In the Meantime is the third studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara, released on September 24, 2021, by Def Jam Recordings. Cara collaborated with Jon Levine, Salaam Remi and Joel Little among several other producers on the project.[1] Deemed as a concept album based "In the meantime between life and death", the album unravels the anxieties of introspection, healing, love and self-reflection.
| In the Meantime | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 24, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2021 | |||
| Length | 54:27 | |||
| Label | Def Jam | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Alessia Cara chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from In the Meantime | ||||
| ||||
Three songs were released to promote the album: "Sweet Dream", "Shapeshifter", and "Best Days",[2] with "Sweet Dream" charting at number 51 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart while the latter two acted as promotional singles. In the Meantime follows Cara's EP This Summer (2019) and Holiday Stuff (2020).
Release and promotion
editIn the Meantime was released on September 24, 2021, via CD, download and streaming services. Preorders for the album began on September 3, 2021.[3] A vinyl LP was released on April 8, 2022. A signed CD was also made available on Cara's webstore prior to the album's release.
Singles
edit"Sweet Dream" was released as one of two songs for the album on July 15, 2021, along with "Shapeshifter". The former of the two reached number 51 in Canada. The music video for "Sweet Dream", directed by Tusk Creative, was uploaded to Cara's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release.[4] To promote the single, a lullaby EP was released on August 20, 2021.[5] Cara performed the single on Live with Kelly and Ryan and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, from Niagara Falls, and also performed "Shapeshifter" on the latter.[6] "Shapeshifter" acted as the album's first promotional single and received a music video, released on July 23, 2021. The video debuted on CBS This Morning and was preceded by an interview with Cara.[3]
"Best Days" was released as the second promotional single, alongside the album, on September 24, 2021. Its music video was released on the same day. A remix EP, which included a new version performed with American a capella group Pentatonix, was released on January 21, 2022.[7] Cara performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen Show, and Good Morning America.
The third promotional single, "You Let Me Down", was supported by a remix EP on September 23, 2022.[8] Prior to being released as a promotional single, Cara released a music video for the song, directed by her brother Dario Caracciolo, in May 2022.[9] During her performance at Lollapalooza, she sang the song alongside Brazilian singer Jão.[10]
Marketing
editThe album's tracklist was revealed through Cara's social media on September 13, 2021. A website dedicated to the album, and its lead single "Sweet Dream", was also launched.[11] To promote and discuss In the Meantime, Cara appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen Show, among other programmes.
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.4/10[12] |
| Metacritic | 80/100[13] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
| NME | [15] |
| Pitchfork | 7.1/10[16] |
| PopMatters | 9/10[17] |
| Rolling Stone |  [18] |
In the Meantime received positive reviews from music critics upon its release. On the review aggregator site Metacritic, the album holds an average score of 80 out of 100, based on five reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13] It is Cara's highest rated album on the site.
Writing for AllMusic, Andy Kellman noted that the album's tracks all have a "common" sound while opining that "from start to finish, lolling hooks flood Cara's mind as much as indecision, skepticism, and other negative thoughts ... enabling the listener to have a proper sulk that soothes."[14] Nick Levine of NME wrote that the album proves "there's still plenty of creative gas in the tank" and opined that "I Miss You Don't Call Me" could be "the best song she has ever written," ending his review by stating "her best days definitely lie ahead."[15] Dani Blum of Pitchfork appreciated Cara's voice and the album's themes, but felt that "she dilutes them when she relies too much on metaphor and conceit."[16] Writing for PopMatters, Jeffrey Davies called the album "sonically and lyrically her best work yet," noting that no song "ever feels like filler" while pointing out "Best Days" as one of the standout tracks.[17] Sarah Grant of Rolling Stone named the album a "mighty pop opera" that "walks us through the five stages of grief."[18]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Unboxing Intro" | Levine | 0:41 | |
| 2. | "Box in the Ocean" |
| Levine | 3:16 |
| 3. | "Bluebird" |
| Cameron Bright | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Lie to Me" |
|
| 2:31 |
| 5. | "Shapeshifter" |
| Remi | 3:06 |
| 6. | "Fishbowl" |
| Wise | 3:08 |
| 7. | "I Miss You, Don't Call Me" |
| Levine | 3:20 |
