Hush [IMPORT]

Jane Siberry

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 15, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sounds True Direct
• ASIN: B00004X0QU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #102,942 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
After traversing musical territories spanning everything from dance to jazz to folk, vocalist Jane Siberry sets her sights on American and Celtic spirituals. With hints of the slow, layered vocal style of Walela, Siberry covers such standards as "O Shenandoah," and "The Water Is Wide." Unlike the deep, distinctly velvet soul of the Coolidge sisters, Siberry's singing is little more than pretty. "Pontchartrain," a lonely Irish lament accompanied by piano, evokes some emotion, but there's a sense of detachment in Siberry's vocals. In fact, the entire collection suffers from a soft vocal sheen that lacks soul. Many of the songs chosen here are spiritual hymns or laments, music that's rooted in loss, humility, and storytelling. But there's no sense of melancholy here. It's as if Siberry admires these stories more than truly relates to the pain portrayed. It's also difficult to know whether accompanying vocals, which form an impressive Enya-like pillow around Siberry, are Siberry's duplicated voice or those of other singers. No other vocalists are credited. While such singers as Loreena McKennitt can make us feel the desperate ache in a chilling portrayal of "The Highwayman," Siberry's passion for tradition is not apparent. Hence the listener's left feeling a bit soothed, but somewhat empty. --Karen K.Hugg

Product Description
traditonal Celtic and American spirituals (choral Siberry vocals, piano, strings)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Her Halo Is Wonderfully Askew, October 6, 2000

By	William E. Pierce IV "wep4" (Mount Laurel, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yes, I've admittedly been fascinated with the quirkily, endearingly contagiousness of Jane Siberry's music since my first listen. As with her previous work, this CD is to the ears what fairground funnel cake is to the nose--arresting, sweet, and immediately provacative. But, with Jane, that's just the beginning: as you process the familiar words of these childhood songs with all her too strange harmonies and fun house mirror time warps, she sets off the nerve endings, successfully changing physical waves into emotional excitation. The resulting little shivers of "touch" are the hallmark of only a few musicians and artists. Best of all, hers is an insidiously insider-only message delivered to those whose receptors are tuned to all things left of center. Jane's let you share her secret flipbook scene of the angel's halo tilting ever more wonderfully askew.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From HUSH to SHUSHAN THE PALACE, December 13, 2003

By	Jeanette Rowe "$6.50" (Mars) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I differ with the Amazon review of this CD. The emotional level Jane Siberry reveals in Hush comes forth delicately and colorfully as each rendition of the traditional music in Hush is embraced with a sweet reminiscence of hearing and learning these songs in childhood. Her lack of commercialism is to be applauded: just straightforward beautiful music. Hush opened the door for Jane's latest effort, SHUSHAN the Palace, and proves that beautiful music is as everlasting and genuine as those artists who attempt to carry on the tradition of setting the emotion of words and music into song and verse. This highly personalized collection of the songs is a welcome relief for the ears and the soul. The calmness and warmth of this collection left me wanting to hear more. I seriously doubt if any of the corporate labels would have released this CD, which is their loss, and would have been ours have it not been for SHEEBA RECORDS (check out www.sheeba.ca - recordings by Jane Siberry that are listed as "out of print on Amazon, are available there).

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt and simply beautiful, October 31, 2000

By A Customer

I'm always amazed by how differently the same piece of music strikes different people. I couldn't disagree more with the editorial review -- "Hush" is about as heartfelt as it gets. Sadness, joy, loss, pain, wonder, it's all here in ample amounts. And Siberry's vocals (yes, they are all hers) are simply gorgeous. If you liked the layered arrangement of the "Love is Everything" reprise on her brilliant "When I Was A Boy" CD, you'll love what she's done here.

In my humble opinion, Siberry's rendition of "The Water is Wide" is worth the price of this CD alone; it might well be the most beautiful song I've ever heard, and it's definitely the highlight of "Hush." Like the album itself, it meanders and builds, receeds and then blooms into something wonderful when least expected. Thank you, Jane!