Spiritual Appliances Explained

Spiritual Appliances
Type:	Album
Artist:	Sara Hickman
Cover:	Sara_Hickman_-_Spiritual_Appliances.jpg
Released:	February 22, 2000
Genre:	Folk/Pop
Length:	61:56
Label:	Shanachie Records
Producer:	Sara Hickman
Prev Title:	Two Kinds of Laughter
Prev Year:	1998

Spiritual Appliances is an album by the American singer-songwriter Sara Hickman, released in 2000.^{[1] [2]}

Production

The album was produced by Hickman.^[3] It was recorded in Austin, Texas.^[4]

Critical reception

The Austin Chronicle wrote that "there are songs built from the basic beginnings of an acoustic guitar and the singer singing sweetly that end in a near roar, while other tunes lead a chorus of whistlers through a pleasant bit of sentimentality and later, even a lush string section."^[5] Exclaim! thought that "all 13 tracks of the bright, airy, jangle pop have a rootsy edge and are full of memorable hooks."^[6] The Boston Globe wrote that the "singer-guitarist keeps her wry edge for most of the 13 songs on her self-produced album, rarely lapsing into the too sweet, too poignant, or too gooey."^[7]

Track listing

1. "Standing Ground" (Sara Hickman) – 3:39
2. "Life" (Sara Hickman) – 4:04
3. "Kerosene" (Sara Hickman, Nick Trevisick) – 4:47
4. "Edward" (Sara Hickman, Danny Levin) – 4:02
5. "Woman Waiting to Happen" (Sara Hickman, Barbara K) – 6:43
6. "I Wish I Could Run" (Sara Hickman) – 4:08
7. "Everything's Red" (Sara Hickman, David Bassett) – 6:35
8. "Dear Tracy" (Sara Hickman) – 2:49
9. "Moment of Grace" (Sara Hickman) – 7:29
10. "Bowl Full of Stars" (Sara Hickman) – 3:48
11. "Come Around" (Barbara K) – 3:49
12. "We Are Each Other's Angels" (Chuck Brodsky, additional words by Sara Hickman) – 5:53
13. "I'm Not Going Anywhere" (Sara Hickman, Wendy Waldman) – 4:10

Personnel

• Sara Hickman – guitar, vocals
• Jon Blondell – trombone
• Daryl Burgee – tambourine
• Javier Chaparro – violin, vocals
• Michael Doane – bass guitar
• Chip Dolan – piano, keyboards, didgeridoo, vocals
• Tish Hinojosa – vocals
• Glenn Kawamoto – bass guitar
• Lloyd Maines – pedal steel
• Mitch Marine – drums
• John Mills – clarinet, flute, saxophone
• Julie Noble – vocals
• Riley Osbourne – organ
• Paul Pearcy – percussion, drums
• Gary Slechta – trumpet
• Will Taylor – viola
• Andy Timmons – guitar
• Todd V. Wolfson – vocals

Production

• Producers: Sara Hickman
• Engineers: Marty Lester, Fred Remmert
• Assistant engineer: George Morgan
• Mixing: John Anthony, Sara Hickman, Fred Remmert
• Arranger: Sara Hickman
• Horn arrangements: John Mills
• String arrangements: Will Taylor
• Design: Neil Ferguson
• Photography: Todd V. Wolfson

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sara Hickman | Biography & History. AllMusic.
2. Web site: Sara Hickman. Robert. Wilonsky. February 14, 2002. Dallas Observer.
3. Web site: Sara Hickman – Spiritual Appliances . No Depression . 13 May 2021.
4. News: Kiss . Tony . SARA HICKMAN SWINGS INTO TOWN WITH HEARTFELT ORIGINALS . Asheville Citizen-Times . 10 Mar 2000 . F4.
5. Web site: Sara Hickman Spiritual Appliances (Shanachie). www.austinchronicle.com.
6. Web site: Sara Hickman Spiritual Appliances | Exclaim!. exclaim.ca.
7. News: Kaufman . Hayley . NO-GOO FOLK . The Boston Globe . 20 Apr 2000 . F3.