From Exclaim: "Sarah Harmer hit in big in the first half of last decade, releasing three well-received albums such as 2000's breakthrough smash You Were Here. She's been laying low as of late, however, as her most recent LP, I'm a Mountain, came out in 2005. That’s all set to change, though, as Harmer will return with the new album, Oh Little Fire, this summer."
Wicked news for lovers of one of Canada's best songwriters and most beautiful lyricists - and you can certainly lump me in with that group. The album will be available on iTunes and in stores June 22; the first track is streaming at her website (link above), and it is very good - I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.
I first saw Weeping Tile (Miss Harmer's band before she went solo) play with Can-rock icons The Skydiggers in a hotel ballroom for some radio Halloween party back in 1996. I was hooked from the opening chord (the song was 'Cold Snap' from the album of the same name - one of the best opening guitar riffs from a Canadian stadium rock song since New Orleans Is Sinking). I've been sort of in love with this girl ever since...
After a couple of critically acclaimed and respectably-selling albums the group disbanded - a serious personal loss for me. Both Luther Wright and Sarah Harmer went on to release impressive solo albums shortly thereafter, and in hindsight Harmer's solo career has hit heights that I'm not sure the full band would have ever reached - so we'll call that one a win.
Today's RAD song comes from that 2000 solo debut You Were Here (we don't count 1999's duet album with Jason Euringer, Songs For Clem, though that is an excellent album worth a listen too). 'Basement Apartment' was first released by Weeping Tile on their EeePee album in 1995 - it was originally recorded as a rocker, and it certainly works in that context, but I like the rolling, bouncy groove and slight swagger of this version a little bit more - it just seems a little sexier I suppose...
Basement Apartment by Sarah Harmer
It wouldn't be right to leave you with just one Sarah Harmer song in yer head... here's one more - much folkier from 2005's I Am A Mountain:
I Am Aglow by Sarah Harmer
Ok, Ok... you're right - you need to hear that opening guitar riff from 'Cold Snap' too... my bad:
Cold Snap by Weeping Tile
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