Album Review – Brandi Carlile’s “By The Way, I Forgive You”
How in the world is it that here in the Year of Our Lord 2018, Brandi Carlile is still not considered a household name? All this woman has done over the last number of years is release records featuring terrific song craft and composition, exquisite harmonies from her and the twins (Tim and Phil Hanseroth), and deliver a sound that traverses folk, country, and rock in a good way, endearing itself to most everyone, and with a respect for the music that doesn’t alienate anyone.
On her new album By The Way, I Forgive You, Brandi Carlile is aided and abetted by Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings in her effort to turn in an inspired and progressive work that once again makes ample arguments for her inclusion in the top most class of folk rockers. People are already talking about her song “The Joke” as being one of the best in its annual class, and why not with its swooning melody and emotional acrobatics embellished with strings and uplifting wisdom. It’s one of those songs that doesn’t just deliver audio enjoyment, it changes people.
But that’s just where Brandi Carlile starts on this latest record. “The Mother” includes just as much wisdom and insight as “The Joke,” even if it’s free of the sweeping soundscape as an acoustic ballad. Brandi Carlile just has that gift for poetic expressionism derived from insight into life. Many songs have been sung from parent to child, but what Bandi Carlile does with “The Mother” is delve into how being a parent resolves the inherent selfishness in ourselves like nothing else.
Then she goes from cannonizing something very personal to her, to singing the praises of a complete stranger in “Fulton County Jane Doe,” and humanizing the addict of today in “Sugartooth.” Brandi Carlile has been writing songs for too long to be able continue put out stuff of this caliber and quality consistently, but here she is doing it again.
She warned us early on that sonically, By The Way, I Forgive You might be her most expansive and forward-thinking yet, but don’t be concerned this means synthesizers and drum machines will make their way into the mix as if often does these days. To some—including Carlile apparently—“forward-thinking and expansive” still means doing things that stoke the imagination instead of stultifying it, like adding string arrangements and complex compositions that may not be as immediately palatable as a catchy beat, but end up delivering a more enveloping experience to the enlightened listener.
That said, By The Way, I Forgive You might suffer just a bit from a lack of sonic direction. Despite Carlile’s skills with country, folk, and Gospel being one of her strong suits, this record fails somewhat to make one solid impression sonically, or to stoke the roots vibes like previous efforts by limiting the effort on harmony and twang. Though it’s an involved record compositionally, By The Way doesn’t really make any discernible impression musically to give the tastiness you look for in a project. Instead it feels a bit like just a general rock approach. You also might find yourself wanting more vocally from Tim and Phil Hanseroth, who are so vital to extruding the magic from what Brandi Carlile does. Then there’s the song “Hold Out Your Hand,” which is well written, but really suffers from the frenetic and disjointed approach, even though it was likely intentional.
But the songs and Brandi Carlile’s voice is what you come here for, and she delivers her fair share and more of moments that you cherish, remember, and repeat on your listening device as soon as they’re over because they’re just so damn good.
We don’t need to look to the left and the right and wonder where all the great women of country and roots are. They’re right under our noses and in plain sight, releasing records like By The Way, I Forgive You that are begging to be heard and understood by an audience, with songs that go on to live in your soul.
8/10
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February 20, 2018 @ 9:46 am
I love Brandi Carlile’s previous albums. I think I drove my wife crazy with Firewatcher’s Daughter for a while. But I’m just now starting to listen to this album, so I don’t have much of an opinion yet.
I’ve heard “The Joke” a few times though, and it gets so much praise, but for me it’s a little overwrought, and I get tired of listening about a minute in. Am I the only one?
February 20, 2018 @ 9:56 am
I agree when I first heard “The Joke” it was a little overwrought, and still I’m not convinced it is “Song of the Year” caliber as some are selling it, though I certainly understand that take. But I do think within the context of this album it works better. I think too often these days with independent releases, we’re exposing songs outside of the environment of their albums too often before the release. This is a symptom of lazy journalism, and unimaginative publicity that centers everything around the “song premier” to help promote a release.
