[.ca] Siren

Uneven, brilliant in spots:
I continue to root for Heather Nova with no evidence to support being a fan - she has yet to make a great album, and Siren, her WB-touted "breakthrough," is at least 50% filler ("What a Feeling" is so sleepy, I'm lapsing into a coma just writing about it). I think that I remain a fan because of songs that pop out of nowhere that prove to be unique and winning - they don't happen much, but when you least expect them, they're there. I'm thinking of "I'm Alive," "Ruby Red," or the single "London Rain" that push Nova's spritely voice into something that proves passionate and exciting.

Siren works.:
'Siren' is by far Heather's best album. It's got the delightful brilliance in lyrics as Oyster with a sound that is different yet so familiar at the same time. Heather's vocals are fantastic! Her songs are captivating and mesmorizing. Highlights : I'm Alive, Winterblue, Blood Of Me, Paper Cup. Definitely in my top ten best albums of all time. If you buy one CD in the next year, buy this.

Beautiful voice:
She has a great song style, it's just gorgeous. My favorite songs on this are probably London Rain, I'm the Girl, Heart and Shoulder and I'm Alive. Very well written, she's a great songwriter as well as singer. She puts alot of heart into her songs, if you like this one also check out her newer cd South, it's awesome as well. She has a sound all her own and never apoligizes for it, I really think she's underrated. If you love soulful lyrics and great melodies then get this. I'm also a big fan of Sarah McLachlan and their styles are similar.

Awesome!!!!!!!:
First i have to thank ''Felicity'' on the WB for making me discover these wonderful songs. I heard heart and shoulder and valley of sounds on the show and immediately went online to find out who sang these songs. I then ordered the cd and was so happy to listen to it cause then i discovered What a feeling, Papercup, Not only Human. A cd tha makes my collection. Ive had it for 5 years and i still listen to it with the same excitement and passion. Heather nova rocks!!!!! These songs are so moving, they each remind me of a part of my life. You go girl!!!!!

"Siren", thy name is Heather Nova:
Heather Nova is one of those artists not only blessed with a remarkable voice but with a gift for writing beautiful lyrics, as well. I adore this album as it touches me emotionally on several levels, not just the musical one. So many of her songs apply to the struggles we all go through in our everyday life. "Heart and Shoulder", for instance, deals with depression and how it's not easy standing on the outside, trying to lend a helpful hand. But you can still try. "...And you're down and you're down And I can't lift you I'm powerless to change your world I'm powerless to stop the hurt I'll give you my heart, give you my shoulder Give you my heart, give you my shoulder..." "What a feeling" is another one of those songs that just take you in, and hold you tightly in its grasp. Nova wraps her voice around the lyrics so softly that you can't help but fall head over heals for the way she sings. "... And I can see the winter fade I don't feel so afraid it's clearing What a feeling What a feeling..." "I'm alive" is a very haunting and mesmerizing song that just stirs up all kinds of emotions inside of me, maybe because it can apply to just about anything and everything. Gorgeous song. "... But I'm alive; I survived you All the bitter taste, the years I wasted All the hate is gone cause I'm alive Ride on and fade away There's nothing more to say..." "Paper cup" is such a beautiful, beautiful song and Nova's voice really shines through in this one, along with the lyrics, which just complements the song perfectly. "... And everything stands so still when you dance Everything spins so fast And the night's in a paper cup When you want it to last..." The last song on the album, "Not only human", is a fitting way to end with and nicely combines her unique voice with the amazing lyrics that tell us that maybe we're not alone in this. "... There's a power when you're near me In our heads or in our bones I know nothing but I'm guessing When we die we're not alone" Possibly, although it's almost impossible to choose, my favorite is the first song on the album, "London Rain". I feel like taking the world into my arms whenever I listen to it, it just makes me real happy. "... I'm coming home to you I'm alive I'm a mess I can't wait to get home to you To get warm and undressed /.../ So keep me in your bed all day Nothing heals me like you do..." Such a wonderful love song. Buy this album. I can't imagine how you could not love it.

• London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do)
• Blood of Me
• Heart and Shoulder
• What a Feeling
• Valley of Sound
• I'm the Girl
• Winterblue
• I'm Alive
• Widescreen
• Paper Cup
• Avalanche
• Make You Mine
• Ruby Red
• Not Only Human