Access＜Colored Vinyl＞

In between their full-length debut and, almost exactly three years later, second album Access, Grand Rapids, Michigans Major Murphy added a fourth member (multi-instrumentalist Chad Houseman), and project leader Jacob Bullard and bandmate Jacki Warren welcomed their first child. The couples son features heavily on some of the songs here, including singles Real (which involves teaching him to breathe through his nose) and the 70s FM radio-friendly In the Meantime (inspired by a health scare). Musically, the album adheres to the more wistful end of classic rock influences, showcasing Bullards way with a moving melody while venturing into a more expansive, rock-oriented palette. Access was recorded in Bloomington, Indiana, with No. 1 (2018) co-producer Mike Bridavsky along with Ben Lumsdaine (Kevin Krauter, Mike Adams at His Honest Weight). The opening title track begins with a drumming eighth-note guitar pattern as Bullards warm, reflective vocals take stock of his world view, reaching the lines What else can I say?/Yeah, I want to be part of it/Like every single day/Theres a world that needs my loving as drums reinforce the insistent rhythm. It relaxes into a steady, keyboard-accompanied rock groove as Warren joins in on vocal harmonies. The slow-brewing song continues to add layers, entering anthemic arena territory by the end (Im hoping the pieces align). The somewhat prog rockier Attention adds vocal filters, guitar distortion, and glitchy computer sound effects to the mix, and, later, the druggy Rainbow pulls down the tempo without forsaking drum fills and ascending chord progressions. The album gravitates toward sweeter, slower songs on Side B, including the penultimate Flower (Everything you do/Has a meaning that is true to you), gradually winding down like a weekend back-porch hangout with friends. ~ Marcy Donelson

ミシガン州を拠点とするインディーロックバンド、Major Murphyの2ndアルバム。The Lemon Twigs, Barrie, Slow Pulpら新進気鋭のオルタナ/インディーロックアーティストを多数輩出する、ニューヨーク注目のレーベル Winspearよりリリース。表題曲《Access》のイントロで刻まれるブリッジミュートから香り立つ '90s オルタナティヴライクなサウンドと、肩の力が抜けた洒脱な彼らのヴィジュアルのギャップに惹かれる一方、1stアルバム『No.1』で顕著な'70s ソフトロック的アプローチも健在。彼らの妙味が遺憾なく発揮された良盤。
intoxicate (C)伊藤博明