Amplified Analysis: Sam Smith's 'Love Goes'

By Emily Duff


Sam Smith has finally released their third album, 'Love Goes', following on from 'In The Thrill of it All' which came out in 2017. Despite the three year hiatus, Sam Smith manages to maintain their usual emotions - with the break potentially exaggerating the passion that we’re so used to hearing.
 
The opening track, ‘Young’ is a very short a cappella track with the only sounds outside of Smith being a baking vocalist. Ending with the lyrics, “I’ve done nothing wrong, I’m young”, demonstrates the poignant emotion of the album, and specifically that tune.
 
Following this track is, ‘Diamonds’. As described on Smith’s instagram, 'Love Goes' is a “celebration of youth and music and singing like a drama queen” and they reiterate the fact it was created to be a friend of the listeners. ‘Diamonds’ completely encapsulates this idea. Despite beginning with a seemingly equally slow paced track, beautiful piano accompaniment takes a back seat just before the beat drops and Smith’s disco inspirations shine through.
 
In the middle of the album, my favourite track, ‘Dance (‘Til You Love Someone Else)’ shows its face. Usually more appreciative of Smith’s ballads, something about ‘Dance (‘Til You Love Someone Else)’ provides an upbeat energy that is really needed to uplift its listeners and briefly distract us from the bleakness of 2020. Despite its pessimist lyrics, Smith’s vocal range accompanied by a soft dance beat and vocal distortion blurs the focus of the track to be something you can’t help but dance along to - especially with the repeated, “dance, dance, dance” acting as imperative instructions.
 
Later in the album, ‘Dancing With A Stranger’, provides more of the energy you’d expect from Smith since his . A collaboration with Normani, their soft vocals complement each other perfectly. Contrasting the opening track, ‘God Knows’, this tune is a proper party anthem.
 
Following this, ‘How Do You Sleep?’ begins with an almost ethereal twinkle instrumental. The dream-like vibes are then increased with Smith’s calming whispered vocals before dropping to a pop atmosphere in the chorus. Half way into the song a dance instrumental and distorted vocals take over briefly and continue to mingle within the rest of the chilled verses.
 
Ending with ‘Promises’, a track Smith collaborated with Calvin Harris on, ends the album in an upbeat party mood. Originally released in 2018, Smith clearly felt the track summarised the dancey atmosphere created in 'Love Goes' - perfect for a “celebration of [...] singing like a drama queen”.
 
In conclusion, 'Love Goes' is an album that goes through all of the motions from disco to instant club classics as well as Smith’s typical ballads. Very conducive to their constant amalgamation of genre, 'Love Goes' is a perfect album to play in concession without getting bored.

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