Delta Goodrem

Delta Goodrem wants to give us something to believe in. That's instantly apparent from "Believe Again," the aptly-titled opening track of her eponymous U.S. debut. At 23, the entrancing and sultry Australian beauty has a lot to say about love, relationships and life. Granted, that may sound a little trite on paper, but bare with her. She writes dreamy, epic pop in a classic sense. Poetic lyrics come to life via ethereal, near-angelic vocals, and hooks take center stage. On that first track, an orchestral intro crashes into a mammoth chorus that's somewhere between Fiona Apple and Celine Dion—yet it stands alone. The cherry on top of that song has to be gospel-style backing vocals, which sound like divine intervention mid-song. It's very rare for a young-starlet-in-the-making to come out of the gate so auspicious, but Delta breaks right through, living up to her status as a platinum sensation down under.

Her voice has an edge, but at the same time, it's got a glossy, palatable sheen that'll turn heads. A soft piano melody carries "In this Life," and Delta's vocals slowly pull the listener deeper into her world. The melody stretches to the sky and back, but she stays grounded, remaining easily accessible. "God Laughs" begins with a soft piano, and then Delta's smoky cadence grabs all the attention. Even though the music itself gets a little more somber, the uplifting lyrical sentiments come through loud and clear. "You Will Only Break My Heart" has a fun little backbeat that pushes Delta further into traditional pop territory, while allowing her to vocally stretch during the hook mid-song. "Angels in the Room" is the perfect closer with its heavenly sounds. Delta successfully creates soulful pop that's indicative of experience way beyond her years. It's going to be interesting to see where the road takes her in America for sure.

So does Delta give us something to believe in? Most definitely.

—Rick Florino
07.02.08