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Tracy Chapman: Telling Stories

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Tracy Chapman's new album is a return to the stripped-down, melodic mellowness of her earlier albums like her self-titled debut.

Chapman's folk and blues style has always embodied unapologetic, unassuming honesty with an undercurrent of social commentary and personal perspective.

Telling Stories addresses typical Chapman themes of love and personal strife. All of Chapman's albums are introspective insights into her ongoing journey through life - testaments to her struggles to better herself and reconcile her place between a unretrievable past and unknown future.

Her lyrics are poetic, mystical musings. The restrained guitar backs up the vocals creating mournful, touching ballads. No other artist is as capable of channeling soulful melancholy than Chapman, whose vocal styles remain understated yet textured.

On this new album, though, Chapman has managed to infuse a subtle sentiment of hope and optimism among the sorrowful instrumentation. "Speak the Word" is a poignant testimonial to love - a refusal to be overwhelmed by the pessimism.

Many of the songs are more radio-friendly than previous efforts. Despite this more light-hearted tone, Chapman again uses her music to explore her life as artist and human. Each song is a confession of self-doubt, regret and the hope for self-betterment.

The somber "Unsung Psalm" is at once a lamentation for her failures and an affirmation of her efforts to rise above them. "I have no regrets, no guilt in my heart/ I only feel sadness for any pain that I've caused/ I guess I wouldn't bother to worry at all/ If I'd lived right," she sings.

Chapman's full-bodied voice, combined with the bare-bones orchestration and simple yet pointed lyrics, creates an album that resonates with emotion.

- Graig Uhlin