Americana, folk-rock singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile delivers a sensational sixth studio album with By the Way, I Forgive You.

Unfortunately, not every album that is released in a given year gets the love that it deserves, sigh. That is the case with By the Way, I Forgive You, the sixth studio album by Americana, folk-rock singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile.  Somewhere along the way, the brilliant new Carlile LP just happened to miss my ears and ultimately my pen until now – shame on me!  Credit multiple Grammy nominations for the LP to piquing my interest, particularly the highly-decorated, moving “The Joke”.  If there was any doubting Carlile and her sixth LP, those doubts quickly evaporate after partaking of this 10-track, 43-minute gem.

“Every Time I Hear That Song”                          

“By the way, I forgive you / After all, maybe I should thank you / For giving me what I’ve found / ‘Cause without you around / I’ve been doing just fine / Except for any time I hear that song…” ✓ “Every Time I Hear That Song” kicks off By the Way, I Forgive You with a bang. The titular album lyric appears on the intriguing opener (excerpted above), encompassing a previous relationship. Apparently, the relationship was quite one-sided (“Because I gave you all I had and got the worst of you”), yet Carlile takes the high road, forgiving her ex.  The titular lyric also has a deeper meaning, as Carlile forgives her pastor for not baptizing her as teen, due to her sexuality.

As awesome as “Every Time I Hear That Song” is, the crown jewel of By the Way, I Forgive You is the multiple-Grammy-nominated record, ✓ “The Joke.”  There’s nothing funny about the excellence that is “The Joke,” period.  The under-appreciated and under-represented folks of the world have quite an anthem, which Carlile delivers with high-flying vocals and an indisputable authentic performance.  As masterful as the lyrics of the verses are, it’s the soaring chorus both vocally and instrumentally that seals the deal in all its glory.

“Let ‘em laugh while they can

Let ‘em spin, let ‘em scatter in the wind

I have been to the movies, I’ve seen how it ends

And the joke’s on them.”

“Hold Out Your Hand”

“The devil don’t break for the fiery snake / And you’ve had about as goddamn much as you can take / The devil don’t take a break…” It can’t be easy following up “The Joke.”  Even with such an elephantine task,✓ “Hold Out Your Hand” holds its own on By the Way, I Forgive You.  This is the perfect, throwback, folk-driven gem.  Brandi Carlile approaches it with a ‘rawness,’ that makes the performance and overall record sound organic and once again, authentic to the nth degree.

“The Mother” is a sweet, thoughtful record, finding Carlile singing about her daughter, Evangeline.  Evangeline is referenced on all three verses, as Carlile proudly proclaims, “‘Cause I’m the mother of Evangeline.”

Carlile continues to showcase her emotions and honesty on “Whatever You Do.” A relatively simple, bare-bones ballad, “Whatever You Do” gains a bit more oomph and instrumentation as it progresses.  The crème de la crème comes by way of yet another memorable, pitch-perfect chorus: 

“There’s a road left behind me that I’d rather not speak of

And a hard one ahead of me, too

I love you, whatever you do

But I got a life to live, too.”

“Fulton County Jane Doe” 

Standout ✓ “Fulton County Jane Doe” smartly injects more tempo (and punch) into By the Way, I Forgive You.  Like the majority of the album, the refrain remains chief amongst Carlile’s strengths.  It’s not merely the chorus however, as the verses continue to deliver a captivating, superbly executed narrative, while Carlile sounds absolutely stellar when it comes to her pipes.

Those pipes continue to electrify on ✓ “Sugartooth,” an Americana joint that screams crossover appeal beyond its base.  What makes “Sugartooth” the elite number that it is? An awesome arrangement/production, intact with an active, prominent bass line and soulful backing vocals among other suitable cues.  Beyond the production and top-notch vocals, the songwriting continues to lead the charge, on both the verses and summed up on the golden chorus.

“He was a liar, but not a fraud

Living proof that there was no God

Just the devil, stiff as a rod

A slave to a sugar tooth.” 

“Most of All” 

Once more, Brandi Carlile finds herself in a conundrum, this time, following up the sick one-two-punch that is “Fulton County Jane Doe” and “Sugartooth.”  As arduous as it is, ballad “Most of All” maintains the consistency of By the Way, I Forgive You. The harmonized vocals are a selling point, not to mention Carlile’s investment into the folk, singer/songwriter idiom.  Her voice continues to shine.  Penultimate record “Harder to Forgive” picks up the pace, sounding as if it could easily appear on old-school, Outlaw country radio.  The rhythmic nature of the record truly shines. “Party of One” concludes the effort incredibly expressively, exemplified by the cracks and various nuances of her vocal performance.  One of the most memorable moments arrives near the end:

“I don’t wanna be right anymore

Lord, I don’t wanna fight anymore

I’m not taking your side anymore

I am tired

I am not my own

And I am leaving

Oh, I am tired

I’m coming home.”

Final Thoughts 

After listening to By the Way, I Forgive You, there’s not a doubt in my mind why the album earned multiple Grammy nominations.  There’s not a bad song to be found, and Brandi Carlile sounds amazing from the start to finish.  Sure, there are gems that rise above the rest, but there’s never a time where Carlile doesn’t ‘rise to the occasion.’ If you haven’t added By the Way, I Forgive You to your music collection, well, you better get on that.

✓ Gems: “Every Time I Hear That Song,” “The Joke,” “Hold Out Your Hand,” “Fulton County Jane Doe” & “Sugartooth”

Brandi Carlile • By the Way, I Forgive You • Elektra • Release: 2.16.18

Photo Credit: Elektra