Album Review: Laurie Anderson’s Amelia

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Laurie Anderson’s Amelia is a masterful exploration of the life and legacy of Amelia Earhart, the trailblazing aviator who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932. The album, a compelling blend of biography and musical innovation, immerses listeners in Earhart’s world as she embarks on her final, fateful journey to circumnavigate the globe in 1937. Through Anderson’s narrative and sonic landscape, Amelia becomes more than just an album—it is a poignant tribute to a woman who defied the odds and inspired generations.

Anderson’s approach to Amelia is both personal and historical. Earhart’s meticulous documentation of her journey—through telegrams, diaries, and recorded speeches—forms the backbone of Anderson’s narrative, providing a rich source of inspiration for the album’s 22 tracks. Each track captures a different moment of Earhart’s journey. Anderson puts herself in Earhart’s shoes, imagining what it would have been like to be in the cockpit of the Lockheed Model 10-E Electra, facing the unknown with a mixture of determination and trepidation. This imaginative leap allows Anderson to blend fact and fiction, creating a dreamlike narrative that feels both intimate and epic.