (well, she might in Canada, but not here), but she deserves to be recognized for her talents.

I heard about this album from the show Instant Star on Noggin. That "24 Hours" song was really catchy so I got this CD. I'm not disappointed at all. The whole thing is just great. With a rock edge that's still commercial, this CD would be a huge hit on its own terms, without the show. It's at #36 on Amazon as I write this, and it hasn't even been officially released in the States yet. I hope this really does well. It already has a built-in audience for fans of the show like me, but it could reach a wider audience with the right single and marketing. I have high hopes for Alexz. She has a good voice and a good sound. Good times.

If you've seen the show, then you should be familiar w/ #1,#4, (especially since they had running videos)and #6- the single she performs at her school. Of course the rest are introduced, but the first two are kind of the themes. The songs written by Alexz herself stand out and connect, giving her a style of her own that's not at all contrived, I can't wait for her CD that's all her songs.
Thank you to Canada(for great music) and Orange Label, pretty sad Disney let her get away.


*1. 24 Hours - First song on the show for first performance, Alexz was part of the writing team, the chorus rocks and the verses are slower. "I've been sitting in the dirt- I'll make it all alone if I gotta..."
-5 stars-

2. Temporary Insanity -NO idea where this came from.Different sound, everything - not written by Alexz. Skip this one.
-1 Star-

3. Waste My Time -Song w/ "shay" rap at the end(great until THEN),BEST guitars, not written by Alexz. ...3 Stars

*4. Let Me Fall -Alexz part of the writing team again- This is a FAVORITE, it's sad but strong, unforgettable, used on the show to demonstrate her (vocal & emotional) maturity. "-Let me crawl, cause I will get up again if you let me fall-i wanna lose control, i'm not afraid to lose it all." ..5 Stars

*5. Skin -Alexz written, shows off her writing skills. Sad and strong at the end. "Falling apart and all that i'm asking-I don't believe I'll be all right... -5 Stars-

*6. I'M In Love With My Guitar ..self-explanitory,sounds great,a fun song. "In my room all alone's where I belong" -5 stars-

*7. Criminal -Written by Alexz. Another soul-searching song. "Going the wrong way down a one way street - looking for someone like me - can anybody see what i see?" -5 Stars- FAVORITE

8. Time To Be Your 21 - Softer song, older sounding... not rock or pop-rock... "Time to crash into the sun, time to be your 21" -2 Stars- Kind of sarah mcloughlin-ish.

9. Could Be You - Originally had male vocals on the show..."written" on the show about the jude/tommy relationship everyone wants but keeps getting pushed off by the writers. Just frusterates me to hear. "not here, not now, watch my frusterations grow- gasoline, you're the match" -3 Stars-

*10. Me Out Of Me - Kind of a rebel guitar anthem. "Just can't take the me out of me, cause that's what i need the world to see. -4 Stars-

11. Pick Up The Pieces - Again, not pop or pop-rock. Skip this...it sounds like the inspirational song at the end of a movie with a lot of background vocalists... -2 Stars_

12. Your Eyes -A little country. "You're eyes, holding up the sky.." Sounds like Diana DiGarmo...

*13. That Girl - written by Alexz. Telling off a guy. "I say you got some issues - I'm that girl you can't shut up..."
-4 Stars-

*14. Stupid Girl - Cover of the Garbage song. Couldn't have been better done. -5 stars- As good as the original. I want to hear "Only Happy When It Rains.."

In conclusion, I hope this has helped, since Amazon does not offer sound clips for this one. I can't stop listening to it...
You will like this if you like Avril, Skye Sweetnam, Lindsay Lohan, Brie Larson, Lalaine, and Kelly Clarkson.
Help save music: buy this! No fakeness, no lipsynching, no no-talent w/ sister connections. :)

You don't have to be a fan of the show to like these songs. The lyrics are deep and Alexz's voice is great. In the show they compare her voice to Avril Lavigne and FeFe Dobson. But, I think she adds more soul into her songs. This CD changed my view on Pop/Rock music. I am an R&B fan, and I never would have thought that this album was going to be this great. Some songs that really stand out for me are:

"Your Eyes"- A favorite of mine ever since i saw the episode. This is a soulful slow song.

