SOUND JUDGEMENT

The latest album releases reviewed

HAPPIER THAN EVER

BILLIE EILISH HHHHH

Billie Eilish’s eagerlyawaited second album opens with Getting Older, with the 19-year-old sounding astonishingly world-weary – the line “Things I’m longing for, someday I’ll be bored of” is literally delivered with a yawn, though three songs later she sings “I’m in love with my future, can’t wait to meet her”.

Not My Responsibility, which made headlines as a monologue against body-shaming at Eilish’s live shows last year, tees up a hard-hitting second half of the album. Single Your Power’s sunny acoustic guitar does nothing to disguise Eilish’s composed takedown of the alleged abuse too often faced by young women in the performing arts and the title track explodes from crooning into an expletive-laden kiss-off.

The younger generation boasts some exceptional role models and Eilish is one of them.

STAND FOR MYSELF YOLA

HHHHI

Bristol-raised

Yolanda Quartey grafted for more than a decade writing for the likes of Katy Perry and Massive Attack before her debut album in her mid-30s. Walk Through Fire was a success in the US, but the British public is yet to pay as much attention.

Stand For Myself, with its rousing themes of self-love, black identity and economic inequality, may finally make them listen.

Classic country is the focus, but Yola also delves into doo-wop and modern soul. It is her honesty, gained through years of struggle, that elevates her sophomore album to an exquisite work.

CRYING ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR WILL YOUNG HHHII

Talent show hopefuls singing cover versions are often, largely falsely, told they made a song their own. But Will Young, who won Pop Idol nearly 20 years ago, mostly achieves that with the cleverly selected tracks on his eighth studio album – a celebration of female artists he admires.

Many are probably not well known to Young’s usual fans, but they may want to seek out the original tracks after enjoying his versions.

It’s an emotional and not always uplifting listen but versions of Robyn’s rather more upbeat Indestructible and Cam’s sexy country track Till There’s Nothing Left are highlights of a covers album which sounds distinctly Will Young.