Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Instant Classic!, November 26, 2001
While browsing through a record store that let's you listen to samples of CDs, I ran across Ritchie Blackmores' latest. What a shock! The man long known as a primo hard rock guitarist from Deep Purple and Rainbow has gone medieval. Well sort off.The music is a blend of English folk and medieval inspired tunes fused with modern pop and rock. And...occasionally we still get a brilliant rock solo. The only other band that I can recall who has tried this approach was Jethro Tull, however this doesn't sound like Tull This is a delightful album, full of pep and energy...like taking a trip into a magic dimension. While Blackmore writes or arranges most of the music, a large part of the credit must go to Candice Night (Mrs. Blackmore) who writes most of the lyrics and fronts for the band with her smooth yet powerful voice. She gives Blackmore's night a lot of its' identity. She seems to have been born to sing this stuff. It's hard to pick a favorite song since they are all great. The opener "Written In The Stars" is a fast paced pop anthem and sounds like it could be a major radio hit. It kind of reminds me of ABBA. "I Still Remember" is an acoustic rock number, something that Heart might have done. "Home Again " is a hook laden medieval based folk song, you can almost hear the merry man in the pub, thumbing their mugs of beer on the wooden table singing along with the band. This album is one that I would take along on the proverbial desert island if I could only have ten. An instant classic!
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"The stars are out and magic is here.", February 21, 2002
Quite a mix of contradictions we have in Blackmore's Night; founded by one of metal's pioneering guitarists, but usually decked out like part of a renaissance faire. The lyrical subjects are the stuff of romance novels and D&D games, but the music spices up the medieval feeling with electric guitars and some occasional techno elements. The whole theme seems to be living in the middle ages, yet they include one modern rock cover per disk - this time, of all things, "The Times They Are A-Changing." It's enough to make your head spin. This time around however, they've sprung back from the lukewarm Under a Violet Moon with a strong set of tunes to equal their stunning debut. "Written in the Stars" and the title track will especially appeal to those who liked "Shadow of the Moon," and "Home Again" is a rousing pub song to rival "Play Minstrel Play." And to balance things out there's more of their slow ballad side present ("Waiting Just for You," "Again Someday") as well. Toss in the requisite solo guitar instrumental ("Fayre Thee Well") and a little Oriental flavor and you've got an album well worth a listen for fans of Blackmore.. especially if they were a little disappointed with album #2. Unfamiliar with the group? Either this album or Shadow of the Moon would be a good starter. Just be warned, this music is addictive.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Gem, August 23, 2001
By A Customer
So the third Blackmore's Night album finally appears and the fact is, they simply keep getting better. Candice's voice is certainly enthralling enough to keep the interest going, and Ritchie's acoustic workouts show why he is the best at what he does. I read somewhere that he is the happiest he has ever been in a project, and you can tell on this album. Hell, even the instrumentals sound way more upbeat than on the previous two albums. The project started out as a Renaissance thing, but with this album it has developed into almost a World Music project, in which Ritchie and Candice explore Arabic themes, Japanese themes, classical themes.....oh, and a little bit of rock to round things off. I wondered what Ritchie would make of Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'", and I'm glad to say that they have done a great job on it. [....] Long time Blackmore fans should have come to terms with this project by now. The longer this guy can keep producing great music....in however many different styles he chooses...the better!!
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