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

Inara George - Fools in Love Lyrics

Inara George, daugther of Little Feat’s own Lowell George, is easily this week’s rekindled obsession. Earlier this year, she released a wonderful record called All Rise. While her music will not likely garner her any fans of dear, old dad, her album is, nonetheless, a breath of fresh air. Even though the elder Lowell died of a heart attack when Inara was only five, Inara, thanks to her mother’s open door policy for musicians, grew up in a lifestyle surrounded by musical heavy hitters at the peak of or on the verge of the peak of their careers. Inara, instead of initially becoming involved in music, devoted her time to the world of theater. Her early interest and subsequent performances of Shakespeare inevitably led to her studying of classical theater acting in college. During her summer breaks, she became involved in several bands, including Lode and Merrick (The former actually received a record deal and was together long enough to release an EP through Geffen), and released three albums. Now, she’s gone solo, signed to Everloving, and hit the scene with one of my favorite albums of the year. Hearing her cover of Joe Jackson’s ‘Fools in Love’ during an episode of Grey’s Anatomy has rekindled the desire to pick up All Rise again. Her band, made up of members of Cake, Ben Harper & Beck’s band, offer a lovely mix of eclecticism and starkness on her most perky and somber songs, respectively. Her voice is absolutely clear and powerful, but still has the ability to sound very delicate and almost vulnerable on this track. It’s very fascinating to see how her performance shifts from track to track. She’s currently touring with Idlewild (The pairings may seem totally off kilter, since she’s significantly more mellow, but she sang on several tracks on their newest CD). I know, I’m generally not a fan of checking out openers either, but if you’re seeing Idlewild in the next several weeks, give her a shot. It’s worth it.
Buy Inara George’s All Rise