For her third album Jennifer Hudson’s voice is a thrilling thing set in a workaday, loosely 70s-inspired “urban” blot of backing. There are highs – a belting gospel-house duet with fellow US midwesterner R Kelly, and an album closer with a Whitney-tight grip on the heartstrings, written for her murdered mother. (There are lows too – Iggy Azalea features.) There’s always a gooey pleasure to hearing her sing, but you’d hope someone launched through gospel to the American Idol finals and an Oscar win might find better material in an R&B world thundering with great songwriters.
