Tracy Chapman

iTunes Review

By any measure, Tracy Chapman’s 1988 self-titled debut album was a remarkable achievement. The fact that an acoustic-rooted singer/songwriter could grab the public’s ear during the heyday of synthesizer-pop was amazing enough. But what Chapman had to say and how she said it were even more impressive — with quiet eloquence and smoldering outrage, she made protest music relevant to the Reagan Era. Tracy Chapman still sounds compelling today thanks to the timeless content of its songs and the clean lines of its production. Chapman’s distinctive voice — a plaintive yet dignified contralto — conveys defiance in “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution,” longing in “Mountains O’ Things” and resolve in “For My Lover.” She proves herself an adept story-teller in “Fast Car” and equally effective at romantic confessions in “For You.” The sonic settings range from the percussion-driven “She’s Got Her Ticket” to the keyboard-accented “Baby Can I Hold You.” The most devastating moment here is “Behind The Wall,” an account of domestic violence sung by Chapman a capella. Themes of economic inequality and the dreams of the downtrodden run through this album, but Chapman’s poetic sense makes her work seem personal rather than preachy. Tracy Chapman remains an enduring triumph.