Brandi Carlile
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Alternative folk/country rock
Status:
Most recent release, By The Way, I Forgive You (2018)
See also:
Brandi Carlile's site
Comparisons:
Patsy Cline, kd lang, Eddi Reader (vocally), Laurie Freelove, Emmylou Harris, Maria McKee
Covers/own material:
Co-written and occasional covers
General comments:
The Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette influences are apparent in her rootsy music, as are hints of Freddie Mercury (Queen), Thom Yorke, and Jeff Buckley. But the comparisons, vocally, that I kept returning to were Eddi Reader (especially her upper range and the bending of notes) and Laurie Freelove (the gritty lower range and note breaks). (paul2k@aol.com)
Comments about live performance:
What i was surprised by was how familiar all her songs sounded to me, even though I didn't think I knew her music that well. I guess that happens when they've been playing her a fair amount on KCRW. That show was excellent. She reminded me, looks, performance and energy-wise, of Holly McNarland (although not quite as full force as Holly...I don't think anyone could match Holly's intensity, unless they spontaneously combusted on stage); her voice leaned towards that rough yet pretty, sometimes swoopy twang of Emmylou Harris and Laurie Freelove. But she was closest, in my ears, to the sound and songs of Maria McKee. A little more pop and rock, but still with that alt-country edge. (1/06, paul2k@aol.com)
Recommended first album:
The Story or Give Up the Ghost. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Recordings:
- Brandi Carlile (2005)
- The Story (2007)
- Give Up the Ghost (2009)
- Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony (live, 2011)
- Bear Creek (2012)
- The Firewatcher's Daughter (2015)
- Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of The Story—An Album to Benefit War Child
- By The Way, I Forgive You (2018)
The Story
Release info:
2007—Columbia—88697 00802 2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Brandi Carlile—vocals, guitar
Guest artists:
Phil Hanseroth—bass, background vocals
Tim Hanseroth—guitar, background vocals
Josh Neumann-=—cello
Matt Chamberlain—drums
David Palmer—keyboards (3, 5, 6, 13)
Keefus Ciancia—keyboards (8)
Indigo Girls—vocals (9)
Produced by:
T Bone Burnett
Comments:
Fantastic country-flavored folk-rock record. There's not a weak moment on the whole album. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Give Up the Ghost
Release info:
2009— Columbia—88697 24740 2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Brandi Carlile—vocals, guitar, piano, banjo
Guest artists:
Tim Hanseroth—guitar, electric guitar, feedback guitar, drums, percussion, vocals
Phil Hanseroth—bass, upright bass, guitar, electric guitar solo, percussion, whistling, ukulele, vocals
Josh Neumann—cello
Amy Ray (Indigo Girls)—vocals (1)
Victor Indrizzo—drums (1, 2, 4, 7); percussion (2, 4, 7)
Jacob Hoffman—piano (1)
Lenny Castro—percussion (1, 4, 5, 8)
Benmont Tench—organ (3); piano (3, 8, 10)
Paul Buckmaster—string arrangement (3)
Chad Smith—drums (5, 6, 10); percussion (6)
Jason Lader—synth (5)
Elton John—piano, vocals (6)
Gibb Droll—slide guitar (7); dobro (8)
Jesse Carmichael—mellotron (11)
Produced by:
Jason Lader
Comments:
Another great album, again with no weak tracks. The music is more rock and Brandi's vocals are less raw. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony
Release info:
2011—Columbia
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Brandi Carlile—guitar, electric guitar, piano, vocals
Guest artists:
Jennifer Bai—violin
Mariel Bailey—violin
Theresa Benshoof—cello
Geoffrey Bergler—trumpet
Paul Buckmaster—orchestral arrangements
Jonathan Burnstein—double bass
John Carrington—harp
Vince Comer—viola
Michael Crusoe—timpani
Tony Dilorenzo—trumpet
Roberta Downey—cello
Wesley Dyring—viola
Zartouhi Dombourian Eby—flute
Justin Emerich—trumpet
Mara Gearman—viola
Sande Gillette—violin
Artur Girsky—violin
David Gordon—trumpet
Valerie Muzzolini Gordon—harp
Vivian Gu—cello
Phil Hanseroth—acoustic bass, bass, vocals