February 20, 2018 @ 5:29 pm
man you guys …’overwrought ‘ is the right word .
i love the effort put into melody
i love the addition of the strings
i love the sense of responsibility the artist has adopted…
and ….i think i love her voice
i don’t love the unnecessarily cryptic design of the lyric in a song that could have been almost anthem-like with a more accessible ( and audible ) approach ( and title ) . i don’t like that i’m working harder than need be , in my opinion , to access the message and the emotion .
i don’t like that there are no ‘ smack you right in the face ‘ lyrical images that could very effectively haunt me for days .
saying all of that , kudos to her for just doing what feels right to HER , even of the tune
seems a bit too self-absorbed .
February 20, 2018 @ 6:41 pm
preachy virtue-signalling from Brandi, but I’m not the intended congregational audience
February 20, 2018 @ 9:05 pm
Cobb just copied and pasted the production from his Children of Children file.
February 20, 2018 @ 10:33 am
I see his name mentioned and thank the Lord we haven’t had to put up with a Shooter shoot-out in a good long while! He’s about due for an original release though–so maybe I spoke too soon!
2018 is the year of solid releases, no? This one has to be near the top of the heap!!
February 20, 2018 @ 10:45 am
good review, but this is a pass for me
February 20, 2018 @ 11:16 am
I think the fact that Brandi signed to Elektra signals she wants to relaunch her career to its due place as ‘a household name’. Now she’s label mates with Brent & Dave Cobb, Sturgill and Anderson East. Also, I’m one of those that thinks The Joke should be a ‘best of’ contender. You say overwrought; I say devastatingly powerful.
February 20, 2018 @ 11:23 am
so overwrought folk pop is saving country music now?
February 20, 2018 @ 11:54 am
Apparently. Same with Luke Bryan and Justin Timberlake as well.
February 20, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
Maybe the secret is to fight disease with disease?
February 20, 2018 @ 12:13 pm
Never said this record was saving country music. Simply said it was a good record.
And there’s no “now” about it. I’ve been talking about Brandi Carlile for years. I also acknowledged in the review that this record is less rootsy and “country” than previous efforts.
February 20, 2018 @ 1:20 pm
maybe I’m wrong but the name of this blog must not mean what people think it means.
February 20, 2018 @ 2:55 pm
The name of this blog has incrisingly become deceptive.
February 20, 2018 @ 3:41 pm
Brandi Carlile’s album “The Firewatcher’s Daughter” was nominated for the Saving Country Music Album of the Year in 2015. This record was produced by Dave Cobb and the son of Waylon Jennings. I was posting Taylor Swift apologist articles in 2011. If you don’t like this record, fair enough. But the idea that this is out-of-bounds for my coverage map, or that map has been “increasingly” going astray or it’s “now” something that it wasn’t before is complete and utter bullshit. People have been saying I’ve gone astray for 10 years now. But they’re still here reading.
February 20, 2018 @ 3:57 pm
Then don’t let the screen hit your ass on your way out the door sweetpea.
February 21, 2018 @ 8:08 am
I ain’t going nowhere. I think Dylan said that.
I hit a nerve. I said that.
February 21, 2018 @ 9:21 am
Well, like Abe, he did say something like that. However, Rck Moranis apparently said exactly that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OeCacs5oqM
You’re welcome.
February 20, 2018 @ 11:27 am
Equal parts good and not country. Looking into her previous work.
February 20, 2018 @ 1:27 pm
Benny, I recommend you start with Bear Creek from 2012. All her albums stand on their own, but this one is rooted in country & gospel more than the rest. Every song is a unique treat. If you get a chance, see her live. Nobody connects with their audience better.
February 20, 2018 @ 3:42 pm
Mike,
I agree with you about seeing Brandi live. I had heard her music and liked it, but when I saw her in concert I was captivated. I have been a fan and have seen her multiple times since. Yes this album is different then her past albums, but that is because she is so talented and has a lot to say. This album may not be all cheery but what it says what needs to be heard.
