Customer Reviews

Glint of Silver

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are just not enough bands like Silly Wizard! Listen to the samples for "Chill Eastern Winds" to get a feel for this album but the best songs are the amusing "Willie Archer" and the amazing Irish ballad (the band is Scottish) "Blackbird of Sweet Avondale".

I strongly suggest you give some of their other music a try. Every fan of Celtic music who ever listened to SW instantly buys everything they made (sadly, not enough). You should also listen to some of Andy Stewart's post SW work such as "Fire In The Glen" and "At It Again". You will thank me later.

This group's last offerings date to about 1988 but are timeless in artistry and musicianship. I must recommend to anyone who collects Celtic music to consider this band's music as worthy to add. The vocals so humorous or so poetic that few should be disappointed. Silly Wizard is one of my favorites that I never saw in person though I have a VCS recording from Green Linnet that is invaluable to me. Even my kids like watching this with me and my wife. Their music is not for playing in the background. You must listen, pay attention and then, play it again.

This is my favorite album in the Celtic genre. I don't know how many times I've listened to it. I even used 'When Summer Ends' for my wedding! The penny whistle gives you goose bumps and Andy Stewart's voice wraps around the bouncy words like raw honey. Every song has its own life and energy. And when it's over, you just let the CD start again so as to enjoy another ride.

From rolling jigs to soulful ballads, A Glint of Silver is a true gem of daring tunes and a balancing act between the old tradition and a newer sound. Some instruments mark it in time a little, but that's about the only critic I have. If you want to discover the power of celtic music, this is the album for you. A excellent starting point to move on and discover other SW albums (Wild & Beautiful in particular) and Andy Stewart's own wonderful creations.

I love this CD, but you will find a slightly different style than other SW albums. At least on a few songs you will hear a little more more modern instrumentation. Still a great CD!

This album struck me from the first. I only needed to hear it once to know that I loved it. I play it regularly and never tire of "Wha'll be King but Cherlie?" with Andy Stewart's voice going deep, and the range of instruments accompanying him sounding rich with bass and treble alike; "Blackbird of Avondale" gives me goosebumps. I absolutely cherish it.

This is a great album, almost as good as "The Best of Silly Wizard". The two best tracks are "Lover's Heart" and the rompin', stompin', rollicking, unforgettable "Wha'll be king but Cherlie?", which is a signature song that conveys the essence of traditional celtic music. Some of the other tunes are very good also, but the two mentioned above are all-time classics. Overall this album is a great piece of wizardry. It is, however, a little short and should have included another song or two.

This album is less traditional in tone than their previous albums. I especially like "Wha'll be King but Charlie?"

The first track has some interesting, very modern touches, and then the rest of the album jumps back into what Silly Wizard does best. "Lover's Heart" is one of the saddest, bittersweet songs I have ever heard, and the entire album is fun to listen to. A great addition to any Celtic collection!

This is a must for any lover of Scottish music. The "Sweet Bird of Avondale" has become one of my favorite songs. This CD is a classic.

Probably the best Scottish folk outfit of all time but if I'd heard this album before the others I'd have written them off. Some good stuff like 'Roarin Donald' but found much of the rest rather uninteresting. Andy Stewart has a tremendous voice but somebody should advise him to give up writing his own material. I think thats where they went wrong with this one. Their other albums are just stupendous but this one is very thin indeed.