Album of the Week: Laura Veirs’ tame Flame

Laura Veirs: July Flame

Laura Veirs’ new CD July Flame was on my shortlist for highly anticipated albums of 2010, based on the strength of two previously available tracks, the delicate “I Can See Your Tracks,” and “July Flame,” an exquisite slice of folk pop (which can be heard on JeffMix2009.10.25). Both songs lead off the CD, but the magic soon stops with “Sun Is King,” the kind of dreary folk song that can make one swear off the genre. Thankfully, July Flame picks up from there, yet doesn’t deliver on the more polished promise of the first two tracks. Veirs’ comfort zone is wordy, unadorned acoustic ballads – like “Where Are You Driving?” and the Jim James (My Morning Jacket) duet “Make Something Good” – solid, yet safe. More flame please. B

Laura Veirs: Sleeper in the Valley (from KEXP)
from the CD July Flame
MP3 • • MYSPACE • OFFICIAL SITE

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