Missy Higgins

Three years ago, a friend of mine in the music industry heard a then little-known Missy Higgins perform at a private party during South by Southwest in Austin. Three years later, Higgins has finally broken into the U.S. market in a big way. If you're reading this and haven't yet heard of Higgins, mark my words you're about to see her name everywhere.

Higgins played the El Rey theater in LA in February—the same day her sophomore album, On a Clear Night debuted—to a sold-out crowd. Her second album is an impressive array of poignant, lyrically driven songs that somehow manage to avoid being depressing or cliche despite names like "Warm Whispers" and "The Wrong Girl." In the heartbreaking, "Where I Stood," Higgins sings, "She will love you more than I could if she dares to stand where I stood." If you think you recognize the song, you might. It's been featured on Grey's Anatomy, a show that has succeeded in bringing several up-and-coming artists to the masses over the last few years. In "Peachy" and "Secret," Higgins gets more upbeat, and a little angrier, proving that while her knack may be for writing about heartbreak, she is not without an edge. It's hard to believe a 23-year-old could have enough life experience to fill the 11 songs on the album, but she does and in a believable, mature way.

However, while tracks like "Where I Stood" and "Forgive Me" are haunting and utterly unforgettable, others, such as "Steer" and "100 Round the Bends," come off as typical and not nearly as memorable. The good news is my friend who made the discovery of Higgins insists you've never heard the singer until you've heard her live. I look forward to it, and you should too.

—Sari Tuschman
03.19.08

On a Clear Night debuted at the top of the Australian charts in May 2007, knocking Silverchair's Young Modern down to the number two spot and solidifying Missy Higgins' status as an Aussie A-lister. Combining sass with sweet sentiment, the album marks a progression for the young songwriter, who was introduced in 2004 as the Melbourne equivalent of Vanessa Carlton. There's more in Higgins' cannon than piano-heavy ballads, though, and her sophomore disc relies heavily on the acoustic guitar, which lends a saucy swagger to songs like "100 Round the Bends" and "Secret." Higgins' lyrics aren't overtly erotic, but there's more than a hint of sex in the way she sings those two tracks, punctuating her endearingly accented vocals with moments of brazen, full-throated belting. She's part Sarah McLachlan and part Amy Winehouse, a family friendly singer with hipster appeal and, perhaps, a hint of diva potential. And lest this combination seem a bit too calculated, Higgins is still capable of crafting songs like "Sugarcane," a lilting piece of pastoral pop that builds on the template of 2004's Sound of White. "Angela," "I'm Going North," and "Forgive Me" all continue that thread -- but here, Higgins' piano remains de-emphasized in favor of an earthy, folksy instrumental blend. Guitar, banjo, mandolin, and acoustic bass are tastefully swirled together by former Crowded House producer Mitchell Froom, who knows when to adorn the songs with layers of sound and when to sharpen the focus on Higgins' ever-improving voice. Like her fellow countrymen in Silverchair, Missy Higgins' hometown popularity doesn't fully translate overseas, where American audiences have yet to replace those vague Vanessa Carlton comparisons with a proper understanding of her folksy, feisty, and altogether fun music. Nevertheless, On a Clear Night makes a very solid argument for reevaluation, and there's certainly no sophomore slump here. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide