It’s been five years since Smith’s major-label debut, The Cricket’s Orchestra. Where that one bent jazzy, swingy, adult contemporary-y, Have A Heart, produced by Jason Mingo and Ron Lopata, is a straight grab for a piece of the pop pie. Propulsive beats, synopated, repeated phrases and clapalongs abound, along with fun jaunts like the torchy “Je T’aime,” which showcases Smith’s sense of humour: “Je t’aime, that’s all I can say/je t’aime, that’s all my Français.” The producers smartly keep their best tool—Smith’s smooth, evocative voice—high in the mix. Early summer mixtape contender.
This article appears in May 1-7, 2014.
