Customer Reviews

Sound of White

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Forget about the British invasion. The real deal now is the Aussie take-off. We giggled at the sight of Kylie back when she came out, but now she stands as a huge force in popular culture. Even her sister managed to break free from the shackles of teeny-bopper land. Then Natalie Imbruglia bursts onto the scene popularizing Australian imports even more and stripping the genre of pop away from it.
Nowadays, a young folkie by the name of Missy Higgins is getting a lot of buzz and deservedly so. Higgins released the docile, yet pleasant The Sound Of White after a trip backpacking across Europe. Wavering between a young Aimee Man and a direct Natalie Merchant, the newbie shines through other attempts of college café ditties.
The album starts out with the track that has landed her the record deal "All For Believing" - a track that encompasses stark sentimentality with urge of forgiveness. The kind of song one would listen to in order to stay in a relationship.
The soft-heartedness continues with the standout of "Ten Days," which is another hymn for the troubled, yet with a tone of desperation so honed it would make "Un-Break My Heart" sound crass.
Then comes the slightly upper-tempo "Scar." This further sets the air for the album, which carries the same theme of a tumultuous relationship throughout.
But, the jitteriness ends with the melancholy "Don't Ever" through the lonesome "Katie"
Then more dejected moments arise with the arresting "The Special Two," which finds Higgins in both a figurative and literal stupor.
The Sound Of White is a diary of thought for the forlorn. In almost every song Higgins can't stand the situation she is in. It continues on with melodic aptitude and remains fey throughout. This is very depressing, but in the good sense. Only a few people can pull off sad music and Higgins joins that group.

Let's get a few things straight about this album - I know people who don't like it, but they were under the impression that it was something it wasn't:

Firstly, Higgins' accent isn't fake. There's plenty of Australians who speak exactly like that, and there's plenty who don't. Not all Aussies speak like Steve Irwin (thank goodness), or Missy Higgins. So, if you have an Aussie friend, and they speak with a different accent to what you're hearing from Higgins, that can be perfectly normal. She speaks with the same accent as she sings - and it never changes. It's not "put on" to appeal to anyone.

Secondly - I'm getting the impression that many people are buying the album expecting all the songs on it to be similar to "Scar", a song that seems to be internationally famous. In fact, "Scar" is the exception, rather than the rule, and the rest of her work is rather different.

What this work is, however, are songs driven by real acoustic instruments, often with absolutely no drums driving the beat. The songs feature a substantial amount of acoustic guitar and piano, not surprisingly, since these are played by Higgins herself. If you don't like music without a heavy bass backing, move right along, there's probably nothing for you in this album.

You can't dance to the music - and you'd be nuts to try to, too. This is music to listen to, and if you've got the right ear, it's also music you can play on your own piano, with its simple, but appealing melodies. Listen to the music - and you'll find another rarity in modern music. That is, lyrics that make sense.

I'm admittedly a little biased, not because I'm Aussie, but because I'm a fan of Higgins' work, and have been ever since she was playing in small venues as a support act.

Kylie Minogue and Delta Goodrem might have the spotlight internationally and even domestically here, but personally, I think that Higgins is the best of the three, and most definitely the least 'mainstream'. To make a comparison to Goodrem - Higgins plays her songs in a similar style to the more piano-driven songs in her first album, "Innocent Eyes".

This music is more ballad than pop - and if people that buy it realise that beforehand, it'd probably ease a bit of disappointment with what is in fact a great CD.

Another way to ease the disappointment of a misguided purchase is to listen to the music at Higgins' own website. If it's your type of music, it's very likely you'll be compelled to buy the album. It's worth it.

I heard Missy Higgins for the first time on a mix CD a friend gave me after she came back from Australia, and I fell in love with the song "Nightminds." It is a beautiful song - very raw and emotional and Missy's voice is truly haunting. Then I listened to a few of her other songs on Amazon and bought the CD thinking that it was going to be a good album, but I was sorely mistaken because this CD is PHENOMENAL!

The first time I listened to the entire CD I liked it and thought her voice was pretty in an unusual sort of way and that her lyrics were interesting. However the music just grew on me and within three or four times listening to the album I have discovered so much more than just a talented singer/songwriter. Ms. Higgins is a musical genius, capable of tapping into every sort of human emotion, with a voice and likabilty that will surely make her a huge star. One a selfish level, I wish I could keep this CD as my little secret, but its just too incredible not to tell everyone about.

I would recommend this CD to anyone with an interest in really great and original music. Also, she's won't just appeal to women - my husband loves the CD as well.

