Although the singer might disagree, it always appeared that Una Healy was using her time in The Saturdays as a stepping stone. Given that the group never quite wrestled away Girls Aloud’s pop crown, it was no surprise when they announced their hiatus. And now, it’s even less of a shock that Healy has released a solo album bearing no resemblance whatsoever to her past output.
Very much a return to her roots, the tellingly titled The Waiting Game proudly wears its country and pop-rock influences on its sleeve, harking back to Healy’s formative days on the Irish pub and club circuit. It isn’t always spell-binding (check ‘Craving You,’ ‘Grow Up Not Old’), but when Healy gets the recipe right, she has some potentially States-cracking hits on her hands (‘Please Don’t Tell Me,’ ‘The Waiting Game’).
Elsewhere, ‘Battlelines’, which borrows more than a few bars from Eagle-Eye Cherry’s ‘Save Tonight’, is a stand-out, while tear-jerker ‘Stay My Love’ – a duet with Nashville star Sam Palladio – will further diversify Healy’s fanbase. Impressive.