The Kel Word: Brandi Carlile's "Give Up the Ghost"

I originally heard about Brandi Carlile from a DJ friend years ago when she first emerged. At the time, I felt like I needed another female singer-songwriter in my collection like I needed another 20 pounds of belly fat. So I refused to even check her out. Then, about a year-and-a-half ago, I saw her perform with the Indigo Girls. Their stamp of approval weighs heavily and Brandi totally deserved it. She's a powerhouse vocalist and a charismatic performer... lanky and lovely, to boot.

I downloaded her two releases (Brandi Carlile and The Story) post-haste and have enjoyed them thoroughly. Her latest, Give Up the Ghost, dropped last month and I'm just getting the chance to dive into it.

Her sweet spot --- at least for me --- is the mid-tempo, sentimental ballad. The meandering melody and melancholy of “That Year” is stunning as she contemplates the newness of an old friendship come back around with history left to lie in its rightful place --- the past. This one is up there with “Shadow on the Wall” and “Turpentine” from her previous efforts.

This CD has fewer five-star tracks in my iTunes ratings than either of her priors, perhaps because it jumps around the stylistic map moreso than the others did. I have a feeling some of the more raucous numbers would totally win me over in a live setting, but they haven't yet drawn me in via their digital renderings. Overall, it's still worth the price of admission.

There are a number of fancy guest stars on the Rick Rubin-produced Give Up the Ghost, folks like Elton John, Chad Smith, Amy Ray, and Benmont Tench. That's great; but, honestly, Brandi doesn't need them. Nevertheless, to return the favor, she is a very present guest on the new Indigo Girls DVD, Live at the Roxy. They even hand the stage over to her for an acoustic trio rendition of “Cannonball,” recreating the three-part harmonies that the Girls added to the recorded version.

In addition to all the musical goodness, Brandi is also a fine and generous citizen through her Looking Out Foundation. The organization gives grant money to all sorts of causes, from the personal to the political, and a dollar from every concert ticket sold goes to support the cause. Now that's putting your money where your very talented mouth is.

You can go here to see the official vid for the first single, “Dreams,” which includes her touring drummer and friend of Velvetpark Allison Miller. And if you can catch a live show, definitely do. Brandi will be back out on the road in January with my pal Katie Herzig in tow as the opener.