Truth Is A Beautiful Thing

Truth Is a Beautiful Thing, the second studio album from London Grammar, arrives as a richly atmospheric and introspective work that finds the band navigating the delicate balance between vulnerability and strength. Released on 9 June 2017 via their own imprint, Metal & Dust, and Ministry of Sound, the record serves as a sequel to their highly successful debut, If You Wait (2013). While the album showcases the band’s signature blend of electronic textures and melancholy, it feels like a refinement of their sound—more polished, perhaps, but also more consumed by its own darkness.

The album opens with the hauntingly sparse “Rooting for You,” released as the lead single in January 2017, setting the tone for what follows. It’s a track that builds on the band’s trademark ethereal atmosphere, with frontwoman Hannah Reid’s powerful vocals offering the kind of fragile intensity that demands attention. While it peaked at a modest number 58 on the UK Singles Chart, it’s a clear statement of intent. The second single, “Big Picture,” was released in February 2017 and reached number 73, its pulsing synths and Reid’s emotive delivery providing a sense of widescreen melancholy. The title track, Truth Is a Beautiful Thing, released in March 2017, is an elegant exploration of heartache and longing, further cementing the trio’s ability to craft emotionally resonant music.

Perhaps the most dynamic moment comes with “Oh Woman Oh Man,” which, released in April 2017, teeters on the edge of the anthemic and the introspective. Though it only peaked at number 85, it adds an intriguing contrast to the more subdued tracks around it. Following this, the band released Non Believer in August 2017, a track that encapsulates much of the album’s sense of struggle, a perfect balance of tension and release.

Critically, Truth Is a Beautiful Thing received a range of reactions, with the album earning a score of 68/100 on Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews. Some critics, like Harriet Gibsone of The Guardian, found the album’s sound a bit dated, describing it as “one note” and overly steeped in despair. However, the album also garnered praise for its emotional depth and Reid’s standout vocal performances. At times, the lush production risks overshadowing the more subtle nuances, but when the band lets go of their atmospheric leanings, the results can be stunning.

Commercially, the album was an undeniable success, debuting at number one on the UK Albums Chart, shifting 43,403 copies in its first week, including 2,780 from streams. This not only marked a strong return for the band but also signalled their continued relevance in a rapidly shifting musical landscape.

Though Truth Is a Beautiful Thing might not break entirely new ground for London Grammar, it solidifies their place as one of the UK’s most captivating indie pop acts. With its introspective lyricism, lush production, and Reid’s haunting voice, the album is a testament to the band’s ability to create music that’s as emotionally complex as it is sonically compelling.