Higher Truth is the fourth studio album by American rock musician Chris Cornell, and the final album to be released during his lifetime and his final album of original material. It was released on September 18, 2015.[2][3]

Higher Truth
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2015
Recorded2014–2015
GenreRock
Length45:26
LabelUMe
ProducerBrendan O'Brien[1]
Chris Cornell chronology
Songbook
(2011)
Higher Truth
(2015)
Chris Cornell
(2018)
Singles from Higher Truth
  1. "Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart"
    Released: August 10, 2015

Recording

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Cornell chose producer Brendan O'Brien as a collaborator to create a more intimate sound for the record.[4] On recording drums for the album, Cornell has stated that "most of the songs with drums are either loops that I made electronically or that Brendan basically recorded just playing a little drum kit he had," Cornell says. "We just made loops, layered things and played some percussion stuff."[4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]
Consequence of SoundC+[7]
Rolling Stone     [8]
Spin5/10[9]

Upon its release, Higher Truth received generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68 based on 11 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[5] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said, "While Higher Truth never seems as self-consciously confessional as Euphoria Mourning, this mellow simplicity is an attribute: a relaxed Cornell creates a comforting mood piece that's enveloping in its warmth."[6] Collin Brennan of Consequence of Sound stated, "Higher Truth ironically doesn't strive for anything higher. It stakes its claim in the rich soils of the middle ground, a place that values intimacy above innovation, quiet truths above the ones that scream. And it's all the better for it."[7]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Chris Cornell

No.TitleLength
1."Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart"3:54
2."Dead Wishes"4:55
3."Worried Moon"4:32
4."Before We Disappear"3:51
5."Through the Window"4:41
6."Josephine"3:38
7."Murderer of Blue Skies"3:42
8."Higher Truth"5:06
9."Let Your Eyes Wander"3:42
10."Only These Words"3:29
11."Circling"3:28
12."Our Time in the Universe"4:19
Total length:49:17
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Bend in the Road"3:37
14."Wrong Side"5:13
15."Misery Chain"4:42
16."Our Time in the Universe" (Remix)3:58
Total length:66:47

Personnel

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Credits adapted from AllMusic.[10]

Charts

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Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 21
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] 80
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[13] 49
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] 77
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] 77
Irish Albums (IRMA)[16] 43
Italian Albums (FIMI)[17] 62
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[18] 13
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] 26
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[21] 37
US Billboard 200[22] 19
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)[23] 42
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[24] 4
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[25] 7

References

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  1. ^ Kreps, Daniel (June 2, 2015). "Chris Cornell Announces New Album 'Higher Truth,' Acoustic Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  2. ^ "Chris Cornell announces solo album and acoustic tour headed to Lakewood". cleveland.com. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  3. ^ "iTunes - Music - Higher Truth by Chris Cornell". iTunes. September 18, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Greene, Andy (August 24, 2015). "Chris Cornell on New Solo Album and Future of Soundgarden". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 26, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Reviews for Higher Truth by Chris Cornell". Metacritic. September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Higher Truth - Chris Cornell | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Brennan, Collin (September 16, 2015). "Chris Cornell – Higher Truth". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  8. ^ Dolan, Jon (September 14, 2015). "Chris Cornell's New Album: Higher Truth". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  9. ^ Joyce, Colin (September 16, 2015). "Review: Chris Cornell Reaches for 'Higher Truth,' But It's Just Out of His Grasp". Spin. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  10. ^ "Higher Truth - Chris Cornell | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Chris Cornell – Higher Truth". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  12. ^ "Ultratop.be – Chris Cornell – Higher Truth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  13. ^ "Ultratop.be – Chris Cornell – Higher Truth" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Chris Cornell – Higher Truth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Chris Cornell – Higher Truth" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  16. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 39, 2015". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  17. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Chris Cornell – Higher Truth". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  18. ^ "Charts.nz – Chris Cornell – Higher Truth". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Chris Cornell – Higher Truth". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  22. ^ "Chris Cornell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  23. ^ "Chris Cornell Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  24. ^ "Chris Cornell Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  25. ^ "Chris Cornell Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2020.