Four years after ‘Unholy’, the hit he shared with Kim Petras, Sam Smith returns to the classic aesthetic of his first two albums. A facet that he never completely abandoned – it was already present in ‘Gloria’ (2023) -, although then he coexisted with more pop and contemporary sounds.
‘Hazel Eyes’, Smith’s fifth album, is presented with a country-tinged and dream-pop ballad titled ‘My Guy’, initially not as immediate as ‘Stay with Me’ or ‘Love Me More’, but which follows in their wake while proposing a different sound, more earthly and close to that of artists like Leon Bridges.
The melody and instrumentation opt for subtlety, building an ethereal atmosphere that serves as the framework for a song dedicated to the love of his life. The lyrics alternate moments of amazement and emotional fulfillment (“I didn’t know this love could be real”) with others of a certain possessive nature (“you can dream that you have him all you want, but he is mine”).
However, the feeling that prevails is that of a tender declaration of love, a celebration of the happiness found with that special person. Of course, Smith’s great voice shines again, although this time from containment.
The album, out August 21, contains the already released single ‘Love is a Stillness’, as well as the full version of ‘To Be Free’ and a collaboration with Feist.
1.- Everlasting Love
2.- Hazel Eyes
3.- Moondance (feat. Feist)
4.- My Guy
5.- When He’s Gone
6.- Thief
7.- Love Is A Stillness
8.- Sugar Rush
9.- Oh Mother (feat. The TwoCityChorus)
10.- Constant Companion
11.- Hold On
12.- To Be Free
