Bronwen Williams was born in Ithaca, New York. When Bronwen was only five years old, her family moved to Minnesota. Maybe it was the cold, isolating weather that gave her the time for introspective evaluation but whatever the reason, by the time she was fifteen, Bronwen taught herself to play guitar. It wasn't until she got married that she started working on her own material. Before long, her husband told her that he didn't like her voice or her songs and, utterly defeated, Bronwen put her guitar in its case and locked her pain deep inside. It wasn't until she divorced that Bronwen found the courage to find herself through the music. It was her way of expressing feelings that she found so difficult for many years. Her independence was reborn.

The CD we will reviewing today is the debut album of this courageous woman. The message is one of strength, inspiration and encouragement. It goes into the darkness and emerges victorious. It is honest, revealing, and sensitive. Just like the woman who lived every song we present to you today..........Ladies and Gentlemen, Bronwen Williams.

The Review

The project begins with, "Custom-made Woman", a light love song with a joyous melody. It's a nice way to bring the listener into the heavier material to follow.

"Do You Believe In The Devil" comparisons of the devil and the long, endless nights. It's really a fresh approach and slightly twisted. The kind of insight that comes from first-hand depression. Moving.

"You Said" is the perfect country waltz. The flow is nice and the lyrics are basic and uncluttered. A simple tune that's simply delightful.

"Kaidi's Song", a song for her daughter, Bronwen sings this lullaby of enduring and unconditional love. Written when her daughter was only three, Bronwen includes this lovely original as a precious reminder of the special bond between parent and child.

"I Had A Lover Once" airy and easy-going. Uneventful enjoyment that just feels good to sing along to. Try it out for yourself. You've got to smile.

"The Current Takes Me Down" This is where the deepest sorrow hides. It's a place where no light comes through......the black hole from where there seems no escape. Morbid depression. Literally sucks the very breath from you.......where the blade turns into a friend. A place where nothing makes sense yet everything seems focused. This is a dark place. Bronwen captured the feel......the despair......where black clouds dominate sight and hopelessness shows no mercy. Chilling.

"Caleb's Blues" a song about a child's "action figures" done in the blues style for dramatic effect. This is so charming. You can even hear the little boy in the song. My favorite lyrics are.........."Mama don't understand me, I just want to play / She sees me with those action figures and takes them all away / Mama she says they're violent, They're no good for me / But I don't think that plastic pieces, can turn me into a bully"..........how sweet. This is wonderful stuff here.

"Get A Life" the pain of divorce can take a long time to overcome. It leaves wounds that go deep. This isn't about analyzing why things went bad, just the pain of the woman and how she's trying to carry on with that immense hurt. It doesn't try to rationalize.......it just tries to move forward. Pretty powerful lyrics.

"I Took My Life"...This is the journey of the spirit once it leaves the body abruptly by means of suicide. To see the suffering caused to the children by such a selfish act becomes more unbearable than the pain experienced while still alive. It shows that there is hope as long as there is life. You just have to wait and be strong. Better days are ahead. Solemn, ingenious songwriting.

"Sanibel Island" a happy song with the beautiful sound of a kids choir in the background. Peaceful.

"When You Die" the inevitable passage of old age brings with it the need to have someone there to hold you and love you when you leave this Earth. It can be scary alone. No one should have to be alone.

"A Little Worse For Wear" New Year's Eve and the aftermath of the "past midnight hour" brings back some tears and old memories but also a kind of settled in adjustment that seems to make everything "okay".

The Summary

With the legendary, John Sagner (a.k.a. "Cooker John), taking charge of the production, it was obvious from the start that the whole album would be an incredible journey. That's exactly what it is. The extremes of human existence co-mingled with exquisite musicianship and intense production, make this album a privilege to experience. At first listen, this album may seem dark and gloomy but one only has to peer past the surface to find the real message of endurance........ faith..........hope. It's a personal journey through someone else's life but you will find many things you can relate to.

The blunt honesty is disturbing at times but definitely refreshing. This kind of person-to-person storytelling is intimate and some people may be moved to tears because it touches a very basic core within us all. By bringing us so close to her own stories of fear and betrayal, the songs of Bronwen may revive some of those feelings that lay dormant inside of the listener. It's that potent. It's that emotional. It's that good.

--- Independent Songwriter, 10-06-99