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List Price: $30.49 | | Label: Wea International
Salesrank: 213447
Released: November 27, 2000 |
| Our Price: $15.43 |
| Used Price: $4.88 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
Import edition of her 2000 album includes one bonus track previously available only as a UK B-side and not available on the Japanese pressing, 'The First Of Autumn'. Standard jewel case.
A Day Without Rain Reviews:
Poetic and Beautiful 
2006-09-05 - Enya brings us once again the haunting music that is her trademark, written in multiple languages.
The CD kicks off with the mellow instrumental "A Day without Rain." A piano provides the principal musical instrument with Enya humming in harmony. The music evokes nature at peace; woods with a light breeze on a cool day, light clouds dotting a peaceful sky. You could readily sleep to this music. The instrumental leads into "Wild Child," a faster paced song that stays within the musical theme of the peaceful outdoors, but now the music has the theme of the wild, yet innocent child, frolicking in the benign environment. Enya's vocals are as much instrument as the instruments themselves. This song is beautiful in its conception and execution.
"Only Time" follows. Enya proves once again that she has the ability to create beautiful musical poetry. The deceptively light lyrics can pull the listener into a deep contemplation of love and life and the roads that we choose. The lyrics also explain that we must have patience because only time will allow all to be revealed in fullness.
Enya then switches themes and styles as she moves into a Latin song with heavy bass backing. The literal translation of "Tempus Vernum" is "Spring Time." The lyrics appear to be a series of words that might be considered to be opposites, such as east and west, earth and star, and autumn and spring. Thus in one sense Roma Ryan's lyrics appear to be exploring the Yin and Yang of some Asian philosophies, the contrast of opposites. The serious, ponderous tone of the music is heavily contemplative; deep philosophical evaluation of a subject; beautiful in the selection of words and the musical match.
The musical tone then becomes a Gaelic lament, "Deora ar mo chroi," or "Tears on My Heart." The gentle, sad music belies the actual translation of the Gaelic, which is full of beauty and happiness. The effect is more in the poetry of the Gaelic and how well the music is matched to it rather than the actual meaning of the words. The execution is very artistic and poignant.
Enya then lightens the music with "Flora's Secret," which has a faster pace than the previous two selections. This love song is musical poetry and is beautiful and full; a musical wine. You may either interpret the song from an aspect of nature, or of two lovers. In either case, this song is an experience.
"Fallen Embers" is a dream, a memory of a former love. Mellow, slow, but sufficiently ethereal to keep from being ponderous. Enya's beautiful voice is the centerpiece of the song. The instruments add fullness, but her voice alone could have carried this song.
"Silver Embers" is another instrumental with a moderate pace. Short and, as always, beautiful, this song leads into "Pilgrim," yet another lament. I personally enjoy this song because the theme is that there are many roads to choose in life, some of which lead to nowhere, and yet we have no clue as to which is which, and which is the best. We are all pilgrims in life, and this song is our song.
Sometimes I have difficulty in interpreting Roma Ryan's lyrics. Such is the case with "One by One." I understand that this song is about love, but some of the lyrics imply there is a constraint between him and her, and she is longing to be free of those constraints. Yet the final stanza implies that love binds them and will never die; a bit confusing for my poor brain.
This version adds "The First of Autumn." Other versions add "Isobella." I would like to have had both on one CD, which would have made a longer version. Both songs are nice to have, and I find it obnoxious to have to buy multiple CD's to obtain all the available tracks.
The quicker-paced "Lazy Days" finishes off the CD. Given the general theme of nature and love this song appears to tidily wrap up the CD with the promise of things yet to come.
Enya has once again created another sumptuously beautiful work of music that you can listen to time after time just to begin to appreciate the complexity and poetry of this music. This music is unique and nearly stands in its own category. It is artistically and technically flawless. The only possible flaw this CD has is that it is only about 39 minutes long. I could argue that for the beauty and quality of the music 39 minutes is a great length, but it seems to me that a bit more quantity would have made this CD absolutely phenomenal. As it is, it begs to be combined with another short work to create a full CD's worth of music; admittedly a minor flaw.
Enjoy!
A song to remember, A song to reflect, A song to restore 
2006-08-30 - Its almost 5 years after the 9/11 attacks. Throughout the past five years "Only Time" has played many times. Still I find it hard to get past the end of the song without tears in my eyes and profound sadness I feel. For many, may be a song of healing. It has an opposite affect on me (don't know why). Currently I want to put together a moving slide show of the life and times of the Twin Towers. I think the song is perfect for my project and would be a emotionally touching tribute instead of rehashing the awfulness connected to the event. The slide show will only show the photos of the beginnings of the construction to pictures of the views and the beautiful years they existed. No scenes of the attacks will be included, theres already venues for that. Lastly, I hope there are some pretty pan shots over the tops of the WTC. The end of the slide show (and song) will fade and the WTC will re-appear proud and tall.
Better than the US version
2002-03-03 - While Enya seemed a little aimless and misdirected on the US version of A Day Without Rain, it was a very strong achievement for any artist, it just simply didn't live up to the previous precedents she has set with other albums like Watermark and The Memory of Trees. Backed by the singles Only Time (which went #1 in Germany and Canada, and #10 here in the United States) and Wild Child, which are all stunning and complemented by truthful, meaningful lyrics, this Aussie pressing of ADWR improves upon the US version with the edition of The First of Autumn, Enya's most stirring instrumental to date. Complete with strings, cello, violins, and a plethora of other stringed instruments it's a passionate, sensual song that is complemented with stunning voices by Enya. It's an absolute stunning piece that adds more time and a different perspective to A Day Without Rain. While some of the pieces on the album may be a bit stiff and austere (Tempus Vernum, Silver Inches), songs like The First of Autumn and One by One are absolutely stunning and show why Enya is one of the most paramount artist of our time. I recommend this cd if you're a fan of Enya's pieces and were looking for something more than the meager 34 minute US pressing of A Day Without Rain.
Track listing: 1. A Day Without Rain, 2:38. 2. Wild Child, 3:47. 3. Only Time, 3:38. 4. Tempus Vernum, 2:24. 5. Deora ar Mo Chroí, 2:48. 6. Flora's Secret, 4:07. 7. Fallen Embers, 2:31. 8. Silver Inches, 1:37. 9. Pilgrim, 3:12. 10. One by One, 3:54. 11. The First of Autumn (exclusive bonus track), 3:10. 12. Lazy Days, 3:42.
Total time: 37:28
Only Time
2001-12-14 - I love this cd it is a verry cool cd. I thought that I wouldn't
like the whole cd but I do. It is a very neat cd. I love all of her songs. They are very soothing to listen to. It relaxes you when you listen to the songs.
Very Soothing
2001-08-16 - I find this CD to be very comforting. I truly enjoy it. My 4 year old daughter absolutely loves it. She especially loves track 3 - "Only Time". I personally love them all. She is a truly gifted artist. Now I know I have to order "Watermark" because I love the song "Orinoco Flow" also know as "Sail Away". I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves music.
