Saltbreakers

Laura Veirs

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2007)
• Original Release Date: April 10, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000N4S8SO
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,164 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

What Suzanne Vega was to the East Coast--working at the intersection of folk and art songs--Laura Veirs has become to the Pacific Northwest. With organic imagery and a sense of open-eyed, open-hearted wonder, her songs seem to hover between the sea and the stars and to take inspiration from each. Though "To the Country" is the undisputed highlight here, featuring a luminous call-and-response with the Cedar Hill Choir and guest guitar from Bill Frisell, Veirs extends her range from the soul groove of the title track (which is also now the name of her band, formerly the Tortured Souls) to the propulsive rock of "Phantom Mountain." Even when her material flirts with preciousness ("Nightingale") or conforms more to folk convention, the musical settings entrance. --Don McLeese

Product Description

Listening to Veirs is like looking up into the night sky and suddenly witnessing a meteor shower: there's something startling and magical, both intimate and awesome, about her songs. The nature-obsessed images she conjures up and the mesmerizing sound she creates are as indelible as the blaze of shooting stars. Her third Nonesuch release is her most beautifully realized, band-oriented yet. Produced by Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Built To Spill), it is by turns haunting, playful, tender, and fierce, embracing everything from machine-driven beats to angelic gospel choirs to fuzzed-out guitars, and driving alt-rock rhythms.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A true artist., April 10, 2007

By	jimmy "jimmy" (Los Angeles,CA) - See all my reviews

Following 2005's sparklingly lovely "Year of Meteors" is no easy task, but "Saltbreakers" is a resoundingly wonderful return from a musician who has established herself as that rare thing - a true artist.
Here Veirs' inspiration comes from oceanic imagery - in complement to "Meteors" ' geological theme - and it never once feels contrived or forced.
Clear standout is the epic sweep of "To the Country", recorded in Johnny Cash's Nashville cabin, and featuring an eight-person Baptist choir.
All the songs slip their way into your subconscious like loveable but slightly annoying friends.
When you find yourself waking up singing "drink deep, my love" you'll know what I mean.
That means more beautifully imaginative songs, fancy-folk pop, moving lyrics -- and subtle instrumentation.
More of the same, then - but that's no bad thing.
The Seattle singer-songwriter has bottled a winning formula --- and she's sticking to it.
And even, if it all sounds a tad samey, you end up humming along to each tune.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly introspective, tender, yet gracefully playful., April 10, 2007

By	Mr. R. J. Davidson (Edinburgh, Scotland. UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Picture Seattle and you'll be bombarded with images of plaid shirts, greasy hair and heads blown open in existential angst, which is a long way from the upbeat bittersweet alt-rock of local singer/songwriter Laura Veirs.
Following the success of 2005's mesmerizing "Year of Meteors", "Saltbreakers" is an artist at her peak. Hauntingly introspective, tender, yet gracefully playful, Veirs delights the ears as much as she pulls on the heartstrings.
Rock's laureate of the great outdoors, Laura Veirs has turned her attention on her sixth album to the watery deep - a metaphor apparently for a stormy year for her on the home front.
Whether or not "Saltbreakers" is intended to complete a trilogy initiated by "Carbon Glacier" in 2003 and 2005's "Year of Meteors", it provides a more than satisfactory sequel. The alternately grave and jaunty piano melodies here are classic Veirs, suffused with her characteristic wide-eyed poise and emotional reticence, and elaborated in chamber-pop style by her band with occasional splashes of strings and horns.
On the title track, she ventures into a rollicking, shanty-like chorus with the guys; for the rest, she remains the ambiguous nature lover, wrestling with wild thoughts in an even wilder landscape.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strangely addictive music, October 30, 2007

By	W. Martin (Richmond, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you had told me, when I was first listening to this CD, that I'd become addicted to this album and buy 4 copies for my sisters and girlfriends, I'd have told you that you were nuts.

A friend who usually turns me onto amazing female vocalists (Patty Griffin) sent me this album with a disclaimer about Veirs' voice. I'm glad he did because her voice (listen to samples) is pretty quirky and slightly Suzanne Vegaish. But it totally works with her great, unique arrangements and band.

This CD has been playing in my car continously for about 2 months now. There's really not a bad song here and the album as a whole is great and has staying power. My whole music-loving family knows all the songs now and no one ever asks for it to be changed. It's really good stuff - sort of mellow, gently (not annoyingly) positive, and very comfortable to have on for long stretches.

This album is like that quirky girl you befriended in high school. To your GOOD friends, you can say "Give her a chance, she's actually really cool." But you're not going be to driving around with Laura Veirs blaring for all the world to hear because she requires some explanation. :) Regardless, I recommend this album.