Girl On Fire＜完全生産限定盤＞

2012年発売 アリシア・キーズ 5作目のアルバム『Girl On Fire』(アナログ盤)

2012年にリリースされたアリシア・キーズの5作目となるアルバム『Girl On Fire』。アルバムタイトル曲であり、リード・シングルの「Girl On Fire」は6億回以上のストリーミング数を誇り、世界中でメガヒット。マックスウェルをフィーチャーした「Fire We Make」や「New Day」、「Brand New Me」等が収録された。全米アルバム・チャート1位を獲得し、グラミー賞のベストR&Bアルバム賞を受賞した。

After the release of The Element of Freedom, her fourth consecutive chart-topping and platinum studio release, Alicia Keys not only married Swizz Beatz and became a mother but stacked collaborations with Drake, Kanye West, Marsha Ambrosius, Jennifer Hudson, Emeli Sande, and Miguel. The collaborative spirit continues all the way through Girl on Fire, an album sporting a list of around 20 co-composers and nearly a dozen co-producers. A small but significant portion of the album has Keys somewhere in the past, grappling with or sifting through a stifling relationship. That's the way the album begins, with the alternately reserved and cathartic ballad "Brand New Me," one of three songs written with Sande: "You look surprised your words don't burn me anymore." Two of the better songs, both of which feature assistance from John Legend, immediately follow and are closer to Keys' personal breakthrough. The first one, "When It's All Over," is a gushing testimonial over a dizzying Jamie xx co-production -- a clash between acoustic jazz, synth funk, and minimal techno that will either thrill or repel. "Listen to Your Heart," the second one, is mechanical yet plush and dials it back for Keys to embrace new love; it's one of Rodney Jerkins' unassuming yet stunning beats. After a pair of bombastic anthems -- including the oddly written "Girl on Fire," which has her "living in a world, and it's on fire," then "on top of the world" with "both feet on the ground" and "our head in the clouds" -- the album loses its grip. It hits a low with "Not Even the King," an obvious "love is worth more than money" ballad, and "That's When I Knew," a tender back-porch ballad presumably about Mr. Keys. (If the mind wanders, consider that the object of affection is the man behind hits such as "Money, Cash, Hoes" and "It's Me B*#@hes.") Once "101," the last listed track, fades out, a chaotic outro fades in and peaks with Keys screaming, in a celebratory and defiant manner, "Hallelujah -- kicked down the door!" It ends the first chapter of her new life with several exclamation points, but it's missing one. The album could have used some swift and uplifting neo-disco like "Million Dollar Bill" or "Everybody Needs Love," exceptional songs that Keys and her husband wrote and produced for Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson. ~ Andy Kellman

結婚&出産を経ての復帰作の先行曲に“New Day”を選び、前作ではやらなかったクラシカルなピアノでの幕開けから“Brand New Me”に雪崩れ込むアルバム……とくれば〈新生アリシア〉とでも言いたくなる3年ぶりの5作目。ただし、夫スウィズ・ビーツ作のその“New Day”や、サラーム・レミによる“Girl On Fire”での太いヒップホップ・ビートに乗るのはデビュー時からお手の物だし、続投となるジェフ・バスカーをはじめ、ベイビーフェイス、フランク・オーシャン、ブルーノ・マーズ、エミリー・サンデーら脇を固める才能が輝かせるアリシア像は、いままでの彼女の延長線上にあるものだ。なかでも、マックスウェルと艶かしく歌うポップ&オーク製のスロウ“Fire We Make”にはクラッときましたよ。
bounce (C)池谷昌之