For anyone out there that has listened to the Australian singer/songwriter Missy Higgins and decided they did not like her voice or style, listen again.  Then listen again, and again, and soon enough you will be hooked.  It happened to me, it happened to Elizabeth, and I'm betting a lot of others as well.  I don't know what compelled me to give Missy Higgins multiple chances, but I am very glad that I did.  My first exposure to her music was a Lost montage set to "The Special Two", and even though I didn't think much of Missy's style at the time, the song stuck with me.  When I had the opportunity to listen through "The Sound of White", the same thing happened.  I didn't think it was anything special, but I kept hitting repeat.  Now, I would have to say that Missy Higgins is probably my favorite female artist - go figure!

I don't really know how to classify the genre of this album, because it is different from mainstream pop.  I might say it's kind of folksy, perhaps a bit bluesy, maybe pop, but all Missy Higgins.  I guess that's it, it's just her style, which I believe is much better than being stuck in a box.  Even though it took awhile, I do love most of the songs on her debut album "The Sound of White", and each song grows on me more on subsequent listens.  "Casualty" and "This is How it Goes" are the only two I'm not completely sold on yet, but I think that's just because I prefer her voice in the ballads (while those two are more rough and edgier).  She really has a way with lyrics and sets them atop some beautiful melodies that she sings with such emotion.  From the love songs like "Don't Ever" and "The Special Two", to the longing "The Sound of White" and "Ten Days", to the emotional "Katie" and "The River", this album has quite a range of topics - all delivered beautifully.  It was so hard to narrow my favorites down to so few because there are so many songs that deserve to be listed.

So for all of you not quite sold on Missy Higgins, give her another chance - you'll be glad you did.  She is a wonderful musician who I hope continues making music for a long while.  Her second album continues in the same vein as "The Sound of White", though you can tell that she has grown as a songwriter.  I am so glad that I found Missy Higgins' albums because in a music industry filled with pop princesses, it is so refreshing to find a true artist.

- Jen