Rachael Yamagata
(Warner Bros.)
Conceived as some sort of mini-opera, you can think instead of Philadelphian Yamagata's bunch of dramas as musky dusted soap opera cut through the viciousness of PJ Harvey tackling Ricki Lee Jones Volcano period.
With Bright Eyes producer Mike Mogis along for the bumpy, lush rude, Yamagata's smoked almond smolder is emboldened, hurtful, hurt and all the things that you can think go with a pained break-up. She takes her time ripping old wounds and old loves - the "Don't fuck me in front of me" of "Don't"; the arched-back ache of "Sunday Afternoon" - without allowing it to take her down. Elephants is a fighter and a biter; a hushed morose chamber thing that got slapped and snapped back with the teeth to rock out with angular fuzz tone guitars and filth encrusted drums as if she's never cleaned them after the bust-up.
Really really lovely and fucked-up is this record.
Standout Tracks: "Don't," "Elephants" A.D. AMOROSI
