Home Is Where [Extra tracks, Import]

Holly McNarland | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 17, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B000069HQ5
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,432 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Do You Get High?

2. Sister

3. Beautiful Blue

4. When You Come Down

5. Brush into My Tears

6. I Cry

7. Voices

8. The Ride

9. Dallas

10. Watching Over You

11. Losing My Face

12. More

Editorial Reviews

2002 release from Canadian artist compared to Alanis Morrisette and Fiona Apple for her dark and sometimes angry music. Enhanced. Universal Music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spirited punk-tinged rock., October 3, 2002

By 

D. Mok (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Home Is Where (Audio CD)

Holly McNarland may take home the prize for some of the dumbest album titles around (Stuff? Home Is Where My Feet Are?), but don't let that deter you. Her music and lyrics are far smarter than her unfortunate choices in titles.

Though her 1997 debut Stuff had much more raw firepower, Home... kicks up the eccentricity a notch. Check out the techno-ed up "Brush into My Tears". Her melodies on this album are less immediately accessible and her song structures more ambitious, but there are still rock-out moments aplenty. Lead track "Do You Get High?" is a classic McNarland kicker in the veins of "Numb" and "The Box", with rough but anthemic vocal harmonies, big beats and electric guitars. McNarland has refined her vocals a bit to take the grating edge off, and while I enjoyed her unrestrained wails on Stuff, her singing has definitely matured. Her lyrics have improved greatly, dispensing with the sometimes awkward phrasing that had been her only lyrical flaw up to now. "Beautiful Blue" doesn't quite scale the heights of McNarland's best song "Water", but it remains an effective demonstration of her musical alchemy -- the reconciliation of the beautiful with the ugly, the tenderness with the rage. When this woman rocks out, she's a force to be reckoned with, her muscular arrangements, soaring but surprisingly versatile voice, and sure-handed song progressions demolishing the likes of Alanis Morissette.

Five years was a long time to wait and I think Stuff is a stronger album given its unbridled energy. However, it's still mighty nice to see a talented, uncompromising singer-songwriter back in action. Think of it as riot-grrl energy with musical finesse and catchy pop sensibilities.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Obscure Masterpiece, October 2, 2002

By 

Drew Rogers (Nova Scotia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home Is Where (Audio CD)

I got this CD after hearing Beautiful Blue on the radio and was blown away from the simple beauty of it.

I was wondering how good this album would be. After all, it took over 4 years to make.

Lke wine, Holly let herself age a little bit to perfection.

The music is complex yet simple, and her voice is hard-edged and beautiful. She is a living oxymoron (in a good way)

Soem of the songs are instantly accessable (Do You Get High, Sister, Beautiful Blue) while others you grow to love (my favorites I Cry, More, Dallas)

She manages to get a very strong point across without being too wordy. In fact, many of her songs are lyrically repetitive, which usually bugs the hell out of me, but I like it here.

A hidden gem that every true music fan should seek out.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Beautiful Blue., July 10, 2002

By 

Dave "borachiosfish" (HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home Is Where (Audio CD)

Holly fans have waited over 4 years for her follow-up studio CD and I have to say the wait has been well worth it.
The harshness and anger may well have been somewhat diluted, but we still have Holly writing and singing about things she cares for, love, anger and now being a mother, her child. "Do You Get High" was written about her son and "Beautiful Blue" was reportedly written after Holly witnessed the tragedy of September 11th with her son. Both songs have already been released as singles in Canada and are excellent.
It seems wrong to pick out tracks from a CD, which in my opinion, has no weak tracks, however stand-out songs apart from the singles are "Dallas" the spine tingling "More" and my current favourite "When You Come Down"
I feared that after such a long time away from the business Holly would disappoint, but thankfully has delivered a CD that will only enhance her growing reputation.
The fact that Holly is not a bigger star than she is, is beyond me. Part of me wants to keep something so precious to myself, but that is only being selfish. Holly should be a star and with the backing from her record company, this could be the CD to give her what she so rightly deserves.
Thank-you Holly, please don't make us wait another 4 years for the next CD !!