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from thinking she's got a political agenda here, and I can't help thinking of some world leaders that this song could be referring to.

It is only when we get to the heavier songs that we find that, in some places, KT has fallen slightly into the mundane, in three of her songs on this album. There's 'I Don't Want You' which is your least interesting song, musically, and has only a touch going for it with the lyrics. Then there's the song 'Little Favours' with its ho-hum repetition of "I do love you" throughout the first half. Finally, there's 'Saving My Face' which is has the least interesting music to it, and also a touch short on the poetry side with its words. This isn't to say that these are bad songs, however, since they are still rocky, upbeat songs that nicely show that electric side of her. But I'd say they aren't the best songs on the album, and it made me feel that some of the creativity that the rock songs had on EttT were lacking here.

As for the big hit from this album 'Hold On', while I thought this was better than the three I've already mentioned, it is just a touch to similar to 'Little Favours' for my taste, and doesn't really impress me as much as it apparently did the rest of the listening public. Still, it does have a really fun opening, and the lyrics are interesting and with a catchy tune. But when it comes to these heavier songs, I'd have to say that I most enjoy 'If Only' with her voice hitting those high notes with such cheek, you can't help smiling. Now I might be influenced by the fact I was reading Celia Ahern's silly novel "If You Could See Me Now!" when I bought this album, but this song would be absolutely perfect as the theme song for that book, and if they ever turn it into a movie and don't use this song, they'd be totally stupid - since the lyrics are almost identical to the novel's title, and everything in the song fits the book.

The biggest critics of this album have pointed to a feeling that KT moved away from her folk music roots here, and moved over a bit too much into pop for their tastes. I can't totally agree with them since it would seem from what I've said here that there are still more folk-like songs on this album than there are pop-rock songs. Still, there's a lack of a real wow-factor song on this album for me that 'Black Horse and Cherry Tree' was on EttT. And while I wouldn't say this album is boring, I'd have to admit that it seems to be missing a touch of the sparkle that EttT had. Certainly, this isn't an album you'll be able to judge by only one listening, and I'd encourage people to give this several rounds before they write it off, as the more you hear these songs, the more you'll find things to enjoy in them. It's the kind of album you'll want to put on in your car as you take a ride somewhere on your own, so you don't have conversation to bother your concentration. In all, I do like this album, but will give it only four stars out of five and still recommend it.

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