Audio Mixer: Edward Douglas.

Recording information: Mott Street Space (12/1994).

Editor: Oliver Strauss.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Steve Shelley; Tim Foljahn; Chan Marshall.

Recorded quickly with bassist Tim Foljahn and drummer Steve Shelley from her previous album, WHAT WOULD THE COMMUNITY THINK? and released quietly on Shelley's part-time Smells Like label, MYRA LEE isn't the tossed-off marking-time effort you might expect. Chan (pronounced Shawn) Marshall's acoustic guitar-based tunes are always rather sparse, and this is by far her most skeletal album, the near-subliminal backing placing her clear voice and disquieting lyrics front and center throughout.

Opening with the quiet desperation of "Enough," the bleakness continues on the blues-inflected "We All Die" and a simply heartbreaking solo rendition of Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love With You." It's not all slit-your-wrists material--"Not What You Want" and the rueful "Wealthy Man" are more dismissive than anguished--but MYRA LEE is a stark and powerful folk-based acoustic pop album.