By Tom Bishop BBC News Online

Michelle's album includes songs by acclaimed pop writer Cathy Dennis

As a victory lap, the determined 23-year-old took her single All This Time to the top of the chart and held it there for three weeks.

Her soulful singing defeated one skinny wannabe after another, and the series final saw Michelle win the majority of 10.2 million public votes plus a recording contract.

The wannabes have had the last laugh, though, because youthful McManus has been saddled with a very middle-aged album.

As its Valentine's card title suggests, The Meaning of Love is based around a single concept - the ballad.

All 14 songs follow the slow, well-worn path to a climactic key change then vanish, leaving barely an echo.

Restrained

Acclaimed pop writer Cathy Dennis contributes, but the mawkish One Life and When the World is Not Enough prove far less addictive than Can't Get You Out Of My Head or Toxic.

McManus has proved she can sing rings around traditional pop stars, yet she will need better material to become a Will Young rather than a David Sneddon.

The spirited singer is barely given a chance to let rip, her vocals sounding muffled and restrained by pedestrian production.

Admirably, the album contains only one cover version; but this new version of Feeling Good is a pale shadow of her powerful television rendition.

The Meaning of Love is dull enough to take the shine off Michelle McManus. Hopefully the fickle pop world will give her the chance to restore it.

A selection of your reviews are below.

I think this album shows what she can do.. which, to be fair, is not a lot. I still believe she got the sympathy vote, and now maybe the public will realise they made the wrong choice voting for her. She's not a pop idol - even her music proves that.
Cheryl, Guildford, Surrey

So she's the one that sings that song? I thought it was Atomic Kitten or someone like that! I hope she endures past the fad of being of a heavy build and a singer, I imagine old ladies and the very young will buy her songs (hey it's kept Cliff Richard at the top for 40 years!).
Ian, Milton Keynes, UK

She can sing and size never stopped Alison Moyet or countless American black soul divas but she does need better material.
Darren, London, UK

It's a shame really, there were some good people on Pop Idol. Never mind. Gareth and Will, you will not be knocked off your podium just yet.
Ronnie, Liverpool

I missed every single episode of Pop trash deliberately but heard about Michelle and thought she had to have a fabulous singing voice to get over what she looks like. This was a contest to find a Pop Idol after all! Had been listening to a fantastic voice on the radio for weeks and thought it must have been Michelle but I was actually listening to Joss Stone! Finally heard Michelle's effort last week ... so how bad were the rest? If you want to listen to a real live Pop Idol buy The Soul Session - Joss Stone IS THE REAL THING!
Nettie, Cambridge UK

The songs that I have heard to date are bland and do not leave any lasting impression. There must be people buying the record, but I can't imagine who. The record's 'success' so far has stemmed from the hype of the show together with the usual in-your-face marketing, over-exposure and definitely not from the terrible songs and McManus's local pub'esque performances on Saturday morning kids tv.
Pete, Bristol, UK

I think Michelle is a great example to every one who has been made inferior because of weight issues (which incidentally are only issues to thin people generally). Her album may not be the best recording ever and I doubt Britney and Christina are quaking in their boots, but good luck to her!!!
Catherine, Leeds, UK

It's a shame for Michelle McManus, she can sing, but she isn't a pop "idol".
Martin Poulton, Manchester, England

What more can you expect from yet another manufactured, shrink-wrapped, mass-marketed pop droid? Snore.
Mark, London

Michelle's first album was going to be her next hurdle in her musical career after winning pop idol. Her fans voted for her because she showed spirit and sang with such energy. The album sadly doesn't let Michelle's true talent shine through with the soppy ballads that have been chosen for her.
Emma Jones, Huntingdon, Cambs

Surely it must be time for Pop Idol to end? The main fault in the format is that while it's an addictive and compelling show - love it or hate it - the music it subsequently produces is cheaply produced, soul-less pop that barely ever develops the talent of the singers. Sadly, Michelle's album is another case in point.
Steve, UK, Lincoln,UK

Michelle McManus may be young, but she looks older then her years, and that's why these types of songs have been chosen for her. Everybody should just be honest and admit that she isn't "pop star" material. This will be her first and last album.
Janice Spence, UK

One of the over riding problems of produced product is its lack of life. We teach these people to compress dynamics then do it again with an electronic compressor so everything that endeared us to the performance in the first place is flushed away. I blame the useless producers! This album isn't bad but it could have been so much better. Sorry Michelle, its the same old British problem.
Dave, Chatham, Kent. UK

To all these people who are rude, obnoxious. Michelle is a good singer and I don't believe she got the sympathy vote as proved three weeks at number one. I am afraid that this country has a very jealous attitude when it comes to being successful. How sad that we have this build em up and knock them down attitude.
David Welham, Colchester, England

Pop music and the charts are like jelly. It's really for the undeveloped palate and you really should grow out of it by the time you reach 12. I can't believe grown people even think it's worthy of debate.
Gerald Greenwood, London, UK

I watched Pop Idol all the way through and I never thought that Michelle was that good. Her voice is very nasal (as Nicki pointed out on the show) and soon gets quite annoying. Sadly, listening to a whole album confirms this feeling. I guess it's good that she won, but where can she possibly go from here? Clearly, her managers/producers have launched her into pop-oblivion with the choice of songs on the album. As a final thought, looking at the official website, anyone can see how much the record company takes her seriously. It's just a few pages, with everything else described as coming soon. That can't be a good song, so long after she won the show.
Steve Jones, Billericay, UK

Haven't heard the album but surely that song is ironic? "All this time, I've come a long long way." Hasn't she just walked into a career after being on TV for a while? And, "the future's looking bright" - is someone having a laugh at her expense?
Mike, Peterborough, UK

I love Michelle. I think she is the best singer ever and I voted for her to win Pop Idol several times. Keep up the good work Michelle!
Martin Bundy, Southampton, UK

It must be a joke or I wouldn't be laughing so hard. She can sing on key, but the songs are rubbish and her voice feels like my head is being held in a vice! That poor girl. Someone needs to tell her not to quit her day job.
Maya McKee, Southampton, UK