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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.

In the Meantime
Studio album by Alessia Cara
Released	September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Recorded	2019–2021
Length	54:27
Label	Def Jam
Producer	Banx & Ranx Billboard Boi1da Cameron Bright Doc McKinney Don Mills Dylan Wiggins Greg Kurstin Halatrax Jake Torrey Joel Little Jon Levine Mike Wise Salaam Remi YogiTheProducer
Alessia Cara chronology
This Summer: Live Off the Floor (2019) In the Meantime (2021) Broken Heart (2022)
Singles from In the Meantime
"Sweet Dream" Released: July 15, 2021

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).

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 53 in Canada.

"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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.4/10[3]
Metacritic	80/100[4]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
NME	[6]
Pitchfork	7.1/10[7]
PopMatters	9/10[8]
Rolling Stone	[9]

In the Meantime received generally 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".[4] 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."[10] 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."[11] 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."[12] 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.[13] Sarah Grant of Rolling Stone named the album a "mighty pop opera" that "walks us through the five stages of grief."[14]

Track listing

Note

• ^{^[c]} indicates a co-producer
• ^{^[v]} indicates a vocal producer

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Artwork

• Alessia Cara – creative direction
• James Ronkko – design
• Mary Chen – photography
• Andy Proctor – package production

Charts

Chart performance for In the Meantime

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[15]	83
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[16]	81

References

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