Released 10 years ago
Long Live the Angels
Emeli Sandé · 2016
62 min · 18 tracks · contemporary R&B
A soulful blend of contemporary R&B and introspective lyrics, weaving together themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Selah Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Breathing Underwater — This track combines ethereal production with powerful vocals, embodying the album's theme of overcoming struggles while maintaining hope.
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Garden — In 'Garden', Sandé delivers vulnerability through rich metaphors about personal growth and healing that resonate deeply within the album’s context.
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Hurts — 'Hurts' stands out for its raw emotional depth, addressing pain and heartache with a haunting melody that encapsulates the album's introspective nature.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong vocal performances and emotional themes but lacks a cohesive flow across its length.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, atmospheric track that sets a reflective tone, followed by a series of mid-tempo songs that maintain this introspective mood.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and rich instrumentation, creating a lush soundscape that enhances the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- The last three tracks gradually shift to more upbeat tempos, providing a contrast to the earlier, more subdued material.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- introspective lyrics for personal growth
- lush production for emotional depth
- consistent flow through the album
- soulful melodies for heartfelt connection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy quick tracks
- seek standalone singles experience
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Represents an artistic evolution and solidifies her contemporary R&B position.
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2016, Long Live the Angels is Emeli Sandé's second studio album, following her critically acclaimed debut, Our Version of Events. This album marks a period of artistic evolution for Sandé as she moves from mainstream chart success into deeper emotional exploration and personal storytelling.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Adele· Lianne La Havas· Jessie Ware
Tracklist
- 1 Selah Start here 2:30
- 2 Breathing Underwater 4:22
- 3 Happen 3:35
- 4 Hurts 3:58
- 5 Give Me Something 3:52
- 6 Right Now 2:14
- 7 Shakes 2:49
- 8 Garden 4:02
- 9 I’d Rather Not 3:49
- 10 Lonely 3:33
- 11 Sweet Architect 3:19
- 12 Tenderly 3:22
- 13 Every Single Little Piece 4:03
- 14 Highs & Lows 3:14
- 15 Babe 3:15
- 16 Kung Fu 3:57
- 17 Somebody 2:43
- 18 This Much Is True 3:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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