CHERYL COLE – MESSY LITTLE RAINDROPS
Girls Aloud member – and England’s sweetheart – Cheryl Cole has, for the most part, ditched the R&B-lite of her 2009 debut album and focused on a dance-pop sound for the follow-up.
It’s a welcome change, as Cole never had the vocal chops to compete with R&B divas. Highlights of this well-chosen set include the perky pop of Hummingbird, the frenetic, Kelis-penned Waiting (complete with a Vanessa Carlton sample) and the bizarre-but-beautiful single Promise This.
It’s all pop by committee, but it’s been done well, with nary a dud track to be found.
