In Real Life is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Mandy Moore, released on May 13, 2022, via Verve Forecast Records. The album is a follow-up to her sixth studio album, Silver Landings (2020).
| In Real Life | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 13, 2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 40:42 | |||
| Label | Verve Forecast | |||
| Producer | Mike Viola | |||
| Mandy Moore chronology | ||||
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| Singles from In Real Life | ||||
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Background
editFollowing the birth of her first child with husband and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith in February 2021, Moore returned to the studio to record new music that she wrote with her husband during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Moore also worked with longtime producer Mike Viola, Dawes drummer Griffin Goldsmith, Dawes keyboardist Lee Pardini, guitarists Madison Cunningham and Sean Watkins, bassists Davey Faragher and Sebastian Steinberg, and Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius.[4][5]
Promotion
editMoore released a short clip on Instagram of an acoustic version of "In Real Life", the first song in the new album, which she performed with her husband in an Instagram reel on March 6, 2022.[6] Three days later, on March 9, she announced in an Instagram post that the song would also become the title of the album and that it was the result of "digging some creative catharsis during quarantine and getting ready to become a mother."[7] On March 18, the music video for "In Real Life" was published on Moore's YouTube channel, which featured her son, her husband, as well as celebrity friends and the cast of the NBC drama This Is Us, where Moore is one of the main cast.[8][9]
During a guest appearance in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 11, Moore announced that she is going on a North American tour to promote the album beginning in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 10.[5] After 12 gigs, the rest of the tour was cancelled due to her pregnancy.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
| Riff Magazine | 8/10[10] |
In Real Life received generally positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic gave the album a positive rating of three and a half stars and stated in its review: "Where its predecessor was filled with songs of rebirth and empowerment, In Real Life is gentler, concentrating on domestic warmth where the partners are healthy enough to know how to meet in the middle -- a compromise that becomes essential with a new baby entering the family."[4] It added, "It's a welcoming, cheery sound that matches Moore's optimism, but it's hard not to wish there was an occasional loose end or ragged fringe."[4]
Writing for Riff Magazine, Mike DeWald said of the album: "In Real Life showcases Moore's growth and maturity as both a songwriter and performer. The album is fun and breezy, but most importantly, it feels authentic to her personal experience."[10]
Track listing
editAll music is produced by Mike Viola.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In Real Life" | 3:52 | |
| 2. | "Heartlands" |
| 3:34 |
| 3. | "Little Dreams" |
| 3:27 |
| 4. | "Just Maybe" |
| 3:48 |
| 5. | "Living in the in Between" |
| 3:01 |
| 6. | "In Other Words" |
| 4:10 |
| 7. | "Four Moons" |
| 3:35 |
| 8. | "Little Victories" |
| 3:52 |
| 9. | "Heavy Lifting" |
| 3:42 |
| 10. | "Brand New Nowhere" |
| 3:17 |
| 11. | "Every Light" |
| 4:19 |
| Total length: | 40:42 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Something to Do with Loneliness" |
| 4:08 |
| 13. | "Little Dreams" (demo) |
| 3:24 |
| Total length: | 48:14 | ||
Personnel
editCredits adapted from AllMusic.[4]
- Mandy Moore – vocals, composer
- Taylor Goldsmith – composer, guitar (acoustic), guitar (electric), piano, vocals
- Mike Viola – arranger, bass, composer, drums, engineer, guitar (acoustic), guitar (electric), keyboards, percussion, piano, producer, vocals
- Griffin Goldsmith – drums, percussion
- Dave Cerminara – engineer, mixing
- Gal Petel – mixing assistant
- Eric Boulanger – mastering
- Madison Cunningham – guitar (electric)
- Sean Watkins – guitar (acoustic)
- Davey Faraghar – bass
- Sebastian Steinberg – bass
- Lee Pardini – hammond B3, keyboards, piano
- Trey Pollard – conductor, string arrangements
- Adrian Olsen – string engineer
- Anna Bishop – violin
- Alana Carithers – violin
- Jeannette Jang – violin
- Stacy Matthews – violin
- Adrian Pintea – violin
- Meredith Riley – violin
- Jocelyn Smith – violin
- Treesa Gold – string contractor, violin
- Ryan Lannan – cello
- Elizabeth OHara – viola
- Molly Sharp – viola
- Susy Yim – viola
- Jess Wolfe – vocals
- Inara George – vocals
- Holly Laessig – vocals
Charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[13] | 41 |
References
edit- ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Mandy Moore mixes it up on intimate "In Real Life"". RIFF Magazine. May 9, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations". AllAccess. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022.
- ^ Dailey, Hannah (May 11, 2022). "Mandy Moore Says 'This Is Us' Inspired Her To Make Music Again: 'It Activated Something In Me'". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "In Real Life Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Schube, Will (May 14, 2022). "Mandy Moore Releases New Album, 'In Real Life'". uDiscoverMusic. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Romualdi, Melissa (March 8, 2022). "Mandy Moore Releases New Track 'Real Life' Off Forthcoming Album Featuring Husband Taylor Goldsmith, Announces Tour". ET Canada. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ FitzPatrick, Hayley (March 17, 2022). "Watch Mandy Moore's star-studded music video for her new single, 'In Real Life'". Good Morning America. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (March 18, 2022). "Wilmer Valderrama, Hilary Duff & More Stars Appear in Mandy Moore's 'In Real Life' Video". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ Moore, Mandy (March 18, 2022). In Real Life (music video). YouTube. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ a b DeWald, Mike (May 9, 2022). "ALBUM REVIEW: Mandy Moore mixes it up on intimate "In Real Life"". RIFF Magazine. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ "Mandy Moore - in Real Life (Target Exclusive, CD)".
- ^ "Mandy Moore – Something to do with Loneliness".
- ^ "Mandy Moore Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2022.