Honest, sometimes a little dark, and riddled with self-deprecating humor – traits that led themselves well to his songs. Songs that, like Cory, are original and unpredictable, prompting one music critic to note that “…he writes serious music without taking himself too seriously, without being afraid to smash a guitar, throw in a line about Miami Vice, or smack his audience in the head every once in awhile – figuratively, of course.” “I never play a song the same way twice,” says Cory. “It’s the only way I’ve found for me to keep the music honest and immediate and, more importantly, to keep my self amused.”
A young Branan played Death Metal before moving on to a Black Sabbath cover band, but it wasn’t until someone handed him a John Prine album that things began to fall into place. Discovering songs with intelligence, humor and edge inspired Cory to strike out with his own unique songwriting style. Aside from “recreational destruction and the lamentations of the women,” Cory’s influences change daily, but could typically include “Henry Miller, Tom Waits, Federico Garcia Lorca, my little brother, Dark Lord Satan, the girl from last Thursday…”
With immeasurable talent and the freedom to follow his muse, Cory Branan is poised for greatness, or maybe even a nap. His gift as a song-writer and performer made him a staple of the lauded Memphis music scene and brought him national recognition with the release of his debut album, The Hell You Say. A full page feature in Rolling Stone’s Hot issue*, a year’s-top-ten-honor in Billboard magazine and an appearance on the late show with David Letterman represent just a sample of the attention this breakthrough record garnered. Despite the success of The Hell You Say, it took four years for Cory to release 2006’s 12 Songs. Although, as Blender magazine noted, “Branan banked the praise and laid low…12 Songs justifies the sabbatical.” In a music review of the newer album for Playboy, famed music critic and author of It Came From Memphis, Robert Gordon, said it best when he said of Cory, “A new voice emerges to run with the greats.”
*Rolling Stone revoked Cory's 'Hotness' in their October 2008 issue, prompting a fictitious yet highly entertaining from Cory in his MySpace blog - www.myspace.com/corybranan
Quotes on Branan:
“Intense dynamics, deep humor, brave production and heavy songwriting: A new voice emerges to run with the greats." - Playboy
"There's a new breed of singer-songwriter - Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and now Cory Branan." - Rolling Stone
"Cory Branan is featured in Rolling Stone's current (2003) 'Hot Issue,' but don't hold that against him...songwriting prodigy gives John Prine a run for the money." - Billboard
"...armed with fierce lyrical gifts, Branan rejects Southern musical clichés, approaching his songs with humor, intuition and lowdown poeticism." - Blender
"...this isn't your typical strummer." - American Songwriter
"4 Out of 5 Stars." - Blender on 12 Songs
“Editors pick.” – GQ on The Hell You Say
