Rachael Yamagata

The promise of Rachael Yamagata's 2004 debut is consolidated on this follow-up – a razor sharp, yet expansive breakup album. Yamagata can do it all -- the lovely, chiaroscuro first half shows off her way with smoky, heartbreak ballads before she revs up the anger (and the guitars) on the rocking, scornful second half. Cuts like "What If I Leave," the country-noir "Don't" and the roaring "Accident" display an artist who understands popcraft and expressing her inner-self. She may already have everything in place but Yamagata sounds like someone who will continue to grow over the years.

Rachael Yamagata has become a 21st-century Emmylou Harris: a go-to gal for earthy
harmonies. (Her sleepy soul has deepened albums by Bright Eyes and Ryan Adams.) But this
double album pushes past familiar singer-songwriter fare into bolder regions: Elephants is a
hushed mood piece that's all wet vowels and damaged love; Teeth is filled with rock & roll
bite and gloves-off verses like "Don't fuck me in front of me" ("Don't"). Bright Eye... More >