In the Lonely Hour (10th Anniversary)

華々しいブレイクから10年……ということで記念すべきデビュー作のアニヴァーサリー・エディションが2枚組で登場。同じポーズを現在の姿で撮り直したジャケが物語るように、10年後の心境を踏まえて再録した"Stay With Me"は大きな聴きどころだろう。他にもファンに向けた新曲"Little Sailor"があるほか、客演曲などを集めたDisc-2では初出のライヴ音源も楽しめる。
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Sam Smithデビュー・アルバム『In The Lonely Hour』10周年記念盤が登場!

Sam Smithデビュー・アルバム『In The Lonely Hour』10周年記念盤2CD仕様。
第57回グラミー賞4部門受賞(主要3部門含む)、世界売上数2,200万を誇るデビュー・アルバムの10周年記念エディション

Disclosures loping dance-pop single Latch, a number 11 U.K. hit in 2012, introduced Sam Smith, a London-born vocalist with a deeply emotive voice. Smith grew up listening to R&B giants Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston, but their first impression was unique, not merely for the richness of their voice, but its resoundingly expressive yet naturally delivered manner -- on a level most singers cant match with maximum effort. Early 2013 brought their debut solo single, Lay Me Down -- an aching singer/songwriter-soul throwback that scraped the U.K. Top 50. It was quickly eclipsed by a lead role on Naughty Boys La La La, a breakbeat-driven tearjerker that went to number one in the U.K. and then reached the Top 20 in the U.S. Money on My Mind, an upbeat statement of purpose more about the soul than the heart, and Stay with Me, a torch song with a gospel-inspired chorus, were Smiths second and third solo singles. They preceded the release of In the Lonely Hour, the singer and songwriters debut album. Those three solo singles are here, along with seven new songs that tend to cast Smith as a heartbroken balladeer. Deep sorrow informs most of the material. Much more about mourning than movement here, Smith is bold for not attempting to capitalize on the Disclosure and Naughty Boy hits. The dominance of stripped-down backdrops -- some with merely piano, acoustic guitar, and conservative strings -- is somewhat surprising. That puts all the more focus on Smiths voice and words, the latter of which switch between borderline maudlin (What use is money when you need someone to hold?) and disarmingly brazen (Just leave your lover, leave him for me). If Smith didnt have such a remarkable voice, they could stay busy composing songs for artists in several genres; the anthemic Like I Can could be easily adapted for a contemporary country singer, while a few others could be turned over to young pop artists in need of material that makes them sound more human. This is an understated and promising first step from an unpredictable and distinctive talent. ~ Andy Kellman

ディスクロージャーの“Latch”やノーティ・ボーイの“La La La”に客演して名を挙げ、BBCの〈Sound Of 2014〉で1位に選ばれてもいた22歳のシンガー・ソングライターによる初作。ミック・ハックネルばりにソウルフルな中音域からジミー・ソマーヴィルばりの美しいファルセットへと移る様は、自然でありながらもドキドキするほど色気を含んでいる。伸びやかなのに物悲しく、何とも狂おしい歌声だ。スティーヴ・フィッツモーリス、エッグ・ホワイトらUKの大物プロデューサーがバックアップし、エレクトロ・ポップから王道感のある70sソウル調まで、サウンドにメリハリをつけながらじっくり聴かせる。ストリングスの入った本編の締め曲“Lay Me Down”は鳥肌が立つほどロマンティック。素晴らしい!
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