Spiritual Appliances

Sara Hickman

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 22, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shanachie
• ASIN: B000047864
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #187,832 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
For one who has long labored under the shadow of Shawn Colvin and Nanci Griffith, Sara Hickman shows little interest in throwing off such comparisons. Her sixth release and first full production effort follows those singer-songwriters' pop turns with songs so upbeat and affirmative that they sound like an adult contemporary answer to Chicken Soup for the Soul. Hickman has grown more militantly eclectic with each release, tossing in flutes, french horns, sitars, and dijeridoos with kid-in-the-candy-store discrimination, and even when she scores a memorable tune--like the jaunty opener "Standing Ground"--she tends to lose the melody to battle-of-the-band hubris. Moodier numbers like "Kerosene" (an ode to lust) and "Dear Tracey" (a wah-wah croon for a lost friend) are more revealing showcases for her sexy phrasing and smart turns-of-phrase. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They keep getting better, May 15, 2000

By A Customer

Sara's albums just keep getting better. This and her last, "Two Kinds of Laughter" seem to be coming-of-age albums, containing more complex arrangements and a wider variety of styles and sounds than those heard in the past. The variety of emotions contained on this album express Sara's personality, but the album has an overall calming effect, something new for Sara, who often makes listeners want to dance, sing along, or find a playground. But most importantly, Sara's vocals continue to be the focus -- and with a voice like hers, that's as it should be.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you only get one CD of Sara's, make it this one!, December 18, 2002

By	Jim G (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This is by far my favorite Sara CD yet. The range of songs, the expressive lyrics, the catchy melodies - why is this woman forced into 'hiatus' while other people (who have less talent than in Sara's little FINGER) are pushed on the music-buying public like so much PRODUCT!

The songs Kerosene, Woman Waiting To Happen, Bowl Full Of Stars, Standing Ground, Everything's Red, I'm Not Going Anywhere, Come Around, all have a permanent place in my top-favorite-songs-lists...

If you like acoustic guitar, pop-folk songs, GREAT vocals, thought-provoking lyrics, you NEED to check this album (or any of Sara's) out.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Album, May 14, 2001

By	Joseph P. Wieske "JP Wieske -coffee freak" (green bay, wi USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really can't understand why Sara Hickman is not huge. Her songs are catchy, her lyrics can be both fun and astute (and sometimes at the same time). Reviews from independent groups (Rolling Stone and the All Music Guide) give her strong praise. I enjoy this album thoroughly. I own more than 300 cd's and Sara Hickman always remains at the top of the rotation. This album is extremely enjoyable. Bowl Full of Stars is fun and catchy, I wish I could run is great. Standing Ground, Life, and many of the others are enjoyable and fun. If you purchase this album, I believe your favorite song will shift with each listening. I've listened to the album 15-20 times and I still want to hear it again.