Many Blue Rodeo fans will be familiar with Lori Yates who is mentioned in the credits of several BR albums such as Casino, Lost Together and The Days in Between.  She is a long time one-degree artist and associate of Blue Rodeo.  Her new release is a "must have" CD called The Book of Minerva which will appeal to any fan of Canadiana/Americana country/alt music. 

I had the pleasure of seeing her perform the whole CD at the Cameron a month ago and her show was fantastic so I bought the new album and nearly wore it out on the first day of solid listening.  At times, stripped down, alt and acoustic and at other times quite southern, bluegrass and country, it is at all times a very solid piece of great lyrics and music, and an album which I'm really happy to have in my collection.

 Justin Rutledge showed up at the CD release show to sing back-up on Simcoe and Nobody Loves Me which he provided also on the album. I think that fans of Justin will definitely be impressed with this album which I feel has an extremely complementary sound to his own work. I don't know if it is influence or serendipity but they sound like they were cut from the same cloth!

Tom Wilson is also mentioned in the credits of The Book of Minerva for some harmonizing.  Bazil Donovan added cool and juicy country bass on two tracks. It's only my humble opinion but Breaking Out of Mommy Jail (which features Bazil on bass) has the potential to go top 100 on a US country chart. David Baxter plays some amazing acoustic/electric guitar as well as sharing production credits with Lori.  The entire collection has incredible references and clearly received some thoughtful treatment from all the artists involved.

It's available on cdbaby.com.  If anyone is interested in it for the above-mentioned reasons - they won't be disappointed.

http://cdbaby.com/cd/loriyates

http://www.loriyates.com/home.html

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"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

After wandering around Lori's website for a minute or two, I had to come back with some media quotes regarding The Book of Minerva:

Media Quotes
"There are few voices of Lori's caliber in country music--or any music for that matter-- that are also gifted with the ability to pen their own poignant lyrics and melodies with which to wrap their voice around. Whether you're two-stepping across "Fire & Gasoline" or weeping in "Simcoe" you will love the torturously beautiful The Book of Minerva."
Amanda Putz - Host CBC Fuse (Sept. 23/07)

"Yates is a stellar country performer with an ache in her voice that leaves strong men weak-kneed, self-possessed women misty-eyed and pretty much everyone on contemporary country radio sounding like Pollyanna."
Rating 4/5 Excellent, Patrick Langston OTTAWA CITIZEN (Sept. 23/07)

"Lori Yates has recorded the best "Acoustic Album" OF THE YEAR, so far. Lori Yates is definitely rising to the top of the musical pot."
Jim Marino - FREEWHEELING FOLK SHOW 93.3 CFMU (Sept. 27/07)

"The Book of Minerva specializes in traditional blue-country country. "I'm Breaking out of Mommy Jail" sounds like one of those housewife anthems that Loretta Lynn might have sung way back when. Minerva is the Roman goddess known as the inventor of music; with this album, Lori Yates does her proud."
Howard Druckman EYE WEEKLY (Oct.4/07)
4/5 rating: Excellent

"The Book of Minerva, is true country, the way Mother Maybelle Carter meant it to be - sparse, almost naked with just a hint of Canadian twang, unhurried and unrocked and unafraid to explore the darker side of life. Soaring above all 13 songs, is Yates' wonderful voice, still one of the finest in country music."
Graham Rockingham HAMILTON SPECTATOR (Sept. 20/07)

"Since relocating with her family to Hamilton a few years back, Yates has been conspicuously absent from the scene here, but she returned as a conquering heroine last week. Great to see her old haunt The Cameron House sold out for her CD launch of The Book of Minerva. The disc showcases Lori's evolution into a mature songwriter, while the gig showed she is as vibrant a performer as ever."
Kerry Doole CORRIERE CANADESE WEEKEND (Oct. 7/07)

"Attributing the pioneer moniker to any performer might sound pretentious, but not when you're talking about Lori Yates. The Book of Minerva offers Yates' voice front and centre and in a stripped down, concentrated and powerful and above all else woeful bliss."
Ric Taylor VIEW MAGAZINE (Sept. 13/07)

"The luminous voice behind Toronto alt-country bands Rang Tango and Hey Stella! makes a long overdue return with the kind of austere, atomspheric ballad you could image being performed by Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch."
John Sakamoto #4 ANTI-HIT LIST, TORONTO STAR (Sept. 22/07)

"Lori Yates is the BEST Canadian vocalist in this country. THE BOOK OF MINERVA is an example of how a pioneer does not gamble with her God given talent. The States have Lucinda Williams, we have Lori Yates."
Lou Molinaro JAMILTON

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"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

Sounds like something I should get! Thanx, Ann!

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Keep it simple

In the middle of the night
We keep sending little kites
Until a little light gets through ~ Patty Griffin

F*ck it, I'm off to the river
Just get me outta here ~ D. Bentall

Its a great CD, I got it when i went to see her at Fuse.

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Go out and see live music

Yes it's a keeper!  brikas, did you post about that show?

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"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

Lori is a multiple award nominee this year at the 2007 Hamilton Music awards and you can catch her here in town that weekend performing as part of the festival on Friday night.

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"Heaven knows, Heaven knows, that's the way it goes. Sometimes Love gets worn like a Crown of Thorns"...Janice Powers, recorded by Blackie & the Rodeo Kings