Just Like That...＜Teal Blue Vinyl＞

Five decades into her career, Bonnie Raitt shows no desire to stray from her wheelhouse. The blend of rock, blues, soul, reggae, folk, and pop that fuels Just Like That -- her 18th album and first since 2016s Dig In Deep -- is deeply familiar, evoking memories of her classic 1970s LPs while sounding of a piece with such relaxed latter-day records as Slipstream. Just Like That does sound quite a bit like its immediate predecessors, proceeding at a relaxed gait and bearing a production that gleams yet still contains a hint of grit. Those superficial similarities help highlight the places where Raitt departs from course, notably the quiet acoustic numbers "Just Like That" and "Down the Hall," two compassionate story-songs that owe a debt to John Prine. Raitt doesnt linger on this debt, yet its clear that mortality is on her mind: "Livin for the Ones" is a raucous tribute to all those who didnt manage to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, a legion that includes reggae legend Toots Hibbert, whose "Love So Strong" Raitt covers here. All these nods arent subtle -- neither is the knowing recovery anthem "Waitin for You to Blow" -- but theyre delivered with a casual grace that gives them a deeper emotional resonance. The same sentiment applies to the ample number of love songs here, particularly Al Andersons "Somethings Got a Hold of My Heart" which has a mellow groove that would not have seemed out of place during the heyday of yacht rock. It all adds up to an album that slowly works its way into the subconscious, sounding deeper and richer with each successive play. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

もちろん円熟味は申し分ない。しかし、72歳のベテランだからって、〈老いてなお盛ん〉という言葉は、溌剌とした歌と演奏には似合わない。ジャム・セッションの熱気を封じ込めたと思しきファンク・ナンバー"Waitin' For You To Blow"を、まずは聴いてほしい。いわゆるスワンプ・ロックを絶妙な洗練と共に現代風にアップデートした6年ぶりの新作。言うまでもなくみずから弾いたスライド・ギターも聴きどころだ。
bounce (C)山口智男