Despite the huge success of Leona Lewis, the signs aren't particularly encouraging for any #X-Factor contestant looking for career longevity. Leon Jackson and Same Difference were dropped within weeks of their debut albums' release, Steve Brookstein, Ben Mills, and Journey South have faded back into obscurity, and only Rhydian and Shayne Ward still have their record deals intact. Sixteen-year-old Eoghan Quigg, is the latest to emerge from the reality TV conveyor belt. One of the most divisive contestants in the show's history, the young Irishman appealed to housewives wanting to mother him, and pre-teen girls eager for a U.K. #High School Musical-style icon of their own, but left everyone else scratching their heads wondering how he even made it past the audition stages. His self-titled debut album, recorded just weeks after his third place finish, will not convert any new fans. Indeed, with its strange combination of faux-American punk-pop and unimaginative boy band ballads, it's more likely to both confuse and alienate his existing audience. First single 28,000 Friends," an ode to social networking, sets the bar extremely low. Written by Busted member James Bourne, whose Year 3000 also appears here, its passive aggressive lyrics are both laughable, "don't send me an e-mail, I want to touch your face" and already hopelessly out of date. But unspeakably bad as it is, at least it's an original track, indeed, the only one featured here. Predictably, the bulk of the album is made up of tracks performed on #The X-Factor, including a pointless rendition of We're All in This Together and a misguided attempt at ABBA's Does Your Mother Know. The bad karaoke continues on a cover of Michael Bublé's Home, a saccharine version of Michael Jackson's Ben, and bizarrely, a rather random album track from '90s boy band A1. Recorded on what sounds like a shoestring budget, its tinny, cheap production also doesn't exactly help to hide Quigg's limited ability. He completely dodges the high notes on Never Forget and several bum notes can be heard throughout the more vocally challenging tracks. Indeed, you have to feel some sympathy for Quigg. Being a pop star at such a young age must be every schoolboy's dream. But with the complete lack of confidence invested in this album, it's highly unlikely that he'll still be one by the end of next semester. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi

1		28,000 Friends
2		We're All In This Together
3		All About You
4		Learn To Fly
5		Does Your Mother Know
6		Home
7		When You Look Me In The Eyes
8		Year 3000
9		She's the One
10		Ben
11		Never Forget
12		Imagine

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