8/10

With his debut full-length 'Out of the Shadows', Shannon Smith lays it all bare in a collection that pulses with humanity, heart, and a deep love for golden-era songwriting. Blending vintage Americana charm with a modern lens, this release glows like sunbeams through a dusty window.

Opening with the infectious earworm 'Dance The Night Away (Do Do Do Do)', Smith wastes no time showcasing his penchant for bright hooks and soul-stirring optimism. The kind of track that sticks in your head for days, it sets the tone for a record that radiates joy without shying away from vulnerability.

Tracks like' Till I’m Home' and 'I’m Gonna Change' steer into softer terrain, trading punchy choruses for introspection and melodic subtlety. Smith’s voice carries the kind of weathered sincerity that can only come from lived experience, inviting us into his world of growth, reconciliation, and real emotional labour.

The album’s middle stretch is anchored by the bluesy liberation anthem 'Break Free' and the confessional groove of 'It Started Off With Lies', two sides of the same emotional coin. One celebrates reclaiming personal agency; the other walks through the wreckage with honesty and bounce.

While closing track 'Light on the Hill' brings everything full circle. A tribute to a loved one lost, it captures the kind of reflective peace that can only come from real acceptance. It’s a gentle exhale, and the perfect bookend to a record full of flickers of hope and hard-earned perspective.

If you’ve ever loved an old Jackson Browne record, been moved by the grit of Glen Hansard, or fallen into the comfort of a front-porch folk tune, Shannon Smith will feel like home. 'Out of the Shadows' is a passage from reflection to radiance that meets life head-on and still finds the light.