Album Review: Shores of Avalon by Tina Malia


Album Name: Shores of Avalon
Artist: Tina Malia
Year/Label: 2002/Amida Records

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Tina Malia is one of those musicians that I greatly admire. She is a classically trained vocalist, pianist and guitarist and is blessed with an incredibly beautiful voice. She also wrote and produced the entire CD. This is the reason I created this site, to showcase talent like this.

She sings of mystical things, maidens fair, and ships at sea with a beauty and passion I haven’t heard since the early 90s when Sarah McLachlan first caught my attention. Tina’s voice is just as gorgeous as Sarah’s (I dare say) and her songs are akin to some of the songs from Sarah’s CD, “Solace”.

I’ve noticed that her song, “Shores of Avalon” is being playing on Direct TVs music station called “Soundscapes” (formerly “Atmospheres”). I listen to this station when I sleep and this song actually woke me up one night and I just lay there listening while the rain fell outside. Magical.

This is the epitome of the beautiful album. The songs are intricately woven and excellently performed. If you are looking for a CD to play to relax to, dine to or get romantic to, this is it.

Posted on October 7, 2002

Track Listing
1. Shores of Avalon
2. Thundercloud
3. Full Moonlight Dance
4. Isis
5. Lilac Blooms
6. Forever
7. Circle of Stones
8. Lullaby
9. Way Home

[Tina Malia Official Site]

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Comments:

Rating: 5 Stars
Comment: In sharing these comments upon Tina Malia’s blessed gift of musical life energy and loving-truths as expressed in the Shores of Avalon CD—which I cannot help but imagine must have come through her from sublime realms inhabited by lithely dancing, serving, and love-making faerie muses—I am afraid that some will mistake my choice of words here as mere sycophantic capitalist cliches to increase sales. Ok, I admit, I would love to increase the sales of her CD, but not for capitalist reasons. Rather, exactly opposite, as it is capitalism that leads us into war. I would simply love to see more and more of our human family infused with these loving vibrational reminders, especially in these days when many people could use the reminder that war is far from the most real, beautiful, natural and uplifting game option in life. I hereby very sincerely attempt simply to express *my truth* in relating how Tina Malia’s incredibly pure gift moves through my body and my mind, through my days, and most likely through my life. Shores of Avalon, at this point in my life, is my favorite album/CD collection of all time, mostly because it reminds me that the inner and oh-so-subtly-sweet soul essence is where everything truly valuable abides and lies waiting for our return thereunto. Though I assure you that I do not normally perceive nor speak so lovingly and sweetly in many of my days on earth, this woman, her gift, reminds me of places of my heart/soul that I’ve unfortunately often overlooked and forgotten amid the distractions of this oft-tawdry 3D realm, earth. Though the questions inevitably arise in me while listening to her music again, again, again—and as I again feel the effects of subtler, forgotten, liquid calm-inducing avenues re-activated in what is apparently a parallel bliss-aligned, inner meta-nervous system(?), it is difficult to say exactly what’s going on inside me, what in the world her ineffably delicate energy is doing to me, and where in the universe does one such as she come from… What becomes very evident to me in being opened to her gift, and in being opened by her gift, is how sadly ego-polluted are the vast majority of the world’s artistry and artistic forms. I am struck dumb by the exquisitely pure subtle intuitive awareness and sensitivity present in her relationship to both the meaning and the melodies of these soul-gifts she has so lovingly and wonderfully wrapped and offered for us, reminding us that we all are of a deeper timeless family of lovingness, truth, life, wholeness, and pure formless faith. Personally, I have sung in many kirtans and bhajans in my life in which I was not touched so deeply and blissfully by the uniquely surrendered awareness and honesty inherent in, and conveyed by, The Shores of Avalon. Words, hugs, and kisses will never be adequate to convey my appreciation and gratitude for the gift you have brought us through your moments, hours, days and years of love-filled sincerity, perseverance, honesty, and surrender amidst this earthly ocean of fear, falsehood, and folly, Tina. Boundless blessings back to you, bliss-babe.
By name: Heavenward Hitchhiker on Sunday, August 21, 2005

