The Wreckers Album: “Stand Still, Look Pretty”

Throwing away the chains of pop music stardom, and basking in her new motherhood, singer Michelle Branch has formed a new band with friend and Kansas City native Jessica Harp to write and perform modern country music with a rock and roll touch. Performing with heart and energy, The Wreckers offer the pleasing mixture of country and pop that has become a staple of today's Nashville, delivering several sure singles, several stand out tracks, with some enjoyable tasting filler in between.

The songs feel comfortable and familiar, whether its due to some similarities with Branch's earlier work or just their ability to sound a lot like the Dixie Chicks. But even the filler tastes pretty good. The first single Leave the pieces is a pure modern country-pop song, full of tight vocal harmonies and with violins and banjos providing flourishes to the guitar heavy arrangement. Fans of tv show One Tree Hill will remember The Good Kind, a more plaintive and emotional song with Jessica and Michelle trading lines in their pleasant voices; Sometimes it's hard to tell where Michelle's voice begins and Jessica's ends. Tennessee, another potentially huge single, has a definite Faith Hill feel to it, with a soaring chorus and is one of the best tracks on the album. My Oh My and Crazy People are more traditional country songs, driven by banjos and having a bluegrass flavor that makes for a highly addictive combination. The powerfully gentle title track Stand Still Look Pretty and the soft track Rain are more somber and reserved and musically more diverse, and fit in perfectly with the overall tenor of the record.

Spending the summer on tour with Rascal Flatts seems appropriate for The Wreckers, since they deliver the same type of easily digestible modern country that sounds darn good on the radio. It's not the most adventurous songwriting in the world, and it probably won't win praise with critics because of its commercial viability, but its a heck of a lot of fun nonetheless. If you enjoy Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, or Michelle Branch's previous work, you will enjoy this album. The writing is solid, the music is as slickly produced as you would expect from a bevy of Nashville producers and Jessica and Michelle's friendship makes for some beautiful music. This version is the limited edition that contains a short DVD and an acoustic version of the great song Tennessee. Either album will suit you fine, but this version is more for the hard core fan. Recommended.

A.G. Corwin

St.Louis, MO

I'm a big fan of all of Michelle Branch's pop/rock solo albums. I still want another solo album from Michelle, but I can't complain at all about Stand Still, Look Pretty. Largely produced by John Leventhal, the production is polished, but not slick enough to overpower the good musicianship going on here. Michelle and Jessica Harp harmonize very well because of their similar voices. Sometimes it's difficult to tell them apart. The album is quite serious, but ends up with the humorous "Crazy People." Without that song to lighten things up, I would have reduced the CD's rating a bit. Finally, a little of Michelle's pop and folk styles do come through on songs like the title track and "Rain." Great job, Michelle and Jessica!

I always loved Michelle Branch. Then I heard about Jessica Harp and fell in love with her. One thing I defintly dont love is Country Music. I was weary when i heard this was indeed a country album but once i heard the first track i fell in love again. Over all all of the songs are very well written and the duet has beutiful voices that just makes you feel bad in their break up songs and feel good in their happy songs. I definitly recoment this Album if your a fan of Michell or Jessica. Even if you dont like the Country elements of the Album, youll definitly look past it and fall just love it.

There was never any doubt about Michelle Branch's talent. When Carlos Santana tapped her to collaborate and record together he said he picked her because "she's the real deal". And I think Santana would know if she wasn't. Then comes Jessica Harp. That girl is country right down to the roots, and destined to be one of the great songwriters of our time. Her first solo effort is pure country straight from the heart. Once in a blue moon two great talents come together and something very special happens. Individually these two are incredible talents, but when they came together it was, as they say, "pure magic". Musically they are so much alike but so different at the same time. You can hear both influences in the songs but they just meld together and create music that you can feel. It almost defies being labeled. Every song on the album is pure gold, especially "Tennessee". It was sad when they split so soon to pursue solo projects, and even sadder that Jessica released her first major label solo album then announced she wasn't going to perform anymore but rather concentrate on song writing. My advice is that you should grab all the Wreckers stuff now before it becomes hard to find. I know I did. But who knows what may happen someday. There are three things we know to be true: Water is wet, the sky is blue, and the Wreckers belong together. We can only hope.

I'm an ex-60's drummer (Rock & Country) and had never even heard of Michelle and Jessica before. I read a review of "The Wreckers" and

bought the CD. Their music has so super-charged me to the point

that I have pulled out my drums (after many years) to play along

as their mesmerizing harmonies and rock-solid musicianship melt

the years away. I highly recommend this CD to anyone and

am a "My,Oh My" fan!