Brit Award Winning UK soul singer, Sam Smith’s debut album In The Lonely Hour, is the perfect company for these colder nights, contrary to the album’s title.
“Money on my Mind”, Smith’s first single from the album went to number one in the UK and, although at first it might not grab you, the electronic beats and Smith’s sweet, sexy vocals will take you away – if you can get past the slightly annoying chorus.
“Good Thing” is truly beautiful and is one of those ballads, which is heart-warming, foot tapping and includes gentle acoustic guitar, soulful piano and an unexpectedly moving string section.
The album is reminiscent of James Morrison’s 2006 Undiscovered but with a little more soul, as proven in “Stay with Me” which has a gospel groove and poetic lyrics.
Smith’s voice is inimitable, sounding as if it is a well-tuned instrument in the arrangement.
“Leave Your Lover” and “I’m Not the Only One” are nicely mixed ballads with catchy choruses and lyrics about relationships that we can all relate to.
“I’ve Told You Now” and “Like I Can” pick up the pace of the album just in time, putting the ballads to bed for the interim and allowing Smith to belt out some pretty impressive vocals.
Back to the electronica for “Life Support” which, so far is the only song which is at all similar to the debut number one single; the album is far more acoustic soul than R&B or dance.
“Not in That Way” is a cry-into-your-Riesling story of unrequited love, which features Smith at his sexiest, sensitive and soulful (swoon).
The R&B appears in “Restart” which has a funky, retro, dance vibe, complete with 80s drum machine.
Dance and electronica make another appearance in “La La La”, a loungey, rhythmic tune with vocals that trickle through the mix, begging you to party.
The album finishes up with “Make it to Me”, another soulful ballad with a pretty awesome blues guitar arrangement, making it stand out from the other ballads, of which there are many.
In The Lonely Hour is Smith’s debut album and it’s well worth a listen and is suitable for kick-back, feet up, chilling with friends listening.
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