Still driving people mad around seven years--yes, seven!--after his landmark Pop Idol win (it's almost enough to make you dewy-eyed for the early days of the Simon Cowell TV talent franchise), mainly by refusing to be typecast as a one, or two, or three (etc.) hit wonder and continuing to be so alarmingly consistent, Will Young returns with Let It Go , his fourth--yes, fourth!--album. Of course he's never quite so bold as to actually be alarming; it's easy listening, wholesome, modern soul-lite pop all the way from the former politics graduate, kind of like George Michael without the underlying tension, clawing requirement to prove himself or mind-boggling tabloid scandals. Any of that would just serve to muddy Will's waters unnecessarily, there's purity here like a ripple on the surface of a crystal lake that rebounds languidly to and fro across these 13 tracks, one that is reflected in and a necessary backdrop for his suave, mildly textured and famously powerful voice. There is the sense that he still might not be using it to its full potential as he sounds so comfortable throughout. –-James Berry
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