BRANDI CARLILE, The Firewatcher’s Daughter
Every year there’s always one album that blows your mind no matter how many times you hear it. From the time The Firewatcher’s Daughter was released in March to now in December, every song on the album still stuns. At first listen you marvel at the mastery of Carlile herself. On repeat listens you discover the brilliance of the Hanseroth brothers (Tim and Phil) emerging alongside Carlile with genius songwriting and beautiful harmonies. Standout tracks include “Wherever is Your Heart,” “The Eye,” and “Blood Muscle Skin & Bone.” And you can’t miss the cover of The Avett Brothers, “Murder In The City.” The Firewatcher’s Daughter is one for the ages and hopefully the worst of many more Carlile albums to come.
Tom’s Top 25 of 2015
Here’s the full list:
- BRANDI CARLILE, The Firewatcher’s Daughter
- JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free
- ALABAMA SHAKES, Sound & Color
- JJ GREY & MOFRO, Ol’ Glory
- HOUNDMOUTH, Little Neon Limelight
- LUCERO, All A Man Should Do
- THE MAVERICKS, Mono
- JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Asbent Fathers
- THE DECEMBERISTS, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World
- THE LONE BELLOW, Then Came the Morning
- JD MCPHERSON, Let the Good Times Roll
- STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES, Terraplane
- WHITEHORSE, Leave No Bridge Unburned
- JAMES MCMURTRY, Complicated Game
- ANDREW COMBS, All These Dreams
- JOE PUG, Windfall
- LINDSAY LOU & THE FLATBELLYS, Iona
- RON SEXSMITH, Carousel One
- JOSH ROUSE, The Embers of Time
- WILL HOGE, Small Town Dreams
- MANDOLIN ORANGE, Such Jubilee
- PJ BOND, Where Were You?
- BANDITOS, Banditos
- RHETT MILLER, The Traveler
- HONEYHONEY, 3
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.