Jennifer Hudson: I remember me
Even if you’re not a fan of American Idol we’ve one thing to thank it for – Jennifer Hudson (even if she was booted out before the finale!) J-Hud’s powerful voice has a fluidity and vulnerability that draws the listener in to feel the pain that must have fuelled this offering, coming as it does after the murders of her mother, brother and nephew. Where You At shows off the vocal prowess that won her an Oscar and we love the upbeat Everybody Needs Love, while Feeling Good is a tribute to finding light at the end of the tunnel, all hail Jen’s return!
The Vaccines: What did you expect from the vaccines?
We didn’t expect anything, actually... but what they’ve delivered is pretty fine indeed! These guys are defo the latest purveyors of this generation’s brash post-punk guitar-pop sound. The single If You Wanna is heart-stompingly heavy, whilst Blow it Up adds further rock sturdiness to an album that’s utterly without fillers. And Wetsuit’s our fave – almost as cool as the cover art.
Sade: The ultimate collection
Very few artists can stay away for almost a decade, then pick up from where they left off
so creatively. This album spans Sade’s 27 years of recordings, including four new songs, two of which are remixes. Get ready to revisit No Ordinary Love, Your Love is King and Smooth Operator – the songs that provided the music for a decade’s worth of dinner parties.
