Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review



Brooke Barrettsmith
Brooke Barrettsmith



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 35 minutes, 23 seconds
Street Date: August 19, 2008


Newcomer Brooke Barrettsmith is here to make her mark on the music world. Signed to Essential Records, her self-titled debut is produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, The Almost) and Rob Hawkins (Fireflight). The production muscle itself is impressive, without taking into account the fact that she is signed up to one of the largest Christian music labels in the industry. All this points to what should be an impressive, or at least likeable, entry into CCM rock.

Album single "Farewell" is easily the highlight of the album, with an almost "epic" feel from the way Barrettsmith delivers it, in a style slightly reminiscent of Firelight's "Unbreakable." "Quiet My Heart" is one of the few reflective moments on the album, delivering its message nicely; "Quiet Streets" is another fine example of this artist's talent on the other end of the spectrum, with an overall feel that makes its title seem rather oxymoronic. The closer, "Paper Tigers," also carries a little of the epic feel that "Farewell" shares, but tones it down with the piano dominating, instead of the driving electric guitars present elsewhere on the album. This makes for a fitting conclusion, despite a feeling of ambiguity that is left as to what meaning the "paper tigers" were meant to convey.

Brooke Barrettsmith's self-titled debut has its highlights, but the simplicity coupled with its similarity to other Christian rock bands hinders what could have otherwise been a great album. Still, there's plenty of room for growth here, and the album gives the listener the feeling that Brooke is more than capable of maturing her musical style significantly with subsequent releases. Nevertheless, it would have been nice to have seen the musical maturity displayed here, because, as it is, this album is an oddly thrown-together mix of brilliance and monotony, sometimes relying on the aggressiveness of the guitar riffs to gain attention, rather than melodic skill.

- PReview date: 5/28/08, Review date: 8/11/08, written by Adam Dawson for Jesusfreakhideout.com




(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

JFH Staff's Second Opinion



With her debut on Essential Records, newcomer Brooke Barrettsmith puts forth yet another "chick rock" album. Brooke's voice is definitely the highlight of the album, with the strength of Krystal Meyers, the vulnerability of Dawn Richardson, and the angst of Hayley Williams, all rolled up into one perfect package. However, the songs featured on her self-titled debut rarely showcase those amazing pipes, but the few that do ("Farewell," "Paper Tigers") are the high points of the album. But that's where the praise must stop. Every one of the ten tracks on this record could easily be compared to something else. For example, "More Real" could have been a b-side for Krystal Meyers's debut, "Farewell" matches Kelly Clarkson, more than a few sound nearly identical to FireFlight, and the harder rock songs like "Quiet Streets" sound like Paramore or BarlowGirl. Brooke definitely has a good thing going for her, but with a lack of originality to identify her, and borrowing too heavily from other already popular artists, it seems that she's jumped onto the bandwagon a little too late. - Matthew Watson of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

CD

Buy This CD Online

. Record Label: Essential Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 35 minutes, 23 seconds
. Street Date: August 19, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Right Now
  2. More Real
  3. Farewell
  4. Quiet My Heart
  5. Breakthrough
  6. Father
  7. Anymore
  8. OK
  9. Quiet Streets
  10. Paper Tigers
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images