Gabriella Cilmi
Lessons To Be Learned

As a leading figure of the Myspace generation, perhaps she transcends its limits by letting her work speak for itself.

With her debut album, "Lessons to Be Learned," she certainly emerges as the best voice of the new millennium; although many of you may already know her for having participated in the soundtrack of "Hating Alison Ashley," alongside greats like Tom Waits and Eels (for alternative music) and blink-182 and Hilary Duff (for mainstream music); with as many as two songs, at the age of 13 ("Sorry" and "Don't Tell Me"). But let's get to the album. The best debut of the new millennium, without a doubt, especially due to her voice, which at times recalls great figures of the past like Macy Gray. A case where quality and success go hand in hand. The arrangements are impeccable, an excellent choice for the singer, just sixteen years old. There are ample margins for improvement, but the raw material is there; unlike other idolized stars like Winehouse, Duffy, and Adele, this unknown Australian is much better.

"Save The Lies" is the first single, excellent, I would say. Everything is in the right place, her voice vibrates expressively throughout the entire piece. The other tracks are one better than the other, up until "Sit In The Blues", the closing, simply impeccable. So those of you who do not have this album in your collection are kindly requested to buy it and add it. And if there's no room, throw away something from Janis Joplin or Sara Vaughan, outdated stuff, ridiculed by this rising star of music.