Sam Smith - The Thrill of It All Album Review

Story posted November 7, 2017 in Arts & Entertainment by Jenna Minnig.

Sam Smith evolves as a musical artist in his newest album, The Thrill of It All, which was released on Nov. 3. After his massively successful debut album In the Lonely Hour, the singer returns with a more mature sound on his new record.

Smith, who is generally associated with his melancholy sounding songs, does not stray from these roots on the new album. Instead, he enhances his heartache with passionate lyrics and a distinct somber tone. Although he went through a physical body change since his debut album in 2014 when he lost a noticeable amount of weight, Smith maintains a lack of self-esteem in each of the tracks on The Thrill of It All. His low confidence provides listeners a look inside the heartbreak and mental torment he experienced over the past three years.

The evolution of Sam Smith’s music is accompanied by an enchanting piano chord on most of the tracks. On songs like “Too Good at Goodbyes,” “HIM” and “The Thrill of It All,” Smith incorporates vocals from a choir in the background to amplify his dominating voice. However, not every song on the record comes with intense vocals. On “Say It First,” the singer enters into the soft beat with a high falsetto to start the track. On this song, he sings with affection and the desire for a stable relationship in lyrics such as, “You’re not what I‘m used to/You keep me guessing with things that you do/I hope that they’re true.”

Although the piano songs are typical for Smith, he strays away from his usual use of the instrument on more upbeat tracks like “One Last Song” and “Baby, You Make Me Crazy.” The songs have a prominent drum beat that differ from all of the other songs on the album. The change in tempo provides listeners with a brief surprise when listening to the album in its entirety. Though the songs remain meaningful, the change in pace is well welcomed after a lineup of rather solemn songs.

As unsurprising as it may sound, Sam Smith is often compared to Adele, another British artist with an amazingly strong voice, on his newest record. Both singers are somehow able to transform their private heartache and suffering into top-selling tracks that top the charts across the world. The Thrill of It All can be compared to Adele’s 25 album in terms of artist evolution and the potential for chart-topping success.

It is safe to say that The Thrill of It All dominates In the Lonely Hour in terms of maturity, musical variety and even in its ability to be replayed. Sam Smith did not transform into a completely brand new artist on this album. Instead, he extended his boundaries and forced himself out of his comfort zone while remaining true to his emotional roots. Seeing as nearly every radio station in the country has “Too Good at Goodbyes” on repeat, there is no doubt that the rest of this album will be just as successful.

Rating: 8/10

 

Jenna Minnig is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email at jkm5756@psu.edu.