Brooke Barrett-Smith, Brooke Barrett-Smith
Many whom have longed for the days of that strong female rocker, don’t look any further as Brooke Barrett-Smith makes her major label debut with her self-titled release. This disc starts out with “Right Now” as it has a slight punk rock meets hard rock style with its frenetic beats, biting lyrics and the combination of organic harsh guitars and inorganic keyboards. Picture Andrew W.K. meets Avril Lavigne and you’ve got what this chick is all about just from this first cut.
“More Real” tones it down immensely as she gives us a cute ballad wrapped around soothing guitars, deep bass lines and tons of snares shouting out her feelings. “Quiet My Heart” continued her balladeering ways starting out on a simple piano notation with exquisite acoustics bringing out Barrett-Smith’s full alto vocal prowess. Striking guitars strut across this beautiful composition as hues of drums crash into this track making it sound like a tidal wave of praise to God. Brooke gets like a singer/songwriter on “Father” as she sings out loud and proudly telling us this great retrospective on how The Lord saved her.
She gets back to rocking with “Anymore” as it’s aggressive and full of fire, but has more smoke to its charisma like a spicy chipotle pepper as it has kick, but won’t burn you harshly. She definitely has what it takes to be a solid rock star just from listening to some of these songs. “Quiet Streets” continued this stroll into punk chick attitudes as she strikingly; yet seductively screams out an excellent message about the truth. She ends this journey into hard rock by finishing it with a concerto called “Paper Tigers.” Brooke Barrett-Smith definitely can shift from rock babe to pop goddess and this debut into the mainstream shall bring her big lights and fame yet to come.

clevelandleader.com