Smokey Robinson, Gasms | Album Review 💿

Iconic Motown singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson delivers an enjoyable album with Gasms, his first LP in nine years. 

It’s not often that musicians in their eighties release new albums. That said, iconic Motown legend 🎙 Smokey Robinson is built different 💪.  After an extended hiatus, the 83-year-old singer/songwriter brings the 💿 Gasms on his 2023 album 😈. WOO! Sure, the first -gasm that comes to mind starts with an O, but Robinson made it clear that a “‘gasm’ is any good feeling you might have”. We’ll take him at his word.  On his first LP in nine years, Robinson doesn’t reinvent music – he has nothing left to prove – but he manages to deliver an enjoyable LP.

“Gasms” 

“Every kind of gasm in the book / Each, I has ‘em every time I take a look…” Say what, Smokey Robinson? “Any kind of gasm on the list / The gasms you don’t give me, I don’t think exist.” WOO 🤯!  On 🤩 🎵 “Gasms,” the opener and title track, Robinson shocks a bit 😈. No, he’s not incredibly overt, but it’s clear, he’s making a nod to the universal three-letter word (“Soft and sweet or the kind the neighbors hear gasms”). While he raises eyebrows to some extent, the production is quite classy and sophisticated, and vocally, he sounds incredibly strong (particularly at 83).  His vibrato truly stands out.  Melodically, “Gasms” also benefits from tunefulness.  And even though it is sensual, “Gasms” still fits into a classier, adult contemporary oriented brand of R&B/soul.

“You make me feel like everything’s okay everyday / You make me feel like everything’s alright, every night.” The enjoyable, feel-good single, 🤩 🎵 “How You Make Me Feel”, continues the early momentum of Gasms.  “How You Make Me Feel” commences with piano – both acoustic and electric. Soon enough, the record is anchored by a solid percussive groove that recalls the soul music of old.  Robinson is the star, of course, delivering clear, smooth vocals. Once more,  his tone remains pure and beautiful while that signature Robinson vibrato is potent.  Beyond a well-rounded performance, “How You Make Me Feel” features solid songwriting.  Lyrically and thematically, it’s all about love – having that special somebody whom you adore.  The melody is tuneful, much like the more risqué opener.  The production (Robinson, 🎛 Cory Rooney, and Leon Lacey) marks another selling point.  Some of the best musical touches include the harmonized vocals beneath Smokey’s lead, as well as the strings which complement the keyboard work and groove.  

“I Wanna Know Your Body” 

🎵 “I Wanna Know Your Body” is on brand with the vibe of Gasms.  Again, Mr. Robinson is focused on L-O-V-E. Sure, he references the physical on this ballad, and asserts, “I wanna make the music all night long / While I’m holdin’ you tight,” but all told, “I Wanna Know Your Body” feels more dedicated and emotionally connected. He feels authentic and sincere about the connection with his lady.  He follows up with the classy, respectable 🎵 “I Keep Callin’ You,” which fits the bill of adult contemporary R&B and the niche where Robinson excels at this point in his career.  There is nothing groundbreaking about the song.  Even so, it’s a treat to hear Robinson singing well into his 80s and making us remember why he is a legend.  “I Keep Callin’ You” is refined.

“Every day I can’t wait ‘til the time rolls around where I can be with you.” Oh, the dedication! Once more, after getting those naughtier gasms out of his system (sort of), Robinson focuses on the beauty of a relationship on 🎵 “Roll Around.” He is so invested into her that it excites him to spend time with her.  Yes, intimacy is in the equation – “I can’t wait to get back to my sugar shack / Where I know you’ll lay me down” or “‘Cause you’ll be lying next to me / We’re each other’s ecstasy” – but it’s monogamous and inoffensive through and through.  Similarly, 🎵 “Beside You,” with its rich, soulful organ, is all about that one special woman.  See EXHIBIT A: “Each night as I lay sleeping / I see no one but you.” Once more, Robinson shines from a vocal perspective, impressing given his age.  “Beside You” doesn’t move the needle – he has nothing left to prove – but it’s light, organic, and uncomplicated nature is effective.

“If We Don’t Have Each Other”

“Tell me, what do we have / If we don’t have each other?” On the ‘lucky number seventh’ track from Gasms, promo single, 🤩 🎵 “If We Don’t Have Each Other”, the ‘wheel isn’t reinvented’ per se. Regardless, Robinson remains in great voice.  You can argue his tenor is less dynamic compared to his heyday but (1) that is to be expected and (2) he STILL sounds amazing.  The song itself is enjoyable – another respectable, grown folks R&B joint.  The production, like much of Gasms, is modest but sufficient.  Thematically, love remains the modus operandi: without each other, they have nothing – PERIOD.  All told, this old-school styled R&B joint is refreshing.   

If you didn’t already know seven tracks into Gasms, Smokey Robinson really, really feels some type of way about her.  On the eighth track, he asserts, 🎵 “You Fill Me Up,” sigh 😍. The theme is predictable yet tried and true: “Oh, and I / I’m so thankful to be loved by / Loved by you / Somebody like you.” Even if Robinson does little to disguise the cards in his deck or stack, the musicianship is sweet.  Again, the voice – #ICONIC.  Furthermore, The backing vocals and strings up the ante.  Robinson concludes Gasms with the lengthiest cut, 🎵 “I Fit In There,” which approaches six minutes in duration.  Even though it boasts a longer runtime, it benefits from its crispness, groove, and the swagger of Smokey.  Like the opening “Gasms,” there is a bit more edge from Robinson – a bit of sexual innuendo and double entendre.  Sure, nothing he says or insinuates compares to the explicit music released by modern day artists, but there is some whoopee being made 😈. Clearly, “If you got an inner vacancy / Baby, then make it a place for me / I fit in there.”

Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, Smokey Robinson makes an enjoyable comeback with 💿 Gasms, PERIOD.  Is the wheel reinvented? No.  Is music reinvented? Also, a no. Is R&B/soul reinvented?  Again, no. That said, one of the most beautiful and easily recognizable voices of all time dropped an album at 83 years old.  That, ladies and gentlemen, deserves plenty of credit and mad respect.  Furthermore, Gasms has its moments, namely the two promo singles as well as the title track.

via GIPHY

🤩 Gems 💎: “Gasms,” “How You Make Me Feel” & “If We Don’t Have Each Other”

🎙 Smokey Robinson • 💿 Gasms • 🏷 Smokey Robinson • 🗓 4.28.23 

[📷: Smokey Robinson]