Crystal Brandt
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Contemporary folk with country flavors and pop energy
Status:
Most recent release, Light It Up (as Crystal Brandt and the River, 2012)
See also:
AllMusic's Crystal Brandt info
Comparisons:
A little like Sheryl Crow's early stuff
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Crystal Brandt's music is hard to categorize, occupying a space that includes pop, rock, contemporary folk, a tinge of country (mostly in her rich slightly twangy voice though sometimes in the style of the song, too). The songs are catchy and mostly pretty energetic. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Recommended first album:
Bessie's Last Stand is the only one we've heard
Recordings:
- Fixing to Break (2002)
- Bessie's Last Stand (2003)
- Voter (2004)
- Light It Up (as Crystal Brandt and the River, 2012)
Bessie's Last Stand
Release info:
2003—Mungler Winslowe Records—MW03
Availability:
Unknown
Ecto priority:
Recommended for folk/pop fans
Group members:
Crystal Brandt—vocals, guitars, keys, bass, drums, noise
Produced by:
Crystal Brandt
Comments:
Bessie's Last Stand is a really pleasant folky pop listening experience. I enjoy the songwriting and Crystal Brandt's slightly twangy vocals. My favorites are the livelier songs, as when she's singing with urgency Crystal Brandt's performance has a particularly nice spark and her tunes almost always have an appealing lilt. The first track "A Little Something" is particularly lively and appealing. Both "Like Water" and "Way Past" have particularly catchy swings to them. "Fire and Brimstone" is a lively down-home-country-flavored song. "Jerks to Work With" is lively, too, and it's fun to hear such snarky lyrics and someone singing "ha ha ha". "Not It Doesn't" has a fine mournful broken heart. There are a few songs that for me were just-fine-but-nothing-special where there was nothing wrong with the tune or performance but I've heard a few too many similar songs (which may say more about me than Crystal Brandt) but those were the minority and I do recommend this disc because so much of it is charming. When you're buying this, though, watch out for mismanufactured copies—the center hole in the review copy I received wasn't round and wouldn't play on either of my spindle-using cd players, though it played on my computer just fine. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Thanks to Sophia Gurley for work on this entry.
