Frank Sinatra- In the Wee Small Hours

I’ve said in a previous review that this is Hollywood’s vision of loneliness. It lacks the edge of self destructiveness that real world loneliness has. Loneliness eats at the soul, this music tries to build it up. Builds it up by providing an image or a companion that reassures, takes the edge off. You are or you aspire to be Frank Sinatra, handling everything with calm collectedness, the epitome of cool.

That’s not to say that there’s something fake here, Frank Sinatra may very well be the epitome of cool and the emotion expressed here be genuine. If that is the case though, this picture of loneliness is rather niche. My point, if I have one, is that for the majority of people, loneliness does not feel like this, so someone coming to this album for solace should be conscious of that lest they add to their troubles the guilt of not being as cool as Frank Sinatra.

They might be put off by the music itself though. It’s very old fashioned. You probably know by now whether or not you like Frank Sinatra, nothing on this album will change your mind. The only thing that might is that fact that this is a less confident Sinatra than in “My Way” or “Fly Me to the Moon.” He’s still confident, he can’t help it he’s Frank Sinatra, but he’s less so. He sounds more vulnerable. Otherwise this is the same style which could be anathema to some people, which is unfortunate, because even if it is pure Hollywood, it’s beautifully shot.

3.5/5 If you don’t like Sinatra already, you don’t need to listen to this one. But if you’re feeling lonely or sad, I’d say check this out. Just keep in mind that you are not Sinatra. Also check out “Deep in a Dream” I feel like I don’t hear people talk about it often enough.