Aiden Grimshaw’s January album: Exciting or overhyped?
Aiden Grimshaw of last year’s X Factor is, admittedly, not ugly. In fact he’s a fair way off ugly. Ugly, you might say, is a dot to him.
He’s also “unique” in his musical style. But the trouble with “unique” is that 5 times out of 10 it’s code for “occasionally terrible but the tone is quite nice”. This, sadly, was the case for Aiden last year. Yes, his performance style was very original and intense, but his vocal was not always up to scratch. He also came across, to me anyway, as slightly cocky.
So I assume it’s the looks rather than the ability that’s got fans so hyped up for his January 2012 debut album that ‘AIDEN ALBUM 2012′ is trending on Twitter.
I don’t mean to sound harsh – as I say, I admired Aiden for going “against the grain” and having a refreshing and, yes, “unique” style of singing. I just hope he’s polished up on his vocals over the past year, because at the moment he’s in danger of being a tad overhyped.
Also, on the subject of X Factor 2011, can REBECCA FERGUSON HURRY UP PLEASE THANKS.
What did you think of Aiden? Disagree? Comment below, or get chatty on Twitter and Facebook.
UPDATE: Woaah, I have been inundated with tweets, messages etc on this! You Aiden fans are quite impassioned, eh? To verify: I don’t dislike Aiden, I’m just not as crazy about him as his diehard fans. The cockiness thing, as I say above, was just my impression of him. I’ve never met him, so I accept I could be totally wrong. And with the music, I hope I’m proved wrong when the album comes out. As I say above, I like the tone of his voice and the fact he’s original. But some of his vocals were wobbly on X Factor, and if he’s going to be taken seriously by the masses – and not just an admirably dedicated fanbase – he’ll have needed to fix that. A lot of his fans are telling me he sounds amazing on recent recordings, and that’s great news. I have nothing against the guy so if everyone just has a quiet five minutes, takes some deep breaths and calms down a tad… 
Look up some of his recent videos and see what you think then! He may have come over to some as cocky but if you look up his video diaries from the show and follow his tweets you will see he is far from it. His voice has improved massively since the show and i’m sure he will prove he is worth all the hype!
Totally disagree, instead there’s been no hype surrounding the launch of his album. Aiden is far far away from cocky, as Jamie said you just need to watch his video diaries from the show to see that. I hope the release of Aiden’s album will instead be a welcome change from the often one hit wonders that come out of X Factor. One Direction have their market and they know it well. Aiden’s will be a different market that I don’t think X Factor has really managed to grab so far. I for one am very very very excited for the release of his album in 2012. He has worked hard and very much deserves it.
Thanks for the tip on the videos girls, I will check them out!
Aiden is one of the least cocky X Factor contestants ever, genuinely baffled by that one. He is just incredibly shy and nervous even more so than Rebecca for example. I always remember how gutted he was with his performance of Jealous Guy and he just told Dermot straight out he thought it was complete rubbish. When in fact it wasn’t actually. I have seen some of the swaggering eejits that are the norm on X Factor deliver far worse (and even worse than that horribly mundane) performances and
A: seem oblivious to how bad they have done
B : have the cheek to ask people to vote for them
Aiden was a breath of fresh air.
His vocal’s were sometimes a bit shaky, but that was imo down to his nerves. What caught my attention about him more than anything, is that he seemed to really connect with what he was singing. I swear some artist now a days could be singing from the phone book for all that thought they give the words and music. But with Aiden I always new that even if he didn’t quite hit every note, he understood what he was singing, care about it and felt it. I will take that over some dead behind the eyes vocally perfect performance any day. AIden is the real deal and any new Aiden Grimshaw music is incredibly exciting prospect not just for people like me who are fans but for British music. We need more of his kind and less of the other.
If Aiden was being judged entirely on his live X Factor performances from 2010 I think you may have had a point. But based on the live performances since then (check out the acoustic mash up and covers of Mumford’s the Cave and Katy B/ Bill Withers on his official YouTube channel), as others have mentioned his video diaries and twitcams and twitter feed and you’ll find a more polished and not at all cocky performer.
Aiden’s “hype” is almost entirely fan led, there has been no real marketing (unless it’s incredibly clever and done by fake fan accounts on twitter!)
I hope to God his album meets my expectations, but the signs (including tweets from really decent producers/ songwriters he’s been working with like Semothy Jones) are really good.
Loving all your feedback guys – is this a genuine recording of him? It’s really cool, I love it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d00OSNkW74
If he sounds this good on the album I’ll happily scoff some of the ol’ humble pie
Yes, that’s genuine – think it was a private recording for a family funeral but it got leaked. His voice sounds amazing on record – just look at his parts on the X Factor Heroes single for some evidence of that.
im a huge aiden fan – he’s insanely talented, and the nicest guy ive ever met by a long shot. his vocals have always been strong, but they are incredible now, especially when he’s singing and writing the songs he wants to do, which he didnt always get to on xfactor. listen to this, you can really hear his talent in it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HudPtRrdc34
Ermm what is this hype that you are speaking of?
I do hope that his vocals have improved, because i really enjoyed his style and i’m really hoping that this album is good
aiden was absolutely fantastic and different with a very different and unique style.so pleased he has an album coming out.I will be the first to get it. I just know that its going to be brilliant!!!!!
The above youtube recording is from when he was younger and yes his vocals have improved and yes he has got a devoted fan base. Don’t under-estimate the power of a grimling, they are the most infectious bunch of supporters I have ever seen!