title: Mr. Frears Does It Again!

text:
In spite of my initial lack of interest in the subject matter, "The Queen" is a compelling, soundly character-driven movie. Many of the events are necessarily fictionalized (understandably, no one in the royal family has publicly spoken of this time), but regardless of its literal accuracy, you really feel like you were there when it all happened - like you're peering into a secret world.

There's a strong emotional spine at the center of it - a public family struggling to reconcile their private grief with a very public one. It's a unique situation where age-old protocols are useless, and the royals have to make things up as they go along. Even if we can't directly empathize with this, Mr. Frears gives it an emotion that's clear and powerful.

The performances are uniformly excellent.  As it should be, any weaknesses in the actors' resemblance to their real-life counterparts is made a moot point.

Though well-paced, this is a film about restraint, and as such, may require a bit more patience.  Audiences who can accommodate a quieter piece will be richly rewarded.


title: Great CD

text: Great cd, Pierre Hantai is an inspired misician.


title: Not what I expected but was Great!

text: The transition from the previous album Painted Shut to this was a bit rocky for me but the album absolutely blew me away after some spins and adjusting to the new sound. Not too divorce from the previous two albums, this new entry distinctly has its own identity away from 'Painted' and Get Disowned. Having a more lighter and ecstatic feel throughout the album with its instrumentation that weaves tracks together in a pleasant package, Bark Your Head Off, Dog is just fantastic. "How Simple" , "One That Suits Me" , and "Prior Things" were standouts to me for being the best tracks out of the album. It's great. If you love the band already you'll love/like this; albeit it might take a few times going through it to warm up to it.


title: Great for halloween!

text:
This was much like 'A Night In A Haunted House / A Night In A Graveyard'!
Only this one was not as scary as that one! Plus this one also
gives us a creepy narrator to guide us through...
The tracks include:
1. Entering the Graveyard
2. The Mosolium
3. The Witch's Cauldrun
4. The Haunted Mansion
5. The Possessed Organ
6. The Torture Chamber
7. The Pendulum
8. The Labratory
9. The Sirens Of The Sea
10.Organ music

The rest is all just random / individual sound effects!

Overall, this was a great album of scary sound effects! Not too scary but
not too childish! Highly recommended!
My grade A or five stars!


title: Good Rare Grooves

text: This gem has a funky rarely heard remake of the TV theme song from the groundbreaking 70's television show "Good Times". The show was based on a family surviving the everyday struggles of life while trying to find a way out of the infamous Cabrini Green Housing Projects of Chicago. There is also an alternate version for the theme music to "The Jeffersons" that's worth a listen, but after that there's nothing else that really stands out.


title: Say It Ain't So, Mr. Oldman! Say It Ain't So!

text:
Oh say it ain't so, Gary Oldman!

Having been a fairly big fan of Mr. Oldman (even having enjoyed his performance as Zorg in [[ASIN:B000QTD368 The Fifth Element]]), I've come to expect a certain level of entertainment from his film choices. Not so here.

Gary Oldman ([[ASIN:B000W45C70 Harry Potter]] films) stars as Paul, an Englishman on holiday in Spain's backwoods with his wife and another couple when they run afoul of the locals who are hiding a young girl away in what seems to be sickening conditions (they find her tied by the ankle in a dilapidated home drinking from a dog bowl). "Saving" the girl, they bring her back to their distant cabin and learn that some yocal-locals are looking for her ...and their carrying rifles.

Hiding her away, the English vacationers quickly learn that the nearby township will do whatever necessary to retrieve her ...including raping or shooting anyone who gets in their way.

Probably the biggest issue with this film is that it has no purpose, and flings about in uncertainty up to and beyond its horrible ending. It is never explained why the girl is tied up in the first place (she does act like an animal and the audience is left wondering if she were some sort of mentally handicapped kid or a hybrid human-canine, or even a werewolf ...but none of these are ever explored in any depth).

The acting is so over-the-top that I often wondered if the scenes were supposed to be taken seriously or were designed for laughs.

