The duo learns lessons from regrets and heartache on “Tennessee,” “The Good Kind,” “Way Back Home,” “Hard to Love You” and “Leave the Pieces.” A woman longing to be understood struggles with the fact that she’s expected to “Stand Still, Look Pretty,” yet tries to keep her frustration in perspective (“People have problems that are worse than mine/ I don’t want you to think I’m complaining all the time”). On “One More Girl” the singer dresses down a guy for viewing her as a piece of meat, however …
She uses crass language to make her point (“a–,” “b–ch”). Profanities also mar “Rain” and “Cigarettes.” The latter admits that smoking is a bad habit but takes comfort in nicotine in a world where people can fail us. Aware that she’s a magnet for scoundrels, a woman is impregnated by a married bank robber, kills his wife and—after being abused by the shiftless drunk—murders him too (“Crazy People”). Lonely girls seek comfort in the arms of convenient partners on “Tennessee” and “Lay Me Down.” A making-of DVD contains inappropriate language.
Taking a break from her successful solo career, Michelle Branch has teamed up with friend and backup singer Jessica Harp to form The Wreckers. The result is a rootsy, harmony-rich sound that, unfortunately, strays into questionable territory.
