A Review – Two different, but lyrical albums. 11.17.23
Two years ago, when our grandson turned one, I wrote him a letter containing the following: “So, I encourage you, as you become an adolescent, and then a man, to always embrace being in the moment with music, and to experience the joy that comes with it.” So, taking my own advice, I went to a quiet place and listened to two recently released albums. And I mean really listened. One was recorded by a group, all in their 20’s, and one by a solo artist in her 70’s. But both, through powerful lyrics, express emotions in an imaginative and beautiful way.
The Record is a debut album from the newly formed Indie/Folk Rock supergroup boygenius. All three women are in their 20’s, with one member heralding from Richmond having attended VCU with my daughter-in-law Olivia. Just Like That is Bonnie Raitt’s 18th album. And it won her a 12th and 13th Grammy. Known as a Blues soloist, Bonnie Raitt is a gifted guitarist and soulful vocalist. And at 73-years old, she is still rocking it. The title track won 2022 Song Of The Year over songs by Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Beyoncé and Adele, among others. You will know why when you listen. But first, I want to talk about boygenius.
I was introduced to boygenius by my adult children. I did not know what the fuss was about when Jack, Carter and Olivia decided to go to Maryland earlier this year to hear boygenius in concert. Olivia kept saying it was one of her favorite bands. I half-listened, not really paying much attention. And then on a phone call with Carter he mentioned that Saturday Night Live was on the air again and was being hosted by Timothée Chalamet, one of the hottest young actors in Hollywood, (think Call Me By Your Name, Lady Bird, Beautiful Boy, Little Women, Dune), and that boygenius was the featured band. Carter went on to tell me that the band speaks to him like no other recent music. Now I was intrigued. So, I recorded SNL and watched. I liked what I heard decided to listen to the album.
I went to a quiet place and listened to The Record, and it was transformative. As one of the band members states, “I am being constantly validated that my problems are real problems.” And their lyrics reflect that. And I could see why Carter related to the music. After my first listen, I went online and found out that their debut album has become a critical and commercial success. Labelled an “instant classic” by the British, it topped the charts in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, and peaked at number four in the United States.
The album takes some chances. Every song has explicit language. But used sparingly, it is powerful when used. The album starts with the group singing A cappella and then transitions to a track with hard rock guitar chords. But the album hits its stride in the middle starting with Cool About it, a quiet and emotive ballad with, “I ask you how you’re doing, and I let you lie. But we don’t have to talk about it.” This track is followed by Not Strong Enough, with a sound that transported me back to classic U2 songs, but with more soul. It’s refrain “always an angel, never a God” gave me chills. And then comes Revolution – a haunting love song. And then comes the track Leonard Cohen, which is just pure honesty with lyrics like “I might like you less now that you know me so well.” This is truth. This actually happened to someone I know. But I really got a kick out of “And I am not an old man having an existential crisis at a Buddhist monastery writing horny poetry.” Who comes up with lyrics like these! And the album continues to deliver with songs like We’re in Love.
This group is the real thing. I hope they write more music together. As Rolling Stone writes, “Their emotionally intense guitar music tapped into the qualities that made rock the music of a generation — several generations back — making it feel like it just might be that again.”
And then there is Bonnie Raitt. Always a musician’s musician, she hit it big in 1989 with Nick of Time, which won her a Grammy for album of the year. Since then, she has had a fair amount of success, recording 17 albums. She then came out with her 18th album, Just Like That in 2022.
I have always been a Bonnie Raitt fan with Not The Only One being my favorite song – there is always someone out there keeping you from moving in the wrong direction. I still get chills when I hear the opening guitar chords and lyrics.
Like The Record, Just Like That hits its stride in the middle, but do not discount the early songs. The opening track Made Up Mind is classic Raitt. With lyrics like “The quiet behind a slamming door, the break of a heart that won’t break no more” supported by a bluesy rock sound really sets the theme for the rest of the album. But make no mistake, this album reflects an artist in her 70’s taking on issues like losing adult children to death, hospice and missed opportunities. That said, the album’s overall message is positive – how we live our life until the end is what matters. The 3rd track, Living for the Ones, exemplifies this with “Go ahead and ask me how I make it through. Only way I know is to keep livin for the ones who didn’t make it. Just remember the ones who won’t ever feel the sun on their faces again.”
But it is the 4th track that won song of the year. Just Like That is storytelling at its best and takes the listener on a powerful journey. Its message is that grace can find us all if we let it in.
In addition to great lyrics, the next two tracks – When We Say Goodnight and Waitin for You to Blow – feature great guitar licks and great drums respectively. The 6th track’s lyrics “I draw the line in pretty colors just to dare someone to cross her. Keep her righteousness on simmer, though it’s tastier on a boil” is accompanied by funky blues. It is a fun song, and you almost want to get up and dance to it.
The album ends with Down the Hall, a ballad that exposes the humanity in all of us, even those we marginalize. “I don’t know about religion. Only know what I see. And in the end when I hold their hand, it’s both of us set free.”
The Record and Just Like That are albums worth listening to. One reflects the uncertainty of youth and the desire to have honest relationships. And the other reflects on missed opportunities while young but encourages us that it is never too late to start living. And though both albums boast great music and memorable melodies, the lyrics make these albums worth listening to again and again. And the next time my adult children mention something they really like I am going to pay more attention!
