Perrie Edwards

The most compelling arc in the story of a major pop act is always the one where their sound deepens and matures, with the band finally balancing who they are with who the label wants them to be. From the start, Little Mix have been on a mission to perfect this balance, countering their televised coronation as winners of U.K.'s The X Factor in 2011 with albums that showcase their soulful voices and knack for multi-part harmony with believably righteous feminist and sex-positive messages. Released in 2018, the aptly titled LM5 feels like the apotheosis of this journey, and once again presents the group as an empowered pop force to be reckoned with.

The most compelling arc in the story of a major pop act is always the one where their sound deepens and matures, with the band finally balancing who they are with who the label wants them to be. From the start, Little Mix have been on a mission to perfect this balance, countering their televised coronation as winners of U.K.'s The X Factor in 2011 with albums that showcase their soulful voices and knack for multi-part harmony with believably righteous feminist and sex-positive messages. Released in 2018, the aptly titled LM5 feels like the apotheosis of this journey, and once again presents the group as an empowered pop force to be reckoned with.

Ever since winning Britain's The X Factor in 2011, Little Mix have carved out a potent niche in the girl group pop market. While they certainly play well next to their similarly inclined contemporaries, they've ably set themselves apart from the post-Beyoncé pack by focusing on songs that straddle the line between retro-soul and modern bubblegum pop, while also showcasing their soulful, highly resonant vocal chops and saucy group chemistry. Their fourth studio album, 2016's Glory Days, is no exception and finds the group delivering a set of hooky, smartly crafted songs that balance swaggering, '60s-style R&B with stylish, electronic-tinged dance-pop…