Brandi Carlile’s new album explores family and queer identity

Returning to Myself

By Brandi Carlile (Interscope Records, 2025)

Brandi Carlile can’t seem to make a bad record. Since her self-titled debut in 2005, the folk rock singer-songwriter has raked in consistent praise from critics and fans alike—not to mention 11 Grammy awards. Still, a spectrum exists between a bad record and a phenomenal record, and the latest addition to her catalog falls somewhere in the middle.

Returning to Myself, Carlile’s eighth studio album, starts off strong. True to its promise, the titular track harkens back to early hits like “The Story,” signaling that this will be a dusting-off, both sonically and lyrically, of any mainstream debris collected along the way. “Returning to myself is such a lonely thing to do,” she croons, “but it’s the only thing to do.”

Raised Christian in a devout family, Carlile has been forthcoming about the tension between her gay identity and religious upbringing. The singer often alludes to her faith in her music; Returning to Myself—with lines such as “Let me break myself apart instead / and scatter to my birds / like a burial at sea / to be the gospel without words”—is no exception.

Empathy marks Carlile’s spirituality, and “Human” and “A Woman Oversees” pull their weight accordingly (the former is stronger). Family life, too, gets substantial attention: The tear-jerking “War on Time” and less memorable “You Without Me” will resonate with parents, and “Anniversary” is an elegant reflection on a long relationship.

Returning to Myself feels most cohesive when probing the depths of its creator. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always stay there. “Joni,” written for Carlile’s hero and friend Joni Mitchell, is a lovely tribute, but it struggles to find its place on the album. “Church & State” is an admirable attempt to speak out politically, but the heavy drums and urgent rock tempo feel forced into this collection. Still, any Brandi Carlile is better than no Brandi Carlile. I’ll be playing songs from this album for years.