Paloma Faith
Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?

THE REVIEW

Majestic, theatrical, and sparkling: three adjectives that perfectly encapsulate the essence of "Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?", the 2009 debut of British artist Paloma Faith. Released after years spent singing in various jazz clubs and working in the entertainment world as a dancer and actress, these experiences emerge in every single note of this pop-soul gem, contributing to provide both the album and its author with a well-defined and unique artistic-musical identity. Because if it's true that the lead single and opening track "Stone Cold Sober," with its brass riff and pounding chorus, inevitably pays tribute to the old school revival trend that was dominating popular music at the time, already with the following track "Smoke and Mirrors" the game changes, transforming what could have seemed like the bland record of yet another Amy Winehouse clone into an elegant theatrical piece with smoky, refined, and extremely varied atmospheres. 

Like in a kind of strange and eccentric musical, Paloma, with her childlike and playful voice that inevitably recalls Cyndi Lauper, takes us through fast and gripping moments (the aforementioned "Stone Cold Sober" and "Smoke and Mirrors," the latter built on an effective mix of cinematic strings and electric guitars) and intimate and subdued ballads ("New York," embellished in the finale by the contribution of the Souls of Prophecy Gospel Choir of London, and "Stargazer," which, among other things, seems to be particularly appreciated by Prince), only to suddenly return to decidedly lighthearted atmospheres ("Upside Down," "Romance is Dead"). However, where this debut truly leaves its mark is in the tracks where Paloma lets her theatricality emerge like a flood, sometimes exaggerated, but never gaudy or pointless: the result is highly successful concentrations of pathos ready to explode in the triumph of strings and brass in the beautiful title track or in the majestic and overwhelming crescendo of "My Legs Are Weak" and, above all, the concluding "Play On," the absolute gem of the album, a track capable of sweeping away the entire discography of much more famous and acclaimed peers. Faith's artistic imprint also extends to her image, which pairs well with her musical offering, combining extravagant looks with an unpretentious, genuine style. Indeed, she often tends to be intelligently self-ironic (the ending of the "Smoke and Mirrors" video, in which a heartbroken Paloma amusingly saws her boyfriend in half during a magic show, is hilarious in this regard).

In conclusion, "Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?" is a delightful pop-soul gem from one of the most pleasant revelations from the land of Albion, an intelligent artist capable of combining elegance and spontaneity, producing music of a certain level, and endowed with charisma, great vocal skills, and that pinch of extravagance and eccentricity that makes her an interesting figure to follow, something increasingly rare, especially nowadays, in the pop scene.