Spiritual Appliances

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

Tracks:

Standing Ground
Life
Kerosene
Edward
Woman Waiting To Happen
I Wish I Could Run
Everything's Red
Dear Tracey
Moment of Grace
Bowl Full of Stars
Come Around
We Are Each Other's Angels
I'm Not Going Anywhere

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:

She knows how to entertain!.......2003-06-01

From the heart, totally from the heart. Don't miss this music from this talented songwriter. Her guitar playing is so authentic and so is her voice.

If you only get one CD of Sara's, make it this one!.......2002-12-19

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.

Another Great Album.......2001-05-14

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.

Magical Melodies.......2000-12-04

An insightful music reviewer once called trying to describe Sara Hickman's music similar to trying to capture moonbeams in a jar. Once you have heard Sara sing, it is safe to predict you will never forget her. The ballad, "Woman Waiting to Happen," makes every woman believe it was written straight from her heart. Her musical range is astonishing; her honesty profound. Go ahead, let a little Sara into your life.

They keep getting better.......2000-05-15

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.

Music Album:

Music Album