Suzanne Vega is an artist I have always admired. Deeply rooted in folk rock, inspired by Dylan, Cohen and Lou Read and the intelligensia pop of The Smiths and The Police she has had a careeer that has spanned the eighties to the present day. Vega has never been afraid to experiment and to push her song writing abilities harder and with more courage than many other artists, she has always seen music as an art form and followed it with purity and passion. This 21 song retrospective and its 7 track bonus cd show her talents perfectly.

'Luka' I guess is the song most associated with Suzanne Vega. Melodic folk rock and sung from the heart. A song about abusive violent relationships. A beautiful tune masking disturbing lyrics 'yes i think I'm ok. I walked into the door again.Well, if you ask thats what I'll say and its not your business anyway'.

'Toms Diner' is the funked up base version that charted so high in the UK. I have to say that I always preferred the acapella version which was just as rhythmic and more fragile. The song is poetic and about a person alone in a cafe watching the busy world passing by the window and how strangely apart and disjointed they feel from it. It speaks of lonliness 'there's a woman on the outside looking inside does she see me.No she does not'.

'Marlene On The Wall' is again brilliant as is the idea of the song a poster of Marlene Dietrich looking down on the world and recording what she sees.Acoustic based but decorated with solid lead guitar and keyboard the strength in these songs is always the simple acoustic structure that they have with seamless transitions from verses to bridges to chorus.'Marlene watches from the wall her mocking smile says it all, as she records the rise and fall of every soldier passing'.

'Caramel' comes from a much later album and you can see the progression of Vega. Appearing on 1996's album 'Nine Objects Of Desire' it is has a cafe jazz base, sensuous and languid with some sassy acordian thrown in it sounds French and sexy.

'99.9F' appaeared on 1992's album of the same title. It has a much heavier feel and the folk rock of early Vega is absent. The song still shines though through the heavy bass and electric guitars.What is retained is the lyrical rhythm that is the staple ingredient of her songs.

'Tired Of Sleeping' is from 1990's 'Days Of Open Hand' album. It was at this stage of her recording career that she began to move from the acoustic folkiness into more instrumentation. This song is really melodic and lilts and swings.Like so many of Vega's songs the sweetness of melody hides painful lyrics.'I wonder when I will be waking.Its just thats there's so much to do and I am tired of sleeping'.

'Small Blue Thing' is taken from the self entitled first album. Tender fragile and introspective. This song is constructed around a simple bass line and clever picked cords and is sensuous and delicate 'today I am a small blue thing like a marble or an eye.With my kness against my mouth I am perfectly round.I am watching you'.

'Blood Makes Noise' in comparison is a noisy effort but still a great song. Short at 2.30 long and with an industrial fuzzy start reminiscent of Depeche Mode Vega shows just how inventive she can be with her songwriting.Lyrically she is as strong as ever 'blood makes noise its ringing in my ear.Blood makes noise and I can't really hear you in the thickening of fear'.

'Left Of Centre' is back to early Vega and was on the 'Pretty In Pink' soundtrack album. Its a song about not fitting in and is perfect for Molly Ringwalds character in the film.This is jangly folk rock at its best with lyrics beating with a loud heart.'And when they ask me what I'm looking at I always answer nothing much,not much.I think they know I am looking at them I think they think I must be out of touch'.

'I'll Never Be Your Maggie May' is taken from the 2001album 'Songs In Red and Gray' which saw a return to the traditions of her more folksy past.The song is written about her divorce from ex producer Mitchell Froom. Very acoustic and delicately crafted around an instantly hummable tune she sings 'I'll never be your Maggie May the one you loved and then forgot.I'll love you first and let you go because it must be so.And you'll forgive or will not'.

'In Liverpool' is a song I have never really been engaged with. It is tuneful but just leaves me a little cold though it does have a good chorus. I guess I just dont really understand what it is about and I think with Vega songs that can sometimes be key.

'Gypsy' is a storming track however, taken from 'Solitude Standing' .It is melodically faultless and is an ageless song and just flows from verse to chorus like a skater on ice.Also lyrically it is stupendous from start to finish. 'Oh hold me like a baby that will not fall asleep.Curl me up inside you and let me hear you through the heat'.

'Book Of Dreams' was a song I used to love.It is very catchy but perhaps a bit too so.It now seems a bit too sugary and the plinky plinky keyboard annoys me.

'No Cheap Thrill' has an industrial feel to it, being strongly percussuion based, but is a strong song with a catchy chorus. The song likens the way we treat love to gambling and how some people do not treat it like the precious thing that it is.

'Calypso' has always been one of Vega's favourite self penned songs.Its a gentle soothing song taken from 'Solitude Standing' and as such is acoustic in tone. It is about knowing when to let a loved one free. Sung with more raw emotion than she usually manages you can tell this is a very personal song for her. She sings 'Salt of the waves and of tears.And though he pulled away I kept him here for years.Now I let him go'.

'World Before Columbus' is an intricate song that emerges from a slightly tuneless start into a strong song showing her deft songwriting skills. Acoustic but based around a soft tub thumping percussion it builds and the chorus is excellent. The feel of the song reminds me of 10,000 Maniacs.

'Solitude Standing' has always been one of my favourite Suzanne Vega songs. It recounts Vega moving into shared accomodation in her youth and meeting her room mate(Solitude).There is something quite ghostly and haunting about this song. Again this song highly rhythmic whilst being acoustic.'Solitude stands in the doorway and I'm once again struck by her black silhouette.By her long cool stare and her silence'.

'Penitent' is a song all about facing your fate whether you believe in religeon or not. It is from 'Songs In Red And Gray' and shows Vega at her most creative whilst adhering to a song structure rich in melody and clever links to the different components of the song.

'Rosemary' was an extra track on a previous less definitive album. Don't ask why we need two best ofs please.It has a distinctive 'Woodstock' sixties feel to it.It is also very strong lyrically, poetic and Dylanesque. A terrific song and with a lullaby like quality to it.

'The Queen And The Soldier (live)' is a live performance of one of Vega's most popular songs with fans. Again it is a monumental lyrical piece and is a poetic story put to words. A song of betrayal.

'Woman On The Tier(I'll See You Through)' I am afraid is what happens when experiments go too far, you can create a monster. This song is a monster ...monsterously bad. Words can not do it justice.

Suzanne Vega's career has spanned three decades and she has progressed very much as an artist.Perhaps she has even turned full circle as an artist moving from folk rock through various experiments with the art of song writing and then returning to her roots again.This 21 track cd and its bonus cd are brilliant and also a great introduction to an intelligent and unique artist