Customer Reviews

No Frontiers

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Maybe it's because this album came along at a special time in my life; maybe it's because this was the first Mary Black album I ever owned; and maybe because this album contains some of the most beautiful and sophisticated songs and singing I've ever heard, that I can honestly say that it remains one of the best albums I have ever owned. I am always transported back to musical magic when listening to the title track--it is still as exciting to listen to as when I first heard "No Frontiers". "Carolina Rua" is a lilting, uplifiting song of great joy. "Columbus" is a dark, deep song about restlessness, and who would think that anyone could write and record a song titled "Fat Valley of Pain"? Yet Mary Black pulls it off, and this album is one succession of great songs. I own six Mary Black albums, but this still remains my favorite. Best of all, I'm just glad I discovered this great singer, who has added such pleasure into my life.

Recording wise, this is one of the few CDs that hi-end audio stores use to test and showcase their systems. Need I say more?

Musically, the songs are very enjoyable - a little pop-ish with an Irish touch. The arrangement is extremely good, flowing seamlessly with Mary's clear voice.

Overall, it's one CD you have to own. If you are into hi-end audio and own a hi-end turntable, you've got to hunt down the vinyl version of this record. It sounds much much better on vinyl.

How do you go about producing a record by an artist with a voice that is as clear as a mountain stream and as sweet as honey? First, you make sure that you have a collection of songs that are worthy of the voice. Second, you make sure that nothing in the production process, including musical arrangement, intrudes on the magic of the singing.

Take a bow Declan Synott. This record is quite breathtaking in its beauty. Mary Black is Ireland's greatest undiscovered treasure. No Frontiers is a wonderful song rendered unforgettable by the astonishing vocals displayed by Black. Her rendition of Columbus is almost mystical.

Black can switch between pop, blues, jazz and folk with a fluidity that is awesome. Hear her sing Say a Little Prayer and marvel at the freshness and vitality she brings. Hear her sing Carolina Rua where she turns a jaunty ditty into a rollicking rollercoaster.

This record is not perfect, and I am glad. Perfection is, by its nature, too often bland. This record is flawed but is nonetheless an exquisite thrill. Buy it now!

I bought this disc 3 years ago. Since then, these songs have become a legend for me. This is the kind of music which enchantes you.The lyrics is sophisticated, the instruments subtle, and last but not the least, the quality of sound is simply astounding.You can sit back, and listen from the beginning to the end.My favorite songs are No frontiers (also contained on the unplugged album of The Corrs), and The Shadow.But it`s hard to make such statements as favourites.Mary Black lovers may find Loreena McKennitt, Suzanne Vega, Secret Garden congenial to their mind and soul as well. These are not of background music!!!Adam from Düsseldorf

Mary Black has a truly wondrous voice; were I able to sing, this is exactly what I would want to sound like. I have some definite favorites on this CD; "No Frontiers," "Past the Point of Rescue," "Columbus," "Another Day," and "The Fog in Monterey." I bought my copy of "No Frontiers" nearly a decade ago, and those songs are ones I keep returning to, over and over again. The arrangements are wonderful, acoustically-oriented with tight percussion and a few jazz touches thrown in for good measure. It works wonderfully, and often has an infectious energy.

If "No Frontiers" has a major weakness, it is in the uneven choice of material. "The Shadow," while very well-perfomed, is nonetheless rather overwrought, "Shuffle of the Buckled" is depressing (I usually skip through it), and I have no idea why Black saw the need to cover "I Say a Little Prayer." I've since learned that this unevenness in choosing material is typical of many of Mary Black's CDs, but have also decided that she's well worth hearing despite it.

I heard this album in a near-empty Irish bar in the middle of the afternoon. It was playing loud, and two of us from different ends of the bar both got up at the same time to ask the bartender who this wonderful singer was. She even makes a Burt Bacharach song sound great.

I bought this disc 3 years ago. Since then, these songs have become a legend for me. This is the kind of music which enchantes you.The lyrics is sophisticated, the instruments subtle, and last but not the least, the quality of sound is simply astounding.You can sit back, and listen from the beginning to the end.My favorite songs are No frontiers (also contained on the unplugged album of The Corrs), and The Shadow.But it`s hard to make such statements as favourites.Mary Black lovers may find Loreena McKennitt, Suzanne Vega, Secret Garden congenial to their mind and soul as well. These are not of background music!!!Adam from Düsseldorf

Mary Black is a pure vocalist whose lyrics evoke the urge to travel...in "No Frontiers" and "Columbus." She makes me want to go off dreamily into the sunset.. searching new horizons and far off places. "Vanities" is reminiscent of an old boyfriend or two. This is a set of evocative, wonderful songs... Marvelous for a relaxing Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and the newspaper.

I first heard this song on a documentary about Irish Music in America - by Emmy-Lou Harris and I loved it. I have been a HUGE fan of Mary's for many years now and this album only strengthens the hold of her music around my heart. The rich tones of her voice and the feeling with which she sings embodies female Irish folk music for me and I have even induced some of my friends into listening to her albums. I love Mary and I love her music...She is even better in concert.

Mary Black and/or her producers selected great tunes, gave them wonderful arrangements that lack the sterility of most pop and the naivete of most folk. This is an album with heart.