Year of Meteors

Released in 2005, Year of Meteors represents a pivotal moment in Laura Veirs' career, marking her transition from a minimalist folk singer to a sophisticated architect of chamber-folk-rock. Produced by Tucker Martine, the album features the 'Saltbreakers' band, providing a rhythmic backbone that was largely absent from her previous effort, Carbon Glacier. The record is famous for its heavy use of scientific and naturalistic imagery, with Veirs drawing from her background in geology to craft lyrics that are both literal and metaphorical. Critics noted the album's increased production value and the successful integration of orchestral elements, which helped define the 'indie folk' sound of the mid-2000s. It remains a definitive document of the Pacific Northwest music scene, blending the region's rugged natural beauty with a refined, intellectual songwriting sensibility.