The Truth Is (Alexandra Burke album)

The Truth Is
Studio album by
Released16 March 2018
Recorded2013–2018
GenrePop[1]
Length37:47
LabelDecca
Producer
Alexandra Burke chronology
Renegade
(2015)
The Truth Is
(2018)
Singles from The Truth Is
  1. "Shadow"
    Released: 9 February 2018

The Truth Is is the third studio album by English singer and songwriter Alexandra Burke. It was released on 16 March 2018 through Decca Records.[2] Recording for the album started in 2013 and finished in early 2018. The first single from the album, "Shadow", was released on 9 February to BBC Radio 2, and to digital download and streaming on 23 February.[3] The album entered and peaked at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart, spending only one week in the top 100.[4] This release also returned Burke to the top 10 of Scotland's albums chart after a nine-year absence. The music style of The Truth Is has been described as a "power ballad pop"[1] with reggae, country and soul elements.[5]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
The Arts Desk[1]
The Guardian[6]

The Truth Is received negative reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman from AllMusic criticised the lyrics, commenting, "The seasons, the sun, the stars, heat, fire, and assorted bodies of water ("swimming in the shallows," "almost drowned in a sea of lies") are used with such frequency that each nonmetaphorical line is a relief".[5] Isabella Gallagher form The Arts Desk described the music style of the album as "a strange mix of 90s femme-pop that I am accidentally crushing on and cheesy musical-flavoured numbers" and added, "I would call out what the actual truth of The Truth Is - that this is music to not listen to. It's best enjoyed in the background at a low volume".[1] Rachel Aroesti wrote in The Guardian, "the tunes are robust rather than riveting and lyrically myopic, focusing solely on the generic thrills of a nascent relationship, often, for some reason, through the prism of weather-based imagery".[6]

Track listing

[edit]
The Truth Is – Standard edition[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."All the Things You Are"
  • Alexandra Burke
  • Dee Freer
  • Gordon Mills Jr
Gordon Mills Jr3:10
2."Shadow"
3:23
3."The Truth Is"
  • Burke
  • Emma Rohan
  • Mills Jr
3:14
4."In the Rain" (Metrophonic mix)
  • Burke
  • Freer
  • Mills Jr
3:01
5."Say We'll Meet Again" (duet with Ronan Keating)
4:12
6."Summer"
  • Burke
  • Rohan
  • Mills Jr
Mills Jr3:12
7."Maybe It's Love"
  • David Dawood
  • Natalie Hajjara
Mills Jr3:24
8."All I Need"
  • Beth Susan Hirsch
  • Nicolas Jean Michel Godin
  • Mills Jr
Mills Jr4:14
9."Believe"
  • Burke
  • Ras Kassa Amha Shaka Alexander
  • Jacqueline Velma Leigh
  • Tyrone Lincoln Charles
Mills Jr3:13
10."You're Worth Holding Onto"
  • Burke
  • Freer
  • Mills Jr
Mills Jr2:31
11."Without You"
  • Burke
  • Tanika Bailey
  • Leigh
  • Michael Olaniyi AkinKum
  • Moses Ayo Samels
Mills Jr4:13
Total length:37:47
The Truth Is – Japanese edition (bonus tracks)[8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Hands in Our Pockets"
  • Burke
  • Imogen Andrews
  • Mills Jr
Mills Jr3:34
13."I Have Nothing" (duet with Naoto Kaiho) 4:54
Total length:46:15

Notes

  • ^a signifies an additional producer

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[9] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[10] 16

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Katie Colombus (15 March 2018). "CD: Alexandra Burke - The Truth Is". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 8 September 2019. Predictable power ballad pop from a former X-Factor star
  2. ^ "Alexandra Burke opens up about "personal" new album". Digital Spy. 10 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Alexandra Burke-Shadow". player.lemonadebox.com.
  4. ^ "Alexandra Burke | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Andy Kellman. The Truth Is at AllMusic. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  6. ^ a b Rachel Aroesti (9 March 2018). "Alexandra Burke: The Truth Is review – efficient power balladry with West End touches". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  7. ^ "The Truth Is: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Alexandra Burke – The Truth Is (2019, CD)". Discogs.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
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