Moon Landing

After a short hiatus, James Blunt returns with graceful energy on his fourth studio endeavor, Moon Landing. Musing on themes that are as ethereal as the title title suggests—love, loneliness, and longing—Blunt offers richly accompanied melodic hooks, evocative lyrics, and disarming poignancy. His skill as a ballad singer makes the mournful, string-adorned “Miss America” (an homage to Whitney Houston) an evocative highlight, but Moon Landing is largely an upbeat affair. From the gradual cinematic crescendo of “Face the Sun” to the silvery acoustic guitars and thumping bass drum of “Bonfire Heart,” Blunt sounds wholly invigorated, achingly reflective, and more confident than ever.