I mentioned Rachael Yamagata in my Sara Bareilles Song of the Day pick as another of the Fiona Apple disciples who’ve hit the scene in recent years. And based solely on her debut album Happenstance, I’d definitely call her my favorite.
Yamagata is a 31-year old Japanese-American who has a powerful voice and knows her way around a keyboard. Happenstance is one of those debuts that feels like it was made by a veteran… featuring confident songwriting, bold production and a willingness to stretch the boundaries in which young singer-songwriters (especially women) are often trapped. She reminds me a lot of Apple in that way, as well as in her overall sound.
Meet Me In Montauk 