Alyssa Graham - Lock, Stock and Soul

Noted producer Craig Street (k.d. lang, Norah Jones) is one of the guiding forces behind Lock Stock and Soul (January 31), a remarkable, gear-changing project from New Yorker Alyssa Graham. Her jazz training (and 2008 album Echo) are now in the rear view mirror as she explores musical paths originally defined in her teens: classic pop songcraft influenced by the likes of Neil Young, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. New full-length, the successor to August's LS&S teaser EP, includes originals written with longtime musical partner Doug Graham along with a stark, intimate cover of The Dead's "High Time." Acclaimed songwriters Jesse Harris, best known for his work with Norah Jones, and David Garza are also on board.

The album sessions were mostly tracked live with the musicians -- including bassist MeShell Ndegeocello and two members of her band -- facing each other live in the studio. But it wasn't until the basic recordings were done that Street told Graham that the vocals, thought by her to be simply "scratch vocals" sung to accompany the band, were what he actually wanted for the finished versions. That relaxed, understated quality of Graham's singing is a big part of what makes these songs special. "Exploded View" becomes a delicate, gently swaying confection of nuanced melody. "Til My Heart Quakes" is a shimmering, whisper-soft dream so close and personal you can practically feel Graham's breath on your ear. But as sweetly inviting as these tracks are you're never left with a sugary aftertaste proving once again the dusty maxim about less being usually more in the end, allowing the elegant but simply prepared fare of Lock Stock and Soul to be savored in its natural and organic form.

Alyssa Graham - "The Last Leaf" (from Lock Stock and Soul)

Alyssa Graham - "Exploded View" (from Lock Stock and Soul)