February 20, 2018 @ 11:47 am
I’ve never considered myself a fan of Brandi. I was aware of her and listened to the album singles over the years, but nothing ever really clicked with me and not really an artist I look to get my country or folk fix. I appreciated her songs writing and talent but something was just off. However, when I first heard The Joke I was taken aback. This song should is rightly so a “best of” contender. I think it’s the production that immediately struck me and drew me in. Those ebbs and flows of strings and music placed at just the right places around her voice really let Brandi shine, and the song writing perfectly fits or current social climate but I believe the song can also stand the test of time and connect with an audience 20 years from now. I agree with your sentiments that its overall emotion and storytelling fit better in context with the album. This one’s worth checking out whether you’re an old or new fan of Brandi.
Also just want to throw a shout out for another new album “See You Around” by the the group calling themselves I’m With Her. If you’re a modern bluegrass or folk fan you’ve probably heard these 3 women’s solo work before (Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins, Aoife O’Donovan). Just wanted to throw this one out there as it’s another example of great women of country and folk hiding right under our noses not getting the attention they deserve.
February 22, 2018 @ 10:17 am
Aoife O’Donovan has my favorite voice of anyone, and I mean that seriously. But I didn’t care for the songs and production on “In the Magic Hour” much. So I put off listening to “See You Around” for awhile because I was afraid I would be disappointed again.
On first listen, I am loving this music, especially Aoife’s “Ryland (Under the Apple Tree).” They are performing close by in early March, I’ll have to see if I can make it to the show.
February 20, 2018 @ 2:19 pm
I really enjoyed her last couple of albums, but this one has just left me cold so far. I’ll probably listen to it once more to make sure I’m giving it a fair chance, but I don’t expect to have any desire to listen to it again after that.
February 20, 2018 @ 2:26 pm
I love Brandi Carlile, but I think the abuse of reverb on this album makes it sound like she’s singing in to a culvert.
February 20, 2018 @ 2:27 pm
I really wanted to like this album after seeing Sturgill’s high praise about it. However, when I listened to the album, I just couldn’t get into it. I agree with some of the other commenters that it was overwrought and just a little too much. I felt wore out after listening to it, and not in a good way. However, I put the album into my 10,000+ song library on Amazon to add to my mix. This weekend I was fixing dinner and had my music on shuffle, and “Harder to Forgive” randomly came on. It struck me almost to my core- if I was driving, I would have to pull over in traffic. I didn’t even recognize it from the album I had just listened to the day before. After reading this review, I thought I would give the album another try. I again found it overwrought and not necessarily something I want to listen to all the way through. I think it may be a situation where I find the individual parts better (or at least more palatable) than the sum.
February 20, 2018 @ 2:34 pm
Sugartooth is the standout to me on this record. I love the melody, the vocal delivery (which plays with her break in a way her best vocal moments do), and the words. I think it’s a sympathetic perspective on the opioid crisis and addiction in general.
February 21, 2018 @ 7:11 pm
You are correct sir!
February 20, 2018 @ 2:41 pm
Strange case here on this album.
You have to unwrap it and hear the whole thing to really appreciate a song like “The Joke,” which yes, is a bit overdone, but fits in better with the overarching story. Hearing the whole album makes it all fit together and makes the songs better individually. And it takes several listens to let all of this sink in, both lyrically and in terms of production.
Then, once you’ve unwrapped it and the songs have been elevated, they’re easier to hear on their own than hearing the album as a whole, because taking in all that Brandi Carlile has to say can frankly just leave you exhausted as a listener. It’s worth unwrapping and digging into this album, though, because the stories and messages are great and timeless.
February 20, 2018 @ 3:44 pm
It’s a compositionally complex album which naturally takes more time to understand and warm up to compared to other records. I still don’t think it is as good as some of her previous efforts, but I would encourage people to give it a couple of more listens than normal before the come to some sort of conclusion.
February 20, 2018 @ 3:47 pm
Well I liked the song, a lot better than the picture with the stupid look and the stupider looking hat.
I didn’t like the video but the song and music I could listen to a lot.
February 20, 2018 @ 4:01 pm
Trigger I just read the Houston Press article- good job my man!
