The Truth Is

Alexandra Burke

Released on 16/03/2018 by Decca (UMO)
Main artists: Alexandra Burke
Genre: Pop

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Beyond the acceleration of her musical theater roles and her participation in the television dance contest Strictly Come Dancing, Alexandra Burke became decreasingly known as a recording artist following her 2013 split from the RCA label. From that point through the late-2017 announcement of a new major-label contract, her music career seemed to be secondary and in a state of flux, as evidenced by a self-issued pair of uneven stopgap EPs during a half-decade that passed without a full-length. A few months after her new deal with Decca was publicized, Burke finally released her third album. The Truth Is alternates between illustrations of unexpected newfound love and a traumatizing breakup over sophisticated pop productions that carry tinges of classic soul, contemporary country, and reggae. It's all nondescript, though it's functional and rather consistent. The two songs that involve neither Burke nor primary producer Gordon Mills, Jr. as writers -- stomping lead single "Shadow" and a faithfully breathy cover of Air and Beth Hirsch's "All I Need" -- sound like they were composed with the other nine in mind. They fit into the album to an almost detrimental extent since they're both loaded with unimaginative metaphors, an aspect that trivializes Burke's typically powerful vocals. 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. It's no coincidence that the album's most affecting moment is the finale, where Burke is at her most direct and pure. "You stole my heart, now I want it back" might be a common declaration of grief, but it's no matter when the sincerity is unequivocal.

© Andy Kellman /TiVo

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The Truth Is

Alexandra Burke

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All The Things You Are

00:03:10

Rick Koster, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alexandra Burke, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fiona Bonds, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Worsey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Pryce, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Humphries, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Bascombe, Mixer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gillon Cameron, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Brown, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Vince Greene, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Freer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Alison Dods, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Holdsworth, String Arranger, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Shanley, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Woollard, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Duncan Fuller, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Mills Jr, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Tim Slade, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Anya Birchall, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Storer, Violin, AssociatedPerformer