Author Archives

by

Song of the Day #4,855: ‘When You’re Wrong’ – Brandi Carlile

Continuing my track-by-track presentation of Brandi Carlile’s In These Silent Days…

Track seven was written by one of the Hanseroth twins, but you’d never guess from Carlile’s vocal performance that this song isn’t deeply personal to her. It’s a testament to her empathy as much as her vocal chops.

‘When You’re Wrong’ is also yet another stylistic departure on an album on which no two songs sound alike. This is the most delicate song yet, featuring just a finger-picked guitar and Carlile’s ethereal voice.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #4,854: ‘Mama Werewolf’ – Brandi Carlile

Continuing my track-by-track presentation of Brandi Carlile’s In These Silent Days…

The back half of In These Silent Days starts with the provocatively titled ‘Mama Werewolf.’ This song is aimed at Carlile herself, and her shortcomings as a mother who too often exhibits the worst qualities of her own parents.

This album makes for quite the therapy session.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #4,853: ‘Sweetie’ – Josh Rouse

Today’s random SOTD is the opening track on Josh Rouse’s 2007 album Country Mouse City House. It was co-written with his wife, Paz Suay (whom my wife considers a dear friend after they chatted for five minutes at a Josh Rouse concert in Asheville, North Carolina).

‘Sweetie’ beautifully captures the feeling of a young romance, ripe with possibilities. Two lovers “laughing in circles” and dreaming about sleeping on rooftops and riding bicycles — it sounds like the perfect European vacation, which makes sense given that the album was written in Spain.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #4,852: ‘The Angel’ – Bruce Springsteen

‘The Angel’ is a quiet piano ballad that kicks off side two of Bruce Springsteen’s debut album, 1973’s Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Half of the album’s tracks featured a full band while half were performed solo, this one being an obvious example of the latter.

Springsteen was very proud of the song and (for some reason) vowed never to play it live, though he caved and played it in a London show in the mid-90s, then again as part of a live performance of the full Greetings album in 2009.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #4,851: ‘Letter To the Past’ – Brandi Carlile

Continuing my track-by-track presentation of Brandi Carlile’s In These Silent Days…

Wrapping up the first half of In These Silent Days, ‘Letter To the Past’ is another track that gives me strong Elton John vibes, though this time it’s a ballad rather than a muscular rocker.

I’m impressed at how different each of the first five songs on this album are stylistically, even as Carlile’s worldview threads them together thematically.

Continue reading →