Customer Reviews

Borrowed Heaven

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought "Borrowed Heaven" just few days after its release. I must say that I was quite afraid of the style of music they were going to bring after In Blue. Fortunatelly, The Corrs woke from poppy "Mutt" slumber. Their 2004 album is a try to return to the beloved Talk On Corners style... even though more modern, more electronic, more rocky, more... hard, maybe? There is quite enough of Irish elements, probably the most that the radio stations allow in the air. Their music sounds as the music of professional musicians of sure quality you can expect anytime. Anyway, even though the album is great, I cannot rate it with five stars... the reason is that I miss the spirit of Forgiven, Not Forgotten or MTV Unplugged... I'm sorry... But the CD is and will be for sure one of the ones I like to put into my stereo often - because of its lightness, freshness and optimism...

Songs review
Summer Sunshine - the first single, the leading song which also carries the name of the album in its lyrics. When I heard it for the first time, I was quite disappointed, but when I was listening to it more, I started to like it so, and what's more, it led me to arrange and play it on the piano... It has wonderful lyrics telling about the need of presence of someone who keeps you warm during winter - winter as a season and winter also as the darkness in your life... (9/10)

Angel - a folk-rocky song dedicated to their mum that makes you sing and dance and if not dance, just wristle on the chair in the office :) The lyrics are very touching, too. I cannot say if I like Summer Sunshine or this song more... (9/10)

Hideway - a song which reminds me Say by its sound a lot. It is done well, mostly the guitar solo... but just this song is the example of how can I miss some spirit inside... (6,5/10)

Long Night - a masterpiece! A hounting, impressive song about love, sung with the deepest feelings. The instrumental interludes are excellent, it is incredible how the simple theme can be varied. They are growing step by step and I always feel freezing in my back while listening to it... But I cannot listen to it always, e.g. as to Summer Sunshine or Angel which are easier - it has to be a special occasion... (9,5/10)

Goodbye - I don't know why, but I like only the chorus of this song. The beginning is too sweet and when Andrea sings "why-ay-ay-ay-ii" in the end, it doesn't fit me neither... (5,5/10)

Time Enough For Tears - one coverversion on the album, but for me it didn't need to be there. Even though it is a ballad, I consider it boring, too slow, making me sleep, pulling like a chewing gum and I don't like Andrea's voice set up too high sounding me very unnatural. Probably the only track I always skip during playing this CD... (3,5/10)

Humdrum - a modern song beginning with scratches typical for hip-hop growing into a typical Irish instrumental solo. It tells an every-day life of a married woman - well, wasn't it Caroline whom the lyrics came from? "Baby's crying louder than me..." - who else could write about baby? Anyway, I have nothing against this song, but it isn't my leader neither... (7/10)

Even If - lyrics made me breathless! Really! They are telling about a true love finally found. "As I grew up I was terrified of darkness, now you're around I've no reason to be frightened..." - as it was about me! It is very optimistic and it says what I always say - that your lover must be your friend and sunny firstly... :-) Just my personal opinion that the end is being repeating too much decreased my rating a bit... (8/10)

Borrowed Heaven - one of the songs which are just not for easy listening, because it carries words of prayer inside. It tells about a world that can fade away in a minute oppose to the eternity, it tells about God who holds our lives in His hands. The song is wonderful in the end, when the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo joins - I see a simple message inside - that God is the one for us all and the difference is just how we call Him... (8,5/10)

Confidence For Quiet - this is a song that could be sung by Alanis Morissette without any problem:-) It is straight and quite hard. When I hear the part "Not anymore, I don't feel it, I'm not hopeless, tragic..." I always imagine Andrea jumping on the bed tearing a pillow and feathers flying around:-) (8/10)

Baby Be Brave - the best song of the album with typical Corrish sound, haunting and touching - both melody and lyrics. It tells about a life lived pretending to be someone else and fearing of having the weaknesses discovered once. The melody is arranged incredibly well, I could imagine it also with strong strings attached. Sharon did another perfect violin solo... as she always does, anyway:-) When singing "Confide in me, tell your story..." it carries a bit of mystery and many of questions never to be answered inside... (10/10)

Silver Strand - an obligatory instrumental theme closing the collection of dozen songs. I cannot understand myself as I'm a musician and lover of instrumental music... but the song doesn't bring me anything, even though it is well done and I have nothing to critize... Understand? (7/10)

This kinda of goes in my "huh?" category for myself. This kind of music doesn't fit in with everything else that I listen to. The metal, the trance, the goth and everything else. But look, there are the Corrs in my music collection! How come?

I like GOOD music. This is GOOD music. I like it alot. It peaceful, and her voice is just so beautiful! The instrumentals are well done, and the quality is extremely good. This is a very talented band.

Also. My favorite band does very similar music. No one probably knows much about them. They are called "Bell Book and Candle". A German band, and the music is very similar. I'll be reccommending them in addition to this album. Quick, go search for them, they are import, but the money is WORTH it!

Back to the Corrs.

A plethora of different music here. Slow, fast...everything. Coming together to just make a really good album!

Key tracks that I LOVE. Of course, "Summer Sunshine" and "Angel" really catch my ear when I listen to them, but those aren't the only songs that are amazing. Everything is beautiful.

Why only 4 stars? I won't listen to this avidly. It's not something I'd keep listening to over and over, but when I need this kind of music, I will pick it up. It's beautiful, it's awesome, but it's a type of album that only RARELY finds it's way into my collection, due simply the quality of the music.

Borrowed Heaven is one of the best Corrs album to date! Its has much more violin in this album than that of 'In Blue' and still sound as great as ever! It's a perfect summer album as the most of the songs are upbeated,uplifting and 'summer-like' and is great to hear at the beach while sun-tanning! It is definately better than 'In Blue'. Well, The Corrs just keeps getting better and better!

It had seemed so long since I had listened to the Corrs that I was surprised to see the new album. Since I don't listen to the radio much I have no idea if anything is being played. Henceforth I had no idea they had a new album. I have been a Corrs fan since the first album in 1995 although I was a bit disappointed in how pop orientated In Blue was. (not to say I don't think Radio is possibly their best song)
So at first listen I was not blown away by the album. However by the third time through I started to have favorite songs. Now weeks into listening nothing but this album my favorite song changes day to day. I think this album is a masterpiece.
I have basically become mildly obsessed AGAIN by the Corrs. I just took an eighteen hour drive and listened to the Corrs almost the whole time. Anytime I would put anything else on it just didn't cut it.
And everytime I put on this album I just kept being blown away by how great it is. I am beginning to wonder if Talk on Corners is still my favorite by them now.
Incidently, I ordered the Unplugged CD and the video Live In London and am more amazed everyday at how incredible this band is.
In short everything they have done is great, but this album is maybe even a notch above great.
Long live the Corrs.

After being out of the studio for about four years (since 2000, they've released MTV Unplugged, VH1 Presents Live, and Best Of albums), they've shown it's time well spent. After the commercial, extremely poppy Mutt Lange-helmed "In Blue", "Borrowed Heaven" is probably their best effort thus far, though the tin whistle and violin sounds that helped them stand out early on are only occasional occurences here.

The upbeat, radio-friendly single "Summer Sunshine" starts this great CD off. It was written by Andrea, and though the title suggests otherwise, it's actually a rather depressing song about having to hide your relationship. Some great lyrics here--"from sweet beginnings/to bitter endings/in coffee city/we borrowed heaven".

"Angel", to be the second single, is a great song that Andrea wrote for her mother (who passed away in '99). Sweet, sincere lyrics--"I'll be proud to be like you/be like you".

"Hideaway" was penned by Sharon, who wrote it to encourage a friend to come out of her shell--has a uplifting and catchy chorus.

"Long Night" is to be the third single, and in my opinion the best song of the album. The song is about breaking up with someone, and it has a great violin solo. Written by Sharon.

"Goodbye", another song about their mother, this time written by Sharon, is about how you never expect to have to say goodbye to someone. I don't particularly like the melody here, but it shows Andrea's amazing range as a singer and plunges into a nice little instrumental section halfway through.

"Time Enough For Tears", the only song not written by the Corrs (written by Bono, Maurice Seezer, and Gavin Friday for the Jim Sheridan movie "In America"), is a slow, emotional, intimate song in a Norah Jones-esque style that Andrea pulls off very well. Another highlight. Though it's a bit out of place on this album full of midtempos, the change is welcomed. This song was also nominated for a Golden Globe. Amazingly, it was recorded in only one take.

"Humdrum" experiments with record-scratching and synthesizers, but it only succeeds in sounding like a schizophrenic Pac-Man soundtrack. Pity, since the lyrics, written by Andrea, here are witty and written from the standpoint of a Stepford Wife-type woman who has to give up her dreams ("I have visions of another/so romantic, you'll discover")

"Even If" is an annoyingly poppy song written by Andrea about being in love, but the melody is so catchy that you can't really dislike it, despite the sappy lyrics("even if the sun came tumbling down/you light the ground I walk on/even if the moon fell out of the sky/you light the ground I walk on").

"Borrowed Heaven", the title track, goes a bit deeper than the other tracks, bringing in guest artists Ladysmith Black Mambazo for some African chanting toward the end. Andrea, who wrote the song, has interviewed that the unusual song name is about how "we all have the possibility of heaven within us" and how life, now, is heaven and we have to give it back. Great lyrics.

"Confidence For Quiet", written by Andrea, was the first song she wrote for the album. She's said that it was a song written to rebel against the pressure the band was facing to bring out a new album--about how she knew she could stop being a music artist and she would still be okay. Nice melody here, though the lyrics are sort of confusing the first time around.

"Baby Be Brave", also by Andrea, is an uplifting song that asks "what's the point of it all/if you're not terrified to fail?", basically saying that fear of failure is part of wanting to do well. Has nice backing vocals by Sharon and Caroline.

"Silver Strand", the only instrumental, was originally written for their first album, "Forgiven, Not Forgotten". Wonderful Irish track, with tin whistle and violin present throughout and Andrea in the background with some "la la la"s. Beautiful.

In conclusion: Great introduction to the Corrs for newbies. Though the poppier elements might disappoint some fans of their more traditional sound, it's still Irish-flavored pop at it's best. Well worth the money.

For some, borrowed heaven may be a mixed bag. While borrowed heaven may not be as spectacular as the first three studio albums, it still manages to deliver some worthwhile, catchy tunes such as "summer sunshine" and "angel." Personally, my favorites are "long night," "goodbye," and "hideaway." It's been almost ten years since The Corrs first made their mark and I'm hoping for another ten years. Thank you to Andrea, Jim, Sharon, and Caroline for continuing to write great music for those of us who appreciate true talent.
LONG LIVE THE CORRS!

After a four-year hiatus, the Corrs emerge with their fourth studio album, "Borrowed Heaven". Though the band has created many musical masterpieces in the past, this is their best album yet - a seamless piece of perfection.

Taking a break to concentrate on their personal lives has only made the Corrs' songwriting skills better. They've gotten married, even had babies, and this newfound sense of self has resulted in twelve amazing tracks, eleven of which were written by the Irish foursome. Once again, pop, rock, and Irish traditional elements mix in a unique combination that is incredible to listen to.

This album is decidedly more cheerful than their last studio effort, "In Blue". Like smash hit 'Breathless', new radio single 'Summer Sunshine' is the perfect summer anthem, with a belting chorus and unforgettable melody. 'Time Enough For Tears', a slightly jazzy effort a la Norah Jones, finds a home here with near-spiritual 'Borrowed Heaven', as does instrumental 'Silver Strand'.

However, the best tracks on the album are the songs I suspect will be radio hits in the months to come. 'Angel'and 'Goodbye', penned by Andrea and Sharon, respectively, take decidedly different looks at the grieving process, while 'Long Night' details in painful reality the breakup of a relationship. Gone are the days of shouting "I never loved you anyway!"; real pain and heartache are felt in the lyrics and melody.

Perhaps the biggest change in the Corrs is their level of maturity. The siblings have literally grown up in front of the world, and they're proving their adulthood on this masterpiece album. They've brought back the Irish flavor that made them famous, while retaining the growth into pop music that has made them successful. Looking for something refreshing, with in-depth sentiments and seamless craftmanship? It's all right here.

After having their hit `Breathless' became a number one single selling in 15 countries four years ago, the siblings are back with a more religious and mature album, slightly back to their original Irish root which was absent in the previous album `In Blue'. The album title song `Borrowed Heaven' is a collaborative project with South African's Ladysmith Mambazo, attempts touching our spiritual side with its simple but thoughtful lyrics, reminding our innocent presence in the world and its materials that are yet to be given back to God. The optimistic 'Angel' and 'Goodbye', a blend of rock and classical violin, canvas their emotions toward their late mother who died of cancer. With the majority of equally phenomenal tracks, the foursome's unwise choice came after deciding the blandly misleading and shallow `Summer Sunshine' as their first single and an opener of `Borrowed Heaven'.

It's been 4 years since the Corrs released their last studio album In Blue. Though it became a big seller worldwide (7 million copies sold), it was deemed too commercial and lacked the distinct Irish sound people loved them for. They are back with 'Borrowed Heaven' after the hiatus, and that deserved rest worked good! 'BH' is much more refreshing than its predecessor. It is very evident that the Irish influences are back and more present than ever in each track. There is no filler in this album. Songs are weaved with insightful lyrics (some about the death of their mother: 'ANGEL', 'GOODBYE') beautiful melodies and choruses with oomph! The songs just stick to your head. One of the notable tracks here are TIME ENOUGH FOR TEARS, a collaboration with U2'S Bono, perhaps one of their most different songs, and BORROWED HEAVEN with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with great percussion and talks about how everything on earth is just temporary. Buy this album, and have your fill of good ol'Corrs Music. GREAT TO HAVE THEM BACK!!

"Borrowed Heaven" is nothing short of a masterpiece. The listener experiences a world of emotions when hearing this cd-we hear about the pain of break-ups (Long Night), about over coming these break-ups (Baby Be Brave), being an independant woman who is proud to be this way (Humdrum & Confidence for Quiet), and a beautiful song about the loss of the band's mother-written with positivity and hope that she is in a better place (Angel), then the philisophical "Borrowed Heaven," perhaps the best track on the album-if one must be chosen! The instrumental "Silver Strand" is absolutely amazing and uplifting. Every song on this album is amazing and should be heard by everyone, even the ones not mentioned. This album is nothing short of "Borrowed Heaven."