"And Then Life Was Beautiful" Released: 29 July 2021
"Wait" Released: 12 August 2021
And Then Life Was Beautiful is the third studio album by English singer Nao. The album was released on 24 September 2021 through Little Tokyo Recordings and RCA Records.[2]
And Then Life Was Beautiful was met with universal acclaim from music critics and received a score of 85 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on nine critics' reviews.
Reviewing the album for All Music Andy Kellman observed "the generally softer and sweeter backdrops, which lean toward modern adult contemporary R&B and at times are plain, allow Nao to do more with her voice, a lithe soprano that glides, swoops, and flutters without strain".[4]
Alexis Petridis of The Guardian commended the album by stating the "mood never feels trite on And Then Life Was Beautiful, but oddly infectious instead, perhaps because the songs are really strong, the lyrics admirably uncliched."[5] Writing for NME, Kyann-Sian Williams felt the album "captures a sense of healing, and offers hope" and labelled it as "a true celebration of R&B".[1]
Dylan Green of Pitchfork praised the "varied sonic palette" of the album. He noted that while "And Then Life Was Beautiful" doesn't completely reinvent Nao's style, the album is a significant milestone in her journey towards self-actualization.[5] Amelia Kelly of Clash lauded the album by stating that "the gorgeous vocals, the radiant tones, the graceful guitar – manifests enlightened bliss. The expertly blended transitions between each track transform them into puzzle pieces that fit smoothly together."[7]
[4]