The Sea
Corinne Bailey Rae
Capitol Records
Corinne Bailey Rae exploded on the music scene in 2006 with her self-titled debut album and secured a Grammy in 2007 for Album of the Year thanks to hits like the upbeat ”Put Your Records On.” Four years later, the UK artist is back with her second album. However, she has nothing to fear in regards to a sophomore slump. Her newest effort, The Sea, will be released Jan. 26. The first single, “I’d Do It All Again,” is just a taste of the beauty Bailey Rae has produced. It’s a testament of how to someone can come out of the worst circumstances without bitterness or relenting heartache.
The Sea is about the beauty that follows tragedy. The album begins with “Are You Here,” which is about her grandfather, who died in a boating accident, and her aunt who watched the whole incident but was powerless to help. The song is followed by “I’d Do It All Again.” This one hits closer to the heart, though. It was written after a fight with her husband, who died in 2008.
Needless to say, her second album is about grief, loss and coming out the other side of it all. It’s raw, real and the emotions of it are felt in each note plucked and sung. It’s a quick 43-minute ride through a musical landscape of sounds — from the sweet to the epic and haunting — all glued together by cool beats, heartfelt lyrics, sweeping crescendos and soft melodies. The album brings out the soulful, blues, jazz, ’60s psychedelic and groovy guitars and keys. It showcases Bailey Rae at her best by letting listeners in as she sings of her worst times and washes them away, growing into a different person along the way. In her own words, The Sea is about uniting the bonds of grief stretching from family to herself and others around her. “All the bonds deepened. And all the dross is washed away as well. Only the purest things survive. That’s one really beautiful thing about it,” she said.
After listening to this CD, it’s easy to see why she won a Grammy just three short years ago. If she’s not up for a Grammy next year, it will be a shame. It’s only January, but any other singer-songwriter who follows this year will have a lot to contend with in terms of lyrics and overall sound. If you’ve never heard of Bailey Rae before, shame on you. But if you like artists like Adele, Norah Jones, John Legend and Joss Stone, you’ll love what she offers musically.
To watch an acoustic live performance of Corinne Bailey Rae on “Later … with Jools Holland” singing “I’d Do It All Again,” click here.
“Stylo”
Gorillaz
Parlophone Records
Virtual band Gorillaz are back with their newest single, “Stylo.” It will be available digitally Jan. 26. It’s the first single from the band’s upcoming third album, Plastic Beach, to be released in early March. If fans are expecting it to sound like past tracks “Feel Good Inc” or “Clint Eastwood,” they’ll be disappointed. The new single is nowhere as upbeat sounding, though the classic electronic sounds are still present in “Stylo.” Who would expect anything different? Featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack, the new track is reminiscent of ’80s slow-moving techno, but darker. If the rest of the forthcoming album will follow in the same vein, it’ll take some getting used to. Let’s hope the virtual band can keep listeners intrigued with a cascade of musical sounds when the new CD releases in less than two months.
