The Thrill of It All Rankings And Opinions

When Sam Smith released The Thrill of It All in 2017, it arrived with the kind of hype that makes most artists both excited and slightly nauseous.
This was the long-awaited second album, the make-or-break moment after a blockbuster debut. Would it prove that Smith was more than a one-album wonder?
Or would it be 40 minutes of beautifully sung déjà vu?

Years later, the conversation has shifted from pure chart numbers to something more interesting: rankings and opinions.
How does The Thrill of It All stack up against Sam Smith’s other work? Which tracks deserve “instant classic” status, and which ones quietly sink into the background of your playlist?
And what do critics, fans, and casual listeners actually agree on?

In this deep dive, we’ll break down the album’s critical reception, rank the tracks by impact and replay value, compare fan opinions with critic reviews,
and share some real-world listening experiences that show why The Thrill of It All still matters.
If you love rankings, opinions, and a little bit of emotional drama with your playlists, you’re in the right place.

What Is The Thrill of It All Anyway?

The Thrill of It All is Sam Smith’s second studio album, released on November 3, 2017, through Capitol Records.
Stylistically, it leans into soul, pop, and gospel influences, built around Smith’s soaring, emotional vocals and a lot of piano-driven ballads.

On paper, the stats are impressive. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and quickly became Smith’s highest-selling album in the U.S.,
following the success of their debut, In the Lonely Hour.
Commercially, it did exactly what a big pop-soul record is supposed to do: move units, dominate playlists, and fuel arena tours.

Critically, the album earned a Metacritic score of 72 out of 100, based on 16 mainstream reviewssolidly in the “generally favorable” category.
That puts it in a respectable lane: not a universally worshipped masterpiece, but definitely not a flop either.
Think of it as the emotionally heavy, well-tailored coat in Smith’s wardrobe of albums: classic, polished, and very on-brand.

Critical Reception: The Big-Picture Rankings

Let’s start with the critics, because they were ready with opinions the moment the album dropped.

Many reviewers praised Smith’s voice as the undeniable star of the show. Rolling Stone highlighted Smith’s “magnificent, gender-nonconforming voice”
and framed the album as a step forward in songcraft and emotional range.
It’s the kind of vocal performance that can make even a simple piano chord feel like a confession whispered into a microphone at 2 a.m.

Others emphasized the emotional intensity. Some critics noted that the album “drowns” in heartbreak and longing
but also finds power in that emotional overload, especially on tracks like “HIM” and “Burning.”
The recurring themes are love, regret, spiritual struggle, and the uneasy space between vulnerability and self-protection.

Of course, not everyone was completely in love. Several reviewers pointed out that The Thrill of It All plays it a bit safe,
sticking close to the sad-ballad formula that made Smith famous on their debut. Some wished for more sonic risk-takingfewer sad pianos, more experimentation.

So if we had to rank the critical consensus in one sentence:
Critics generally liked it, loved the vocals, admired the emotion, but wanted a little more surprise.

The Tracklist: Setting the Stage for Rankings

Before we start ranking songs and stirring up controversy, here’s the core tracklist most listeners know from the standard and deluxe versions:

• Too Good at Goodbyes
• Say It First
• One Last Song
• Midnight Train
• Burning
• HIM
• Baby, You Make Me Crazy
• No Peace (feat. Yebba)
• Palace
• Pray
• Nothing Left for You
• The Thrill of It All
• Scars
• One Day at a Time

Now, let’s move into the fun part: ranking.
This isn’t a cold, mathematical ranking based only on streams or chart performance; it’s a blend of critical commentary, fan reactions, and pure emotional impact.

Ranking the Songs on The Thrill of It All

Tier 1: The Instant Classics

These are the tracks that keep showing up in fan discussions, critical highlights, and “best of Sam Smith” lists.
They define the album and, in some ways, this entire era of Smith’s career.

