"I’m a drug you don’t want to give up."

6-3-07
By request, all the links in this post have been updated...Enjoy!

2004 might have been the year of the monkey in China but for me it was the year of Yamagata. Rachael Yamagata. I received a copy of Happenstance and I put it on for 8 months straight. Ok, that might be exaggerating a tad bit but trust me it’s JUST a tad. I was hypnotized by that album. Rachael’s voice was a fierce and penetrating force soaked in gentle vulnerability that resonated with me for I feel that as women we are all an amalgam of both strength and tenderness to varied degrees. Moving past her amazing vocals it was the songwriting, the lyrics, the arrangements, the melodies…all of it that got me. Every last bit of that album was pure perfection to me. So imagine my excitement when I had the opportunity to see her open for Ray LaMontagne (who I also clearly adore) with two of my favorite people on the entire planet (Shanna AND Casey…SWOON!) at the Gypsy Tea Room. That show remains to this day one of my favorite concert experiences of all time despite the rude crowd that had to be regulated at the start and despite my over imbibing…or perhaps because of it. Nothing and I do mean NOTHING could have spoiled that night for me. The aforementioned company was fabulous and the music was so completely superb…it was everything I needed it to be. If you get a chance to see her live, please, please, please do yourself a favor and go. She does NOT disappoint…I promise.

I consider Rachael’s music very solitary in that I find I can’t share space with anyone else while I’m listening to it…there’s only room for me and the music. Her songs are soul bearing private tours into the most delicate and confidential recesses of her heart and mind. She completely exposes herself which is something most people are ashamed or afraid to do out of fear. She’s capable of expressing the highest of her highs and the lowest of her lows with equal passion and intensity. I love that she’s broken at times and yet still strong enough to sing about it so that someone, somewhere can listen and know that they are not alone. What a gift she gives every time she opens her mouth, places hands on instrument and puts pen to paper. So, so good.

I could go on and on about her but that’s enough for now lest you all start heaving from the love overdose. What I really wanted to talk about is her self titled EP that I FINALLY got my hands on a few weeks ago. It’s FABULOUS! There are what I consider rough drafts of “Worn Me Down” and “The Reason Why” that appeared on Happenstance but the true gems are the remaining songs that include a hidden track at the end of “Would You Please” titled “These Girls” that you must, must, must download below. I was really upset when the spring came and went with no sign of the promised album from her. I waited patiently to hear something about it and then last week I checked her blog and there it was…the 4-1-1 I’d been waiting on:

“What else.. Oh yes! The record. Ok. So I'm a liar.. Well, not really – we were on a schedule/ schedule people we are on a schedule! And I was certain and assured and defiant that this record would see the light of day by spring. Well, it's spring and you don't have a record in your hands so I can just go @#!& myself and all that. If my last name were apple I'd have you sending some fruit by now.

Take heart, it is coming. And it will be worth the wait. (shameless, I know). The industry is a mess I say and I've been doing trapeze moves to make this happen amidst personnel change, strategic games, late trains and all that. Hang with me till fall and you will have record in your hand or else I'll be off a bridge and you can have a great story to tell your friends about that profanity loving drunk crazy wild animal lady/Clooney- Pitt stalker that finally lost it and ohhh didn't you see it coming..”

Complete with this “album appetizer” short video that if you ask me is pure genius:

Not recognizing the lyrics to the tune “Elephants” from the video, I set about to track it down and succeeded per usual. With the help of Brett (an integral part of the incredible “frienmily” that I’m blessed to have) I was able to snag it and have posted it below for your listening pleasure. It’s exquisite. I thank him for you in advance because you’ll want to.

She hasn’t been sitting around doing nothing all this time though. In fact, she’s gettin’ around quite a bit…lending her spotless vocals to Jason Mraz, Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams and most recently she sang back up for Bright Eyes on six songs from his latest release, Cassadaga. At present you can find Rachael opening for Citizen Cope in Cali this weekend. If you live there and you’re lucky, there are tickets left...GO. PURCHASE. SOME!

Tunes I Can’t Refuse…

From the EP:

Rachael Yamagata – “Worn Me Down”

Rachael Yamagata – “Known For Years”

Rachael Yamagata – “Collide”

Rachael Yamagata – “Would You Please” (Hidden Track, “These Girls”)

From the KCRW sessions:

Rachael Yamagata – “Woman”

"Sunday Afternoon"

And soon to be released on her upcoming studio effort...

Rachael Yamagata – “Elephants”