P!nk - "The Truth About Love"

Spotify Listen Link: P!nk – The Truth About Love

2013 Grammy Nomination: Best Pop Vocal Album

Well you just gotta love P!nk. Yes, yes you do. She puts on a fantastic performance in every thing she does, brings class and creativity in every way possible, and oh, she makes great music. It's loud and fun and full of passion and life. Just like her, and all of us that want to be her.


We start things off in what seems like full-on party mode P!nk and "Are We All We Are." I say that kind of in mood only though. She's got some serious introspective lyrics going on there, with some thoughtful tone in her voice, and more of a rebel yell sound to the music than straight-out party girl going on. Consider it more of an anthem instead I suppose. The crowd of voices at the beginning may have thrown me off a bit.

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"Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" is another classic P!nk song that I disposed at first, then "Glee" turned me around on it, I actually heard the words, and now I'm a bit obsessed. It's such a great kiss off song. Seriously, throw on a leather jacket and jam hardcore to this one and I think you've got a great way to ditch the breakup altogether.

I think "Try" lays out love and loss so freaking eloquently, and it's incredible. "Where there is desire there is gonna be a flame, where there is a flame someone's bound to get burned. But just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die - you gotta get up and try." I mean, it's simple and true, but who would have thought to put it like that? It's really an impressive weaving of lyrics put against a moving along rhythm and general feeling throughout. Hellova dance routine in this one.

"Just Give Me a Reason" (feat. Nate Ruess) is the latest single. And yes, I feel that it's a bit over-played as well. But it is a good song if you haven't already heard it a million times that day. There's a simple beat happening that keeps the song moving and you feeling the words as they try to understand each other. Also, in all honesty, I thought this was a new Fun. song before I pieced together (thank you Shazam) that it was actually headlined by the lady half. Heh, whoops. Listening again as I watch the video is making me realize you could pretty much take this as either a break up song or a salvation of a relationship song. Or, yah know, whatever you want to take from it.

Now into something I haven't heard before. Seriously, can someone tell me why the singles come so heavily from the beginning of the album? Anywhos, "True Love" (feat. Lily Rose Cooper) is yet another conflicted moment in the life of P!nk, torn between adoration and wanting to kill the guy. Makes sense enough - only the ones you really love can break your heart quite so badly. I like the concept, but am not a fan of the music itself. The street beat isn't working for me, and the harmonies prevalent throughout this album just completely take time to enjoy. 

"How Come You're Not Here" comes at us with some aggression and making me regret being a little harsh before. I don't like it when she's mad at me. Ah, shit, there's that singsongy rhythm in the background that's unnecessary. It takes off some of the edge, and I don't like that. I get that she's pissed without being Alanis-angry, but come on.

Ha, here we go for real. "Slut Like You" is up next. Yeah, this is a bit of throwback to Pink original. It's a good party song with edginess to the primary vocals. I mean, let's face it, this is what she does. It's catchy enough for the dance floor, though if I realized I was singing this on the dance floor, I might get embarrassed for myself.

"The Truth About Love" is a much hard track than I think I would have expected from the title track of this album, though given the artist I shouldn't be terribly surprised. I want to call her voice raw, but I don't think, on paper, that would translate to what I actually mean. There's a weird vocal effect in the production that makes her voice scratchy without scratching. It's almost sort of hollow, but obviously she's got a lot of feeling behind it. Ugh, I'm failing at my non-paying job right now.

And just when you think she's going to party us all the way out, P!nk brings about a lovely slower number in "Beam Me Up." It's like the dream embodied in a song. It's a request to see heaven and that person there. Nothing Trek-y about it, just a simple request for a last moment with them. And to make matters more tearful, there's a guitar and strings supporting the whole of the song that intensifies as it goes. Try not to shed a tear, I dare you.

"Walk of Shame" is pretty damn hilarious. I mean, give it a listen and try to tell me otherwise. It's got a great uplifting beat, and just downright thinnest of what you've probably had a thought of once or twice.

Eminem is in this next track… what? "Here Comes The Weekend" just has a title calling out to be a Friday theme. The beat's hard and perfect to blast while getting ready. Or even heading home down the sidewalk. And then Eminem comes in, and basically you've got two angry sounding folks ready to let loose on the town and blow off some steam.

"Where Did The Beat Go?" pretty much continues this drum beat obsession. My guess is that there's probably some rockin' drum playing on stage during at least one, if not many of these songs. The story seems to be that she's left and he's going to obsess about it. 

Naturally, we're going to end this on a slow, introspective note where you realize how much like yourself P!nk is. "The Great Escape" is a piano-based blues-sounding track of understanding. This time it's her sticking up for someone, making sure they remain here and close. She won't let them run like they always tend to. Sigh, thinking on a Sunday night all along, as always people. "The passion and pain are gonna keep you alive someday."

Added To My Playlist:

• "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)"
• "Try"
• "Just Give Me a Reason"
• "Beam Me Up"
• "The Great Escape"

Maybe not my favorite P!nk album of all time, but it's hard to beat that greatest hits collection. Quite frankly though, this lady can basically do whatever the hell she wants at this point, right? I think she's proven to be versatile and able to tackle whatever she damn well chooses to put in front of her. She definitely makes me want to give up the nice front and tell a few folks how I really feel.