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P!NK: THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE (RCA, 2012)

OVERVIEW: A fun but forgettable mixed bag of tracks that fans will no doubt eat up.

Over the span of her impressive twelve-year career, Alecia Moore (known better by her stage name, P!nk) has gained a reputation for being somewhat of a badass, the “I hate this dance shit on the radio” type. Which is rather odd when you remember that P!nk’s debut (Can’t Take Me Home) was the 2000 equivalent to Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream record. Not to mention her biggest hits are helmed by non-other than Max Martin and Dr Luke. Still, her strongest material has always been her more personal stuff. Unfortunately, the majority of tracks presented here fall into the former. But more on that later.

The album opens with a weird chanty number, “Are We All We Are”. It comes across as one of those “we are the world” things, but if I’m honest I’m not too sure what she’s even talking about half the time. ‘We are the people that you'll never get the best of / Not forget the rest of, rest of” before some girl who isn’t P!nk starts charting the title. It’s definitely an interesting opener but not really appropriate considering the hot mess, made-for-radio first single “Blow me” which follows. All is seemingly up from there though, second single Try is nothing new but it is what “Who knew” was to “I’m Not Dead” and one of the better tracks on the album. Next up is what should be the third single, a duet with fun. singer Nate Ruess. It’s basically a ‘fun.’ Song though, and sounds nothing like what P!nk would do on her own. Another problem this album seems to have. Nether the less, Just Give Me A Reason is a beautifully delivered and cleverly written duet between the two about a relationship that no one wants to accept is over. “We’ll come clean!” P!nk belts over silence during the albums middle 8. By far the best track on the album and possibly one of the best pop songs that 2012 has given us.

"Just Give Me a Reason" Featuring Nate Ruess (Official Lyric Video)

Unfortunately, all is downhill from here. The highly anticipated Lily Allen duet turns out to be a fairly-nice-but-bland generic record where Lily pops in for about four lines during the middle 8, realizes the track is crap, and quickly runs away, leaving P!nk to deliver the final chorus solo. Once again, this doesn’t really feel like a P!nk song. Oh well.

Sticking close to her winning formula, then comes this albums Max Martin hit. I could probably deal with an album full of these, if the quality was up to the standard of U + Ur Hand/Bad Influence/So What, but unfortunately producing standout tracks is where this album falters. The sarcastic ‘Slut Like You’ reads like ‘Stupid Girls’ 2.0, which might be kinda respectable if was not for the generic made-for-radio production and the catchy-as-hell hook. It’s like Paris Hilton calling Kim Kardashian out for the way she broke into the industry. Much like the rest of the album, it falls flat and fails to live up to be this album’s Bad Influence/U + Ur Hand as hoped. Starting to lose interest …

Walk of Shame however, is irresistible. It’s a shame it comes so late in the album, don’t be surprised if you start hearing this on radio early 2013.

Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely personal tracks on here – Beam Me Up is practically a diary entry that addresses her miscarriage a few years ago. She talks about another universe where “nothing breaks and nothing hurts”. Easily one of the strongest and most effective cuts on the record, it’s a shame (and a surprise) that producer Greg Kurstin couldn’t muster up a better song than Blow Me for her big first single, considering he’s also the guy behind Kelly Clarkson’s megahit “What Doesn’t Kill You/Stronger” as well as “Dark Side”, and Lily Allen’s “The Fear”.

"Beam Me Up" (Official Lyric Video)

When we finally get to the Eminem track, you don’t really know what to expect. The Truth has gone from radio friendly to other peoples song and comes full circle during the records final quarter. Eminem just about saves what would otherwise be a dull filler track (Here Comes The Weekend), before the R&B influenced standout “Where Did The Beat Go” and closing acoustic ballad “The Great Escape” – which is about as memorable as whoever won American Idol last year.

Overall, its essentially her worst release since her debut, although the four albums inbetween may have set the bar higher than most which makes that sound harsher than it is. It's decent.
3.5 / 5

Download: Try, Just Give Me A Reason, Walk of Shame, Beam Me Up

Youtube it: Are We All We Are, True Love, Where Did The Beat Go

Skip: Sl*t Like You, Here Comes The Weekend

"The Truth About Love" is out monday in the UK, tuesday in the US.

Blow me (One Last Kiss) Music Video

She's so dull! And not so much because of her material, I actually like most of her songs. But it's her voice that grates me. Yes, technically she's a good singer, she ticks all the right boxes. But she has nothing else to her voice. It's so bland and emotionless. See below; her new single Trouble - her voice just doesn't mesh with the song at all, which is odd because the production is decent, the lyrics are good (courtesy of Emili Sande) and Leona is "technically" good, hitting all the right notes. She makes it sound like an unfinished demo. But whatever. *plays Heartbreak On Hold*.

I haven't blogged in a while, but I'm gonna be reviewing P!nk's new album later today followed by Nelly Furtado this weekend (her album is amazing).

Friday 14 September 2012

SINGLE PREMIERE: Nicki Minaj - The Boys (Feat. Cassie)

Premiere: Christina Aguilera - Your Body (Final Version)

Leona Lewis - Trouble (Music Video) + "GlassHeart" tracklist

UPDATE: P!nk - The Truth About Love

Ciara reveals comeback single "Sorry".

Thursday 13 September 2012

Review: P!NK - "The Truth About Love"

My problem with Leona Lewis is ...