Album Review: Rumer – Boys Don’t Cry
4 min read
Soulful sweetheart Rumer stunned us all with her sublime debut record, Seasons Of My Soul which came right out of the blue in 2010. Channeling the late great Karen Carpenter through her pristine, passionate vocals the star lit up with world of easy listening with what was one of the best releases and undoubtedly the best debut release of 2010. The record introduced us to a new singer-songwriter unlike anyone else that was on the rise and delivered to us an array of exquisite singles including Aretha and her sentimental signiture penning, Slow.
Since the release of Seasons Of My Soul the singer has gone from strength to strength performing around the globe and gaining a fanbase that includes some of the songwriting worlds most elite including music veterans, Elton John and Burt Bacharach.
Rumer returns this month with the follow up to Seasons Of My Soul and instead of her own pennings the singer has gathered together some of music’s most finest recordings and made them her own, giving the Rumer stamp to tracks that have inspired the musician throughout the years and which have been taken from the 1970’s period.
Already a fan favorite and undoubtedly one of the most gentle and moving Rumer recordings to date, the Jimmy Webb penned P.F Sloan takes centre stage as it holds the opening honors for Boys Don’ Cry and Rumer couldn’t have selected a better number to open the new collection and front the record as its lead single. Fitting the singers sound and style perfectly the track is a mid-tempo gem and one that showcases the singers delicate, smooth vocals which resonate and bring to life a classic Webb recording. More upbeat than other Rumer recordings, P.F Sloan shows us that the star is capable of turning out uptempo just as well as she does balladry.
It Could Be The First Day is a beautiful follower that casts Rumer’s crooning over a backdrop of subtle strings and includes a very Carpenter-esque bridge before dropping off to a harmony filled chorus that is both sweet and rich in its delivery.
Travellin’ Boy has some strong single potential and yet again brings out some of the singers gorgeous textures and vocal inflections that have become a staple in any of the singers recordings.
Soulsville would have seemed like an odd choice of cover for Rumer had we known about the choice prior to receiving the record but it stands out as one of the best tracks to feature on Boys Don’t Cry with its roots dug deep into southern soul. Skipping over a deep rhythm of bluesy tones and charming backing vocals provided by her three-piece support singers the track depicts a life of hardship yet promises hope and optimism atop Rumer’s gospel scented tones. It’s catchy, it’s fun, it’s diverse and it’s a brilliant addition to the track-listing.
Further down the record we are offered another bluesy number in the form of Sara Smile. Opening with a swaying guitar riff that ushers in Rumer’s pristine vocals the track gently picks up tempo as it nears a chorus that delivers some beautiful harmonies and some engaging lyrics while the piano and harmonica filled Flyin’ Shoes presents the album with its most Americana influenced inclusion particularly with the addition of a twangy slide guitar.
Boys Don’t Cry is testament to Rumer’s breathtaking vocal abilities and unrivaled lyrical storytelling as well as her ability of taking someone else’s song and truly making it her own. Rumer is one of the greatest musical talents to emerge from the UK in recent years and her latest catalogue component is a welcome return for the whispery star of soulful musical artistry as Boys Don’t Cry picks up gracefully where Seasons Of My Soul left off.
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::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
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