Jordin Sparks to Release Sophomore Record "Battlefield" -- Sneak Peek Review

Jordin Sparks, season 6 winner of American Idol, is getting ready to release her second album on July 21st. Battlefield will be the young singers breakout album, full of new sounds and a much more mature approach to her recording. Teaming up with hit songwriters such as Ryan Tedder (Leona
Jordin Sparks to Release Sophomore Record "Battlefield" -- Sneak Peek Review
Lewis, OneRepublic frontman), Dr. Luke (Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Katy Perry), and T-Pain, Sparks is hoping for a powerful second disc as previous winner Kelly Clarkson had done with Breakaway, etching out a sound that's most fitted.

Having recorded 30 songs, 12 will make it to the final standard listing while iTunes will include "Vertigo," a more rock R&B driven song. Two more will be featured on the deluxe edition of the album.

Opening with "Walking on Snow," a tame electric guitar starts before a heavy drum programming kicks in with a slow building vocal line. A mid-tempo groove is layered with atmospheric reverbed vocals of losing a love, but she's perfectly fine. In her mind it was all a waste of time and all the words thrown at her just bounce off.

The second track, and lead single, "Battlefield" is a slamming R&B track, filled with Ryan Tedder's signature blend of pop and R&B drum programming and FX sounds. "My world's nothing when you're gone/ I'm out here without a shield" she begins of telling a story of war and battles of love. There's no reason to fight and love to her always feels like it's a battlefield so they'll need some armor to protect themselves.

Jordin Sparks specializes on R&B ballads backed by heavy beats and simple lyrics such as the song "No Parade" where she sings "Nothing in the sky said run for cover/ Just another reason never thought it'd end this way/ There was no parade/ No lights flashing/ No song to sing along the way."

Battlefield even takes a hit at a rock vibe in the song "Let It Rain." "Every little tear I was scared to cry/ Everything I feared but I kept inside/ I don't wanna hold it back one more day/ I'll wash it away," Sparks wails over a synth electric guitar.

Aside the pop R&B and rock, Sparks incorporates a dance element into her album as well in songs like "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" where she's ready to party. The song really sends the message that it's more about getting a life together so her friends (or her) don't lose their love
Jordin Sparks to Release Sophomore Record "Battlefield" -- Sneak Peek Review
interest. Also used much more on this record is the Autotune feature, giving her several instances of a robotic-like voice.

Sparks recorded 30 songs for Battlefield, 12 of which she wrote. However, in a hardpressed industry, she will only see two of those songs featured on the standard album, "Faith" and "The Cure," the latter being a pledge to be there for someone. Backed by a sweet falsetto toned vocal line, she's asking to be the medicine that's needed to cure the broken heart.

The album Battlefield will hit stores July 21st in two editions, a standard and a deluxe that includes a DVD with behind the scenes footage of Sparks making the video for "Battlefield," the video itself and the photoshoot for her album artwork.

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