Brandi Carlile Review – Give Up The Ghost

Have you heard of Brandi Carlile? I hadn’t, at least until a few short weeks ago. Must have been that vacation I took. You know the one, under a rock, where I spent those years as a mom of multiple toddlers. That wonderful time when life, especially trends in movies and music, passes you by. So although Brandi Carlile may be new to me, she is definitely not new.

In 2005, Brandi Carlile arrived on the scene with her self-titled album. Her sophomore album, The Story, debuted in 2007. Brandi Carlile’s newest release is titled Give Up the Ghost. I admit, I nearly passed on the opportunity to review this album. When it comes to female vocalists, I’m a bit of a snob. Sure, I’ll sing along with whatever catchy song Britney has rising up radio charts, but it’s entirely different to add a song to my iPod playlist. They hooked me with: “If you like KT Tunstall, Indigo Girls, Missy Higgins and Rachael Yamagata then you will LOVE Brandi Carlile.” Love might be a bit light for my feelings about KT’s music.

This music grabbed me from the earliest notes and captivated me with a unique and intoxicating blend of music. I appreciate great musicianship; the instrumentals on this album do not dissapoint. The album has fun, fast songs blended artistically with quiet, soul stirring ballads. Listening to the entire album feels much like taking a road trip with Carlile as she pours her heart out.  It’s as if she is your new friend disclosing intimate details of her past that have shaped who she is today. She is transparent in a way listeners will identify with, maintaining your attention as you journey through to the stories woven in the lyrics.

It’s rather difficult to pick a favorite song or two from this album, so I’ll share with you what songs I found myself humming long after the iPod stopped. Caroline is a duet with Elton John, inspired by Carlile’s neice. It has a “strummy and playful beat” and I bet it won’t be long before you start singing the chorus right along with it. Carlile says that Elton John played a key a role in her evolution as an artist: “When I was 11, I started listening to country and western music and I was totally immersed in that Grand Ole Opry culture, wherein the entertainers are usually not the ones who wrote the music. But when I discovered Elton John, I realized that performers could write and perform their own songs, and I immediately went out and got a keyboard, and started writing.” She was too starstruck to tell him that when they recorded together. “I was just overwhelmed by the years, and by the influence that somebody can have on another person’s life without even knowing it.”

In That Year Carlile remembers a friend who committed suicide while they were both teenagers. A recent dream about her friend inspired her to write the delicate and heart-wrenching track.  Personally, I feel it’s the most powerful song on this album. So moving the song stayed with me for days after a single initial hearing. The lyrics and music blend beautifully to tell a haunting story in a beautiful, retrospective way.

Some of my other favorite heart-felt songs on this album are Dying Day and I Will.

I’d be remiss if I failed to share with you that Brandi’s band and fellow co-writers are twin brothers, Phil and Tim Hanseroth. I know those of you who follow me that are fellow mothers of twins will find that an interesting little fact.

Head over to iTunes to sample Brandi’s latest album and download a copy for yourself. You won’t be disappointed, and hopefully, you’ll be surprised beyond expectation like I was.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary digital copy of this album to listen to and review courtesy Sony Music Service via One2OneNetwork.