Borrowed Heaven

The Corrs

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2004)
• Original Release Date: June 8, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00020HEH0
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,016 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Borrowed Heaven comes a few years after the greatest hits collection and the Corr's last proper studio album, In Blue. It's easy to see it was time well spent as of the 12 new songs here there is very little filler and plenty of catchy, rousing choruses. Lead single and opener "Summer Sunshine" is jolly, guitar-driven, 80s pop-rock and, like much of the album, has a few quirky production gimmicks to fill out the verse while the chorus explodes into big drums and meaty guitar hooks.

It's difficult to pick standouts as the style is quite firmly set and the quality between songs unwavering, but the finale "Silver Strand" is a grandiose Celtic instrumental led by Sharon Corr's sadly under-used violin with Andrea chipping in the occasional "La la la" vocal. "Long Night" is a well-crafted 80s power-ballad and in contrast, "Humdrum" takes a contemporary slant on the Corrs sound with scratching, synths, and breaks creating the rockiest moment on the album. There may be disappointment that it veers towards the commercialism of Fleetwood Mac rather than the traditional folk of their earlier work, but this is the Corrs and has been for some time; so love it or loathe it, it's unmistakably their sound. --David Trueman

Product Description
They've sold over 20 million albums worldwide and consistently climbed charts with their vibrant, Celtic-influenced, infectious and clear-eyed pop. They've even shared their stage with guests like U2's Bono and The Rolling Stones' Ron Wood. Now the Corrs follow up their 2002 release VH1 Presents The Corrs: Live in Dublin, with the eagerly awaited brand new studio set Borrowed Heaven.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow, I like this!, October 31, 2004

By	Chris Ochman "The Eclectic Listener" (Stafford, VA) - See all my reviews

This kinda of goes in my "huh?" category for myself. This kind of music doesn't fit in with everything else that I listen to. The metal, the trance, the goth and everything else. But look, there are the Corrs in my music collection! How come?

I like GOOD music. This is GOOD music. I like it alot. It peaceful, and her voice is just so beautiful! The instrumentals are well done, and the quality is extremely good. This is a very talented band.

Also. My favorite band does very similar music. No one probably knows much about them. They are called "Bell Book and Candle". A German band, and the music is very similar. I'll be reccommending them in addition to this album. Quick, go search for them, they are import, but the money is WORTH it!

Back to the Corrs.

A plethora of different music here. Slow, fast...everything. Coming together to just make a really good album!

Key tracks that I LOVE. Of course, "Summer Sunshine" and "Angel" really catch my ear when I listen to them, but those aren't the only songs that are amazing. Everything is beautiful.

Why only 4 stars? I won't listen to this avidly. It's not something I'd keep listening to over and over, but when I need this kind of music, I will pick it up. It's beautiful, it's awesome, but it's a type of album that only RARELY finds it's way into my collection, due simply the quality of the music.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, but something missing..., August 5, 2004

By	Deep Girl (heart of Europe) - See all my reviews

I bought "Borrowed Heaven" just few days after its release. I must say that I was quite afraid of the style of music they were going to bring after In Blue. Fortunatelly, The Corrs woke from poppy "Mutt" slumber. Their 2004 album is a try to return to the beloved Talk On Corners style... even though more modern, more electronic, more rocky, more... hard, maybe? There is quite enough of Irish elements, probably the most that the radio stations allow in the air. Their music sounds as the music of professional musicians of sure quality you can expect anytime. Anyway, even though the album is great, I cannot rate it with five stars... the reason is that I miss the spirit of Forgiven, Not Forgotten or MTV Unplugged... I'm sorry... But the CD is and will be for sure one of the ones I like to put into my stereo often - because of its lightness, freshness and optimism...

