A summery 90s singer/songwriter throwback

Sibling duo, Belle Brigade produces musical perfection in this follow up to critically acclaimed 2011 debut album The Belle Brigade. Soft and sweet featuring the summery vocals of Barbara Gruska, Just Because harkens back to alternative songstresses that ran the airwaves in the 1990s such as Lisa Loeb and Shawn Colvin although perhaps a bit less angsty. Opening “Ashes‰” has the perfect combination of a feisty little guitar riff and tantalizing lyrics that hit just the right chord. Personal favorite, “How I See It‰” is a whirlwind of glossy guitar pieces and Gruska‰’s delicate but sassy vocals that truly pack and extra punch. However, Just Because hits a lull in the following track, “Not the One You Want,‰” a cliche relationship song that has an awkward country vibe to it. However, the album returns to finish off seamlessly with the much needed darker, angstier “Metropolis‰Û, a haunting piece definitely worth several replays. Just Because is the kind of album saved for the warmer months ahead.

RIYL: Lucy Schwartz, The Joy Formidable, Lisa Loeb
Recommended: 1,2,6,8,9,10