Lost on You

The much anticipated fourth studio long-player from the L.A.-based singer/songwriter, Lost on You delivers a lethal blend of vulnerability, swagger, and hooks that proves that Laura Pergolizzi, who has penned songs for the likes of Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, the Backstreet Boys, and Rita Ora, has saved the best material for herself. Built around the soaring title cut, a delicious bit of radio-ready sorcery that successfully pairs Roy Orbison-esque melodrama with stylish, "Don't Speak"-era No Doubt pop acumen -- it also managed to top the charts in France, Greece, Israel, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey -- the 13-track edition bristles with both style and substance. Touching on everything from soulful folk-rock ("When We're High") to bluesy electro-pop ("Muddy Waters") -- the latter track memorably appeared during the taut closing scene of the season four finale of Netflix's Orange Is the New Black -- and anchored by Pergolizzi's elastic and expressive voice, which invokes names like Linda Perry, Gwen Stefani, Santigold, and Chrissie Hynde, Lost on You is the work of a pro firing on all cylinders. ~ James Christopher Monger