Jedward
Victory

Ever since they first walked on the X-Factor stage a couple of years ago,Jedward's main appeal has always been visual - their hair, their hyperactive dance moves and the fact that they're mirror images of each other. When these elements are removed, as in the case of an album, and they have to rely on their music alone they're always going to be at a distinct disadvantage.

About as significant compliment you could give this album is that it sounds like just about any other manufactured pop group you have heard. Virtually every song on Victory is bathed in techno-pop grooves, headache-inducing beats and just about enough auto-tune to see Cher through to the afterlife. There's no denying that its paint-by-numbers pop will appeal hugely to Jedward's already significant fanbase, it's very unlikely than many people who weren't impressed before will have their minds changed listening to this.

That's not to say that Victory isn't competent - it is. The songs on the album have been written and produced by some big names on the pop scene. Danish production wizards Deekay have worked with JLS, Diddy and Sugababes and songwriter Lindy Robbins has a CV which includes Backstreet Boys and Leona Lewis and together they've made an album of shiny pop, happy-clappy beats and managed to filter John and Edward's voices through the right computer programmes but how many really great pop acts have lyrics like, "ever since I met this girl I don't even watch TV"?

Songs like My Miss America, which significantly takes its cues from US pop-punk is completely inoffensive but at the same time brain-numbingly catchy, but what else could you expect with lyrics like "so hot, hot, hot and I'm like what, what, what".

Hold The World is their obligatory ballad on the album and the sort of song that could well have been written for Westlife. Saturday Night is like a less charming version of Rebecca Black's Friday. 8th placed Eurovision entrant Lipstick and Wow Oh Wow are probably the highlights of the bunch, even if in the latter one of the Jedwards utters the word "erotic" and it just sounds out of place, like a toddler swearing.

This may be completely disposable pop but it goes to show that, if nothing else, with the right people behind them almost anyone can make an album nowadays. While Victory certainly isn't a pop classic let's not kid ourselves; this album is going to number one in the charts. It's going to take a lot more than bad reviews to derail the Jedward Express.

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