The folk singer Ana Egge puts together a relaxed collection of covers on the appropriately titled album Lazy Days. With song titles like “Summer Wastin’” and “It’s My Lazy Day,” the album meditates on the simple pleasures of leisure time. Egge’s has a gorgeous voice that’s slightly rough around the edges as she sings warm adaptations to classics by Gene Autry, the Kinks, and other artists.

Egge shows her skills on bottleneck slide guitar, mandolin, and piano. With the help of her band, she adds a natural style to slow Americana and folk. Anton Fier and cellist Jane Scarpantoni keep a steady marching beat with some distant horns on their rendition of Arcade Fire’s “In the Backseat.” “Summer Wastin” has a simple, effortless feel that isn’t too far off from the original by Belle and Sebastian.

Egge has earned praise from several notable artists including Lucinda Williams, who called Egge a “folk Nina Simone.” She’s also shared the stage with Ron Sexsmith, Shawn Colvin, and Sinead O’Connor. In July 2007, Egge won The Mountain Stage New Song Regional Competition in New York City.

Second Stage – NPR