The Truth is one of
Ledisi's best albums, acknowledged in December 2014 with a Grammy nomination for "Like This" in the category of Best R&B Performance. The following January, the singer appeared as gospel great
Mahalia Jackson in Ava DuVarnay's Selma, and she also released this EP of acoustic versions. Six of its seven songs first appeared on the standard edition of
The Truth, while the original "I Swear" can be found on the album's deluxe edition. Cynics might see
The Intimate Truth as an opportunistic stop-gap -- it also preceded a tour of the same name -- but it's a full effort and shines a brighter light on the richness of
Ledisi's voice, as well as the substance of her (and her collaborators') songwriting. ~ Andy Kellman