4/5
Seoul Food.
Breakfast can't wait, unlike what Prince once said riffing off Dave Chappelle serving pancakes in ruffles ("would you guys like some grapes?"). We need our most important album of the year like we need our most important meal of the day. A Japanese one typically consists of fish, rice, miso soup and one tablespoon of soy and sake each. Unless you go to traditonal Kanazawa, like this writer actually living in Japan who has an almost allergic adverse reaction to seafood did this Valentine's Day, were its more fish than you could literally cast a net at. But this Japanese Breakfast we're talking about is an American citizen, born in Seoul, South Korea forming their own band like Justin Vernon's Bon Iver with shades of Björk meets Best Coast. But this isn't one man. This is the icon in waiting, Michelle Zauner with her own solo alias power. The Little Big League Star playing with those Phillies struck her own home run with the 'Psychopomp' family album. A definitive debut, 25 minutes of lo-fi dream pop from the indie star. No emo. Coming home to Eugene, Oregon to record this album under her new name, a juxtaposition of Asian exoticism and American culture. She sophomore followed this with 'Soft Sounds From Another Planet', confirming her other-worldly sonic style, no slump. Its almost been a half decade since she followed up her debut with another album a year later and here's to the most anticipated one of this one in what just may be her calendar. Now it's time for the 'Jubilee'...in orange. But you only need to look through it to see that this is anything but low hanging fruit for this mellow yellow cover. Zauner has even put out a moving memoir this April in the New Yorker article to New York Times bestseller, 'Crying In H Mart'. Starting the year off right. Now how's that for some breakfast?
Tears For Fears cover. There's nothing this experimental pop star with a 'Crying' Bumper sticker can do 'Head Over Heels' as she rules this mad world. Woman in chains? Yeah right! More like 'Posing In Bondage' in a supermarket right near the fruit and veg for a maverick music video. Can I get a price check? All before the prequel of a 'Savage Good Boy' in all its blood lust that cleans up like aisle 3. And just to think the first single off this big-three for the album was called 'Be Sweet'. "So come and get your woman (Comе and get your woman), pacify her rage (Pacify her rage)/Take the time to undo your lies, make it up once more with feeling/Recognize your mistakes and I'll let you back in/Realize not too late, loved you always", she sings sweetly. But it's the opening 'Paprika' sharing its name with a legendary Japanese anime (2006) (that Christopher Nolan's 'Inception' (2010) as inspired as it was, shamefully ripped off...or at least owes a cheque and credit too), that has real spice. Its awesome, atmospheric beginnings are awe-inspiring. Inspired instrumentation for a curtain that unveils this is her time. On 'Kokomo, IN' with a Iver influenced title, Zauner finds herself in another state. All before she comes in for a 'Slide Tackle' like a right back singing, "I want to be good/I want to navigate this hate in my heart/Somewhere better/I want to feel it/But with the feel there is an ache I meet/To desire living", on this left turn. However leave it to 'Posing In Bondage', "hoping you come soon" to really crack the whip and sounds so smart than most pop these days that let's face it leaves our ears in need of a safe word. Mines, "I'm just not that big a fan of Ed Sheeran."
Korean, but K Pop this epic, experimental one is not. With all due respect to the biggest boy and girl bands in the world, juggernauts BTS and Blackpink! This is deeper like KATIE and 'Our Time Is Blue' for your extended play. And 'Jubilee' drives it home. On 'Sit' Breakfast claims her place at the table. "Hear my name in your mouth and I'm done for" Japanese sings on the most beautiful song you'll hear about sitting on your face down there. "It's your name in my mouth I'm repeating/It's the taste on my tongue I can't spit out". "I want to be your man", Michelle sings in this "necessary strain" during the planetary pandemic. Adding, "I've got a five year plan/I've got a pension and six condos/A billion dollar bunker for two/And when the city's underwater/I will wine and dine you in the hollows/On a surplus of freeze dried food." Now the only thing that sounds more romantic in this brave new world of 1Q84 and 'Memory Police' than that is the chorus nostalic of classic love odes of old. "When everybody’s gone/Want you to be the one that I come home to/The one that’s up waiting." Pure and simple. Perfect and sweet. Just like real, true love without question that needs none. 'In Hell' takes us further down into her Fahrenheit 451 burning fire sound that flickers subtlety like a lantern. Whilst the mellow 'Tactics' lulls you into the sense of security that all sounds good these days in music and the world. Even if we know that not to be true. We can lose ourselves for a half hour or two as we put this 37 minute and change album on repeat into the night. Shuffling through her catalogue like a department store one on our coffee table. But this grand design has so much more substance than writing as lazy as feet up, or that reference. Just like 'Posing For Cars'. The rear view closer that takes us closer. Harmonising, "woke from a dream in which you'd left me/Posing for cars on the American stoop/Don't make me beg you just because you can/I'm just a women with a loneliness/I'm just a woman with needs", over acoustics in focus. Open, heartfelt and honest, before an epic end for the best solo record since Phoebe Bridges' 'Kyoto' leading punishing classic from last years 2020 of 'Women In Music' like the album of the year from the Valley Girl sisters of Haim. Now in a time were we must Stop Asian Hate here is a born star flowering that is going to lead the way for more Asian American artists to follow in her footsteps. Marching on in this 'Jubilee' and celebration of reign. In all its emancipation and restoration. This is an event. "Things have gotten quite real", Michelle tweeted with a photo of her new album serving as an electric billboard in the entertainment core of the work, New York's Times Square like the 20th anniversary of hometown hero Alica Keys' 'Songs In A Minor' (AK20 baby!). Lighting it up at midnight like New Year. Here's to her. Her story and history. Jubilation. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Savage Good Boy', 'Posing In Bondage', 'Paprika'.
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