Lessons to Be Learned is the debut studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi. It was released in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2008 by Island Records and in Australia on 10 May 2008 by Mushroom Records. Co-written and produced by the team Xenomania, the album takes its title from a line in the song "Sweet About Me", which became a worldwide hit.
Background Speaking in July 2008 to Pete Lewis of the magazine Blues & Soul, Cilmi explained the meaning behind the album title:
Several different versions of the album have been released with varying track lists.
Critical reception
Lessons to Be Learned received generally mixed reviews from critics. Sharon Mawer from AllMusic called it "a good debut album" and praised Cilmi's "confidence" and range of styles, however did not feel the album was original, saying "it had all been heard before, many times in a crowded market". Mawer also compared her vocals and styles to artists including Anastacia, Joss Stone, Kylie Minogue, and Duffy. Daily Music Guide gave the album a generally mixed-to-negative review, calling "Sweet About Me" "slightly irritating" and also noted "if you expected ["Sweet About Me"] to give you a preview of what her debut album might sound like, you would be wrong". "Save the Lies" and "Sit in the Blues" were considered highlights of the album, while "Awkward Game" and "Einstein" were criticised for having "too much gloss".
Mike Joseph from PopMatters considered Cilmi an Amy Winehouse clone, yet without "a fraction of the wit or lived-in soulfulness that Back to Black (or even Winehouse's debut, Frank) possessed." Joseph also said he found himself "praying Lessons to Be Learned will end quickly". He highlighted "Safer" and "Sit in the Blues", but compared Cilmi negatively to fellow artists such as Winehouse, Adele and Duffy.
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for Lessons to Be LearnedChart (2008–2009)PeakpositionEuropean Top 100 Albums16US Billboard Top Heatseekers17
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for Lessons to Be LearnedChart (2008)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)13Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)65Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)43French Albums (SNEP)134German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)97Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)28UK Albums (OCC)68
Certifications
Release history +Release history and formats for Lessons to Be Learned Region Date Label Format CatalogueUnited Kingdom31 March 2008hmv.com: albums: Lessons To Be Learned (2008)IslandCD, digital download1763307Australia10 May 2008Mushroom5144275002New Zealand12 May 2008Warner Bros.5144275002Europe20 June 2008Island060251773945Brazil10 September 2008UniversalCD602517739468Australia (deluxe edition)11 October 2008http://www.sanity.com.au/product/product.asp?sku=2116575 Mushroom5186504315Poland28 October 2008Universal1785089United States17 March 2009Universal RepublicB0012720-02
References