February 20, 2018 @ 4:30 pm
I love her previous albums but haven’t gotten to check this one out yet… hope to rectify soon though
February 20, 2018 @ 8:15 pm
Thanks Trigger. Love Brandi.
February 21, 2018 @ 5:50 am
Brandi Carlile is one of my favorite voices, it’s strong and has a wonderful color. And from the interviews I’ve read and listened to, she seems to be a nice human being as well.
I’ve listening to this album twice. And even though I like it I do think there’s too much reverb. I might still buy it though. “the Joke” is of course a wonderful song but I like “Whatever You Do” and “Fulton County Jane Doe” better.
But again, I do wish there were less reverb. Here she’s doing cover of Leonard Cohens “Hallelujah” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IeXGRd2A3A which also use a lot of reverb I’ve listening to it many times and it really showcases her voice. But I do prefer more “down to earth” songs with less reverb like this cover of Emmylou Harris’ “Red Dirt Girl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dPfI2X1YxI
February 24, 2018 @ 10:56 am
Reverb is hip again . After so many years of ‘dry’ vocal on records ( to please over-compressed radio station signals initially ) , Lumineers and others used big wet tracks and , as always , ‘country’ starts taking its cues from pop ….so yeah …its reverb time again . Which is not such a bad thing until its noticeable .
February 21, 2018 @ 6:28 am
Not feeling the love for this. Sounds like a big room with noise.
February 21, 2018 @ 11:42 am
This is Brandi’s most uninspired and overwrought release thus far.
Flat-out tedious and uninspired….almost sounding aimless and unfinished at times.
And her vocal performances which were once achingly beautiful and penetrating are now empty and pedestrian at best.
Her last two albums, “The Firewatcher’s Daughter” and “Bear Creek” were both startlingly cohesive and consistent in both quality and performance…the finest of her career along with her first release.
I’m a major fan of Brandi Carlile….when she’s on she’s almost peerless.
But this comes across at times like one of Neil Young’s experimental albums from the 80s that no one really understood…even now.
February 21, 2018 @ 2:47 pm
I’ll be honest, I am not sure is it some type of requirement now to have Dave Cobb produce your record for it be successful? I know he does decent work but don’t we complain about the cookie cutter music on the radio? I know that he is also leading a resurgence in roots music but I like the idea of various producers working with different artists to get a fresh perspective on things. Dave Cobb has some sort of monopoly going on right now and I’m kind of getting tired of hearing his name. This song was good and I agree that the message is positive for the times, but I am not sure how I feel about the production. It seemed like the lyrics were too simple and did not hit as hard as the instrumentation. Maybe a different approach could have been used?
February 24, 2018 @ 10:52 am
The business end of the industry NEVER knows why something is successful …..never did . They are not people with aristic vision whatsoever. The play hunches , track records , bottom lines. Businees operates from cues .
If a song is popular , a label wants another one just like it from the artist as a second single . If an album is successful for whatever reason , the label will hedge its bets by going with the same producer in hopes that he/she can duplicate that success with another artist. Unfortunately artists are simply gullible , to some extent . Many big label artists will bend , fold , re-invent themselves in as many incarnations as needed to be successful according to trend . This includes going with a producer who’s had success ….one who SEEMS to have some special ‘ magic ‘ …when in fact , as you say , there are countless producers capable of delivering quality , inventive , creative results which express what an ARTIST is about …not what a LABEL is about . Cobb is the go-to guy …the ‘flavour of the month/year ‘ so to speak …and I’m not taking anything from his talents with that observation . Only that he becomes the safe bet for labels and artists who don’t really know why or what makes an artist popular . If you start with a producer who’s artists have had success you eliminate one variable in the hunt for success ….until the next producer / writer / singer shows up and has huge success . Then the industry will chase THAT person for a while .
February 28, 2018 @ 12:15 am
While such lush orchestration can mask an otherwise mediocre talent, it is a distraction from this brilliant, stunningly powerful singer-songwriter.
April 12, 2018 @ 3:50 am
For those interested…Brandi Carlile live concert in Austin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1tDSP69o28