Vinyl Hour!

Bound by the Beauty - Duke Street Records, 1989

"Einstein reminds me of my dog
I want to pat his fluffy head"
—from Everything Reminds Me of My Dog, lyrics by Jane Siberry

It’s hard to believe, but Bound by the Beauty finds Jane Siberry moving toward a more accessible art-pop. She’s still eccentric, but the songs are more melodic and hook-filled. After the dense avant-pop experiments of The Walking, Siberry turns to more direct songwriting while keeping her surreal storytelling intact.

Jane Siberry is one of those songwriters whose lyrics often feel like small philosophical poems—observations about nature, compassion, and the strange beauty of being human. The title track, Bound by the Beauty, is simple but powerful, expressing a kind of ecological spirituality: the sense that humans are tied to the earth not only physically but emotionally and morally.

Elsewhere, Siberry’s images unfold with a novelist’s touch. The opening of The Valley evokes landscape so vividly that the valley becomes a metaphor for emotional descent. Something About Trains draws on classic folk imagery, the train symbolizing movement, longing, and change. And Siberry’s writing is distinctly Canadian: Hockey captures the glow of small arenas, winter nights, and the quiet communal rituals surrounding the game.

Two other songs deserve mention. The quirky Everything Reminds Me of My Dog delights with playful lyrics and whimsical music, showcasing Siberry’s lighter, humorous side. In contrast, Half Angel Half Eagle explores the dual nature of humanity—our capacity for both grace and harshness—through stark, provocative imagery, reflecting the tension between our spiritual and animal instincts.

I remember being captivated by the poetic album title, the intriguing song names, and the striking image of Siberry’s face. I had read a positive review and perhaps even heard the catchy title track on the radio. It’s a rare delight when an album’s packaging so perfectly reflects its mood and themes that, upon listening, the music delivers the sounds and ideas you anticipated—yet in a fresh, unexpected way.

Critics generally saw the album as a more accessible follow-up to the divisive The Walking, praising its balance of melody and artistic eccentricity. It brought Siberry greater attention and showcased her evolving style, bridging her experimental art-pop past with the more spiritual tone she would explore on When I Was a Boy. I was thrilled to discover such a deep, beautiful record and a truly unique Canadian voice.

I’m curious—how many of you have heard of Jane Siberry or this album? If you have, which track is your favorite?

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