Joining the ranks of recent stars to descend onto the music scene from the Great White North, Jann Arden has arrived with her third album, "Happy?" which hit the record bins recently to the delight of music critics the world over. Judging by the success of the first single from the album (which made the top 10 in Canada before the album as a whole was even available to the public), along with the success of her two prior releases, "Happy?" is going to go the way of the slew of recent releases by previously 'unknown' female artists -- straight to the top!

Arden's music sounds quite similar to two of her sisters-in-success, Sarah Mc Lachlan and Paula Cole. While her music comes off a little bit more Country-ish than her above-mentioned peers, it is no less intense. I think that Arden tends to wear her emotions a little less on her sleeve than some others in her genre. The emotions are there, they just need to be weeded a little more carefully from the lyrical tapestry she weaves.

The first track, "The Sound of" is an interesting ballad, one that kind of sounds more country than pop, but somehow still comes off sounding like a pop song. A song about resolve and a profession of strength ("I'm not lonely, swear to God/I'm just alone"), it's a delicate song that takes a few listens to totally absorb. "The Sound of" contains some lyrical one-liners that really took me by surprise (Oh the sound of the wind through my heart makes me glad/for all the ones that never knew my name). It's thought provoking way to start the album.

"Wishing That" sounds like a Paula Cole tune (Paula Cole fans take note!), so much so that I wonder if it was intentional. It is here that Arden's lyrics hit like a pile driver:

And when I held you
You would almost always hold me down

you could see through everything I said I was falling

and you said not to fall on you
I've bitten every finger 'till it bled

Wishing that you loved me too

"Weeds" begins with a distorted guitar riff, then rolls into a sultry, seductive melody that runs perfectly parallel to the lyrics which touch on the theme of temptation and survival in the face of it. ("I know this drinkin's gonna take me down/I feel the sin inside my body now
Oh mercy mercy forgive my lack of will/I'm just trying to get by").

"Hangin' By a Thread" is another Cole-ish song, and another that establishes Arden as a superb lyricist (When I cry, I close my eyes/And every tear falls down inside). Melodically, "Hangin' By A Thread" is as delicate as a thread -- a light composition of strings provides background texture on this emotional ballad.

The final track on "Happy?" Is a stirring rendition of the classic, "To Sir With Love." Arden's version is as good as any other I've heard -- especially the distorted guitar groove in the bridge. This song would make a great single and is a wonderful way to round out an excellent album.

The bottom line with Jann Arden's "Happy?" is that, while it is similar to Mc Lachlan and Cole, it is by no means a copy of either. The music stands on its own and is of top-shelf quality. If you are a fan of either of the above mentioned up-and-comers, then you may want to get on the track of this new up-and-comer. Lilith Fair look out, Jann Arden is going to make a hell of a splash!