Pink, ‘The Truth About Love’ – Album Review

One of the biggest questions surrounding Pink's 'The Truth About Love' was this: Would she suffer from a mom hangover and be too joyous to write/sing the edgy pop music on which she built her multi-platinum reputation? Would Pink be boring? Sedate? Complacent! Or worse, uninspired, since one's perspective inevitably changes upon giving birth and raising a child?

Well, we're happy to report that the answer is no effing way! Pink could never be boring, bland or blah, and being a mother hasn't blunted her fiery, almost unstable edge.

Pink has never strayed from mining her personal life as source material -- making light of her split with hubby Carey Hart in 'So What,' one of her biggest hits -- and while she's not as personal here, she still packs her songs and her delivery with levity and warmth.

Her guest list is pretty jaw-dropping too. She recruited some artists you may know, like Eminem, Lily Rose Cooper (nee Allen) and more.

1. 'Are We All We Are'
The chorus of "All we, all we are" is addictive. No joke. It's a tense song, with some of the heaviest beats Pink has ever incorporated on a record. But stick with it, since the song will undoubtedly grow on you and will eventually earn your undying love after multiple listens. [Listen Here]

2. 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)'
The puns! The puns! This is the anti-love song that Pink has been known to toss our way throughout her career. Of course, the clever, bad girl punning elicits a smile and is never stale like two-day old donuts, since Pink infuses these familiar sentiments with sass and undeniably addictive melodies. [Listen Here]

3. 'Try'
Pink is a belter with a soulful voice, and she sounds like Kelly Clarkson with this song. The midtempo track finds Pink mourning, lamenting and musing on a relationship that is breaking down at its core. It hurts, but this song is a salve over the wound. [Listen Here]

4. 'Just Give Me a Reason' Feat. Nate Ruess
Another emotional ballad, this song gives fans a respite from the fiery anthems. We like the soft, warm and fuzzy side of Pink, since even when she is vulnerable, she's still edgy. It's a duet with Nate Ruess, singer of fun. -- they fit like a jigsaw puzzle -- a lovely yin and yang. [Listen Here]

5. 'True Love' Feat. Lily Allen (aka Lily Rose Cooper)
Got a love-hate relationship? Then this is the song for you and your beloved. The upbeat, hell yeah, high-five love song features Pink calling her lover an "a--hole" and saying she wants to slap his whole face. Again, a dysfunctional relationship, which is sung about over a resonant rhythm, makes the misery of love sound like a delight in Pink's capable hands, er, voice. It features Lily Rose Cooper, formerly Lily Allen. [Listen Here]

6. 'How Come You're Not Here'
Pink's voice has distortion and effects placed on it, which serves to make the lyrical points hit home even harder. She comes across as unstable, singing "It ain't super smart / To leave me alone" and refers to herself "like a stoner babe / without my bong." It's the crazy, psycho girlfriend anthem! Pink goes cray cray and we like it. [Listen Here]

7. 'Slut Like You'
Pink never masks her intentions. She calls it like she sees/feels it, and this bad girl anthem should appeal to the younger Kesha contingent that might not be as familiar with Pink. After all, she wrote the book on this style. [Listen Here]

8. 'The Truth About Love'
There are some effects on Pink's rapped-talked vocals. She tosses off her lyrics in a da-dum, da-dum cadence over a '60s sock hop beat and hand claps. The result is amazeballs. It gives the album a crisp, spicy zest. She also calls love "nasty" and "salty." This song also catapults itself forward several years with a subtle, '90s alt rock bend, thanks to the bassline. [Listen Here]

9. 'Beam Me Up'
Here's another chance to enjoy the softer side of Pink, with an acoustic guitar being the only sonic support to her voice. It's got a little twang, so this is Pink's version of country, thanks to the vivid, "storyteller" lyrics. Her voice, once agains, haunts. [Listen Here]

10. 'Walk of Shame'
It's a bouncy, pop punk anthem with the emphasis on the pop. Pink celebrates that post-one night stand embarrassment we've all endured at least once. Never has grabbing your clothes and shoes and sneaking out the door sounded so good! [Listen Here]

11. 'Here Comes the Weekend' Feat. Eminem
This is the club banger of 'The Truth About Love,' with a chunky, looped beat and lots of effects. It doesn't let Pink's voice shine through, as her vox is heavily dressed in effects. She is also joined by Eminem. He is returning the favor for 'Won't Back Down,' the 'Recovery' song on which Pink guested. [Listen Here]

12. 'Where Did the Beat Go?'
Here's another song that is a showpiece for Pink's voice. It has a bit of a retro, jukebox vibe, like Amy Winehouse meets Alicia Keys. Yeah, it's that good. It's just Pink's voice and a beat, and we like it like that, as she sings about her cheatin' heart, "basking in another man's afterglow," since the romance has gone out of her relationship. Love the musical metaphor. [Listen Here]

13. 'The Great Escape'
This is a pretty ballad, where Pink's voice sounds a little icy (in a good way), like Aimee Mann. It's Pink being a little AC, crooning over a piano melody. The pain in her voice leaps out of the speakers in this piano ballad. This doesn't feel like the requisite ballad to show us just how tough and rugged Pink is -- it is not filler. It fits perfectly, showing her voice's dynamics. [Listen Here]

14: 'Chaos & P---'
Pink is all about the piano ballad and this one lets her escalating emotion take center stage. It's torchy and crushing, and fitting when it comes to the album's sequence. As the album begins to close, this is a tender and touching song to (almost) leave you with. [Listen Here]

15. 'Timebomb'
Here, we get Pink singing over a synthy beat, and if you are looking for a hearty song
to crank in your earbuds while rocking the elliptical at the gym, this is it. The album ends on a high note, after taking you through a roller coaster-like cycle of emotions. [Listen Here]

Bonus Target Edition Track: This is one of the four extra tracks on the version sold only at Target. Our album review is based solely on the standard version of the album.

14. 'Run'
The album had a handful of ballads, but none as epic and expansive as 'Run,' where she pleads, "Run back to my arms." How could anyone resist that suggestion. There's a choral vocal, too, making the song sound big. [Listen Here]

Watch the Pink 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)' Video