User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
- Summary: The second full-length studio release from British pop singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone was produced by Rob Milton.
Buy Now
| Buy on |
|
- Record Label: Interscope
- Genre(s): Pop, Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
-
Positive: 7 out of 9
-
Mixed: 2 out of 9
-
Negative: 0 out of 9
-
Apr 16, 2026The result is her most complete and compelling work to date, a bold, cohesive album that showcases Holly Humberstone as an artist at the height of her songwriting powers, fully in command of her craft and vision.
-
Apr 10, 2026Her sophomore LP embraces the more straightforward impulses of her pristine pop songcraft — to results that feel more jubilant and whimsical than anything else she's ever done.
-
Apr 10, 2026Cruel World is peppy bordering on euphoric: inordinately sunny break-up song To Love Somebody is powered by a stadium-ready pre-chorus, while the brilliantly catchy White Noise plugs into nostalgically naff disco to channel imperial-phase Kylie.
-
Apr 10, 2026Taking learnings from her heavyweight counterparts, ‘To Love Somebody’ and ‘White Noise’ pair her bittersweet melodies with driving pop, while the beautiful ‘Blue Dream’ pulls the likes of Gracie Abrams or Taylor further into their vulnerability.
-
Apr 13, 2026Sonically richer but still rooted in vulnerability, ‘Cruel World’ expands Humberstone’s palette without losing what first defined her sound.
-
Apr 15, 2026Among her many talents, second-guessing herself is the one that makes Holly Humberstone’s music the most relatable. She blends this masterfully with the short attention span of a fickle business.
-
Apr 10, 2026The title track, Cruel World, is a brilliantly deceptive slice of sunshine. .... Elsewhere, the album is quieter and less sure footed.