Love & Hyperbole

Last updated
Love & Hyperbole
"Love & Hyperbole" (2025), by Alessia Cara.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 14, 2025
Recorded2021–2024
Length45:36
Label Def Jam
Alessia Cara chronology
In the Meantime
(2021)
Love & Hyperbole
(2025)
Singles from Love & Hyperbole
  1. "Dead Man"
    Released: July 19, 2024
  2. "Fire"
    Released: February 24, 2025

Love & Hyperbole is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alessia Cara, released on February 14, 2025. [1] Cara worked with producers Mike Elizondo, Jake Gosling, and Jon Levine, among others, the latter of whom she had worked alongside on several of her prior projects, including the majority of her previous album, In the Meantime (2021).

Contents

The album was preceded by three songs, beginning with "Dead Man", which was released as the lead single on July 19, 2024. [2] Following the announcement of Love & Hyperbole, "(Isn't It) Obvious" was released as a promotional single on October 21, 2024. [3] "Slow Motion" was released on January 24, 2025. [4] "Fire" was serviced to US hot adult contemporary radio stations as the album's second single on February 24, 2025.

Upon release, Love & Hyperbole received universal acclaim from critics, praising the production, songwriting, and vocal performances. To support the album, Cara has announced on her third concert tour, the Love & Hyperbole Tour, which will commence on April 6, 2025.

Background and recording

Work on the album began in late 2021, [5] continuing into early 2024. [6] She said its creation came after feeling emotionally stuck and searching for an opportunity to have normal life experiences outside of her fame, which would inspire her creativity. [7] Before she started work on the album, she says she questioned whether she wanted to continue making music for an industry that had significantly changed since she came on the scene. [7]

In late August 2023, Cara announced publicly through an X posting the album's existence. [8]

Cara changed her layout on social media in late June 2024 and began to post cryptic teaser images on a daily basis.[ citation needed ] She formally announced the first single, "Dead Man", on July 9, 2024. [9] Through social media, Cara stated the track was about "a relationship that has come to an end and is like the last final grasp of trying to hold onto what is left of this relationship. Basically, looking at the other person and metaphorically shaking them and saying 'I am really trying my best to hold here, but if you don't want to be held onto then there's nothing left of this'. I feel like I am talking to a dead man." [2] The song was released through Def Jam Recordings on July 19, 2024. [10]

Release and promotion

On October 20, 2024, Cara officially revealed the name of the album, Love & Hyperbole, through an X posting. [1] A promotional single, "(Isn't It) Obvious", and accompanying music video were released on October 21, 2024, [11] after being featured on an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit . [3] The song features a guitar solo by John Mayer. [12]

On a December 20, 2024 YouTube livestream with Dan Kanter, Cara performed acoustically the next single from the album, "Fire", and announced its release date of January 17, 2025. [12] On January 13, 2025, Cara announced through an X posting that the song's release would be postponed due to the ongoing Californian wildfires and substituted with a different song, [13] "Slow Motion", which was released to online music streaming platforms on January 24, 2025. [14]

On February 13, 2025, Cara announced the Love & Hyperbole Tour to help promote the album. [15] [16] It will be her third concert tour as she did not tour to promote In the Meantime due to the COVID-19 pandemic's mitigation measures. The tour will begin April 6, 2025, at the Orpheum Theatre, in Boston, Massachusetts. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash 7/10 [22]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [23]
Dork 4/5 [24]
Sputnikmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [25]

Love & Hyperbole received widespread critical acclaim from critics. [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]

Sputnikmusic gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 and stating: "Barely weeks removed from a Grammy Awards ceremony where every premier girl pop album from last year vied for top honors, 'Love & Hyperbole' is just in a different class compared to the rest of them." [25]

