Genre: Alternative Country/Folk infused with elements of Rock/Pop, basically sounds like Roy Orbison or Patsy Cline fronting a Pablo Honey-era Radiohead


Influenced by the likes of Grand Opry country, British classic rock and Seattle alternative, “Give Up the Ghost” projects a basic yet timeless sound that commands and surrenders attention with the weathered dip and ethereal climb of Brandi’s voice and the focused arrangement of the music. Tracks are differentiated by the intensity of mood and lyrics—revealing buried emotion and expressions of love, longing, and maturation. Expect to hear aggressive acoustic guitar strumming, gentle finger picking on banjos, ukuleles, and small bodies, electric guitar solos, elevating string arrangements, and poignant piano pieces. This album features the harmonizing prowess of Amy Ray (of the Indigo Girls) on “Looking Out”, a playful piano duet and vocal shadow with sir Elton John, on “Caroline”, and Chad Smith (of the Chilli Peppers) on drums. Also British composer and orchestral arranger Paul Buckmaster (David Bowie [space oddity], Radiohead [fake plastic trees], Elton John [1970-2001]) wrote the string arrangement to “Pride and Joy”. This album would work well with artists like Neko Case, Ben Folds, Ryan Adams and so on. I suggest tracks 1, 2 or 10.

Track Descriptions (No FCC’s detected):
1. Looking Out (4:08) Starts with fast paced fret-board strumming, and builds aggressively into a high-energy track with drums and electric guitar.
2. Dying Day (3:38) Raucous rustling folksong, really catchy but intimately raw.
3. Pride and Joy (4:26) Slow building acoustic guitar that is anchored by piano and elevated by Paul’s string arrangement and climbing vox
4. Dreams (3:38) This is the “single” according to fucking Columbia Records. Reminds me of Roy Robison, begins softly and builds into a much louder sound with a fun chorus, a great instrumental bridge and lots fast rhythm guitar action.
5. That Year (3:40) Soft poppy anthem, personal song about friend committing suicide in high school
6. Caroline (3:40) Elton John’s piano saves this song from being lame—reminds me of his stuff on “The Tumbleweed Connection” record.
7. Before it Breaks (4:02) Reminds me of older Coldplay because it begins with soft piano and then turns into some kind of melancholic pop-rock breakup ballad.
8. “I Will”- Pretty guitar picking, post-breakup song, showcases the depth and height of Brandi’s vocals as they expand from rustic low tones to high feminine tones
9. If There was No You (2:43) Simple guitar picking, short personal song
10. Touching Ground (3:23) Has an early Beatles and Beach Boy feel, great folk rock sound.
11. Dear (2:56) Higher register vox, gentle ukuleles, Western lullaby feel