This is a beautiful album. I've listened to it several times and each time I find something new to like. Vanessa Renee has a soft, soothing voice and plays piano beautifully. The songs are peaceful, yet powerful with a full range of instruments accompanying the piano and voice. The CD starts off on a strong note with "Elements". The piano work is great and the addition of the rest of the band makes this a hit. Title track "Stones" uses percussion and crescendo very well. It ebbs and flows and sounds more like ocean that rock. The ends the recording with the lovely "Poem" which is a 15 plus-minute instrumental piece. This recording is along the lines of Sarah McLachlan, Vienna Teng, Chantal Kreviazuk…

Vanessa Renee’s music is, in my opinion, in a class of its own. Her music has a beautiful ambience to it. Great to hear her use of the piano - it is a largely neglected instrument in the world of contemporary music. Her vocals and piano-playing complement each other so well. There is not what I would call any ‘filler’ on this CD. However, being a former community radio announcer, the songs I'd recommend for radio airplay are 'Elements' (I absolutely love that song – a masterpiece in the true sense of the word), 'I Will Wait', and 'One To Blame'. Others song I’d like to mention are 'Paper Lantern', ‘Chaos’, ‘Touching God’ and ‘We Believed You’. ‘Paper Lantern’ is about the way some couples confuse infatuation with true love. (I like the picture of a moth encircling a paper lantern - wanting to get inside to the light which will only destroy it in the end.) 'I Will Wait' and 'Chaos' also speak to the topic of relationships. (‘Chaos’ describes a relationship that is in the process of falling apart.) 'Touching God' speaks about Vanessa’s personal reaction to and reflection on the birth of her daughter Chase (‘Suddenly confusion leaves and all is mended here - holding on to you is touching, touching God.’) The lyrics to 'We Believed You' are about her parents' hospitality to a stranger only to be taken advantage by the one they offered hospitality to. There is a real depth to Vanessa’s music and lyrics – each has several layers that can only be appreciated and recognized after several listens. Check this CD out – if you enjoy music with true ambience, depth and emotion then you won’t be disappointed.

I bought this CD a few weeks ago. I immediately got on the website and started looking for a live show that I could make it to. I decided to wait until I saw the live performance to write this review. The CD is great. There are traces of Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Kate Bush, etc., but in the end it is just uniquely Vanessa. She writes honest songs about everyday life. She is personable, charming, down-to-earth, and talented beyond belief. The performance was amazing, and I hope to see her again as soon as possible. If you are apprehensive about this disc, don't be. Go ahead and gamble on it. Everyone that I have played it for has been blown away and you will be also. She has a wonderful voice and is a quite accomplished piano player. This is a risk that you will be glad that you took.