Pop music is not necessarily in a great place right now. Platforms like TikTok and streaming services have incentivized short, gimmicky songs with few interesting instrumental elements and limited opportunities to showcase vocal talent.
Enter Ms. Dean, a London-based pop singer who is very much a traditionalist. Her songs feature intros and bridges, tell stories, and include key changes. Her voice is soulful and elegant, making it unsurprising that she cites Amy Winehouse and Carole King as major inspirations.
Her 2023 debut, *Messy*, showed clear potential, but she truly lives up to it on her second record. I’m glad to have this album in my vinyl collection.
The lead single, “Nice to You,” is a light, Fleetwood Mac-inspired track about the uncommitted early stages of a possible relationship. Another standout, “Man I Need,” is one of the best pop songs of the year—a groovy, danceable, anthemic 1980s gospel pop-inspired banger that deserves a place on any rom-com soundtrack.
What’s so impressive about the album isn’t just that it’s well-written and well-performed; it’s also an incredibly relaxing and easy listen. The music doesn’t claw for attention, nor is it a showcase of vocal tricks. Instead, it’s simply well-done music presented in a beautiful package.
The copy I purchased was the Amazon exclusive pink vinyl edition, which features a well-pressed light pink vinyl housed in a beautifully printed sleeve. It also includes a central booklet filled with lyrics and photographs from Ms. Dean’s studio sessions.
Overall, this is the best pop album of the year and absolutely deserves to be part of any vinyl collection.
https://www.nysun.com/article/record-of-the-week-olivia-deans-the-art-of-loving-2025