In the Meantime is the third studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara, released on September 24, 2021, by Def Jam Recordings. Cara collaborated with Jon Levine, Salaam Remi and Joel Little among several other producers on the project.[1] Deemed as a concept album based "In the meantime between life and death", the album unravels the anxieties of introspection, healing, love and self-reflection.
Three songs were released to promote the album: "Sweet Dream", "Shapeshifter", and "Best Days",[2] with "Sweet Dream" charting at number 51 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart while the latter two acted as promotional singles. In the Meantime follows Cara's EP This Summer (2019) and Holiday Stuff (2020).
Release and promotion
In the Meantime was released on September 24, 2021, via CD, download and streaming services. Preorders for the album began on September 3, 2021.[3] A vinyl LP was released on April 8, 2022. A signed CD was also made available on Cara's webstore prior to the album's release.
Singles
"Sweet Dream" was released as one of two songs for the album on July 15, 2021, along with "Shapeshifter". The former of the two reached number 51 in Canada. The music video for "Sweet Dream", directed by Tusk Creative, was uploaded to Cara's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release.[4] To promote the single, a lullaby EP was released on August 20, 2021.[5] Cara performed the single on Live with Kelly and Ryan and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, from Niagara Falls, and also performed "Shapeshifter" on the latter.[6] "Shapeshifter" acted as the album's first promotional single and received a music video, released on July 23, 2021. The video debuted on CBS This Morning and was preceded by an interview with Cara.[3]
"Best Days" was released as the second promotional single, alongside the album, on September 24, 2021. Its music video was released on the same day. A remix EP, which included a new version performed with American a capella group Pentatonix, was released on January 21, 2022.[7] Cara performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen Show, and Good Morning America.
The third promotional single, "You Let Me Down", was supported by a remix EP on September 23, 2022.[8] Prior to being released as a promotional single, Cara released a music video for the song, directed by her brother Dario Caracciolo, in May 2022.[9] During her performance at Lollapalooza, she sang the song alongside Brazilian singer Jão.[10]
Marketing
The album's tracklist was revealed through Cara's social media on September 13, 2021. A website dedicated to the album, and its lead single "Sweet Dream", was also launched.[11] To promote and discuss In the Meantime, Cara appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen Show, among other programmes.
In the Meantime received positive reviews from music critics upon its release. On the review aggregator site Metacritic, the album holds an average score of 80 out of 100, based on five reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13] It is Cara's highest rated album on the site.
Writing for AllMusic, Andy Kellman noted that the album's tracks all have a "common" sound while opining that "from start to finish, lolling hooks flood Cara's mind as much as indecision, skepticism, and other negative thoughts ... enabling the listener to have a proper sulk that soothes."[14] Nick Levine of NME wrote that the album proves "there's still plenty of creative gas in the tank" and opined that "I Miss You Don't Call Me" could be "the best song she has ever written," ending his review by stating "her best days definitely lie ahead."[15] Dani Blum of Pitchfork appreciated Cara's voice and the album's themes, but felt that "she dilutes them when she relies too much on metaphor and conceit."[16] Writing for PopMatters, Jeffrey Davies called the album "sonically and lyrically her best work yet," noting that no song "ever feels like filler" while pointing out "Best Days" as one of the standout tracks.[17] Sarah Grant of Rolling Stone named the album a "mighty pop opera" that "walks us through the five stages of grief."[18]
