Enya - A Day Without Rain
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Free Music Notes for A Day Without Rain
Free Music Review: Days without rain ... for a little while ...
Hit: 5 Stars
Enya had been on a roll for more than a decade when "A Day Without Rain" was released in 2000. Up to that point all of her studio albums had sold millions of copies in America alone, and all had been certified multi-platinum.
The song "Only Time" had been featured on the "Sweet November" soundtrack, which I had purchased because it contained a new Stevie Nicks tune ("Touched by an Angel"). I soon came to love "Only Time," which my local easy-listening radio station had been playing nonstop since the song was released as a single. It's album, "A Day Without Rain," came out and was a certified hit; it sold its immediate million copies or so and was certified platinum. No surprises there. But then the album disappeared from the charts and its sales dwindled. This wasn't much of a surprise, either. It was the 21st Century, and many of the stars of the last few decades experienced dwindling sales, like Madonna, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston. So the Enya issue was no surprise, really.
Then the entire September 11th thing happened. The easy-listening station began giving "Only Time" heavy airplay once again, and more and more people began calling to request the song. It was nothing short of a catharsis; people needed some kind of comfort music and Enya was their answer, simply because there was no one else out there that had a soothing, loving sound like she does. "A Day Without Rain" quickly re-entered the charts and bounded back into the Top 10. By the end of 2001, it had shipped more than six-million copies and was certified multi-platinum. Enya wound up the second-best-selling artist of the entire year, beating both Britney Spears and Madonna for best-selling female artist.
The most extraordinary thing that happened was that the song, "Only Time," had crossed from adult-contemporary radio over to mainstream pop. Two other versions aside from the original could be heard: a remixed version with something of a techno-dance beat, and a version that featured 9-11 newsreels dubbed over the song. The techno-dance version actually became Enya's ONLY American Top 10 song (#7). "Orinoco Flow," ten years earlier, while a hit in Europe, only managed #20 in America. The easy-listening radio station also gave airplay to "Wild Child," which, with more promotion, could easily have become another pop hit.
The sad part about this album is that had 9-11 not occurred, it would have disappeared into obscurity, and Enya's career might be over about now. The album, which easily pleases devoted fans (like myself), does nothing to attract new listeners, as there's nothing cutting-edge or "new" about any of the songs. And at just over 30 minutes, it's not very adequate for the 20 or so dollars that the majority probably paid for it. But Enya has her devoted five million+ North American fans, and perhaps that's more than adequate.
All-in-all the album is VERY pleasant and very special for those fans ... but falls just short of excellent because it's MUCH too safe.
Free Music Review: Her most mature and Best Album Yet
Hit: 5 Stars
Well like many of you I had been waiting for November 21st since it became official and before that I would seacrh the net for any inklings or tricklings of news regarding her newest release.I was anxious for many reasons one of them being that what we would receive would be refreshing but different. The first track I heard a piece of was of course Only Time and I was floored BUT there were many similiarities to the songs Only If, and Anywhere is so I was curious how different the album would be overall.
Time went on and I eventually heard the entire song, Only Time and I was even more excited as I believed there was something laced in between the sweeping choral voices, something classical, something different, maybe more mature.
I started to really get into this newsgroup and began reading some posts of fans who thought the song sounded like this or like but I knew there was something more, similarities yes, but a subtle difference that would show itself when hearing the entire album upon release.
So, November 21st came and I was beside myself with excitement. I commute to to and from school and I had an hour before class to buy the album and give it a once over. Now I am guilty of getting myself too hyped and in doing so I am dissapointed in one way or another. Because of this, and after I bought the album and listened to it later that day I was dissapointed, not with the album but because "That feeling" was gone and waiting for the album was almost more exciting. So, I continnued to listen to the album the rest of the night, scared that maybe my love for Enya was not as strong or that maybe the album was not all that I hoped for.
Fast forward to early this morning. I woke up at 6am and had to get ready to catch my 6:50am train for the commute in. The sky was clear and upon sitting down in the train I pushed PLAY on my Discman.
