Search - Heather Nova :: Siren

Calm & Collective

C. Heath | Seattle, WA USA | 02/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an album that has stood the test of time in my collection. I originally purchased it years ago, back when my musical preferences didn't include anything too alternative or rocky. "Siren" was my first taste of something with a little more meat on the bones. It's intricate and deep, involving complex emotions and a voice that commands your attention. If memory serves me right, I bought this album because I liked the cover art. This is a practice that has served me well over the years, and especially with this album, I was not disappointed. There's a lot of grit, drama and soaring falsetto vocals throughout this album. I would later find out just how tame "Siren" is, compared to "Oyster". Despite the smoothed and slightly more produced quality, "Siren" makes a big loud, girlishly strong statement anyway.



Heather Nova's vocal sharpness is obvious from the starter track, "London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do). When comparing to earlier tracks, "London..." almost sounds like a lullaby, is easy on the ears and with the right promotion could have swept the airwaves to become a hit single. Back in the day, I adored "I'm The Girl" (probably because `girl power' was still reigning at that time). While there are lots of intriguing and creative lyrics in the song, nowadays it seems like there's a bit missing, as if the song is a bit too subdued despite it's attempt at assertiveness. It's a great song nonetheless and sees Heather singing with the usual vocal spark she possesses. There are several ready-for-radio tracks, like "Widescreen", a song with a memorable chorus and lots of addictive guitar riffs. Others like "Heart and Shoulder" and "What A Feeling" reveal a softer side of Heather, making for memorable ballads. The piano in "What A Feeling" is particularly beautiful in its simplicity. "Paper Cup" and "Valley of Sound" both sound very folksy and bounce like a butterfly on a light breeze. They're both easy-to-swallow ethereal pieces with sensitivity strewn throughout. "Ruby Red" might be the most experimental track on the album, with a fantastic bass solo opening the piece and finally broadening into a fast-paced lyrical confession. Heather does `vulnerable' extremely well here. "Make You Mine" and "Blood of Me" are the hardest rocking tracks on the album, but are still considered more pop than rock.



This is one of Heather's most commercially appealing albums, though the raw art of "Oyster" still lingers throughout much of it. As a whole, the album flows very well from start to finish and is wonderfully cohesive without feeling like its trying too hard to be exclusive. The music and lyrics seem very natural and real. The songwriting is a bit more mature and Heather's style has changed a bit, but the girl with pent up hostility and vulnerability is still there."

Heather Nova / Siren

durang503 | 03/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every one of her songs are different, you won't hear the same thing over and over again. She has a definite style of her own, unique. I purchased this Cd for a couple of songs but all of them have grown on me, I highly recommend this Cd."