Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
studio
ArtistLondon Grammar
CoverLondon Grammar - Truth Is a Beautiful Thing.png
Released9 June 2017
Recorded2014–2016
Studio
Genre
Label
Producer
Prev year2013
Next year2021

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

"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 and final single, "Hell to the Liars", was released on 10 November 2017.[9]

Critical reception

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,[10] while some critics felt that the record lacked musical variety and progression from the band's debut album, If You Wait.[11] The album holds a score of 68/100 on review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews" based on 17 critics' reviews.[12] 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."[13] 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.[11] 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."[14] 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."[15]

Conversely, AllMusic rated the album three and a half stars out of five, praising its lush production and Reid's vocal performance,[16] while The Independent rated it three stars, highlighting the lyrical themes, but stated "listeners may experience déjà vu."[17]

Commercial performance

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.[18]

Track listing

Notes

  • signifies a co-producer
  • signifies a vocal producer
  • signifies an additional vocal producer
  • signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the deluxe edition of Truth Is a Beautiful Thing.[19]

London Grammar

  • 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

Technical

  • 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

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

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
Chart (2017)Peak
position
Greek Albums (IFPI)[20]24

Year-end charts

2017 year-end chart performance for Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
Chart (2017)Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[21]45
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[22]13
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23]32
French Albums (SNEP)[24]77
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25]63
UK Albums (OCC)[26]33
2018 year-end chart performance for Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
Chart (2018)Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[27]63
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[28]194
2019 year-end chart performance for Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
Chart (2019)Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29]181

Release history

Release dates and formats for Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
RegionDateFormatEditionLabelRef(s)
Various9 June 2017CD · LP · digital downloadStandard · deluxeMetal & Dust · Ministry of Sound[30][31][32][33][34][35]
AustraliaDew Process[36][37][38][39][40][41]
FranceCDBecause[42][43]
LP+CD · digital downloadDeluxe[44][45]
United StatesLPStandardColumbia[46]
Digital downloadStandard · deluxe[47][48]

Notes

  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

  1. ^ Dransfield, Scott (9 June 2017). "London Grammar: Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Under the Radar. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  2. ^ 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. Archived 3 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  5. ^ "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 11 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Hell to the Liars (Gorgon City Remix) – Single by London Grammar". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  10. ^ Farishta, Gibreel (6 December 2017). "London Grammar – Truth Is A Beautiful Thing". Clash. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  11. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (8 June 2017). "London Grammar: Truth Is a Beautiful Thing review – drowns in its own despair". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar", retrieved 2025-04-07
  13. ^ Dransfield, Scott (9 June 2017). "London Grammar Truth Is a Beautiful Thing". Under The Radar. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  14. ^ Bartleet, Larry (7 June 2017). "London Grammar – 'Truth Is A Beautiful Thing' Review". NME. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  15. ^ Oddy, Guy (5 June 2017). "CD: London Grammar - Truth Is A Beautiful Thing". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  16. ^ Yeung, Neil (7 April 2025). "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing Review by Neil Z. Yeung". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Jones, Alan (16 June 2017). "Official Charts Analysis: London Grammar enter at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  19. ^ London Grammar (2017). Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (deluxe edition liner notes). Metal & Dust. MADART2TLTD.
  20. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 25/2017)". IFPI Greece. Archived 10 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  21. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2017 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2017 – Albums" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Tops de L'Année | Top Albums – 2017" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017" (in German). hitparade.ch. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  26. ^ White, Jack (3 January 2018). "The Top 40 biggest albums of 2017 on the Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  27. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2018 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  28. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2018 – Albums" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  29. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2019 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing – Deluxe CD". London Grammar Official Store. Archived 19 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  31. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (Deluxe) by London Grammar". iTunes Store. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing: London Grammar". Amazon. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  33. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing [Vinyl]: London Grammar". Amazon. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  34. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing (Deluxe) [Vinyl]: London Grammar". Amazon. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  35. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar". iTunes Store. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  36. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing: London Grammar (CD)". Sanity. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  37. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing – Deluxe Edition: London Grammar (CD)". Sanity. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  38. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing: London Grammar (Vinyl)". Sanity. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  39. ^ "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing – Deluxe Edition: London Grammar (Vinyl)". Sanity. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  40. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar". iTunes Store. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  41. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (Deluxe) by London Grammar". iTunes Store. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  42. ^ "Truth is a beautiful thing – London Grammar – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  43. ^ "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.
  44. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  45. ^ "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.
  46. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (LP): London Grammar". Amazon. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  47. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing by London Grammar". iTunes Store. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  48. ^ "Truth Is a Beautiful Thing (Deluxe) by London Grammar". iTunes Store. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.