Honestly, when the news first broke that Smokey Robinson was naming his new album Gasms, the internet basically collectively lost its mind. People were confused. Some were frankly a little weirded out. Seeing a soul legend—a man who basically pioneered the "Quiet Storm" genre and gave us timeless, clean-cut hits like "My Girl"—singing about "eyegasms" at 83 years old felt like a glitch in the Matrix.
But here’s the thing: if you actually sit down and listen to the smokey robinson gasms songs, you realize it isn't some desperate attempt to stay relevant by being edgy. It’s actually one of the most honest, smooth, and musically sophisticated projects he’s put out in decades. He isn't trying to be Nicki Minaj. He’s just being Smokey, albeit a version that finally stopped filtering himself for the Motown censors of 1964.
The Mystery Behind the Tracklist
The album is tight. Only nine songs. In an era where artists bloat their tracklists with 22 songs just to game the streaming algorithms, Smokey kept it lean. Every song serves the "mood," which he describes as a collection specifically designed for the bedroom.
The title track, "Gasms," is the one that sparked a thousand memes. He sings about "eyegasms" (looking at his partner), "eargasms" (hearing their voice), and even "mindgasms." It sounds cheesy on paper. In practice? His voice is so unnervingly supple and silky that you almost forget he’s an octogenarian. It’s a masterclass in vocal control.
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- Gasms – The controversial opener that sets the sensual, literal tone.
- How You Make Me Feel – A standout single produced by Cory Rooney that feels like a classic "Cruisin'" era throwback but with modern thump.
- I Wanna Know Your Body – This is where things get really intimate, with sparse, womb-like production.
- I Keep Callin' You – A song Smokey apparently sat on for nearly 20 years, proving his songwriting process is slow and deliberate.
- Roll Around – Another "vault" song that feels like a warm hug of 70s soul.
- Beside You – A beautifully rendered cover of the 1950s classic by The Flamingos.
- If We Don't Have Each Other – The lead single that reminds everyone why he's a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
- You Fill Me Up – Mid-tempo bliss.
- I Fit In There – The "Grapevine"-style closer that uses a vacancy metaphor that’s... well, it's definitely suggestive.
Why "Gasms" Actually Makes Musical Sense
Most people get stuck on the title. They think it's just about sex. But Smokey has been explaining in interviews—like his chats with AARP and Jennifer Hudson—that a "gasm" is any peak feeling of pleasure. He’s a songwriter. He plays with language. He’s always been the "poet laureate" of soul, and poets like to push boundaries.
The production on these smokey robinson gasms songs is surprisingly "organic" for 2023-2026 standards. He worked with J.J. Blair to mix the record, and the sessions involved real musicians—legendary drummer Steve Ferrone and bassist Freddie Washington. This isn't a bunch of programmed loops. You can hear the air in the room. You can hear the vibration of the strings.
Breaking the Ageism Barrier
There is a weird double standard in music. We allow rappers in their 20s to be as explicit as they want, but as soon as a legend enters his 80s, we expect them to stick to gospel or "safe" standards. Smokey basically told the world to get over it. He’s healthy, he meditates, he does yoga, and yeah, he still feels sexual. Why shouldn't he sing about it?
If you listen to "I Fit In There," the lyrics are definitely provocative. "If you've got an inner vacancy / Baby then make it a place for me." It’s naughty. It’s "Uncle Smokey" after three glasses of wine. But because it’s delivered with that world-class falsetto, it stays on the right side of sophisticated.
A Perfectionist at Work
One of the most fascinating details about this album is how much Smokey still cares about the craft. J.J. Blair mentioned that Smokey would take a mix, drive around with it for two weeks, and then call up just to change two words.
That's the Motown discipline. That's Berry Gordy’s influence. Even on a song called "Gasms," the internal rhyme schemes and the way the syllables hit the beat are calculated. He isn't just phoning it in for a paycheck. He’s protecting a legacy that spans over 60 years.
Critics have been surprisingly kind to the project, once they got past the initial shock of the title. Pitchfork and AllMusic both gave it respectable nods, noting that his voice sounds remarkably untouched by time. He doesn't use heavy Auto-Tune. He doesn't need to. He still has the range he had when he was fronting The Miracles.
How to Experience the "Gasms" Era
If you're coming to this album for the first time, don't start with the title track. It might be too much of a "jump scare" for some.
Instead, start with "How You Make Me Feel" or "If We Don't Have Each Other." These tracks bridge the gap between the Smokey you know and the Smokey of today. They are smooth, mid-tempo rollers that wouldn't sound out of place on a playlist next to Maxwell or Sade.
The album is a concept piece about pleasure in all its forms. It’s meant to be played from start to finish. It’s "grown folks" music. In a world of fast-paced, high-anxiety pop, there is something deeply rebellious about an 80-year-old man telling everyone to just slow down, kick back, and feel good.
Actionable Listening Guide
- For the Soul Purists: Listen to "Beside You." It’s a gorgeous nod to his doo-wop roots.
- For the Modern R&B Fans: Check "How You Make Me Feel." The production is crisp and punchy.
- For the Skeptics: Put on "I Keep Callin' You." It’s a timeless ballad that proves he hasn't lost his touch for writing about longing.
The best way to appreciate this era of his career is to look past the marketing "stunt" of the title and listen to the arrangements. You'll find a man who is still deeply in love with the craft of songwriting, still obsessed with the perfect melody, and still very much the master of the Quiet Storm.
To get the full experience, listen to the album on a high-quality sound system or good headphones. The nuances in the mixing—especially the way Smokey's lead vocals sit right at the front of the soundstage—are what make this project feel like a premium experience rather than a novelty act. Don't let the memes distract you from the fact that one of the greatest living American songwriters just dropped a remarkably solid late-career gem.