Regardless as to intentions, THE BACKWOODS should remain on the extreme "back shelf" of all DVD rental stores ...if stocked at all!


title: Is It a Hit? Or a Miss?

text:
Sometimes it's a hit or miss with directors, and with Stephen Frears at the helm the odds of a film being a success versus failure are about fifty/fifty. He has given us some excellent cinema such as High Fidelity, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Grifters. But sometimes his movie eye misses the mark or lacks an intriguing or well-rounded story. Mrs. Henderson Presents, Mary Reilly, and Hero are just a sprinkling of Frear films that had a good shot at being great, but ultimately failed in coherency, pacing, or some other aspect.

THE QUEEN is certainly a film with some great acting. Helen Mirren is spot-on as Queen Elizabeth II, as was Michael Sheen in his portrayal of Tony Blair. But from here the cast sags quite a bit. James Cromwell picked up the part of Prince Philip, but seemed very out of place since he has been typecast in such things as The West Wing TV series and The Sum of All Fears flick. And Sylvia Syms (as The Queen Mother) and Alex Jennings (as Prince Charles) were difficult to see in their respective roles since they are still in the public eye. Although Queen Elizabeth is still in the spotlight, Helen Mirren's strong portrayal made that role much easier to swallow.

Fresh subjects are tough to hit upon anyway, and you have to give credit where it is due; Stephen Frears certainly deserves some acclaim for simply attempting to make a film about the Royal Family and their reaction (or non-reaction) to Princess Diana's accidental death. But herein lies another problem: plot. There isn't one. The Queen is a reactionary tale, focusing mainly on Queen Elizabeth and the newly installed Prime Minister Tony Blair, and how each of them views the country's response to Di's death. Of course, the Queen deals with it by not dealing with it. While Mr. Blair continually tries to save the monarchy from self-destructing due to their own ignorance of the peoples' grief. But there isn't a definitive beginning, middle and ending to the story. It's character study of the monarchy will probably be boring to many, especially in the beginning. Most viewers may feel like dozing off after the first twenty minutes of disinteresting royal uppityness.

Although the beginning and middle of the film lag, the ending picks up just enough to make it watchable. The excellent shots of Balmoral Castle and its Scottish surroundings were fairly awesome, as were some analogies regarding the royal deer that roam the outback wildlands.

If you enjoy a good modern day character study, and are interested in the current monarchy, you'll probably eat this film up. But if you're eager for something plot-driven and deeply intriguing, you best look elsewhere.


title: FEAR! IT'S WHAT'S FOR DINNER!

text:
It was with great joy that I finally got to see GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK today. This is film-making and tension at its best. Although there's no bloodshed or external battles, the strain of what was going on during the McCarthy hearings in the 50's is palpable in George Clooney's excellent script.

Not having been born until years later, I only remember my parents commenting on how disgraceful the nation felt for letting a bully push around individuals and companies without due process here in the U.S. (where we pride ourselves on a system of justice!)

The film is taut with dangerous choices that could have very well ended the careers of thousands of people at CBS. Edward R. Murrow (played beautifully by David Strathairn) pulls off the performance of a lifetime by using every mannerism ever noted in Murrow's early television career. The close-up facial shots were excellent and added tension to the film without any musical score (music is only used as a kind of introduction to different segments of the story but sung in low jazz tones by legendary singer Dianne Reeves). The use of black and white film adds an extra sense of the time period and allowed George Clooney and company to meld together stock footage of McCarthy and other Senators in a very seamless fashion.

It is noteworthy to point out that fear was the prime method that allowed McCarthy to continue his ridiculous claims of communist infiltration into the United States (people feared the communists because of the nuclear threat and because they felt that the communists would overrun our beloved country ....boy, does this sound familiar. Are we still in the 1950s? Hmm. Is George Bush and company allowed to get away with lots of things because of the fear of bombings, religious fundamentalists, and those who disagree with America?)

The "you're either with us or against us" mentality is easily focused on in the film by allowing Senator McCarthy to play and hang himself. If you were against McCarthy, you were a communist or, at the very least, a communist sympathizer (watching him attack Murrow as a communist was ridiculous).

