“She’s Gone” is just as much about how it’s performed, as what the lyrics say.  I do agree with Karim, the lyrics may be challenging.  But when I get lost in Janna’s voice, and you will get lost in her voice, I hear an artist baring her soul. Completely. Her first CD seemed to be a collection of some of her best or favorite songs.  “She’s Gone” is on a mission. Janna begs us to listen. She pleads with us to hear her, see her, know her pain.   Her beautifully haunting, forlorn voice is unparalleled. Every chord, every syllable tells us she is trying to cleanse her soul, but we are left to ourselves to figure out why. No, there are no fairy tale solutions in her lyrics. There is little hope in her voice.  Perhaps a glimmer, but she seems mostly resigned to her fate. “Found” marks a new beginning, yes, but to where? Not even Janna seems to know.  She is compared to many contemporary and past artists, but that might be an injustice. There is only one Janna, and “She’s Gone” desperately seeks to find her. You can’t help but pray that she does.
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Janna works her magic on this compilation, an incredibly beautiful collection of original songs.

Lyrically, the songs mostly have a bittersweet flavor...  "Type-A World" is world-weary, yet with a knowing smile; "She's Gone" seems to be about a loss of identity -- or perhaps the acquisition of a new one.   "Soul Reaches Out" describes a fervent spiritual longing, but not its consummation.   There are no easy answers in the songs, no saccharine-sweet resolutions.   Those of limited emotional maturity may find the lyrics somewhat challenging.  :-)

The recording is very intimate-sounding -- with headphones on or speakers cranked, it's like Janna and her guitar performing live in your living room.   Her voice performs marvelous tricks -- lush & velvety one moment, and a low, earthy purr the next.   Virtuoso trills on one track and countrified drawls on the next.  It's absolutely a treat to hear her sing, and this recording does her justice.  She's accompanied by her own sweet, jangly acoustic guitar.

The album bears up extremely well to repeated listening -- is "classic" too strong a word? -- and seems to hit the right tempo whether I'm driving on the Interstate or trying to unwind at the end of a day.  "She's Gone" sits near the top of my pile of frequently-listened-to CDs.  I'm guessing it would probably take the same spot in your collection!
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