There And Back Again - The Best of

A collection impulsively bought on grounds of the two most famous songs. Very atmospheric but despite the megahits, not one of the best best-ofs I know.

#1 One Little Word 9½

Very good opener, as well as one of the best things on the whole album. Distinct Irish influences, which is why HRL thought this was The Corrs. Wait a minute, what exactly is the one little word she so desperately wants to hear? If it were three, I'd know...

#2 Everytime We Touch 10

Uh, this is sooo good. Maggie's ethereal vocals suit the kaihea melody almost as well as in The One MR track... I think I like the original version better, though, it sounds more Volvo/Renault commercialish.

#3 Walk on By 7

Weirdish, somehow afro-influenced piece the video of which should feature the singer walking in the middle of a city where all the other people walk either in slow motion or fast forward. There's also a certain Ö-Mappism.

#4 To France 8½

At first I didn't like this at all but in time I've learned to do that. I just went to read the lyrics, they are impossible to hear correctly without a reference. I really like what she's singing about.

#5 Listen to Your Heart 7

How many songs of this title are they? Okay, can't be more than Dreams Come Trues (or Dream Comes Trues...). The way to track 7 seems so long. If this is what my heart sounds like, I'd rather listen to something else.

#6 Brought Up to Believe 8

What does this remind me of? Koit Toome's Mere lapsed or Savage Garden's Santa Monica? Very peaceful but lacks direction.

#7 Moonlight Shadow 10

Here it is, your greeat beaautiful kaukosäädin! Pretty damn close to perfection, melancholy and wistfulness combined with energy and (vain) hope. About the only thing I'd change are the guitar-imposed repetitions, but even though there is a good dance version (Missing Heart's), this is still the one. When I first heard this after the long break since the 80's, my first thought was "oh, I didn't remember it was so countryish".

#8 Little Boys' Eyes 8½

Strange, very silent beginning with children singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star that doesn't seem to have any actual connection to the song itself. But then again, if the title explains the connection... Surely she doesn't say "Your smile makes my heart cold"?

#9 All My Heart Can Hold 6½

Here begins the streak of less pleasant tracks. Haunting this is at least, to the point of creating panic.

#10 Foreign Affair 6½

At least it ends very interestingly.

#11 Family Man 8

This could be quite good if it wasn't so repetitive. The idea of the lyrics is good.

#12 Don't Wanna Lose 6

Hmm.

#13 Follow the Midnight Sun 8

The unpleasantness ends here and transforms more into generality. This would also be pretty good with more ideas. It seems to be a general Mike Oldfield phenomenon to make good songs out of too few ideas. Even Moonlight Shadow would've benefitted from something more.

#14 Echoes 8½

Pleasant but not dramatically anything.

#15 Wait 9

This album has a very good closer as well as opener. The chorus has some very good chord changes.