Customer Reviews

Siren

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If I had to pick one cd out of my collection of almost 150 as my favorite, Heather Nova's Siren would be it (Oyster would probably be my second or third). It is the most amazing cd I have ever owned. I love almost every single song and can relate to each one of them. Its something about Heather's visceral lyrics expressed by her incredible voice with the instruments in the background that always seem to echo and complement exactly what the song is about. Heather has the most unbelievable voice. It can be gritty and deep (Blood of Me) and it can be soft and high (London Rain) and it can be anything else in between; and it always sounds beautiful. Heather is rare--a truly talented musician. I would recommend this cd to anyone, in any emotional state. This covers them all. If you need proof that this is an amazing cd, just listen to "Paper Cup" which is the most sadly beautiful song I have ever heard. Who can't relate to the words, "Wishful thinking you might be mine?" That song touches my heart every time I hear it. Other exceptional songs (though they are all brilliant) are "Heart and Shoulder"--which basically lives on the WB now--, "Valley of Sound", "Winterblue", "I'm the Girl" and of course "London Rain", which has become a Dawson's Creek staple. All I can say about Siren is that it blows you away. You listen to it and you are overwhelmed by so many various emotions that it takes your breath away. Not much music today can claim to do that. But Heather Nova is an amazing artist who deserves much more recognition than she gets. I also recommend highly her Oyster cd which is just as incredible as Siren. Listen to "Maybe An Angel", "Island", "Heal", "Truth and Bone", and "Walking Higher" and you will fall in love with Oyster too. Heather Nova is truly one of the most talented artists around today and Siren is the kind of cd you listen to once and can't stop listening to ever again. It becomes a part of you.

I was watching the television show Felicity when I heard the song "Valley of Sound" and thought it was so beautiful. When I found out that it was sung by Heather Nova, I rushed out to listen to the rest of her CD. It was simply amazing! Nova is a truly talented musician (she writes all of her own songs). Her voice is exceptionally soothing to listen to and it may remind you of another great songwriter and singer, Sarah McLachlan. The songs have wonderful melodies (especially "London Rain") and well-written lyrics. It is the kind of music that would be perfect for those long cross-country drives. If you do not already own the Siren CD, you should definitely add it to your collection!

P.S. If anyone out there knows of other singers whose music sounds similar to Heather Nova, please let me know!

Siren is the one Heather Nova album (I have them all) that took time for me to grow into. This is where the passion that's identified Nova's previous works is reined in, replaced by a pop tunesmith's instinct, glam-rock influences and, overall, a quieter approach.

Her lyrics remain poetic and daring, characterized by their bohemianism, but Siren offers a new twist, an optimism (especially towards the topic of love) that comes through in the melodies, arrangements, and lyrics. "London Rain" is the song that both turned off longtime Nova fans and roused new ones to their feet in concert, a simple pop tune without the usual Nova dynamics and soaring vocals. But dig deeper and the old Heather Nova still rears her head: "Blood of Me" is one of her best songs, an intense, powerful surge that's almost tribal in power. "Heart and Shoulder" is another somewhat middle-of-the-road ditty, with a bassline and guitar sound that recall U2's "With or without You" "I'm Alive" slows down to nearly a crawl, and "Winterblue" creates a marvellous build, going from softly ringing guitars to a full-out strings-and-rock-band (the top-notch strings courtesy of Anne Dudley) climax.

My first impression of this album was that Nova had mellowed out a little. Her songwriting skill and vocal prowess, however, once again came through beautifully. Siren is the Nova album that can be enjoyed the most without most of the pain and intensity that comes with the rest of her work. Out of her catalogue so far, this is the closest to ear candy.

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.

Excellent, moody CD that is both surreal and uneven in spots. Not for everybody, but for those who like the neo-chicklit rockers, you might just have a love affair with this collection.

The very first song I EVER heard by Heather Nova was "Island" from the "Oyster" album. That song would have a profound effect on anyone. It was so beautiful, I was rendered speechless. I sat in my chair in the the DJ booth at school and stared at the equipment. I had just grabbed anything that I could reach, she happened to be it. I read the back of the cover and just picked a song randomly by their titles...I picked a VERY good one. Hearing that song changed me and my interpretation of what music really was. Coming from an abusive home, this song touched me. Anyway, moving on. I found out that her latest record (at the time) was Siren. I combed every record store in town until I found it and bought it immediately. Imagine my relief when it wasn't awful, phew. The first track "London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do)" was the perfect begining to the perfect album. After listening to the album all the way through a couple of songs stood out in particular..."Winterblue", "Papercup", "Not Only Human", and "What a Feeling" are only the ones that come to mind right now...you have to listen to the album to truly appreciate it. Let's all pray that she doesn't go mainstream...remember Green Day? That is all the needs to be said.

This album is incredibly beautiful. I had heard Heather Nova's "London Rain" on the Dawson's Creek Soundtrack, and i fell in love with her voice and the song immediately. Not having heard such perfect music in a song time, i bought her Siren CD on an impulse, hoping that the rest of the CD would be as pleasant as "London Rain." And you know what? It was 10 times better.
Heather Nova writes all of her music and lyrics, and her honest lyrics follow in the footsteps of Fiona Apple, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, etc. Yet she is not in any way a female modern musician wannabe. Her voice is pure, refreshing, and almost child like. One listens to her and is transported to another place. And her music is so pleasant; it can be listened while cooking or dancing or even sleeping.
Each song on Siren is unique. Some songs are incredibely soft and slow, like "Valley of Sound," "Paper Bag," and "What a Feeling." Others feature a slightly harder beat, like "I'm the Girl," that has a rock edge. And others have an unusual sound, like "Not Only Human," which in my opinion is her best song on Siren. All her songs are writen honestly, yet with no anger, heavy sadness, or hate, so there is not a depressing feeling when listening.
I must say that Siren is one of my favorite CDs of the hundreds in my collection. Heather Nova is a truly talented beautiful artist, and I hope she continues to flourish and grace listeners with her angelic music.

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.

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.

'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.