Friday's Child

"Leave Right Now" is pure, premium white soul-pop--superbly written, expertly delivered, with a refrain that is as catchy as any of the disposable pop currently being consumed by the teenage masses. "Love the One You're With" is an acoustic-based, gospel-tinged mélange of "mmms" and "ooohs" and almost tips the title track from being the best song on the album. "Friday's Child" is an epic, stirring, string-based cut that has the luxurious feeling of a sunny afternoon spent reading the papers and wandering from pub to pub.

Friday's Child is a timely reminder that pop isn't just for pre-pubescents. There are no half-baked album fillers here (hello Rachel Stephens), no D-side rejects and definitely no Stevie Wonder covers. Will Young has produced an album of substance and for that we should all be grateful. --Cortman Virtue