"Let Me Fall"- This is another very beautiful song. But what makes this one so special is that Alexz herself co-wrote this song. And she did a wonderful job at it.

"Pick Up the Pieces"-Another wonderful pop song. The first time I heard this song I was like this sounds familiar. Then I remembered this was the song that Sadie, Judes (Alexz's) sister in the show, was singing to Tommy (Jude's prodecer).

"Skin"- This is a favorite amongst many peolple. I like this song because it's just a guitar and Alexz's beautiful voice. A wonderful song.

I recommend this album for fans of Soul, Pop, Rock or the Instatnt star show. It's worth every penny.

The system is not allowing me to update my original review, so I'll add to it here . . . Having listened to this CD for a week now, I'm even more impressed, and am adding tracks 7 ("Criminal"), 11 ("Pick Up The Pieces"), and 14 ("Stupid Girl") to my initial list of favourites (tracks 1, 3, and 6, all of which are now family favourites). Looking around, I see that others often have different lists of favourites, and that just about every song appears on someone's list.

I think that's because Alexz gets totally into each song, bringing everything it needs. She gives it 100%, really matching the notes and the tones with the feelings. Or as she says in track 6, "I want to get inside of a song", and "I can pour it all out right from the heart."

But what keeps me hitting the replay button is the sheer artistry in all of the songs. For example, in track 11, which has lines like "When I was adrift" and "We'll drift along", the song actually floats in the way that she sings it. The artistry includes attention to the finest details, thanks to the precise control that she has over her voice. You can really hear this in two of the tracks (5 and 7) where she is listed as the main author - but there are nice touches in all of the songs.

It's great to hear an artist who puts so much into her work, and whose songs sound better every time you listen, no matter how many times you have heard them.

This is the soundtrack for The N's Instant Star show. It was created by the same guys who did Degrassi... which has a HUGE fanbase. Instant Star is a show about a girl who wins a reality tv singing contest when she's 15. The trials and tribulations that she goes through is reflected in her music. A terrific soundtrack for anyone who loves pop, rock, or "bubblegum rock".

Alexz Johnson plays the main character, Jude Harrison, and sings her own songs on this CD. You won't be disappointed.

I love Degrassi and o'grady so when instant star came to to the-n I was hooked. I was actually shocked at how well this girl can sing! I tend to be more into hip hop and r&b but I listen to her music just as much.I'm a little surprised that Alexz Johnson isn't a huge star in the u.s. because we kinda lack talented singers.I love Skin and waste my time

I bought the instant star cd and its awesome! It is only availale as an import but I hope it gets released in California soon. It is my faverite cd ever
Jan

I watched the show Instant Star since the very beginning and as soon as i heard her first song (24 hours) i hoped for an album. I love every song on this cd. But, i am quite disapointed with the bonues track (stupid girl). This song brakes the style of all of the other songs on the album. Other than the bonus track this album is amazing and Alexz Johnson has a big future ahead of her, which is why i give this cd 5 stars! I highly recomend Songs from Instant Star, just skip threw the bonus track!!!

Being a singer/songwriter myself, i've been wishing i could watch Instant Star since the time i heard about it. But of course, we dont get it here. So when this CD came out, i decided to get it so that i'd have an idea about what the show was all about.

I didnt really get an idea what the show was all about, but i got to listen to some GREAT music. Alexz voice is amazing and this is the right genre for her.

Some songs are of course better than others, but the whole album is really good. Very listenable and enjoyable. The best songs on the album are "24 Hours", "Waste My Time", "Me Out of Me", "Pick Up The Pieces", "It Could Be You" and "That Girl".

I'd surely reccommend this album to all pop/rock lovers. Fans of Skye Sweetnam and Avril Lavigne will love Alexz Johnson.