Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse (Standard Vinyl)

デビューアルバムから30周年を記念したリイシュー・シリーズ(#MC30)
2014年に発売されたマライア・キャリーの14作目のオリジナル・アルバムの2枚組LP

Mariah Carey's first proper album since 2009 is a couple covers away from being as nostalgic as the Glitter soundtrack. Its title -- well, the part that precedes the ellipses -- is taken from a self-portrait, reproduced on the back, drawn at the age of three and a half. "I'll just sit right here and sing that good old school shit to ya," she sings on "Dedicated," a song seasoned with a Wu-Tang sample, a Nas throwback verse, and reminiscent chatter. Like many other songs on the album, flashbacks are laced through the music as well as in the lyrics, with Carey reflecting upon happier moments in a relationship while either pining or scolding. The feel-good "You Don't Know What to Do," one of a few songs made with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, cleverly interpolates Inner Life's 1979 disco classic "I'm Caught Up (In a One Night Love Affair)" and has Carey channeling the group's Jocelyn Brown throughout, especially in the intro. In sharp contrast with Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, a set produced strictly by Carey, Tricky Stewart, and the-Dream, this involves numerous co-writers and co-producers who bring distinct material, from the dusty and dreamy feel of "#Beautiful" (with Miguel) to the pumping, Eddie Kendricks-sampling "Meteorite" (a Q-Tip co-production). Additional co-producers Hit-Boy and Mike WiLL Made-It provide up-to-date elements, while the latter half involves a couple of gospel-flavored standouts, the latter of which is an inspired tribute to the Reverend James Cleveland. Carey unfortunately doesn't feel nostalgic for the succinctness of her early albums, but this shows that she's still capable of delivering 40 minutes of strong, supremely voiced R&B when she's up for it. ~ Andy Kellman

私生活では出産を経験、一方では復活の立役者たるLA・リードがレーベルを去ったことで、次の動きが待たれていたマライア。2013年はミゲル作のレトロ・ポップ“#Beautiful”が再起動を促すヒットとなるも、そのMV撮影中の怪我から制作が停滞し、結局はセットアップも不十分なまま出た感じなのは無念だが……やりたいことを無邪気に詰め込んだ中身には大満足の、通算14枚目のオリジナル・アルバム。やや過積載なぶんリスナーによって楽しめるポイントは多様なはずで、流麗な“You Don't Know What To Do”(弦のアレンジはラリー・ゴールド)やQ・ティップ製の“Meteorite”が彼女らしいダンス・トラックで印象的だ。初期の名唱を想起させるジョージ・マイケルのカヴァー“One More Try”も素晴らしい。
bounce (C)轟ひろみ