Reissue of Enigma's double platinum & top 10 debut from 1990 with a six track bonus CD shrinkwrapped on top of the CD album and featuring three mixes apiece of 'Sadeness - Part I' (Meditation Mix, Extended Trance Mix and Violent US Remix) and 'Mea Culpa -
So much unnecessary fuss was made over Enigma's juxtaposition of the sexual and sacred. After all, Prince had been doing it for years, and his take on it was far more interesting--and a lot more daring. But Enigma's MCMXC A.D. did manage to work a lot of people into a lather, both on the dance floor and behind the pulpit. Their inclusion of chanting monks in "Sadeness," over wooshy ambient noises and a slower hip-hop-appropriated beat was a sensation. "Callas Went Away" promised more than it could deliver, although "Mea Culpa" stands as one of the few shining moments on the CD. The idea of mixing new age aural wallpaper with beats that you can do a slow grind to is actually rather intriguing. Spicing it up with controversial religious chants isn't a bad idea either. But there's got to be something personal to it. After the initial novelty wears off, there's nothing to MCMXC A.D. other than bland, cold, impersonal repetition. Now, that might be what most people are used to, but what's so sexy about it? --Steve Gdula

Customer Rating:
Summary: A gratifying listening experience
Comment: MCMXC A.D.--Enigma's debut album--was released in 1990. The seven compositions are seamless and play like an extended piece. The material is in a New Age musical direction. The album's sound quality is pleasing. I have always enjoyed listening to this piece of work over the years. Words to characterize MCMXC A.D. would be mysterious, refined, smooth, and creative. I like every one of the tracks. The Gregorian chants, the sounds of the flute, and the pulsating beats are what I find most memorable about this album. The disc is just over 40 minutes. MCMXC A.D. is recommendable.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Strange but Good.
Comment: I first heard this CD back in 1993 from a friend who brought it back from Czechoslovakia when he moved here, and I thought it was great. For 1993, it was hip, fun, and different from the trash and alternative music out there. I was a fan of Enya back then (still am), so Enigma's strange quasi-techno beats and rythms appealed to me. I bought MCMXC A.D. back in 2003 because I was looking for some relazing music, and 10 years hadn't changed my perception of the still strange rythms, sound effects, synthe pads, and ambiance.
This won't appeal to everyone, but for those who are looking for a unique listening experience that blends dance, strange sound effects, techno, and some 90's hip-hop beats, check out MCMXC A.D.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Comment: If you need to relax, put this in. This is some of the best music to relax or meditate to. I actually first heard this from my college roommate. He was into martial arts and would play this as he did his thing. So, if you've had a hard day, put this in and instantly relax.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Mood Music!!
Comment: This is the best of all Enigma's CDs. Would absolutely love to see them perform in concert! This particular CD is a must to be played when you are with that VERY SPECIAL someone, and for those very intimate times. It is moving, sensual, and utterly draws you into it, which makes the intimate experience unlike anything ever felt before. What I am saying is that this CD enhances the feelings already there!!! Absolutely unbelievable!!!!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: one of the best Enigma albums and a must for New Age music fans
Comment: This is my second favorite Enigma album after "Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi!" (mainly because the "New Age" vibe is more present in the later one). But since MCMXC a.D. was the first Cretu project as "Enigma" it has something special that the later projects do not have: the discovery of a new sound. I would rate this album with 5 stars, but there is a track in the album that I dislike ("the voice & the snake") which resembles some sort of spoken ritual and it kind of ruins the mood of the album since all tracks are continuously mixed (no gaps). If you already own the original CD and not the "limited edition" one, it's worth getting it because of the 4 bonus remixes (which are only available in hard-to-find Singles) and the special track "The Rivers Of Belief (The Returning Silence)" which is exclusive to this edition of the album. The bonus tracks are also mixed continuously (no gaps) and the rest of the album is split in more playable tracks (unlike the original CD which plays the tracks as segments/chapters).

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