Gemma Hayes - Undercover Lyrics

Gemma Hayes - Undercover
I have been a fan of Gemma Hayes for quite some time. Since her Mercury Award-winning album, Night on my Side, she has been a permanent fixture on my favorite chick singers playlist. Her last album was really intriguing, as it had a day/night concept that was interestingly conceived and perfectly executed. The first half of the album was the ‘day’ section and consisted of some really rocking tunes with her ambly commanding the electric guitar. During the ‘night’ section however, it was nothing but her and a guitar. Very stark, very delicate. Absolutely wonderful to listen to with a cup of coffee and a book. This album, recorded in LA after a much-too-long two year break, is an excellent follow up. The album is a mixture of her rock/acoustic tendencies, with a little bit more focus on the latter. The sad thing is, I didn’t realize this album was done. I was watching Gray’s Anatomy and recognized her voice and nearly fell out of my chair. Did some websearching and saw that while her album won’t be released in the US until May 2006, it has been released overseas and is being promoted through a substantial UK tour. Seeing as how she moved to the US prior to this CD recording, I’m hoping she’ll actually embark on a real US tour. She is so talented, and her lack of presence here in the States is, to say the least, incredibly disappointing. I’m hoping this type of quiet promotion and word of mouth will really bring her up to where she belongs.
Buy Gemma Hayes-The Roads Don’t Love You

Laura Veirs - Black Gold Blues Lyrics

I know I’ve said Best Album of 2005 a hundred times this month, but I have another entry to my top 10 for this year; Laura Veir’s Year of Meteors. In fact, by the time you’ve read this post, I’ll have changed my mind about which song to showcase at least 13 times. This is the first time I’ve ever had REAL trouble deciding a song to upload from a given album; They’re all that good. I’d heard her once before, during a Grey’s Anatomy episode, and was intrigued. I didn’t really look into her until now but, over the last month, I have been obsessed. The Seattle native and former geologist (and ESL teacher, Math Tutor, Science Demonstrator, gardner, etc. I love reading all the ‘Before I was a musician I had ADD and did a million things’ background bios) has really carved herself a niche in the whole girl-with-guitar scene. I’ve said it before but, in an era where singers are dubbing their voices with effects to a point beyond recognition, it is a breath of fresh air to hear a girl with an amp and intelligent, relatable lyrics. It’s interesting to read up on her experiences from being in an all-girl punk band, to engaging in a 10-hour donkey ride through the hills of China during her college years. It’s also interesting to see that she has only recently seriously picked up the guitar, taking country blues guitar lessons as late as 2000. It’s certainly paid off, as this album showcases her talent and her promise. She’s currently doing some solo dates on the West Coast before engaging on a tour with the Decemberists (Who I’m not a big fan of but, being from a city who practically worships at their altar, can’t seem to help getting away from.). Their January show is definitely something I may consider. She is definitely worth it.
Buy Laura Veirs’ Year of Meteors