Yearnalism

レオン・トーマスとの活動でも注目を浴びたグラミー賞受賞アーティスト、ベイビー・ローズ。この10年で最も印象的な歌声の持ち主の一人によるサード・アルバム『ヤーナリズム』、リリース。
この10年で最も印象的な歌声の持ち主の一人であるグラミー賞受賞アーティスト、Baby Roseが、待望のニュー・アルバム『YEARNALISM』をSecretly Canadianよりリリースする。『YEARNALISM』の最初の予告となったのは、今年初めにリリースされたLeon Thomasとのコラボ曲「Friends Again」で、この曲はアルバムの核心にある非凡な新世界を垣間見せてくれた。この楽曲は、Leon Thomasのアルバム『MUTT』がグラミー賞の最優秀R&Bアルバム賞を受賞した際、2人が初めて共演した「I USED TO」という輝かしいコラボレーション曲に続き、再び2人がタッグを組んだ作品となった。『YEARNALISM』は、Roseにとって新たなチャプターの幕開けとなる作品であり、彼女独自のサウンドを継承しつつ、新たな自己認識から生まれた進化を遂げている。古めかしくも時代を超越したようなトーンで、Roseはソウル、ゴスペル、ジャズ、ロック、R&Bを融合。Muscle Shoals時代を定義した巨匠たちや、Etta James、Nina Simone、Janis Joplinなど音楽の様相を変えた重要な女性アーティストたちの精神を注ぎ込みつつ、そのサウンドをしっかりと現代に根付かせている。彼女の音楽は親密でありながらシネマティックな広がりがあり、最後の音色が消えた後も長く心に残るようなものだ。

Baby Roses easy evasion of being classified as simply an R&B throwback continued after the release of her second album, Through and Through. Slow Burn, the distinctive contraltos subsequent EP with BadBadNotGood, contained a stellar folk-soul collaboration with Mereba. Covers of Fleetwood Macs "Landslide" and the Velvet Underground and Nicos "Ill Be Your Mirror" -- the latter of which was recorded for Materialists, in which Rose made her film debut as a wedding singer -- further demonstrated a natural flexibility. While Yearnalism is another tradition-rooted R&B record more than anything else, it sees Rose subtly expanding her sound in a way that makes her even more suited for adult album alternative radio than urban contemporary stations. A mix of acoustic and electric guitars help frame all but one of these songs that, for the most part, concern longing for resolution, stability, closure, and renewal. "When Im Gone" sets the tone with a hint of twang and some invective arising from Roses frustration with an undeserving ex. She keeps her guard up amid deceptively light strums and a blazing Ernie Isley-like lead in "Dressed in Metal." "Let Me Go" could be mistaken for a cover of a late-70s soft rock classic, while "Sunday," the starkest song of all (until the dancing strings arrive) would have been equally at home on any recent Mavis Staples album. A pair of reciprocal duets bringing slow-motion couples in blue-lit basements to mind are also among the standouts. "Friends Again" is an old-school ballad replete with Roses Three Degrees/Love Unlimited-style monologue and equally conflicted duet partner Leon Thomas uncanny "oh-oh-oh" evocation of Lenny Williams. The softly glimmering "Is This Love," another in-flux moment, sees Rose and Elmiene searching for an answer with mutual empathy. Out of the few uptempo numbers, the sanguine "All My Love," a Philly soul nod, is most moving, nearly overflowing with joy. Although not all the material plays to Roses strengths, her full-bodied voice never ceases to captivate. ~ Andy Kellman