Meredith Brookes

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Alternative rock

Status:

Most recent release, If I Could Be (2007)

See also:

Meredith Brookes' site

Wikipedia's entry on Meredith Brookes

Comparisons:

Alanis Morissette

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

for the question of what makes Meredith more commercial than Fiona Apple or Sarah McLachlan...hmmmm could it be the word "Bitch" used to draw attention to an average song and get folks all riled up (unbelievable in this day and age that it could still be so naughty to cuss...haha). (cyo@landoftheblind.com)

Though I discerned the Alanisness so often referred to, they're by no means indisguishable. She has the Gary-Numanian nasal reverb on some of the wider vowels, just like Alanis. More-is-less, but not as unendurably without variation. She lacks, however, the Derived Miss M's affectation of barking out every syllable like a clubbed sealpup, which pulls my spinal cord out like a lawnmower starter. And Meredith Brookes's lyrics are much more sophisticated (I know, I know, that's like saying she's less dead than Elvis, or a better singer than Roseanne, but there it is.) (lissener@wwa.com)

Comments about live performance:

Predictably, the Horseshoe was packed for what was billed as Meredith's first official gig. I'm not sure I believe that, but it doesn't really matter, the show was really disappointing. I just didn't find Meredith all that exciting at all, and even when she played her single, I was barely roused from my near-slumber I'd been afflicted with since she started playing. The whole time I kept thinking her songs were very formulaic and not that interesting. A free show, it was STILL too expensive for the show I saw, as far as I was concerned. (kamesan@geocities.com)

Recommended first album:

Blurring the Edges is the only one we've heard

Recordings:

• Blurring the Edges (1997)
• See It Through My Eyes (1997)
• Deconstruction (1999)
• Bad Bad One (2002)
• Shine (2004)
• If I Could Be (2007)

Blurring the Edges

Release info:

1997—Capitol

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended for fans of pop rock

Group members:

Meredith Brooks—guitar, lead vocals

Guest artists:

Paul Bushnell—bass guitar
Jim Ebert—synthesizer, bass guitar
Josh Freese—drums
Victoria Levy—background vocals
David Ricketts—bass guitar, keyboards
Jimmy Woods — harmonica
Nick Drapela—rhythm guitar

Produced by:

Geza X, David Ricketts

Comments:

I loved the song "Bitch", but Brooks' album was quite flawed especially in the singing and lyrical departments. So perhaps my argument should be that "Meredith Brooks had less of a distinctive influence on music than Fiona Apple". "Bitch", though interesting verbally, lacks focus. And when we compare the intellectual value of Blurring the Edges with that of Tidal, I would give the advantage to Apple if I had to be the ref. (valerie@smoe.org)