Customer Rating: 
Summary: A brilliant new voice in Celtic music
Comment: Emily Smith is a brilliant new voice in Celtic music! Her new CD "Too Long Away" could easily have been titled "Too Long a Wait" as far as I am concerned, after hearing a couple of the cuts on a promotional CD months ago. What a wonderful album, a nice mix of traditional songs with her own beautiful compliations. Her husband, musician Jamie McClennan, does impressive work with his evocative guitar, expressive fiddle, and backing vocals, but Emily steals the show with her unbelievably clear voice and agile accordian and piano rifts. Ross Milligan ably joins the fray on guitar and banjo.
Not only does Emily Smith possess absolute STAR quality as a vocalist and musician, buts she writes first class songs as well. "Winter Song" has become one of my favorite tunes ever, and (like eating only one Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie) I defy you to NOT sing along! The sensitive "Sunset Hymn" and the lovely "Come Home Pretty Bird" prove she is no one-tune-wonder (far from it!). Her traditional songs are equally unbeatable, from the feisty "Caledonia" with her almost Zydeco-like accordian accompaniment, to the impressive Robert Burns song "As I was a Wand'ring" (love to hear her try "A Man's a Man"), and the clear simplicity of the "Bleacher Lassie o'Kelvinhaugh." The latter song reminded me a bit of a young Triona Ni Dhomhnail singing a similar version "There was a Lady" with the band Relativity back in the nineteen eighties. And Emily MORE than shines in a comparison to that talented performer.
Things seemd to have slowed down in Celtic music after a glorious decade, but Emily Smith and her fine band are the real deal! If you love Celtic music and great vocals, you cannot make a mistake in buying this CD! To quote from one of her original song lyrics:
"Come home pretty bird
You've been too long away...
I missed your pretty song today"
Enjoy!
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