It's funny to read the mind-numbing reviews of individuals here at Amazon.com who think that there WERE communists in high places within our government. And they still believe it! Even after the fall of communism in the USSR. Grow up gang. It's the 21st century. The only thing we need fear is not questioning our leaders, and this movie is a nice reawakening to that thought.


title: Poor Recording of Unusual Brahms

text:
I had a lot of trouble with this.  Enjoying it, that is.  And considering that I am quite a fan of Brahms' music, and in particular his chamber pieces, this is surprising.  I am not such the expert, as other commentators on Amazon, but my impression of this CD, it's key problem, was that it was a poorly recorded, or transferred.  The microphones seemed to be in the wrong places; the instruments, especially the piano, sounded too strong, and out of place very frequently.  There is no problem with the purity of the sound itself, though.

  Another problem here was the music itself.  I don't think that these three pieces are among the finest of Brahms' chamber work.  Actually, I think they are among the weakest.  I enjoyed the third, opus 60 the best, although opus 26, the second was interesting.  And I am trying to interpret these works *through* this recording, my only of these three Piano Quartets, not simply with their aid. (Which makes it more difficult.)  Nonetheless, I know Brahms can be cool and astringent sometimes, aloof, but here I thought at times he was more than melancholic, to the point of being sullen, even mordant.

There may be an issue with the interpretation by the Borodin Trio [with help on the viola]... but I am unable to decipher any, though it may exist.  My complaint is, in conclusion, is, minimally, with the recording/transfer, and then..._the works themselves._
If interested, I would try another Quartet, possibly another recording studio, unfortunately.


title: Definitive Collection of the Tone Poems of Sibelius

text: I assume we all have our favorites among Jean Sibelius' tone poems, and at first I was disappointed not to see the beautiful Oceanides listed, but upon hearing conductor Von Karajan's compilation and performance, what he has put together here is among the finest offerings of Sibelius' symphonic poems...  He opens with a very strong, clear performance of Finlandia, then mellows with "En Saga", finishing with the moody "Tapiola" and "The Swan of Tuonela".  I believe now I may have a new favorite: being "The Swan.." after listening to Von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker.  So then only four peoms are included, but attempting to mix in "The Oceanides" (an unusual and strong composition) with everything else, including, especially, Finlandia, is not easy.  I like this collection very much, and the performance and recording on EMI Angel.


title: Intense Music, Exceptionally Well Played

text: I believe that composer Ernest Bloch was most successful in the intimate setting of chamber music, where he could orchestrate well his passions and ideas.  He was a Jew during a time when it was not easy to be one... and these two works here presented are among his finest.  Typically forceful and dramatic, exhibiting the same unusual energy of the masterful 2nd Quartet. His music is very contemplative, and I love reading by it.  The performance and recording here are flawless and very clean: the beauty of Bloch's compositions shine through.


title: Gorgeous Brahms 4th; Marred Variations

text: I am unfortunately led to give a somewhat of a mixed review here.  William  Furtwangler's live Berlin recording of June 21, 1942 of Brahms 4th is considered by some as an historical testament.  The time was when the Germans were advancing to the Caucasian oil fields of Russia, all the while the Anglo-American world was just beginning to marshal its strength.  With all the advances of the German armies, in Europe, and North Africa, could it with all probability continue in the face of a united British-American front?  This is a near perfect symphony to hear, with the nation at its militarily zenith; that throughout this immense work of Brahms we hear of doubt and apprehension, but yet not lacking a manly serenity, that makes it all the more gripping.  And I suspect it would have been so for the Germans in 1942, as their war machine was finally beginning to slow down, far out on the Russian steppe, and even before they faced the Americans in any noted strength; defeat was now inevitable.  So then, even though I am happy to report that this is truly a remarkable performance of Brahms 4th, the recording of the Haydn Variations, on Dec. 12 of 1943, again in Berlin, suffers too much from audience coughing.  And the presence of it is too great to be overlooked.  But with a good remastering, I do not see why it cannot be eliminated.  Until then, this will have to stand as a four star star disc, imo.


