Rachael Yamagata - Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart

With her sometimes husky, sometimes whispery alto and evocative piano style, Yamagata made an impressive debut with 2004’s Happenstance. For her sophomore effort, the sultry singer has delivered an ambitious followup: a song cycle about a love affair and its aftermath in two parts. The first part, vulnerable and laid back, sounds much like her first album. But Yamagata kicks out the jams on the surprising second part, wailing on guitar and vocals in fast, angry rock songs with hints of the White Stripes.