What I heard while listening was not what I had heard the day before when I was overwhelmed with hype. Her gentle piano, surging in and out on the title track. One track led to the next [this is listen # 8 by this time] and I experienced Enya in the sunrise while the ghosts of the forest [Deer] krept in and out of the light of the ever rising sun.
Flora's Secret revealed itself to me along with Fallen Embers which I consider to be her BEST solo- non-choral work to date. The entire album enraptured me as listened and Enya said adieu with Lazy Days.
My journey with A Day Without Rain began tumultous and has ended in thinking that this album is the finest work Enya has produced to date. I was discussing with John Eckroth of [Shepherdmoons] and we were thinking that her first 4 albums were the growth of the rose bud but this new work Eny is in full bloom.
Enya has crossed over into a new territory with bits and pieces of her earlierwisdom woven hear and there, most notably Only Time and Tempus Vernum.
She has returned with the wind under her feet and the angels at her finger tips.
Free Music Review: Enya Got Happy.
Hit: 5 Stars
Enya's consistency as a recording artist is no doubt due to the fact that all her albums since the 1986 debut 'Enya' (later renamed and issued as 'The Celts') have had a very dominant theme. What sets 'A Day Without Rain' apart from Enya's back catalogue is its unusually cheerful, almost jubilant tone - a far cry from the ominously moody 'Shepherd Moons'.Although you could offer up a million superlatives to describe Enya's music, you could also argue that 'stale' would be one of the first words to pop up. For the first time in a long while, Enya has stretched herself creatively and given her fans some truly intriguing surprises along the way. Whilst she has, in no way, discarded the 'Enya' sound (the title track is very 'Watermark', and many of the other songs feel like they have contemporaries on Enya's other records), a lot of this record is a little more melody-based than atmosphere-based. Becoming too commercial? Bowing to pressure? Selling out? No, none of those ... simply realising that her talents do not mean she can't produce an infectiously hummable tune.
The first single, 'Only Time', is vintage but beautiful Enya (check out the slightly peppier remix on the single of the same name), whilst five tracks into the disc 'Deora Ar Mo Chroi' is a forgettable snorefest. Every other track on the album, however, has a far brighter vibe than anything Enya has ever captured on record before. 'Flora's Secret' is a beautiful tribute to spring romances, referencing 'lovers in the long grass', whilst 'Fallen Embers' becomes the perfect track for those cold nights with your partner in front of a crackling fire. Despite a career of almost fifteen years, Enya has not lost her for magical music which can evoke a time and place in the blink of an eye.
'One By One' remains the set's most compelling inclusion. A track which is about as furthest 'pop' as Enya has ever gone, its melody is undeniably brilliant and the lyrics are quite lovely, talking of a broken love affair. Could it be the disintegration of the romance mentioned in 'Flora's Secret'?
More than ever before, this album has a true flow and theme to it. I remarked to a friend that 'A Day Without Rain' seems like a journey through one person's year, or whatever period of time you wish to use. The result is that 'A Day Without Rain' creates a lasting effect on the listener that many of Enya's previous releases have failed to provide.
Having met Enya herself in March 2001 makes this record all the more special for me, but it is without bias that I highly recommend this album. Enya has gone to strength to strength, but seems really to have excelled herself on 'A Day Without Rain'. Everything from the opening heartfelt piano on the title track, to the deliciously crafted closer 'Lazy Days' ... even the stunning 'seasonal' photographs contained within ... reflect true beauty. Despite lasting only forty minutes in length, this just may be Enya's opus.
Free Music Review: Not her best, but still great!
