Rumer: Seasons of My Soul

Despite her youth and inexperience, this British singer/songwriter has turned the heads of mega-superstars Sir Elton John, Carly Simon, and Burt Bacharach (all of whose influence we swear we can hear here). And with good reason: Rumer’s sophisticatedly smooth and unaffected presentation is contagious and welcomed, especially on the dreamy “Slow” and a re-do of the theme from The Goodbye Girl. Think Adele with a 1970s easy-listening twist, but without the pathos. Atlantic Records (atlantic.com). —Nancy Ford