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Album Review: Demi Lovato’s ‘Confident (Deluxe Edition)’

It’s been four years since Demi Lovato released the album that put her on the fast track to a continuous and momentous career. Unbroken was released in 2011, with Demi, following a short two years later in 2013. Now, it’s 2015 and Lovato is four years older, and containing four years’ more worth of power.

Confident is the highly anticipated fifth LP released by this vocal powerhouse, and if the album doesn’t bring in the numbers expected, the albums high voltage tracks will surely put it on the map as Lovato’s strongest album to date.

Even the song featuring Iggy is good.

In fact, it’s the strongest on the album besides “Stone Cold.”

After the success of “Cool for the Summer,” it’s hard to believe that with an album full of so many brilliant songs, they chose it for the first single.

Take the second single of the album, “Confident,” set it against “Cool for the Summer,” and I wince at the superiority the album titled track holds.

“Confident,” solidly opens the LP, and the pop-rock sound stays strong start to finish. Even when the collaborative elements of RnB sneak through, specifically with the Iggy featuring track “Kingdom Come,” and the divine “Waitin For You,” featuring Sirah, it’s influences gel brilliantly.

The album truly highlights Lovato’s voice despite the unfortunate moments when production becomes heavy on altering the pitch.

“Stone Cold,” “Stars,” “Lionheart,” and “Father,” fill out the empty spaces between all the high energy and heavy bass tracks. “Stone Cold,” specifically released as a promotional single, and which Lovato performed on Saturday Night Live on October 17^th, is a talent show of every dip and swell of Lovato’s vibrato. “Lionheart” falls in the same vein, with Demi’s voice leading into a crescendo chorus with the lyrics: “Our story binds us / Like right and wrong / Your hand in mine / Marching to the beat of the stars.”

“Father” sits as the emotional ode to Lovato’s father, who she has written about previous. On Unbroken, she sings the deeply moving track, “For The Love of a Daughter.” Four years later, she sings of her heartbreak over her father’s death, with the powerful lyrics: “I know you were a troubled man / I know you never got the chance / To be yourself, to be your best / I hope that Heaven’s given you / A second chance.”

On a lighter note, Demi keeps the progression of her voice on a fast moving pace, with the bonus track, “Mr. Hughes,” that gives me a Duffy feel, with a jazz undertone while still keeping the pop-rock influences present. “Listent to me, honey / I’ve got something new to say / I forgive but can’t forget your mistakes / Now I think it’s time for you to pay.” Cut the mischievous and sultry laughter, and Lovato has herself a pretty damn good track.

Overall, the album creates a girl-power world full of heartache, kicking ass, and being you.

8.5/10

Brooke Pawling Stennett

Brooke Pawling Stennett is a college student pursuing a degree in Multimedia Journalism and Creative Non-Fiction in the old Windy City. She tends to lean toward the obsessive side of the tracks when it comes to books and music. She's an avid concert attendee (or at least she tries to!) and rambler. She'd like to travel the world and write about it, but in the only ways she knows how: sarcastically and full of internet jargon. Her opinions are her best ones, especially if they involve boy-bands and Netflix. . .even though she doesn't even have her own account. You can tweet her at @br_stennett and tell her how ridiculous (and totally great!) her opinions are.