Shepherd Moons by Enya (CD, Nov-1991, Reprise)

This album, in my opinion, is one of Enya's weaker albums, and probably not the best for the person just getting into Enya, but it still has some great music. Some of the tracks lack some of the depth and ethereal beauty of other albums, such as "Watermark" and "The Memory of Trees," but over repeated listenings I have come to appreciate the greatness here.
Highlights include: "Caribbean Blue," a track meant to evoke the Caribbean Sea. I have been to the Caribbean twice, and this song captures pretty well the water and islands in the evening and would not have been out of place on the "Watermark" album. (This track is featured on the recent "Very Best of Enya" CD.) "Smaointe," which features the Uillean pipes found in "The Celts" and is Enya's longest song to date, and evokes a mood of longing. "Angeles," a soft piece, and "Evacuee," a piece featuring brass instruments and whose lyrics run deep.
The biggest gripe I have with this ablum is over its best song, "Book Of Days." (Yes, that "O" is supposed to be capitalised.) On the original album, this track was sung in Gaelic, and is one of Enya's best, sung in an airy yet powerful voice in which the lyrics and intonations are just beyond comprehension. It's an epic song, conveying a great journey--the lyrics translated say, "Stories that will never be again." A bittersweet feeling in that these stories are one-of-a-kind and special, but if not remembered in some way, either by oral storytelling or writing, will vanish forever. The CD I bought contained this track. However, later press releases replaced--not added, replaced--this lovely, strong Gaelic number with an English version done for the film "Far and Away." The lyrics themselves are all right--it is the manner in which Enya sings them, too heavy and not airy and "unattainable" like the original was, that sinks this song. The music remains the same, but the lyrics so not match the instruments. Had the song simply been added as track 13, I would have no complaints, and simply say it was a weaker song. However, replacing the original is, to me, inexcusable.
To end on a positive note, I must say that the cover art is the best of any Enya album. It is done in shades of blue featuring Enya staring off in a near-profile which shows her beauty. She wears on her dress leaves that add themselves to the background of trees. Enya is part of the scene and nature, not in front of it.

"Shepherd Moons" by Enya is a perfect CD to pop in your CD player as you curl up in your bed with a cup of tea - it's that relaxing. The second track on the album, "Caribbean Blue", is particularly of note. Its gently waltzing cadence causes the listener (namely, myself) to feel like he/she is floating through a moonlit forest or on the water's surface. Enya sounds like a haunting chanteuse who is anything but scary. Her music inspires peaceful dreams. One of the best CD's I've heard in a long time.

I believe this was Enya's most commercially successful CD - it is certainly her best.

Most of Enya's CDs have a weird song or two - this one is near perfect.

You'll recognize a lot of the songs on this CD from movies, tv shows, and sports highlights.

Oddly, I've heard the song Ebudae from "Shepherd Monns" at both a wedding and a funeral and I thought it fit both.

Shepherd Moons is seen by many as the landmark musical masterpiece that began a long and successful journey for Enya, who has been dubbed 'The Voice of Ireland'. Not closed by common themes, Enya composes her music masterfully, to encompass love, appreciation of God, Nature, and even hints of sadness. For the music fan that is above the norm, this is a CD you must own.

This is one of my favorite CD's by Enya. I love the melodies and harmonies that she incorporates in her music. Some songs I have no idea what she's singing about, but that doesn't keep me from trying to sing a long. I wanted another CD for the car, so I wouldn't have to keep carrying from the house to the car. However, my most recent purchase did not arrive, I believe it was lost in the mail. The seller graciously refunded my money and now I'm still transporting my one cd back and forth.