Billboard's coverage of CMJ 2006 Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

CMJ Day 2: The Heartbreak
Sure, you got to see the Knife. And Steve Earle and Cold War Kids. But we got to see Laura Minor. The pleasure was all ours at Mo Pitkin's to catch this Georgia-native singer/songwriter. With elements of country, electronica, blues, soul and kick-ass, Minor's buttery voice, packed with range and character, stole the show. Fans of Neko Case, Shivaree and Uncle Tupelo would find much satisfaction in keeping an eye on this talented lady, who has lyrics to break hearts. After, super-geek Hartley Goldstein, who we feared might be a Dan Bern or Mountain Goats knock-off, had us rolling with his brand of anti-folk, clever-scenester humor. His lyrics honest and contemporary, he was endearingly self-conscious/deprecating/referential. Stellar guy. We tailed it to NorthSix downstairs for an old college buddy in Mittens On Strings, but missed about 95% of it. Tried to bear Numbers upstairs, but couldn't garner the strength or enthusiasm. The Battle of the CMJ Badge flared up back at the entry to downstairs. NO MORE BADGES? AT? NORTH? SIX? DOWNSTAIRS? A sad and silly sight indeed.

First review of "Let Evening Come." by Katie Schardi
TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Have you ever had a dream within a dream? You wake up with the filmy remnants of fantastic visions clinging like cobwebs to your consciousness. Groggy, disoriented and unsure of where you are, you swing your feet over the bed onto the smooth wood floor. It's cool and slightly gritty beneath your bare feet as you tiptoe down the hall over the moaning boards. You trail your palm lightly over the wall, feeling for a light switch. Your fingers brush the edges of picture frames and bump into the thermostat box. Where the hell is the bathroom? If you could just splash some cool water on your face, maybe you could figure out what happened behind the obfuscating, semi-permeable membrane of sleep. But when you raise your dripping face from the basin and look in the mirror, you realize the dream that drove you from bed was merely an extension of the one still cupping you in its damp palm. You hear a faint, sweet sound - pulsing and plangent - on the edge of your hearing. And, just like that, you find yourself back under the covers and plunging like a dolphin into the dark, alluring waves of sleep. That's what it's like to listen to Laura Minor's new CD, "Let Evening Come." This is music you sink into like a down featherbed. It's deliciously dreamy and sometimes a little dark, like the best bedtime stories. Minor's lyrical gifts are couched in plush musical settings, compliments of co-producers dalek and Oktopus. At first glance, it seems mixing Minor and the experimental hip-hop brainiacs makes for mighty strange bedfellows. But it it works wonderfully well. Minor's lovely, shimmering voice wanders through ambient soundscapes that imbue her trademark twang with throbbing reverb and edgy, unexpected electronic fillips. And though critics have gushed about Minor being the next Lucinda Williams, there are moments on this album when she sounds uncannily like more ethereal singers such as Kate Bush and Jane Siberry. It makes for some often head-spinning, spine-tingling, orchestral sonic wonder. There's even an instrumental track, the deeply moving "Hennessy & Fireflies." To listen from beginning straight through to the end is to go on a voyage with Minor and her many collaborators. The latter includes Eric Bachmann of Crooked Fingers, whose baritone is thrilling, somber balance to Minor's voice in "The Beast." Other standout tracks include "Henry & Alicia," "The Castles at My Feet," "Epistolary Unrest" and "I Still Miss Someone." The dream is made real when Minor joins Mic Harrison, TheRest and Drake Equation for a show Saturday at the Beta Bar. You might not ever want to wake up.

Review of first show debuting new material from GainesvilleBands.com

"For me, one of the most impressive sights I've seen out of a local act came fourth, as Laura Minor took the stage. Laura's voice was crystalline and soulful with an unmatched level of technical proficiency. Furthermore, the level of creativity and originality of the music was striking. Remarkably, she was backed by all three of the previous acts. The size of the band coupled with the unique instrumentation further drew me into the performance. With two laptops, three guitars, trumpet, bass, and turntables, the group offered a visual sideshow to the musical performance. Maybe I'm just a sucker for ambient, experimental sounds, but these coupled with the solid grooves and driving bass lines really impressed me."

