Christina Perri – Head Or Heart

“Head or Heart” opens with “Trust”, a thoughtful ballad filled with rich strings and a building, gentle intensity that will give hope to anyone concerned that Perri has lost her touch between albums. “Burning Gold” has a sturdier sound, with a pounding drumbeat and warm, assertive vocals that build into an explosive chorus. This track reverberates with the combination of pop appeal and quirkiness that makes Perri’s work so popular. “Be My Forever”, featuring the young Suffolk star Ed Sheeran, is a bouncing gem of acoustic pop. According to a Radio.com interview in 2013, Perri wrote the song while happily in love and she had long term friend Sheeran in mind as a duet partner from the moment she finished it. The singers complement each other nicely, while jangling guitars and toe-tapping percussion celebrate all that is great about young love. The fourth track, “Human”, promptly pulls the listener back into mournful territory. The vocals drift over a low-tempo orchestra as Perri pleads with us to remember that she is “only human”. While this song is moving and pleasant, it doesn’t seem quite distinctive enough to justify its place as the first single released from the album.

“One Night” picks up the pace a little, with more driving percussion and siren-like backing vocals which build intensity throughout. It is certainly more unique than “Human”, but still feels like a let-down after the album’s promising beginnings. Track five, “I Don’t Wanna Break” is a rhythmic and spirited rant against loneliness and heartache which reinvigorates “Head or Heart” at the perfect time. “Sea Of Lovers” is a contemplative ballad with intriguing lyrics, moving along at just the right tempo to maintain interest without attempting soft rock. “The Words” is a nice enough love song, but doesn’t do much for the album beyond maintaining momentum. “Lonely Child”, takes us back into intriguing territory, with Regina Spektor-inspired vocals and a vigorous back beat. The song moves through a mix of genres, almost concealing the dark story told by the lyrics.

“Run” is another ballad, with a slightly poppy feel. Once again, here is a track that is okay to listen to but feels a lot like filler. “Butterfly” has a choral backing complemented by gentle piano, and drifts along in a melancholy fashion before building intensity at the end. “Shot Me In The Heart” is a good attempt at livening things up again before the end of the album. It sits comfortably in pop territory, with a radio-friendly chorus and a 1980s-influenced touch of synth. “Head Or Heart” finishes up with “I Believe”, a hopeful mid-tempo piece which owes a debt to Alanis Morrisette and builds to a strong finish. It makes for an enjoyable end to the album, and is more memorable than many of the preceding tracks.

“Head Or Heart” isn’t likely to break records for innovation any time soon, but it is not a bad album. If you are looking for mellow, coffee-shop music with the occasional standout track, this is a great choice. Sadly, if you are looking for excitement and variety, you will not find it here.