"Black Rainbows" - Corinne Bailey Rae Album Review

On Sept. 15, Corinne Bailey Rae released her most recent album, “Black Rainbows,” a rock-esque and avant-garde piece about the struggles of Black culture, leaving listeners mildly perplexed yet not able to turn it off.

Nearly two decades earlier, the British singer’s “Put Your Records On” was played on iPods and radio stations across the world. The wholesome song became an anthem for many that has stood the test of time, with a cover even going viral on TikTok in 2020.

After 17 years of silence, Rae debuted “Black Rainbows.” This album might be by the same artist as the self-titled album before it, but that is where the similarities end.

The album opens with “A Spell, A Prayer,” which makes use of electric guitar riffs and techno elements.

This seems to be a theme throughout the album. Many songs appear to be a mix of rock, jazz and pop.

While “Black Rainbows” features 10 tracks, the album surprisingly has a run time of almost 45 minutes.

The typical length of a song is about three and a half minutes, but there is nothing typical about this album from Rae. Most of her tracks last around five minutes, and one, “Put it Down,” is almost nine minutes long.

A theme throughout the entire album seems to be songs with minimal or indistinguishable lyrics.

“Black Rainbows,” “New York Transit Queen” and “Before the Throne of the Invisible God” all repeat one or two key phrases throughout the entirety of the song, with the main focus of the pieces being on the musical elements highlighted in the absence of in-depth lyrics.

The title song is also a bit confusing as it repeats the phrase “black rainbows” 24 times before ending with “you’re waiting for.” It’s up to the listener to decipher what this is supposed to mean.

Despite the interesting stylistic choices of this album, there is no doubt that the themes present in “Black Rainbows” are remarkable.

According to The New York Times, Rae was inspired by the artifacts she saw at the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago, a museum that houses a collection of art and artifacts from African culture.

Rae’s album as a whole is an ode to Black history and culture.

The lyrics may be lacking on some tracks, but in others, they are pieces of poetry.

“Erasure,” the second track on the album with a rock feel, talks about how people of color often get left out of history.

The lines, “They took credit for your labor" and "They tried to erase you,” are a nod to the horrors of slavery.

This is one of the best songs on “Black Rainbows” with “New York Transit Queen” and “Peach Velvet Sky.” The first are upbeat songs with interesting melodies. The last is a beautiful ballad that almost sounds as if it should be from a musical.

Overall, this album has an interesting vibe with a remarkable message. Though the style of the tracks is perplexing and not always pleasing to the ear, the lyrics that do manage to break through that wall hold complex and crucial messages.

While different from the albums she has released in the past, Rae is experimenting with more complex lyrics and genres which is certainly commendable.

Rating: 4/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Erasure” and “Peach Velvet Sky”

Reviewer’s Least Favorite Songs: “Black Rainbows”

Ainsley Spitz is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism and criminology. To contact her, email aes6441@psu.edu.