Rank: 4.5/5
If you thought you recovered from the release of Sam Smith’s “In the Lonely Hour,” think again.
Smith released his “In the Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition),” with the deluxe album’s original hits along with nine new tracks to sob to. That’s right, the artist gifted us with 23 songs all on one album.
The original and deluxe version were released in May 2014. With the praise it received over hits like “Stay with Me,” “I’m Not the Only One” and “Lay Me Down,” it’s no wonder Smith decided to repackage the album even better than before.
The “Drowning Shadows Edition” includes a combination of songs — new, old and covers.
One of the most remarkable is Smith’s cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Love Is A Losing Game.” In a recent interview with BBC Radio 1, he said Winehouse’s “Frank” was released when he was 11 years old and left a huge mark on him musically. With recent memorium of the soul singer, it only seemed fitting Smith pay homage to one of his musical influences.
The artist’s version of “Love Is A Losing Game” is downright tear-jerking. While Smith’s pitch and range is different from Winehouse’s, it’s almost as if she recorded it in hopes someone like Smith would find it and re-record it. You feel the pain in the crooner’s voice similar to that of the original heartbroken recording.
Smith covers another fallen songstress’s song with Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know.”
The artist makes the track slower than the original and sings over piano. Smith’s adaption to the already successful track pulls at the heartstrings, causing listeners to put it on repeat — similar to the Winehouse cover.
Smith re-records some of the album’s hits for the “Drowning Shadows Edition,” this time including features by other artists. Mary J. Blige lends her voice to “Stay with Me,” John Legend to “Lay Me Down” and A$AP Rocky to “I’m Not the Only One.”
All of the tracks sound the same as the originals, but the addition of R&B singers and rappers brings a fresh sound to the songs. Blige and Legend both wail their sorrows while A$AP Rocky lends upbeat rap verses.
An acoustic version of “Omen,” originally on Disclosure’s “Caracal” album is similar to when Smith released a slowed down version of “Latch” on the original album. The acoustic version show’s off the British singer’s voice more prominently and causes the listener to melt to his smooth vocals and sweet transitions from verse to chorus and back again.
Smith includes an incredible recording of “Latch” live from Madison Square Garden. The eight-minute track includes dialogue and all, including Smith starting the song alone and stopping mid-song to ask the audience to help him welcome Disclosure to the stage.
“I can’t play Madison Square Garden without Disclosure,” he said to the audience. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if Disclosure were here tonight?”
If you didn’t want to see the singer live before this track, you do now.
But he doesn’t stop there. The most compelling tracks on the re-release are the Smith originals.
“Nirvana,” a song originally released on a 2013 EP of the same name that never made it onto “In the Lonely Hour,” finally graces a full-length album. This has to be one of the most upbeat songs on the “Drowning Shadows Edition” and, by far, a necessity. The guitar strums and sultry vocals makes you question why it wasn’t on the original to begin with.
But, if you’re to remember only one track from this re-release, it’s the title track.
Musically, “Drowning Shadows” is why we come to Smith. It’s lonely, it’s dark, it’s pleading and it’s all set to violins and piano. It feels like a continuation to “Stay with Me,” but better.
“The more I drink/The more I drown/If I don’t think/I won’t get down,” Smith cries as you cry into your pillow.
“In The Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition)” will have fans asking when they will receive an entirely new album from Smith. Whether it has the tone of “Drowning Shadows” or a more uplifting one like that of “Restart,” fans will continue to lap it up.