Tim Hanseroth—electric guitar, guitar, vocals
Ben Hausmann—oboe
Patrick Herb—trombone
Adam Iascone—French horn
Josh Neumann—cello, piano
Joe Kaufman—double bass
Seth Krimsky—bassoon
Mae Lin—violin
Emma McGrath—violin
Allison Miller—drums, snare drums
Michael Miropolsky—violin
Sean O'Loughlin—orchestral arrangements
Jon Pagan—electric guitar, piano
Mark Robbins—French horn
Christopher Sereque—clarinet
Mikhail Shmidt—violin
John Weller—violin
Michael Werner—percussion
Jeannie Wells Yablonsky—violin
Ko-ichiro Yamamoto—trombone
Produced by:
Martin Feveyear
Comments:
I really like this CD. It totally made me want to see her live and even playing with a symphony, the album feels loose and passionate rather then over-arranged. And it seems like you can't have too many versions of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". Also a really beautiful video for "The Story" came out in conjunction with this release. (neal)Love this woman, love this album. Some of the songs showcase the orchestra more than others. "Before It Breaks" isÉ wow. The beautiful audience-participation rendition of "Turpentine" was my go-to song for catharsis this year, always calming me down and making me feel better. Overall it really makes me want to go see her in concert, and isn't that what a live album is supposed to do? (JoAnn Whetsell)
Bear Creek
Release info:
2012—Columbia
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Brandi Carlile—primary artist, songwriter, vocals, guitar, piano, organ, handclaps, electric guitar
Guest artists:
Phil Hanseroth—bass, vocals, handclaps, percussion, tambourine, piano
Tim Hanseroth—guitar, vocals, banjo, ukelele, handclaps, percussion, electric guitars, additional recording
Jeb Bows—mandolin, violin
Matt Chamberlain—drums, handclaps, percussion
Jared Faw—piano
Frogs—Bear Creek frogs
Jay Joyce—mandolin
Allison Miller—drums, percussion, handclaps
Josh Neumann—cello, tambourine
Dave Palmer—piano
Produced by:
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth, Jay Joyce, Frank Liddell, Trina Shoemaker
Comments:
One of the best of 2012. (christina_skov@hotmail.com)Another great album, this time with more of a country/country rock feel. (JoAnn Whetsell)
The Firewatcher's Daughter
Release info:
2015—ATO Records—8 80882 22372 4
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Brandi Carlile—vocals, acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar, organ, piano, electric piano, percussion, keyboards
Guest artists:
Phil Hanseroth—vocals, bass, ukulele, stomps and claps, drums, percussion, electric guitar
Tim Hanseroth—vocals, electric guitar, guitar, slide guitar, bass, stomps and claps, percussion
Brian Griffin—drums (1, 3, 4, 8, 9); percussion (1, 3, 6–10)
Ryan Hadlock—stomps and claps (4); percussion (7); piano (10)
Josh Neumann—cello (5, 6, 8, 10); strings (12)
Jerry Streeter—bell (7)
Mike McCready—electric guitar (7)
Catherine Carlile—vocals (8)
Jay Kardong—pedal steel (8)
Produced by:
Brandi Carlile and Phil & Tim Hanseroth, Trina Shoemaker, Ryan Hadlock
Comments:
Some reviewers are calling this album Brandi's most rocking to date, and it is, but there's also a good dose of slower, moodier folk songs and the sort of alt-country/folk rock that make up The Story and Give Up the Ghost (my favorites among her albums). Indeed, The Firewatcher's Daughter feels much closer to those albums than Bear Creek did. I could name several standout tracks (especially the first three, "Wherever Is Your Heart," "The Eye," and "The Things I Regret"), but I think the most affecting track is the simple and beautiful album closer, "Murder in the City," an Avett Brothers cover. Overall, a very strong effort. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of The Story—An Album to Benefit War Child
Release info:
2017—Legacy—88985422992
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Tracks:
