Out of All This Blue

If you're a longtime fan who often wonders when is going to get funky -- well, your time has finally come. Stylistic shape-shifting has long been part of 's modus operandi, but with ' ambitious 2017's double set , and his collaborators have jumped headfirst into R&B and funk rhythms, with drum loops and hip-hop-influenced production dominating many of the tracks. This being a album, there's an eclectic variety of sounds and genres here, including more familiar detours into Celtic, country, and folk-influenced tracks and a few numbers that focus on Japanese culture (part of the album was recorded in Tokyo). But the majority of the album finds and company belatedly embracing dance rhythms, and he takes to the funk more comfortably than one might expect. When sings about the rough-and-tumble side of life in New York City or his pursuit of his latest romantic obsession, his passion lines up perfectly with the snap of the backing tracks, and this album's take on hip-hop rhythms is thankfully organic and non-gimmicky. feels a bit overstuffed at 23 tracks spread over two discs, but precious little of it feels like filler, with even the weakest tracks adding to the overall flavor of the album. And remains a great storyteller, whether he's telling a woman why he should be her boyfriend, debating Memphis vs. Nashville, enjoying a night in a dive bar, or telling off . (And responding to an insult to from might sound like some sort of joke, but "Kinky's History Lesson" turns out to be one of the strongest and most moving tracks on this album.) Overall, is a bold experiment that succeeds, and once again demonstrates the depth and breadth of 's talent. ~ Mark Deming