Chesapeake's here

After months of depending on (legal) soft copies and waiting, Chesapeake is finally here... and it's signed by Rachael - to me!

I recall the first time I got hooked . Back then I was awed by Rachael Yamagata's music and her ability to express emotions. Up to one point, I'd play her depressing songs, mostly of yearning or heartaches or helplessness or resentment, over and over again (the last album was full of it), despite not being able to fully relate. Somehow, with this new album, she had a slight change of heart and decided to make more upbeat music.

 

The first two tracks in the album, "Even If I Don't" and "Starlight" are unlike most of her previous music. I mean, it's not easy for one to expect Rachael Yamagata to write cutesy 'I'm-so-in-love' kind of songs - I'm not sure if that's even possible, BUT the music is very catchy and makes one happy. The type you tap your feet with. Within a short period of time her new songs grew into me very quickly.

The tracks after that are a mix of hopeful songs, those you can dance to, a few sad songs - but nothing too extreme, expect the second last track "Full On", which wins big for its lyrics and rich strings. The final track, "Dealbreaker", is a bittersweet song. Somehow I'd imagined that the chorus of the song, "All of this means nothing, without you" was meant for the fans who had pledged and supported her - and I was right (I read it somewhere). I could feel it while listening to it.

I showed the signed album to Asna:

"Wow! A Rachael Yamagata album"

"See the cover"

"Who wrote 'To Amira'?"

"Rachael Yamagata lah"

"What? She wrote this?! She likes you??"

I still can't believe she personally wrote my name on the album... Anyway, I'm now waiting for February 23. Excited to watch her from the second row!

Here's a random video for you,  her performing in Singapore last year.