Skip to main content

"I Cry When I Laugh" - Jess Glynne - Album Review

Not many artists can say that they've had five number ones before releasing their debut album but one 25-year-old can.

Known for featuring in the song of 2014 ‘Rather Be’, Jess Glynne has come a long way since her rejection from The X-Factor ten years ago. Her album, ‘I Cry When I Laugh’, retains the dance vibes she has become renowned for from her singles, but also experiments with softer sounds, notably on album track ‘Take Me Home’.
Citing her influences to include Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin and Frank Ocean, the album diverts away from the typical pop regime, with elements of R&B featuring in the tracks. For the album, the London girl palled up with fellow British artist Emeli Sandé to collaborate on “Saddest Vanilla”- an appropriate name choice for a song so lackadaisical. Despite the docile pace of the song, this track stands out- for all the wrong reasons. I can appreciate the fact that Glynne wanted a mix of tempos on the album but the dreary track merely encourages the listener into a lethargic haze that simply cannot be rid of.
 Fortunately, there are many strong tracks that eclipse the low-points; namely “You Can Find Me”, which demonstrates the true strength of her sultry vocals. Furthermore, cheery track two "Gave Me Something" funnily enough does give us something: a combination of cheery pop beats and sentimental soul that set the tone for the album.
Although she may have equalled the current British female record for the most number ones (previously it was only Cheryl Fernandez-Versini held this title), this year has not been all that easy for Jess. At the end of June. the artist underwent surgery on her vocal chords, subsequently forcing her to pull out of a number of gigs and festivals, including a set at Glastonbury Festival.
Undeterred by her health, Glynne has done well to establish herself in amongst the highly acclaimed of the pop world. Although it may not go down in history as one of the most memorable, "I Cry When I Laugh" has offered her a good chance of maintaining the position she has worked so hard to gain.

★★★


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

12 Problems Only People with Glasses Will Understand

17th May 2008. The day my dreads became reality: I got my first pair of glasses. I'd seen it coming for a few months prior to it, but there was still a part of me clutching on to the idea that perhaps my eyesight was just blurry because of the side effects of some peculiar, undiagnosed illness I'd had. Yeah, I was pretty desperate. However, just because the optician tells you to start wearing glasses, that doesn't mean you to have to, right? ...Wrong, but that's what I did anyway, up until late 2012, when it got to the stage where I felt like my grades were being affected by my near-sightedness.  Don't get me wrong- I don't have anything against glasses-wearers; in fact, I genuinely do believe glasses can look sublime. It's just the hassle of wearing them that frustrates me to this very day. If you forget your glasses, you're completely, and utterly, stuck. Every activity you attempt to complete at work that day becomes 19842 times more d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Interview with ‘Sick’ scriptwriter and performer Shey Hargreaves

From hunting down a patient’s lost teeth to witnessing someone turn down potentially life-saving treatment, scriptwriter Shey Hargeaves’ experience of working for the NHS was eye-opening to say the least. Reflecting on her time in a hospital, Shey shares tales of resilience and humour in her hour-long show Sick . “It’s scary!” Shey exclaims as I ask what it has been like leading a one-woman show for the first time. “You're totally on your own out there. But, it's quite nice because you're in control. That means you can play off the audience more. I think that makes for quite a warm, responsive kind of show.” The stories behind Sick are authentic accounts from the four-year period Shey spent within the NHS. Having completed a Master’s in Scriptwriting at the University of East Anglia, Shey was looking to find work when she came across a receptionist position for an Emergency Medical Assessment Unit in 2013. “If I had to be in a reasonably low-paid job and pay t...
Post a Comment
Read more