Untrue
Encyclopedia
Untrue is the second album by the producer known as Burial
. It was released on 5 November 2007 as a 13-track Digipack CD and a nine-track 2xLP from which some of the beatless pieces were edited. The album marked a development in Burial's sound; it employed pitch-shifted and time-stretched
vocal samples in many tracks, in comparison to his previous mostly instrumental work. It was named the third best album of the decade by Resident Advisor
.
, which assigns a normalized
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average
score of 90, based on 23 reviews.
The album has received many plaudits:
Burial (musician)
Burial is the stage name of William Bevan, an electronic musician from London. His music contains elements of dubstep, 2-step garage, ambient and house music. His eponymous debut album was released in 2006 to critical acclaim...
. It was released on 5 November 2007 as a 13-track Digipack CD and a nine-track 2xLP from which some of the beatless pieces were edited. The album marked a development in Burial's sound; it employed pitch-shifted and time-stretched
Audio timescale-pitch modification
Time stretching is the process of changing the speed or duration of an audio signal without affecting its pitch.Pitch scaling or pitch shifting is the opposite: the process of changing the pitch without affecting the speed...
vocal samples in many tracks, in comparison to his previous mostly instrumental work. It was named the third best album of the decade by Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor is an online electronic music magazine dedicated to the global dance music scene. The website won a People's Voice award in the 12th Annual Webby Awards in 2008.-Site History:...
.
Reception
Initial critical response to Untrue was very positive. At MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which assigns a normalized
Standard score
In statistics, a standard score indicates how many standard deviations an observation or datum is above or below the mean. It is a dimensionless quantity derived by subtracting the population mean from an individual raw score and then dividing the difference by the population standard deviation...
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...
score of 90, based on 23 reviews.
The album has received many plaudits:
- It was Number 1 in FACT magazine's Top 100 Albums of the Decade;
- It was named third-best in Resident AdvisorResident AdvisorResident Advisor is an online electronic music magazine dedicated to the global dance music scene. The website won a People's Voice award in the 12th Annual Webby Awards in 2008.-Site History:...
's Best 100 Albums of the 00's; - Named the Best Album of 20072007 in British musicThis is a summary of the year 2007 in British music. It was the first year of digital downloads being fully integrated into the charts, leading to many songs not given physical releases to enter the chart on download sales alone. Leona Lewis had the most successful single of the year, with Bleeding...
by SputnikmusicSputnikmusicSputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
; - Named second-best album of 2007 by The WireThe Wire (magazine)The Wire is a British avant garde music magazine, founded in 1982 by jazz promoter Anthony Wood and journalist Chrissie Murray. The magazine initially concentrated on contemporary jazz and improvised music, but branched out in the early 1990s to various types of experimental music...
; - Second-highest rated album of 2007, according to the review averaging website, Metacritic;
- StylusStylusA stylus is a writing utensil, or a small tool for some other form of marking or shaping, for example in pottery. The word is also used for a computer accessory . It usually refers to a narrow elongated staff, similar to a modern ballpoint pen. Many styli are heavily curved to be held more easily...
rated it as the fifth Best Album of the 00s; - Placed eighth in Tiny Mix TapesTiny Mix TapesTiny Mix Tapes is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, as well as its mix tapes generator.-History:Originally called Tiny Mixtapes Gone to Heaven and...
' albums of 2007; - Appeared at number 10 in Pitchfork Media'sPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
Top 50 Albums of 2007; - Received a Mercury PrizeMercury PrizeThe Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British...
nomination in 2008, charting at #58 on the UK album chart the week of the nomination. - Appeared at number 41 in Pitchfork Media's Top 200 Albums of the 2000s ;
- Named by NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
as one of the 50 Most Important Recordings of the Decade - Named by Q Magazine as one of the top three 'essential' dubstep albums of all time.
Track listing
- "" - 0:46
- Contains a voice sample from the David LynchDavid LynchDavid Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
film Inland EmpireInland Empire (film)Inland Empire, sometimes styled as INLAND EMPIRE, is a 2006 mystery film written and directed by David Lynch. It was his first feature-length film since 2001's Mulholland Drive, and shares many similarities with that film. It premiered in Italy at the Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2006...
. - Contains a sample from "Agnus Dei" from Elliot GoldenthalElliot GoldenthalElliot Goldenthal is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was a student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, and is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various musical styles and techniques in original and inventive ways...
's soundtrackAlien 3 (soundtrack)The avante garde Alien³ score was written for the motion picture of the same name. Scored by Elliot Goldenthal, it was his first big mainstream score; he described it as an experiment and spent a whole year creating it.-The score:...
for the film Alien 3.
- Contains a voice sample from the David Lynch
- "Archangel" - 3:58
- Contains samples from "One Wish" by Ray JRay JWilliam Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
. - Contains a sample from the intro video of Metal Gear Solid 2.
- Contains samples from "One Wish" by Ray J
- "Near Dark" - 3:54
- "Ghost Hardware" - 4:53
- Contains a sample from "Beautiful" by Christina AguileraChristina AguileraChristina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
. - Contains a sample from "Turn the Page" by Bobby Valentino.
- Contains a sample from Metal Gear SolidMetal Gear Solidis a videogame by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake...
