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9.1
70543
9.1 |
A.V. Club
Sure-footed, propulsive, and breathtakingly confident
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9.0
70141
9.0 |
Loud And Quiet
It’s difficult to fault something constructed from such gorgeous constituent parts
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9.0
70239
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
It’s an album in the traditional sense, and taken on its own merits, a modern British pop classic
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8.0
70240
8.0 |
Evening Standard
Ware’s comeback is at its best when she combines clubby textures with a retro Eighties sound
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8.0
70172
8.0 |
The 405
Tough Love is sure to be a chart success and yet another album to add to the pile of superb female-led pop records to come out this year
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8.0
70114
8.0 |
The Irish Times
Ware’s second album is very special indeed
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8.0
70115
8.0 |
musicOMH
For the most part, it is an assured collection of songs that exudes the confidence of an artist at the peak of her powers
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8.0
70111
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Ware has made a record that is totally ready for chart success, should her label promote it accordingly, but also deeper and more thoughtfully-considered than any British pop album that lingers in recent memory
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8.0
70112
8.0 |
Slant Magazine
Quieter and less anthemic than Devotion, Tough Love is an album that reveals itself gradually
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8.0
70123
8.0 |
Clash
Even better than her impressive debut, ‘Devotion’. The dance influences of that record have largely been jettisoned in favour of a warmer, more soulful sound
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8.0
70140
8.0 |
DIY
Ware’s vocals are at the forefront, no longer hidden amongst a cloud of heavy electronics
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8.0
70528
8.0 |
Exclaim
A tour de force album, one that nails heartache with sophistication and class
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8.0
70600
8.0 |
PopMatters
If it doesn’t hint at the wide-eyed ambition that Ware’s debut had, it’s okay, because the music is still there, her voice is still searching, and there’s still plenty of dancing to do
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7.4
70788
7.4 |
Paste Magazine
Where Devotion contained only three or four songs with big, traditional choruses, Tough Love is built on them
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7.3
70506
7.3 |
Pitchfork
You get the sense that pretty much any style could be Ware’s if she commits to it, but for now it’s nice to hear her explore a level of sophistication as her star continues to rise
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7.0
70290
7.0 |
Digital Spy
Its dulcet, romantic atmosphere is basically impossible to truly hate, but its tried-and-tested sentiments make it equally as hard to invest in Jessie as an individual
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7.0
70324
7.0 |
NME
'Tough Love' has its eyes locked on Adele's crown, with the Ed Sheeran-penned 'Say You Love Me' a slightly too obvious stab at the big time
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7.0
70192
7.0 |
The Music
Her gorgeous, clear vocals once again take the listener on an emotional, subtle and at times, sexy trip though love, pain and all that jazz
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7.0
70118
7.0 |
Uncut
Clapham diva goes for the pop jugular. Print edition only
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7.0
70550
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
Brimming with R&B grooves and a whole lot of soul
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6.3
70565
6.3 |
Earbuddy
Atmospheric pop with touches of R&B that at its best when Ware's vocals are at front and center
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6.0
70561
6.0 |
All Music
Ware continues to express a multitude of emotions with superb elegance. The material, unfortunately, is on a lower plane
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6.0
71178
6.0 |
No Ripcord
Lyrically Tough Love could be much stronger, although it is safe to say that Ware is confident selling her art on the basis of sound and emotion
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6.0
70120
6.0 |
Q
A worthwhile contribution to the great debate of love. Print edition only
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6.0
70113
6.0 |
The Observer
It is tempered and classic-sounding. But the sounds are as itchy and oppressive as they are tasteful
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6.0
70251
6.0 |
The FT
Attempts to build on those roots, with co-producers drawn from the worlds of UK dance music (Two Inch Punch) and US chart-pop (Benny Bianco)
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5.8
70449
5.8 |
Pretty Much Amazing
Thoroughly lackluster despite Ware’s consistently wonderful vocal work
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5.5
70692
5.5 |
Under The Radar
Ware may convince most listeners during more brooding, sensual moments. "Sweetest Song" and the title track, in particular, provide dark canvases on which she splashes genuine flourishes of emotion.
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5.0
70517
5.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
Her voice works best in conflict, and thus, the arrangements feel somewhat of a mismatch
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4.0
70383
4.0 |
Fact
Tilting towards the mainstream but without the songs to back it up
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