Light from a Distant Shore

Hollie Smith | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Etherean Music
• ASIN: B000025AXK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,216 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful songs and voice, February 24, 2004

By 

JM (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Light from a Distant Shore (Audio CD)

I've been a fan of Hollie's for a few years now and agree with the other reviewers (except about adding Jazz tunes...).

However, the Asheville, NC, fan is wrong about the meaning of "Skye Boat Song" (Charlie was born in Rome and grew up in France; and IIRC barely or rarely stepped foot in Scotland before the '45)... it is about the Bonnie Prince escaping after his defeat in the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion battle at Culloden Moor (April 1746). The reference in the lyrics: "Flora will keep/Watch by your weary head" is Flora MacDonald, who helped Prince Charlie escape (disguised as a woman).

Hollie's voice outshines any number of the "popular" female singers today and this is definitely a cd worth having in your collection; you can't go wrong. And if you like Hollie, you must check out her step-father Steve McDonald.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Album!, March 15, 2002

By 

Christine L. Engleman "Christine" (Darnestown, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Light from a Distant Shore (Audio CD)

I bought this CD because I am a fan of Steve MacDonald's and already have all of his albums. This girl has a wonderful, clear voice, she is REALLY a singer, unlike some current pop princesses. The songs are a mix of traditional tunes and those of Steve McDonald. Beautiful and haunting. As a fan of Loreena McKennitt's, I can recommend this album to all of her other fans out there. All I want to know is when is Hollie going to release a second album?

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful voice, beautiful cd, February 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Light from a Distant Shore (Audio CD)

On my quest for more female singers, I stumbled upon the mp3 of "Gone" on Amazon. I thought it was good enough to at least give the CD I try, and I'm very glad I did.

Hollie Smith's has a sensual, deep smooth voice. When you pair her beautiful voice with Steven McDonald's lyrics, keyboard and percussion, this CD elevates itself above others in the genre. I actually find myself more drawn to the songs where both Hollie Smith and Steven McDonald sing ("Fields of Athenry" and "Fallen Flowers"), perhaps because of the ballad aspect of the two, but also because together, these singers make an absolutely winning combination. Regardless, if you've listened to "Gone" and still aren't sure, I suggest you buy it anyway. While "Gone" is a great song, it's not the best song on the album by far, in my opinion, and the lyrics aren't as good as others on the album. Songs like "Rowan Tree" (one about how a rowan tree reminds the narrator of her childhood), "Skye Boat Song" (a traditional ballad about Prince Charlie, smuggled out of Scotland to France), and "Amazing Grace" along with the two ballads named above stand out the most to me.

I've heard news that Hollie Smith is now in the process of making another album, and I'll be sure to snatch that one up as soon as it's available.