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Truth Is a Beautiful Thing

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Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
Studio album by
London Grammar
Released9 June 2017 (2017-6-9)
Recorded2014–2016
Studio
Genre
Length51:48
Label
Producer
London Grammar chronology
If You Wait
(2013) 		Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
(2017) 		Californian Soil
(2021)
Singles from Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
  1. "Rooting for You"
    Released: 1 January 2017
  2. "Big Picture"
    Released: 1 February 2017
  3. "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing"
    Released: 24 March 2017
  4. "Oh Woman Oh Man"
    Released: 21 April 2017
  5. "Non Believer"
    Released: 11 August 2017
  6. "Hell to the Liars"
    Released: 1 December 2017

Truth Is a Beautiful Thing is the second studio album by English indie pop band London Grammar. It was released on 9 June 2017 by the trio's imprint Metal & Dust and Ministry of Sound.[3]

Singles

[edit]

"Rooting for You" was released as the album's lead single on 1 January 2017.[4] It peaked at number 58 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] The album's second single, "Big Picture", was released on 1 February 2017,[6] reaching number 73 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing" was released as the third single on 24 March 2017. "Oh Woman Oh Man" was released as the fourth single on 21 April 2017,[7] peaking at number 85 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] On 11 August 2017, "Non Believer" was sent to UK contemporary hit radio as the album's fifth single.[8] The album's sixth single, "Hell to the Liars", was serviced to UK contemporary hit radio on 1 December 2017,[9] followed by a digital release on 8 December.[10]

Critical reception

[edit]

Truth Is a Beautiful Thing received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Praise was directed at the album's atmospheric production and Hannah Reid's emotive vocals[11], while some critics felt that the record lacked musical variety and progression from the band's debut album, If You Wait.[12]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Clash8/10[15]
DIY[16]
Drowned in Sound7/10[17]
The Guardian[18]
The Independent[19]
musicOMH[20]
NME[2]
Under the Radar[1]

The album holds a score of 68/100 on review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews" based on 17 critics' reviews.[21] Scott Dransfield of Under the Radar, praised the album for being an "album-length exploration of mood, or a collection of self-contained songs, than it is a flowing, conceptual, capital-A album."[22] The Guardian awarded the album three out of five stars, commending its "cinematic and grand" production but criticizing it for being too uniform in tone. [12] NME also gave the album four stars, stating that while London Grammar ability to craft ethereal soundscapes, but criticized the album for lacking to connect with its lyrics stating "They're not exactly expected to diss Cameron in a thunderous, anti-Brexit, but they could still say more, or go beyond a default of singing about the complex ups and downs of relationships." [23] The Arts Desk was more critical, giving the album two out of five stars, describing it as having "dumped many of the elements that made If You Wait really shine and instead find themselves fishing around for inspiration and trying on a fair few ill-fitting hats for size."[24]

Conversely, AllMusic rated the album three and a half stars out of five, praising its lush production and Reid's vocal performance,[25] while The Independent rated it three stars, highlighting the lyrical themes, but stated "listeners may experience déjà vu."[26]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Truth Is a Beautiful Thing debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 43,403 copies, including 2,780 from sales-equivalent streams.[27]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Hannah Reid, Daniel Rothman and Dominic Major, except where noted

Truth Is a Beautiful Thing track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Rooting for You" 
4:29
2."Big Picture" 
4:41
3."Wild Eyed" 
  • London Grammar
  • Myriot
4:28
4."Oh Woman Oh Man" Epworth4:37
5."Hell to the Liars" 
  • London Grammar
  • Epworth
  • Myriot[d]
6:04
6."Everyone Else"
  • Kurstin
  • Myriot[d]
4:05
7."Non Believer"
  • Reid
  • Rothman
  • Major
  • Epworth
Epworth4:17
8."Bones of Ribbon" Epworth4:34
9."Who Am I" London Grammar4:22
10."Leave the War with Me"
  • Reid
  • Rothman
  • Major
  • Kurstin
Kurstin5:04
11."Truth Is a Beautiful Thing" 
  • Epworth
  • Myriot[d]
5:07
Total length:51:48
Deluxe edition bonus disc[28][29]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."What a Day" 
  • London Grammar
  • Myriot[d]
4:54
13."Different Breeds" Epworth3:29
14."Control"
  • Reid
  • Rothman
  • Major
  • Epworth
Epworth3:05
15."Trials" (demo) Ben Baptie3:42
16."May the Best" (church mix) Epworth4:09
17."Rooting for You" (demo) London Grammar4:13
18."Bitter Sweet Symphony" (live at BBC Maida Vale)
Simon Askew3:53
Total length:27:25

