Tonight's Top Stop: Emily Haines

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IN THE DANCE-ROCK BAND METRIC, vocalist Emily Haines sings somewhat choppy lyric lines that fit the up-tempo music. But on her solo debut, "Knives Don't Have Your Back," her voice emerges as surprisingly strong and lush.

"It's really nice to perform with the voice as an instrument," Haines said, "to explore other dynamics than singing over a rock 'n' roll band — although I love rock 'n' roll."

"Knives" is a low-key, melancholic, piano-heavy affair, influenced by such art-rock songwriters as Robert Wyatt and jazz composer Carla Bley. Haines' lyrics are whip-smart, which might have something to do with her being the daughter of the late poet Paul Haines. She's also a wit: "The Maid Needs a Maid," whose title riffs on an old Neil Young song, includes the sarcastic lines, "Bros before hos is a rule/Read the guidelines," and "The Lottery" opens with "I only wanted what everyone wanted since bras started burning up ribs in the '60s."

Haines has said a lot of singer-songwriters are "hacks," but that's not to say she hates the label. "What I was referring to is that there seems to be a false earnestness to a lot of singer-songwriters that's not earned," she said. "It's a real craft, and I've hesitated for a long time to put this side of my writing out in the world for this exact reason. I think you have to be really qualified to do it, and I think really great songwriters are among the best minds — the most inspiring people."

» 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW; with The Tall Firs, 7:30 p.m. doors, $15;202-265-0930. (U St.-Cardozo)

Photo by Norman Wong