Hit: 5 Stars
While many people consider A Day Without Rain to be Enya's best album I am not that convinced. Why? Well, I think it's her simplest album in many ways. Firstly I'm not a big fan of the cover art. It's not ugly but compared to her earlier albums it doesn't looks that magical and conspicuous. The title "A Day Without Rain" is nice but it doesn't sound as poetic as "Watermark", "Shepherd Moons", "The Memory Of Trees" and "Paint The Sky With Stars". The tracks are shorter and sounds simpler then her earlier ones. The lyrics are also simpler with much "da da da" vocals and repeating refrains. You will not find many melancholic tracks and no dynamic hit like Orinoco Flow and Book Of Days. However, the best track is Only Time followed by the beautiful title track, Wild Child, Flora's Secret, Fallen Embers, Silver Inches, One By One, The First Of Autumn and Lazy Days but - as always - there are no bad tracks on an Enya album. Finally I have to say that A Day Without Rain is a great album with lots of potential hits but I prefer her earlier, more melancholic albums. Perhaps you can say that A Day Without Rain is a simpler and happier version of The Memory Of Trees? Many say that they want something "new" from Enya, but why alter a unique and winning formula that always sounds great? I really hope Enya's next album will sounds like her earlier ones and I hope we'll hear many dynamic tracks with lots of instrumental and vocal layers. I suppose her next album will be released later this year. Guess if I'm longing?!
Since the horrific September 11 attacks four years ago Only Time will always have a special place in my heart and I will always remember those who jumped...
Here comes a short description of the tracks on A Day Without Rain:
1. A Day Without Rain - Instrumental; very relaxing, beautiful
2. Wild Child - English; great, happy, special*
3. Only Time - English; great, very beautiful, special*
4. Tempus Vernum - Latin; pretty powerful, special*
5. Deora Ar Mo Chroí - Gaelic; beautiful, very relaxing
6. Flora's Secret - English; wonderful, happy, special*
7. Fallen Embers - English; extremely beautiful, calm and relaxing
8. Silver Inches - Instrumental; nice, happy
9. Pilgrim - English; beautiful, pretty calm
10. One By One - English; very beautiful, special*
11. The Fisrt Of Autumn - Instrumental; pretty powerful, special*
12. Lazy Days - English; nice, happy, special*
* Hard to say why these songs are special, but perhaps because they don't sound like any other musical stuff. There's only one person that's able to create songs like these and her name is - Enya. You must hear them, but don't forget to try her earlier albums such as Watermark, Shepherd Moons or The Memory Of Trees.
Free Music Review: Enya does it again!
Hit: 5 Stars
When I was ten years old, my family and I went on a vacation up the coast and through the woods of Oregon and Washington. All through our journey, there was this mystical, breath-taking music floating through our car. The haunting melodies seemed to be written for the landscapes we were seeing-- waves crashing on the sand, yellow and purple sunsets. Over the years, I would remember that vacation and that music, but I never would find out who was performing the music or where the tape was that my mother played in our car. Three years later, I was in a dance recital. The opening song of the show was "Storms in Africa II." I can't even begin to describe that performance and how beautiful the dancing was. But to this day, I don't think it was the dancing so much... it was the MUSIC. I ended up discovering "Watermark" in a pile of cassettes, two years later, when I was fifteen. I put the connection together-- the music I heard at the recital and in the car was the same alluring music. There I was, introduced to "Watermark." And what was I? One word. Hooked. And suddenly, out comes "A Day Without Rain." Enchanting! I am getting sick and tired of reviewers saying that Enya has done nothing new! Come on, people, what do you want her to be singing... Britney's "Stronger" or what??? Enya has her own distinct style. She sounds like very few singers in the music industry. That's what makes her so charming-- both as a human being and as a musician. She doesn't sound like a "copy cat" of some other artist. I must admit, some of the songs on "A Day Without Rain" have a very similar sound to some of the previous albums. But who cares! These songs are new. Appreciate Enya for who she is and her unique style-- please don't critize every little thing she does wrong on each album! The best song, in my opinion, on the album is "Only Time." Words can not express what this song does to me. I listen to it every morning to start off my day. My next two favorites are "One By One" and "Wild Child." My least favorite would have to be "Tempus Vernum." It has that totally mystical charm, but I prefer the more happy songs (with a strong percussion) from Enya such as "Wild Child" and the previous sounds of songs like "Storms in Africa,"("Watermark") "Carribean Blue" ("Shepherd Moons"), and "On My Way Home" ("The Memory of Trees"). Good work, Enya, on a job well done. If you have been debating whether or not to buy this album, please go out and get it! You won't be disappointed. I wouldn't be surprised if you, too, will soon become another "obsessed Enya fan."