This amazing live album kicks off with a bang on "Light Years", one of the most dramatic tracks from Nova's Oyster album. The live arrangement of this song has always been stronger than the studio version, replacing electric guitars with cello, studio sheen with raw emotion. Heather Nova live is a riveting, intense presence, pouring her soul into her vocals, a delivery that's perfect for her unusually frank songs.

"Sugar" acquires a free-roaming form here that's a little distracting, but it's just about the only weak moment on the whole album. "Maybe an Angel" loses some of its tentativeness (again, as on Oyster) and lets loose with a breeze of sensual vocals; "Blessed" has Nova cutting into a delicious mix of deadpan lyrics and sincere singing; and the rock arrangements of "Mother Tongue" and "Shaking the Doll" add some much-needed grit to the proceedings. Many of Nova's songs have received the power-ballad arrangement over the years, so it's good to hear two of her quieter songs (from the nearly unplugged Glow Stars, which had nary a drum in sight) receive an edgy treatment by Nova and band.

Blow is a great sampling of Nova's first two albums, and makes for a good introduction to her music if you're new to the fold.