Enya

As ornate as the sonic tapestries she weaves, Enya's first ever box set is a four-disc marvel of gold and velvet that culls 51 tracks from her first five albums, including B-sides. All of the obvious cuts are here, from her breakthrough single "Orinoco Flow" to "May It Be" from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. The 48-page booklet is bursting at the seams with photographs, illustrations, and track-by-track commentary from lyricist Roma Ryan. The enhanced fourth disc includes a video performance of "Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night)" from a 1996 BBC special. This is an excellent gift for fans of the lauded Irish singer, but it's a bit pricey for someone looking for a brief overview. For listeners in need of a little brevity, 1998's Paint the Sky with Stars: The Best of Enya offers a single-disc experience that covers most of the same territory. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide