Poetic folk-pop tales of love won and lost, delivered with a charming directness

Listening to Higgins’ 2004 debut feels like reading her diary, as the Australian singer/songwriter speaks plainly but poetically about matters of the heart. Her charming directness comes to the fore on the affecting folk-pop of “Scar”, the intense break-up ode “Ten Days” and especially “The Special Two”, where her nimble piano playing fuels a song that feels so personal, you wonder if you really should be eavesdropping. That’s the beauty of Higgins—she’s generous in sharing personal tales of love won and lost.