My first review of this album a week ago was a "8." Since then, I had a chat with one of the guys who works at a record store here in Chicago, My first review of this album a week ago was a "8." Since then, I had a chat with one of the guys who works at a record store here in Chicago, and he recommended Marissa's albums. Since then, I went to her back catalogue on iTunes and fell in love with most of the songs on "Ballads of Living and Dying." But the song "Bird On Your Grave" on her "Song III: Bird On The Water" EP is what clinched it for me. My mom died a couple of months ago, and I sometimes sing the songs she used to love to feel closer to her. Well, it just so happens, In that song, this is exactly what Marissa puts in her lyrics: "...been dead a couple of months, my friend;" "..and I still have your songs in my head, and your face engraved into the glass of me;" and lastly, "Tomorrow I'm going to leave a bird on your grave, and say a little prayer for you." Well, it just so happens - yet again - that I found a beautiful stone bird carved and painted in Mexico at a thrift store awhile back, and I've been looking at it and how I would have shown it to my mother who was Mexican. Now I have wrote "I love U Mom" on the bird and am going to place it on her grave, and of course, say a prayer. If this isn't the most sad but one of the most beautiful songs Marissa has written. So you can see why I also love her album "Ballads of Living and Dying" as well. I'm giving this album a "10" because I think it's an "8," but I have added an extra "2" points for the "Bird On Your Grave" song from 2007, and the connection I feel with Marissa's music is amazing! Love you, Marissa! … Expand