The much anticipated fourth studio long-player from the L.A.-based singer/songwriter,
Lost on You
delivers a lethal blend of vulnerability, swagger, and hooks that proves that
LP
, who has penned songs for the likes of
Christina Aguilera
,
Rihanna
the Backstreet Boys
, and
Rita Ora
, has saved the best material for themself. Built around the soaring title cut, a delicious bit of radio-ready sorcery that successfully pairs
Roy Orbison
-esque melodrama with stylish, "Don't Speak"-era
No Doubt
pop acumen -- it also managed to top the charts in France, Greece, Israel, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey -- the 13-track edition bristles with both style and substance. Touching on everything from soulful folk-rock ("When We're High") to bluesy electro-pop ("Muddy Waters") -- the latter track memorably appeared during the taut closing scene of the season four finale of Netflix's Orange Is the New Black -- and anchored by the singer's elastic and expressive voice, which evokes names like
Linda Perry
Gwen Stefani
Santigold
Chrissie Hynde
is the work of a pro firing on all cylinders. ~ James Christopher Monger