Summary
God's Work (stylized in all lowercase) is the fifteenth studio album by American country-pop singer LeAnn Rimes, released on September 16, 2022. The album marks her first of original music in six years since the release of Remnants in 2016. Rimes co-wrote all but two of the tracks.
| God's Work | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 16, 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2020–2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:38 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | ||||
| LeAnn Rimes chronology | ||||
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| Singles from god's work | ||||
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Singles from the album include, in order of release, "Throw My Arms Around the World", "I Do", "How Much a Heart Can Hold", "Spaceship", and "Innocent". "Throw My Arms Around the World" was also included as a Dave Audé remix version on the physical edition of the album.
Background and promotion edit
Background edit
The album title and tracks is featured in all lowercase. Rimes stated the reason for this is "If we're arguing about why the 'g' is or isn't capitalized, we're missing the whole point. It's so important for us to focus on the messages, rather than the nuances."[3][4]
Promotion edit
"The Only" was released as a promotional single on May 20, 2022.[5] On July 15, 2022, Rimes released "The Wild" as another promotional single.[6] On August 18, 2022, "Awakening" was released as the final promotional single.[7]
Singles edit
Five singles have been released to promote the album, the first in 2020, "Throw My Arms Around the World",[8][9] "I Do" in 2021[10][11] and "How Much a Heart Can Hold"[4] and "Spaceship"[12] in 2022. On September 1, 2023, “Innocent” was released as the fifth single from the album.[13]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| American Songwriter | [2] |
The album received three-and-a-half star reviews from both AllMusic and American Songwriter. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that "The dramatic air is heartfelt and striking, albeit a little monochromatic: it's an album delivered in grayscale, the sober execution suiting the probing songs but sounding slightly stifling over the course of 12 tracks",[1] while Alli Patton of American Songwriter wrote "Overall, the album is involved. From the opening track, god's work begins a journey of reflection and introspection, albeit slow, at times, but meditative all the same. For those willing to take that journey, god’s work will not disappoint."[2]
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by LeAnn Rimes and Darrell Brown, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Spaceship" | 4:07 | |
| 2. | "The Only" (featuring Ben Harper, Ledisi, and Ziggy Marley) | 4:05 | |
| 3. | "Awakening" | 4:14 | |
| 4. | "How Much a Heart Can Hold" | David Baerwald, Brown, Rimes | 3:25 |
| 5. | "Throw My Arms Around the World" | 5:18 | |
| 6. | "The Wild" (featuring Mickey Guyton and Sheila E.) | 4:13 | |
| 7. | "Innocent" | 3:48 | |
| 8. | "God's Work" (featuring Mickey Guyton, Robert Randolph, and Tata Vega) | Mark Batson, Brown, Rimes | 5:04 |
| 9. | "Something Better's Coming" | 4:38 | |
| 10. | "Imagined with Love" | 2:32 | |
| 11. | "There Will Be a Better Day" | Brown, Beth Neilsen Chapman | 4:00 |
| 12. | "I Do" (duet with Aloe Blacc) | Blacc, Jon Levine, Sarah Solovay | 3:10 |
| Total length: | 48:38 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Throw My Arms Around the World" (Dave Audé remix) | 3:59 |
| Total length: | 52:37 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Innocent" (featuring Orchid Quartet) | 3:31 |
| 14. | "Imagined with Love" (featuring San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir & New York City Gay Men's Chorus) | 2:31 |
| 15. | "Spaceship" (Dave Audé Extended Remix) | 5:49 |
| 16. | "Throw My Arms Around the World" (Dave Audé Extended Remix) | 5:50 |
| 17. | "Spaceship" (Dave Audé Astral Plane Remix) | 4:23 |
| Total length: | 70:42 | |
Notes
- All track titles are stylized in all lowercase.
