British pop singer Eliza Caird, better known as
Eliza Doolittle, stormed the charts in 2010 with her rambunctious, smartly produced self-titled debut. That album, with its mix of jazzy pop music, was a Day-Glo showcase for her big personality, sexy flirtatiousness, and resonant vocal chops. Certified platinum in 2011, it helped propel
Doolittle to bona fide pop star status, and whet her fans' appetite for her next move. However, rather than jump back into the studio and crank out another album,
Doolittle took her time. She expanded into modeling, and even dated
Good Charlotte's
Benji Madden, with whom she ultimately broke up. Free of
Madden and with an eye on revealing a more mature version of herself,
Doolittle's 2013 sophomore album,
In Your Hands, goes far toward moving her in a more grown-up direction. Working with a handful of writer/producers including
Kid Harpoon (
Mayer Hawthorne,
Jessie Ware) and
Steve Robson (
Kings of Leon,
Paloma Faith,
Cher),
In Your Hands is a sophisticated, contemporary dance and soul album that takes its cues from the sound and style of '90s R&B stars like
Mariah Carey and
En Vogue. Although there are certainly more than a few '60s-inflected numbers, including the infectious, gospel-and-blues-inflected "Back Packing," the Brill Building-esque "Hush," and the
Jackson Five-sounding "Let It Rain,"
In Your Hands is less a post-
Adele, post-
Amy Winehouse album and more of a contemporary pop album in the vein of
Doolittle's contemporaries like
Jessie J. and
Leona Lewis. Ultimately, the focus on
In Your Hands is less on
Doolittle's cheeky persona and more on her passionate lyrics and warm vocals, a change she can back up with her creativity and talent. ~ Matt Collar