Breaks It Down

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:00:00
The Reverend Shawn Amos designed his 2018 album, Breaks It Down, as a collection of "21st century freedom songs," a self-description that underscores that this is a modern-day protest record. Certainly, Breaks It Down teems with songs of pained passion and pleas for togetherness (there's also a cover of David Bowie's "The Jean Genie," which doesn't quite seem to fit the concept, even if it does touch upon other cultural Zeitgeists of the mid-2010s). Amos doesn't keep his blues vocabulary limited, frequently returning to a leathery soul but also finding space for the sparse "Uncle Tom's Prayer," the charged Delta blues of "Does My Life Matter," and the blues gospel of "Moved." He often returns to the church, even casting Nick Lowe's standard "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" as a hymn, but that suits the openhearted, communal vibe of the album: in a time of chaos, the Reverend Shawn Amos is searching for ways to unite us. By casting his musical net wide and writing specific songs, he succeeds with Breaks It Down, since both the tunes and the vibe make it clear he's aiming for empathy, not alienation. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine