SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GINO VANNELLI – THE LIFE I GOT (TO MY MOST BELOVED)

GINO VANNELLI
THE LIFE I GOT (TO MY MOST BELOVED)
BED/THE ORCHARD

The Life I Got (To My Most Beloved) is Gino Vannelli’s 22^nd album, and his first since the highly acclaimed Wilderness Road (2019). During the time between albums, Vannelli has had a great deal with which to cope. He lost his wife to cancer, and he has turned to music to express some of his experiences. The Life I Got (To My Most Beloved) album reflects the grief, hope, and pain of loss. It is a stark, powerful and extremely brave album. Vannelli wrote, produced, and arranged it. He did have some help with production, Peter Fil, who co-produced the album, and the pair let Vannelli do what he does best. The sparse arrangements and subtle production make this a beautiful and emotional album.

Vannelli’s voice is strong and full of emotion. And he expresses himself in each and every song. He approaches loss bravely and sometimes not so bravely. Songs like “The Life I Got” are heartbreaking. “I just want to wake up in the morning, have you by my side”, while others are more reflective in songs such as “A Little Bit Broken” (“Everyone gets a little bit broken/No matter how strong”). “The Hero You See In Me” is another song that tugs at the heart but is another part of the process of saying goodbye.

The music is a beautiful cross between blues and jazz. Again, the arrangements are sparse and leave a great deal of space for his vocals. But there is a lot going on in the music to keep it interesting throughout the entire album. The music is not like a dirge, but there is an overarching melancholy throughout. “It’s All Good Mama”, for example, has a deep groove that reaches into the listener and brings them to attention. “Good Neighbors”, however, is an upbeat song that comes at the perfect time on the album.

Vannelli has always been an incredible performer and writer. This album, however, is his most personal and at times painful. He is baring his soul for all to see but more importantly using his art to deal with a huge loss. In doing so, it becomes an intimate album that many will find a great deal of comfort in. He concludes the album with the majestic “Keep On Walking”. It is the perfect end to the album.

While The Life I Got (To My Most Beloved) may appear to be a very sad album, it is an album of strength with sad aspects. Vannelli has produced an astounding piece of art. It is an album that needs to be heard from beginning to end, as it works best that way. Vannelli shares a very intimate time in his life, and we are the better for it. It is an album with sad moments, but ultimately it is an album of love, hope, grace, and survival. Well done, Mr. Vannelli.

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