Tracy Chapman - Our Bright Future [CD]

Elektra Records

November 22, 2008, 02:16 PM

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Twenty years after the release of her debut record, Tracy Chapman is back with a new studio album and is still up there with the best of today's singer /songwriters, which has un-disputably secured her place in the history of popular music.

'Our Bright Future' comes at a time when radio friendly music doesn't really seem to have a definitive trend - the music consumers' obsession with guitar based pop-indie acts like The Pigeon Detectives, Scouting for Girls and the likes now seems terminal and acts such as The Pussycat Dolls, Dido and Craig David are all equally matched and are competing for sales. This is obviously good news for Chapman, because this is one of the few periods in the last 2-3 years where taste has overpowered trend and people aren't afraid to buy music simply because they like it. This will without doubt boost the success and recognition of 'Our Bright Future' upon opening up their market.

However, the music itself is nothing too special, but perhaps this is because we have heard it all before from Tracy and know exactly what to expect; yet complain if it's too different or too samey. A tricky one then. Having said that, it would be a very risky move for Tracy Chapman to change her approach to songwriting after twenty years because hers is a sound that has been tried and tested, and by now would be her natural playing style and therefore oozes her recognizable traits - the same ones that ensure that fans keeps coming back for more. Opener and lead single 'Sing for You' is a beautifully crafted example of the mellow, contemplative and honest music that Tracy Chapman is capable of , but the problem (if you count this as a problem - some may not) is that so is 'I Did it All', 'For A Dream', 'A Theory' and the majority of the remaining tracks. I could go on to describe the tracks in depth, but there really is no need because the differences are slight, and if you are already familiar with Tracy's then you are already thinking along the right lines. The stand out track is 'Save Us All' - a powerful and equally meaningful insight of Tracy Chapman's work that deserves to be released as a single at some point in the near future.

Still, to be crafting songs of such a high level and to still be inspired to do so is an achievement in itself. 'Our Bright Future' is a testimony that regardless of whether or not your genre of choice is currently en vogue, great artists that have come up with the goods again and again will still sell records because their fan base really is that massive. With the future of the single currently leaning towards the more profitable idea of one hit wonders, artists like Tracy Chapman are perhaps a dying breed, so lap it up while you can. Or if you don't care, just by this for your Mum for Christmas - she'll love it.

http://www.myspace.com/tracychapmanfolk

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