Brenda Weiler is a young folk-rock artist from North Dakota you've probably never heard of. She plays honest, poetic, folk tunes comparable to the angry-girl-music of Alanis Morissette and the Indigo Girls--but Weiler's songs feature a little less angst and a little more introspection. She's also been compared to Tracy Chapman and Ani DiFranco, but few comparisons do Weiler's music justice. She's a refreshing independent artist that stands on her own and deserves a listen.
Fly Me Back, her third album and first released independently on her own Beandip Productions, features a rich instrumentation including strings, drum loops, electric guitar, and piano--which all serve to strengthen her intimate vocals and acoustic guitar. I find it difficult to describe her vocals as they don't draw attention to themselves like Alanis Morissette's, but somehow they do what they need to--they're right on. The vocals compliment her honest and intimate lyrics.
'Noella Ray' opens the CD with its sweet melody, high, airy vocals, and layered instrumentation. 'Sun Ray' is fun with a touch of sadness: "A sun ray danced across my face / and left me feeling a little less alone." 'Boston' is built on a driving rhythm and is a perfect example of Weiler's passion. 'Bold' slowly builds to a powerful statement, "I need to be bold / I need to be living not to flicker but to shine."
Weiler's lyrics tell stories of life, from moments missed to moments taken. She speaks of relationships, both broken and mended. What Fly Me Back is missing is the honest lines of a bold woman from her last release, Crazy Happy. Lines like "I've got my mother hips / They're eight miles wide / They're not something that I flaunt but they're not something that I hide," from 'Sweet Lullaby' and "I don't think that he likes me / does my ass look too big in these pants?" from 'Change.' You can only write so many songs about what passes for womanhood these days, but this kind of brutally honest language that makes you sit up and pay attention is missing from Fly Me Back. Instead there are more introspective lines that are just as honest but a little more ambiguous. It's not a fault of the album, just a difference, a progression from her previous work--something fans of Crazy Happy might not be too crazy about. But once they get over it they'll enjoy the richer instrumentation and signature passion of Weiler.
Fly Me Back is an impressive release from an independent artist who deserves your attention. When you can flip on the TV and see the current princess of pop music sell soda with her pelvic thrusts, it's more than refreshing to turn to humble music made by a human with heart.
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