The Sound Of A Breakthrough Artist (The Sound Of White - Missy Higgins)

Member Name: mary_eloise

Product:	The Sound Of White - Missy Higgins
Date:	29/07/08 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful relaxing music with delightful lyrics

Disadvantages: There isn't much variety of styles throughout the album, just fast and slow.

This is the first album from Australian singer/songwriter Missy Higgins. She is an incredibly talented woman whose songs all have wonderful lyrics. This album is simplistic in terms of musical backing, usually just simple piano music with some quiet drums or guitar to accompany it.

The album has a good mix of slow ballad songs such as The Special Two, Ten Days, The Sound Of White and Don't Ever. The rest of the album is more upbeat and bouncy with twinkly piano trills.


Track Listing:

"All for Believing"
"Ten Days"
"Scar"
"Don't Ever"
"Nightminds"
"Unbroken"
"Any Day Now"
"Katie"
"The River"
"The Special Two"
"This Is How It Goes"
"The Sound of White"
"They Weren't There" (Hidden Track, starts around 4:20)

Opinion:

There is not a single awful track on this album, although Unbroken and Casualty (Australian release only) aren't at the same level as the others.

I cannot pick a standout track or a favourite, The Sound Of White is amazing, especially when played through with They Weren't There following on afterwards.

The River is a wonderful song with a devastating story of a child suicide at the heart of it. The idea sounds distasteful but it is done with such beauty that it doesn't seem that way when you listen to it.

'And when she reached the river her knees began to shiver,
Her head with pounding voices from home.
Behind her was a vision, a painful apparition
Of a darker world that no-one should know. '

The Special Two and Ten Days are two gorgeous songs about being apart from loved ones, which were written while she was on holiday away from her long term boyfriend.

The way in which Missy Higgins manages to convey so many emotions and feelings through words is truly commendable, her poetic talents are unmatched in Australian music today (although Idlewild and Oysterband are pretty decent).

Overall:

Ultimately this review is immensly positive as she is my favourite artist of all time, listen to this album and you'll see why.

Summary: Think Joni Mitchell but less depressing