Silence Worth Breaking

Brooke Annibale wraps her passion in a coolly thoughtful demeanor on her fourth release, Silence Worth Breaking. The 23-year-old Pittsburgh native combines folk, pop, and jazz influences into a pleasing whole, letting bittersweet melodies carry confessional lyrics of surprising emotional complexity. Annibale’s sultry vocals are at once seductive and vulnerable, carrying hints of Joni Mitchell’s feathery trill and Natalie Merchant’s dusky lows. Her take on love simmers with desire even when it’s tempered by the hard facts of life. “Under Streetlights” is filled with a moody sort of longing, while “Bullseye” is worldly wise and romantically savvy. Annibale digs even deeper on “Fright” and “Tryin,’” a pair of understated ballads that carry a softly erotic charge. “The Way It Was” (a rueful look at homecoming) and “Don’t Let Them Tell You” (an idealistic anthem of quiet resolve) are sensitive without being self-indulgent. Though its textured blend of acoustic and electric sounds is distinctly modern, Silence Worth Breaking harkens back to the classic singer/songwriter albums of the ‘70s with its finely wrought craft and openhearted integrity.