Personnel edit
- Mark Batson – co-produced "God's Work"
- Aloe Blacc – co-produced "I Do"
- Lynne Earls – recording
- Nico Bolas – recording
- Alisse Laymac – Pro Tools engineer
- Chandler Harrod – Pro Tools engineer
- Alisse Laymac – additional recording
- Eric Liljestrand – additional recording
- Mychael Gabriel – additional recording
- Ray Donghwan – additional recording
- Ruadrhi Cushnan – mixed tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
- Elise Mollé – assistant mixing
- Emily Lazar – mixed tracks 1 and 6
- Chris Allgood – mixed tracks 1 and 6
- Jay Marcovitz – mixed track 4
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Chris Allgood – mastering
- Cindy Peters – production coordinator
- Norma Seeff – photography and cover designer
- Hannah Maldon – art director and booklet designer
- Trevor Lawrence Jr. – drums and percussion
- Stefan Lessard – bass
- Taku Hirana – percussion
- Mark Batson – B3
- Waddy Wachtel – guitars
- Dean Parks – guitars
- Ilya Toshinsky – guitars
- Greg Hagan – guitars
- Robert Randolph – pedal steel on "God's Work" and "Throw My Arms Around the World"
- Ben Harper – guitars and vocals on "The Only"
- Ziggy Marley – guest vocals on "The Only"
- Ledisi – guest vocals on "The Only"
- Sheila E. – guest drums and percussion on "The Wild"
- Mickey Guyton – guest vocals and background vocals on "God's Work" and "The Wild"
- Tara Vega – guest vocals on "The Wild"
- Jennifer Condos – bass on "Awakening" and "How Much a Heart Can Hold"
- Hadas Kleinman – cello on "How Much a Heart Can Hold"
- Josh Luxe – additional acoustic guitars on "Awakening"
- Mara – additional percussion on "Throw My Arms Around the World"
- Darrell Brown – piano and keys
- LeAnn Rimes – vocals, piano on "There Will Be a Better Day", additional background vocals on "God's Work" and "Throw My Arms Around the World"
- Tiffany Palmer – additional background vocals on "God's Work" and "Throw My Arms Around the World"
- Denise Green – additional background vocals on "God's Work" and "Throw My Arms Around the World"
- Chris Walden – string arranger
Release history edit
| Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | September 16, 2022 | Standard | EverLe | [14][15][16] | |
| November 10, 2023 |
|
Resurrected | [17] |
References edit
- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. God's Work at AllMusic
- ^ a b c Patton, Alli (September 16, 2022). "Review: LeAnn Rimes' god's work is a Complex Collection of Spiritually-Fueled Hits". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ Iahn, Buddy (April 8, 2022). "LeAnn Rimes announces genre-bending new album". The Music Universe. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Nolan, Kathleen (April 8, 2022). "LeAnn Rimes Announces New Album, 'god's work,' Featuring Ziggy Marley, Aloe Blacc, and More". American Songwriter. Savage Ventures Brand. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Major, Michael (May 20, 2022). "LeAnn Rimes Releases 'the only' Featuring Ziggy Marley, Ben Harper & Ledisi". Billboard World. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Melas, Chloe (July 15, 2022). "LeAnn Rimes and Mickey Guyton's new song is a 'battle cry' for women - CNN". CNN. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "LeAnn Rimes has released awakening as the latest cut from her new album 'god's work'". Retropop. August 21, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ ""Throw My Arms Around the World" by LeAnn Rimes". Apple Music. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ "Throw My Arms Around The World by LeAnn Rimes is a song from the album Throw My Arms Around The World - Single and was released in 2020". New Country SOngs. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "I Do by Aloe Blacc & LeAnn Rimes". Amazon Music. Amazon.com, Inc. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Huff, Lauren (February 21, 2021). "Aloe Blacc and LeAnn Rimes collaborate on new duet version of 'I Do' — listen now". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "LeAnn Rimes Talks Stripping Down for Raw 'spaceship' Music Video Directed by Husband Eddie Cibrian (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. 27 September 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Innocent by LeAnn Rimes". Apple Music. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "LeAnn Rimes - god's work". Amazon. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "god's work LP". LeAnn Rimes Official Store. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "god's work CD". LeAnn Rimes Official Store. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "god's work (resurrected) by LeAnn Rimes". Apple Music. Retrieved November 19, 2023.