REVIEW: Paula Cole, Harbinger (Imago)

- Jamie Roberts

Paula Cole has such incredible talent! She has a voice like an angel, a biting wit, and world-weary 'knowing' in her songwriting. She takes you into her world, on Harbinger and makes you feel how she felt about home, family, love, and the world as a whole.

Two outstanding tracks on this gently flowing work are "Chiaroscuro" and "Ordinary". The former tackles the difficulty of an interracial relationship (both with outsiders, and between the lovers), and the latter is a tale of pitiable self-loathing, playing second fiddle in a relationship and undervaluing herself.

The music is a meld of folk and rock, taking the best parts of each. The only trace of folk in it is its softness and comfortable atmospheric. The CD is a bit somber, with her deeply resonant voice and serious tone, but it picks up intermittently. Every song is a hummable gem of strumming guitar and varies with interesting percussion, a la "beat box" on a few tunes.

This one has become a part of my CD player. Let Paula Cole into your heart. If you give her the chance, that's just where Harbinger will go.