When I first heard that Christopher Branch was going to be releasing an album of his latest material, I wasn't sure what to think. At shows, his gruff voice and personal, witty banter are irresistible. However, with any smaller artist it's often unclear how well the music will transition to an album--especially an album with a band by a singer-songwriter.

The first track, however, immediately caught my ear: a fuller version of Branch's song "Trouble" that shows the strong influence of Edwin McCain. Bluesy rock that feels perfect for a hot Carolina summer, he rattles off with just enough attitude that, "The trouble with you is that you don't know what you're looking for. The trouble with me is you." But Branch really hits his peak on songs like "Come, Great Deliverer," "You and Me," "On the Ground," and the title track, "Letters from California."

"Come, Great Deliverer" is particularly interesting as a hymn that he's rearranged to appear on the album. Though it may seem out of place at first, the hymn speaks as much about the idea of complex relationships as the songs dealing with near-romances. Especially notable on the song is the addition of an accordion so natural that it seems to have been intended all along.

"On the Ground" and "Letters From California" are two other songs where the instrumentation stand out as particularly good support for his normal routine. In "On the Ground," the entire band gels just like it seems like they should, complete with mandolin. "Letters From California," featuring only piano, is just simple enough to stay catchy in spite of being one of the more down-tempo songs.

Perhaps most impressive on the album, though, is the consistent depth of the lyrics, even when dealing with romance-gone-sour as a topic. I haven't been able to stop listening to Branch's vocals and guitar standing alone on "You and Me," a beautiful song that is a kinder perspective at the end of a near-relationship than most would offer. Listening to the album makes you realize how much closer his view of relationships is to actuality than most of the cliches we're bombarded with.

In short, Christopher pulls it off swimmingly on Letters From California, maintaining the warm blues sound so unique to his shows. However, the eclecticism on his album is no less pronounced than that of the venues he frequents, which range from churches to local pubs. From upbeat numbers, to beautiful, dusky ballads, and even to a rearranged hymn, he shows that, like any true Southerner, he's someone who feels comfortable in a lot of different shoes.
                            Read more...