Just when you think you know Calgary’s Jann Arden, she throws you for a loop, making you realize you don’t know her at all. While famous for her powerful songs of heartbreak mixed with her comedic timing, many of her fans are looking at her new self-titled release, containing tracks like "I’d Be Glad", "How Good Things Are" and "Life is Sweet", and thinking maybe this CD should have been called "Happy 2."

Originally intended to be an "anonymous" work, to have fun and alleviate the pressure and reputation of writing songs heavy with emotion, Arden and collaborator Russell Broom created one of Arden’s best works yet. It is no wonder that, in its first week, it has already gone gold and become her best selling debut ever.

As always the songs stem from current topics such as elections, war and terrorism.  The CD also reflects the positives in Arden and Broom’s lives – Broom’s new daughter, friendships and love. Highlights include opener "Calling God" about prayer, first single "Where No One Knows Me" - a fantastic driving song. "How Good Things Are" is the saddest song on the record and very emotional, while "Rock This Girl" shows Jann’s sexier side.

Arden had some other help on the album. Calgary’s Bob, Clint, and Scott Moffatt added background vocals to the stunning "Beautiful Pain". Arden’s duet with Sarah McLachlan on her classic "I Would Die For You" will give you goosebumps. On an interesting trivia note, McLachlan presented Arden with an award for the original video at the 1993 Junos.

As a long time fan of Arden, I consider everything from her early releases "Time for Mercy" and "Living Under June" to 2003’s "Love Is The Only Soldier" to be works of art.  I couldn’t help being nervous while waiting for this new release. The first single "Where No One Knows Me" was so different from the usual Arden work – I wondered if she would continue to take her listeners through a gamut of emotions and evoke the same response as she has for over a decade.  I needn’t have worried.  Jann Arden, while a much lighter collection, still packs the same emotion that Arden has always possessed.

Without a doubt, my favorite song on the disc "All of This" sums life up in a nutshell. "All of this, was wonderful and worth the heartache. All of this, was beautiful and full of light. All of this, was everything I ever hoped for. All of this was life." While heartache continues to be a prominent theme in Arden’s music, on the whole her work boils down to hope and love.  It’s something we all seek. Arden, it seems, has captured it on CD to remind us that it’s out there.

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Contributor Jason Clevett |

Person Jann Arden |

Topic Music Review |