Brandi Carlile - 'The Firewatcher's Daughter'

I heard Brandi Carlile in a radio interview recently, talking about her new album, The Firewatcher's Daughter. She talked about the fears that every artist has -- that after a long time of not creating, the gift will just dry up and you won't have anything else to say. Carlile's new album is proof that she still has a lot to say.

I came to this album -- Carlile's fifth studio album and first on an independent label --  from an odd position: I've heard a few Brandi Carlile songs through the years, but I had never listened to her extensively or bought an album. This year, I decided I wanted to purchase more new music, especially in album form, so that I can listen more carefully to full artistic statements and be immersed in new or new-to-me music. Brandi Carlile fit the bill. I loved her new single, "Wherever is your heart," so it was an easy choice to buy the full album. Ever since Amazon sent it to me last month, it's been on nearly constant rotation in my car.

Other people, exploring an established artist for the first time, might start at the beginning, with what that artist is well-known for. But I have not been disappointed by starting here. Not only has Carlile's creative well not dried up (as she feared), that well is deep and refreshing. These songs have all the sparkle and excitement of a brand new artist, with the wisdom and rough edges hewn by a life on the road. Carlile's distinctive, gravelly, wide-ranging voice is as gorgeous and evocative as ever. The songs alternate between the expected folk-balladry of singer-songwriters and high-energy southern rock, making for a listening experience that is never boring. Before this record, I was only a casual Brandi Carlile listener. Now, I'm a full-blown fan, ready to explore her back-catalogue and excited to hear what creations she'll bring us in the future.