Search - Heather Nova :: Blow

Nova's most ferocious album; captures her live persona well.

D. Mok | Los Angeles, CA | 03/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This amazing live album kicks off with a bang on "Light Years", one of the most dramatic tracks from Nova's Oyster album. The live arrangement of this song has always been stronger than the studio version, replacing electric guitars with cello, studio sheen with raw emotion. Heather Nova live is a riveting, intense presence, pouring her soul into her vocals, a delivery that's perfect for her unusually frank songs."Sugar" acquires a free-roaming form here that's a little distracting, but it's just about the only weak moment on the whole album. "Maybe an Angel" loses some of its tentativeness (again, as on Oyster) and lets loose with a breeze of sensual vocals; "Blessed" has Nova cutting into a delicious mix of deadpan lyrics and sincere singing; and the rock arrangements of "Mother Tongue" and "Shaking the Doll" add some much-needed grit to the proceedings. Many of Nova's songs have received the power-ballad arrangement over the years, so it's good to hear two of her quieter songs (from the nearly unplugged Glow Stars, which had nary a drum in sight) receive an edgy treatment by Nova and band.Blow is a great sampling of Nova's first two albums, and makes for a good introduction to her music if you're new to the fold."

Blow, or Why Heather Nova is So Amazing

Oswald Muerner | 05/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Heather Nova is an extraordinary musician, and while I love her studio albums, Oyster and Siren often make me think she's not showing her full potential. Well, with this live album, we finally know just how special Heather is. Light Years, a so-so song from Oyster, is fantastic here. I love the climax--when she becomes a screaming banshee at the end, I get goosebumps. Sugar, one of her best songs, is even better live. My only complaint is that it's only nine songs. But I hear she has a new live album coming soon, so I have something to look forward to."

Outrageous

Oswald Muerner | Bern, Schweiz | 10/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First live album of Heather Nova. Contains songs of ?Glow Stars" and of ?Oyster". This outrageous musician succeeds time and again in spellbinding her audience and in carrying people to other worlds. If I am asked, where the Bermudas are, I would say, it's where Heather Nova comes from. She seems to be not from this world, but she certainly is an immense gift for this world. My favorite songs are ?Light Years", ?Sugar", ?Maybe An Angel", ?Blessed" and ?Doubled Up"."