Evolution

グラミー賞を9度受賞し、2023年にロックの殿堂入りを果たしたSheryl Crowが、11枚目のアルバムのリリースを発表した。
『Threads』(2018年)以降は「フル・アルバムをリリースしない」と公言した後の歓迎すべきサプライズであり、「Soak Up The Sun」以来最もラジオ・フレンドリーなポップ・ソングであるリード・シングル「Alarm Clock」で幕を開ける。

Sheryl Crow intended to retire from recording after the release of the star-studded purported farewell Threads, but life had other plans. Four years after Threads garnered some attention, Crow became part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023, an induction assisted by the release of the 2022 documentary Sheryl. All this activity was enough to send Crow back into the studio, this time in the company of Mike Elizondo, a producer whose credits run from 50 Cent and Eminem to Fiona Apple, Carrie Underwood, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Elizondo encouraged Crow to embrace the shinier aspects of her persona, a shift evident from Evolutions ebullient opener "Alarm Clock." Coming across like a deliberate update of the chipper sunshine pop of Cmon CMon, "Alarm Clock" is hardly the only moment on Evolution to make a conscious nod to the singer/songwriters past: "Do It Again" simmers to a slinky ramble reminiscent of "All I Wanna Do" and the pleading "Dont Walk Away" taps into the broken-hearted vein of "Strong Enough." The nifty trick of Evolution is that it never sounds as if Crow is succumbing to nostalgia. Rather, the record feels like shes settling into her skin. Filled with sunny hooks, busy rhymes, and relaxed rhythms, Evolution is a good time whose cheerfulness camouflages its vaguely deeper undercurrents. The vibe is familiar, but the sound is fresh and, better yet, Evolution isnt ponderous: its brisk and bright, keeping its focus squarely on the gifts that brought Crow into the Hall of Fame. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

2018年のビッグ・マシーン移籍作『Threads』を最後のアルバムだと公言していただけに、この新作は嬉しいサプライズに違いない。ラジオ・フレンドリーなリード曲"Alarm Clock"などほぼ全曲をマイク・エリゾンドが制作し、久々となるビル・ボトレルやジョン・シャンクスの共作もある。ウェンディ・メルヴォワン参加の"Love Life"がややプリンス風なのもおもしろい。
bounce (C)狛犬