Like I Used To

British singer/songwriter Lucy Rose made her presence known as the female vocalist on Bombay Bicycle Club albums before starting a solo career that\'s earned comparisons to critics’ favorite Laura Marling. Where Marling chose the acoustic-folky road, Rose is interested in seeing what a band can do for her emotionally resonant compositions. To keep things relaxed for her major-label debut, she recorded the album in the basement of her parents’ house. This gives the album an intimacy in key spots, but tracks such as “Lines,” “Watch Over,\" and “First” build into folk-based pop songs that show no lack of fidelity or grandeur where necessary. The broken heart guiding these songs shows a glimmer of hope on the album’s beautifully orchestrated “official” closer, “Be Alright.” The deluxe edition includes “Little Brave” and the three non-LP tracks from the *Middle of the Bed* EP. 

It's first album time for folk songstress Lucy Rose - but she's been at this for five years, you know.

Discover Like I Used To by Lucy Rose released in 2012. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.

<p>In its unassertive way, the Warwickshire-bred vocalist's debut album is a trove of small pleasures, writes<strong> Caroline Sullivan</strong></p>