FOLHAPRESS – Sam Smith no longer wears the dark desolation of his old hits. Now, nearly a decade after bursting onto the music scene, Smith still sings about his heartache, but sometimes wraps up the melodrama in refreshing-sounding songs. A good example is the fascinating “Unholy”, which paved the way for “Gloria”, his new album, released this Friday (27).

The lyrics tell the story of a man who leaves his wife with their children to sin in a brothel. “Unholy” became an almost instant hit and fished Smith out of the sea of ​​similarity that had flooded his later albums. The problem is that there is little of this audacity on the rest of the album.

The disc starts well with the unpretentious “Love Me More”, the album’s first single. In the clip, Smith has a gay night out while singing about self-love and acceptance. It’s a theme that runs through his career and personal life. Smith has said in interviews that he faced prejudice and resistance when claiming to be a non-binary person.

There is an addendum to the loneliness that young gay men feel when faced with disillusionment in love and unable to unload on family members. It’s as if Smith has been wanting to heal an open wound since he was a teenager.

Smith is more gay than ever. In addition to including phrases from drag queen RuPaul on the record, he sported outrageous looks. In the video released this Friday, for example, she wears a luxurious fluffy and very voluminous pink cape. Wants to become a fashion icon.

But he also wants to mature. “The ’30s almost got me and I’m done with love songs,” he roars in the verses of “I’m Not Here To Make Friends.” Which isn’t entirely true, since several of the other tracks actually talk about their disappointments. It’s a generic pop song, the kind that comes out in droves.

With confidence, Smith also adds a touch of sensuality to the album. The first spicy taste is heard in “No God”, in which Smith packs her booming vocals into an almost erotic melody – albeit coyly compared to “Unholy”. In the song, he takes the reins of a relationship to bring a lover into line.

It’s also sexy when you soften your voice to sing “Six Shots.” “I’m like whiskey, you can taste it / It hits so hard, but it tastes so sweet / There’s no way you can love me, no way,” he sings, in listing the sips he takes on a drink that goes burning in his throat.

“Lose You”, on the other hand, is less creative. Despite starting the record with electronic beats, it sounds too much like songs Smith has released in the past, such as “Dance,” from the “Love Goes” album, and “Promises,” a partnership with Calvin Harris.
Incidentally, Smith also brings other partners to “Gloria”. After singing in “Unholy”, the German Kim Petras became the first transsexual artist to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100, one of the main music charts in the United States. Another interesting collaboration is “Perfect”, with Canadian Jessie Reyez, who lends her cool way to the song. It mixes well.

It is a partnership with Ed Sheeran that closes the album. “Who We Love” sounds old, like it came from Smith’s debut album, yes, but at least it brings together two of the pop scene’s greatest romantics in one beautiful song. Smith looks to the past to crown his glory. Until it works.

GLORY

Rating Good
When Launching this Friday (27)
Where on streaming platforms
Universal Record Label