There are few musicians who have staying power within folk music in this age of resurrected punk riffs. I'm not talking about sticking to a formula that works, I'm talking about staying true to the soulful meanderings that flow into all folk songs, an anthem that carries not only the headlining artist, but the nuances of the band as well. Lyrics must come original, but thoughtful, the beat must come steady, yet innovative, there must be recognizability, yet absent of redundancy. Tracy Chapman has put out over eight albums, she has been dismissed and resurrected by fickle critics and the public eye, and has proved her staying power. Let It Rain is her most recent album, and in it is the tried and true voice of a female folk artist all of us have garnered a love affair with.
Tracy Chapman taught herself the guitar as a child in Cleveland, Ohio. She began writing her first songs soon after. She graduated high school and won a minority placement scholarship to attend Tufts University, where she majored in Anthropology and African American Studies. While at Tufts, she began frequenting coffee shops with her songs, acoustic and solo. She recorded her first demo at the college radio station and a fellow student heard her music. That fellow student happened to be Brian Koppelman, son to SBK mogul. Brian recommended the artist to his Dad, and Tracy was signed soon after with SBK. Through SBK, Chapman got a management contract with Elliot Roberts, who managed Neil Young and Joni Mitchell on their ascent. They were a terrific team, and Chapman soon signed to Elektra. After opening for the 10,000 Maniacs on tour and playing on the internationally televised event of Nelson Mandela's seventieth birthday celebration, Chapman's debut album went multi platinum in 1988. The critics wrote her off after her subsequent two record releases failed to do as well, but she re-emerged with
New Beginning, thanks to the bluesy single "Give Me One Reason". She has collected 4 Grammies, including one for Best New Artist, and continues to produce awe inspiring music.
Tracy Chapman is famous for her uncomplicated melodies and her heartfelt lyrics. The song for which the cd is titled speaks, softly, of loneliness in troubled times, but lifts chins with rising end phrases, and a plea for help to an unspoken friend. Like so many of her songs, "Let It Rain" is a song of hope for brighter days, and one has to wonder with her political leftist stance whether she's commenting on a broad range of the state of the nation. But as always, we are left to draw our own conclusions.
"Another Sun" follows the general style of "Let It Rain", sonorous and sad, but full of hope. "You're The One" and "Almost" are trips down memory lane, making me recall the bouncy blues style of
New Beginnings. "In the Dark" is perhaps the most heart wrenching of the songs on the CD, the moaning of a voice, haunting the lyrics from behind, creates a haunting experience with the rich, warm tones of the guitar bridging the two. It tells the tale of the notorious events that some do 'in the dark', and one can only imagine this song playing over a movie scene of a lynching. This song and "Hallelujah" are reminiscent of African American spirituals, tunes that hum of ancestry.
The two gems, though, of the album are the songs "Broken" and "Goodbye". "Broken"] is moody and bouncy, with a chorus that gets stuck in your head for hours. Its toe tappin', head bobbing fun with the rhythms of the drums, guitar and vocals; each having their say, playing off of each other in what I would term "a great driving song". I put it on, and the landscape seems magical and raw. "Goodbye" is just plain gorgeous. Her voice comes rich, sensuous and sad, echoed by a string section that tears you slowly. The drums don't even enter until the second verse, and you don't miss them. The lyrics are strictly poetic, talking about a breakup with such emotion, you feel it. It makes you want to split up with someone just so you'll have this anthem. Truly moving.
This album is a Tracy Chapman album. If you like her music previously, or are into the folky rhythms and song structure, then this album will be a delight to add to your collection. If you are craving granola politics, a rich and hearty voice, and guitar that hums fully, then you will enjoy this album. This is an album that will not
create excitement or emotion, like many in the pop genre, but will draw out emotion in the listener and promote contemplation. It is deep music for those in touch with the ebb and flow of human existence.
