- 8.065986
8.0 | The Irish Times
With songs so understated yet so vibrant and accomplished, you get the sense that there’s a lot more to come
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- 8.066009
8.0 | musicOMH
It’s universally accessible, and it’s the kind of pop that has the potential to dominate the charts and win over hearts during festival slots
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- 8.066148
8.0 | Digital Spy
A debut that dwells on the quieter moments in life, and by doing so, makes the biggest impact
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- 8.066839
8.0 | Exclaim
Smith's rich vanilla vocals retell stories of unrequited love and longing
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- 7.066864
7.0 | Slant Magazine
Thankfully, the songs are mercifully short. Just when you've started to grow weary of Smith's pity party, it's over
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- 7.066892
7.0 | PopMatters
The quiet moments of the album prove to be the most captivating
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- 7.066022
7.0 | All Music
This is an understated and promising first step from an unpredictable and distinctive talent
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- 7.065973
7.0 | The Music
His spine-tingling voice alone is impressive but it’s the journal-style way in which he’s written In The Lonely Hour that makes you think he could be around for a long time if he plays his cards right
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- 6.766769
6.7 | A.V. Club
As singles, the LP works. But as a whole product, listeners could start wondering if they hit “repeat” by accident
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- 6.566124
6.5 | Earbuddy
Smith has delivered nine solid mid-tempos with passion and vocal prowess
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- 6.065985
6.0 | The Observer
Smith has two things going for him – believability and exquisite restraint. Not for him The X Factor school of show-off belting that serves only to cheapen emotion. He could do it. He doesn't
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- 6.066827
6.0 | Rolling Stone
While the album flirts with a few radiant moments, Smith's endless yearning isn't wrapped in as many irresistible packages
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- 6.065965
6.0 | Evening Standard
Whether he ends up an Adele (all-conquering) or a Duffy (forgotten) will depend on Smith finding that elusive songwriting spark in time for his next album
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- 6.065988
6.0 | The Guardian
While he has talent and likability, it's a shame this album is not a little freakier, a little riskier – a little lonelier
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- 6.066180
6.0 | Time Out
It’s classy pop music to mope to on the sofa with a cashmere blanket and a bottle of something a bit pricier than you’d normally pick up at Tesco Metro
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- 6.066296
6.0 | DIY
He's not gonna lose that 'male Adele' tag any time soon, but one can only hope that by the follow-up he's found someone to love him right back
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- 6.066986
6.0 | Q
Chart-topping, Brit Award-winning soul boy needs a hug. Print edition only
- 5.866970
5.8 | Sputnik Music (staff)
Smith, in trying to move towards a more familiar and vivid sound, ended up with the things that killed that authenticity
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- 5.866830
5.8 | Consequence Of Sound
There is no diversity, only sameness; without a tracklist, it would be difficult to differentiate between tracks
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- 5.566860
5.5 | Pitchfork
Most of In the Lonely Hour is enjoyable just for Smith's voice alone—so unusual, unpredictable and utterly pleasing that it can be wonderful to listen to even through the most egregious of lite-FM tropes
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- 5.066465
5.0 | Clash
Most of these tracks get lost in their own elegant, introspective and lovelorn swirl of tedious easy listening
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- 5.066140
5.0 | The Line Of Best Fit
Smith’ sugary falsetto comes across a tad one dimensional and inexpressive
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- 4.266334
4.2 | Pretty Much Amazing
Smith plays it safe, joining the growing crop of British talent with big voices and little personalities
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- 4.065987
4.0 | The FT
Smith’s soulful voice cries out for a more imaginative setting than the rote gospel-pop and balladry that the hotly tipped newcomer finds himself saddled with
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- 4.066908
4.0 | Fact
An album made by an artist who spent years waiting to be famous, but when he got there, found that he didn’t actually have that much to say
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