The first time I heard “Rooting For You” I burst into tears. I was going through a break up at the time see, and I’m a pretty vulnerable person to begin with, so the added mental weight, backed by the beauty of London Grammar was all too much to bare. There was something about that song that just hit the very core of my being and sent me into an emotional tail spin. Despite my tears, I couldn’t stop listening, and now that their full body of work; Truth Is A Beautiful Thing has finally been released, I can safely say it’s been a bit of a reoccurring activity for me as of late. Because not only is the record beautiful, there’s a sense of utterly unique and empathetic tenderness that runs through the entirety of the album that is truly infectious.
London Grammar’s latest body of work (because the album is indeed a work of art) is extensive, and with the deluxe edition at 18 tracks long, it is a marathon listen. But if you take the time to indulge from start to finish, I can promise you, it really is about the journey, not the destination (or something like that anyway). Hannah Reid‘s vocals are delicate, but consistently resonate and present as the foundation for each and every expertly crafted composition.
Although the band released many singles in the lead up to the release date, most notably “Rooting for You,” and “Big Picture,” they are not the only standout tracks on the album. “Oh Woman Oh Man” for example, is aesthetically uplifting, but lyrically apathetic and continually asks the questions we all want answered at the conclusion of a relationship.
It’s not a record you could ever expect to keep on high rotation, or simply relish as some sort of backing track to your mundane. Truth Is A Beautiful Thing is meant to be listened to, felt, and experienced, all at once, it’s impossible to emphasise that point enough. As with London Grammar’s first record, it is an album for the romantics, or anyone looking for lyrical clarity in amongst a time of personal turmoil. Truth Is A Beautiful Thing and it can easily surface to fill a very specific void, exisiting in your current mental state.
(As a side note, the demo track of “Rooting For You” is just as phenomenally dangerous).
Review Score: 8 out of 10.
Truth Is A Beautiful Thing is out now.
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