Jess Glynne Debut Album Review

BBM’s Tom Curtis-Horsfall divulges a Jess Glynne debut album review to find out just how the new release is going for the UK songstress… 
Throughout Atlantic Record’s illustrious history it has housed and nurtured some of the most important blues and soul artists of modern times, and new addition to the roster Jess Glynne cultivates that rich narrative on her debut album ‘I Cry When I Laugh’.
Having broken through to the mainstream arena with guest vocals on label-mate Clean Bandit’s Grammy Award winning single ‘Rather Be’ in 2014 (which also features on the album), she demonstrates her worthiness as one of the dance-pop goliaths of recent times with the anthemic ‘Hold My Hand’, ‘Real Love’ and ‘Not Letting Go’.
Citing Atlantic Records predecessors Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke as major inspirations when developing her vocal style, the influence is clear throughout raw piano-driven “Take Me Home’ where the grit and power in her voice is at the fore and ‘Saddest Vanilla’ featuring Emeli Sandé is propelled by a fleshy drum-beat and lush orchestral accentuation that emerges as a R’n’B ballad that could make Toni Braxton weep.
Although in possession of an earthy voice beyond her years which could classify her as a modern soul-stress, Jess says that the album is “about a girl who was a happy-go-lucky person, a bit of trouble, got her heart-broken and found her way through that not by being sad but by seeing hope and not letting it overtake her”, and ultimately her unabashed positivity shines through on each track.
Released on 18th September through Atlantic Records, ‘I Cry When I Laugh’ is odds on to be one of the biggest selling albums of 2015.
Watch the Youtube Video for Jess Glynne Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself

By Thomas Curtis-Horsfall
@ThomasCurtisH