Keesh – ‘Truth Be Told’ [Album Review]

Bay Area musician Keesh unveils his new project, Truth Be Told, a 13-track body of work that was crafted in the space of 24 months. The project is a blend of sounds ranging from hip-hop, contemporary pop with indie elements and R&B vibes and sees Keesh sharing some stories about his life.

The project starts with the bouncy “Wavelength,” a mid-tempo cut that is bolstered by rich, atmospheric pads, guitar licks and punchy grooves. Underpinned by Keesh’s expressive melodic flows and playful lyrics, the track explores growing friendship, growth and the never-ending journey to find his true purpose. Next is “Garden of Eden,” a reflective piece brimming with summery pop vibes that captures the warmth of the West Coast, while “SOS” has more of a spacey, dreamy soundscape that builds into a playful pop tune. Once again, Keesh continues his storytelling and takes audiences into his world. He is quite emotional and doesn’t shy away from being candid about his feelings on the track. “Wasted” is a standout track for its relatable topic, dynamic production and catchiness. Again, it showcases Keesh’s vulnerability and ability to emote his true feelings on wax. On “Infatuated” and “Badly Enough,” he talks about the feelings of infatuation, the frustrations that come with it and the push and pull that come with reaching out to a potential lover. Both tracks venture into the soft rock/pop space with their layered guitar-driven backdrops and bright textures.

The project continues to cover different musical themes, but mostly introspective, romantic and acceptance of self. “Pressure” details the lifelong struggles that everyone faces in these modern times, while “She Knows” unveils the cycle of drama between him and his girl. It feels like some sort of toxic love where co-dependency ties both parties together. “May 1st” has atmospheric textures and standard pop-style grooves that evoke nostalgia. The icing on the cake is Keesh showing clarity after a breakup, and the emotional stress of the act of moving on weighing on him. “Maybe to You” has a cali-pop bounce with sunny textures and bright guitar licks underpinned by Keesh’s airy vocal style that has carried the project till now, while the final track “Dead To Me” helps bring the project to a close. It serves as Keesh’s emotional closure to what he has gone through with love, and after suffering emotional pain and distress, he found the strength to call it quits and move on, even though the thought of her still lingers on. Other notable tracks include the experimental pop vibes of “Fire & Rain,” which is underpinned by unapologetic lyrics and the laidback “Promises,” which has a contemporary country-pop soundscape. The track is a solemn piece that sees Keesh looking back at the first time he met his girl and the numerous memories they shared.

Overall, Truth Be Told,  is a full-blown emotional rollercoaster that starts from puppy love through to the honeymoon stage, to the red flags popping up like viral notifications, to the eventual breakup and the painful aftermath. I must add, it’s more of a pop project and the hip-hop elements are far and in between but regardless, it’s enjoyable if you like West Coast summer-pop/experimental tunes.

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