• Too Good at Goodbyes
  The lead single is one of those songs that you recognize by the first vocal phrase. It’s emotionally accessible but not melodramatic,
  and it balances vulnerability with self-protection (“I’m never gonna let you close to me…”).
  Critics saw it as a strong continuation of the heartbreak ballad tradition Smith is known for, and fans flag it as a replay favorite.
• HIM
  “HIM” is arguably the emotional centerpiece of the album. It’s structured like a gospel drama, addressing a judgmental “father” and insisting on the right to love freely.
  The choir-backed arrangement gives it a sense of scale and righteous defiance, and critics routinely single it out as one of Smith’s boldest and most important songs to date.
• Pray
  Co-written with Timbaland, “Pray” spins the classic Sam Smith ballad into something slightly more rhythmic and spiritual.
  It’s not a club track by any means, but the beat gives the album a touch of variety.
  Many reviewers praised its blend of soul, gospel, and pop, and fans often list it among their top songs from the album.
• Burning
  “Burning” is the slow, aching ballad you play when you’ve already cried but you’re not quite done yet.
  Sparse piano, raw vocals, and a confessional tone make it feel like a diary entry set to music.
  It may not be the most radio-friendly track, but it’s a critical darling and a fan favorite for its honesty.

Tier 2: The Slow-Burn Standouts

These songs might not have dominated radio, but they sneak up on you.
They’re the ones you suddenly realize you’re humming while folding laundry or scrolling your phone at midnight.

• Scars
  “Scars” is a heartfelt message to Smith’s parents, acknowledging their journey and resilience.
  It shifts the emotional focus from romantic heartbreak to family, widening the emotional universe of the album.
  Lyrically, it’s more conversational and intimate, and that vulnerability makes it a standout.
• The Thrill of It All
  The title track leans into big, dramatic ballad territory, with soaring vocals and a reflective tone.
  It feels like a thesis statement for the album: love is beautiful, painful, exhausting, and somehow still worth it.
• No Peace (feat. Yebba)
  Featuring Yebba, “No Peace” gives the album a welcome dynamic lift.
  The duet structure allows for emotional back-and-forth rather than a one-sided monologue, and Yebba’s vocals match Smith’s intensity.
  It’s one of the more underrated songs in the tracklist.
• Baby, You Make Me Crazy
  Still sad, but with a bit more swing in its step. This track plays like the soundtrack to pacing around your apartment,
  trying to convince yourself you’re “over it” when you absolutely are not.
• One Last Song
  A retro-leaning track with a hint of classic soul. It’s a little lighter in tone, as if Smith is trying to smile through heartbreak.
  It may not top most rankings, but it adds needed texture to the album.

Tier 3: Deep Cuts and Mood Pieces

These tracks aren’t necessarily weak; they just depend more on mood and personal taste.
For some listeners, they’re skip-button territory. For others, they’re the secret emotional core of the record.

• Midnight Train
  Some critics found “Midnight Train” forgettable compared to the album’s heavier emotional punches.
  Still, its restrained arrangement and themes of departure make it resonate if you’ve ever quietly walked away from a relationship you knew wasn’t right.
• Say It First
  A solid ballad about waiting for the other person to admit what you both know is true.
  It’s relatable, but it sometimes feels like a cousin to other, more memorable tracks on the album.
• Palace
  “Palace” is the kind of song that hits hardest if you’re in a specific headspacereflective, soft, maybe a bit nostalgic.
  It’s beautiful, but subtle enough that casual listeners might miss its emotional weight.
• Nothing Left for You & One Day at a Time
  These songs feel like emotional cooldowns. They’re gentle, introspective, and more about wrapping up the emotional arc than starting new drama.
  For some, they’re essential; for others, they blend into the background.

Critics vs. Fans: Whose Rankings Win?

If you compare critic rankings and fan opinions, a pattern emerges: everyone agrees that Sam Smith can sing,
but fans are often more forgiving of the album’s repetition and melodrama than critics are.

On Metacritic, the critic score sits in the low 70s, while user scores hover around 7 out of 10“generally favorable” on both fronts.
Fans frequently highlight “Too Good at Goodbyes,” “HIM,” “Pray,” “Burning,” and “The Thrill of It All” as standout tracks,
echoing many of the professional reviews.

Where things diverge is in the expectations. Critics tend to judge The Thrill of It All against the idea of artistic evolution:
they wanted more experimentation after the massive success of In the Lonely Hour.
Fans, meanwhile, often just want Sam Smith to keep doing what they do best: devastating ballads that hit right in the feelings.

