The album was announced on March 24, 2023, alongside the release of the lead single, "Buried". In a statement accompanying the announcement, Clark explained "this album is a return home to me in many ways. Musically it's the rawest I've been since 12 Stories and maybe even rawer. When Brandi and I sat down and talked about working together, one thing that really intrigued me was her saying 'I see it as your return to the Northwest.' That comment inspired so much for me. It took me back to where and how I grew up. 'Northwest' and 'She Smoked In The House' were both a result of that early conversation." On the decision to work with Carlile as opposed to re-teaming with Jay Joyce who produced her previous two albums, Clark expressed that "working with another recording artist on this project was such a gift that I didn't even know I needed and changed the way I want to write songs and make records moving forward. My hope is that anyone who hears this album will feel the heart that I put into every note of it."[4]
Regarding the sonic composition of the project, Carlile explained "Brandy is one of the greatest songwriters I've ever known. And I feel like I now know exactly who Brandy Clark is through the portal of this singular brilliantly written album. When I heard the songs for this album, they took me back to the first time I heard Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. I was thinking about Tom Petty, The Pretenders, Kim Richey, Sheryl Crow, Shelby Lynne and the soul of '90s Americana before it had a name. This is the time Brandy has chosen to reveal herself to the world as an artist and a woman and I was blessed beyond measure to be the person she trusted to support and facilitate that swan dive." She also praised Clarks artistry, stating "Brandy's voice is like a friend you've had your whole life the second you hear it. I know I'm not alone in feeling this way. This is her moment. This is the one. Sometimes an artist only gets one shot at an album like this in their life."[5]
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Brandy Clark received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from five critic scores.[6] Album of the Year rates the consensus at 73 with six reviews.[8]
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the music as, "empathetic to the point it can seem almost invisible, letting Clark relax and sigh as she acknowledges insecurities and tells tales of heartbreak, steering away from both the clever wit and story songs that helped build her reputation." and declared, "It's not a break so much as a shift in focus: Clark's steady lyrical hand and clear voice are placed at the forefront, conveying a sense of quiet strength that seems to call out for the kind of unvarnished production that Carlile provides."[7]
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