**NOTE: Contest is now closed. You can still participate but will no longer be eligible for the giveaway.**
Back in 2006 I listed The Wreckers as my guilty pleasure of the year. That feeling hasn’t subsided. For some reason, I still dig these chicks. Most of my reasoning is quite shallow as my wife reminds me every time Michelle Branch is heard on the radio. But there is a little more to it than that. Branch and fellow Wrecker Jessica Harp are chock full of talent from their harmonizing vocals to their guitar playing to the clever songwriting. As a duo it makes for something quite spectacular.
The Wreckers recently released a live CD/DVD recorded on July 13, 2007 at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. It was recorded prior to their announcement that they would be recording solo projects. With so much talent its no surprise that they’ve gone separate ways at least for the short term. In some ways Harp should credit Branch for putting her on the map though it was just a matter of time before she got noticed. It appears that they remain close friends and as a betting man I’m guessing they’ll eventually come back together for a reprise. But I wouldn’t count on The Wreckers being a lifetime gig for Branch & Harp. Rather its a mere side project, but a good one at that.
That’s one of the things that makes the Bowery event special. It could very well be the last time the two appear together for a full concert. Other than that fact, there’s not a whole lot more to tout on the recording. They have a small amount of songs to play making for a short and predictable playlist. The between-song banter is mostly awkward and the vocals often mumbled on the audio recording. Had this solely been an audio recording it would have been rather boring. What it lacks is room for the additional musicians in the band to show off and jam. Isn’t that what live recordings are all about? Instead the focus becomes these two sirens of poprock country … which on the flipside makes for a pretty good DVD and a good reason to buy the CD/DVD package (my shallowness surfacing again). Now there are a few minor jam sessions where the rest of the band gets to participate (“Tennessee”), but its just not enough for this reviewer. Tony Obrohta (electric guitar), Teddy Landau (bass, Branch’s husband), Fred Eltringham (drums), Michael Web (keys, B3) and Jason Mowery (fiddle, Harp’s fiance) deserve to let loose. I mean c’mon, these are some talented fellas.
All in all, the record shines through the upbeat songs like “Way Back Home” and their biggest hit “Leave the Pieces”. And enough credit cannot be given for these two to join forces in the first place. Their album ‘Stand Still, Look Pretty’ debuted at #4 on the Top Country Album charts and had three singles in the Country Top 40 chart, including “Leave The Pieces, “My Oh My” and “Tennessee.” Additionally, they were the first female duo to reach #1 with their debut single in over 50 years. But again, its the video recording over the audio recording that’s which adds value to this package. The DVD is well edited and produced, its otherwise just an ok recording of a live show at the CD level. Wreckers fans should be pleased regardless.
Oh and one other significant thing on the recording, just before “Lay Me Down” Branch reveals that band member Jason Mowery proposed to Jessica Harp the night before. Sorry single people of the world, she accepted.
Thanks to The Wreckers, Warner Brothers and the fine folks at Cornerstone Promotions, I’m pleased to offer 2 copies of The Wreckers’ ‘Way Back Home: Live From New York’ as a giveway from Twangville. Simply leave a comment below and name your favorite Wreckers song or favorite female duo and we’ll randomly select a winner from the comment entries. Contest ends Wednesday, 1/23/08 at midnight EST.*
www.thewreckers.com
www.myspace.com/thewreckers
www.wbrnashville.com
*By participating in this contest you agree to allow Twangville to post the winner’s name and city on our web site. We pass along the winning addresses to the promotions company for fulfillment. Twangville will not use your address for any other reason.
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.