Notes

[edit]
  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies a vocal producer
  • ^[c] signifies an additional vocal producer
  • ^[d] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the deluxe edition of Truth Is a Beautiful Thing.[30]

London Grammar

[edit]
  • Hannah Reid – vocals (all tracks); piano (tracks 11, 14)
  • Daniel Rothman – guitars
  • Dot Major – drums, programming (all tracks); piano (tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 12); Rhodes (tracks 6, 10)

Additional musicians

[edit]

Technical

[edit]
  • Jan Holzner – string recording (tracks 1, 5)
  • London Grammar – production (tracks 2, 3, 5, 9, 12, 17); mixing (track 17)
  • Paul Epworth – production (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 16)
  • Jon Hopkins – production, mixing (track 2)
  • Myriot (Tim Bran and Roy Kerr) – production (track 3); co-production (track 1); additional vocal production (track 2); additional production (tracks 5, 6, 11, 12)
  • Greg Kurstin – production, engineering (tracks 6, 10)
  • Ben Baptie – production (track 15); mixing (tracks 13, 15); additional engineering (tracks 4, 7–9, 13, 14)
  • Simon Askew – production (track 18)
  • Tom Elmhirst – vocal production; vocal mixing (track 2); mixing (tracks 1, 3–12, 14)
  • Brandon Bost – mix assistance (tracks 1, 3–12, 14)
  • Andy Menhenitt – mix assistance (tracks 13, 15); engineering assistance (tracks 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14)
  • Matt Wiggins – mixing (track 16); engineering (tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16)
  • Joseph Hartwell Jones – engineering (track 1)
  • Riley MacIntyre – additional engineering (track 1); engineering (tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 16)
  • Joe Visciano – engineering for mix (track 1)
  • Manon Grandjean – engineering (tracks 2, 3, 11); vocal recording (track 2)
  • Luke Pickering – engineering assistance (tracks 4, 8, 11, 13, 14, 16)
  • Alex Pasco – engineering (tracks 6, 10)
  • Julian Burg – engineering (tracks 6, 10)
  • Tom Coyne – mastering (tracks 1–17)
  • Kevin Tuffy – mastering (track 18)

Artwork

[edit]
  • Eliot Lee Hazel – cover photo
  • Alexandra Waespi – inside photos
  • Harry Hall – inside photos
  • Leif Podhajsky – creative direction, layout

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[60] Gold 15,000‡
France (SNEP)[61] Platinum 100,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[62] Gold 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
Region Date Format Edition Label Ref(s)
Various 9 June 2017
  • Standard
  • deluxe
[28][29][63][64][65][66]
Australia Dew Process [67][68][69][70][71][72]
France CD Because [73][74]
  • LP+CD
  • digital download
 Deluxe [75][76]
United States LP Standard Columbia [77]
Digital download
  • Standard
  • deluxe
 [78][79]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Strings on tracks 1 and 5
  2. ^ Tracks 1, 4–10 and 13–16
  3. ^ Track 3; vocals on tracks 2 and 11
  4. ^ Track 12
  5. ^ Track 17
  6. ^ Track 18

