Release Date: Jan 27, 2023
Genre(s): R&B, Pop/Rock
Record label: Capitol
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A fourth album features Kim Petras, Ed Sheeran, Jessie Reyez and Koffee, and showcases a voice that makes everything sound listenable. But of terrific moments there are too few There’s a bit of a dichotomy with Sam Smith. On paper, they’re one of our most interesting pop stars – indeed, as the first major non-binary pop artist, they’re a part of modern pop culture and have arguably been responsible for bringing ‘the pronoun debate’ to the mainstream public – and scored the first James Bond theme to reach Number 1 on the UK charts, for the Oscar and Golden Globe winning Writing's On The Wall.
Sam Smith has never shied away from baring their soul, but with their fourth album 'Gloria', these emotions have gone through somewhat of a metamorphosis from self doubt and despondency and tears to self-acceptance, self-discovery and somewhat of a reawakening for the singer which can be found front and centre throughout this album. Building from the success and sonic shift of their critically acclaimed 2020 predecessor, 'Love Goes', 'Gloria' feels like something of a new era of sound and musicality for Sam. There's still the standout soulful, almost otherworldly vocals from the Londoner, but this is a more punchy, more seductive and indeed more euphoric offering from them.
Tags: Sam Smith, Reviews, Album Reviews.
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