Revolve

Released almost exactly two years after the U.K. chart-topping, platinum-selling Tribute, Revolve more closely follows Calvin Harris' equally successful "Blame," on which John Newman provided a typically full-throttle vocal (and somewhat contradictory lines like "Guilt is burning" and "Don't blame it on me"). Although Newman made this album with a new set of collaborators, including fellow producer/songwriters Greg Kurstin and Jack Splash, its foundation is likewise in muscular retro-soul that blares and bolts and manages to keep up with the singer's superhuman level of energy. There are lighter diversions into house and disco -- including "Tiring Game," featuring Charlie Wilson -- and Newman dials it down every now and then for ballads, but Revolve is very much in line with the winning formula of Tribute. Its wider emotional range and stylistic switch-ups, none of which is outside Newman's grasp, give it a slight edge. ~ Andy Kellman