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“Stellar.
Just freaking stellar! There's no other way to describe this.” Intro/general thoughts: Looking at Sianna Lyons’ press photo, my first thought was "Hey, she looks like Gillian Anderson!" My second thought was "Jeez, I hope she doesn't sing like Gillian Anderson." My fears were immediately put to rest when I popped her debut CD, "Songland" into my CD player. Lyons has a sweet, ethereal voice that is heavenly in its clarity. Combine that with some great music, and you've got an artist worthy of the pop charts, with Tori Amos and Kate Bush. Type of Music: Pop/Alternative Hometown: Boston, MA Notable: Lyons' song "Otherwise" reached the top ten on UK-based Firewall Record's Global Internet Chart, and was chosen for their compilation album, "Millennium 2." She also wrote the title song, and performed the role of "The Singer" in the 1996 independent film "Going Home." Another Notable: This is just damn impressive: Lyons vocal range is 5+ ( yes, FIVE) octaves. And not like Sting's voice where he has to screech to reach his upper notes, but five full, rich, soaring octaves. Highs: I loved "We." It was mysterious, dark, but was something you could dance to. It reminded me of Velvet Chain in its structure, sound, and instrumentation. Lows: "Lover"
was a great song, but the electronic noise/record scratching was too distracting
Favorite Lines: From "We," a song about the perfect fit between two people in love: the years leaked slowly by i suffered silently until you found me expectancy nearly drowned me now we are we” Fans: If you like Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Marina Vittoria, Mary Lydia Ryan, or Erika Amato of Velvet Chain (all reviewed right here on Indie-Music.com!), you'll love Sianna Lyons. Foes: If you like Lita
Ford, Kim Carnes, or Tom Waits, Sianna Lyons will sound too clear and
Summary: Stellar. Just freaking stellar! There's no other way to describe this music. With just one CD, Sianna Lyons is quickly becoming one of my favorite female singer/songwriters. And even though she released her CD as recently as 1999, I think we all need to start pestering her for her next one. Personally, I can't wait. ___________________________________________ “This
album is a lovely thing indeed.” Sianna Lyons makes music that seems infused with an inner glow. Her soft voice shines as she sings of love and loss. She makes Pearl Jam's "Black" her own. The devotion in the love song "We" is deeply touching. "You and I can conquer anything" she sings. In times like these songs like that warm the heart. This album is a lovely thing indeed. ___________________________________________ "Sianna
Lyons has released a great trip-hop CD, her ethereal debut." In NYC, transplanted Bostonian Sianna Lyons has released a great trip-hop CD, her ethereal debut. Hers is a five-octave voice layered impressively from track to track ("11th Hour," the title track). The songs are very good, too -- I’ve hummed "Lover" for days, and the best track is "Susan." But I go back to Sianna’s voice, the real star here, unadorned by studio tricks and deserving of attention -- she takes Pearl Jam’s "Black" and makes it more than her own. ___________________________________________ "’Songland’:
the most powerful debut album I have heard in years!” Sianna Lyons is a precious rarity. She's one of the few performers today whose work is both truly progressive and commercially viable. Her debut record, “Songland,” is quite simply a bold, sizzling triumph, and it is only a matter of time before she breaks out on a global scale. Though "Songland"
can be darker, moodier and more esoteric than anything you have heard
by say Tori Amos or the superb Kate Bush, the album kicks off with her
best shot at chart-breaking yet; "Come" is a mystical, sinuous
single with Lyons’ sultry voice gliding over brooding piano Lyons and producer Federico Gonzalez rearrange pop conventions to suit her artistic vision, exploring an intimate range of emotional expression along the way. Though the album is enveloped in an ethereal cloak of romanticism, it is at it’s core seductive, erotic, and disturbed. There are no set rules, and Lyons enthusiastically infuses intoxicating grooves and infectious melodies with haunting, soulful passion. The lyrics are painfully personal, and Lyons’ delivery is heart wrenching. Even Pearl Jam’s "Black", (the only cover on the album) rips your heart out, transforming Vedder’s bitter tirade into a tragic swansong. "Songland" to me has been the most powerful debut album I have heard in years! Sianna Lyons will thrive as one of music's most enduring, valuable and cherished artists. ___________________________________________ “Sianna's voice
is a mixture of Madonna's mischief, Bjork's mystery, and Tori Amos’
artistry." Sianna Lyons, a talented singer and songwriter from Boston is one artist who can tell everyone that likable music is not all about the mainstream thing we know. It is surprising to think that a different song, yes, a different music too, can be voted to enter the mainstream. The 11-track album
"Songland" features eclectic, elegantly dark and provocative
tracks. The mixture of the sexy voice of Sianna with the contemporary
assortment of sounds and beats produce a musical unity that is good sounding.
You would be surprised with the involvement of almost tiny bits of different
genres of music. Call this a new sounding collection of rhythms and lyrical
emotions posing not for an experiment but for amusement and freedom of
expression. The album houses some unexpected surprises. It can be told that Sianna's voice is a mixture of Madonna's mischief, Bjork's mystery and Tori Amos's artistry. But also it is elegantly dark, fresh and promising. "Songland" is an album of exploring rhythms. It again surprised me with the disc-scratching that is heard somewhere in the "Lover" track. The musical face is totally different If I could get back to the past albums I've reviewed before, it's hard to categorize (basing only in the rhythms) for it can be alternative goth, and can be a mere alternative music or new-wave disco like Europop. But I hate to brand Sianna's music in those ways. It is totally different. The accompaniments played (guitars, violins, cellos, keyboard,etc) are excellent. Highlights of this album include tracks like "Come,” "Disappear," "Lover," "Stealing Flowers", "Otherwise" and the "Lover (Bubble Mix).” You might call the music as the music of the night for its soft-pounding beats and emotional themes. You can also call it dark and kind of fretro-ish but its uniqueness from the others can make it as a powerful entry to mainstream market. The deep, adventurous and sentimental writing of Sianna names the album as another non-trivial music we should know. No Stolen Music. No Stolen Thoughts. Different and original. This is good. ___________________________________________
To purchase
copies of "Songland," visit Sianna's page at |