Album Review: The Wreckers – Way Back Home: Live from New York City

I was suspicious of The Wreckers from day one. I don’t know the second woman, but what kind of roots does Michelle Branch bring to country music? I figured it was just another contrived pairing to exploint a musical genre where women who can sing and look pretty often get instant attention.

My feelings didn’t change one bit when I saw them opening for Keith Urban. I was blown away by Urban’s performance but my opinions about The Wreckers were formed before I was spoiled by his spectacular musical abilities and showmanship. It looked to me like The Wreckers are unbalanced. One of them seems to want the spotlight more than the other, and it’s not Branch. They never looked comfortable together and the perormance was boring. It didn’t look like they believed a word of what they were singing. It might be a simple problem like Branch has a ton more experience so she looks comfortable on stage while her partner works like crazy to keep up. Or, they might not have a country bone in their body.

Either way, it was beyond boring. It was unpleasant.

Jessica Harp actually looks like Jennifer Hanson.

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I was very skeptical of the Wrecker’s when they first came onto the country scene. I was thinking here comes another pop artist who can’t find a home on mainstream radio and is trying to make it on the country charts as so many are currently trying to do.

But the Wreckers album hit me different. Beneath the emptiness that record executives forced onto some of the songs, there is something more here. These two ladies are writing and singing songs that I feel very much emphasize the story of country music. And I think that their more edgy songs that have maybe a tad more guitar and beat than country radio is used to, is the type of music that the younger audiences are favoring. And please don’t put me into the category of those young country music lovers who can’t live without their Rascal Flatts and “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy” generation, because that is not who I am. I am the country music listener is listening beyond the music for the lyrics. Give me a lyric like “Take the ribbon from your hair, shake it loose and let it fall, layin’ soft upon my skin. Like the shadows on the wall.” That’s a country music lyric if I have ever heard one. And if you don’t know who wrote that beautiful lyric, then for sure tune into some classic country and educate yourself.

And I am not comparing the Wreckers to Kris, but if you listener closer than what I believe you are hearing, you will hear some good songs.

Hey, I like the Wreckers, I have their album on my ipod I like the music…I liked Michelle’s song on the Patsy Cline tribute album….she has a voice that can do country….another album of theirs would be great…

I thought their debut album was great. I didn’t buy their new album, but would love a copy of it. I love “Cigarettes”; I think that song showcases Jessica Harp’s talent.

Congrats to Angela, Double-L, and Wei for winning the copies of The Wreckers’ album.

Funk, my thoughts were the same when The Wreckers came out about Michelle Branch crossing over so I never paid them much attention, opting instead to see if they’d stick around.