Brandi Carlile
Give Up The Ghost
2009, Columbia
folk rock
It’s been a while since I’ve given a 5-star rating to two consecutive albums from the same artist/band, but Brandi Carlile has made it impossible for me to rate this any less than a 5. I really enjoyed her previous album The Story, but Give Up the Ghost points out all of its faults. In hindsight, Story was far too overproduced and it seemed that Carlile was almost forced to emphasize the cracks in her voice to be heard over it. The barest song on The Story, “Josephine,” cannot compare to Ghost‘s “That Year” in raw emotions.
Carlile hasn’t changed her lyrical material – they’re still strongly introspective and heavy – but her treatment has done a 180. “Dreams” is the most upbeat pop-like song I’ve ever heard from her; Carlile even allows her voice to soften instead of forcing it for each song. Another point of interest, The Story had no collaborations with outside artists while Ghosts did. Yet, even when she is joined in a duet with Elton John in “Caroline,” he sounds more like a backup singer instead of a prominent presence. Overall, this is a cohesive album that allows for a lot more creativity without completely changing what makes Carlile so attractive as an artist.
“Pride and Joy,” “That Year,” “Caroline.”
myspace, last.fm
Eisley’s Combinations,Aimee Mann’s Lost In Space
