Tremaine the Album
Tremaine the Album | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 24, 2017 | |||
Recorded | 2016–2017 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 58:20 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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Trey Songz chronology | ||||
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Singles from Tremaine the Album | ||||
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Tremaine the Album (or simplified as Tremaine) is the seventh studio album by American singer and songwriter Trey Songz. It was released on March 24, 2017, by Troy Taylor's Songbook label, with distribution from Atlantic Records.[2] The album follows suit to Songz' sixth studio album, Trigga (2014).
Musically, Tremaine is an R&B album that explores the challenges of transforming a playboy lifestyle to a romantic one.[3][4] The album was supported by five singles: "Nobody Else but You", "Playboy", "Animal", "Song Goes Off", and "The Sheets... Still". The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States.[5] Tremaine was met with generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics.
Background
[edit]In an interview with iHeartRadio, Trey Songz expressed his desire to be more vulnerable to his audience through Tremaine. The singer also said he aimed to create a sound that "is more genuinely what R&B means to [him] and what it has meant to [his] career", compared to the club-oriented sound of its "brash [and] bravado" predecessor Trigga.[6][7] When asked about Tremaine's lyrical theme he said:
I wouldn't say the overall theme of the album is me trying to understand why I'm still a ladies' man and not yet settled down. I would say that's a question that's asked throughout. I would say it's an answer that's explained throughout, too. Not for the world, but for myself and for men and women in the situations I've been in. Like I've said, I like to make my music the soundtrack of my life, as well as the possibility to be the soundtrack for other people's lives. So, I just want people to get an understanding of where I am mentally and what I think about sometimes.[7]
Music and lyrics
[edit]Tremaine is an R&B album, with a consistent mid-tempo groove.[8] Lyrically, it explores the challenges of transforming a playboy lifestyle to a romantic one, featuring vulnerable moments in which the artist seeks to demonstrate his commitment to a loved one, alongside introspective reflections on his own dissatisfaction stemming from his inability to express genuine love due to his Casanova persona. On the other hand, the album also contains "hyper-libidinous" tracks that celebrate the enticing nature of sexual temptation.[9][4]
The album opens up with the lines "I been stressed out / I ain't feeling my best / All they want is my sex", setting the theme for the album.[8] On the "90's inspired" slow-jam "Playboy", he laments his inability to change, singing "Don't know why I'm still kissing girls that I don't love / still stumbling out of these clubs / still I'm just so hard to trust / don't know why I'm still a playboy".[4] On "Nobody Else but You", "Come Over" and "Priceless", he approaches his lover as a changed man, expressing that all he desires and requires is her love.[10] On "Animal" and "She Lovin It", Songz exuberantly portrays the thrill and excitement of passion-fueled one-night stands.[4] The album also contains "painful" breakup songs, that reflect the tumultuous relationship with his former girlfriend, caused by his promiscuous lifestyle. Among these tracks is the alternative R&B record "Song Goes Off", as well as the closing track "Break from Love", a piano ballad where he yearns "I don't want to break from us / After all we've been through so much / I don't want to break from love".[9][8]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [9] |
Revolt | [10] |
Vibe | [8] |
USA Today | [4] |
Exclaim! | 4/10[3] |
Upon its release, the album received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics.[9] Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised the singer's vocal performances: "as vocalist of such considerable caliber [...] [t]here's no disproving that Songz is still in his element" but criticized the production for being "too flat and usual at times".[9] Revolt's Maurita Salkey was complimentary of the album, saying "Trey's three-year hiatus seems to have paid off. This album leaves you with an array of emotions, but most importantly leaves you yearning for more."[10] John Kennedy of Vibe praised its lyrical content, stating that it shows "a softer side of the guy who invented sex", ending up his review by saying that "Trigga and Tremaine [are] pop culture's great dualities [that distinct] the two sides of Trey Songz".[8] Maeve McDermott of USA Today gave the album a mixed review, arguing that “While there's plenty to enjoy in Tremaine, Songz' new album exposes one reason why listeners are drawn to his contemporaries' darker tales of romance, (...) [he's] trying to prove [he's] special, while betraying hints of [his] toxic masculinity along the way."[4] Kyle Mullin of Exclaim! said that "If only Songz had filled out Tremaine the Album with such stronger fare, it would be an LP worthy of bearing his name."[3]
Commercial performance
[edit]Tremaine debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 behind Drake's More Life and Ed Sheeran's ÷ with 67,000 album-equivalent units, which included 45,000 pure album sales in its first week.[5] It serves as Trey Songz's fifth consecutive top three album in the United States.[5] On September 17, 2019, The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States.[11]
Track listing
[edit]Credits adapted from Tidal.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Prelude" |
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| 1:47 |
2. | "Come Over" |
|
| 4:02 |
3. | "#1 Fan" |
|
| 3:57 |
4. | "Nobody Else but You" | T. Neverson | Isaak | 3:48 |
5. | "Playboy" | T. Neverson |
| 4:16 |
6. | "The Sheets... Still" | T. Neverson |
| 6:04 |
7. | "Song Goes Off" |
| C4 | 4:04 |
8. | "She Lovin It" |
|
| 3:09 |
9. | "Animal" | T. Neverson | 4:21 | |
10. | "1x1" |
|
| 3:23 |
11. | "Priceless" |
|
| 3:55 |
12. | "What Are We Here For" |
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| 3:16 |
13. | "Games We Play" (featuring MIKExANGEL) |
| Guitar Boy | 4:23 |
14. | "Picture Perfect" |
|
| 4:07 |
15. | "Break from Love" | T. Neverson |
| 3:48 |
Total length: | 58:20 |
Notes
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[25] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ Vinson, Nathan (September 30, 2017). "Chart Check: Tank Scores Top 5 Hit on Urban AC, Tamar Braxton and Trey Songz Pick New Singles". Rated R&B. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
- ^ "Tremaine The Album by Trey Songz on Apple Music". iTunes. March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ a b c Mullin, Kyle (March 27, 2017). "Trey Songz Tremaine the Album". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g McDermott, Maeve (March 23, 2017). "Review: Trey Songz, Ed Sheeran and 'Tremaine's 'nice guy' problem". USA Today. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (April 2, 2017). "Drake's 'More Life' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Trey Songz Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
- ^ Mohammed, Sagal (March 24, 2017). "Trey Songz opens up about love, relationships and his new music". Glamour. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Thorpe, Isha (March 24, 2017). "INTERVIEW: Trey Songz Opens Up About 'Tremaine The Album' & Love Life". iHeartRadio. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Kennedy, John (March 27, 2017). "Review: Trey Songz Shows Remorse For His Savagery On 'Tremaine The Album'". Vibe. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Tremaine the Album - Trey Songz | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ a b c Salkey, Maurita (March 27, 2017). "Review: Trey Songz, 'Tremaine the Album'". Revolt. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Trey Songz – Tremaine". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Trey Songz – Tremaine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Trey Songz – Tremaine" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
- ^ "Trey Songz Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Trey Songz – Tremaine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
- ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 13, 2017)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Trey Songz – Tremaine". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Trey Songz – Tremaine". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
- ^ "Trey Songz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
- ^ "Trey Songz Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ "American album certifications – Trey Songz – Tremaine the Album". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 27, 2022.