Customer Reviews

Brandi Carlile

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I hope people don't start getting suspicious about all these glowing reviews from Brandi's home town. I'm really not a relative or friend of hers. In fact, I had never heard of Brandi Carlile until an article was written about her last week in the local paper. On a whim (and the fact that she looks adorable on the cover) I picked it up and was completely blown away by her amazing talent. She's a little bit Bonnie Raitt, a little bit Indigo Girls and a little bit KD Lang. But she's all original. Her voice is wonderful and listening to her gives you chills the first time you hear her. I just wish the CD were a little longer since I'm finding myself listening to it 2 or 3 times a day. I can't wait for more from this talented young lady. She's destined for stardom.

I got tired of all my music CDs and so I went looking for more. Assorted searches on Amazon and following the leads for "customers who bought this title also bought..." brought me to Brandi Carlile's CD. I'd never heard of her, and the cover photo was a bit misleading (when it arrived, my husband asked if I was now buying punk music), but I ordered this based on the snippets of song samples--they sounded like what I was looking for.

As another reviewer stated, I can't stop listening to it. I bought several female vocalist CDs in a period of about a week, but this is the music I always reach for. Every song is great on its own, and the more you hear them and get to know them, the better they get.

Buy this CD!

A strong debut. Clear voiced. I always appreciate substance over flash. Every song is a pleasant listen, but it is the songs that are a little more pared down--those that the record execs probably view as less-commercial--that showcase her range and talent. Would prefer more than 10 cuts/37 mins. But perhaps this is the most compelling point; the disc was over and I wasn't ready to be done listening to her. Recently, I had the opportunity to see/hear her in a small venue. She exceded my expectations.

At last...someone who could justifiably thumb their nose at popular kitsch of the Brittany Spears, Hillary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, etc., with raw, pure talent singing with the sincerity of someone who is not insulated by money and the over-production of a record company. But by the tone and quality of her songs, you could guess that she could probably care less. Three cheers to Columbia for actually taking a "risk."

The folksy, bluesy growl of her voice is contradicted by the soft, high notes that she can hit. Some of the songs almost seem decades away from our current time; I listen to "Closer To You" and could almost hear Simon & Garfunkel singing it themselves.

Make no mistake, however. She is her own artist in her own right. Let's just pray, however, that her powerful talent isn't drowned in the peppy predictability of the music industry.

I almost never buy a CD on a whim, but I couldn't resist this one. I was in Barnes & Noble browsing through a few books, when I realized that I had been listening to the last few songs that were playing overhead. I headed back to the music department to see who they were playing, and bought the CD immediately. The music is absolutlely amazing. It hasn't left my CD player in three months. And, I got to see Brandi live on Memorial day! She's as good, or possibly even better, in a live setting. Lot's of energy, good stage presence, and a fantastic mix of music. She's now easily in my top three favorite performers.

I recently saw Brandi Carlile open for Chris Isaak. I was BLOWN AWAY by her voice. She was amazing! I got chills hearing the power and purity of her voice. I bought her CD after the show and I can't stop listening to her. The CD is great, but doesn't compare to hearing her perform live. I CAN'T WAIT to hear more from her, a live album would be awesome.

She seems to be her own person and is very grounded at the tender age of 23, I just hope she will be able to continue to make her music the way she wants and not music her record label deems "marketable". What an amazing talent.

I'll start by saying: Wow.
I agree with other reviewers who say it's easy to play the CD (or a song) repeatedly without realizing it. Brandi is magical, and I Fall Apart Again, every time I listen. This is a CD that will be in my Favorites rotation for a long, long, long time to come.

