Good Riddance

映画監督J.J.Abramsの娘で、現在23歳のシンガーソングライター、Gracie Abramsのデビューアルバム。彼女のソングライティングの核を成す詩的な現実主義の優れたお手本とも言える楽曲「Difficult」は、「成長とともに訪れる疑念を率直に表現している。未知のものに対する不安感をここまで雄弁に語るのは、彼女の仲間たちの多くが磨こうとしているスキルだ」と称したローリングストーン誌をはじめ多くのメディアから高い評価を得ている。

On her full-length debut, Good Riddance, pop singer Gracie Abrams focuses in and doubles down on the wispier ruminations of prior EPs, this time in full-on collaboration with This Is What It Feels Like contributor Aaron Dessner, who co-wrote and produced the entire album. Sounding and feeling a lot like a breakup album, a few of Good Riddances relationship songs were inspired by friendships and family in addition to a traditional breakup (from Grammy-winning producer Blake Slatkin). Musically, Abrams has cited tourmate Taylor Swift as a musical idol, and Swift is a well-known recipient of Dessners behind-the-scenes assistance, beginning with folklore and evermore. More so than those records, Good Riddance is consistently soft-spoken and brooding as it moves through tracks that both dish out and take blame, such as plaintive opener "Best" ("I never was the best to you") and "I Should Hate You" ("Pulled the knife from my back, it was right where you left it"). Working with Dessner connected Abrams with some of the cream of the crop in indie sidemen, including his National bandmates Bryan Devendorf and Bryce Dessner; Rob Moose (strings, piano, orchestrations), Thomas Bartlett (various keyboard instruments), and Big Thiefs James Krivchenia (drums, percussion) are among others who contributed to the album. Award-winning producer Matias Tellez (girl in red, AURORA) assisted Dessner on two tracks ("I Know It Wont Work" and the quietly dancy "Where Do We Go Now?"), while none other than Brian Eno co-produced spacy closer "Right Now." Good Riddance marked Abrams first appearance on the Billboard 200, where it debuted at number 52. ~ Marcy Donelson

ナショナルのアーロン・デスナーが全面バックアップした23歳の新進シンガー・ソングライターの初作。ヒップホップのビートも使いつつ、煌めき、歪み、揺れも交え、ニューウェイヴ調の音像を作り上げる一方で、曲の核は儚げなアコギの弾き語りと思わせる匙加減が絶妙の一言。アンビエントな"Right Now"にはブライアン・イーノも参加。彼女の出自は姓から推して知るべし。
bounce (C)山口智男