s="h3color tiny">This review is from: In The Lonely Hour [Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

I've been waiting for this LP to drop since February. It does NOT disappoint. There are, of course, the singles that we've already been privileged to hear: "Latch," "La La La," "Money On My Mind," "Stay With Me," "Lay Me Down," "Not In That Way," "Leave Your Lover," and "Make It To Me"--all deserving of their hit status. I personally think "Like I Can," with its tenuous relationship between pop beats and wistful lyricism, is a gem. This album is both compulsive listening AND easy to put on repeat. Welcome to superstardom, Sam Smith.

   "In The Lonely Hour” is the debut album by English singer-songwriter Sam Smith, and follows after the release of his EP “Nirvana” late last year. On this showcase for his talent for soaring balladry, Smith draws mainly from American-style soul-pop while he displays an impressive vocal range. Although this record is not completely ballad heavy, it does feature mainly ballads, filled with powerful hooks and gospel choirs.The catchy “Money On My Mind” was earlier released as a very successful single, and not only served as a great harbinger for this debut album, but it is also a perfect album opener and lead-up to the other songs, like the drenched in ‘60s strings and acoustic flutters “Good Thing.” The gospel-tinged “Stay With Me” shows some classic soul piano balladry, as Smith tugs at your heartstrings while he sings over sweeping strings and reverberant piano chords: “This ain’t love it’s...Read more