Mindy Smith

A series in Sunday Calendar about what Times writers and contributors are listening to right now... Mindy Smith made her reputation as a somewhat dark country-folk wunderkind with her acclaimed 2004 debut album, “One Moment More,” and its 2006 successor, "Long Island Shores.” She threw some listeners, however, with her last album, 2009's “Stupid Love,” which found her in a generally happier place and playing with edgier sonic...

Singer and songwriter Mindy Smith knows too well the mixed emotions that can come with losing a loved one. When Smith was 19, her mother died of cancer, a loss she explored to great critical acclaim on her 2004 debut album, “One Moment More,” which earned her a place alongside respected singer-songwriters such as Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams. Loss and recovery have been strong themes on her subsequent releases, "Long Island Shores” in 2006 and 2009's “Stupid Love.” She returns to that theme, from a slightly different perspective, on her new collection, “Mindy Smith,” which was released in June on her own Giant Leap Records label.

Singer and songwriter Mindy Smith knows too well the mixed emotions that can come with losing a loved one. When Smith was 19, her mother died of cancer, a loss she explored to great critical acclaim on her 2004 debut album, “One Moment More,” which earned her a place alongside respected singer-songwriters such as Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams. Loss and recovery have been strong themes on her subsequent releases, "Long Island Shores” in 2006 and 2009's “Stupid Love.” She returns to that theme, from a slightly different perspective, on her new collection, “Mindy Smith,” which was released in June on her own Giant Leap Records label.

A series in Sunday Calendar about what Times writers and contributors are listening to right now... Joey + Rory's "His and Hers," the third album from the husband-wife duo Joey and Rory Feek, is a balanced blend of traditional country deep emotion and good-humored irreverence that turns the spotlight more often on hubby Rory's modestly engaging voice after this collection's two predecessors chiefly showcased Joey's sparkling singing. The opening track, “Josephine,” is set against the Civil War but skillfully probes the multiplicity of emotions all soldiers go through not knowing if or when they might come home.

Halloween's still three weeks away, but as far as the music industry is concerned, neither All Hallows Eve nor Thanksgiving gives anyone much reason to celebrate, business-wise. But Christmas is another story.

What's a sensitive singer-songwriter to do? Just a couple of years back, when Mindy Smith was still "Mindy Who?" and just a promising guitarist and songwriter from Long Island, she felt lucky to be playing for attentive, lyric-minded audiences as an opening act for the erudite rock, folk and Americana elite such as John Hiatt, John Prine, Nickel Creek and the Flatlanders.

Mindy Smith smiled a guilty smile -- you get the sense it's the only kind she feels she's entitled to -- as the singer and songwriter listened to the final chord slowly fade out on "Highs and Lows," the first single from her fourth album, "Stupid Love," that was released Tuesday on Vanguard Records. She sat on the couch in a well-equipped converted garage recording studio, a few feet away from Ian Fitchuk and Justin Loucks, who co-produced the album with her. The two men were stationed near the studio's control board during a mixing session on a cold and cloudy day early in the spring, playing recordings they'd been working on together for the previous four months for an outsider for the first time.

A series in Sunday Calendar about what Times writers and contributors are listening to right now... Joey + Rory's "His and Hers," the third album from the husband-wife duo Joey and Rory Feek, is a balanced blend of traditional country deep emotion and good-humored irreverence that turns the spotlight more often on hubby Rory's modestly engaging voice after this collection's two predecessors chiefly showcased Joey's sparkling singing. The opening track, “Josephine,” is set against the Civil War but skillfully probes the multiplicity of emotions all soldiers go through not knowing if or when they might come home.

Most musicians who go after a record contract meet either acceptance or rejection from record industry executives. For an unlucky few, there's a third option -- acceptance and rejection, perhaps the hardest of all to hear. "Most of the time I would get, 'We really like this ... but we can't do anything with it.' I got a lot of that," says Long Island-reared singer-songwriter Mindy Smith, 31.

The latest freshman -- freshwoman? -- country music class assembled by L.A. radio station KZLA-FM (93.9) had all the personalities you'd find in any group of first-year high school or college students.

A series in Sunday Calendar about what Times writers and contributors are listening to right now... Mindy Smith made her reputation as a somewhat dark country-folk wunderkind with her acclaimed 2004 debut album, “One Moment More,” and its 2006 successor, "Long Island Shores.” She threw some listeners, however, with her last album, 2009's “Stupid Love,” which found her in a generally happier place and playing with edgier sonic...

Mindy Smith smiled a guilty smile -- you get the sense it's the only kind she feels she's entitled to -- as the singer and songwriter listened to the final chord slowly fade out on "Highs and Lows," the first single from her fourth album, "Stupid Love," that was released Tuesday on Vanguard Records. She sat on the couch in a well-equipped converted garage recording studio, a few feet away from Ian Fitchuk and Justin Loucks, who co-produced the album with her. The two men were stationed near the studio's control board during a mixing session on a cold and cloudy day early in the spring, playing recordings they'd been working on together for the previous four months for an outsider for the first time.

Halloween's still three weeks away, but as far as the music industry is concerned, neither All Hallows Eve nor Thanksgiving gives anyone much reason to celebrate, business-wise. But Christmas is another story.

What's a sensitive singer-songwriter to do? Just a couple of years back, when Mindy Smith was still "Mindy Who?" and just a promising guitarist and songwriter from Long Island, she felt lucky to be playing for attentive, lyric-minded audiences as an opening act for the erudite rock, folk and Americana elite such as John Hiatt, John Prine, Nickel Creek and the Flatlanders.

The latest freshman -- freshwoman? -- country music class assembled by L.A. radio station KZLA-FM (93.9) had all the personalities you'd find in any group of first-year high school or college students.

Most musicians who go after a record contract meet either acceptance or rejection from record industry executives. For an unlucky few, there's a third option -- acceptance and rejection, perhaps the hardest of all to hear. "Most of the time I would get, 'We really like this ... but we can't do anything with it.' I got a lot of that," says Long Island-reared singer-songwriter Mindy Smith, 31.

Music cheers: Loretta Lynn was named artist of the year, and her album "Van Lear Rose" won the best album award at the third annual Americana Music Awards presented Friday in Nashville. Other winners included Mindy Smith (newcomer), Rodney Crowell (song of the year) and Steve Earle (the Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award).

A list of shows across the Southland, with on-sale dates in parentheses. Staples Center : Bon Jovi, March 4 (now) Gibson Amphitheatre : KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas with AFI and Muse, Dec. 12-13 (Sat.) Angel Stadium: U2, June 7 (Fri.) Walt Disney Concert Hall: Dirty Projectors with the L.A. Philharmonic, Feb. 27 (now) Long Beach Arena: Slayer and Megadeth, Jan. 22 (Sat.) Honda Center: Bon Jovi, Feb. 26 (now) Downtown Palace Theatre: Julian Casablancas, Nov. 20 and 27 (now)