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#3
Shakespear's Sister
SF, 2005
REVIEW BY: Michael R. Smith
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 09/02/2007
It’s no wonder Siobhan Fahey lobbied so long and fought so hard to obtain the rights for the unreleased third Shakespear’s Sister project -- the music is that good.
Her former partner Marcella Detroit is nowhere to be found on #3, but her former husband, Eurythmic David A. Stewart, is. In fact, Stewart co-wrote and produced most of the material to be found here, with the help of Alan Moulder, Andy Wright and Flood. With such an amazing team behind her, there was no way Siobhan was about to let #3 slip through her fingers.
As the sole independent release on my Top 100 list, #3 is an unexpected treasure with zero filler. Had this album been released back in the 90s, Siobhan would have faced some stiff competition from Alanis Morissette. All I have to say about that is: Alanis, eat your heart out.
Siobhan may be on her own with this record, but she rises to the occasion and runs with it. With kickass tunes like “Can U Wait That Long,” she proves she is here to compete with the best of them. The difference between the Siobhan Fahey of today compared to her former Bananarama self is like night and day. This album completely obliterates that previous incarnation.
With its Sgt. Pepper-style horns, “I Can Drive” was the only song to be released as a single back when this album was initially being recorded in 1997. It’s reminiscent of something Tears For Fears would have done had they stayed together. Siobhan then turns “Go” into a feminist anthem of sorts and adds some classical touches by incorporating a string section on dramatic tracks like “Opportunity Knockers” and the epic “Oh Dear.” The orchestral element helps to flesh out the overall sound and is what sets #3 apart from anything Shakespear’s Sister has ever attempted before.
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