Brandi Carlile's 'The Story': a Musical Masterpiece

Staff Writer

Courtesy of BrandiCarlile.com

Brandi Carlile

   Singer and songwriter Brandi Carlile uses her voice as the instrument to accompany an acoustic guitar.  Despite having two albums under her belt, Carlile remains unknown to many.  Carlile strums on, but the general public misses out on her unique vocal styles and lyrics.

   Carlile released her self-titled debut album in 2005 before hitting the road and compiling songs that would make up her sophomore album, "The Story."  The collective album caught the attention of producers at ABC, and four of Carlile’s songs have been featured in the hit show, "Grey’s Anatomy" and it’s spin-off, "Private Practice."

   To accompany the exposure gained on television, "The Story" was released in April of 2007.  The album gained positive responses from networks including VH1 and CMT, as well as praise and recommendation to fans by fellow singer/songwriter, Kelly Clarkson.

  The album begins with the chilling, yet laid back track “Late Morning Lullaby.”

   “As soon as my eyes shut the slide show begins / Yesterday is gone now and panic sets in / With a weight upon my chest and a ghost upon my back / And the numbing sensation of everything I lack that leaves me / Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, / Your real world away,” Carlile softly sings.

   Something unexplainable pulls you in with this track to set the mood for the rest of the album.  It drifts effortlessly into the title track, “The Story.”

   “All of these lines across my face / Tell you the story of who I am / So many stories of where I've been / And how I got to where I am / But these stories don't mean anything / When you've got no one to tell them to / It's true ... I was made for you,” she belts.

   A raspy, soulful sound fills Carlile’s voice.  She uses everything she has to tell her story.  The crack in her voice only adds to the magic of the song.

   “Turpentine” follows, as raw as actual turpentine in the woods.

   “I watch you grow away from me in photographs / And memories like spies / And salt betrays my eyes again / I started losing sleep and gaining weight / And wishing I was ten again / So I could be your friend again,” she sings, almost channeling Janis Joplin.

   The lyrics tell of painful memories and the pain clearly shows in her voice.  “It's 6 a.m. and I'm all messed up / I didn't mean to waste your time / So I'll fall back in line / But I'm warning you we're growing up,” she continues.

   Later on the album, you find the folk track “Have You Ever.”   Smoothly written lyrics match the catchy melody keeping you singing for months.

   Carlile sings, “Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods? / And everything there feels just as it should / You're part of the life there / You're part of something good / If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods / If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods?”

   “Josephine,” a similar song with a slower pace falls right behind.

   “Take me back Josephine / To that cold and dark December / I am missing someone but I don't know who / Now I'm standing alone and I'm trying to remember / Sometimes I wonder how I ever started loving you,” she sings in a speaking tone.

   The dark lyrics accompanying the slow music, make this song depressing, but at the same time, heartbreakingly honest.

   “Gone / It's hard for me to see when I'm wrong / It's hard for me to weep when I'm strong / But I could never sleep when you're gone / Oh but still / If you were gonna crucify me / I wouldn't want nobody to see / 'Cause you could kick me hard when I'm down / Down, down, down,” Carlile sings breathily on the opening of “Shadow on the Wall.”

   Written into this track, a message of not wanting to be the center of attention speaks loudly.  The message begs to be heard by all, making “Shadow on the Wall” one of the standout tracks on the album.

   The six songs mentioned provide a mere glimpse into one of the most original and refreshing albums recorded in years.  The album spans across many genres appealing to a wide range of listeners.  Carlile covers everything from pop, country, rock, alternative, folk and indie.  With the changing vocal styles unlike any other, Carlile created her story, her masterpiece.

   Other tracks on the album include: “My Song,” “Wasted,” “Losing Heart,” “Cannonball,” “Until I Die,” “Downpour,” “Again Today” and the hidden track “Hiding My Heart.”

   Previews of songs on the album can by found on Carlile’s official Web site and MySpace.

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