Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour
Sam Smith
'In The Lonely Hour'
Tiger Rating: 5.0 / 10
Tiger Rating: 5.0 / 10
Britain has really been churning them out recently. By "them" I mean white kids baring their raw souls in an R & B way, hovering somewhere between pop, urban and motown. It all started with Jaimie Lidell back in '06 I think. In recent years a slew of people - some successful, some not - have all had their two cents on the matter. James Blake. Jessie Ware. London Grammar. Even Florence and her Machine teetered very close to being soulful at times.
Sam has swooped out of nowhere with his first album, contending for the hearts of teenage girls in Britain and possibly the States. He has tonnes of cross-over appeal. There is no doubt the kid can sing. And sing he does. He's comparable to Al Green in ways, and depending on who he aligns himself with on production could be Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, George Michael or even a bit of Phil Collins. Certainly "I've Told You Now" sounds dangerously close to "Another Day In Paradise". Or there are obvious parallels. Bonus track "Restart" is one of those Haim like, late 80s adult contemporary grooves that's so hot right now.
None of ^ that excites me. To say the least. The dude has talent, no doubt. But there's only so many heart-wrenching, soul-baring, whiney, longing-drenched love songs you can handle. 'In The Lonely Hour' is literally track after track of these kind of ballads. With occasional beautiful string sections and throw back sounds. It's too much. I suppose for a first effort it's really impressive. And no doubt it's gonna sell by millions (there are a LOT of teenage girls out there).
My problems with this guy is that he has no edge. It gets lost somewhere on the fifth whiney ballad. If he had it at all.
And he fails to stand out from among the rest of the flash-in-the-pan boy pop out there. Is he Olly Murs? Who actually cares (besides the afore mentioned teen girls).
He would be great if he teamed up with Sleigh Bells. Maybe. He needs to stand out. Also he needs to learn to keep it in a bit. Overshare Sam. TMI.
Having said all of that, he still has odd moments where it all combines to be the perfect sentiment.
There's just too much of the same sentiment on this album.
WVS
Sam has swooped out of nowhere with his first album, contending for the hearts of teenage girls in Britain and possibly the States. He has tonnes of cross-over appeal. There is no doubt the kid can sing. And sing he does. He's comparable to Al Green in ways, and depending on who he aligns himself with on production could be Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, George Michael or even a bit of Phil Collins. Certainly "I've Told You Now" sounds dangerously close to "Another Day In Paradise". Or there are obvious parallels. Bonus track "Restart" is one of those Haim like, late 80s adult contemporary grooves that's so hot right now.
None of ^ that excites me. To say the least. The dude has talent, no doubt. But there's only so many heart-wrenching, soul-baring, whiney, longing-drenched love songs you can handle. 'In The Lonely Hour' is literally track after track of these kind of ballads. With occasional beautiful string sections and throw back sounds. It's too much. I suppose for a first effort it's really impressive. And no doubt it's gonna sell by millions (there are a LOT of teenage girls out there).
My problems with this guy is that he has no edge. It gets lost somewhere on the fifth whiney ballad. If he had it at all.
And he fails to stand out from among the rest of the flash-in-the-pan boy pop out there. Is he Olly Murs? Who actually cares (besides the afore mentioned teen girls).
He would be great if he teamed up with Sleigh Bells. Maybe. He needs to stand out. Also he needs to learn to keep it in a bit. Overshare Sam. TMI.
Having said all of that, he still has odd moments where it all combines to be the perfect sentiment.
There's just too much of the same sentiment on this album.
WVS
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