So whose rankings “win”? Honestly, both matter.
Critics help frame the album in a broader musical context, but fans are the ones who live with the songson car rides, late-night walks, and quiet Sunday mornings.

Where The Thrill of It All Ranks in Sam Smith’s Career

If you zoom out and rank Sam Smith’s albums overall, The Thrill of It All usually lands in a strong but slightly contested position.
Some listeners still favor the raw impact of In the Lonely Hour, while others see The Thrill of It All as a richer,
more mature evolution of that heartbreak template.

Later albums like Love Goes and Gloria push further into pop, dance, and self-liberation themes,
offering more variety and experimentation. That makes The Thrill of It All feel like a bridge:
the last fully “classic Sam Smith ballad era” before their sound opened up.

In many fan-made rankings, The Thrill of It All sits comfortably in the top half of Smith’s discographyrarely ranked dead last,
often praised for its emotional consistency, and occasionally crowned as the best “sad, stay-in-your-feelings” Sam Smith album.

Should You Still Listen to It Today?

If you’re discovering Sam Smith for the first time, The Thrill of It All is an excellent entry point.
It gives you the voice, the drama, the emotional honesty, and enough variety in themes (romantic love, faith, family) to feel like a complete world.

If you’re already familiar with Smith’s catalog, the album works as a kind of emotional comfort food.
You know what you’re getting: powerful vocals, slow builds, and lyrics that feel like texts you almost sent but deleted at the last second.

And if you’re here for rankings and opinions specifically, the bottom line is this:
The Thrill of It All is not a flawless album, but it’s a deeply effective one.
It may not reinvent the wheel, but it absolutely knows how to run you over with feelings.

Living with The Thrill of It All: Real-World Listening Experiences

Rankings and numbers are fun, but albums really earn their place in our lives through moments.
The Thrill of It All is one of those records that quietly soundtracks specific situationsoften when you’re alone,
processing something you’re not ready to admit out loud.

Picture this: it’s late, your phone is glowing a little too brightly in a dark room, and you’ve just scrolled a bit too far on an ex’s social media.
“Too Good at Goodbyes” comes on, and suddenly the song isn’t just about a breakupit’s about all the times you decided to pull back
before someone could hurt you again. The chorus feels less like pop and more like self-defense set to music.

Another scenario: you’re on a long drive, and “HIM” starts playing.
The combination of gospel influences and storytelling pulls you into this narrative of love, judgment, and defiance.
Even if the exact details of the story aren’t yours, the emotional stakes feel familiarwanting acceptance,
wanting to be seen, and refusing to apologize for who you are or who you love.

Then there’s “Burning,” which has big “staring out the window on a rainy day” energy.
You don’t have to be going through a fresh breakup for it to work; it fits any moment where you feel like you’re carrying around a quiet grief
that doesn’t quite fit into a neat explanation. It’s one of those songs that makes you realize you’ve been holding your breath.

On the flip side, tracks like “Baby, You Make Me Crazy” and “One Last Song” show up in lighter momentscleaning your apartment,
cooking dinner, or getting ready to go out. They’re still emotional, because this is Sam Smith we’re talking about,
but they have enough bounce to keep things from turning into a full-on cryfest.

Over time, listeners often find their personal rankings shifting.
A track that once felt “just okay” suddenly hits hard after a new life experience.
“Scars,” for instance, might not be your favorite on first listen, but it takes on a new resonance when you’re thinking about your parents,
your childhood, or the people who stood by you when everything else felt unstable.

That’s part of the thrill (pun fully intended) of talking about rankings and opinions with an album like this:
they’re never completely fixed. Your top three today might be your middle tier next year.
The songs don’t change, but you doand the album grows with you.

In a world where music cycles move fast and albums can disappear from the conversation after a month,
The Thrill of It All has quietly held onto its place. It might not dominate social media the way newer releases do,
but when you need a record that will sit with you in your highest highs and lowest lows,
this album still shows up, tissues metaphorically in hand.

So whether you’re here to debate the best track, compare critic scores, or just find the perfect sad-but-healing soundtrack for your evening,
The Thrill of It All delivers. And that, in the end, is why it continues to earn strong rankings and deeply personal opinions.