AMG Review of Love Is Everything: The Jane Siberry Anthology

MacKenzie Wilson
All Music Guide

Mystic singer/songwriter Jane Siberry never belonged in the mainstream, yet her luminous work gained respect while frequently drawing comparisons to Joni Mitchell, Laurie Anderson, and Kate Bush. She touches the earth with her music, exploring elements of folk, jazz, and spoken word. Love Is Everything: The Jane Siberry Anthology celebrates Siberry's adventurous career, reflecting upon the best of the best since her 1981 self-titled debut album. Siberry is a visionary with both intelligence and humor. The cow tales of "The Mystery at Ogwen's Farm" and the sweetness of "Bessie" are wistful, artistic gems. "Mimi on the Beach" recounts personal growth, maturing in "Mimi Speaks." "Sail Across the Water" and the violent beauty of "Temple" earned Siberry her biggest success with 1993's Brian Eno-produced When I Was a Boy, defining Siberry's passion for honesty. The three-piece epic of "Map of the World" is her storybook swan song, and the newly recorded fourth part entitled "Pilgrim" reminds listeners of Siberry's wild imagination. The treasured Canadian songstress has evolved in her craft. Love Is Everything: The Jane Siberry Anthology is fond of what she's become as well as the world around her. Loyalists who've watched her change will be thoroughly impressed with the collection.