Brandy Clark, Your Life is a Record Review

Brandy Clark is a songwriter, vocalist, and studio musician. Clark’s songwriting credits include Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, Ashley McBryde, Hailey Whitters, Jennifer Nettles and Kacey Musgraves. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2015 Grammy awards. She has two charting albums out, 12 Stories (2013) and Big Day in a Small Town (2016). The latter is on Warner Records, who also released Clark’s 2017 live album titled, Live from Los Angeles. Her song “Follow Your Arrow” won at the CMA Awards for Song of the Year in 2014. Both of her studio albums were nominated for Grammys in the Best Country Album category. Her single “Girl Next Door,” from the Big Day in a Small Town album, enjoyed time on the radio, reaching No. 39 on the Country Airplay chart. Clark is one of America’s most revered and celebrated songwriters, and she is now releasing her third full-length album titled Your Life is a Record.

 Positives: Clark’s writing focuses on subtlety with witty lyrics, elegant melodies, and her distinguishing vocal warmth.

 Bottom Line:  Your Life is a Record is eleven tracks of musical stories that describe human emotions in intriguing and revealing ways. Clark’s ability to maintain the country tradition while still evolving its sound is always present and is central to the theme. Produced by award-winning producer Jay Joyce, the tracks were mainly recorded in an intimate four-piece acoustic setting – Clark, Joyce, Giles Reaves, and Jedd Hughes. -After the core of the tune was materialized, the Memphis Strings and Horns then layered with Lester Snell making the arrangements. Your Life is a Record is influenced by Clark’s dissolution of a long-standing relationship and contains Clark’s personal songwriting to date. Randy Newman (“Bigger Boat”) and guitarist John Osborne (“Bad Car”) broaden the sonic tapestry with their guest appearance too. “I’ll Be the Sad Song” opens the album and sets the mood of intimate and heartfelt storytelling in a quiet acoustic setting. The strings and acoustic guitars are supported by snare brush swirls and sparse cymbal sounds. The slide solo is haunting. The core of the song, though, is Clark’s no-nonsense singing style and amazing lyrics. “Who You Thought I Was” has a steady country beat that the story is brought to life upon. The vocal harmonies are beautiful as the song evolves, the strings and brass add colors, but never distract from Clark’s voice. Randy Newman’s guest spot is a fun selection called “Bigger Boat.” The two trade verses over a cowboy beat that develops to a duet. Another high point is the emotion and lyrics of “Pawn Shop.” Overall, Clark’s sound and songwriting are in top form here, Your Life is a Record is a country album that is both traditional and an album for today’s country music fan. That’s the short of it!

Connect with Brandy Clark: Website |