Watch: LAURA VEIRS 'July Flame' music video

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This Portland singer-songwriter’s 7th album could very well be the finest record she’s made to date. Produced by Tucker Martine (who’s produced all but one of her albums), July Flame features a beautifully arranged, acoustic-oriented sound, with Veirs’ gentle guitar (and occasional banjo) picking accompanied by an impressive supporting cast using a diverse range of instrumentation, including longtime collaborators Karl Blau and Steve Moore along with Eyvind Kang on viola, the Decemberists’ Chris Funk on various instruments and Austin’s Tosca String Quartet is even featured on a few songs. My Morning Jacket’s Jim James also contributes some heavenly harmony vocals, but it’s Veirs’ own impressive vocals, masterful lyrical imagery and gorgeous melodies that stand out the most on these magical songs of summer’s fleeting days. – KEXP

The Oregon songwriter Laura Veirs could just as well be describing herself on her latest album, July Flame, when she sings, "Not a household name but/She's been in your head all day/It would be so cool to/Be like Carol, Carol Kaye." Veirs is referring to the legendary session-musician bassist (who, coincidentally, was profiled by Jessica Hopper in these pages two weeks ago). Veirs' new CD might also end up in your head all day, although her spare folk-pop songs are many miles away from the elaborate arrangements of Kaye-pumped classics like "Good Vibrations" and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling." Instead, Veirs' longtime producer, Tucker Martine (the Decemberists, Spoon, Jesse Sykes), imbues tracks like "Little Deschutes" and "Summer Is the Champion" with low-key string and horn embellishments. My Morning Jacket's Jim James deepens the austere sound of acoustic idylls "I Can See Your Tracks" and "Silo Song" with big, dramatic, sky-filling harmonies. Even with such stellar help, Veirs ultimately finds her own way on July Flame, as she confesses, "Oh I can see your tracks/But I won't follow them." - Falling James, LA Weekly