Jimmy Lavalle decided long ago never to walk in ANYONE'S shadow. If he fails, if he succeeds they won't take away his Dignity.
Whitney Houston references aside, isn't that the ultimate ideal of a solo project? To establish the dignity that others have stripped? This is not to say that his other projects have not been dignified, but there's something to being able to flesh out your own ideas and expand past the capacity of others. The past albums from The Album Leaf have been more glitchy or maybe a soft set of ideas that sounded good together. With Into the Blue Again, Lavelle has made a landmark Houstonesque decision: fail or succeed, this was going to be a full, lush and continuous album. Songs reinvent themselves; there are sound-alikes throughout; and every so often Lavelle's monotone vocals blare over the more repetitive sounds.
The first four songs are tone setting: soft repeating swirls enter and exit, and chimes of synth shoot like synapses through the listener. Lavalle's voice is anything but captivating, but it adds a dexterous layer to the overall aesthetic in songs like "Always For You" whose chorus repeats the title alongside reassuring words. The same goes for the "Writings On The Wall." His message is clear and concise, even if the songs are not.
The result is definitely inviting. It's as if The Album Leaf was standing on a dock tempting fishes onto hooks. The bait-- or meat of the album-- comes early and often. It's a welcome change from the earlier, sometimes humdrum, material. This is the realization of the solo artist. Each album is an invitation to a complete thought-- one not hindered by the ideas and ideals of the otherworldly.
So be it. I'll accept Mr. Lavelle's invitation, and RSVP despite the hook in my now bleeding mouth. |