Glow

Abandoning all modern trappings, Brett Eldredge chooses to go the full Frank Sinatra on his 2016 seasonal affair Glow. Leaving behind the R&B rhythms that underpin his hit singles is a bit of a risky move for Eldredge, as it pushes the spotlight directly onto his vocals. Eldredge may not take many risks on Glow -- he's determined to adhere to string-saturated tradition, so he never plays with his phrasing -- but he's warm and charming, which gives him enough swagger to ride the snazzy big-band arrangements on Glow. Often, these tunes -- everything is familiar apart from the newly written title track, which is designed to pass without notice among the standards -- are so overheated they suggest a Vegas revue, but that's also the appeal of Glow. Eldredge plays with the schlockiest aspects of show biz, but his tongue is never in his cheek: he believes in this bluster, and that's the fun of Glow. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine