Released in the spring of 2013, a few months after a stint in
Jack White's touring band helped raise her profile,
The Originator is a startling original second album from
Brooke Waggoner. Previously, she flirted with tuneful singer/songwriter pop on her debut
Heal for the Honey, then she got softer and grander on
Go Easy Little Doves, but on
The Originator gets weird, taking considerable risks with her compositions and arrangements. At first, the ornate yet rustic accouterments in the production are what are notable, but as their odd, halting rhythms start to make sense, the strong construction of the songs becomes apparent. There are hints of
Fiona Apple,
Tori Amos, and, yes,
Jack White, yet
Waggoner doesn't copy, she synthesizes, creating a gently wild, wholly compelling statement of purpose with her third album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine