Honestly, P!nk can really do no wrong. With albums like Mizunderstood, I’m Not Dead and Funhouse under her belt, it was no wonder she put out a greatest hits effort last year, which spawned two of the biggest hits of her career. For 2012, the rebellious singer decided to come back with a full arsenal of new material to fill a thirteen track album and then some. The Truth About Love, the artist’s sixth studio album, is packed with catchy choruses, great vocals, and interesting collaborations to satisfy her fans. Preceded by top ten hit, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”, the effort is surely going to go down as one of P!nk’s greatest achievements.
Beginning with “Are We All We Are”, the album starts off loud with a drum-assisted intro. The chanting of the song title makes up the chorus and will probably become one of the most inspirational moments of the year. Raise your fist and sing along as P!nk says she has had enough of all the bulls*** in the world. A promising start to one of the most anticipated albums of the year.
The lead single, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”, currently sitting nicely in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, was one that needed to grow on me. It does embody what the rest of the album contains: up-tempo tracks that rely equally on vocals and production. The theme and attitude I enjoyed, however; P!nk’s vocal performance during the chorus hurt my ears at times. Decent single.
“Try”, serviced to radio stations as the album’s official second single, shows the artist changing up the pace. We knew P!nk was highly capable of creating a powerful, emotional ballad, but this has to be one of her best. “Just because it burns, doesn’t mean you’re gonna die,” the artist sings about trying to make a relationship work even when it is not right. I smell another hit here.
P!nk calls on lead singer of .fun, Nate Ruess, for assistance with “Just Give Me a Reason” and the finished product is something that seems so strange that it actually works. Set up as a duet, P!nk and Ruess trade verses of learning to love again. I am obsessed with both of the artist’s voices, and even though they might not make a perfect fit, they sing the gorgeous material with utmost perfection.
The collaborations keep on coming as the vocals of Lily Allen accompany those of P!nk on “True Love”, one of the brightest moments on the album. “You’re an asshole, but I love you,” must be words that signify true love if P!nk says they do. The song is filled with the tongue-and-cheek type of lyrics we have come to expect from the singer. Allen’s verse is just the cherry on top.
The artist’s true rock and roll goddess side finally comes to life on “How Come You’re Not Here” and it’s truly awesome. P!nk questions her lover on why he is not here right by her side, seems she is getting a bit aggravated. Throwing in some insulting lyrics about the new girlfriend shows off the artist’s “I don’t give a damn” attitude, something I’ve always admired.
The title already had me intrigued and “Slut Like You” did not let me down. The artist knows how to throw a little comedy into her songs when needed and here it works. The woo-hoo’s are catchy as hell and create an addictive hook that many will be singing along to. I feel all the artist’s different personalities are fighting for control here. No one wins though, except the listener.
The title track, which I figured to be a depressing ballad, is actually a unique experimentation of a track for the singer. Frankly, the song may be one of my least favorite experiences off the album, it is just a little too different for my liking. The sound does not fit with what I am used to hearing from P!nk and it threw me off right when it began to play.
“Beam Me Up” is another slow, mid-tempo ballad on the album’s track list. The raw guitar intro is reminiscent of work from the artist’s album I’m Not Dead. When production is scaled back, P!nk’s voice is able to shine brighter than it ever has. Her past hits may have been loud, glittery pop songs, but let’s not forget she can actually sing. A beautiful addition to the album.
Get past the slow, emotional moments and “Walk of Shame” returns the artist back to the hilarious, fun route. Whether you are a man or woman, we have all had a few nights we wish we could forget. P!nk is experiencing one right now. “Please God don’t let anyone see me,” she pleads as she tries to walk in a straight line out of a one night stand’s front door.
P!nk and Eminem collaborated on the rapper’s last album, Recovery, and now the two are teaming up once again for “Here Comes The Weekend”, a rock meets rap unexpected moment. The song may not be as great as “Won’t Back Down”, but P!nk’s verses are strong and Eminem proves why he is the best in his genre with a great diss towards P.Diddy. Two of the biggest troublemakers in the game.
Beginning with a cute and cuddly intro, “Where Did the Beat Go?” becomes a melodramatic tale of watching love slip right through your fingers. The title suggested I was in for the ordinary, club-ready anthem, but the end product is something much deeper and better. P!nk is always a great storyteller, and along with the vocals, the lyrics are what makes the song a true gem.
The album closes out with “The Great Escape”, a show-stopping performance from P!nk who is only accompanied by a single piano. The artist tells her love “I’m never gonna let you check out of this place”, a clear sign of desperation from an artist we always see as tough and unbreakable. Here vulnerability is present and it makes for a heart-breaking listen that deserves more than one play.
The Truth About Love was well worth the wait. Is the album P!nk’s greatest effort to date? It might well be. Besides one track, the album is a solid project from beginning to end, switching between beautiful ballads featuring powerhouse vocals and pop hits that will dominate the airwaves. The collaborations are a nice addition, but the artist never lets her guest outshine her, we all know whose album it really is. The thirteen track project never sounds old or dated, it rarely stumbles and the artist should be proud of what she has created. For a sixth album, strength is still presence. The album receives an 88%.
Tracks to Hear: “Are We All We Are”, “Try”, “Just Give Me A Reason” and “Beam Me Up”
*The album also features 6 additional tracks on other editions. Two more when you purchase off iTunes, and four more when you buy the special Target edition. More P!nk is never a bad thing!
0 Yorumlar