CHAPMAN, TRACY

Personnel includes: Tracy Chapman (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, electric banjo, clarinet, bass); Joe Gore (electric guitar, ukelele, piano); Greg Leisz (electric pedal steel, baritone guitar, dobro); Matt Brubeck (cello); Patrick Warren (accordion, tac piano); Patrick Warren (piano, organ, keyboards); Michael Webster (piano, vibraphone); Larry Taylor (upright bass); John Parish (bass); Joey Waronker (drums, tambourine, shaker, sound effects); Jeanie Tracy (background vocals).

Recorded at The Paint Studios, Sausalito, California.

Tracey Chapman's sixth album continues her tradition of immaculately crafted, self-effacing, deceptively low-key songs that consistently get to the root of things. That the most commercial track here ("Say Hallelujah") is about a funeral speaks volumes about Chapman's songwriting approach. "The bucket is kicked/The body is gone" she sings prosaically; "Eternal rest for the weary/Mourners party tonight." It's a catchy song that manages to retain its optimism despite its mortal subject.

With LET IT RAIN Chapman seems to be settling in to an acceptance of her cult status after her initial success with "Fast Car" and the later "Give Me One Reason." This is high-quality songwriting in a natural setting. There are few flashy production tricks save a vocal effect or two, and no visible straining after a hit in evidence. Her emotions are laid bare time and again on tracks such as "In the Dark," with its confessional ambience, while "Hard Wired" is as close to a diatribe as Chapman gets, its subject the invasion of privacy in the name of commerce. LET IT RAIN is a hard-nosed, no-nonsense collection in a deceptively fragile setting.

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