If you haven't yet experienced Brandi Carlile and her band live, then the EP "Live in Boston" is worth checking out. Carlile is amazing, and the Hanseroth twins (on guitar, bass, backup vocals, and contributing to songwriting) are talented and consistent as always. They complement and showcase Carlile without ever upstaging her. As the album progresses, so does the tempo and energy on four songs:
1. "Have You Ever" _ A mellow, fun song written by Phil Hanseroth. Backup vocals were slightly too quiet.
2. "What Can I Say" _ I'm a sucker for cello, and it's treated like another vocal in this song. Audience participation was elicited for one round of the chorus, and was surprisingly clear, synchronized, and in tune.
3. "The Story" _ This song begins with an almost bare voice, a treat. Here the live albums shine, retaining the energy and edge that are engineered out in studio albums ("The Story" album in particular). The fans give an appropriately warm reaction to this performance.
4. "Folsom Prison Blues" _ Her popular Johnny Cash cover. The "almost live" experience is most felt here. The electric guitar solo is flat out awesome. I'm torn whether I prefer her cover of "Folsom Prison Blues" or her cover of Radiohead's "Creep".
Carlile has released several other equally worthy live albums: Live from Neumo's (2005) and Live at Easy Street Records (2007), both recorded in Seattle. --By ATT / photo courtesy brandicarlile.com
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