By Colin 
There’s no need to build suspense — The Graduate is easily Nerina Pallot’s strongest album so far. Confident, intelligent, and emotionally layered, it marks a new creative peak in a career already full of standout moments.
Following her breakthrough with Fires in 2005, expectations for a follow-up were always going to be high. Instead of replicating the warmth and intimacy of that album, Pallot expands her musical palette and reaches further. The Graduate is more sonically adventurous, more lyrically insightful, and more self-assured in every respect. Each song is tightly crafted, brimming with character, and delivered with a clarity that never overreaches.
Her voice, as always, is a gentle pull into the world she creates. Sweet and expressive, it balances perfectly with the album’s broader instrumentation. This time around, the arrangements feel more layered, with carefully chosen details that reward repeat listening. It is a richer, deeper sound, but one that never overshadows her strengths as a songwriter. Rather than taking the easy route, Pallot has opted for growth.
Honest stories told with warmth and style
Many of these tracks will already be familiar to fans, having been shared through YouTube and performed live. Yet hearing them in their final form reveals new dimensions. The album hangs together beautifully, with each track feeding into the next. Songs that once stood alone now form part of a cohesive whole, drawing on Pallot’s personal experiences to form a kind of musical memoir.
What sets The Graduate apart is its tone. While Fires often carried an undercurrent of bitterness, this record feels more optimistic. It is thoughtful without being heavy, personal without feeling insular. Every song tells a story, whether through playful honesty or emotional reflection. The effect is intimate, like paging through a scrapbook of memories and letting each one speak for itself.
Highlights come thick and fast. ‘Real Late Starter’ is a bold, upbeat opener that ranks among her best work to date. ‘Human’ strips things back with a delicate guitar arrangement, supporting a lyric that manages to be both fragile and resilient. ‘English’, a bonus track on selected editions, deserves a wider audience. Inspired by her mother’s experience arriving in the UK from India, it is a powerful, understated piece that lingers long after it ends.
Lighter moments offer balance. ‘I Don’t Want to Go Out’ may not carry deep meaning, but it brings a playful energy that softens the more serious edges of the album. The contrast works well. What emerges overall is a clear sense of self — an artist willing to be open, willing to take risks, and willing to tell the truth.
The Graduate is not just a great album. It is a portrait of who Nerina Pallot is at this point in her life and career. Sincere, skilful, and refreshingly free from artifice, it proves that growth and accessibility do not have to be mutually exclusive. Pallot has raised her own bar — and cleared it with ease.
Colin