Brooke Barrettsmith's "Brooke Barrettsmith": A Review
Posted September 02, 2008
By ChristianManifesto,
by C.E. Moore
Long live the female rocker! Right now, it seems as if the Christian music world is being inundated with female-fronted rock bands (Flyleaf, Fireflight) and female rockers (Joy Whitlock). Some are good. Some I’d rather never hear again. Entering the fray is American Idol Season 5 alum Brooke Barrettsmith with her self-titled debut on Essential Records.
Barrettsmith’s sound is straight-ahead, good old-fashioned rock and roll that should appeal to a wide range of listeners. For those looking for a solid rock sound will get it. Those in need of cheerful Christian lyrics will find them. Those interested in continuing their American Idol obsession need look no further.
Barrettsmith’s material vacillates between grinding, crunching sonic dissonance and stripped-down, melodic ballads. The album boasts a good mix of both. “Right Now” starts things out hard and fast. There’s not a lot of intricate layering of the instruments, but it’ll get listeners out of their seats and dancing hard. “Farewell” is one of the best tracks on the album, both instrumentally and vocally. It is very unassuming but powerful in focus and delivery. Barrettsmith uses the track to encourage people to move past mistakes and into a “brand new day.” “Quiet My Heart” is a moving and prayerful ballad that cries out “Right here in the moment I’m given/I’ll treasure the breath that I breathe in/And I’ll rest in you/You quiet my heart…” Barrettsmith’s vocals are lithe and heartfelt as she sings out the lyrics. “Breakthrough” sounds a bit like a brooding ode to fellow American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson, but it works. Another prayer, Barrettsmith implores for God to break through the silence. “Ok” is more of a piano-driven piece and the layering of Barrettsmith’s vocals is exquisite. “Paper Tigers” is a wonderful piece of poetry and Barrettsmith ends the album on a light and deeply contemplative piece.
The downside to the album is that some of the tracks start to sound like other ones and Barrettsmith’s voice sometimes strays into Rebecca St. James territory, such as on “Father.” And, while Barrettsmith had a hand in penning all of the songs, the final song credits read like a veritable who’s who of Christian music producers, which can come across as a bit disingenuous.
If you’re going to name your album after yourself, you had better deliver something that says who you are. “Brooke Barrettsmith” is a proper introduction to the artist of the same name. She has worked hard to craft an album that is intensely listenable and fresh.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
View All Music And Book Reviews By ChristianManifesto | View ChristianManifesto's Profile
|
