フォーマット |
CD |
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構成数 |
1 |
国内/輸入 |
輸入 (ヨーロッパ盤) |
パッケージ仕様 |
- |
発売日 |
2016年11月11日 |
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規格品番 |
88985390272 |
レーベル |
|
SKU |
889853902729 |
構成数 | 1枚
合計収録時間 | 00:52:33
Between the release dates of her fifth and sixth albums, Alicia Keys was as visible as ever, acting on Empire, coaching on The Voice, performing on Saturday Night Live and at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. At some point, she stopped wearing makeup, fed up with the standard of perfection to which women are held. That anti-processing mentality and heightened social consciousness carried into the making of Here. Pared down compared to Girl on Fire in every respect, Keys' first album since 2012 was created primarily with husband Swizz Beats and Mark Batson -- a trio dubbed in the liner notes as the Il'luminaries. There are more yeahs, ohs, and unghs (and fucks) here than on any previous Keys album. The expressions are sometimes heard as Keys feels out a rhythm, like she's warming up, while in "The Gospel" they sound like temporary placeholders for lyrics. There's a batch of career standouts. "She Don't Really Care_1 Luv" is prime hip-hop soul with an appearance from legendary vibraphonist Roy Ayers. The biographical "Blended Family (What You Do for Love)," featuring A$AP Rocky, hits all the right supportive notes despite borrowing from Edie Brickell's "What I Am." Most affecting of all is the gospel-blues dirge "Illusion of Bliss," a modern-day version of James Brown's "King Heroin" presented from the addict's point of view. Anyone who faults Keys' lack of technical mastery should be able to feel the depth of the pain the singer expresses in that highlight. ~ Andy Kellman
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1.[CD]
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1.The Beginning (Interlude)
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2.The Gospel
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3.Pawn It All
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4.Elaine Brown (Interlude)
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5.Kill Your Mama
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6.She Don't Really Care_1 Luv
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7.Elevate (Interlude)
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8.Illusion of Bliss
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9.Blended Family (What You Do for Love)
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10.Work on It
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11.Cocoa Butter (Cross & Pic Interlude)
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12.Girl Can't Be Herself
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13.You Glow (Interlude)
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14.More Than We Know
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15.Where Do We Begin Now
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16.Holy War
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17.Hallelujah
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18.In Common
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途中に"We Are Here"(2014年)などで予感を窺わせていたものの、気付けば『Girl On Fire』から4年が経過。意識の高さが(音楽として)おもしろくない方向に向かうのでは……とか思ってもいたのだが、よく考えれば彼女がそんなものを作るはずはない。実質的なオープニングとなる"The Gospel"にてウータン・クランの足音が響くのを聴けば、その地平に彼女が立っていることもまた容易に実感できる。それも"Empire State Of Mind"で謳歌した表通りのNYではなく、気の置けないコミュニティー性に溢れた猥雑な裏通りのNY。もちろん、その意識は良いタイミングでATCQを持ってきた"She Don't Really Care"やナズを引用した"1 Luv"のようなノスタルジー込みの部分に止まらない。エイサップ・ロッキーを招いた"Blended Family(What You Do For Love)"や、デビュー時のアリシア自身をまざまざと思い出させる"Work On It"など、マーク・バトソンらの助力を得て多角的なNYらしさ=自分らしさを表現した力作だ。
bounce (C)轟ひろみタワーレコード (vol.397(2016年11月25日発行号)掲載)
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