| 8. | "Middle Ground" (featuring Chika) |
| Wise | 3:43 |
| 9. | "Somebody Else" |
|
| 3:34 |
| 10. | "Drama Queen" |
| Wise | 3:01 |
| 11. | "Clockwork" |
| Kurstin | 2:27 |
| 12. | "Best Days" |
| Levine | 3:31 |
| 13. | "Sweet Dream" |
| 3:02 | |
| 14. | "Find My Boy" |
| Wise | 3:12 |
| 15. | "Voice in My Head" |
| Billboard | 2:57 |
| 16. | "Slow Lie" |
|
| 2:42 |
| 17. | "You Let Me Down" |
|
| 3:13 |
| 18. | "Apartment Song" |
| Little | 3:41 |
| Total length: | 54:27 | |||
Note
Personnel
editMusicians
- Alessia Cara – vocals (all tracks), drums (1, 2)
- Jon Levine – bass, keyboards, programming (1, 2, 7, 12, 13); guitar (1, 2, 7, 13), piano (1, 2), drums, percussion (7, 12, 13)
- Cameron Bright – background vocals, guitar, programming (3)
- Andrew McAnsh – trumpet (3)
- Johann Deterville – bass, keyboards, percussion, piano (4)
- Salaam Remi – bass, drums, guitar, percussion (5)
- Vincent Henry – guitar (5)
- Brandee Younger – harp (5)
- Mike Wise – programming (6, 8, 10, 14, 17); guitar, keyboards percussion (17)
- Dylan Wiggins – bass, guitar, keyboards, programming (9)
- Doc McKinney – keyboards, percussion, programming (9)
- Greg Kurstin – bass, drums, guitar, keyboards (11)
- Bianca McClure – strings (12)
- Spencer Stewart – bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming (13)
- Jason Evigan – guitar, keyboards (13)
- Herag Sanbalian – guitar (14, 17), bass (17)
- Jake Torrey – guitar (16)
- Halatrax – keyboards, percussion, programming (16)
- Andrew McEnaney – drums (17)
- Aaron Paris – strings (17)
- Joel Little – drum programming, guitar, keyboards (18)
Technical
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Manny Marroquin – mixing (1–4, 6–12, 14–18)
- Salaam Remi – mixing (5)
- Spencer Stewart – mixing (13), recording (7, 12, 13)
- Jon Levine – recording (1, 2, 7, 12)
- Alessia Cara – recording (3, 11, 16, 18)
- Cameron Bright – recording (3)
- Banx & Ranx – recording (4)
- Boi-1da – recording (4)
- Don Mills – recording (4)
- YogiTheProducer – recording (4)
- Ryan Evans – recording (5)
- Mike Wise – recording (6, 8, 10, 14, 17)
- Dylan Wiggins – recording (9)
- Doc McKinney – recording (9)
- Dan Cinelli – recording (9)
- Greg Kurstin – recording (11)
- Julian Burg – recording (11)
- Billboard – recording (15)
- Halatrax – recording (16)
- Jake Torrey – recording (16)
- Joel Little – recording (18)
Artwork
- Alessia Cara – creative direction
- James Ronkko – design
- Mary Chen – photography
- Andy Proctor – package production
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[19] | 83 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[20] | 81 |
References
edit- ^ "In the Meantime". Spotify. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ Melo, Mikael (24 September 2021). "New Music Friday: Alessia Cara, Coldplay, BTS, Kelly Clarkson, & More!". ET Canada. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ a b "ALESSIA CARA ANNOUNCES UPCOMING THIRD STUDIO ALBUM, IN THE MEANTIME OUT SEPTEMBER 24 – Press Releases – Universal Music Canada". www.universalmusic.ca. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Promonews. "Alessia Cara 'Sweet Dream' by Tusk | Videos". Promonewstv. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Sweet Dream (Lullaby Version) - Single by Alessia Cara on Apple Music, 20 August 2021, retrieved 14 July 2024
- ^ Shaffer, Claire (20 July 2021). "Alessia Cara Performs 'Sweet Dream' in Front of Niagara Falls on 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Best Days (The Remixes) - EP by Alessia Cara on Apple Music, 21 January 2022, retrieved 14 July 2024
- ^ You Let Me Down (The Remixes) - EP by Alessia Cara on Apple Music, 23 September 2022, retrieved 1 July 2024
- ^ YOU LET ME DOWN official video out Wednesday. written by: me directed by: Dario | By Alessia CaraFacebook. Retrieved 14 July 2024 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ "DE SURPRESA, ALESSIA CARA E JÃO CANTAM JUNTOS NO PALCO DO LOLLAPALOOZA | Notícias". Universal Music Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 March 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Alessia Cara | Sweet Dream Room". alessiacara.glitch.ge. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "In The Meantime by Alessia Cara reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ a b "In The Meantime by Alessia Cara Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ a b Andy Kellman (24 September 2021). "In the Meantime Review by Andy Kellman". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ a b Nick Lavine (24 September 2021). "Alessia Cara – 'In The Meantime' review: an inspired blend of hard truths and tropical bops". NME. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ a b Dani Blum (29 September 2021). "Alessia Cara: In The Meantime Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ a b Jeffery Davies (27 September 2021). "Alessia Cara: In The Meantime (Album Review)". PopMatters. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ a b Sarah Grant (24 September 2021). "Alessia Cara is a Playfully Doomed Romantic on 'In the Meantime'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.