I'd first heard Brandi last Fall on KMTT, a local Seattle radio station, and thought yeah she's OK - but hadn't heard enough to convince me to buy her stuff, nor was I really interested in being convinced.
In December I went to a KMTT-hosted concert where Brandi opened for Susan Tedeschi. If you're familiar with Susan - tiny feminine thing with a HUGE voice, plus a fab guitarist - then you'll understand that I simply brushed off this Brandi girl as "just the opening act" before I even heard her.
So, Brandi and the Twins walk out and light into a few songs - and I was mesmerized... astounded... hooked. This girl can SING! Of course I grabbed the CD quick as I could during the show.
Brandi and Susan found backstage that they both like Ray LaMontagne and told the audience, which I thought was very cool since Ray is another of my current fave singer/guitarists - then they treated us to impromptu duets on two Ray songs! Susan miffed a few riffs but I was so entranced by the two of them sharing the stage - and Brandi being very at ease both physically and vocally next to such a powerhouse (can you imagine?) - I didn't notice nor would I have cared.
Brandi also brought her younger sister onstage as backup on Jane Siberry's Calling All Angels... and did the song justice. That to me is a difficult feat, as I'm a bit possessive of that song, so with her rendition Brandi sealed the deal on my newfound love for her.

Brandi has marvelous range, an excellent sensitivity for dynamics, and she's often a Patsy Cline voice doppelganger with that same aching ache. The Twins not only do a great job backing her up, they also write some incredible lyrics. Very thoughtful.

Here's the "funny" part. Said CD, purchased in December, has been on my desk (still in the cellophane) since. I finally opened it recently, after buying an iPod - and experienced Brandi all over again. That brought me here to see what others had said about her, and I was compelled out of agreement to add my review to the 60+ others already listed!

Of course no CD ever compares to an artist live, but hearing her songs took me right back to that night in December when I was surprised and pleased by "just the opening act" over and over and over. Unforgettable.

If there was one debut album that blew me away this year; this would be it. I seriously had no clue who Brandi Carlile was until I heard this record. I even had to go onto her website just so I could get some information about her before I was able to write down my review. It is without a doubt one of my favorite debut albums that has been released this year.

After looking at the album cover that displayed a pretty unstrained photograph of Carlile decked out in her casual clothes, my first impression was that I didn't really know what to expect with this album. She looked like a young girl that seemed light years behind her generation. If anything, she reminded me more of an old sixties folk artist then the normal spark of pop electricity that has been brought here into the 21st Century. I thought to myself, what kind of music could this possibly exemplify? I soon found out, though, when I put the record on to listen to.

Carlile's voice is simply marvelous. It's a powerful instrument that gives so much texture to her sound. It combines so many different elements of everything from rock, soul, R&B, blues, jazz, folk and country. Its kind of reminiscent to the first time that I heard k.d. lang come over my radio. If your looking for a male comparison, she definitely fits into the late Jeff Buckley's old style of performance. It's hard to believe that this girl is only twenty three years old.

Her songs make quite the distinction to her music. From its opening track, Follow, to the melancholic mixture sympathized in, Tragedy, Carlile can move the listener with her clever songwriting and timeless excellence that can't be denied. One of the many things that separates her from a lot of other artists surrounding her generation is the simple fact that she enjoys performing her songs to her audience. It's the music that drives her. Not anything else. A rarity by any of today's standards.

She is an unconstrained talent from the peaks of Washington State. Her music is roots rock with a traditional country appeal. While you won't hear a Nirvana or Jimi Hendrix influence in her sound, this West Coast native will only strive to make the best possible music that you will ever need to hear. She may not become a household name overnight but that really doesn't affect the purity of her sound. If I am not mistaken, I think I listened to the track, Closer To You, (which is featured on the soundtrack to the movie, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) several times before I had to put it away just so I could listen to the rest of the album. If that song can't grab you then I don't know what will.

If this album can't grab you then I don't know what will.

Brandi Carlile is everything you'd want a female vocalist to be. Every song seems to be woven into a masterpiece, a fine tapestry of textures and feelings, all authentic and original. Heartfelt and honest, you can't get a better album than this. Brandi Carlile is one of the best (if not the best) female vocalist I've had the pleasure of listening to in many, many, MANY years.
This album will never grow old for me and I will ALWAYS recommend it wholeheartedly.

Wow. WOW. This is the most remarkable album I've heard in a very long time. Bought it after falling in love with "What Can I Say" as featured on "Grey's Anatomy." This is a stunning debut -- fresh, original, deep and yet totally accessible on the first listen. Every single song is a winner. Buy this now, and enjoy your smug smile at Grammy time.