I had the fortune to hear Erica Wheeler live almost a year ago at Bryn Mawr College, and though I had intended to spend the evening buried in my studies, I was eventually drawn out of my books by Wheeler's smoky voice, humor and vibrant songs. I was rather disappointed with my schoolmates' turnout -- there were perhaps fifteen people in attendance -- but I did have to remind myself that midterms were upon us. I was sad, however, that most of them wouldn't know that they'd missed one of the best performers to come through that year.

Immediately after her performance, I approached the lady herself and bought her second album, The Harvest. Part of the attraction to the music came from my familiarity with her frequent subjects of the Northeast, small towns, travelling and contemplating the quirks of the world. One of what must be countless female songwriters who could be compared with Dar Williams or Beth Orton, Wheeler remains unique and impressive in her country/folk-rock sound.

Wheeler's greatest strength is her ability to paint familiar but vivid vignettes of life ranging from the concrete experience of working in a small town tavern to how it feels to watch a dear friend regain lost confidence. Whether she's describing the rhythm of traveling or the freedom of finally deciding to discard a damaging relationship, the clarity of her lyrics and music is undeniable.

From the first cut on Three Wishes, "Onward from Here," I fell into the wonderful beat which pushes all of her songs along. The ever-present connection in her lyrics between geography and one's emotional state is apparent all the way through the album but manages never to embrace cheesiness. The later "Casey, Illinois" is another prime example of this type of song.

"January Wind" continues the feeling of the Northeast and awareness of the natural environment that marked The Harvest. Here her lyrics follow a train of thought perfectly, reflecting the beauty of the connections that a wandering mind can make. "Frozen River" continues the theme of nature and landscape, but quickly turns inward toward emotional territory. The song simply embodies the longing for a loved one, the need for a "warm look to take the chill away."

"Jack's Tavern" is the song with the strongest sense of scene. The description, from the point of view of the tavern waitress, manages to be both precise and free, allowing the listener to fill in what they need to make a complete image. When describing a regular customer, the lyrics really take off: "He carries his secrets in his shoulders and the soles of his feet." "Nowhere to Go" also revels in the descriptions of small-town life, this time chronicling the decline of a town and all of the emotions that go with it.

"Laying It Down" is perhaps the angriest song on the album, and though singular, it is no less precise in its rendering of the pain and subsequent freedom of declaring the end of a relationship. The beat is quick and fierce and the pulsing guitar alone vibrates with determination.

"Angeline" is a very traditional ballad of hardship and the weight of family history conflicting with romance. Although in some ways I was put off by the expected chorus, crooning Angeline's name, I was drawn in by the dark images Wheeler provokes along with the shifting, minor guitars, making the story painful and beautiful. "I can't find my sleep in the shadows / So deep the ties that bind / Dark as the doubts in my mind."

"Solace of a Prayer" quickly became a favorite. A gentle song, it perfectly describes close friendship, especially the kind that has developed over years so that understanding that friend becomes second nature. The silent encouragement of that kind of relationship is crisply drawn in "Solace of a Prayer," emphasizing the isolation that people need to regain their strength and sense of purpose regained after a particularly crushing blow.

"Angels" and "Saturday" finish off the album on an optimistic note, describing respectively the energy and empowering nature of love and the quiet solace that hours spent in silence with a lover can give. "Angels" is a higher energy song, encouraging at least a sway from the listener. "Saturday" urges you to sit back with your cup of coffee to take stock of the best things in your life.

From The Harvest to Three Wishes, Erica Wheeler has both grown and remained true to her own voice. The music feels more polished, the composer more sure, and the lyrics echo that advancement. Without a doubt, Erica can only continue to grow and create a distinct and rich sound.