On Oct. 30, pop star Sam Smith released a smashing album called “Love Goes,” with seventeen songs worth of raw emotion. Smith had been leading up to the album release for a while, with multiple singles released early. Smith’s voice on this album is golden, haunting, hypnotic, and honest. The songs are of the pop genre, but they range from emotional ballads to dance-beat club songs. 

Since 2012, Smith has roared into the world spotlight with songs that listeners can help but cry to, listen to repeatedly, and cry again. His vocals are legendary, and not to be ignored. Personally, Smith has flitted in-and-out of my playlists since his unforgettable “Stay With Me.” Smith is the ultimate heartbreak singer, but his songs can apply to love as well—even self-love. In 2020, we are listening to Sam Smith for the emotional capacity we may lack nowadays. We are overwhelmed, and perhaps numb—but Smith does not stop bringing the sentiment.

“Love Goes” is vocals-heavy, full of clear piano, and occasional electronic beats. It includes both sorrowful tunes, and upbeat, energetic hits. “For The Lover That I Lost” and “Forgive Myself” are both more downcast, slow tracks. “My Oasis” and “Fire on Fire” are more uplifting and happy tunes. “I’m Ready” and “Promises” are fast-paced, driving or dancing rhythms. 

So far, the most listened-to song on Spotify from this album is “Dancing With A Stranger,” with nearly eight hundred million listens. “Dancing With A Stranger” features pop singer Normani, and their voices pair together in a wonderful, smooth way. However, “Dancing With A Stranger” is not a new song. It came out in 2019, and has been gathering attention since, with lyrics that sing, “Cause I don’t wanna be alone tonight, alone tonight, alone tonight / Look what you made me do, I’m with somebody new / Ooh, baby, baby, I’m dancing with a stranger…”

Other popular songs from this album include “Diamonds,” a fast-paced heartbreak that will be pumping in the clubs (as soon as they re-open), and “How Do You Sleep?”, in which Smith croons, “How do you sleep when you lied to me?” This track is my personal favorite, because I find it’s rhythm enticing and exciting. Apparently, others love it too, because the song has racked up over six hundred million listens on Spotify.

Sam Smith has quite a few features on this new album. The fourth track, “My Oasis,” features Burna Boy, a pop and reggae singer from Nigeria. The title track, “Love Goes,” features Labrinth, singer of TikTok hit “Still Don’t Know My Name.” “I’m Ready” features Demi Lovato, and “Promises” was made with Calvin Harris. 

Smith’s “Love Goes” is more than just a break-up album (even though it largely consists of songs whose lyrics point to obvious heartbreak). With seventeen tracks, Smith’s 2020 album has plenty of room to contain heartbreak, new love, despair, and self love—all in one glorious, emotional package. Smith’s smooth vocals have always torn at the heartstrings, and this new album will bleed your heart more than ever. It is both cry-able, and dance-able. It is a versatile mess of passion, an encapsulation of a year that has left us emotionally drained. At the end of 2020, when all you want to do is lay on the floor and groan, Sam Smith will get you up and dancing again, especially with “Dance (‘Till You Love Someone Else).”