marq@APPLE.COM (Marq Laube) (11/15/89)
Here's my list of Jane albums with descriptions:
_Jane Siberry_ Her debut album. The lyrics sparkle with originality,
even when the subject could have been attacked predictably.
For example, she has a song about a shallow girl who wants
to convince her lover that he's not buying her love with
frivolous things. (But she's *dying* for dresses...).
I just got this album, so I'm not that familiar with it.
The hilight seems to be her first "circular lyric" (a lyric
that she repeats over and over, layered with bizaree
harmonies, until your head spins. On later albums she uses
this device expertly) at the end of the Wolf song: "Send
some good things down on this earth tonight."
_No Borders Here_ This album, like Kate's _Never Forever_, is Jane's just-
about-to-break-through-and-be-pop-goddess album, and
therefore, while brilliant, is spotty and uneven.
However, Map of the World part I is on this album, and
may be the most Sensual treat I've ever heard. Question:
do the sounds in this song sound natural, like wings
flapping and crickets chirping, or do they sound mechanical,
like machinery grinding?
_The Speckless Sky_ Wow. There isn't much like this album anywhere. It is
so completely energetic -- so completely original, it's
hard to describe. The highlight is probably Vladimir,
Vladimir, a song (about what I could not tell you) that
is the most musically moving song I've ever heard. She
is purposefully manipulating your every second in this
song, and she knows how to do it! Any theories about this
song's lyrics are greatly appreciated...
_The Walking_ In my opinion, the best album ever made. It's has the
unmatchable original Sibbery-style of _The Speckless Sky_,
but on this album, instead of energetic, she is contemplative,
angry, and very alone. This album does not have one highlight.
_bound by the beaty_ Boy, was I disappointed! I was at the point of crying
when this album appeared. How could she do it? How
could she give up the style that she had created that
was solely hers for imitations of Country Western???
Of course, after listening to it a few times, I
realized what a complete genius she was, and she could
probably sing lyrics from a technical manual in
monotone with only a jew harp for music and still make
it delightful. "Hockey" is probably my favorite from
this album; it's probably the only one that completely
evokes another world when your listening to it.
Well, that's it!
-Marq