Sara Hickman - Spiritual Appliances (2000)

Sara Hickman's 2000 album Spiritual Appliances is her first turn as producer, and the resulting album is another solid addition to her catalog. Hickman's fans will enjoy observing the positive evolution of this lesser-known songwriter. Spiritual Appliances also offers as good a beginning point for new listeners as any of her albums. She has been compared to the likes of Shawn Colvin, but this album lacks a song as radio friendly as "Sunny Came Home" from A Few Small Repairs. That being said, standout tracks include the moody ballad "Moment of Grace"; the typically intricate and whimsical pop songs "Standing Ground" and "Life"; and the personal "Woman Waiting to Happen." A good find, but not the album to catapult Hickman into the mainstream.~ Review by JT Griffith