title: Beautiful Production of Some of Mahler's Finest Work

text: A wonderful offering!  Although Mahler is not quite among my favorites, he is a very intriguing and intelligent composer, and I duly respect his work.  So I find myself increasingly drawn to this beautiful disc, with the reason being that everything here is superb: from the selection to the performance and recording.  Concluding the disc with the Adagio from Mahler's (unfinished) symphony #10 was an excellent idea - this fascinating music follows the 12 songs from Das Knaben Wunderhorn exceptionally well.  Although Mahler's "supreme achievement" (Herbert Russcol) may well be "The Song of the Earth", this disc offers a very fine look at Gustav Mahler, the composer.  Highly recommended.


title: Not as fun as the original stuff, but still great

text:
It's a shame that this CD isn't in print anymore. When it came out back in the late 1990s, I just adored it. After all, I grew up listening to SHR & these bands were big names back then.

The good part of this CD is that the songs here have been given a bit of a boost. Some of the songs stay somewhat close to the original SHR songs, but others change the beat quite a bit. While some of the songs are just fantastic, I'll admit it... there were one or two that I just didn't like. I tried as hard as I could to separate it from the original, but there were about 2-3 songs that I just didn't want to listen to.

Overall though? This is a CD that's worth tracking down. I'm honestly surprised that with all of the 80s & 90s nostalgia that's going on, that it's not being brought back into print. This is something that the Hot Topic-ers would just eat up. The only thing I'd recommend is that you track down a relatively cheap copy. It's not worth paying huge amounts for unless you are getting it for a SHR collection.


title: Five Stars

text: Great album


title: Four Stars

text: Lots of fun


title: Nice mellow tracks

text: I found this Cd one day, but I would buy it. Nice chillout complialtion featuring some very talented artists with some special guests(Amel Larrieux, Maxwell).  The cd is very relaxing and nostalgic.


title: Stewart And Gaskin have the best productions out there.  Barbara Gaskin's voice is haunting.

text: I love this group, but three of their albums I have contain a lot of the same songs on them.


title: They're carrying guitars, and they're pointing them our way.  LOOK OUT!

text: Fun to have.  Good for dubs.  Not sure about paying so much for it, but this is unique stuff, available no where else.


title: Wonderful performances

text: I was looking for an album I had, in CD format.  This wasn't it, but I was presently surprised.  The music is bright, intelligent and interesting and somewhat follows Eric Satie's music in a piano-jazz idiom.  Very nice.


title: You need this collection

text: Sam Cooke started a style of music still around today; Soul.  This has no bad tracks, just inspired music that rocks and rolls.


title: A wonderful collection

text: These folk sound XTC/Steely Danish.  Smart clever and catchy tunes.  It is in my car most of the time.  Just a great CD.


title: Fantastic music but - whoops! - incorrect track listing...

text:
As a reviewer on Amazon UK has pointed out, the tracks listed are not those on the actual CDs.

Disc Two and Four are correct.

Disc One is ALMOST correct. However, when you insert the disc in your player it will list 20 tracks, and not 19 as advertised on the rear cover. This is because between tracks 3 and 4 "Four O'Clock Blues" has been omitted. All 14 tracks of the original album are on the CD, but the listing for this 1 track has not been printed on the rear cover. So, therefore, all the track numbers from "Mister Freddie" onwards have to be shuffled forward one.
The biggest kerfuffle is Disc Three though.

Tracks 15 through 19 are correct (the first 5 tracks from the album 'Alone with My Friends' with the remaining 5 tracks from the album correctly continuing on Disc Four).

However, only the first 2 tracks ("Born with the Blues" & "Just Let Me Be") from the beginning of the album 'Memphis Slim, USA' (1961) are present on the CD and - confusingly! – they do not appear as tracks 1 & 2 but as tracks 13 & 14 -

- this is because the first 12 tracks are, in fact, the complete album "Lonesome" (as released by Drive Archive in 1994).

