I first heard of Brett Dennen while listening to Pandora Internet Radio last summer. I was instantly hooked. Since then he has released his second album, So Much More, and has made significant gains in his fan base. It is fairly difficult to describe Brett's sound...he has a very feminine voice, but it works for him. He has the same nasal-ly (Is that a word?) qualities as Tracy Chapman, and has been compared to her on many occasions. He has also been compared Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and James Taylor, and has been thrown into a group described by some as "Alternative Folk."
As I said earlier, I first heard of Mr. Dennen on Pandora, the song was called "Desert Sunrise." Whenever I hear a new artist I check them out on iTunes and sample the rest of their songs. At the time, his only release was his self titled album. My attention span in the summer is only a few seconds, and I was pulled into other activities. I kept listening to Desert Sunrise, but didn't think about his other music until I received an email from iTunes about my "Artist Alert" on Brett Dennen. He had a new EP out, called "Digital." The first of the three songs was called "Ain't No Reason," and I was instantly hooked. I bought the EP as well as the album, and have listened to both countless times. The songs are easy to relax to, and are different enough to avoid getting bored. His voice is distinct, and in some songs he seems to be talking quietly or whispering. Then the next track will be exuberant exclamation, as demonstrated in "Blessed," where he simply proclaims his love for life. Brett Dennen's music will put a smile on your face and make you appreciate all that life is.
Recommended Tracks:
- Ain't No Reason
- Blessed
- Desert Sunrise
- She's Mine
- So Long Sweet Misery
- By & By
- Oh The Glorious
