Hayley's best album (2007 poll)

[roger]

Steve Abbott and Gerald Westenra have said that Treasure is Hayley's best album yet. Do you agree? Which do YOU prefer and why?

Don't worry about the different versions of Pure and Odyssey. Base your decision on whichever you have.

Roger

[Stephany]

Ouch. This is probably the most difficult question ever. I seriously can't choose - it is way too early for me; having known Hayley's music for only a few weeks. I'll be back on this thread in a few weeks (or months).

Roger, don't forget to answer your own question! I'm very curious to have your opinion on this.

[meagan]

Treasure is by far my favorite album (or Celtic Treasure, since that is the only version I have so far ). I love every song that is on it, especially the ones that Hayley wrote and co-wrote! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[roger]

Hi Stephany,

I haven't answered my own question because I can't! For me it is a choice between Pure and Treasure and I love them both for different reasons.

I will vote... I just don't know when!

Thank you for voting, Meagan. I am slightly surprised that anyone has made their choice with apparent ease. Perhaps that says a lot for Treasure.

Roger

[toronado]

Honestly, I think Pure is my favorite, but I like Treasure a great deal as well. I firmly believe at this point having listened to both versions that Treasure is a far better album than Celtic Treasure though.

[Stephany]

roger said:

For me it is a choice between Pure and Treasure and I love them both for different reasons.

I understand; I'm also hesitating between both. Curiously enough, I already know it won't be Odyssey - not that I didn't enjoy it, but I think the quality level of Pure and Treasure is just too high. Not out of reach, though. I'm pretty sure Hayley's next album will be better - for the simple reason that her voice is growing and she makes intelligent choices over the songs she includes in her album.

[Richard]

Hello Roger and everybody!

I've voted for 'Treasure'. To me it is the best mix of different styles that Hayley has put together so far, and she's had a much bigger input with her songwriting and piano playing. Also her voice sounds better than ever, and this album possibly gives a clearer indication of how Hayley will sound in the future.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[grant]

I've voted for Treasure because it is, without doubt, a magnificent work of art.

I love Pure (and all Hayley's albums for that matter!) and, I guess, so does everyone else because it is still selling 3 years on but, as Richard said, this is a much more mature Hayley; includes her own work and demonstrates perfectly where she wants to be in her career at this point in time.

It would be interesting to know how Hayley would vote but, from comments she has already made, I think we know the answer to that one!

Grant

[stevemacdonald]

I voted Pure because it really is Hayley's best album. Nothing since has demonstrated as much daring and variety. A close second would be Treasure which captures Hayley's vocal majesty in all its full glory. A distant third is her sophomore effort, Odyssey, which was the "Anti-Pure" on so many levels.

Her pre-Decca albums are dazzling, to be sure, but I see no point in comparing them to her super-professionally produced work.

[Belinda]

stevemacdonald said:

Her pre-Decca albums are dazzling, to be sure, but I see no point in comparing them to her super-professionally produced work.

You mean her Universal Ones

Decca : A Universal Music Company
And i see no point in not comparing them

Belinda

[stevemacdonald]

You mean her Universal Ones

Decca : A Universal Music Company
And i see no point in not comparing them

But they were done on such different scales. The production budget for just one of Pure's songs probably exceeds that of the entire My Gift To You and Hayley Westenra CDs combined. Just look at the heavyweights involved on Hayley's Decca albums.

Her earlier works are awesome -- there's no denying that -- but they're just not in the same league as her three Decca releases.

[nicola]

Oh, definitely Pure.

It was different to anything I had heard before, and had some beautiful fantastical lyrics. It was also a bit dark in places, with original material, and some unpredictable covers. I don't think the whole thing is perfect ('Amazing Grace' for example) but overall, it's one of the better albums I have in my CD collection.

[roger]

I must stop asking questions that I can't answer! Okay, having thought long and hard, these are my conclusions.

The album that means so much to me will always be Pure but that wasn't the question. All things considered, I feel her best album to date is Treasure. In this album, I feel that Hayley has delivered exactly what was needed to increase her popularity. She has matured vocally, has introduced her own material, is playing the piano, and has not been restricted by what we consider "safe".

My decision was based on Treasure. Had it been based on Celtic Treasure, I would have voted for Pure, simply because I already have three tracks that are included on Celtic Treasure.

Roger

[1littlegirl]

I voted for Pure...It is timeless. I love all of the songs on it, and I especially like Hayley's voice as it was when she was 15-17 years old. I don't think I will ever get tired of listening to Pure.

[milewalker]

I voted for (Celtic) Treasure. There was a time when i was telling people that Hayley was something like Sarah Brightman, or Sissel....now I am more of a loss for comparison - viewed strictly as a singer she is simply outstanding.

Jon