. - Contains a sample from the film Girl with a Pearl EarringGirl with a Pearl EarringGirl with a Pearl Earring is a painting by Johannes Vermeer.Girl With a Pearl Earring may also refer to:* Girl with a Pearl Earring , by Tracy Chevalier* Girl with a Pearl Earring...
. - Contains a sample from the MetalheadzMetalheadzMetalheadz is a pioneering drum and bass record label based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1994 by Kemistry & Storm and Goldie, it has been home to some of the drum and bass scene's brightest talent and is notable for the high quality of its back catalogue....
: Talkin' Headz documentary, spoken by Andy CAndy CAndy C , born Andrew John Clarke, is an English DJ and producer and co-founder of the RAM Recording Studio. He is the son of Mick Clarke, bass player and founder member of the Rubettes, who had hits in the seventies like Sugar Baby Love, Tonight and I Can Do It.He is considered a pioneering force...
.
- Contains a sample from "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera
- "Endorphin" - 2:57
- Contains sample from "Lost Carol" by Akira YamaokaAkira Yamaokais a video game composer, sound designer, sound director, and video game producer who worked for Konami since 1993 until his resignation in 2009. He is best known for creating the music in the Silent Hill series; he also worked as a sound director and producer on the series as well as serving as a...
and Mary Elizabeth McGlynnMary Elizabeth McGlynnMary Elizabeth McGlynn is an American voice actress, ADR director, writer, and singer best known for her extensive English-language dubbing of various anime, and her singing in multiple games from the Silent Hill series, as well as the movie adaptation and Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME. She has...
.
- Contains sample from "Lost Carol" by Akira Yamaoka
- "Etched Headplate" - 5:59
- Contains a sample from "Angel" by Amanda PerezAmanda PerezAmanda Nicole Perez is a female American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer of Mexican descent.-Biography:Amanda Perez was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana and grew up in the Waynedale community of Fort Wayne, where she attended North Side High School....
. - Contains a sample from "Ready For Love" by India Arie.
- Contains a sample from "You Got Me" by The RootsThe RootsThe Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
ft. Erykah BaduErykah BaduErica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
. - Contains a sample from DVD extra cast interviews for the film Bullet BoyBullet BoyBullet Boy is a 2005 film directed by Saul Dibb, written by Saul Dibb and Catherine Johnson, and stars Ashley Walters. The film's original music was composed and performed by Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, who released it as an album...
(spoken by Claire Perkins).
- Contains a sample from "Angel" by Amanda Perez
- "In McDonalds" - 2:07
- Contains a sample from "I Refuse" by AaliyahAaliyahAaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
. - Contains a sample from the film Bullet BoyBullet BoyBullet Boy is a 2005 film directed by Saul Dibb, written by Saul Dibb and Catherine Johnson, and stars Ashley Walters. The film's original music was composed and performed by Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, who released it as an album...
.
- Contains a sample from "I Refuse" by Aaliyah
- "Untrue" - 6:16
- Contains a sample from a cover of "Resentment", originally by BeyoncéBeyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
. - Contains a sample from "Whisper" by Ernie HalterErnie HalterErnie Halter is an American singer/songwriter. He is currently signed on Rock Ridge Music.Born in Inglewood, CA in 1974 and raised in Orange County, Halter started playing piano when he was 8, guitar when he was 14, and writing his own songs when he was 16. His first disc Lo-Fidelity came out in...
.
- Contains a sample from a cover of "Resentment", originally by Beyoncé
- "Shell of Light" - 4:40
- Contains a sample from "Whisper" by Ernie HalterErnie HalterErnie Halter is an American singer/songwriter. He is currently signed on Rock Ridge Music.Born in Inglewood, CA in 1974 and raised in Orange County, Halter started playing piano when he was 8, guitar when he was 14, and writing his own songs when he was 16. His first disc Lo-Fidelity came out in...
. - Contains a sample from "Cruisin'" by D'angeloD'AngeloMichael Eugene Archer , better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is an American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences,...
.
- Contains a sample from "Whisper" by Ernie Halter
- "Dog Shelter" - 2:59
- "Homeless" - 5:20
- Contains a sample from a cover of "Who's Lovin' YouWho's Lovin' You"Who's Lovin' You" is a Motown soul song, written in 1960 by William "Smokey" Robinson. The song has been recorded by many different artists including The Miracles, who recorded the 1960 original version, The Temptations, The Supremes, Terence Trent-D'arby, Brenda and The Tabulations, John Farnham,...
", originally by Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, probably via "Hold OnHold On (En Vogue song)"Hold On" was the debut single from En Vogue's debut album, Born to Sing. It reached number one on the Hot Black Singles chart. The single became one of 1990s' biggest hits in the US and also a major hit in the UK . It also reached #1 on the U.S. Dance chart...
" by En VogueEn VogueEn Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
. - Contains a sample from "Beautiful" by Christina AguileraChristina AguileraChristina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
.
- Contains a sample from a cover of "Who's Lovin' You
- "UK" - 1:40
- "Raver" - 4:59
- Contains a sample from "Show Me Love" by Robin S.Robin S.Robin S. is an American singer-songwriter, who scored success in the 1990s with such hit singles as "Show Me Love" and "Luv 4 Luv". She has had three number ones on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.-Career:Robin S...
- Contains a sample from "Show Me Love" by Robin S.