Paloma Faith - The Glorification of Sadness (Album Review)
Monday, 26 February 2024
Written by Issy Herring
A lot can change in four years. Paloma Faith’s sixth album ‘The Glorification of Sadness’ offers quite the contrast to ‘Infinite Things’, flipping that record’s focus on all-consuming love to something closer to triumph despite heartbreak. What we have here is “a divorce album without the divorce” as the chart-topping singer-songwriter leans heavily on her work following a turbulent split with her long-term partner.
Assembled alongside a star-studded production team including Chase & Status, Jack & Coke (Rita Ora, Charli XCX) and TommyD (Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé) there is a lot of potential here for a tear-stained banger-fest. It just doesn’t quite materialise despite an exorbitant 17-strong tracklist.
Things begin promisingly with the opening track Sweatpants, a heartfelt, emotional ballad lit up by some welcome, semi-regular electro thumps that add extra oomph to an already great number.
Bad Woman and the defiant Already Broken are also surefire hits, with the latter ending the LP on an ultimate high, while How You Leave a Man provides an undeniable sense of euphoria and relief at the break-up.
Elsewhere, the quality control is just a little off. Kojey Radical drops in for Pressure, lending verses to a hip hop foray that’s not particularly memorable. God in a Dress is also something of a snoozefest, wasting lyrics that are genuinely impactful and powerful. “I am a woman / A dangerous, powerful woman / Carry the weight of the world on my chest / What you got? I’m a God in a dress,” Faith belts during the chorus.
Cry on the Dance Floor is a desperate attempt at a pop banger and, as time rolls on, there are simply too many drab filler tracks to contend with. Given its backstory ‘The Glorification of Sadness’ could have been perfect, but its massive highs are grounded by a whole that’s too long and too frequently lacklustre.
Paloma Faith Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed April 03 2024 - READING Hexagon Reading
Fri April 05 2024 - NOTTINGHAM Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Sat April 06 2024 - BLACKPOOL Blackpool Opera House
Mon April 08 2024 - LIVERPOOL Liverpool Empire Theatre
Tue April 09 2024 - SHEFFIELD Oval Hall at Sheffield City Hall - Complex
Thu April 11 2024 - MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
Fri April 12 2024 - MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
Sun April 14 2024 - PLYMOUTH Plymouth Pavilions
Mon April 15 2024 - BRISTOL Bristol Beacon
Wed April 17 2024 - LONDON Eventim Apollo
Fri April 19 2024 - CARDIFF Utilita Arena Cardiff (formerly Cardiff International Arena)
Sat April 20 2024 - BRIGHTON Centre
Mon April 29 2024 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Newcastle City Hall (O2 City Hall)
Tue April 30 2024 - GLASGOW SEC Armadillo (Formerly Clyde Auditorium)
Thu May 02 2024 - DUNFERMLINE Alhambra Theatre
Fri May 03 2024 - HULL Connexin Live (formerly Bonus Arena)
Sun May 05 2024 - BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall
Mon May 06 2024 - BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall
Wed May 08 2024 - IPSWICH Ipswich Regent Theatre
Thu May 09 2024 - BATH forum
Sat May 11 2024 - STOCKTON Globe Theatre
Sun May 12 2024 - YORK York Barbican Centre
Tue May 14 2024 - OXFORD New Theatre Oxford
Wed May 15 2024 - SOUTHEND Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Fri May 17 2024 - BOURNEMOUTH BIC
Sat May 18 2024 - SWANSEA Swansea Arena
Sun May 19 2024 - MARLOW Higginson Park
Thu June 20 2024 - LONDON Hampton Court Palace
Fri June 21 2024 - LLANGOLLEN Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
Sat June 22 2024 - LINCOLN Lincoln Castle
Thu June 27 2024 - BRANDON High Lodge Forest Centre
Fri June 28 2024 - SOUTHAMPTON Southampton Summer Sessions
Sun July 07 2024 - LEEDS Millennium Square
Sun July 21 2024 - DUBLIN Iveagh Gardens
Fri August 16 2024 - MARGATE Dreamland Margate
Sat August 24 2024 - SALTASH Port Eliot Estate
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
