Troubled by the Fire
Laura Veirs · 2003
44 min · 11 tracks · pop music
Ethereal melodies intertwine with poignant storytelling, creating a haunting yet serene exploration of personal landscapes and emotional depths.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Lost at Seaflower Cove — Opening the album, this track sets the tone with its dreamy instrumentation and introspective lyrics that evoke a sense of longing and discovery.
-
→
Cannon Fodder — This song showcases Veirs' ability to blend vivid imagery with social commentary, creating a narrative that resonates deeply while maintaining a haunting melody.
-
→
Midnight Singer — With its melancholic yet captivating arrangement, this track encapsulates the album's themes of vulnerability and reflection, drawing listeners into Veirs' emotional landscape.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's intimate sound and reflective lyrics create a cohesive listening experience, though it may not have widespread recognition.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent use of gentle instrumentation, primarily acoustic guitar and soft percussion, creating an intimate atmosphere.
- Several tracks incorporate layered vocal harmonies that enhance the ethereal quality of the melodies, particularly in 'Tiger Tattoos' and 'A Shining Lamp'.
- The album's pacing is deliberate, with slower tempos dominating the majority of the tracks, allowing for reflective lyrical content to take center stage.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective emotional journeys
- introspective late-night listening
- gentle melodic exploration
- subtle atmospheric immersion
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2003, Troubled by the Fire was Laura Veirs' second album, following her debut, The Triumphs and Travails of Orphan Mae. At this point in her career, she was beginning to establish her unique voice in the alternative country scene, honing her craft as a songwriter and performer.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Neko Case· Sufjan Stevens· Iron & Wine
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Lost at Seaflower Cove 3:39
- 2 Bedroom Eyes 4:16
- 3 The Ballad of John Vogelin 2:41
- 4 Song My Friends Taught Me 4:32
- 5 Cannon Fodder 5:51
- 6 Tom Skookum Road 2:27
- 7 Tiger Tattoos 5:27
- 8 A Shining Lamp 1:27
- 9 Ohio Clouds 3:58
- 10 Devil's Hootenanny 5:03
- 11 Midnight Singer 4:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.