Customer Reviews

Sugarolly Days

5 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Take some of the best traditional Gaelic classics, combine them with gorgeous contemporary songs, and mix them generously with the OH SO SOULFUL, POWERFUL voice of Scottish Pop/Soul singer Jim Diamond, and you have one DELICIOUS piece of ear candy:a match truly made in MUSICAL HEAVEN!

Of all the current Pop/Rock artists(Van Morrison, Tim Finn, etc.)who have returned in recent years to their Gaelic roots by releasing recordings of Gaelic music, none I've heard so far has come close to capturing what I hear on this album:that soul-stirring, "pure voice" that is Gaelic music at it's BEST!

In ANY genre, Jim Diamond's voice is a MARVEL to behold, but combined with some of the finest traditional Gaelic classics, it's beauty is almost INDESCRIBABLE. My only regret is that Amazon.com has not provided sound bites from this GORGEOUS album for listeners to hear.

Of particular note are the traditional classics "Skye Boat Song", "Ae Fond Kiss" and "Coulter's Candy"(Ali Bali Be). Here, Jim has actually made "Skye Boat Song" his VERY OWN, by giving it an altogether DIFFERENT melody than what I'd previously heard! I'm delighted to say I actually like Jim's version BETTER than any I'd previously heard:simply THE BEST!
Jim's voice seductively caresses one's ear in "Ae Fond Kiss", leaving the listener in an almost dream-like state! I've heard COUNTLESS versions of this song, but hands-down none were half as SUBLIME as Jim's here! In Jim's hands, "Coulter's Candy" is raised to a level of SPIRITUAL beauty. He infuses it with a glowing, incandescent, unearthly beauty that rivals ANY hymm I've ever heard!

Jim-as a FIRST RATE song crafter-has also contributed ORIGINAL songs of his too; they stand up WELL alongside the traditional songs. Of special note here is a lilting gem called "Eastern Promise". A truly BEAUTIFUL song of love lost, it has a sparkling, almost MAGICAL arrangement that simply DAZZLED my ear when first I heard it!

Words CANNOT do justice to these songs. Jim's PURE GENIUS will simply leave you BREATHLESS when you listen to this collection!

On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, I rate this faire beauty a 5+!

I bought this without realising this was not a usual poppy/blue-eyed soul affair, but instead a return to Jim's true roots (as opposed to classic R&B). I'm 25% Scottish, so it applies to me as well. However, you can be 0% and still enjoy this ode to his heritage. It beats most of what's out there these days!
"The Skye Boat Song" I heard of through ex-pat John McDermott. A couple my mother heard of (it's her side). The songs remind you of a simpler time. My only qualm is it would be more authentic if bagpipes were there. That may be too obvious, but it would make sense. Maybe even a cover of Macca's "Mull of Kintyre" (Diamond rarely does pop/rock covers). I just have one more studio release to get.
"Caledonia" here is not the same one he did in 1985.
Originally released in 1994 by Righteous/Total/BMG (not Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records!).