Music review: Sara Bareilles – ‘The Blessed Unrest’
This CD cover image released by Epic Records shows "The Blessed Unrest," by Sara Bareilles.
Rhodes
The fourth studio album by the talented 33-year-old singer-songwriter, 鈥淭he Blessed Unrest,鈥� hits all the right notes as Sara Bareilles follows up 2010鈥檚 successful release featuring the charming pop hits 鈥淜ing of Anything鈥� and 鈥淯ncharted.鈥�
The soaring anthem 鈥淏rave,鈥� co-written with Jack Antonoff of fun, sets a high standard with its soothing hooks and catchy sing-along chorus.
Released digitally as the lead single on April 23, 鈥淏rave鈥� peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The uplifting arrangement inspires with its passionate message of standing strong and believing in yourself.
鈥淟ittle Black Dress鈥� delivers a sassy, bubbly look at life after a breakup with delicious doses of old-school Motown soul.
The California native鈥檚 transition to New York is eloquently reflected in the passionate piano ballad 鈥淢anhattan,鈥� beautifully detailing the ending of a long-distance relationship and the struggle to carry on alone and rebuild.
Bareilles鈥� voice is divinely engaging and fragile as she evokes memories of Sarah McLachlan鈥檚 鈥淪urfacing,鈥� reminiscent of ethereal arrangements like 鈥淪weet Surrender,鈥� 鈥淎dia鈥� and the deeply moving 鈥淎ngel.鈥�
The multi-layering of 鈥淚slands鈥� is as adventurous as it is hypnotic with Bareilles once again offering up delicate images of heartache, loneliness and self isolation.
The 12-song collection features Bareilles at the peak of her writing, with lyrics that traverse an inviting scope of emotions that originate from recent personal experiences, making 鈥淭he Blessed Unrest鈥� a refreshing mixture of charming whimsy and alluring reality.
Bareilles will make a local appearance Aug. 23 in Morgantown at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center.