SAM SMITH

In The Lonely Hour

2014-06-26

British singer-songwriter Sam Smith has already spent time on top of the U.K. charts with his sweet, high-tenor voice.  Now Capitol Records has released his debut US album In The Lonely Hour, and he is receiving the full new-star treatment, with a high-profile publicity campaign including live performances on once-hip television shows.

Think of Sam Smith as a one-man boy band. He sings of love frustrated, love stymied, love lost, and romances that never blossomed. Production is tight, state of the art, highly controlled, and factory shiny. When they want more emotion, they bring in some strings. When they want a few cuts for the dance floor, they up the tempo and bring in a drum machine. The result is listenable commercial pop that goes down easy.

Where can you hear music like this? Nearly everywhere.

-Gerald Etkind

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 03/2008

    Rustic Overtones
    Light at the End

  • reviewed 02/2007

    THE SHINS
    Wincing the Night Away

  • reviewed 11/2011

    BUTCH WALKER AND THE BLACK WIDOWS
    The Spade

  • reviewed 10/2006

    BECK
    The Information

  • reviewed 08/2010

    MIKE KEY
    IT'S ABOUT TIME

  • reviewed 06/2009

    BAT FOR LASHES
    Two Suns

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.