Laura Veirs' songs are steeped in natural imagery, blending influences ranging from folk to blues to punk. A Seattle resident by way of Colorado, Veirs' background in geology and kinship with the rugged landscape she grew up in meld together with her punk performing roots to form an unusual musical outlook. Her collaborators on 2004's Carbon Glacier, The Tortured Souls, reflect this vision of a style that spans rock, jazz, and avant-garde: producer/drummer Tucker Martine has collaborated with Bill Frisell, Jim White, and Modest Mouse; viola player Eyvind Kang performs with Beck and Frisell while leading his own ensemble; Lori Goldston, who toured with Nirvana, plays cello; Steve Moore adds trombone and keyboards; and Karl Blau contributes bass, guitar, and vocals (both Moore and Blau are veterans of the Northwest underground folk and rock community).