In the Meantime (Alessia Cara album)

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In the Meantime
Studio album by
Alessia Cara
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Recorded2019–2021
Length54:27
LabelDef Jam
Producer
Alessia Cara chronology
This Summer
(2019) 		In the Meantime
(2021)
Singles from In the Meantime
  1. "Sweet Dream"
    Released: July 15, 2021

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.

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).

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 53 in Canada.

"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.

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10[3]
Metacritic80/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
NME[6]
Pitchfork7.1/10[7]
PopMatters9/10[8]
Rolling Stone[9]

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".[4] 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."[5] 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."[6] 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."[7] 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.[8] Sarah Grant of Rolling Stone named the album a "mighty pop opera" that "walks us through the five stages of grief."[9]

Track listing[edit]

In the Meantime track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Unboxing Intro"
Levine0:41
2."Box in the Ocean"
  • Caracciolo
  • Levine
Levine3:16
3."Bluebird"
Cameron Bright3:14
4."Lie to Me"
2:31
5."Shapeshifter"
Remi3:06
6."Fishbowl"
Wise3:08
7."I Miss You, Don't Call Me"
  • Caracciolo
  • Levine
Levine3:20
8."Middle Ground" (featuring Chika)
Wise3:43
9."Somebody Else"
3:34
10."Drama Queen"
  • Caracciolo
  • Alyssa Reid
  • Wise
  • Nathan Ferraro
  • Jamie Appleby
  • Soran Dussaigne
Wise3:01
11."Clockwork"
Kurstin2:27
12."Best Days"
  • Caracciolo
  • Levine
Levine3:31
13."Sweet Dream"
3:02
14."Find My Boy"
  • Caracciolo
  • Wise
Wise3:12
15."Voice in My Head"
Billboard2:57
16."Slow Lie"
  • Caracciolo
  • Jeff Halavacs
  • Jake Torrey
  • Halatrax
  • Torrey
2:42
17."You Let Me Down"
  • Caracciolo
  • Wise
  • Wise
  • Hrag Sanbalian[c]
3:13
18."Apartment Song"
Little3:41
Total length:54:27

Note

  • ^[c] indicates a co-producer
  • ^[v] indicates a vocal producer

Personnel[edit]

Musicians

  • 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 performance for In the Meantime
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[10] 83
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[11] 81

References[edit]

  1. ^ "In the Meantime". Spotify. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "In The Meantime by Alessia Cara reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b "In The Meantime by Alessia Cara Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b Andy Kellman (24 September 2021). "In the Meantime Review by Andy Kellman". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b Dani Blum (29 September 2021). "Alessia Cara: In The Meantime Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b Jeffery Davies (27 September 2021). "Alessia Cara: In The Meantime (Album Review)". PopMatters. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b Sarah Grant (24 September 2021). "Alessia Cara is a Playfully Doomed Romantic on 'In the Meantime'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
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