Allison Russell - The Returner (2023)

Allison Russell's second solo album is a jaw-dropper—and a heart-pumper, thought-provoker and ass-shaker. The charm turns on right away with enchanting and syncopated "Springtime" and its sound of shedding burden: "So long, farewell, adieu, adieu/ To that tunnel I went through/ And my reward, my recompense?/ Springtime of my present tense." The song is further warmed by the sound of Russell's clarinet opening up the gates for a full-throated musical expanse featuring Sista Strings and Wendy & Lisa on guitar and piano, respectively. The former Revolution members, who play on nearly every song, belong here—much of Returner boasts a Prince vibe, circa groovy Around the World in a Day. Russell, whose Outside Child won Album of the Year at the 2022 Americana Awards and who is known for her folksy/mountain music work with Our Native Daughters and Birds of Chicago, has said it's the sound of her "busting out of the roots ghetto." "All Without Within" is a supremely funky celebration of love. "Snakelife" taps into "Living for the City" drama. "Shadowlands" serves up soulful Philadelphia Sound. Stunner "Stay Right Here" is a glorious shock to the system, its insistent piano rock soaring into disco liberation as Russell sings about resisting the horrors of the past in order to live joyfully in the present ("Something that I learned when I was three/ How to leave my body … No, no, I'll stay right here/ Wanna hear my daughter laughing"). And Russell sounds fabulous on "Demons," a Prince-kissed slice of gospel-soul-funk with a whole choir of diverse voices wailing and making you feel what it's like to take agency over your demons: "Turn around/ Look 'em in the face/ They don't like how sunlight tastes, no no!" Russell has said that the record, written with her husband and longtime musical partner JT Nero, is all about "survivors' joy"; her own horrific history of childhood abuse is well-documented and she calls Returner "a celebratory soundtrack for getting tired of hating yourself and deciding you're worthy." But it's also a reference to one of her heroes, fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell. Russell took part in both the singer's 2022 Newport Folk Festival return and 2023's epic Joni Jam at Washington State's Gorge Amphitheatre. "I thought about how much grit and grace that she has as a human being to be able to come back from death, not once, but three times, and to relearn not just how to sing and play, but how to walk and talk," Russell has said of Mitchell. And Russell doesn't totally abandon her roots, putting a soulful spin on them with the title track and gracing "Eve Was Black" with a blues feel. It all ends with "Requiem," creamy Americana that finds Russell, supported in harmony by Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark and Hozier, reaching for the rafters.

TRACKLIST

1. Allison Russell - Springtime
2. Allison Russell - The Returner
3. Allison Russell - All Without Within
4. Allison Russell - Demons
5. Allison Russell - Eve Was Black
6. Allison Russell - Stay Right Here
7. Allison Russell - Shadowlands
8. Allison Russell - Rag Child
9. Allison Russell - Snakelife
10. Allison Russell - Requiem