They are:

Lonesome 2:26
Cold Blooded Woman 3:38
One Man's Mad  2:50
Good Time Roll Creole 2:34
What Is The Mare Rack 2:58
Pigalle Love 2:21
Four Walls 2:45
It's Been Too Long 2:37
Big Bertha 2:07
I'm Lost Without You 2:09
I'll Just Keep On Swingin' With The Blues 2:39
True Love 2:45

In other words, the complete listing for Disc Two in reality runs as follows:

1. Lonesome
2. Cold Blooded Woman
3. One Man's Mad
4. Good Time Roll Creole
5. What Is The Mare Rack
6. Pigalle Love
7. Four Walls
8. It's Been Too Long
9. Big Bertha
10. I'm Lost Without You
11. I'll Just Keep On Swingin' With The Blues
12. True Love
13. Born with the Blues
14. Just let Me Be
15. Highway 51 Blues
15. Highway 51 Blues
16. I Feel So Bad
17. Rock Me, Momma
18. Goin' Down Slow
19. Sittin' On Top of the Word

Hope this helps! Other than that, this 4-CD package is VERY low priced and well worth buying!


title: His master's voice...

text:
Many years ago, at the time they were first released, I bought the original audio cassette editions of The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three, read by Stephen King himself. These recordings are no longer available, which is a pity: King may not be, as he asserts, a `professional voice' but he certainly brings something extra to the table by reading the story himself.

So I was delighted to discover that it would be King himself who would be reading The Wind Through the Keyhole - and he hasn't disappointed.

Sure, this isn't a major work; I think we all knew that going in. But as the cult Harlan Ellison author has opined, King never cheats his readers, meaning we may or may not feel the book is important or even up to his best, but he never cheats a reader; he never disappoints while you're there, reading the book. And that's the joy of King. His voice. There's no other writer (with the possible exception of Clive Barker's epic metaphysical and mythological novels) whose words I so completely and instantly lose myself in.

And having King himself doing the reading? Well, that's just icing on the cake. Not a prequel of a sequel, this current Dark Tower novel is a story within a story: a pause in the main narrative of the seven book cycle where Roland tells his companions - his ka-tet - a childhood tale of a boy who meets a tyger that is more than what it seems. Like King's voice, this is a story that sneaks up on you and draws you in, so much so that I don't actually want to give any kind of detailed plot summary: it's a little gem of a story that's a pleasure simply to discover `cold' without any prior knowledge of its contents. Like I said, not a major work, but King's one of those incredibly generous writers wherein even his so-called lesser works are full of wonderfully observed moments and characters. Like Ellison says, King never cheats a reader.

As for this audio recording King even makes a commendable effort when it comes to character voices, especially the Covenant Man. Like The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon this is a little book, and not an important one, but it is a beautiful one. Although within King's massive oeuvre this book will inevitable become lost, it is nevertheless one of those hidden treasures that new readers, years hence, will delight to discover.


title: Right song; wrong CD

text:
I bought this CD for the excellent song "Come Make a Place for Me.", which is disappointing here. The correct CD to buy for this song is: "Christmas of Hope" by the Liberty Quartet. The "Liberty Quartet" also has another song on their CD that is just is excellent, titled, "In a Manger Lay the King".

This Ernie Haase & Signature Sound CD sounds like a barbershop-quartet with a lot of harmonizinggggggg of oohhh, ahhh; creating an unnatural, artificial, signature, sound to sound Christmasy; rather than letting the words create the atmosphere. Amazon should let the sample play longer. It is impossible to tell with such a brief sample.


title: Excellent Throwback Album with Modern Edge

text:
Acts as diverse as Pacific! to The Killers have proven that adding an eighties edge to modern pop/rock arrangments can be highly successful fusions. It is a refreshingly original trend, despite that implicit fact that the bands are merely taking their influences to a literal extreme.

Neon Neon, for instance, utilized many instruments manufactured in the eighties to create the sound on their debut effort "Stainless Style". The record is a unique concept album conceived around the high-profile playboy lifestyle of John DeLorean.

The eighties tribute theme is noticably prevalent on the album's strongest tracks: "I Lust U", "Dream Cars", "Belfast", and "I Told Her On Alderaan". These tracks constantly pop up on my playlists over a year after discovering this album!

