Mood Swings

若き天才ギタリストとして次世代のギター・ヒーローとして大注目のMarcus King。グラミー賞アメリカーナ・アルバム部門にノミネートされたソロ第一弾『El Dorado』に続く待望の新作を完成。

Never one to disguise his motivations, Marcus King telegraphs his intentions for his second album for American/Republic with the title Mood Swings: fresh from a painful breakup, he delves deep into his psyche, achieving a sense of grace through exorcising demons. Kings torment is apparent through his song titles -- "Fuck My Life Up Again," "Soul It Screams," and "Save Me" all arrive in quick succession -- but not in the sound of the record. Working with producer Rick Rubin for the first time -- this is his second album for American Recordings but the first hes cut at Malibus Shangri-La Studios -- King consciously steers away from high-octane blues-rock, preferring to settle into a mellow, reflective groove thats equal parts Memphis soul stew and the glistening sound of Philly. King deliberately refrains from extended guitar flights, preferring to use the instrument for rhythm and texture. He even opts not to ratchet up the tempo, and the subdued rhythms, many anchored with drum loops, barely rise above a simmer. The relaxed gait and emphasis on feel push the focus onto Kings voice. Pitched at a pleading falsetto, King sounds raw and earnest, bending classic soul-blues form so it suits a combination of therapy-speak and visceral earthiness. If the individual songs dont quite differentiate themselves, thats not precisely a detriment, as King is on an explicit interior journey, ensuring that his music mimics his moods. He doesnt avoid darkness, but he chooses not to wallow, finding instead a measure of peace in the emotional expression itself. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

コモンの"Poetry"にフィーチャーされたことも記憶に新しいブルース・ロッカーの新作は、リック・ルービンがプロデュースを担当。ただでさえブルージーでエモいギターと歌が御大との連携を経ていっそう生々しい光沢を帯びており、いちいち琴線に触れてくる。牧歌的なムードを湛えた"Soul It Screams"などの小品でさえ極上のソウルネスに溢れていてたまらない。
bounce (C)桑原シロー