Customer Reviews

Like Blood Like Honey

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have to say that this is one of the most refreshing and thought provoking CD's I have heard in a long time.The raw emotion that Holly lays out for everyone to see is beautiful.As well as her voice,which you may have heard on Fort Minor's song "Where's You Go".There are so many songs that I love on this CD that explaining them all would take WAY too long.If you like singer/songwriters like Sarah McLachlan,Tori Amos,etc.You should definitely get this CD.I have it on repeat,that is how much I love her music.This is one of the best folk/ pop/ acoustic/alternative artists and CD's to come out in a long time.I see a long career for Holly.5 + stars

Holly Brook is one of those artists that reminds you why you listen to music. Her unflinching view of the world is so refreshing and her ability with a piano is unspeakable. Holly Brook is an artist with no comparisons. She sounds like no one, no one sounds like her. It's been a long time since I've been as captivated with a recording as I am with Like Blood Like Honey, and that feeling was well overdue.

So, Holly Brook plays a piano. Automaticly, and logically, the first influence you'd head towards is probably Tori Amos. Nope. I like to think I'm well versed when it comes to music and I haven't heard anyone remotely resemble Holly Brook. Her voice is far and away one of the most gorgeous I've heard in years (second only to Anneke of The Gathering), and her lyrics are nothing short of excellent as well.

The songs included in Like Blood Like Honey contain everything from extremely slow heartwrenching songs to more upbeat toe-tapping tracks. The CD starts off with the brooding beauty of Giving It Up For You. The piano work makes the song feel more depressing than anything but one look at the lyrics and it's obvioussly got a positive message behind them. Fast-forward to Again & Again and you've now gotten to the loudest song thus far. Catchy vocals really drive this track to make it memorable. Saturday is another song featuring great vocals and lyrics, and ultimately ranks among the best on the CD. Cellar Door is an understated closer. Accompanied by only the piano, this is one of the best tracks to hear Holly's vocal talents.

My favorite songs are Wanted, Again & Again, Saturdays, Still Love, and All Will Be Forgotten. It amazes me that talent like this can go by so unrecognized. Not one song is disappointing in the least. If you're like I was and are in dire need of finding a CD that captures raw beauty in every song, then Holly Brook's Like Blood Like Honey is definitely for you.

Since I never watched Conviction or Related, the only thing I knew about Holly Brook was that she sang the chorus to Fort Minor's "Where'd You Go". I didn't even know she had an album, but I came across Like Blood Like Honey one day and I picked it up.

I have to say that this is a very solid album. My brother remarked that she is a little reminiscent of Dido (as did another reviewer on here), and I agree. There are great songs to be found, like "Giving It Up For You", "Saturdays" and "Heavy". But it's especially nice when Holly is just limited to the piano and she's allowed to let her vocals REALLY soar, like on "All Will Be Forgotten" and my favorite, the Sarah McLachlan-esque "Curious".

While the title track suffers from a dull chorus, the rest of Like Blood Like Honey is quite above-average, making Holly Brook a woman you ought to learn more about.

Anthony Rupert

I have been waiting for the release of Brook's album since I first heard her music on the now canceled WB series RELATED. If you love Sarah MacLachlan then you will love Holly Brook. Her songs are beautiful and perfect for a rainy day, on the drive home from work or just because. Such insightful lyrics with depth and simplicity. She may be only 20 years old but she has a depth of understanding to life way beyond her years. Holly is a VERY talented songwriter and singer to say the least. I can't wait for her next album!

Holly Brook may strike up images of a local creek, but the twenty year old is currently invading your radio singing the haunting chorus to Fort Minor's Where'd You Go. But don't expect any hip hop beats or guest spots from Mike Shinoda or other rappers on her debut, Like Blood Like Honey. Instead the album is strictly part of a Lilith Fair revival where Holly pours out her soul while switching effortlessly from the piano to the guitar.

But as heard on Where'd You Go, Brook is more deep than her contemporizes sets the tone with the opening lines to the opening track, Giving it Up for You where she tells us, "Though I'm young and cynical, it's not my only crime." The song itself sounds like an edgier version of songs heard on Anna Nalick's debut. And when I say edgy, I'm not talking about the manufactured edginess of singers like Ashlee Simpson. Then there's What I Wouldn't Give which shows a much more vulnerable side. As for influences, they run the gambit of female singer songwriters; Wanted is reminiscent of something from Sarah McLachlan's prime. Saturdays acoustic quickly beat sound like something Susanne Vega could have came up with. Heavy brings up thoughts of Tori Amos but much more palatable.

Even though Holly doesn't get as experimental as another artist she is compared too, Fiona Apple, Brook branch out more musically than other singer songwriters of the day. This is helped by Brook's knowledge of multiple instruments so she can switch from one to another without bogging the album with tedium and knows when to bring in other instruments into the equation to highlight the song. She can also bring things down, ending the album her and the guitar on All Will be Forgotten then spotlights her piano on the closer Cellar Door. Maybe after a couple more years and albums under her belt Holly Brook can get to the place where Fiona recently reached herself.

