Good post. Perhaps her step will be to hook up with Timbaland and be like Nelly Furtado.

Aglukark always seemed to be a product of marketing more than a fan favorite from touring and paying her dues.

This article has been placed at the Advance.net websites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.

One such site is here.

You know, I think this review is really ridiculous. If you don't like her music, that's fine, but don't make her have to fit into some native stereotype to fit your expectations. Susan seems to stay true to her own, lived experiences as an Inuit woman, and doesn't pretend to be this hyper-traditional person. She is an Inuk raised by Inuit Pentecostal preachers & has lived in cities for over 10 years. If you think this album has nothing to do with being native, I ask you then "what does being native sound like?". I think her stories on Blood Red Earth still speak to an Aboriginal experience, but maybe not a reserve or traditional experience. Listen to tracks like Circle of the Old, Maggie, Illanit, etc.. and they all seem to be talking about her experiences with Native people and elders (circle). If you see her perform live, as I have, she explains how most of these songs have come from interactions with elders and in Aboriginal communities -- to which she dedicates tireless hours to by working with youth and adults on literacy, self-esteem, addictions, suicide, and numerous other issues.

In terms of her album cover, her own heritage is Inuit, but her stylist and photographer are Aboriginal women who likely shaped the look of the album. You can see this on her website and album cover.

Susan doesn't seem to make any claims to trying to sound particularly "native". If you listen to any of her other albums, she's stayed true to her adult contemporary/pop tradition. If you find that boring, so be it. Go listen to Tanya Tagaq or Lucie Idlout for something less mainstream.

I think your review is unfair and problematic for many reasons. It's too bad it's available so readily online.

I agree with Jonny's comment (even though I am his girlfriend) and really don't appreciate the review by Marcus. It's all over the frigging internet too!

Susan's music has stayed consistently good for the past decade. Her "Amazing Grace" cover works so well because so many Inuit people, like myself, have lived in Christianized communities. I think the Inuit are more Christianized than any other native group in Canada!

Susan is a great singer and songwriter, and she is still a source of a lot of pride for native people. I risk being insulting here, but judging from the reviewer's picture, he could learn a thing or two about what it means to be a real native from Susan. It means more than writing a biting review and having long hair. It means dedication to your community. That's what Susan has and continues to demonstrate to us. By the way, I was on the internet looking for her music, and found out she's been nominated for a Juno. Way to go! Qujanamiik.

If you dont like it, dont listen to it. Every professional works with available tools and if identifying with her distant Inuit roots sells CD's for Susan, then so be it. I dont listen to her because its not my taste, but I respect her as an unpretentious consistant contemporary artist unlike some so called 'artists' from Iqualuit who try to take all things Inuit (cultural music)and own them, tucking them away in their back pocket for future use while they slay the world with their bullshit in other areas. Good luck at the Junos, Susan.

Don't listen to Richard. This guy's perspective is definitely skewed. As a professional musician, I would say that Susan's latest album has a great selection of songs carefully crafted and produced. She is presenting herself as a healthy attractive woman and if the cover shot displays her appearance to good advantage, what is wrong with that?
There is much evidence of creativity on the album. The lyrics reflect Susan's personal values and closeness to the earth. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who can listen with an open mind.