Reviews

Rachel Brooke’s The Loneliness in Me

Posted by on October 26, 2020 at 8:10 am


By Brian Rock

Rachel Brooke pours out classic country tearjerkers on her third release, The Loneliness in Me. Channeling her inner Kitty Wells, with just a touch of Connie Francis, Brooke goes full “old school”
country with an album that would’ve sounded retro in 1965. It’s unabashed, unhyphenated country; and it’s a wonderful homage to country’s first generation of women singers.

Against a steady backdrop of minor key guitar chords, and weepy pedal steel, Brooke moans a dozen tales of heartache. “The Hard Way,” “Picture on the Wall,” “Ghost of You,” “Undecided Love,” and “I Miss It Like It’s Gone,” are all classic “good girl done wrong” tragedies. Despite the underlying sorrow, Brooke’s voice is strong and confident. On “Picture on the Wall,” especially, she captures a Patsy Cline “Walking After Midnight” resolve in facing her heart break head on.

But Brooke doesn’t just play the victim. She slips effortlessly into femme fatale mode on “It Ain’t Over ‘Til You’re Crying,” “Great Mistake,” “It Won’t Be Long,” “The Lowells Stockade Blues,” and “Lucky And Alone.” From celebrating newfound freedom, to delighting in inflicting reciprocal pain, to waking up “with a pistol in my hand,” Brooke proves she can dish it out as well as she can take it.

Whether on the giving or receiving end of heartache, the classic country tones remain constant; reminding us that we are all karmically connected. There’s always a hint of a teardrop, even when Brooke is the one inflicting the pain.

But Rachel Brooke somehow manages to find the silver lining among all the grey clouds. On the surprisingly up-tempo title track, Brooke finds the upside of feeling down. To a rollicking Honky-Tonk backbeat, she sings, “I’m well prepared for any trouble I’ve seen, thanks to the loneliness in me.”

So, if 2020 makes you want to curl up in a fetal position and cry, The Loneliness In Me is the perfect soundtrack for your tears. And it might even give you hope that whatever hardships you’ve faced so far can give you the strength you need to face whatever hardships lie ahead.

rachelbrookemusic.com  |  buy  |  fb

Brian Rock

Brian Rock

Brian was raised gypsy style, moving every other year until well after college. As friendships proved to be temporary, Brian found a constant companion in music, wearing the grooves off Beatles and Dylan albums before moving on to Lyle Lovett and Dwight Yokam. Living so often in flux, he has come to value music and lyrics of lasting quality. Not moved by trends or fashion, he is drawn to timeless lyrics and soulful rhythms. Although now settled down, Brian still expresses his gypsy spirit through his writing. He has co-written songs with musician friends he’s met along the way, including several contributions to the 2012 ICMA Album of the Year, Family Album. Brian also writes children’s books and poems, including the Children’s Book Council featured title, The Deductive Detective.
Brian Rock

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