The Dream (Amazon Exclusive Signed Edition)

Following a five-year gap between releases, English alt-rock trio Alt-J returned with something unexpected: a focused album with a handful of traditionally structured pop songs that some could say were radio-friendly. By no means a mainstream sellout, The Dream is the tightest attack the group have recorded to date, channeling their usual quirky tendencies into a clearer vision that veers between the comforting and the devastating. Loosely connected by tales of warm memories and cold crimes, these dozen tracks feature some of the bands most evocative storytelling, whether that involves frontman Joe Newman embodying a struggling thespian-turned-drug dealer ("The Actor"), a justified murderer ("Happier When Youre Gone"), or even a tech bro striking big with cryptocurrency ("Hard Drive Gold"). Alt-Js typical kitchen-sink approach to sonics hasnt weakened, whether theyre dropping a trance beat and fevered chanting onto pastoral acoustic folk ("Chicago"), recruiting an opera singer and harpsichord for a dramatic thumper ("Philadelphia"), or employing a barbershop quartet to back a spare Thom Yorke-styled dirge ("Walk a Mile"). In addition to the expansive opener, "Bane" (which cleverly utilizes the sound of a soda can cracking open on a nostalgic snapshot of summer love), other highlights include the radio hit "U&ME" and the aforementioned "Hard Drive Gold," a pulsing groover that might be one of the catchiest songs theyve written thus far. On the other end of the spectrum, "Get Better" is a tender heartbreaker that features the most crushing lyrics on the album, facing loss and death with such elegance that it rivals the most mournful moments from Elliott Smith and Bright Eyes. While the records extended coda is more fizzle than comedown, theres still plenty of beauty to be found in the latter third, and fans from all eras will find something to love at every turn. Their best since 2014s This Is All Yours, The Dream finds Alt-J in top form. Despite being so lyrically death-obsessed, the beauty and warmth coursing through the album make it full of life and absolutely human. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

リーズ出身の3人組バンドが5年ぶり4作目をリリース。前作『Relaxer』に続いて盟友チャーリー・アンドリューがプロデュースを手掛け、彼ららしいオルタナ・フォークを鳴らしつつ、これまでに比べて音数が少なくなった作りは良い意味でわかりやすくシンプルだ。ゆえに個々の演奏の熱量とメロディーの良さが浮かび上がり、どことなく崇高な雰囲気が漂っている。彼ら史上もっとも美しい作品と言っていいだろう。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二