Haley Bonar

Someday a fiery revolution will separate untold numbers of young singer-songwriters from their acoustic guitars and drizzly sweet voices, but Haley Bonar should be among those spared. It takes time to cuddle up to Bonar’s 2008 album, Big Star, but there’s a maturing songwriter at work under its demure hush. Fans who stuck by her during a hiatus that found her leaving the Twin Cities for Portland and coming back again are rewarded with her most accessible album to date, 2011’s Golder. Finding new confidence in her strong voice, Bonar sounds right and comfortable on the surging “Candy Machine Gun” and the bouncy piano pop of “Bad For You.”

Updated 06/08/2011