Today: Mar 29, 2024

Album Review: Sam Smith’s “In the Lonely Hour”

Emili Lanno  Copy editor

We may all know Sam Smith as the singer on “Latch,” a song with the band Disclosure that was originally released in Oct. 2012 and dubbed the “song of the summer phenomenon” this year. This was where we were introduced to the amazing voice that this young 22-year-old British man possesses. He also appeared on “La La La,” a track by Naughty Boy. However, Sam Smith is stealing the spotlight with his new album, In the Lonely Hour.

This is Smith’s first studio album and was released in the U.K. on May 26, 2014 and released on June 17, 2014 in the U.S with Capitol Records. This album reached number one on the billboard charts and continues to stay in the top ten of the Billboard 100 Charts.

His first single released off of this album in 2013 “Lay Me Down,” is a slow track that lets you get a sense of how beautiful his voice is.

His second single off of the album and the first song on there is, “Money On My Mind, which is probably the only upbeat song on the album. This song reaches such a high chorus that you will be sure to remember Smith’s voice just by listening to this track. He describes in this song how he wants his album and career in the music industry to be focused on love and not just the money. After this track however, it takes a turn, but definitely not a bad one.

“In the Lonely Hour” was described by Smith as a direct message and feeling towards a man that he was in love with. During the rest of the track list you start to get a feel for that message of love and how it can reflect Smith’s direct feelings towards that person throughout their relationship.

In tracks like, “Good Thing” (“Too much of a good thing won’t be good for long/Although you made my heart sing/to stay with you would be wrong”) he decides to show that underlying meaning of being with someone not good for you.

However, in many of his tracks like, “Like I Can” he is very direct with his message he is trying to portray, (“When mine is the heart and the salt of the soul/There may be lovers who hold out their hands but/He’ll never love you like I can, can, can”) Smith continues that direct and heartfelt message with songs like, “Life Support,” “I’m Not The Only One,” “I’ve Told You Now,” “Leave Your Lover,” and “Not in That Way.”

Of course, we can’t forget about the track, “Stay with Me” which is his current and new single that has reached a rank on the top ten charts in over 12 countries all around the world. He performed this song live for the first time on the 2014 Video Music Awards on MTV on Aug. 24.

In the Lonely Hour includes ten tracks altogether but also has a deluxe edition that includes four extra tracks, “Restart,” “La La La,” (the song he was featured on with Naughty Boy), “Make It To Me,” and an acoustic version of the song, “Latch.”

All of the songs on this album were written by Smith himself and also featured other writers including Ben Ash, Francis White, James Napier, William Phillips, Simon Alfred, Matt Prime, Fraser T. Smith, and Elvis Smith.

This album is filled with raw lyrics and emotions that any listener will be able to relate to. With his heartfelt voice, ability to grab his audience’s attention, and his incredible talent, Sam Smith will definitely continue to earn praise for “In the Lonely Hour.”

Photo Credit: wfuv

2 Comments

  1. One of my favorite albums that has came out recently. His voice is amazing and I love La La and Latch. Also, Pentatonix did an amazing cover of both of those songs combined into one called LaLaLatching and it’s truly amazing.

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