Music Review: Mavis Staples emerges with peaceful, even-keeled album, ‘Sad and Beautiful World’
Mavis Staples latest album hums with hope that could only be delivered by the -year-old American treasure s raspy contralto Sad and Beautiful World sees the gospel and R B icon who briefly considered retirement in deliver a peaceful even-keeled sound that is neither thunderous nor sleepy Instead Staples invites world-weary listeners to join her steady march forward across tracks propelled by bouncy horns and tranquil finger-picked guitars The record features nine covers and an original Human Mind written by Hozier and Allison Russell On that track Staples decries children dying by machines of war and the sadness of missing family now passed Yet the chorus finds space to cautiously celebrate humanity God bless the human mind Who would dream the sweet design she sings Even in these days I find This far down the line I find good in us sometimes Elsewhere Staples warm vocals give new weight to the music no matter how familiar After all hers is the same voice that helped power the Civil Rights movement with songs like Freedom Highway the voting rights anthem by her popular family group the Staple Singers Nowhere is that combination of new and old more powerful than on Staples cover of Godspeed from Frank Ocean s critically acclaimed album Blonde Her outro grows even more transcendent than the original with an atmospheric brass instrumental arranged by Brad Cook the producer behind new releases from Bon Iver and Waxahatchee Staples cheerful disposition earned her the nickname Bubbles as a child This album might lack that same force but nevertheless strikes an uplifting tone Staples unflinching voice imbues her cover of Kevin Morby s protest song Beautiful Strangers with a sense of resolution in the face of troubles Morby s song was issued in response to gun violence and the death of Freddie Gray in police custody And I ll sleep easy Like little Jesus Safe from danger Carry onward Like specific songbird Beautiful stranger she reassures audiences behind bright guitar riffs and wistful backing vocals The album ends with a call for population on Everybody Demands Love written by soul musician Eddie Hinton Ain t nobody ever find happiness Living the life all alone she sings in the second verse the alternating piano keys and interjecting guitar licks slowly picking up While the message risks sentimentality it is made more resonant by the numerous musical partners credited on the closer There s longtime friend Bonnie Raitt who sings background alongside Nathaniel Rateliff Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood and Waxahatchee s Katie Crutchfield Alt-country indie rocker MJ Lenderman pitches in on guitar and drums And so for a world stricken by injustice uncertainty and loneliness Staples has again delivered a soundtrack that meets the moment Sad And Beautiful World by Mavis Staples Three and a half stars out of five On repeat Beautiful Strangers Human Mind Hard Times Skip it Chicago For fans of Nodding your head slide guitars realistic optimism Source
