Higher Truth

{{Infobox album

| name = Higher Truth

| type = studio

| artist = Chris Cornell

| cover = Chris Cornell Higher Truth.jpg

| alt =

| released = September 18, 2015

| recorded = 2014–2015

| studio =

| genre = Rock, acoustic rock

| length = 45:26

| label = UMe

| producer = Brendan O'Brien{{cite web|last=Kreps |first=Daniel |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chris-cornell-announces-new-album-higher-truth-acoustic-tour-20150602 |title=Chris Cornell Announces New Album 'Higher Truth,' Acoustic Tour |work=Rolling Stone |date=June 2, 2015 |accessdate=August 14, 2015}}

| prev_title = Songbook

| prev_year = 2011

| next_title = Chris Cornell

| next_year = 2018

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Higher Truth

| type = studio

| single1 = Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart

| single1date = August 10, 2015

}}

}}

Higher Truth is the fourth studio album by American rock musician Chris Cornell, and the final album to be released during his lifetime and his final album of original material. It was released on September 18, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/06/chris_cornell_new_solo_album_a.html |title=Chris Cornell announces solo album and acoustic tour headed to Lakewood |publisher=cleveland.com |accessdate=August 14, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/higher-truth/1440816954 |title=iTunes - Music - Higher Truth by Chris Cornell |publisher=iTunes |date=September 18, 2015 |access-date=November 8, 2015}}

Recording

Cornell chose producer Brendan O'Brien as a collaborator to create a more intimate sound for the record.{{cite web|last=Greene |first=Andy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chris-cornell-on-new-solo-album-scream-hate-and-future-of-soundgarden-20150824?page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826180621/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chris-cornell-on-new-solo-album-scream-hate-and-future-of-soundgarden-20150824?page=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 26, 2015 |title=Chris Cornell on New Solo Album and Future of Soundgarden |work=Rolling Stone |date=August 24, 2015 |accessdate=September 18, 2015}} On recording drums for the album, Cornell has stated that "most of the songs with drums are either loops that I made electronically or that Brendan basically recorded just playing a little drum kit he had," Cornell says. "We just made loops, layered things and played some percussion stuff."

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| MC = 68/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/higher-truth/chris-cornell |title=Reviews for Higher Truth by Chris Cornell |publisher=Metacritic |date=September 16, 2015 |accessdate=September 20, 2015}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score= {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|first=Stephen Thomas |last=Erlewine |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/higher-truth-mw0002867447 |title=Higher Truth - Chris Cornell | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=September 20, 2015}}

| rev3 = Consequence of Sound

| rev3score= C+{{cite web|last=Brennan |first=Collin |url=https://consequence.net/2015/09/album-review-chris-cornell-higher-truth/ |title=Chris Cornell – Higher Truth |work=Consequence of Sound |date=September 16, 2015 |accessdate=September 20, 2015}}

| rev4 = Rolling Stone

| rev4score= {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Dolan |first=Jon |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/chris-cornell-higher-truth-20150914 |title=Chris Cornell's New Album: Higher Truth |work=Rolling Stone |date=September 14, 2015 |accessdate=September 20, 2015}}

| rev5 = Spin

| rev5score= 5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/09/review-chris-cornell-higher-truth/ |title=Review: Chris Cornell Reaches for 'Higher Truth,' But It's Just Out of His Grasp |work=Spin |first=Colin |last=Joyce |date=September 16, 2015 |accessdate=September 20, 2015}}

}}

Upon its release, Higher Truth received generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68 based on 11 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said, "While Higher Truth never seems as self-consciously confessional as Euphoria Mourning, this mellow simplicity is an attribute: a relaxed Cornell creates a comforting mood piece that's enveloping in its warmth." Collin Brennan of Consequence of Sound stated, "Higher Truth ironically doesn't strive for anything higher. It stakes its claim in the rich soils of the middle ground, a place that values intimacy above innovation, quiet truths above the ones that scream. And it's all the better for it."

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Chris Cornell

| title1 = Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = Dead Wishes

| length2 = 4:55

| title3 = Worried Moon

| length3 = 4:32

| title4 = Before We Disappear

| length4 = 3:51

| title5 = Through the Window

| length5 = 4:41

| title6 = Josephine

| length6 = 3:38

| title7 = Murderer of Blue Skies

| length7 = 3:42

| title8 = Higher Truth

| length8 = 5:06

| title9 = Let Your Eyes Wander

| length9 = 3:42

| title10 = Only These Words

| length10 = 3:29

| title11 = Circling

| length11 = 3:28

| title12 = Our Time in the Universe

| length12 = 4:19

| total_length = 49:17

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks

| title13 = Bend in the Road

| length13 = 3:37

| title14 = Wrong Side

| length14 = 5:13

| title15 = Misery Chain

| length15 = 4:42

| title16 = Our Time in the Universe

| note16 = Remix

| length16 = 3:58

| total_length = 66:47

}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/higher-truth-mw0002867447/credits |title=Higher Truth - Chris Cornell {{!}} Credits |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=November 8, 2015}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Musicians

Production

  • Billy Joe Bowers – engineering, mastering
  • Kyle Stevens – engineering
  • Tom Syrowski – engineering

{{col-2}}

Additional personnel

  • Monique McGuffin – production management
  • Jeff Fura – A&R
  • Josh Graham – art direction
  • Suspended in Light – art direction
  • Liuba Shapiro – product management
  • Jeff Lipsky – photography

{{col-end}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2015)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|Australia|21|artist=Chris Cornell|album=Higher Truth|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 26, 2015}}
{{album chart|Flanders|80|artist=Chris Cornell|album=Higher Truth|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 25, 2015}}
{{album chart|Wallonia|49|artist=Chris Cornell|album=Higher Truth|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 25, 2015}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|77|artist=Chris Cornell|album=Higher Truth|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 26, 2015}}
{{album chart|Germany4|id=282078|77|artist=Chris Cornell|album=Higher Truth|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 26, 2015}}
{{album chart|Ireland|43|year=2015|week=39|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 25, 2015}}
{{album chart|Italy|62|artist=Chris Cornell|album=Higher Truth|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 25, 2015}}
{{album chart|New Zealand|13|artist=Chris Cornell|album=Higher Truth|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 30, 2015}}
{{album chart|Scotland|26|date=20150925|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 4, 2020}}
{{album chart|Switzerland|26|artist=Chris Cornell|album=Higher Truth|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 30, 2015}}
{{album chart|UK2|37|date=20150926|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 25, 2015}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|19|artist=Chris Cornell|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 29, 2015}}
{{album chart|BillboardCatalog|42|artist=Chris Cornell|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 4, 2020}}
{{album chart|BillboardAlternative|4|artist=Chris Cornell|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 4, 2020}}
{{album chart|BillboardRock|7|artist=Chris Cornell|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 4, 2020}}

References