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Post by jons on Mar 2, 2007 15:02:34 GMT
One of the things I'm glad about was that the songs turned out to be great. When I first heard them on the preview site, there must of bee something wrong with the sound or my mind was playing tricks. I do remember one song sounding as if Hayley's voice was a high pitch whine and unclear (I think I may of offended some people when I said this originally.(Andrew?). But while Hayley's voice is quite high pitch on some song's thats just the heavenly tone that Hayley does so well. Obviously the site is fully up and running now so I can't listen to that preview placeholder anymore to figure out why it did that.
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Post by meagan on Mar 2, 2007 15:35:05 GMT
Obviously the site is fully up and running now so I can't listen to that preview placeholder anymore to figure out why it did that. The video is still on her site. Under the video section, it is the first one that starts to play. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif
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Post by mj on Mar 2, 2007 20:44:35 GMT
Overally Treasure is an amazingly complex album with many alleys of engagement, surely filled with the highest Treasure. When you delve into the songs, and the way the tunes are married so well with the lyrics in harmonious co-operation the sound is indeed soothingly, and rather Earthy. Whereas Pure had a heavely feel, and Odyssey Version 1 had a Earthly Spiritual feel towards it, Odyssey Version Two 2006 had a real classical approach feel, this new album seems to hole the note of melancholy, and slightly more emotion than her previous albums.
This level of human emotion, as yet rather unexplored by Hayley, is indeed an excellent addition to her discopraphy and her reportoire. Her song-writing attempts are indeed excellent, and in many respects are indeed the highlight of the album. I think that as she has grown older, joining Unicef and WEN, she has become more aware, and it seems to have put a slightly deeper tone to her singling style and song selections. More serious and grounded, and unfortunately less of the seriously heavely voice of joy and innocence her pervious recordings gave off.
Still, overall, an excellent album... and one of my favourites as are all of Hayley's albums!
Love and Light
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Post by mariannek on Mar 2, 2007 21:35:17 GMT
Hi Mj What an interesting review !! I can echo most of it, especially the comment you made about missing *heavenly joy*.... .meaning for me that I have felt mostly melancholy when first listening to Treasure. I loved the individual preview clips of Santa Lucia and Summerfly, but listening at first to the whole album made me feel sad. Sorry folks !! The good news is the last time I listened to it I was NOT feeling that way anymore, in fact I can't wait to hear it again !! Amazing !!! Love, Marianne
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Post by grant on Mar 3, 2007 10:19:18 GMT
Hi Marianne
I understand what you mean about Treasure. I've had a promo copy since the beginning of February and so heard it long before any of us heard Hayley talking about it.
At first it worried me with sadness being the theme running through many of the tracks "Is Hayley unhappy?" "Do songs like Melancholy Interlude reflect the way she is feeling?"
That's why it took me so long to write my review (Reply 21) and I was so relieved to see Hayley on TV saying how pleased she was with the way it turned out, and then seeing Stuart's pictures of Hayley seemingly radiantly happy.
"Treasure" is an emotional rollercoaster that works to perfection, showcasing Hayley's vocals in so many different ways.
God bless
Grant
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,334
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Post by Martin on Mar 3, 2007 11:35:15 GMT
Here's a link to another review from Manchester, the entertainmentmanchester website this time: www.entertainmentmanchester.com/music/albumreviews/albums260207.htmThe comment "If there's a criticism to be had here it is that Westenra doesn't seem to be stretching herself, staying very much in her comfort zone" I found surprising and premature. In my opinion Hayley has plenty of time ahead of her to "stretch" herself. She is still only nineteen and her voice is still developing so I am confident that Hayley will move into other areas of music as and when the time is right. Martin
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Post by roger on Mar 3, 2007 11:45:34 GMT
Hi Martin,
Thank you for the link to the review in Entertainment Manchester. As it is likely to disappear from their site, I am quoting it here in full.
Roger
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Post by mj on Mar 3, 2007 14:05:00 GMT
Hi Mj I loved the individual preview clips of Santa Lucia and Summerfly, but listening at first to the whole album made me feel sad. Sorry folks !!* Really. Sad? I hope you feel more enthralled by her songs in future listenings. They just seem to be, um, well, a bit grounded and puntuated, a but more realisitic! But I think you are right in some respects!
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Post by jons on Mar 5, 2007 15:43:24 GMT
I didn't really think about it. Hayley has wrote sad lyrics and 'Abide With Me' has lifted her from despair she says. It must suit me because I'm sad. But there are uplifting songs on there. I didn't think of that Meagan! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifI took a listen and there is nothing wrong so, maybe when I heard it for the first time, I heard those notes that only animals hear? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifWhen listening to it on my mp3 player Hayley's notes can be very high, through the computers speakers - which don't have the same dynamic range as the mp3 player - some of of notes can go through my head! But its actually a pleasant experience. I don't what it would sound like on a high-end high-fi system?
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Post by Caitlin on Mar 9, 2007 21:05:17 GMT
HI everyone! I haven't had a chance to really sit down and listen to Treasure though I have been enjoying it. So instead of a full review now I thought I'd mention that really struck me about the album as a whole. We know that the voice is a wonderful instrument and Hayley really uses it as such in this album. If you listen closely (some tracks it's harder to hear than others) Hayley often uses a descant as part of the accompianment, or another instrument, in her songs. For some reason this had a really big effect on me, and I think these parts really add to the song. Next time maybe listen for these bits of instrumentation. <3 Caite
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Post by Stephany on Mar 12, 2007 8:01:02 GMT
New review from The Sunday Mercury :
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Post by roger on Mar 12, 2007 10:27:42 GMT
Hi Stephany, Thanks for posting this rather stange review. Having said he felt "numbed by the monotony of the tracks", he goes on to mention 'Danny Boy' and 'Shenandoah' and the vastly different 'Summer Fly', a classical guitar and gypsy violin. How varied does he want her to get? You just can't please some people! Roger
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Post by scoobedoo on Mar 12, 2007 11:22:49 GMT
Hi Stephany, Thanks for posting this rather stange review. Having said he felt "numbed by the monotony of the tracks", he goes on to mention 'Danny Boy' and 'Shenandoah' and the vastly different 'Summer Fly', a classical guitar and gypsy violin. How varied does he want her to get? You just can't please some people! Roger Hi Roger & everyone, Your right Roger,even in my job some people can be impossible to satisfy, they always moan,this is not that,that is not this,you know what I mean. The same thing will apply to Hayley only more so being in the public eye like she is. Don't worry Hayley,for every negetive comment, there are thousands of positive ones, believe it i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif cheers, Rodders
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
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Post by Dave on Mar 13, 2007 1:53:41 GMT
There's a nice review of Celtic Treasure by Barnes and Noble, here it is! Nice review... naughty typo - but note the Barnes and Noble sales ranking - no. 40 Dave
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Post by fusilier23 on Mar 13, 2007 2:24:09 GMT
Still comparing her to CC after 5 albums? Someone needs some new material.
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