We’ve all had those ear-opening moments.  Like when you first heard Kurt Cobain’s vocals braying on Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit (for us, on a San Francisco on-ramp onto the Bay Bridge headed east).  Tapping into a similar source and vein these days is one of our favorite female artists, Jessica Lea Mayfield.

Despite putting out one of the Best Albums of 2011 in Tell Me and receiving deserved critical acclaim, Mayfield has been radio-silenced since that album and tour in support (we caught her last at the 2011 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival).  As we said about her in 2011, Mayfield molds great melodies and pens penetrating lyrics, and then delivers them with laconic vocals that remind us of Lucinda Williams coupled with Neko Case.  But after 2011 she disappeared for a time.

Thankfully, as mentioned in February, she’s now back with a vengeance and a new album entitled Make My Head Sing.  As you will see below, she’s broken out, unbridled, with a new twist that makes no effort to hide the influence of Cobain and Nirvana.  Gone are the softer, country-influenced elements, replaced by Jessica’s grungy guitar playing.  Check her out below on KDHX leading the way on the new album’s No Fun. After, check out her older gem, I Wanna Love You, revved up a bit compared to Tell Me’s approach. Mayfield heads out next month on a tour of North America (including Cali in June) and the tour dates/tickets can be found HERE.  And do go buy Make My Head Sing HERE