I love these songs and I appreciate the “in your ear” production but I can’t help thinking the mic was perhaps too hot, I hear a shade of distortion, in particular when she sings more loudly … or is it just my imagination?
Tidal FLAC 16/44
But also ripped from CD
No DSP being applied
I don’t like bragging about my system too much 
but I know that my speakers have very low distortion. Played the song and I am not sure if I would say that there is distortion as such in the recording, but it certainly isn’t the most natural-sounding recording of a voice that I ever heard.
However, IMHO Suzanne Vega voice tracks are often not the most naturally recorded (there’s often quite some compression) and IMHO they don’t have to be. It’s not the only option for an artist / engineer / producer to strive for most natural representation. Studios are instruments.
Listening to that track and it’s seems to be quite compressed dynamically on the vocals and I also hear a fair bit of sibilance but not hearing any distortion as such.
Just listened to a qobuz version. IMO, not your imagination and I believe you nailed the reason why. Likely VU meter was in the red and a hint of clipping. Seems to be a creative choice as it is on a couple of the tracks I’ve listened to and is “Close Up”. Good album working through it now.
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