Jess Glynne’s remarkable recent run - five number one singles in the UK since the start of last year - is a nostalgic treat. It speaks of a time when the charts were dominant and streaming revenues were the preserve of only the most forward-thinking. It’s fitting, if disappointing, then, that her debut album, ‘I Cry When I Laugh’ feels more than a little outdated.
Having emerged through the none-more-contemporary guest vocal carousel - including chart-toppers with Clean Bandit, Route 94 and Tinie Tempah - Glynne’s personality could perhaps have been something to pore over here. In fact, and to her credit, those spots displayed the driving forces behind her own sound.
Each pushed her performance into dramatic territory, allowing her to cut loose. Glynne has the sort of voice that’ll shake fillings if given a chance and that power underpins everything that’s good about ‘I Cry When I Laugh’, from the lighter-ready Take Me Home to Hold My Hand’s infectious double act of a chorus.
But, even as dashes of the pop-house craze appear, too much of the record is reliant on the sort of relentlessly upbeat, piano-heavy pop that characterised the flipside to the Britpop coin.
Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself, her latest hit, is more than a little guilty, but Gave Me Something, Love Me and It Ain’t Right can’t generate such good will. Saddest Vanilla, a duet with Emily Sandé, goes too far the other way and barely resembles the power ballad credentials displayed earlier on Take Me Home.
The mis-steps are just regular enough to ensure that no real momentum develops. It’s clear that we’re supposed to be part of the fun, on the dancefloor rather than perched at the edge, but the feeling of inclusivity doesn’t fully materialise.
Jess Glynne Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun October 11 2015 - GLASGOW O2 ABC
Sat October 31 2015 - CARDIFF Cardiff University Students Union
Sun November 01 2015 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Mon November 02 2015 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Wed November 04 2015 - LONDON Roundhouse
Thu November 05 2015 - BOURNEMOUTH O2 Academy Bournemouth
Fri November 06 2015 - GLASGOW O2 Academy Glasgow
Tue November 10 2015 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 Academy Newcastle
Wed November 11 2015 - MANCHESTER Academy
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