I Cry When I Laugh is the debut studio album by English singer Jess Glynne. It was released on 21 August 2015 in the United Kingdom and 11 September 2015 in the United States by Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group. I Cry When I Laugh was recorded over three years, with Glynne working with several record producers on it.
Upon release, the album received mixed reviews from music critics, but had a positive commercial performance, with it peaking at number one in the United Kingdom, and reaching the top ten in Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Italy. In the United States, the album peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200, where it spent 12 weeks on the chart.
The album was preceded by the UK top-ten singles "Right Here" and "Real Love", as well as the UK number-one singles "Hold My Hand" and "Don't Be So Hard on Yourself". The album's fifth single, "Take Me Home", was released on 3 November 2015 as the official BBC Children in Need single of 2015. The deluxe edition also includes the collaborative singles "Rather Be" (with Clean Bandit), "My Love" (with Route 94) and "Not Letting Go" (with Tinie Tempah), all of which reached number one in the UK. The album was also promoted with the Ain't Got Far to Go Tour, lasting from September to November 2015 with concerts taking place in both North America and the United Kingdom.
Background
In August 2013, the singer signed a contract with Atlantic Records, consequently leaving her job at the time in brand management for a drinks company. The same year, deep house producer Route 94 approached Glynne about rewriting and providing vocals for a song of his, called "My Love", which at the time contained a sample that he was prohibited from using. It was released on DJ Annie Mac's compilation album Annie Mac Presents in October 2013 and led to Glynne’s discovery by British electronic group Clean Bandit who approached her to feature on their song "Rather Be". Released as a single in January 2014, "Rather Be" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the third fastest-selling single and the most streamed song of 2014. The track attained number-one and top-five positions on charts across Europe and Oceania, and was a top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. In February 2014, Route 94's "My Love" was released as a single; it also debuted at number one in the UK. Prior to writing the songs for the album, Glynne had broken up with her girlfriend.
Critical reception
I Cry When I Laugh received mixed reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a rated mean out of 100 from mainstream critics, it currently holds a score of 53, based on six reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". The Independent writer Andy Gill found that Glynne's "recent chart-topper "Hold My Hand" provides a fairly accurate template for her debut album, as regards both methods and themes. It’s a record of heartbreak cauterised by hope, so alongside the routine tears and recrimination is a recurrent element of recovery and optimism that sets it apart from most other soul-diva offerings." John Aizlewood from Evening Standard wrote that "it’s a relentless listen, probably best served in single exhilarating portions rather than as a whole, but the kitchen sink production on "Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself" is a windswept delight and bold is always more fun than mealy-mouthed". Digital Spy called I Cry When I Laugh a "mix of emotions, blending heartbroken lyrics with uplifting melodies. The overall formula isn't particularly forward-thinking, neither is it pushing the fringes of pop, but somehow it comes across as strikingly distinct I Cry When I Laugh is [...] an accomplished and uplifting debut album."