by Meg Ruddick

Download "Keep Away" by Suzanne Vallie (Right-click or control-click to save to your computer)

Hailing from Vermillion, South Dakota, Suzanne Vallie writes unusual folk songs that are at times sweet and childlike, and at other times haunting and seductive. A roots-y aesthetic runs through her music, and her lyrics paint vivid (and often weird) pictures of small town, rural life. At first listen, I was completely drawn into the stories she sings, from racing dogs to the mailbox to sitting on top of propane tanks to cool off. Her honest, unadorned voice rings beautifully over her often spare arrangements. Vallie's four-song EP, Water Table, is an excellent introduction to her work, but it left me wanting to hear more; hopefully there's a full-length release in the works. I was torn between two of the songs to feature on Second Stage, the rambling country-tinged title track and the closer, "Keep Away." The latter won out with its unusual lyrics, eerie harmonies, and growling electric guitar touches.

You can hear her entire EP plus a few more great songs at her MySpace page.