Brooke Waggoner CD Release Show

Nashville songstress Brooke Waggoner's greatest asset might be her deftness with surprise. Her swooping, melancholy pop songs can clatter into cabaret territory or, just as quickly, draw back to reveal a devastatingly beautiful melody. After garnering nationwide critical buzz for her EP Fresh Pair of Eyes (available for free download at brookewagginermusic.com), Waggoner doesn't disappoint on her full-length debut, offering a rangy set of eleven finely-crafted tunes. Certain moments are taut enough to recall Fiona Apple's jaunty, off-beat masterpiece Extraordinary Machine, while others—like the sweetly sad title track "Heal For The Honey"—tap into more traditional sounds-of-heartbreak territory. There are plenty of studio quirks here to keep even the most seasoned ear entertained and Waggoner's delicate, breathy voice is ever-dexterous as it traverses everything from the Feist-like pop snap of opener "Lungs Speed, Lungs Sped" to the power-ballad croon of "Come Love, See My Hands." A skilled pianist who appreciates the instrument's potential for whimsy, this young singer-songwriter has the potential to be one of Nashville's next great exports to today's fickle musical landscape.
Wed., Aug. 13, 9:30 p.m., 2008