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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
8:30 PM 21st August 2015
arts

Album Review: Jess Glynne - I Cry When I Laugh

 
Jess Glynne has been the guest vocalist on the Number One hits for Clean Bandit and more recently had her own big solo Number One with Hold My Hand. If you thought that perhaps she could not come up with a strong debut album you were wrong as this new album contains a strong set of songs.

In a way her career reminds me very much of one of her contemporaries, Elle Eyre, both have begun their careers by singing lead vocals on other acts tracks and both have forged a solo career with debut albums being released this month. The difference though that Jess Glynne has been the most successful so far.

The album strarts off surprisingly with a downbeat number entitled Strawberry Fields which sounds like a Disclosure track, things get more upbeat with the following track, Gave Me Something, it is a track that is typical of her: joyful, uplifting and very commercial, it sounds to me like a future single.

The aforementioned Number One hit Hold My Hand follows next: it is one of the best pop tracks so far this year, the track will always be remembered and she will be glad that she had this track in 20 years time as she will always be associated with this uplifting track. Using the old Yazz hit The Only Way Is Up as a template mixed with Dolly Parton's 9-5, this is a track that appeals to young and old.

Ain't Far To Go sounds like a future single. It's not all upbeat pop though as she gets more downbeat on the ballad Take Me Home. It shows a different side to her, more light and shade. If they have tried to catch her personality on the album they have succeeded. As one of the tracks says on You Can Find Me, you will be hard pressed to find another more upbeat and happy album this year. By teaming her up with a talented set of songwriters and producers and her distinctive voice they have come up with a fine debut album.

4 out of 5

Her album is out today!