In 2015, after almost quitting music following a string of tragic family losses, English singer/songwriter
James Morrison
returned with a revitalized, pop-polished comeback. Four years later, he stripped that radio-ready sheen and reverted to an unfussy, rootsy sound on his fifth album,
You're Stronger Than You Know
. Dropped from his label and processing life's ups and downs,
Morrison
turned those hardships into hope with this set of soulful guitar anthems that are carried by his passionate,
Stevie Wonder
-indebted vocals. Overall, the bulk of the album is directed at his partner, with
opening his heart on "So Beautiful" and "Feels Like the First Time," a wedding-perfect gem that could rival
Ray Lamontagne
's "You Are the Best Thing." Elsewhere, his sentiments are aptly summarized on "My Love Goes On," a standout duet with fellow blue-eyed soulster
Joss Stone
, and the joyous "Brighter Kind of Love." While much of the first half of the album is designed to spark warm fuzzies and butterflies,
doesn't shy away from the messy, uncertain moments of life. Intense highlight "Slowly" rocks with urgency as he pushes his vocals to the desperate brink. "I Still Need You" finds redemption in love, no matter how difficult the journey has been, with
realizing "life's a little better when you've got someone." Through it all -- as he sings on "Ruins" -- "if we both look straight ahead/then we'll make it out alive." Taking the wisdom from lessons learned in his hitherto thirtysomething years on Earth,
pushes positivity and maturity with this simple and utterly relatable collection. ~ Neil Z. Yeung