Description
Brave is the five-track CD-EP debut by the Canadian singer and songwriter Miranda Stone, independently released on Earthdress Productions in 1997. The album was recorded by Dale Clyne. It was October 1998 Pick of the Month at The Phantom Tollbooth.
“Punk-folk” is a good description for Miranda Stone’s music. This debut album is definitely a hyper type of folk music. Stone’s edgy, yet pleasingly silky, voice commands attention from the first song to the last by jumping to center stage in front of rhythmic guitar licks and mingling with complex, non-traditional percussion. Back this up with the eclectic sounds of the mandolin, violin, Spanish guitar, cello, organ and electric guitar and you’ve got the unique driving-rhythm sound of her five-song album ‘Brave’.
Stone’s strong yet subtle voice leads the tempo and direction of the music. It hits peaks in deeply felt lyrics and quiets for her most tenderwords. The poetic and provocative lyrics “You darted round the truth like a whacked out bow and arrow” («Nevertheless the Dog») and “Sometimes I’m scared I’ve let my love turn selfish and unkind” («Silverlined») expose the full range of toughness to tenderness in her lyrics. Other songs give a glance at the romance that she says began in her poetry at age 16 as a release for her unrequited love. Lyrics like “I’m stubborn and hard, it must be true” («Growing Old») express her authenticity and transparency. All around, every song on her EP is a winner, and thus the other two songs «Thorn in Your Hand» and «Don’t You Cry Out» are both worthy of mention for, again, Stone’s vocal gymnastics and truly unique instrumentation on each. Overall, Brave is a real gem for any collection of eclectic folk-rock. It’s freely written without the restraint and boundaries typical in much of today’s Christian music, and a passionate album that portrays Stone as a take-me-as-I-am person, leaving the listener with a feeling of closeness to Stone and an identification with her humanity and flaws.
If there are any weakness in this album, it might be its short length and its occasionally too-slow tempo. Stone really wants to rock-out on all her songs and needs to go with that. Obviously every song can’t break out the “Nevertheless the Dog” energy just for the sake of keeping that song unique. Yet, Stone should concentrate more on using her main attraction – her edgy yet silky voice – by singing fewer ballad tempos (i.e., «Silverlined» and «Don’t You Cry Out») and chunking out more of her hypnotizing guitar rhythms. In short, she should break a few more guitar strings.
This 23-year-old Canadian musician has only begun to show her talents and you can expect more greatness from a full length album. Her independently released freshman EP is impressive, intelligent, and one of the most creative and unique albums to come out of the Christian music woodwork for a long time. That, coupled with its progressive, modern and current sound, makes it one of the few albums worth every bit of a whopping 5-tock rating. [Israel Kloss, The Phantom Tollbooth, 9/2/98]
t was that kind of thing where you had to know a friend of a friend of a friend, or you wouldn’t have known about it – we’re talking about the “Brave Little Tour,” in which the talented Miranda Stone, singer/songwriter from the shores of Lake Ontario, breezed into town to introduce her talents to patrons of Chicago’s bookstores and coffeehouses, to no small effect, this last February. Her appearance at The Beat Kitchen’s Chick Singer Night created a considerable buzz and attracted the attention of some local promoters, who chased her down at later shows. For a starving artist who makes her living selling photo frames made of cardboard and dried beans and other such curiosities, that was good news.
Her journey into songwriting began at age sixteen, soon after she began to take interest in the guitar. Raised in the classical discipline, learning piano, singing sacred choral works, it was only after her graduation from art school that she admitted to herself that her desire to pursue music had overtaken her dream of being a full time visual artist.
The music is self-described as “pro-God” rather than “Christian,” (she names such bands as VoL and OtR as models for her musical journey) holding to her belief that unless her music says something to everyone it doesn’t serve much purpose. Her faith is strong, and her lyrics point in the right direction, but her ability to draw in any crowd is admirable. Her live set can consist all at once of a mixture of serious discussion and hilarious joking, disarming audiences everywhere.
Her EP debut, Brave, consists of a lot more than just her and her guitar; she enlisted the help of drums, bass, mandolin, violin, Spanish guitar, cello, and other surprises. The song «Thorn In Your Hand» is a thoughtful, flowing melody, speaking of times when we’re left with nothing but questions about life, faith, and relationships (“Why do I feel like a wingless bird when I compromise”), when we’re tempted to despair (“the clouds come pressing in like they always have and they always seem to win”), crying out for God’s mercy, and pointing to redemption. «Nevertheless the Dog», however, eludes the listener lyrically, and moves at a brisker pace, with distinct Spanish influences to it. In short, it is the ability to diversify stylistically that will draw the listener in, but more than anything else, it is her captivating performance that will make you a fan. [Dave Landsel, The Phantom Tollbooth, 9/2/98]
Shining out like a veritable diamond in the rough of the many independent releases that have passed through the Rimmer CD player lately, this Canadian singer/songwriter, visual arty person, independent record company organiser and all round hard working music artist has produced a five-track EP which cries out for a wider distribution. The honest reflection of the opener «Thorn In Your Hand» sets the pace both lyrically and musically. The mandolin playing adds a chiming resonance to Miranda’s questioning plea “Can God help me here”. Built around her acoustic guitar, these are rootsy arrangements, sometimes punchy («Growing Old») and sometimes understated and moving. Check out the cello on the poignant prayerfully poetic «Don’t You Cry Out» which is simply gorgeous! The Spanish-influenced and enigmatically named «Nevertheless The Dog» is probably my favourite as Miranda’s exquisite voice bends and tumbles over the melody with a magnificent compelling free spirit. The closing song «Silverlined» is simplicity itself showcasing Miranda’s voice and guitar, together and alone in the studio spotlight. Lyrically it explores the contradictions of a relationship vulnerably exposed to hard questions. Lovers of the Suzanne Vega/Jennifer Knapp/Over The Rhine acoustic pop vibe should despatch 15 dollars immediately. You won’t be disappointed. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, June 1998]
CD-EP tracklist:
01. Thorn In Your Hand – 4:49
02. Nevertheless The Dog – 4:33
03. Don’t You Cry Out – 4:53
04. Growing Old – 5:24
05. Silverlined – 5:05
Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://mirandastone.bandcamp.com/album/brave
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