Sara Bareilles, Amidst the Chaos | Album Review 💿

Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles shines on her 6th studio LP, Amidst the Chaos, which contrasts her earlier discography.

39-year old Sara Bareilles (who turns 40 December 7, 2019), is a fine musician – extremely talented and well-rounded, if also underrated.  Throughout the course of her career, she’s delivered some superb records including gems such as “Love Song”, “King of Anything”, and the uplifting “Brave”. Yep, there’s definitely a reason she’s been nominated for seven Grammy awards including the prestigious nomination for Album of the Year for her fourth LP, The Blessed Unrest.  She returns with a bang in 2019 with her brilliant sixth studio album, Amidst the Chaos, contrasting her earlier discography.  Contributing to the contrast is the production by multi-Grammy-winning producer T-Bone Burnett, which definitely pays off.

“Fire” 

✓ “Fire” is the first indication that Amidst the Chaos opts for a different sound from her previous projects.  There’s a folksy vibe from the onset, that leans more indie-pop/rock than say mainstream, Top 40 pop. It’s a well-rounded, appropriate opener, chocked-full of rhythm and attitude from Sara Bareilles.  She never over-sings, offering just the right amount of punch and oomph vocally.  The slower-paced ✓ “No Such Thing” arguably eclipses “Fire,” with its tenderer approach.  Bareilles’ bread is buttered with ballads, as the listener is easily compelled by the care with which she sings each and every note, whether low, middle, or earnest in her upper register.  Part of the reason “No Such Thing” is such a highlight is that it possesses some of the most attractive production, with its keyboards, programming, and use of acoustic bass. The chorus is pretty sweet as well.

“Let it begin / Let Adam in / Step one / Original sin… / Can I ask a question / To present day / How the hell did Eve end up with all the damn blame?” ✓ “Armor” provides more contrast, keeping things quite interesting.  Prominent Left hand, bassy piano (performed by Bareilles herself) adds some bite to this girl-power anthem, where Bareilles asserts at one point, “You think I am high and mighty, mister? / Wait till you meet my little sister.”  Lyrically, it seems to speak about the power of women, and that particular line seems to suggest women will only have a stronger voice in the future.

“If I Can’t Have You”

✓ “If I Can’t Have You” ranks among the crowning achievements. This soulful co-write alongside Emily King and Aaron Sterling would’ve sounded at home in the 70s, with its harmonized backing vocals (King), robust bass line (Dennis Crouch), and rhythmic guitar (Marc Ribot).  It’s not anachronistic, rather refreshing as Sara Bareilles sings with incredible ease, even throwing in a fitting key change on this love song. “Eyes on You” follows, penned solely by Bareilles, embraces more of an alt-/indie rock singer/songwriter vibe, providing yet another contrast.  In addition to providing the keys, Bareilles also plays electric guitar on this particular record.  Continuing a trend of Amidst the Chaos, there’s use of both acoustic and electric bass.  The best moment of “Eyes on You” is the chorus, specifically the descending chromatic harmonic progression.

“I know the world turns around
I know the lights are gonna go out
But until they do, I’ve got nothing to lose
I keep my eyes on you
I keep my eyes on you.” 

“Miss Simone,” co-written with Lori McKenna, slackens the pace, yet maintains a groove.  Bareilles gives a cool, thoughtful performance, never breaking a sweat.  Once again, Emily King delivers some smooth, soulful vocal harmonies, perfectly mixed in the background.  Also, once again, the harmonic progression is an awesome musical selling point.  The lyrics, particularly, “Miss Simone singing / Pour some sugar in my bowl baby” shine like a beacon.

“Wicked Love” 

On “Wicked Love,” Sara Bareilles shows off her abilities to deliver some sick descending vocals runs.  Even though they’re impressive, and add a bit more grit, she continues to maintain poise, never quite entering into gospel histrionics territory. “Wicked Love” possesses soulfulness similar to the aforementioned “If I Can’t Have You.”  The chorus sounds similar to that of “Brave,” arriving six years earlier (the progression, not the lyrics).  The poetic “Orpheus” finds Bareilles referencing Orpheus, one of the famous mortals from Greek mythology.  On the chorus, not only does she dissuade her lover from making the mistake that Orpheus does, but also references the album title.

“Don’t stop
Trying to find me here amidst the chaos
Though I know it’s blinding
There’s a way out
Say out loud
We will not give up on love now
No fear
Don’t you turn like Orpheus
Just stay here
Hold me in the dark and when the day appears
We’ll say
We did not give up on love today.”

“Poetry by Dead Men” features some excellent musical touches, from Bareilles’ continual vocal prowess and piano playing, to the seamless overall blend of acoustic and electronic touches.  Unsurprisingly, given the song title, it’s definitely poetic.  Failed love is a central theme, as Bareilles sings, “I wanted to be your girl / With your hands on my skin / Stirring the cinnamon / While you read me poetry by dead men.”

“Someone Who Loves You” 

Amidst the Chaos closes out quite strong with a formidable trio of songs. ✓ “Someone Who Loves You” kicks off the final quarter with its quiet backdrop, comprised of guitars, ukulele, bass, and drums, and chilling vocal harmonies (Joseph Ryan).  Bareilles never gets riled up or overexcited, maintaining the cool that is characteristic of the LP.  While it’s quite slow, it’s also haunting and mesmerizing. Penultimate record ✓ “Saint Honesty,” like “Someone Who Loves You,” is another slower and softer number for the most part.  Even so, it’s also quite the tour de force, with simple, but highly effective production, comprised of spare instrumentation (piano, guitar, acoustic bass, drums, and percussion).  Also, more so than “Someone Who Loves You,” Bareilles increases the grit and oomph as the record progresses, eventually showcasing the sheer power of her instrument.  Lyrically, it’s among the most beautiful songs of Amidst the Chaos. ✓ “A Safe Place to Land” concludes Amidst the Chaos soundly, enlisting the marvelous John Legend for the assist.  Both musicians have great vocal chemistry on this chilling ballad, the third in a row.  While more tempo wouldn’t have been a bad thing at this point of the album, if you’re going to close out with a ballad, this is the one, serving as a fitting coda.

Final Thoughts

To reiterate, Sara Bareilles delivers a brilliant sixth studio album with Amidst the Chaos. After failing to review What’s Inside: Songs from Waitress (2015), it was refreshing to hear Bareilles in top-notch form, my first time doing so sense The Blessed Unrest.  Vocally, she sounds incredible, while both songwriting and production are impeccable.  The old-school vibes that T-Bone Burnett surrounds Bareilles with are a welcome contrast that are refreshing as opposed to anachronistic, building greater interest in an artist that deserves far more attention than she receives. If you’re looking for a pleasant surprise of an album, then look no further than the consistent Amidst the Chaos.

✓ Gems: “Fire,” “No Such Thing,” “Armor,” “If I Can’t Have You,” “Someone Who Loves You,” “Saint Honesty” & “Safe Place to Land”  

Sara Bareilles • Amidst the Chaos • Epic • Release: 4.5.19

Photo Credit: Epic