Avalanche

ニュージャージー出身のシンガーソングライター、JENNY OWEN YOUNGSが2012年作『AN UNWAVERING BAND OF LIGHT』以来となる約10年ぶりソロ・アルバム『 AVALANCHE』をリリース。
大人気ポッドキャストを立ち上げ、多くの映画やテレビシリーズに曲を提供し、ブルックリンからロサンゼルス、メイン州沿岸部へと引っ越し、結婚、離婚、そして再婚を繰り返し様々な経験を経て生み出される楽曲は、驚くほどに穏やかで印象的なポップ・センスとドリーミーなアレンジに満ちています。

Although she never really went away, Avalanche represents singer and songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs first proper solo album in over a decade. A productive period nonetheless, during that time, she put out no less than five EPs, an instrumental indie folk album (with frequent collaborators John Mark Nelson and Tancred), and worked as a songwriter for hire, co-writing tracks for the likes of Pitbull, Panic! At the Disco, Ingrid Michaelson, and many more. In fact, Avalanche contains several songwriting collaborations, including credits for S. Carey, the Antlers Peter Silberman, and Madi Diaz, among others. The full-length format was prompted by big emotions, namely the experience of going through a divorce and then finding love again, events reflected in the albums mix of regret, self-doubt, and affection. Avalanches title track (the Madi Diaz co-write) starts things off in melancholy fashion with 15 seconds of a maudlin piano demo before shifting to a more fully arranged examination of Youngs own self-destructive tendencies, with double-tracked vocals that include the line "I get worn out on my favorite cycle/Where I do something dumb and try to survive it." Later on, the trotting "Everglades" (written with Christian Lee Hutson), a travel song of sorts with shuffling brushed snare, foot-tapping bass guitar and kick drum, and light but animated electric guitar, regrets things that were said on both sides (again with seemingly thematic double-tracked vocals). Even one of the albums most musically uplifting moments, the full-band, implied-clap-along track "Its Later Than You Think" (with Peter Silberman), takes the narrator to task for losing track of time ("I mostly dont know where Ive been/Or what I thought about"). Meanwhile, the closest thing to a straight-up love song is the spookier, atmospheric "Set It on Fire." Among the heaviest hitters here are the gentle "Goldenrod," which regrets not saying goodbye ("I never thought that Id have to"), and "Bury Me Slowly," a spare, sometimes shimmery electric-acoustic lament, although all of Avalanche is emotionally raw. The album closes on a wispy piano ballad, "Now Comes the Mystery" (with S. Carey), which isnt ready to close the door on someone whos already gone. Throughout Avalanche, Youngs illustrates emotions with actions like feeling in pockets for missing keys and watching events through glass, making for an easily worthwhile return to the form. ~ Marcy Donelson