He was “Unholy”, that is, unholy, then he sings about “Gloria”, that is, of glory, glamor and glory, but the desire runs like a red thread through this album in the first song: “Love me more”. And by love, Sam Smith means above all self-love, which enables him to let others into his heart.
Sounds like a calendar saying, and it often is. But surprisingly, the British musician, who came out as a non-binary person in 2019, still manages not to slip into embarrassment on the new album “Gloria”, despite pure pathos pop.
Because it’s good pathos pop that he delivers. Colleague Beyoncé has compared Smith’s voice to butter: smooth, full and sinfully good. The debut “The Lonely Hour” (2014) sold nine million copies and brought the then 22-year-old four Grammys. “The Thrill of it all” and “Love goes” followed. Smith was denied a Brit Award in 2021 because of the then binary categories.
Self-search and self-discovery, fears and doubts, relationship chaos. Those are the big themes that dominate the album. But fortunately the songs are strong enough to convey the concerns. Musically, Smith is still rooted in creamy pop-soul, the atmosphere in the 13 songs – the last one in a duet with Ed Sheeran – oscillates between dancehall and nave. “Love me more” won’t be a problem after this album.
Album tip: Sam Smith. Gloria. Universal Music.