Who do you want to stay with you in your loneliest hour? Sam Smith helps you ponder that question as he invites you into his with his debut LP, In the Lonely Hour. At this point we’ve all been pretty well aware of the gifted singer’s talents, from his sideman entrance on Disclosure’s “Latch” and Naughty Boy’s “La La La” to his soulful EP, Nirvana, but within this new stage of his career Smith, simply put, soars. Instead of using the LP as a platform to showcase his talents and just reinforce what we already know about the talented Brit, he expands the relationship by digging deeper into himself with poignant bravado and honest, expressive lyrics, thus guiding you to face your own romantic endeavors and emotional past as well.
In the Lonely Hour comes in full throttle with a hit off Nirvana, “Money On My Mind,” and the catchy, electro/R&B/pop hit that serves as a great transition from “Latch.” But it is the rest of the album where we truly get the chance to know Smith and see the diversity he has to offer. Things pick up with the feel-good vibes of “Good Thing” and while we already know Smith’s voice can solidly stand alone (listen to the acoustic version of “Lay Me Down”), the percussion beats and 1940s-movie dramatic acoustics bring this track to life. On “I’m Not the Only One” and “Like I Can,” the two tracks are the most dominant sing-a-long, clap-to-the-beat, modern Motown, and Smith comes off as a high-brow Backstreet Boy (this is a compliment!) whose laidback yet passionate demeanor is simultaneously sensitive and light. He crushes the bridge and chorus in both, and the backup vocals certainly work in tandem. With “Restart,” Mr. Smith evokes the late King of Pop but still manages to mold it in with the rest of his music, blending it with his own unique rhythm.
In the Lonely Hour will make you want to laugh, cry, dance, and cuddle all at the same time. It is a burst of greatness that makes me wonder how the 22-year-old Sam Smith was able to produce and hone such talent, and what the rest of Britpop realm will do to keep up.
In the Lonely Hour