Devotion - Jessie Ware
Devotion Image
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 61 Ratings

  • Summary: The singer who began her career as a guest on SBTRKT and Joker's singles releases her debut full-length album.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 28
  2. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Aug 30, 2012
    100
    It's lush, sophisticated pastiche, best epitomized by debut single Running.
  2. 80
    Ware has the pipes to come out on top of a TV singing competition, but it's her control, style, and musical choices that make Devotion so interesting.
  3. Sep 7, 2012
    80
    Here, on record, buttressed by her own diaphanous back-up vocals, she's fading deliciously into the background even as she's finally stepping into the spotlight.
  4. The more you listen, the less the album reveals; her vocals fall between sultry and sterile, and you wish, to take two of her professed influences, that she was a little less Sade, and a little more Chaka Khan.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. 10
    One of most interesting albums of the year. The songs are a great combination of pure Jessie Ware's voice and broken rhythmically electronic sounds. Pop of the highest quality. Expand
  2. 8
    I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the album. I'm a huge fan of Sade and you hear her swag emulated here. It's synthesized sounds are nostalgic of the disco era especially within Running and its "never give up" intricate harmonies. It is understandable that Jessie Ware decides to name her album Devotion, however the title track was the opening of the album and it may have fell short too early, if it opened with wildest moments followed by running then it would've made a smoother transition and a nice introduction to Jessie Ware. The only issue I have with the album are the song choices and the ordering of the album. Personally, I did not need to hear running three times, it is repetitive enough (not that I'm complaining about the actual song, the repetition works in its favour in the aspect). However three of the songs there possibly could've been included in the deluxe edition as it just didn't flow well with the rest of the track list. To conclude, amazing introduction to Jessie Ware and I'm excited for her next move.
    Favourite songs: Wildest Moments, Running, If You're Never Gonna Move
    Expand
  3. All of these new R&B artists don't have the same soul feeling like early Stevie Wonder or Anita Baker. None of them have any stand out hits . I feel a certain weakness in their R&B where there should be solid hits. I have a yearning to want to like this music, but they are coming up just a bit short. Sorry... Expand
  4. I'm not sure what album the others were listening to - the one I heard has mediocre songs and performances and is incredibly overproduced - doesn't hold a candle to the great R&B or soul singers of the past - not even close to Sade! Expand

See all 11 User Reviews

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