Billboard Magazine
CRITICS CHOICE
SARA HICKMAN / Two Kinds Of Laughter
Producer: Adrian Belew
Shanachie 8029
POP
Texas singer/songwriter distinguishes herself by her gorgeous, incandescent songs and fiercely independent spirit. An artist with a formidably loyal fan base, Sara Hickman once bought an unreleased master back from a major label partially by raising cash from her supporters.
Now recording for Shanachie, Hickman delivers a beautiful collection of songs produced by veteran guitarist/composer/studio man Adrian Belew, who arranged much of the material and played several instruments.
Highlights include "Take Whatever I Can," the touching "Coolness By Mistake" and "Secret Family," the effervescent "Look At It This Way," and the title cut. Given Hickman's avid following and the inherent quality of her songcraft, this album has ample potential at triple-A, college, and modern adult radio.
Originally Reviewed in Billboard, Issue Date: 5/2/98
CRITICS CHOICE
SARA HICKMAN / Misfits
Producer(s): various
Shanachie 8026
POP
Label debut from Texan singer/songwriter Sara Hickman is "a collection of odds and ends" that (mostly) spans the last 10 years in an engaging, if scattershot, self-portrait. In a collection featuring guest stars Brave Combe, Adrian Belew, David Sancious, and Tony Levin, highlights include the graceful "Secrets of Love II" and "Satin Sheets For Alice," the venomous get-even narrative of "Dumptruck," the lilting Tex-Mex inflections of "False Pretenses," and the delicate "Everyone's Gone To he Moon." Other random gems include the comically catchy "Radiation Man," an enjoyable, unused TV theme song, and the bittersweet choral voices of "Romania," composed to raise money for that country's orphans. Covers include a jokey take on "Baby, It's Cold Outside," a not-too-jokey take on David Cassidy hit "I Think I Love You" (with Mildred from Spot), and a ska-tinged version of "Zippity Doo Dah."
Originally reviewed in Billboard, Issue Date: 5/10/97
