CMT Blog: Archive

Brandi Carlile played a sold-out show Sunday night (Oct. 11) in Birmingham, Ala., and since I'm seriously impressed with her new album, Give Up the Ghost, I had luckily acquired my tickets in advance. She played at a downtown club called the Workplay Theatre, in a large soundstage without chairs or barroom noise. It's about the most basic venue you can imagine, but luckily the stage is high enough that everyone could likely see her. But if not, they could certainly hear her. Still in her 20s, Carlile is gifted with a deep, commanding voice that lends gravity to her original songs. This time around, she's offering a few love songs (for people who are into that) but in the grand tradition of singer-songwriters who grew up listening to traditional country music, there are quite a few devastating sad ballads, too.

One thing I admire about her music is that she doesn't meander in her lyrics. Instead she essentially takes a stab right at the emotional heart of the song. Then she usually twists the blade. She's also smart enough to make sure that the melodies are memorable, rather than just a long set list of navel-gazing songs about disillusionment. It also helps that she boasts an incredible band beside her and that the cello, guitars, piano and drums all underscore the dramatic swells of her songs.

That nearly everybody stuck around until the very end -- on a Sunday night no less -- speaks to the quality of her show and it may be just a matter of time until the rest of the world catches on. In the meantime, these intimate club shows still deliver the intensity and spirituality of her albums, and I have no intentions of giving up Giving Up the Ghost any time soon.