It has been an entire decade since the world was first shaken by Hozier with his exquisite magnum opus, “Take Me to Church,” which has let the world experience his talents and is an instant classic. With such a brilliant first work, the bar becomes impossibly high for all future releases. On “Too Sweet,” Hozier proves he still is in top gear, delivering another richly layered song that should stand alongside his finest work. Gentle but strong, “Too Sweet” wraps up the listener warm with it through the breathtaking vocals and poetic storytelling from Hozier.
“Too Sweet” kicks off very funky, with lively percussion and a sprightly bassline. The happy instrumental makes way for an utterly infectious pop-soul belter. Hozier’s voice is raspy and velvety as it skims fluidly over the rhythm section. Some swagger sort of sneaks across his lines, like when he says, “Baby, I can never tell, how do you sleep so well?” They are verses that are built with layers of acoustic and electric guitars to create a full, rich sound. The relationship expressed in the lyrics is as real as it gets, flawed from both sides. She’s “bright as the morning” but also extracts promises like “if you can sit in a barrel, maybe I’ll wait.” Hozier is trying to be himself, taking his “whiskey neat,” “coffee black,” wanting his “bed at three.”
No wonder this has already become a TikTok favorite. Its melody and lyrics lend perfectly to any sort of edit or dance video. That melody is stuck in your mind after one play. By calling her “too sweet for me,” it signifies she is too fine to be had or, conversely, that he is too much of a free spirit to bind himself. Recognition of those hardships does come out, but there is so much appreciation of the many good qualities, such as being “as soft as the rain.” The repetition of the line “You’re too sweet for me” at both ends of the verses underlines the inability to connect such differences.
The most amazing thing, though, is that almost a decade into his career, Hozier is still pushing his sound without ever giving up a single thread of his authentic artistry. “Too Sweet” is the finest blend of his typical folk and blues with funk, R&B, and even a touch of rock. His production pivots feel organic, as opposed to forced; it’s just the natural development of a boundary-pushing multi-instrumentalist who is totally in control of his ascending style.
It’s just as exhilarating to watch an artist like Hozier continue to hit new commercial peaks. Of course, this one went to No. 1 worldwide, a deserved accolade for this bona fide banger of a single. Here, it has all the makings of another iconic anthem added to Hozier’s storied discography. Whether you are pumping up in the car or just sitting in quiet meditation over its depths, “Too Sweet” has endless replay value that continues to enrich with every listen.
That means “Too Sweet” finds Hozier at his artistic and commercial peak; people clamoring for the original, folky soulful sound will be put off, but open-minded listeners will be over-rewarded with this new dimension of greatness. This single whets appetites for whatever Hozier creates next and reminds us why he remains peerless in his generation. From the first to the fiftieth listen, “Too Sweet” cements Hozier as a legendary talent operating on another level.
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