Press Quotes from 2002 Hightone Release "Salesman's Girl"
 
“Laura has the gift of a youthful voice that gives way to a bluesy rasp in the blink of an eye. She’s also a natural storyteller whose songwriting talent puts her in the esteemed company of Lucinda Williams, Ryan Adams, and Norah Jones." -- Rhino Records
 
“Unlike the songs of alt-country colleague Neko Case, Minor's stuff is more about having fun than achieving moody atmospherics or pulling off vocal gymnastics " --San Fransisco Weekly
 
“...someone with Shania Twain's bright and charismatic voice and twice her lyrical smarts.” San Fransisco Weekly
 
“Anyone who is a fan of Kasey Chambers’ best work ought to check this one out, and for the rest, I’d advise you to at least keep an eye on Minor. As she matures in her songwriting, she’ll become something special." --The Music Box
 
“Primarily culled from Minor's poetry, the songs are smart, but not aloof, and her voice has a bluesy, backwoods rasp that speaks of vulnerability yet reveals uncompromising honesty." --Country Standard Time
 
“Acclaimed singer-songwriter Laura Minor's Salesman's Girl is gathering her comparisons to Lucinda Williams and Ryan Adams...Laura Minor was a sensation." --The Reader

“...in line to be the next Lucinda Williams " --The Weekly Planet
 
“She is no Lucinda Williams or a Norah Jones, despite claims to the contrary, but she doesn’t need to be- being Laura Minor at this point in time should be a happy thing indeed...Her voice is like a mix of Molly Conley (from Porter Hall, TN), Kim Richey and Caitlin Cary- full of expression…she covers the ranges and does it with style and volume- always delivering the emotional core of the story " --Americana UK
 
“The songwriting has all of the storytelling style and skill of the classics like Buck, Merle, Lynn et all but with a definite modern twist and outlook. The songs on this CD are not about how sad this girl is when she loses her man. These are songs of love, passion, overcoming heartbreak and resilient defiance, sung by a woman who's smart, strong and confident with what she has to offer.” --Freight Train Boogie Reviews
 
“Caution: Laura Minor may have you dancing in your underwear, singing into a hairbrush. A little bit country, and a little bit rock & roll, the Florida native unleashes youthful energy with her...songs about -- what else? -- love and loss. Lyrically, it might seem as if Minor's on a one-way road to Melancholyville, but no matter how her heart aches, her optimism transcends. Deep down, she still believes in all the good stuff...Minor displays the torch and twang of a young Patty Griffin -- less developed, but equally promising -- with a Sheryl Crow backbone.” --Lessons Magazine
 
“Laura is a talented poet and songwriter - a natural storyteller with a merciless pitch, imagination, and vulnerability uncommon in most lyricists. The music is a mix of rock, soul, country, and blues. Many of her songs are about growing up in Florida: the Spanish moss, the Bible Belt, the water. Work, grief, and faded love are also dominant elements in her work." --CoolForever

“Minor has the same earnest, childlike tone that Miller and Victoria Williams are known for, although Minor is more restrained, subdued and accessible than either of them." --Plan 9
 
“She has the voice of a seasoned pro, and the storytelling and song writing ability of an old soul. These songs sound like the deep personal telling of her innermost thoughts...Although the songs sometimes carry heartache and sadness - her hopeful voice creates unique blending of emotions." --girlpossee.com
 
“Her imagery... is perfect for her quavering, heartfelt Julie Miller-like voice. Her best is yet to come.” --Sacramento News & Review
 
“Adrift in this sea of off-tune, often clichéd mediocrity, a siren like Laura Minor can give one new hope. She reminds one a lot of two fellow southern girls; Shannon Wright and Shelby Lynne. She has poetic lyrics that rival Shannon Wright and a pop sensibility with a country flavored voice that echoes Lynne. From her sweet, soulful voice, to her serious yet witty lyrics and a style as endearing as her smile, Laura Minor can't miss." --Ink 19
 
“Sheryl Crow without the commercials...Minor can crank up the rockabilly sass of Wanda Jackson...or settle into a bluesy power ballad, edging towards Janis Joplin, while retaining the fragility of Kelly Willis " --Amazon.com UK
 
“Her voice is very nice and I hear Sheryl Crow meets Ricky Lee Jones. I think Laura is one of those who find her way to the top...I think she is staying with us for the rest of our lives if you like it or not. I have to say that I have no problems with that." --Jan the LazyMan
 
"Minor’s characters are largely down on their luck and down on love, yet the dark lyrical overtones are offset by the optimism of the arrangements; if you love the downbeat slow-country of Cowboy Junkies but hide a secret appreciation for The Mavericks, this one’s for you." --Logo Magazine.com

"Laura Minor's musical career is the stuff of rock-and-roll fable. ..Minor sings her accessible poetry, set to briskly paced roots-rock rhythms, with a voice that carries to the rafters and yet is soft around the edges. Comparisons can be made to Lucinda Williams on caffeine." --Washington Post.com

"Laura Minor makes comfort food for the soul." --High Bias

"You'll spin into a romantic swoon." --Santa Monica Mirror

"Minor is a Florida native with a big voice and a notable songwriting gift...occasionally reminiscent of the ragged vulnerability we hear from Casey Chambers." --Metromagazine