12th of June

俳優としても活躍するシンガーソングライター、Lyle Lovettの10年ぶりの新作!

このアルバムは、新曲とこれまでのリスナーのお気に入りの新録も含む多彩なコレクションとなっており、既存のファンを喜ばせると同時に新しいファンにも大いにアピールできるはず!

ライルと彼のバンドは、ジャンルを越え、不思議なほど優雅に変化していく特異な能力をもっており、美しいアコースティック・バラードからスイングするビッグバンド・ナンバーまでリスナーを楽しませてくれる!

Lyle Lovett names 12th of June, his first album in a decade, after the 2017 day when he became a father of twins. New parenthood is a large factor in the long gap between 12th of June and Release Me, the 2012 album that wrapped up his lengthy contract with Curb Records, curbing the productivity of a songwriter who already moved at an exacting pace. Dont expect 12th of June to be a clearinghouse for new tunes, either. Lovett approached the album as a vehicle to reintroduce himself and his Large Band to the world at large, so it mirrors not only his live show but such earlier albums as, say, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. Theres a hopping instrumental jump blues opener, then a bit of mischief -- in this case, "Pants Is Overrated," an observation he gleaned from watching his two toddlers cavort in their diapers -- before settling into astutely chosen jazz and blues standards punctuated by plaintive Texan balladeering and the occasional clever original. Its a familiar formula, but it works, possibly because absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder: its simply a pleasure to hear a new Lyle Lovett album after ten years. Theres also a slightly bittersweet air to the records genial vibe, an emotion that floats to the top on its nakedly sincere title track and exists below the surface on Lovetts sublime duets with longtime vocal sparring partner Francine Reed on "Peel Me a Grape" and "Gee, Baby, Aint I Good to You." These tunes were centerpieces on latter-day set lists by the Large Band and, as Reed has decided to retire as of 2022, it makes sense that theyre preserved here; its a tribute to a vocalist who has been an integral part of Lovetts music through the decades. Based upon a surface spin to 12th of June, its difficult to discern those passing years -- on a superficial level, it couldve been released any time after 1989s His Large Band, as it follows its blueprint to a tee -- but a close listen reveals these subtle nods to shifting times, which is enough to make this a nourishing experience in addition to an outright good time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine