True (Avicii album)
Avicii's debut album blending electronic dance music with country influences.
True is the debut studio album by Swedish electronic music producer Avicii, released on 13 September 2013 by PRMD Music and Island Records. The album moved away from his earlier house music sound by incorporating elements of other genres such as country music. It debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and peaked within the top-ten of at least ten countries.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Avicii
- Released
- 13 September 2013
- Recorded
- 2011–2013
- Genre
- EDM
- country
- house
- soul
- bluegrass
- Length
- 46:56
- Label
- PRMD, Island
- Producer
- Tim Bergling
- Arash Pournouri
- Nile Rodgers
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
True – CD / audio cassette / digital download
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Me Up | Tim Bergling, Aloe Blacc, Mike Einziger | 4:09 |
| 2 | You Make Me | Bergling, Pournouri, Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir | 3:53 |
| 3 | Hey Brother | Bergling, Pournouri, Pontare, Fakir, Veronica Maggio | 4:14 |
| 4 | Addicted to You | Bergling, Pournouri, Mac Davis, Josh Krajcik | 2:28 |
| 5 | Dear Boy | Bergling, Pournouri, Karen Marie Ørsted, Jonas Knutsson | 7:59 |
| 6 | Liar Liar | Bergling, Pournouri, Blacc, Einziger, Bruce Driscoll, Erica Driscoll, Peter Dyer | 3:58 |
| 7 | Shame on Me | Bergling, Pournouri, Audra Mae, Sterling Fox | 4:13 |
| 8 | Lay Me Down | Bergling, Pournouri, Nile Rodgers, Adam Lambert | 5:00 |
| 9 | Hope There's Someone | Anohni Hegarty | 6:21 |
| 10 | Heart Upon My Sleeve | Bergling, Pournouri | 4:40 |
| Total length | 46:55 | ||
True (Avicii by Avicii)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Me Up (Avicii by Avicii) | Bergling, Blacc, Einziger | 7:05 |
| 2 | You Make Me (Avicii by Avicii) | Bergling, Pournouri, Pontare, Fakir | 3:02 |
| 3 | Hey Brother (Avicii by Avicii) | Bergling, Pournouri, Pontare, Fakir | 6:09 |
| 4 | Addicted to You (Avicii by Avicii) | Bergling, Pournouri, Davis, Krajcik | 5:32 |
| 5 | Dear Boy (Avicii by Avicii) | Bergling, Pournouri, Ørsted, Knutsson | 5:30 |
| 6 | Liar Liar (Avicii by Avicii) | Bergling, Pournouri, Blacc, Einziger, B. Driscoll, E. Driscoll, Dyer | 5:06 |
| 7 | Shame on Me (Avicii by Avicii) | Bergling, Pournouri, Audra Mae, Fox | 3:56 |
| 8 | Lay Me Down (Avicii by Avicii) | Bergling, Pournouri, Rodgers, Lambert, <!-- | 6:02 |
| 9 | Hope There's Someone (Avicii by Avicii) | Hegarty | 8:08 |
Track listing from the source article.
Background and composition
Avicii stated on multiple occasions that the material on the album would not replicate his earlier hits like "Levels" and "Silhouettes" but would be an experimental and more synthetic record. He wanted to bring "disruption" to the electronic dance music scene, which he described as "half stuck". Speaking to Billboard, Avicii said in response to an earlier conflict at the Ultra Music Festival that he wanted to "bring 15 minutes of something fresh to break [Ultra] up." He acknowledged that listeners might be provoked by the heavy bluegrass and country music influences. Avicii explained that True "is about me being true to my sound but also to my own influences and musical preferences." In 2022, Avicii's biography revealed that he had wanted to collaborate with American icons such as Paul Simon, Mick Jagger (who said no), and Van Morrison (whose representatives were vague), while a representative from Interscope Records was unable to get in touch with Slash, Stevie Wonder or Sting. According to Billboard, there was little interest from these musicians.
Promotion
In April 2013, Avicii released a 60-minute promotional mix of new album material on SoundCloud, featuring several unreleased tracks like "Wake Me Up" and songs with Dan Reynolds and Mac Davis; it has been played over three million times. According to Billboard, the album was due for release on 17 September 2013. Avicii performed at the 2013 Ultra Music Festival on 22 March 2013, revealing nearly forty minutes of new material from True, which received a mixed to negative response from critics, fans and media. The new material incorporated bluegrass and country music elements, with live performances from Aloe Blacc backed by a banjo and kazoo. Attendees criticized the DJ for bringing experimental material to a high-profile electronic dance music festival. Some fans and musicians took to Twitter to bash the performance; Dubstep musician Jake Stanczak (Kill the Noise) tweeted a comparison to Al Walser, and producer Tommie Sunshine asked if Avicii had "jumped the #EDM shark." However, fans and high-profile musicians were quick to support Avicii. Russian producer Zedd said he liked the country-sounding tracks. Avicii's manager Ash Pournouri stated on Twitter: "So proud of @Avicii set at @ultramusic. Everyone will understand in a week." On 26 March, Avicii responded on Facebook, saying "we wanted to make a statement" and that his music is open to anyone who listens with open hearts and open minds.
Singles
"Wake Me Up" was released as the lead single on 17 June 2013, premiered on Pete Tong's BBC Radio 1 show on 14 June 2013. The song, featuring Aloe Blacc, charted on 20 national singles charts, peaking at number one in ten countries including the Australian ARIA Charts and Swedish Sverigetopplistan, and at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It features a Marantz enhanced digital audio track. "You Make Me", featuring Salem Al Fakir, was revealed as the second single on 16 August 2013, with a worldwide radio premiere on Pete Tong's BBC Radio 1 show. It was released in Australia and New Zealand on 30 August 2013 and scheduled in the United Kingdom for 15 September 2013. The single charted within the top 40 in several countries, peaking at number one in Sweden, the top five in the United Kingdom, and at number 44 on the Canadian Hot 100. "Hey Brother" was serviced to radio on 9 October 2013 as the third single in Australia, and on 1 October 2013 in Denmark; it was released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria on 28 October 2013. "Addicted to You" impacted Australian radio on 27 November 2013 as the fourth single, with a lyric video released on 24 January 2014. "Lay Me Down" was released as the fifth single to Australian radio on 21 April 2014.
Critical reception
True received generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 69 based on seven reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Philip Sherburne from Spin gave a positive review, saying Avicii inhabits his country-pop shtick so naturally that one may wonder whether it was part of the business plan all along, and that the album works more often than expected. Rolling Stone's Caryn Ganz complemented the diversity of guest musicians, noting Dan Tyminski of Union Station sings "Hey Brother" and Imagine Dragons penned "Heart Upon My Sleeve", and that the album saves room for two funky disco jams. PopMatters' Francesca D'Arcy-Orga agreed, saying Avicii takes listeners on a journey and cements himself as one of the best DJs in the world. Nick Catucci of Entertainment Weekly gave a positive review, stating the challenge Avicii faces and mostly meets is how to break up a live experience into songs with feeling, translating house music for the home.
More in Songs & Singles
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