Track listing

Love & Hyperbole track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Go Outside!" Alessia Cara
3:39
2."Left Alone"CaraKurstin2:45
3."Dead Man"Cara
  • Cara
  • Elizondo
Elizondo3:23
4."Subside"Cara
  • Cara
  • Elizondo
Elizondo4:28
5."Run Run"Cara
2:53
6."Drive"Cara
  • Cara
  • Jeremy Malvin
  • Elizondo
  • Chrome Sparks [c]
2:50
7."Get to You"Cara
  • Cara
  • Levine
  • Cara
  • Levine
3:07
8."(Isn't It) Obvious"
  • Cara
  • Lubben
  • McKeehan
  • Miller
  • Jakob Rabitsch
Yakob3:51
9."Garden Interlude"Cara
  • Cara
  • Jack Rochon
Rochon2:26
10."Nighttime Thing"
2:24
11."Feels Right"Cara
  • Some Randoms
  • Yakob
3:07
12."Fire"
  • Cara
  • Jake Torrey
  • Cara
  • Levine
  • Torrey
  • Levine
  • Elizondo
3:45
13."Slow Motion"Cara
  • Elizondo
  • Gosling [c]
3:23
14."Clearly"Cara
  • Cara
  • Farber
  • Levine
  • Farber
  • Levine
3:28
Total length:45:36

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

  • Alessia Cara – lead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (tracks 1, 3–8, 13), bass (7)
  • Mike Elizondo – bass, keyboards (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 12); percussion (1, 6, 10), programming (3, 12), electric guitar (4, 10), drum programming (4, 12); acoustic guitar, string arrangement (10); background vocals (13)
  • Trevor Lawrence Jr. – drums, percussion (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 12, 13)
  • Max Townsley – keyboards (1, 3, 6, 10), Wurlitzer electric piano (1), electric guitar (3, 6, 10, 12, 13), piano (3, 12), organ (3), acoustic guitar (4, 6, 12), Rhodes (4, 13), drums (10)
  • Buddy Ross – keyboards, programming (track 1)
  • Greg Kurstin – bass, drums, electric guitar, keyboards, Rhodes, synthesizer (track 2)
  • Evan Cobb – saxophone (track 3)
  • Roy Agee – trombone (track 3)
  • Emmanuel Echem – trumpet (track 3)
  • Austin Hoke – cello (tracks 4, 10)
  • Betsy Lamb – viola (tracks 4, 10)
  • Alicia Enstrom – violin (tracks 4, 10)
  • Kristin Weber – violin (tracks 4, 10)
  • Jordan Lehning – string arrangement (track 4)
  • Dan Farber – guitar (tracks 5, 7, 14); drums, programming (5, 14); background vocals, drum programming (5); percussion (14)
  • Jules Halpern – background vocals (track 5)
  • Olivia Aita – background vocals (track 5)
  • Vincent Garcia – bass (track 5)
  • Jon Levine – drums, keyboards (tracks 5, 7, 14); programming, Rhodes, Wurlitzer electric piano (5, 14); drum programming (5), percussion (14)
  • Nick Perri – guitar (track 7)
  • Yakob – bass, guitar, keyboards, programming (tracks 8, 11), drum programming (8), percussion (11)
  • John Mayer – guitar (track 8)
  • Jack Rochon – guitar, keyboards, programming (track 9)
  • Aaron Shadrow – bass, keyboards, percussion (track 10)
  • Matt Campfield – bass, guitar, keyboards (track 11)
  • Danny Klein – drum programming, percussion (track 11)
  • Some Randoms – programming (track 11)
  • Alex Wilder – background vocals (track 13)
  • Erica Block – background vocals (track 13)
  • Victoria Westfall – background vocals (track 13)
  • Yuli – string arrangement, strings (track 13)

