Brandy Clark – self-titled
Brandi Clark released a seriously heavy hitting album this year, a self-titled collection produced by Brandi Carlile; mixed by Brandon Bell at The Cabin Studio; mastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Sound, and heavily featuring Brandi Carlile and also Derek Trucks and Lucius.
“Ain’t Enough Rocks” is a powerful – like something hit you with a 2 x 4 powerful – story of incest and then the perpetrator gets summarily rolled up in a rug, and, well, there ain’t enough rocks… It features Derek Trucks and is absolutely breathtaking in its bold approach.
“Buried” is highly resonant with “I’ll fly myself to France … Get drunk on wine and dance, someone who ain’t embarrassed to kiss me on the dance floor” and it continues from there, with hopeful romantic images and the lamentation of the feeling when someone doesn’t want you anymore.
“Tell Her You Don’t Love Her” features Lucius and is the voice of a loved one asking for someone to let go, on behalf of her friend. “Tell her you don’t love her even if it’s a lie….” and Brandy finds a niche with the delightful harmonies of Lucius to back her in a hushed arrangement with a subtle rhythm.
“Dear Insecurity” (featuring Brandi Carlile prominently on vocals) is a rather amazing play by play of the sometimes awful voice inside our own heads. Beyond relatable.
“Baby I want to hold you but I don’t want to hold you back” is the key focus on “Come Back to Me,” another easy number with bouncy melodic banjo lines.
The production on this album is all spaces and hushed instrumentation you still nevertheless know full well are there. It’s really quite a lovely album, with tremendously powerful songwriting. Some say it’s among the best of the year. (Editor’s Pick: Favorite Albums of 2023)
Musicians on the album are Brandy Clark on vocals; Matt Chamberlain on drums and percussion; Sebastian Steinberg on bass; Dave Palmer on keyboards; Jedd Hughes on banjo and acoustic guitar; Brandi Carlile on acoustic guitar, piano, and background vocals; Jess Wolfe and Holly Proctor (Lucius) on background vocals; Kyleen King on viola; Josh Neumann and Monique Ross on cello; Chauntee Ross on violin; Derek Trucks on slide guitar; Steve Fishell on pedal steel guitar; Phil Hanseroth on percussion and Jay Carlile on harmonica and background vocals.
The album was engineered by Brandon Bell, Nick Autry, Bobby Tis, Dan Molad; with Gregg White and assistance by Nathan Feler and Kelsey Porter.
Find more details and information here: https://www.brandyclarkmusic.com
Enjoy our previous coverage here: