Hurts 2B Human

It all adds up to an album that cleverly feels stylish and fashionable without abandoning the emotional gravity P!nk has accumulated over the years.

As with most Pink albums, the song-to-song shifts result in some misfires. ... But those missteps are raised up by the solid material that surrounds it.

As a whole Hurts 2B Human is not perfect. It is full of emotion and passion in certain parts, and yet devoid of it in others.

The amount of emotion she puts into even the less worthy numbers reminds you why she remains one of our worthiest superstars. But you may find yourself missing the more idiosyncratic Pink who runs off at the mouth as much as she runs off at the heart.

There are flourishes that hint the singer is still capable of reaching those heights in pop that few ever reach, moments when she still sounds like she’s actually having a good time recording the songs. Unfortunately, these moments are all too fleeting. When Hurts 2B Human works, its great. It reminds you why Pink is such a big star. When it doesn’t, it hurts.

Hurts 2B Human treads familiar ground. With the brass-assisted, stomping opening track Hustle, and the EDM juggernaut Can We Pretend, the listener is provided with the underdog me-against-the-world anthems that Pink does so well. But the album’s most affecting points are its most tender.

In a vaguely concept-album move, the pacing of Hurts 2B Human is telling. Pink sings “I abhor reality” on the sugary dance song “Can We Pretend” featuring Cash Cash. But when she digs into what’s getting her down, it’s the most brazen and heartbroken she’s ever sounded.