Dig It

Opening for Colin Meloy, lead singer of the Decemberists, on a solo acoustic tour, I discovered Laura Veirs in high school. She had just released her sixth album, “Saltbreakers” (2007), following two recent albums, “Carbon Glacier” (2004) and “Year of Meteors” (2005).

Right away, I found it the perfect kind of music to accompany schoolwork. Something about her tunes playing in the background made it easier to focus on the task at hand, helping me get work done more efficiently than before. The indie/folk blend is easy on the ears without the overpowering instrumentals or the distinguished voices of similar artists that can be distracting. Additionally, her wide catalog means you don’t have to put the album on repeat but can, instead, enjoy hours of diverse tunage.

With her latest release, “July Flame” (2010), Veirs adds over a dozen new songs to her repertoire. For most of this album, she returns to her roots. Shedding both her record label and her usual ensemble, “July Flame” is self-published — like her first two works — and features only subtle accompaniment. She has wrapped all of her experience up into an original package: simple guitar and a soft voice conveying observations of the world.

As a test, I listened to the record while doing some research, editing a few photographs, and even writing this article. Like its predecessors, this album is an easy listen and very enjoyable. It stands on its own as a great addition to her music career and is certainly up for the task of the “homework” playlist. Try it free by streaming it from NPR and look for the release later in January.

“July Flame” is available on Amazon MP3 at a discounted price starting on Jaunary 12.