The Verdict

While she’s enjoyed numerous hit singles since she burst on to the pop scene in 2008, Demi Lovato has frequently seemed unhappy with the lack of recognition from peers and music critics. On her sixth album in nine years, Tell Me You Love Me, she finally locates a sweet spot that shows off her impressive vocal talents and marries them to smart, sophisticated pop that matches her considerable skills.

A clever mix of pop, R’n’B and soul, it’s an album that’s both vulnerable and playful. The title track is an Adele-style soul-pop ballad that allows Lovato to belt with the best of them. ‘Daddy Issues’ and ‘Ruin the Friendship’ play on speculation around Lovato’s love life with great effect and provide some of the album’s strongest material. A team-up with Lil’ Wayne on ‘Lonely’ shows that Lovato can bring her vocal heft to slinky R’n’B production, while the album’s closer ‘Hitchhiker’ is a vulnerable mid-tempo with an top-notch hook. A confident, bold pop collection, Tell Me You Love Me is the sound of a pop megastar finally finding her groove.