Review: Brooke White - "High Hopes & Heartbreak"

American Idol's seventh season was probably the best, in terms of showcasing artists with a distinct point of view. Love them or hate them, David Cook, Jason Castro, Micheal Johns, Syesha Mercado, David Archuleta, Kristy Lee Cook and fifth placer Brooke White showed artistic wholeness, providing a glimpse into what kind of album they would produce. The show had been shaken up by Blake Lewis the year before and karaoke on Idol was no longer good enough.

Brooke White, the Arizona-born former nanny with the wholesome image, had the Carole King-style singer/songwriter genre sewn up. She accompanied herself on piano or guitar frequently, making fine work of another female singer/songwriter classic, Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" on seventies night. As soon as I heard Brooke was releasing an album on iTunes I knew exactly what to expect.

High Hopes & Heartbreak is pure seventies-style sun-soaked Cali guitar pop with a slight country twang, drawing from Brooke's influences like Fleetwood Mac and Carole King. It's beautiful classic soul-pop and White manages to hit high notes in various tempos. Standouts include the upbeat title track, as well as slower songs like "Out Of The Ashes" and "Sometimes Love" - a really pretty piano ballad about real love and fleeting infatuation. She tugs on my musophile heartstrings with her constant referencing of bands, songs and musical moments, like on "California Song," "Phoenix" and "Radio Radio" as well as a Nashville-inspired cover of Kings Of Leon's "Use Somebody" that shines. Plus, Brooke co-wrote all of the rest of the tracks as well as playing piano. Y'all should know how much I love that!

It's a very mature second album, and at a reduced price on iTunes it's worth it for fans of adult pop and singer/songwriters like King, Simon or Joni Mitchell.

Brooke White Has A Sense Of Humor

America loves someone who is willing to poke fun at themselves a little. Brooke White knows this and went on VH1's Best Week Ever to do a commercial for her new CD: "Brooke White Stops And Starts The Classics" Hilar!


BWE Sneak Peek: Brooke White Starts and Stops the Classics

Idol Thoughts on Brooke White

Here's the thing. I love Brooke White like a sister. She has such a realness to her, a connection to almost all the songs she performs each week on American Idol. But the last few weeks she's stumbled a little. BUT while her version of "Hero" on Mariah week was not that great, but the studio version on iTunes? HOT! Guitar instead of piano, and just a much more polished sound. But it's the early performances I keep going back to on my iPod, "Love Is A Battlefield" and "Let It Be" were stunning. This week I think she will be in trouble, it's Andrew Lloyd Webber week, and Brooke doesn't have a Broadway voice. I think she would be smart to do a stripped, raw, emotional version of "I Don't Know To Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar. The first time they let the Idols do modern stuff, if she's still here, she needs to go the Alanis Morrisette route and do an ironic emo version of a naughty pop song. Songs From This Weeks Billboard Charts? "Low" or "Touch My Body" Songs From The 2000s? Try these on for size:

Whatever she tries next, she's still my favorite girl. And I almost wish she would leave, cause she' seems to have had her spirit broken. but not in a Brittnum Twins kind of way, thank god!