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Dransfield, Scott (9 June 2017). "London Grammar: Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Under the Radar. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b Bartleet, Larry (15 January 2016). "London Grammar – 'Truth Is A Beautiful Thing' Review". NME. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  3. ^ Geslani, Michelle (24 March 2017). "London Grammar announce new album, share spellbinding "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Rooting For You – Single by London Grammar". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "London Grammar". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  6. ^ Trendell, Andrew (1 February 2017). "London Grammar unveil new single and video for 'Big Picture'". NME. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  7. ^ Trendell, Andrew (21 April 2017). "London Grammar unveil new single 'Oh Woman Oh Man'". NME. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  8. ^ "BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  9. ^ "BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Hell to the Liars – Single by Sir Spyro, Ghetts, JayKae & London Grammar". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  11. ^ Farishta, Gibreel (6 December 2017). "London Grammar – Truth Is A Beautiful Thing". Clash. Retrieved 7 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b Gibsone, Harriet (8 June 2017). "London Grammar: Truth Is a Beautiful Thing review – drowns in its own despair". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Reviews and Tracks for Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar". Metacritic. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  14. ^ Yeung, Neil. "London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  15. ^ Farishta, Gibreel (12 June 2017). "London Grammar – Truth Is A Beautiful Thing". Clash. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  16. ^ Beech, Dave (9 June 2017). "London Grammar – Truth Is A Beautiful Thing". DIY. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  17. ^ Lambert, Tom (9 June 2017). "London Grammar – Truth Is A Beautiful Thing". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  18. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (8 June 2017). "London Grammar: Truth Is a Beautiful Thing review – drowns in its own despair". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  19. ^ Gill, Andy (7 June 2017). "Album reviews: Katy Perry – Witness, London Grammar – Truth Is A Beautiful Thing, and more". The Independent. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  20. ^ Hogwood, Ben (14 June 2017). "London Grammar – Truth Is A Beautiful Thing". musicOMH. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  21. ^ Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar, retrieved 7 April 2025
  22. ^ Dransfield, Scott (9 June 2017). "London Grammar Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Under The Radar. Retrieved 7 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Bartleet, Larry (7 June 2017). "London Grammar – 'Truth Is A Beautiful Thing' Review". NME. Retrieved 7 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Oddy, Guy (5 June 2017). "CD: London Grammar - Truth Is A Beautiful Thing". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 7 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Yeung, Neil (7 April 2025). "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing Review by Neil Z. Yeung". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ Gill, Andy (7 June 2017). "Album reviews: Katy Perry - Witness, London Grammar - Truth Is A Beautiful Thing, and more". The Independent. Retrieved 7 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ Jones, Alan (16 June 2017). "Official Charts Analysis: London Grammar enter at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing – Deluxe CD". London Grammar Official Store. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  29. ^ a b "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (Deluxe) by London Grammar". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  30. ^ London Grammar (2017). Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (deluxe edition liner notes). Metal & Dust. MADART2TLTD.
  31. ^ "Australiancharts.com – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Austriancharts.at – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
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  34. ^ "Ultratop.be – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  35. ^ "London Grammar Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  36. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  37. ^ "Lescharts.com – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  38. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  39. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 25/2017)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  40. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography London Grammar". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  41. ^ "Italiancharts.com – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  42. ^ "Charts.nz – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  43. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  44. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  45. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  46. ^ "Swisscharts.com – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  47. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  48. ^ "London Grammar Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  49. ^ "London Grammar Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  50. ^ "London Grammar Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  51. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2017 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  53. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2017 – Albums" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  54. ^ "Tops de L'Année | Top Albums – 2017" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  55. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  56. ^ White, Jack (3 January 2018). "The Top 40 biggest albums of 2017 on the Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
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  58. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2018 – Albums" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  59. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2019 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  60. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2018". Ultratop. Hung Medien. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  61. ^ "French album certifications – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  62. ^ "British album certifications – London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". British Phonographic Industry. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
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  65. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing (Deluxe) [Vinyl]: London Grammar". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
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  67. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing: London Grammar (CD)". Sanity. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  68. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing – Deluxe Edition: London Grammar (CD)". Sanity. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  69. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing: London Grammar (Vinyl)". Sanity. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  70. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing – Deluxe Edition: London Grammar (Vinyl)". Sanity. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
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  72. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (Deluxe) by London Grammar". iTunes Store. Australia. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  73. ^ "Truth is a beautiful thing – London Grammar – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  74. ^ "Truth is a beautiful thing Double CD Digipack Edition Deluxe limitée Inclus 7 titres inédits et un livret de 6 pages – London Grammar – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  75. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar". iTunes Store. France. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  76. ^ "Truth is a beautiful thing Double Vinyle 180 gr Gatefold Edition Deluxe limitée Inclus 2 CD et 7 titres inédits – London Grammar – Vinyle album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
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  78. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar". iTunes Store. United States. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  79. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (Deluxe) by London Grammar". iTunes Store. United States. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
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