Ready Now [Import]

Truth Hurts, Truth(aka Truth Hurts) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Jvc Japan
• ASIN: B0002CHPO0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,704,234 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Knock Knock

2. Ready Now

3. Ride

4. Love U Better

5. Catch 22

6. Phone Sex

7. Whatchu Sayin'

8. Lifetime (Interlude)

9. Lifetime

10. Can't Be Mad

11. U

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much "Better" Second Time Around (4.5 Stars), June 5, 2004

By 

Andrew Jacob (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready Now (Audio CD)

After being dropped from Aftermath and dropping "Hurt" from her moniker, Truth comes back with a surprisingly exceptional album. Truth recently joined the roster on the "Pookie Entertainment" label, with Raphael Saadiq producing much of her sophomore album. The clichéd-Queen B-"I'm here to conquer"-attitude that shrouded her debut flopper "Truthfully Speaking" (in exception to hypnotic "Addictive") is now replaced with a more sensualistic vibe. The subject of "sex" has been toned into a more "mature" depiction, but still has that "club song" sound to it, evident in the lead single "Ready Now", the middle-eastern flavored "Ride", and the exotic hedonism vibe of "Phone Sex". Lyrics have improved significantly, now with a deeper depiction, from the confrontational "Lifetime" and the serene tranquility of "U". But above it all, the best song is the emotionally moving "Catch 22", which is about unrequited love ("Catch 22" makes a reference to the book titled "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller, which is a black comedy novel about death, about what people do when faced with the daily likelihood of annihilation. For the most part, what they do is try to survive in any way they can.):

When You Love Somebody
More than they love you
Should you stand there lying
Pretending its all good
Walk away in denial
Like you'll live without him
Either way, this catch 22

Truth's voice was always powerful, but it wasn't being projected correctly. Her debut showed very good potential, but just seemed very fake for a person that depicted themselves to be the "truth". Now minus the "Hurt"(although they still attach it on the album cover), perhaps changing labels was all she had to do to make high-quality and meaningful music. The truth doesn't hurt anymore, and hence, she says it best: "I think I'm ready now." Ain't that the truth.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Are You Ready for the Truth?, June 20, 2004

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready Now (Audio CD)

Truth Hurts' second CD, as many will tell you, is a notable improvement over her debut. But that isn't really saying much: 2002's "Truthfully Speaking" was gimmicky and mired in too many r&b cliches to set it apart from the cookie-cutter singers out there. Fortunately for her, she parted ways from her former label Aftermath and signed up with Pookie Entertainment, which is helmed by producer Raphael Saadiq. Under Saadiq's wing, "Ready Now" is more gritty, mature, and soulful. The mood and flavor is so radically different that this album and "Truthfully Speaking" might as well come from different planets. Interesting cuts are the title track, the outstanding "Catch 22," the middle eastern flavor of the tasteful "Phone Sex," the Saddiq-produced "Lifetime" (Truth's voice really shines on this one), and the seven minute closer "U." If you were put off by the first album, you still shouldn't pass on "Ready Now." It's worth a listen. Truth doesn't hurt anymore. It now liberates.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth is back and she's READY NOW indeed!!, June 4, 2004

By 

The_Music_Man - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready Now (Audio CD)

2002 saw the rise and fall of Truth Hurts. She came out strong with her first single "Addicted" produced by Just Blaze, but fell off shortly afterwards due to a lawsuit for not crediting the people she sampled from. Not long after this, Truth Hurts departed ways with Dr. Dre and his Aftermath label and found her way on over to Pookie Entertainment, Raphael Saadiq's label.

And thus we have "Ready Now," her first album in two years. I first obtained this album through a friend over the Internet and I was thoroughly impressed with it. Saadiq knows how to write and produce well and each song compliments Truth's powerful vocals. The album is more like an EP than an actual LP, because there are only 11 tracks (including one interlude). But nevertheless the album is complete with nothin but mid-tempo grooves.

Truth is at her personal best on this album as she doesn't try being the R&B Lil Kim this time around. The album starts off with "Knock, Knock" and flows into her first single "Ready Now." My personal favorite song on this album, however, is "Catch 22." A powerful ballad about the downside of love. It's about loving someone more than they love you and trying to deal with it. Truth sounds emotional in this song and her delivery is strong. "Phone Sex" is after that and I don't think that needs any explanation. It's done tastefully well tho and doesn't sound forced.

Overall, Truth Hurts suprasses the "sophomore slump" and by hooking up with Raphael Saadiq has come back with a stronger and more soulful approach. Don't sleep on her peopple...this album!