Too Good At Goodbyes: The first single to release from this album is also the first track on the album itself, and it’s a fantastic start! Since release, this track has become a replay-button breaker for me, thanks to Sam’s incredible vocals, the incredibly catchy hook, and the heartbreaking lyrics. This track just never gets old!
Say It First: As always, Sam’s vocals are absolutely beautiful, and I love the subject matter of this track: knowing you love someone but wanting them to say it first. The instrumental melody on this is lighter, but the song itself is so beautiful and so memorable, I’ll definitely end up breaking the replay button on this one!
One Last Song: A heavier song with a slightly more jazzy feel, I like Sam’s vocals, the repeated piano chords, and the lighter drum beat on this one. The hook isn’t one of Sam’s best, but this track is still very enjoyable overall, and I feel like this will grow on me in time.
Midnight Train: This track has a really interesting doo-wop style beat and a really raw feel (the overpowering drum beat makes this feel more “real”) and Sam’s beautiful vocals are on full display here. They help make this heartbreaking song even more heartbreaking. It’s not my favorite Sam Smith song, and it feels a bit short, but it’s a really emotional song and a really good one.
Burning: This song reminds me of a lot of songs I really enjoy. The piano melody is gorgeous, and it gives me callbacks to “Faded” by Alan Walker, another song I really like. Sam’s vocals (which are, again, beautiful) remind me of Ed Sheeran’s vocals on “Supermarket Flowers,” which is one of his best songs. Beyond that, this is a really personal song about the struggles and sadness Sam has been facing and it’s incredibly heartbreaking. It’s definitely one of my favorite Sam Smith songs.
HIM: Lyrically, this track is really interesting to me, as it tells a story about a boy coming out of the closet to his father (and God) to reveal that he is homosexual, which is never an easy experience for any child. Sam backs up these great lyrics with more gorgeous vocals, as well. Not one of my personal favorites, but I think it’s a really great song for sure.
Baby, You Make Me Crazy: This song has a far bigger, more overpowering beat and a much grander instrumental. I’m sure I don’t need to repeat that Sam’s vocals are gorgeous, and I like how Sam is talking about how he’s gonna forget a breakup by partying and having a good time, lyrics that fit perfectly next to the loud drumbeat and vibrant instrumentals. Not the best hook on this album, but I feel like this track will grow on me. I really like it.
No Peace (ft. YEBBA): This song features an artist named YEBBA, and her vocals throughout the track are really pretty, and I think she can stand tall alongside Sam on this track. This one actually gives me some flashbacks to some of the more emotional, romantic songs that I used to hear in the early 2000s as a child, with the only difference being that the beat sounds a bit more modern. Another enjoyable track overall!
Palace: Instrumentally, this one is pretty devoid of any melody outside of a light acoustic guitar. And all in all, this one is really short, but it feels very raw and really pretty. Not one of my favorites from Sam, but all in all, an enjoyable song for sure.
Pray: I love the kind of minimal but still really fun drum beat on this one, and the piano melody is really beautiful on this one. Beyond Sam’s fantastic vocals, I also find it really interesting that he talks about wanting to start praying and worshiping God, even though he doesn’t believe in him. It’s a wonderful end to the non-Deluxe album that I feel like I’ll end up hitting the replay button on pretty often.
Nothing Left for You: Starting off the bonus tracks, we have a really slow track that talks about his inability to move on from a past relationship. Backed up a booming chorus, this track features Sam having a little bit of fun vocally, demonstrating a lot of passion here. Again, not one of my favorites, but all in all, this is a pretty good track.
The Thrill of It All: I find it kind of odd that the title track is a bonus track. But lyrically, I like how he talks on this one about how the fame changed him and ruined some of his relationships. It feels more quaint and subdued, and Sam’s vocals make it feel even more heartbreaking. This is another track I really love.
Scars: Lyrically, I appreciate this track for feeling very personal and talking about his family. Sam has spent quite a bit of this album talking about his former lover, so it feels pretty cool to see him talk about his family on this. This will definitely get some repeat listens out of me.
One Day at a Time: Once again, beautiful vocals by Sam, and this song is really romantic. Where a lot of previous songs talked about saying goodbye to lovers, this one feels more like Sam has found the one he wants and just wants to love them. As a hopeless romantic, I’m a sucker for songs like this, and I think this is a perfect slow-dance song. Beyond that, it’s just a really beautiful, really enjoyable track, and a fantastic ending to this album!
Overall, Sam Smith’s long-awaited follow up to “In The Lonely Hour” is a big improvement on his debut album! “The Thrill of It All” might feature Sam talking a lot about breakups, and relationships that went awry, but I can easily forgive the similar subject matters when he is making such emotional, beautiful, and all-around enjoyable songs. Sam definitely takes a softer approach on this record, but the result is a set of tracks that’s really personal, heartbreaking, and also, great to listen to. It’s great to see Sam back with a new album, and it’s even better to see that he’s back with one that’s really enjoyable.
Favorite tracks: Too Good at Goodbyes, Say It First, Burning, Pray, The Thrill of It All, Scars, One Day at a Time
Least favorite tracks: None of them
Rating: Excellent
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