Brooke Barrettsmith

There's a lot to shout about on Brooke Barrettsmith's debut, but nothing comes across louder than the 26-year-old's passion for the Christian ministry. The album is a positive witness from the Kelly Clarkson/Avril Lavigne school of girl rock. Occasionally the distortion soars louder and resembles Flyleaf, but it is overwhelmingly middle of the road rock. An impressive maturity shows through the arena-friendly anthems, but the ballads like "Quiet My Heart" give the album its character. Anecdotally, Brooke made it to the Top 40 on season five of American Idol, where she became friends with the likes of Mandisa, Chris Daughtry, and Katharine McPhee ~ Jared Johnson, All Music Guide