Snapshots

I got this album not long after it came out, having heard Eleanor's first two albums. Whereas her self-titled first album from 1993 was largely led by the acoustic guitar and her follow-up "What's Following Me?" from 1996 was dominated by electric guitars, Snapshots is heavily synthesizer-influenced. This is largely due to the production work of Rupert Hine, known for his work with The Fixx in the 1980s. The ample use of keyboards is a somewhat awkward fit at times with Eleanor's vocal style, but there are several shining tracks on this album that make it worthwhile. "All I Have" is something of an answer to "Only A Woman's Heart", delving into the somewhat melancholy feelings of a woman prepared to face the world alone. "Please Heart, You're Killing Me" is a lively track with a playfully endearing saxophone riff. "Wrapping Me Up In Luxury" is a sensual, romantic song that has a very gentle but passionate air to it. The last track on the album, "Easy To Lose Hope", is ostensibly a song about a journalist who was murdered, but it comes across as an anthem of hope and courage.....Eleanor released a FOURTH ALBUM on 4 May 2001 called "Yola". It is apparently only available through small online retailers in Ireland. Pick it up if you can find it, because it marks the return of a mellower Eleanor. Gone are the commercial trappings of Columbia Records and Rupert Hine. In their place, Eleanor's sound is more pensive and piano-driven. You absolutely cannot miss the addictive track, "Easy In Love". Get this CD!!

Eleanor earned the best songwriter description even with only this album which has some of her most thoughtful material. "Sophie", "She had it all", the dramatic "Did you tell him" are examples of her best work. A superb album.

I could listen to, "More to This Woman" and "Please Heart, You're Killing Me" all day long! I love this artist! I love this album! The lyrics are catchy, but really poetic and moving at the same time. Some are fun and funny, and some, like "Sophie," really just break your heart. The rock/pop style with a variety of instruments that keep this from being straight pop, really catch the ear and keep you listening long enough to pick up the lyrics

It's surprising how disappointing this third effort by Eleanor McEvoy is. Her first two albums (the eponymous debut and What's Following me) set her up as a singer and songwriter of first-rate talent, on whose albums melancholy ballads could cohabitate happily with exuberant upbeat tunes. (On her first album, for example, the lightheated "Finding Myself Lost Again" leads directly into the minor classic "Only A Woman's Heart"; and her second houses both the weighty ballad "Whisper a Prayer to the Moon" and the flirtatiously sexy "Biochemistry.") In contrast, this third album seems to have developed during a bad year. Instead of the full range of emotion McEvoy's capable of, the songs are almost all sad, and the end result feels as washed and faded as the colors on the disc's back cover. This is not to say the album's not good at all. McEvoy's voice remains a treasure, rich and textured and much more expressive than your standard folk waif. The music is more sophisticated than her first two efforts (listen to the vocal counterpoint on "All I Have" or the Latin beat on "Please Heart, You're Killing Me"). But, and this is the problem, emotionally the album only strikes one note, and that note grows weary after ten tracks. Unfortunately, the depression that settles over the album affects one of McEvoy's traditional strengths-- her usually original lyrics weigh down in TV movie cliche by the end. Growth, change, and experimentation are always welcome with a talented artist, but sometimes the new avenue turns out to be a dead end. This album is a prime example.

Eleanor McEvoy has a voice that you cannot help but fall in love with. This CD is one great song after another.Buy it! You'll be glad you did.

An early CD, this is a replacement for one I'd lostGreat to have it again

This is one of my first SACD purchases, so I may be wrong about this, but I'm surprised to find it's a stereo only versus multichannel recording.Who knew? Nonetheless I'm a fan of Eleanor's work and the quality of the song writing certainly doesn't disappoint here. Sonically the remastering sounds really good too so I'm a happy bunny.

This release has been judged technically very good but I do not agree. Other Cds signed McEvoy havea MUCH better sound. I' ve been very disappointed considering this is a Sacd.They could do much better on audio cassette!!The music is just nice but some filler songs really get me angry.Bad stuff. In the whole........ wasted money

SACD non è necessariamente sinonimo di qualità, ma in questo caso l'album si distingue in primis per la qualità della registrazione esaltata poi dall'alta definizione audio; tutto ciò, ovviamente, ha permesso di esaltarne le qualità artistiche della McEvoy.Album dalla melodia orecchiabile e di buon gusto che scorre via gradevolmente e senza affaticamento; la sensazione che si ha è che finisca troppo presto!Consegna rapida, servizio impeccabile.

Love Eleanor and her music on this album is no exception. Voted 3 stars because the SACD version isn't up to the standards of that format, just buy the regular CD.