Released 9 years ago today
The Thrill of It All
Sam Smith · 2017
55 min · 16 tracks · contemporary R&B
A soulful exploration of heartbreak and vulnerability layered over lush contemporary R&B melodies and lush vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Too Good at Goodbyes Start here — This lead single sets the tone for the album with its heartfelt lyrics about emotional detachment after heartbreak, showcasing Smith's powerful vocal delivery.
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Him — 'Him' is a standout track that embraces themes of love and acceptance, representing a significant moment in Smith's advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
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Pray — 'Pray' combines gospel influences with a message of hope and resilience, highlighting Smith's ability to convey deep emotion through their music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal performances and cohesive themes but follows familiar contemporary R&B structures.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces slower ballads that shift the emotional tone.
- Vocal harmonies are layered prominently throughout, with Smith's voice often accompanied by minimal instrumentation to highlight lyrical content.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- 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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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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 emotional exploration
- reflective moments of vulnerability
- cathartic releases of heartbreak
- late-night introspection and solace
- sing-along ballads with depth
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of upbeat tempos
- prefer standalone catchy tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Follow-up to a successful debut, solidifying Smith's global appeal and reputation.
- Moods
- Cathartic· Introspective
- Career context
- Released on November 3, 2017, The Thrill of It All is Sam Smith's second studio album, following the commercial success of their debut, In the Lonely Hour. By this point, Smith had solidified their place in pop music, garnering multiple Grammy Awards and critical acclaim for their emotive vocal style. This album reflects an artistic maturation as Smith navigates themes of love and loss with greater depth and confidence.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Hozier· Lewis Capaldi· John Legend
Tracklist
- 1 Too Good at Goodbyes Start here 3:36
- 2 Say It First 4:12
- 3 One Last Song 3:15
- 4 Midnight Train 3:31
- 5 Burning 3:29
- 6 Him 3:14
- 7 Baby, You Make Me Crazy 3:31
- 8 No Peace 4:49
- 9 Palace 3:10
- 10 Pray 3:58
- 11 Nothing Left for You 3:49
- 12 The Thrill of It All 3:33
- 13 Scars 3:06
- 14 One Day at a Time 3:36
- 15 Leader of the Pack 2:37
- 16 Blind Eye 1:42
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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