I don't know what a couple of people who reviewed this are talking about! Just this morning I heard an extensive interview with Missy on the radio and she speaks just as she sings: perfectly Australian (and proud of it, I might add) and perfectly amazing! She is authentic, raw and inspiring. Her songs are pure talent and her voice shines. I don't know how all you gentlemen feel but this is THE girl album of the century...it's inventive, smart, heart wrenching, soul revealing and STRONG. Please get this album, it will change your life!

I think I first heard the song: "The Special Two" on an episode of The O.C and I loved it. I purchased the CD and am pleased through and through.

She reminds me of a cross between Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. She is a great writer and pianist. Most of her music is her and a piano with more of a slow, mellow and relaxing mood to them. The songs that do have some percussion on them are amazing too. She has a very nice and soothing voice. I like pretty much all the songs on here with exception of maybe 2.

Standout tracks include: "The Special Two", "Any Day Now", "Katie" & "Scars"

It's a must have if you like Tori or Fiona Apple.....it's very good: lyrically and musically.

I was once sitting on a bench in the dark one night and a girl came out of a door nearby holding a baby and she sang Lisa Loeb's 'Stay (I Missed You)' to the child to send her off to sleep. I sat in silence, hearing this girl singing to her baby in an angelic voice, and for the duration of the song it seemed they were the only two people in the world. It was the most touching experience of my life. Since then I've bought millions of albums by female artists, trying to find one that managed to capture that feeling of witnessing something by accident that is so pure and personal it changes your whole outlook. In Missy Higgins' The Sound of White, I found it.

She has the strength of Pink without the self-pity; the poetry of Jewel minus the preachiness; the catchiness of Avril without the whininess; the originality of Alanis, putting aside the ego; the individuality of Lisa Loeb without the childishness; the distinctiveness of Norah Jones and the power of Eva Cassidy, with better songs; a voice more expressive than Sara MacLachlan and Delta Goodren; and a talent and energy well in excess of Vanessa Carlton. It is an amazing thing to draw together so many disparate threads into something that feels compact and whole, as if it was always meant to be, but Missy Higgins pulls it off and then some.

The songs on The Sound of White are something of a paradox, being simultaneously intimate and universal, laid-back and intense, moving and uplifting. It is perhaps a facet of her voice, which conveys both strength and vulnerability in the same breath. I do not know why, here in the UK, nobody has ever heard of her, but I am certain it will not be long before she's topping the album charts. In short, I cannot commend this album enough.

I'd recommend anyone into the above artists, or those into the 'bedsit crooner' style currently popular in the form of Damian Rice and James Blunt, to check out Missy Higgins and see what perfection really sounds like.

A friend gave me this CD, which I stashed away to collect dust for awhile. I came across it recently and decided to give it a try. It's amazing! Her accent and vocals are beautiful and the lyrics to the songs are deep and meaningful. There aren't many tracks on the CD I skip over and each time I listen to it, I skip over fewer and fewer. My favorite tracks are "Ten Days," "Scar," "Don't Ever," and "The Special Two." I would highly recommend this CD. If you like Missy Higgins, you might also want to check out Tristan Prettyman. I recently came across her CD and it's also similarly amazing, only slightly more upbeat.

This CD is just awesome..her lyrics are fantastic and her singing voice has a sarcastic edge to it that makes it so Aussie I can't even explain it.

I can't believe all this babble about her accent being fake. She is from Melbourne, a city founded primarily by free Settlers, as opposed to Irish Convicts in Sydney and Hobart. The free settlers were often of Scottish (as well as a Irish and a few Scouses) decent which makes the Melbourne accent slightly different to Sydney, its more nasal, like a Kiwi accent is.. So for all you babbling on about how a freakin Aussies sounds (I doubt many of you seppos (Americans) know the word is pronounced Ozzie not Ussie, like Ozzie Osbourne and or how to actually pronounce Melbourne) all the Aussies are saying she is dinkie die true blue mate (and yeah thats means really Australian)..so why not listen to us.

I've just recently returned to the States after two years living in Australia. I discovered Missy while in Oz and have been spreading the word to my Stateside friends ever since.

The posters (actually the fractured grammer sounds like the SAME poster) who thinks her accent is fake just makes me laugh... She is as genuine Aussie as Drizabone and TimTams...;)

Can't wait for the new CD to be completed.

Oh and go the Socceroos!!!

I saw/heard Missy Higgins on the David Letterman show, I had never heard of her before, and based on one song I decided to try this CD. I'm so glad I did. She's one of those singers who just grab you and her writing is terrific. I like all of the songs on the CD, which is rare for me. She's a pleasure to listen to. I'm glad I stay up late!