SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: OLIVIA HENRY – EXPECTATIONS

Olivia Henry
Expectations
Independent

On Expectations, her second release, Los Angeles singer Olivia Henry tries one of the harder things in modern pop – give her alt-pop some jazz/soul overtones. To make it work, she would have to make it as close to the level of the likes of Amy Winehouse, Swing Out Sister, or more pop leanings of Norah Jones. The other alternative – fall flat on your face.

Luckily for Olivia and for all who take a listen, she actually gets quite close to all of the three above mentioned. First of all, she’s got quite a voice that can carry out such a feat. Secondly, her songwriting skills are there and it is obvious that she still has room to develop. She also throws in some modern pop or uptempo elements, like on “Tear Me Apart”.

But where Henry really shines is on the slower, steamier material, as on opener “In My Touch,” where her voice is reminiscent to that of Amy Winehouse. Even on the more poppy Norah Jones-like material, Henry adds some darker overtones that make Expectations quite a satisfying listening experience, pop or no pop.

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