California native Lissie returns with sophomore offering, Back To Forever; a delightful collections of singalong ‘80s choons and heartwrenching pop ballads.
With a voice that effortlessly moves from sultry Pat Benatar – you can almost see the blue eyeshadow on ‘Further Away (Romance Police’) – to the more grungy Alanis stylings of ‘Cold Fish’, Lissie knows how to write a killer hook and catchy chorus that’ll have you humming along in your leg-warmers for days.
There’s a dip midway: ‘Mountaintop Removal’ is a mediocre nostalgia-fest, while ‘What’s It Like’ falls just short of the mark. She’s back on form though with some excellent ballads. ‘They All Want You’ could soundtrack the most tender of slow sets, while the title-track showcases that wonderful sultry voice again and recalls a bygone romance (‘Time lapses, years just drift away / But I always said that I’d come back some day’). Sniff.
If you’ve a road trip planned in the near future – preferably across the States in a sky-blue Cadillac – make sure you bring this album with you.

Key Track: 'Further Away (Romance Police)'