Songs review
Summer Sunshine - the first single, the leading song which also carries the name of the album in its lyrics. When I heard it for the first time, I was quite disappointed, but when I was listening to it more, I started to like it so, and what's more, it led me to arrange and play it on the piano... It has wonderful lyrics telling about the need of presence of someone who keeps you warm during winter - winter as a season and winter also as the darkness in your life... (9/10)

Angel - a folk-rocky song dedicated to their mum that makes you sing and dance and if not dance, just wristle on the chair in the office :) The lyrics are very touching, too. I cannot say if I like Summer Sunshine or this song more... (9/10)

Hideway - a song which reminds me Say by its sound a lot. It is done well, mostly the guitar solo... but just this song is the example of how can I miss some spirit inside... (6,5/10)

Long Night - a masterpiece! A hounting, impressive song about love, sung with the deepest feelings. The instrumental interludes are excellent, it is incredible how the simple theme can be varied. They are growing step by step and I always feel freezing in my back while listening to it... But I cannot listen to it always, e.g. as to Summer Sunshine or Angel which are easier - it has to be a special occasion... (9,5/10)

Goodbye - I don't know why, but I like only the chorus of this song. The beginning is too sweet and when Andrea sings "why-ay-ay-ay-ii" in the end, it doesn't fit me neither... (5,5/10)

Time Enough For Tears - one coverversion on the album, but for me it didn't need to be there. Even though it is a ballad, I consider it boring, too slow, making me sleep, pulling like a chewing gum and I don't like Andrea's voice set up too high sounding me very unnatural. Probably the only track I always skip during playing this CD... (3,5/10)

Humdrum - a modern song beginning with scratches typical for hip-hop growing into a typical Irish instrumental solo. It tells an every-day life of a married woman - well, wasn't it Caroline whom the lyrics came from? "Baby's crying louder than me..." - who else could write about baby? Anyway, I have nothing against this song, but it isn't my leader neither... (7/10)

Even If - lyrics made me breathless! Really! They are telling about a true love finally found. "As I grew up I was terrified of darkness, now you're around I've no reason to be frightened..." - as it was about me! It is very optimistic and it says what I always say - that your lover must be your friend and sunny firstly... :-) Just my personal opinion that the end is being repeating too much decreased my rating a bit... (8/10)

Borrowed Heaven - one of the songs which are just not for easy listening, because it carries words of prayer inside. It tells about a world that can fade away in a minute oppose to the eternity, it tells about God who holds our lives in His hands. The song is wonderful in the end, when the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo joins - I see a simple message inside - that God is the one for us all and the difference is just how we call Him... (8,5/10)

Confidence For Quiet - this is a song that could be sung by Alanis Morissette without any problem:-) It is straight and quite hard. When I hear the part "Not anymore, I don't feel it, I'm not hopeless, tragic..." I always imagine Andrea jumping on the bed tearing a pillow and feathers flying around:-) (8/10)

Baby Be Brave - the best song of the album with typical Corrish sound, haunting and touching - both melody and lyrics. It tells about a life lived pretending to be someone else and fearing of having the weaknesses discovered once. The melody is arranged incredibly well, I could imagine it also with strong strings attached. Sharon did another perfect violin solo... as she always does, anyway:-) When singing "Confide in me, tell your story..." it carries a bit of mystery and many of questions never to be answered inside... (10/10)

Silver Strand - an obligatory instrumental theme closing the collection of dozen songs. I cannot understand myself as I'm a musician and lover of instrumental music... but the song doesn't bring me anything, even though it is well done and I have nothing to critize... Understand? (7/10)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavenly Transfixes You, July 12, 2005

By	Kenneth Prahara - See all my reviews

After having their hit `Breathless' became a number one single selling in 15 countries four years ago, the siblings are back with a more religious and mature album, slightly back to their original Irish root which was absent in the previous album `In Blue'. The album title song `Borrowed Heaven' is a collaborative project with South African's Ladysmith Mambazo, attempts touching our spiritual side with its simple but thoughtful lyrics, reminding our innocent presence in the world and its materials that are yet to be given back to God. The optimistic 'Angel' and 'Goodbye', a blend of rock and classical violin, canvas their emotions toward their late mother who died of cancer. With the majority of equally phenomenal tracks, the foursome's unwise choice came after deciding the blandly misleading and shallow `Summer Sunshine' as their first single and an opener of `Borrowed Heaven'.