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Review Summary: This is the kind of album you put children to sleep with, that doesn’t make it bad, its just what it is. The easiest way to describe this album is by stating a fact. When I was a small child my mother would put this album on to get me to go to sleep. Not because it’s boring, but because it’s soothingly beautiful. With its layered vocals (Enya does all the vocals herself), light synth lines, and gorgeous orchestral compositions. There’s not a bad song on here, every single one of them is superbly crafted, produced to perfection so it’s almost impossible to tell its all just Enya. And she carries it too; through all 11 tracks she brings a beauty and passion to her work that is rarely seen in modern music.
From the opener “The Memory Of Trees”, which begins with a quiet synth and builds into an ever widening landscape of instruments, Enya creates a mood that remains unbroken throughout. That of a soothing, but uplifting land, which feels as much yours as it does hers. And the more upbeat tracks (Anywhere Is, On My Way Home) fit this nicely, the former in particular upstanding as one of my favourite songs of all time, with its relatable lyrics that lift the spirit wondrously.
“The turn I have just taken
The turn that I was making
I might be just beginning
I might be near the end”
And those are just the English ones; the Latin translations offer an even deeper perspective. The casual listener will shrug off lines like “Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum” but getting the translation shows another layer to an album that prides itself on having so much going on that it takes several listens to absorb it all, and even then retains the same warmth as the first time. The line is actually a quote from an ancient Roman text (Horace’s Epistle) and, literally translated, says “Believe that each day that breaks is the last”. There’s more, but in an effort to be concise I will avoid mentioning it here.
Skillfully produced, with outstandingly beautiful vocals and compositions, The Memory Of Trees remains as the kind of album our mother’s bought and attempted to get us to love as much as they did. It worked for me, as I find it difficult to criticize this wonderful masterpiece. Pick it up if you’re in the mood for some uplifting and soothing Celtic inspired opera.
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Album Rating: 4.0
Any criticism, at all, is welcome, I am planning on applying for a job as a reviewer soon (not here, with a local newspaper) and need to improve my writing as much as possible.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I just couldn't find a reason not to give this classic status, aside from the fact that it is one of those albums that will be remembered for decades to come, i can't find many faults with it either.
| | | Never heard of it, is it really this good?
| | | may it beeeeee that somethiiiing sometiiiiiing laaaaa huaaaaa laaaa whaaaaaaa a loooaaaaaaaaaaaaa
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
If you're into this kind of thing yes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h-sqcM4LCs
check that out
| | | Critiscism-wise it's a cute little review. Gramatically it seems fine, but I'm struggling to imagine what this actually sounds like from reading it. I can tell that it's soothing opera, with great vocals (duh) but other than that I'm at a loss. So maybe a little more expansion wouldn't hurt, although if you want to write in print media you'll need to keep reviews short, so yeah you might as well not listen to my advice as all my recent reviews have been pretty huge.
| | | enya....mmmmmm good review, I love Amelie too btw
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
hahaha, it is hard to understand her sometimes, but that's why she has lyrics in the album booklet, very useful, particularly for the Latin
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Amelie = win
@Ross: yeah, figured as much. Its the issue I'm having actually, I could write pages upon pages of stuff, but it would be long and boring, so I have to cut it down. The result is a review that seems too short but is difficult to extend without over-extending
| | | "but it would be long and boring"
I hate reading long reviews 'cause I get distracted easily. Since I like short reviews and I'm feeling generous, pos 4 u.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
haha, thanks mate
| | | No prob, just listened to her Christmas album and I love it. Guess I'll listen to this then.
| | | Haven't heard this one...how does it compare to the other enya releases?
| | | SAIL AWAY SAIL AWAY SAIL AWAY
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Ross: yeah, figured as much. Its the issue I'm having actually, I could write pages upon pages of stuff, but it would be long and boring, so I have to cut it down. The result is a review that seems too short but is difficult to extend without over-extending
Yeah I kinda figured that halfway through my critiscism paragraph.
| | | i've only ever heard 'only time' off of her other album, which i liked well enough.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@lobby: Unfortunately I can't answer that as this is the only album of hers I own, hopefully in the future that will change but anyway.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Good review. Everyone else already touched on possible improvements. My only thing is your rating this a "5" when almost every other album she has released is better than this.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
In answer to that I can only look at this from the perspective of someone relatively new to Enya. This is the only album of hers I own. What would you recommend to pick up next?
| | | the lotr chick yay
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