Unfortunately, the other half of the record is constructed with more pedestrian fare. Tracks like "Trick for Treat", "Luxury Pool", and "Sweat Shop" tread typical modern R&B blueprints with yawn-inducing results.

Still, this is a grand record well worth the purchase...and isn't that a sweet album cover?


title: I Really Liked it!

text: Great product and service!


This audio is absolutely great!  I have listen to it four times now, and I laugh more each time.


title: @MakellBird official review

text:
This is actually VOLUME 2 in a 9 volume series released by Unison Music circa 1995. Unison Music was a company that specialized in distributing ambient, new age, atmospheric, and world music items. They would tap several key producers and composers to put together these releases.

Here is the full 9 volumes on Amazon:
1. [[ASIN:B00000E998 David Huntsinger - Autumn In New England]]
2. [[ASIN:B0007IGWHU Mark Baldwin - A Passion Remembered]]
3. [[ASIN:B0006FKM8O Tommy Greer - Angel's Kiss]]
4. [[ASIN:B000NC05X2 Eric Darken - Cappuccino Afternoon]]
5. [[ASIN:B000P1QZ94 John Darnall - Brazilian Dreams: A Romantic Evening In Rio]]
6. [[ASIN:B00000E99E Bill Altvater - Borderlands]]
7. [[ASIN:B000O5XUC6 Eric Darken - Rhythm of the Night]]
8. [[ASIN:B00000E996 John Darnall - CABRIO On The Verge CABRIO]]
9. [[ASIN:B001V7U7VI John Darnall - Earth Harmony]]

Here are the numbers associated with this specific release in that series:
Catalog Numbers: CNCICD2 / V80182
UPC (barcode) Numbers: 089841204327 / 0-89841-20432-7

This release was re-released digitally in 2015 by Word Entertainment, LLC as
[[ASIN: B00X98KBQI WordHarmonic - Smooth Jazz For Lovers: A Passion Remembered]]

user_id: AFKZVZAEGLDNGVSQPLRIXMFJKCOQ


title: Official @MakellBird Review

text:
The full title is Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Amazon Odyssey –– It is part of a 10-disc set under "Natural Dreams". There are actually several duplicate listings for this item on Amazon. This set was distributed by Hey Presto! England

Here are the 10 discs (in order). There is also a 10-disc set sold as a complete set.
01. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Natures' Guitar
Catalog No.: KBCD 152 / UPC-A: 5020941371521
[[ASIN:B0011VEPN0 Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

02. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Enchanted Journey
Catalog No.: KBCD 153 / UPC-A: 5020941371538
[[ASIN:B0011YCJTE Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

03. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Desert Blues
Catalog No.: KBCD 154 / UPC-A: 5020941371545
[[ASIN:B000WX7F4Y Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

04. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Morning Sunrise
Catalog No.: KBCD 155 / UPC-A: 5020941371552
[[ASIN:B0012GPRZY Natural Dreams Music for Relaxation "Morning Sunrise"]]

05. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Amazon Odyssey
Catalog No.: KBCD 156 / UPC-A: 5020941371569
[[ASIN:B000NP9HOW Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

06. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Natural Jazz
Catalog No.: KBCD 157 / UPC-A: 5020941371576
[[ASIN:B000NP9HRY Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

07. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Africa Awakens
Catalog No.: KBCD 158 / UPC-A: 5020941371583
[[ASIN:B000NJA3PA Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

08. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Caribbean Breeze
Catalog No.: KBCD 159 / UPC-A: 5020941371590
[[ASIN:B000WXC2HE Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

09. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Atlantic Blue
Catalog No.: KBCD 160 / UPC-A: 5020941371606
[[ASIN:B000YNNTHY Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

10. Natural Dreams Music For Relaxation Mountain Song
Catalog No.: KBCD 161 / UPC-A: 5020941371613
[[ASIN:B0012GRZCW Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]

The full 10 disc set is here: [[ASIN:B00094JVFW Click here to go to the Amazon page for this item]]


title: Awesome drum and bass music

text: Some really great DnB - drum n bass - drum & bass - drum and bass music here. I discovered these guys through the MusikCo.in promo. It's 2 CDs that's some awesome music to drive to


title: Great Lounge CD

text: I listen to it in the car all the time. It is hard to get seeing as how it was released in Germany and other European countries only.