Rating: 5 Stars
Comment: In sharing these comments upon Tina Malia’s blessed gift of musical life energy and loving-truths as expressed in the Shores of Avalon CD—which I cannot help but imagine must have come through her from sublime realms inhabited by lithely dancing, serving, and love-making faerie muses—I am afraid that some will mistake my choice of words here as mere sycophantic capitalist cliches to increase sales. Ok, I admit, I would love to increase the sales of her CD, but not for capitalist reasons. Rather, exactly opposite, as it is capitalism that leads us into war. I would simply love to see more and more of our human family infused with these loving vibrational reminders, especially in these days when many people could use the reminder that war is far from the most real, beautiful, natural and uplifting game option in life. I hereby very sincerely attempt simply to express *my truth* in relating how Tina Malia’s incredibly pure gift moves through my body and my mind, through my days, and most likely through my life. Shores of Avalon, at this point in my life, is my favorite album/CD collection of all time, mostly because it reminds me that the inner and oh-so-subtly-sweet soul essence is where everything truly valuable abides and lies waiting for our return thereunto. Though I assure you that I do not normally perceive nor speak so lovingly and sweetly in many of my days on earth, this woman, her gift, reminds me of places of my heart/soul that I’ve unfortunately often overlooked and forgotten amid the distractions of this oft-tawdry 3D realm, earth. Though the questions inevitably arise in me while listening to her music again, again, again—and as I again feel the effects of subtler, forgotten, liquid calm-inducing avenues re-activated in what is apparently a parallel bliss-aligned, inner meta-nervous system(?), it is difficult to say exactly what’s going on inside me, what in the world her ineffably delicate energy is doing to me, and where in the universe does one such as she come from… What becomes very evident to me in being opened to her gift, and in being opened by her gift, is how sadly ego-polluted are the vast majority of the world’s artistry and artistic forms. I am struck dumb by the exquisitely pure subtle intuitive awareness and sensitivity present in her relationship to both the meaning and the melodies of these soul-gifts she has so lovingly and wonderfully wrapped and offered for us, reminding us that we all are of a deeper timeless family of lovingness, truth, life, wholeness, and pure formless faith. Personally, I have sung in many kirtans and bhajans in my life in which I was not touched so deeply and blissfully by the uniquely surrendered awareness and honesty inherent in, and conveyed by, The Shores of Avalon. Words, hugs, and kisses will never be adequate to convey my appreciation and gratitude for the gift you have brought us through your moments, hours, days and years of love-filled sincerity, perseverance, honesty, and surrender amidst this earthly ocean of fear, falsehood, and folly, Tina. Boundless blessings back to you, bliss-babe.
By name: Heavenward Hitchhiker on Sunday, August 21, 2005

Rating: 5 Stars
Comment: Dear Friends, Thank you so much for your kind, kind words. I just stumbled upon this page, and read all the beautiful things you all wrote. It touches my heart so deeply to know that you are receiving all the love that I would wish to send to you through this music. It is a blessed life and such a beautiful journey, no? thank you thank you thank you tina malia
By Tina Malia on Friday, April 22, 2005
Note to Ms. Malia: I wrote this review and at the time attempted to contact you to let you know that it was posted, but I think I had an old email address for you. I”d be happy to continue reviewing your music, so if you’d like to contact me please do so at amy at collectedsounds.com. Notice I’ve also created a Spotlight for you, but it’s probably outdated. I’d love to fix that! Hope to hear from you.~~Amy

Rating: 5 Stars
Comment: I love this cd, especially Thundercloud and Lullaby. In a world starving for love her voice is there. Check out her latest cd Jaya Bhagavan. Her site www.tinamalia.com will link you to it on cdbaby to sample tracks. It is different than Shores of Avalon but her voice is still pure and soothing.
By: Olympia Dreamer on Saturday, January 29, 2005

Rating: 5 Stars
Tina Malia- in one word is beautiful. Beautiful because she sings from her heart. Her lyrics tear into your soul, and leave you paralyzed. Anyone that can do this to you in one song, much less their whole album is a lyrical genius. I also first heard her on DirectTV’s soundscapes channel, which features artist such as Tina, Terry Oldfield, John Mills, Dave Eggar, Patrick O’Hearn, etc. When I first heard Shores of Avalon, I cried. It was so heartbreakingly sweet. It made me dream of things that I never thought possible. It was so poignant. Thundercloud also had the same effect on me. Both songs make you want to just stop what your doing, and just listen and relax. Tina Malia is definately one of the greatest artists of our time. I think the world will see many great things from her in the future.
~Mystique

Rating: 5 Stars
I have seen Tina play with Sasha Butterfly twice and she is absolutely amazing live. The energy those two transmit is something I will remember forever.
~Nature Joy Lindsay\

5 Stars
An Elven Princess walks this earth and teaches us all the meaning of prayer through the grace and soul of her music. The sound of her voice with its gracious message brings my hands together over my heart and tears to my eyes. Thank you Tina for having the courage to shine so brilliantly.
~Anjo

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