Best known for her vocal performance on Fort Minor's "Where'd You Go", Holly Brook has branched out on her own on this amazing debut album.
Her soothing and soulful voice seeps through to the very depths of your core; she sets your soul free, takes you on a magical journey and transports you to a place that can only be described as ethereal. Heavenly.
Her personal lyrics describe your feelings in the way you always wanted but could never find the words. Let her give your emotions the soundtrack they need to be set free.
This is a wonderfully talented young woman that will ease your soul without trying to buy it.
Allow her to take you on this magical journey. Allow her voice to slowly bleed into your soul. Allow her to transport you to an otherworldly existence. Allow her to reside inside your soul.
This album is simply beautiful and will take your breath away.

A great, emotional, refreshing album. Holly is an accomplished instrumentalist (piano, dulcimer, guitar) and singer-songwriter. My only criticism of this album is that it sounds as if Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Joni Mitchell got thrown in a music-blender, but not quite blended enough, because one song will sound like Sarah McLachlan and the next one like Tori Amos and so on. It's noticeable that the most derivative songs are written by Holly herself and that the ones that come closest to having a unique sound are ones that she co-writes. Having said that, it is a great album, it just hasn't got enough of her own sound, despite showing real emotional and musical maturity.

Giving It Up For You - 4 Stars. This song is clearly radio-bound and it's a great song, despite obvious influences (Tori Amos). It's a strange choice to begin the album because the beginning of it sounds just like 'Live To Tell' by Madonna. This song doesn't display the same emotional maturity as the rest of the album and this is shown in over dramatic lyrics like "I take a lot of medicine I don't really need". But it's a great song and I'd give it 5 stars if it didn't have such a Tori Amos feel to it.

Wanted - 5 Stars. This one should be all over your radio anytime soon. Great song!

What I Wouldn't Give - 5 Stars. Far and away the best song on the album. The song begins with the most beautiful piano and voice and builds into a gorgeous refrain:

What I wouldn't give just to forget
So I can remember how to live again

This song has such great words. How can you not love the poetry of describing herself feeling "dissonant and distracted"?

Like Blood Like Honey - 4 Stars. A beautiful, simple song that highlights Hollys voice and guitar playing. One of my favorite songs on the album.

Curious - 4.5 Stars. This one was written solely by Holly and it is fantastic. Flawed, yes, but for that fantastic hook you can forgive anything. It starts out sounding very much like Sarah McLachlan's 'Do What You Have To Do' from the album Surfacing but once the hook kicks in... Wow. She is definitely earning her label of 'the new Sarah McLachlan' here. There are some points in the song where the melody seems to lose the plot. A flawed jewel, ending with the emotive line "there are too many unanswered questions that I hold on to... like You".

Saturdays - 4 Stars. This is one of the 'Tori Amos' sounding songs. It starts with a mischievous, jumping rhythm with Holly indulging her slightly drama queen tendencies ("time to kill, take a pill..."). Again, you have to forgive it because of the melodies that come later for "Stop pushing all your tragedies away". It has a beautiful melody in the middle that I wish was repeated in the song.

Again And Again - 4 Stars. If 'Curious' is the most Sarah McLachlan styled song on the album, this one is the most obvious Tori Amos sounding song, but a great song nonetheless.

Heavy - 2 Stars. This song is very much like Sarah McLachlan given a slightly jazzy makeover but with a shot of Tori Amos thrown in for good measure.

Still Love - 2 Stars. This song is very much like Sarah McLachlan given a slightly jazzy makeover - but hold the shot of Tori Amos this time.

All Will Be Forgotten - 3 Stars. This song is moody, reflective and melodic and also has some of the best 'no expense spared' production that makes this album stand out. Holly doesn't yet seem to realize her musical maturity and this is shown through lyrics like "little things like these are good to keep my silly mind from wandering".

Cellar Door - 3 Stars. This song draws heavily on the chords and melodies of Joni Mitchell, starting with smoky, threatening jazz-influenced piano and vocals and building up to a more mainstream rock ending.

Nuff said,... no wait thats not enough. This cd has everything except, loud driving, screaming guitar riffs and deep bass which is what I'm used to. I love this album, I think that I love holly brook :) She is intelligent, beautiful and extremely talented. What every man wants right? any ways buy this album. This should be in everyones collection, no matter what you listen to. This album is something to sit back, listen to and enjoy the day no matter what type of day it is. Absolutely superb!!!!!!!!!!

Holly Brook has a voice of an angel. You may have recognized it from her work with Mike Shinoda of FORT MINOR, an offshoot of Linkin Park in the popular song WHERE'D YOU GO.

Turns out there's more to Holly than just her beautifully nuanced vocals. Her songwriting is melodically superb and lyrically soulful. Her interpretations are both innocent and sophisticated at the same time making for a wonderful duality. Also a multi-instrumentalist and co-producer, Holly is able to bring to fruition what she composes resulting in a stunningly mesmorizing effect.

This is a great debut collection which already seems to have hit a nerve with a wide audience. These songs will definitely wear well over time. I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with as a follow up!

PS. Almost forgot - the album art/photos are a wonderful glimpse of Holly Brook and all lyrics are included.

I'm not much of a music person in general, but I liked the piano background and Holly Brook's voice so I bought the CD. I loved it! I have honestly listened to the whole cd at least 15 times. Ok so now I'm getting a little sick of it, but I have really enjoyed it, and you will too!