Grab a mug of steaming herbal tea, curl up next to a crackling fire and listen your troubles away.
It has been five years since the release of New Beginnings, and in her newest album, Telling Stories, Tracy Chapman gives not one but 11 reasons to praise the renowned folk artist. Her voice coats the distinct sound of the acoustic guitar like thick molasses soothing the tormented soul.
Chapman, in her fifth album captures the passions and sufferings of the human race from the broken heart to the joy of weddings in her honest and masterfully constructed lyrics. It is the true sign of artistic mastery when an artist captures the essence of human nature in their work. As she has demonstrated before, Chapman possesses this ability. She delivers again.
The album flows smoothly through nearly 45 minutes of original American folk and blues as ocean waves lull a sailboat out to sea. The title track, “Telling Stories,” fronts the album as it discusses society’s tendency to create stories about daily life. “You will do and say anything/ To make your everyday life/ Seem less mundane/ There is fiction in the space between/ You and me.” Accompanied by a persistent rock beat, the lyrics seem to cry out for honesty within the constraints of reality. Several radio stations have aired this track, if you are looking for a listen-before-you-buy opportunity. Ironically, it seems that Chapman’s message has already filtered its way to the masses.
The next track “Less than Strangers” expresses the pain of raw heartbreak so accurately it’s scary. The jazz ballad captures the immense feeling of loss created when a relationship dies. “You and me had some history/ Had a semblance of honesty/ We shared words/ Only lovers speak/ How can it be/ We are less than strangers.” It is eerie how perfectly the lyrics capture the most painful experience known to the heart. The melody resembles a surviving soul that has experienced severe loss yet persevered by contrasting warm sounds with distinct jazz chords in a successful harmony.
The next two tracks hum the meaning of love in Chapman’s sweet voice. “Speak the Word” simply requests the existence of love through repetition as the lyrics circle around until the songs end. “It’s OK” describes more of the effort required to “keep the walls from falling down” when love is present. It also creates a feeling of overall defeat as an underlying swing creates the illusion of time.
The album gently continues on as each song blends into another. This is possibly Chapman’s only failure. “The Wedding Song” is a melodious tune praising the unity of marriage and recognizing the hope it holds. “I’ve been having dreams and visions/ In them you are always standing/ Right beside me.” The beginning chord of a new song sounds again in “Unsung Psalm”, a soulful aria about inescapable sin. “It would be a PG instead of an X-rated life? If I’d live right.”
The final four songs of the album are more of the same inspiring lyrics and classic guitar except “Paper and Ink”. This Chapman original combines the melody of “Momma’s gonna get you a mocking bird” with an Oriental feel. It voices the frustration of the struggling class trying to make it in the world. Chapman’s voice encourages their fight as she sings “Money’s only paper only ink/ We’ll destroy ourselves if we can’t agree.”
While Telling Stories may not hold within it hits like “Fast Car” or “Give Me One Reason,” it still deserve musical praise. Tracy Chapman is a true musician. In the days of boy bands and Britney Spears, Chapman writes her own music, plays an instrument and produces her own work as well as singing-a true musician.
Let’s give her a round of applause.