Technical

References

  1. 1 2 LaPierre, Megan (October 21, 2024). "Alessia Cara Announces New Album 'Love & Hyperbole'". Exclaim! . Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  2. 1 2 Damara Kelly, Tyler (19 July 2024). "Alessia Cara returns after two-year hiatus with "Dead Man"". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  3. 1 2 Armstrong, Sam (2024-10-22). "Alessia Cara Releases New Single '(Isn't It) Obvious'". uDiscover Music . Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. Okechukwu, Nmesoma (2025-01-28). "Alessia Cara – Slow Motion". EUPHORIA. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
  5. "Alessia Cara checks in to talk about 'Love & Hyperbole': 'I feel most like myself'". www.audacy.com. February 14, 2025.
  6. Blanchet, Brenton (July 19, 2024). "Now a Decade Into Her Career, Alessia Cara Says Things Feel 'Brand New Again' (Exclusive)". People . Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  7. 1 2 Press, David Friend The Canadian (2025-02-26). "Oft-billed as a pop star, Grammy winner Alessia Cara wants more out of music". thecanadianpressnews.ca. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  8. Caracciolo, Alessia [@alessiacara] (August 31, 2023). "yessir" (Tweet). Retrieved January 19, 2025 via Twitter.
  9. LaPierre, Megan (July 16, 2024). "Alessia Cara Is Back This Friday with New Single "Dead Man"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  10. Taylor, Sam (2024-07-22). "Alessia Cara is back with a jazzy new single, 'Dead Man'". Dork . Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  11. Burton, Poppy (2024-10-22). "Alessia Cara shares tender '(Isn't It) Obvious' and announces new album 'Love & Hyperbole'". NME . Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  12. 1 2 Caracciolo, Alessia; Kanter, Daniel Joseph (December 20, 2024). "Alessia Cara - Virtual Holiday Party (Livestream)" . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  13. Caracciolo, Alessia [@alessiacara] (January 13, 2025). "actually guys…no :( slight change of plans. for obvious reasons & out of respect it doesn't feel right to put it out at the moment. But you're gonna hear another song from the album instead that I love so much (soon)❣️❣️ Hope you understand. I'm sorry. love you xx" (Tweet). Retrieved January 13, 2025 via Twitter. actually guys…no :( slight change of plans. for obvious reasons & out of respect it doesn't feel right to put it out at the moment. But you're gonna hear another song from the album instead
  14. Caracciolo, Alessia [@alessiacara] (January 18, 2025). "'Slow Motion', the next song from Love & Hyperbole, out January 24th❣️ chapter 2 part 2" (Tweet). Retrieved January 19, 2025 via Twitter. 'Slow Motion', the next song from Love & Hyperbole, out January 24th
  15. "Alessia Cara Details 2025 Love & Hyperbole World Tour". JamBase.
  16. Dunn, Mariah (February 17, 2025). "Alessia Cara announces the Love & Hyperbole Tour »". www.melodicmag.com.
  17. "Tour".
  18. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
  19. "Alessia Cara Announces 'Love & Hyperbole' World Tour". Exclaim!.
  20. Caracciolo, Alessia (February 13, 2025). Facebook https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1199080664909056&id=100044214020347. very excited to announce the Love & Hyperbole Tour 2025❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️ Pre-sale begins on Tuesday, Feb 18 at 10AM local time. Sign up for pre-sale at alessiacara.com/tour. Link in bio. General on-sale begins on Friday, Feb 21 at 10AM local time. see you real sooooon!!!{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. Armstrong, Sam (February 14, 2025). "Listen to Alessia Cara's New Album, 'Love & Hyperbole'".
  22. Ahmed, Narzra (February 13, 2025). "Alessia Cara – Love & Hyperbole". Clash . Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  23. Savage, Emily (February 14, 2025). "Alessia Cara - Love & Hyperbole". DIY . Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  24. Wescott, Andrew (February 12, 2025). "Alessia Cara – Love & Hyperbole". Dork . Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  25. 1 2 "Alessia Cara - Love & Hyperbole (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  26. McDermott, Liam. "Alessia Cara brings raw feelings in 'Love & Hyperbole'".
  27. Coneely-Nolan, Grace; Beck, Carleigh (February 19, 2025). "Alessia Cara returns to the music scene with 'Love and Hyperbole'".
  28. "Alessia Cara - Love & Hyperbole | Reviews". February 13, 2025.
  29. "Alessia Cara isn't afraid to get cheesy about love". Dazed. February 14, 2025.
  30. "Alessia Cara embraces growth and freedom with "Love & Hyperbole"". The Tufts Daily.
  31. Mosk, Mitch (February 14, 2025). "Interview: Alessia Cara on 'Love & Hyperbole,' Feeling Big Feelings, and Learning to Choose Joy".
  32. "Alessia Cara: Love & Hyperbole Album Review". www.genadmission.org.
  33. "Alessia Cara Returns With "Love & Hyperbole," Embracing Creative Freedom and a Vintage Vibe". Uranium Waves. February 25, 2025.