Leona Naess’ self-titled third album is centered on her lethargic songwriting. Naess is sincere and mellow. But her voice and music are subsequent behind her lyrical work.

That is not to take away from her soothing voice. The ripeness of her voice, though sometimes a little shaky, is perhaps what some people are attracted to. After all, without a suiting voice complementing the lyrics, the words would be meaningless and lost.

“Ballerina” is particularly heartfelt, as Naess sings about losing a partner and how she was “foolish” by not wanting him: “Cupcake and my earthquake/Wakes me from my sleep/That never comes.” As she fights to get through the song, when some words are almost muffled, tears can be pictured dripping down her face. Her voice is that convincing.

The bittersweet “Yes, It’s Called Desire” is almost uplifting, and definitely a change from the mellowness before and after this track. She sings, “Don’t waste no time/The streets are on fire/Hold out your arms this is called desire.” Also not laid back is “Home.”

The beautiful guitar-driven “Christmas” is not necessarily about the holiday, but more about a feeling, as she expresses in the opening lines of the song: “Words are falling from your lips/Like Christmas to my hips/So dangerous, strangest feeling of being.”

4*
MCA/Universal
Release Date: September 16, 2003

Track Listing:
1. Calling
2. Don’t Use My Broken Heart To Pick Up Other Girls
3. He’s Gone
4. Star Signs
5. Ballerina
6. Dues To Pay
7. Yes, It’s Called Desire
8. How Sweet
9. Home
10. Christmas
11. One Kind Of Love






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