Some musicians languish for years in obscurity, toiling away on their musical creations to receive either critical acclaim and commercial success, or universal panning and lackluster record sales. "No Angel," the debut album from British songstress "Dido" is one of those that will quickly reach super-stellar heights of both critical acceptance and commercial rewards. In a sultry mix of the vocal stylings of Sarah Maclachlan and Sinead O'Connor and a powerful and talented backing band, "No Angel" never strays too far from the inherent beauty and delicate grace of "Dido's" voice.

"Here With Me," the soft and sultry opening track and first single, overflows with moody backing music and insightful feminine lyrics like, "I am what I am, I do what I want. I cannot be until you're resting here with me." "Here With Me" sets "Dido" up as instantly likeable, and will quickly become the CD you reach for first before any other. With lyrics like, "I don't want to call my friends, they might wake me from this dream. . ." "Dido" is more accessible and less complex than Tori Amos, but with all of Tori's heart, intrigue and insight.

"Hunter" follows, with a sad cello just under the surface that gives it a mournful quality. "Hunter" is quickly revived with its rhythmic drums, subtle guitar and her angelic voice. "Dido" has some important and moving things to say, but she's not screaming it out of anger like some of her female musical counterparts. She sings, "If you were a king up there on your throne/ Would you be wise enough to let me go/ For this queen you think you own." The lyrics are slightly bitter, but stop far short of the rage of Alanis Morrissette. "Hunter" stands as a statement that women can be angry at the world but don't have to be screaming their lungs out or breaking stuff to show it.

"Don't Think Of Me," my nomination for her next single, has all the sarcasm and bite of Alanis disguised in the prettiest of pop songs with layers of soothing orchestral backing and warm vocals: "I hope she's sweet and so pretty/ A little angel beside you/ When you see her sweet smile baby/ Don't think of me." With some jazzy Middle Eastern breaks in between the pretty pop, "Don't Think Of Me" is the closest song on "Dido's" album to a full out rock song. "Dido's" lovelorn lyrics continue on "My Lover's Gone." An ethereal vocal/synthesizer mix accompanies her mournful words that hint at the loss of her lover: "The tune upon his lips has passed/ I know that kiss will be my last/ No earthly ships will bring him home again." Inventive and improvised music blends perfectly with her harp-like voice to make "All You Want" an instant AOR classic. In a strong Joan Baez voice, her breathless vocal rolls along with the music like a smooth rolling stream. "All You Want" is the perfect song to play while holding your significant other close.

Halfway through this album, I realized that "Dido" won't be one of those one-hit wonders of the 1990s like Spacehog or Sugar Ray. "Thank You," with its funky African drum beat, starts out as one of those "crappy day" angst-ridden mope-rock songs, but turns out to be a rather poignant and tender love song featuring the line, "Just to be with you is having the best day of my life." "Honestly OK" is the most eclectic and experimental song on the album. A funky hip-hop beat with weird spacey sound effects, fly around in the mix and has what sounds like an accordion peeking its head around in there among lots of groovy hidden samples.

"Slide" slows the tempo of "No Angel" back down with a laid back rhythm and softer vocals talking about "it's all right to make mistakes, you're only human, inside everybody's hiding something." I can picture "Dido" alone, lying on a floor and crafting the words to this one, with no one else around to disturb her thoughts. A trance-like opening and spooky drums carry "Isobel." As a guitar comes creeping back in, her soft voice chimes in to bring beauty back to it. "Isobel" is perhaps the most powerful song on the album musically, lyrically and vocally.

The pretty pop song "I'm No Angel" leaves me yearning for her to let her voice rip into a full tilt rock and roll screamer, but she leads into "My Life" instead, a somber and soulful song that seems like the perfect way to end "No Angel." "It's my life" she sings repeatedly, "I will last on my own, cause it's my life." It's a powerful and simple statement from such an inspiring and talented woman. With the voice of an earthly angel, the face of a pop diva, and a name like Dido, she's got a lot more where this came from.