Shell - Made To Be Me

Reviewed by Jamie Hailstone

Right now, it seems you can't move for female singers like Kelly Clarkson, Kate Nash and Lilly Allen - either in the tabloids or on the airwaves. This debut EP by former tbc singer Shell Perris is quite timely with an eye on both the Christian and secular markets. Producers Simon Hill and Rob May certainly have an impressive CV, having worked with the likes of Westlife and Natasha Bedingfield and deliver five very polished and highly commercial tracks. As a singer, Shell Perris has held her own with the best of them, handling both ballads and rockers with considerable gusto. She sounds a lot like Kelly Clarkson, which certainly won't do her chances of getting radio play any harm. "Now Is The Time" is very catchy and has bags of attitude. "Where Is My Happy Ending?" isn't a back track, although the title is very similar to a previous hit for Avril Lavigne. "Made To Be Me" is a powerful ballad. The only mis-step is "The La La Song", which tries to sound like Lilly Allen but doesn't quite cut the mustard. As a songwriter, Shell shows a lot of promise. 'Made To Be Me' is solid pop and the sort of record that any singer would be justly proud of.