On the follow-up to her chart-topping 2015 debut,
I Cry When I Laugh, English singer
Jess Glynne delivers more polished soul-pop that highlights her strong voice with able production from a team of studio hands, resulting in a handful of potential additions to a future greatest-hits compilation. Upon release,
Always in Between became her second number one, buoyed by the strength of promotional singles "I'll Be There" and "All I Am." The latter is a burst of joy that rivals her best collaborations with
Clean Bandit, while the former is one of many sweet and wholesome moments on this collection. Elsewhere, "No One," an uplifting dance anthem with roof-raising pastoral touches, could fit nicely on
Avicii's
True, while the sassy "Rollin" turns up the attitude with a wink and accompanying horn section. These standout moments outshine the lesser -- but still perfectly serviceable -- remainder of the album, which also includes
Ed Sheeran dropping in with a songwriting credit on the aching "Thursday."
Always in Between might lack the momentum that helped
Glynne's debut propel her to the top of the charts, but it offers enough highlights for a fun listen. ~ Neil Z. Yeung