Blue Raspberry

On her well-received debut album, Cool Dry Place, Katy Kirby established her sunny vocal quality, self-assured demeanor, adult-alternative band arrangements, and a knack for both astute lyrics and appealing melodies. With the follow-up, Blue Raspberry, she moves a step closer toward classic singer/songwriter form with a more reserved, vocals-forward set of songs accompanied by a more subdued band presence and orchestral textures that looked to albums such as Andy Shaufs The Party and Lomeldas Hannah as models. This more elegant approach was motivated by Kirby challenging herself to open up and write love songs for the first time. That impulse, in turn, was inspired by her experiencing some personal revelations and starting (and ending) her first queer relationship. The resulting songs easily clear the bar for earnest expressions of affection, going into awkward, getting-to-know-you encounters, breakups, fears, and those small, secret moments when ones love grows stronger. A recurring theme is duplicitousness and, by extension, the behavioral games people play. The relatively lively soft rock entry "Cubic Zirconia" features lines to this effect, including "Dont you hate me when you see me turn it on/For some strangers or acquaintances/A few seats down the bar?" Elsewhere, she offers to "take back my hallucinations," and tears are shed while pretending to sleep. Although Kirby doesnt back off of distortion pedals on the closer, "Table," the albums generally warmer textures are evident on songs including the fingerpicked and cello-accompanied "Party of the Century"; the breakup-themed "Alexandria," a cello-rock track reportedly captured live in one take; and "Salt Crystal," which opts for piano, strings, woodwinds, and horns, at least near the end. Featuring production by returning collaborators Alberto Sewald and Logan Chung, Blue Raspberrys arrangements were provided by Rowen Merrill (Bully, Dreamer Boy). ~ Marcy Donelson

90sインディー・ロックとモダン・フォークの有機的な融合ぶりが賞賛された初作から2年。待望の新作は、クレイロの最新作にも通じるモノトーンで温かみのあるサウンドメイクによってヴォーカルの陰影度や奥行き感が著しく向上。弦やホーンをフィーチャーした楽曲の存在感も光り、クラシックなシンガー・ソングライターの傑作群を思わせる品格が香り立っている。
bounce (C)桑原シロー