1. Shovels & Rope—"Late Morning Lullaby" 2. Dolly Parton—"The Story" 3. Kris Kristofferson—"Turpentine" 4. Old Crow Medicine Show—"My Song" 5. Jim James—"Wasted" 6. The Avett Brothers—"Have You Ever" 7. Anderson East—"Josephine" 8. The Secret Sisters—"Losing Heart" 9. Indigo Girls—"Cannonball" 10. Torres—"Until I Die" 11. Margo Price—"Downpour" 12. Ruby Amanfu—"Shadow on the Wall" 13. Pearl Jam—"Again Today" 14. Adele—"Hiding My Heart"
Comments:
Primarily country and rock artists take on the songs from Brandi Carlile's second album The Story as a fundraiser for the charity War Child.Ê Several of the songs were previously released, but most are new.Ê The artists do an excellent job of making the songs their own, which makes this a good companion to the original album. Often with collections of this type, styles clash, and I'm lucky to enjoy half the tracks. But even though I'm not a fan of all of these artists, I can honestly say I really like the entire album, which is in part a testament to the strength of the original material. (JoAnn Whetsell)
By the Way, I Forgive You
Release info:
2018—Low Country Sound/Elektra—565226-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Brandi Carlile—vocals, piano, guitar
Guest artists:
Phil Hanseroth—vocals, guitar, bass, claps, banjo, keys
Tim Hanseroth— vocals, bass, electric guitar, claps
Dave Cobb—guitar (1, 2, 5-10); claps (3); percussion (3, 7, 9); high string guitar (4)
Shooter Jennings—piano (1, 5-9); keys (1, 2, 5, 9); organ (2, 6, 7); Wurlitzer, synth (3)
Chris Powell—percussion (1-3, 6, 7, 9); drums (1-10); group vocals, claps (3)
John Mark Painter—French horn (1, 3, 5, 6)
Josh Neumann—cello (2, 4, 8, 9)
Kristin Wilkinson—viola, string arrangement (2)
Carole Rabinowitz—cello (2)
David Angell—violin (2)
Alicia Enstrom—violin (2)
Gena Johnson, Pete Souza, Anderson East—group vocals (3)
Paul Buckmaster—string arrangement/conductor (5, 10)
Laura Rogers & Lydia Rogers—vocals (7)
Produced by:
Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings
Comments:
So, so good. Musically cohesive in a way her last album wasn't (that could also be taken to mean less adventurous, but really it works). "The Joke" is likely to become the kind of iconic anthem "The Story" has been for her, while "The Mother" is a touching look at motherhood that avoids sappiness. So many songs could be highlighted for their emotion (title track) or vibrant energy ("Sugartoooth") or both. I recommend just diving in, and then hitting repeat. JoAnn Whetsell)
Further info:
Compilation work includes:
*Track not available elsewhere.
- "Closer to You" on The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants soundtrack (2005)
- "One Magic Kiss"* on Nickelodeon's Sleepytime Lullabies (2008)
- "The Heartache Can Wait" on The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs (2008)
- "Dreams" on Lilith (2010)
- "Folsom Prison Blues" on the CD/DVD set We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash (2012)
- "The Chain"* on Sweetheart: Our Favorite Artists Sing Their Favorite Love Songs (2014)
- Tie Your Mother Down" on the When We Rise soundtrack (2017)
Collaborations include:
- "Last Tears" with the Indigo Girls on their album Despite Our Differences (2006)
- "Ozilline" and "Don't Think Twice" with the Indigo Girls on their album Staring Down the Brilliant Dream (2010)
- "Old Rugged Cross" with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on the album Preservation: An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall & the Preservation Hall Outreach Program (2010)
- "Take Me Home, Country Roads" with Emmylou Harris on the compilation The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver (2013)
- "Making Believe" with Willie Nelson on his album To All the Girls (2013)
- a live version of the Indigo Girls' song "World Falls" with the Indigo Girls on Buy This Fracking Album (2015)
- "Angel from Montgomery" with Buddy Miller and The Lone Bellow on Buddy MillerÕs album Cayamo Sessions at Sea (2016)
- "The Neverending Story" with Shooter Jennings on his album Countach (For Giorgio) (2016)
- "Good with God" with Old 97's on their album Graveyard Whistling (2017)
- "Cleanup Hitter"with Shovels & Rope on Busted Jukebox Volume 2 (2017)
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