title: Great reference

text: I don't know what bug got up the other reviewers' tooshies, but I love this title and refer to it all the time.  Is it the definitive reference on a particular accent?  Probably not.  But it's a great starter resource for a voice actor as well as a brilliant concept for a book.


title: Five Stars

text: jerry & john R great 2 gether


title: or better put, you can relate to what this man ...

text:
5 Stars = Masterpiece

This album is unforgiving, but at the same time it is cathartic. In other words, you can relieve your aggressive feelings through Henry Rollins lyrics, or better put, you can relate to what this man is saying in his half monologue, singing style. But truth be told for me, it is as much the heavy duty, nuclear charged top notch aggressive heavy melodies, & performance by his world class band, that soothes my savage bent most, & brings me back for more, time & time again. It's like a sonic xanax, to sooth my soul! The man is a absolute example of a angry man looking for truth, & he has found it...


title: Amazing!

text: Gil Evans. Jimi Hendrix. What more do you need to know - get this record!


title: What - Me Worry?

text: Great bit of memorabilia!


title: Good mistake

text: Got this by accident, ordered another cd and this came in its case. I actually listened to 2 songs before I realized it was the wrong cd. I was thinking "boy this is a real departure from his typical works" and "Gee I never knew he spoke so many languages" and finally "wait a second, thats not the guy".<br />So I put it aside. A few days later I ran it al the way through and there are a lot of real good tunes on here. 5 songs I can do without. But the other 10 are pretty crucial. Just look at that line up! Some of my favorites are assouf, Sunset coming on, orion and whats hardcore.


title: A Creative Remake Of One Of My Favorite Albums (Note - I Said "Remake", not "Rerelease"

text:
One of my all time favorite albums was Tom Kendzia's "Light Of The World" from '80. When I saw "Make Us One" and the song list, I thought it was a re-release of "Light Of The World", since it included all nine songs from the previous project and ended with a newer song.

Not so. This is a remake, rather than a re-release. The songs are completely different arrangements of the former. Considering how much I loved the original, I would naturally be disappointed; for example, I don't believe nothing can match the original version of "Lord Of Love." But I must grudingly admit that this project is well done.

If you want liturgical type lyrics with contemporary music, you would not go wrong with this project.


title: A Creative, Diverse Album

text:
I became a fan of the band Beracah as they were doing the songs from the Vibrant project (this listing reverses the band and title). Some of my all time favorite songs are on this project ("Tossed Salad", "This And That", "Fly Free", "The Awakening II").

Beracah is a six piece band. Except for the drummer (Matt Johnson), all the members play more than one different instrument, and four of the six take turns with the lead vocals ("Sleeper" has three of them doing leads). In addition, two of the members play trumpets, and one of the two also plays flute (though the trumpet/flute player's main instrument is french horn).

One example of the diversity of this band is the fact that there are two different tracks titled "The Awakening", which are next to each other. Both were written by Eric Hahn, and the lyrics are very similar (with each version having some lyrics not in the other version), but musically they are completely different, with "The Awakening I" featuring an etheral sound with Heather King on the lead vocals while "The Awakening II" is a lively rocker including trumpets.

I highly recommend this project.

BTW, some people may find a five song cassette by Beracah titled "Consumption". Most of the songs on "Consumption" are on "Vibrant", including "This And That", "Sleeper", and "The Love of God" (which was "Untitled" on "Consumption").


title: Another Good Christian Pop Project

text:
Erin O'Donnell's project, "Scratching the Surface", is not groundbreaking, but it is enjoyable.  My favorite tracks were "All Of This", "Twisted", "Seriously", "Come Find Me", and "At Least For Now."

If you enjoy Christian pop music, you would enjoy this.


title: Two Classic Christian Rock Albums

text:
I was aware of Sweet Comfort Band for years, but got the impression they were a little too jazzy for me, until I heard "Hearts Of Fire".

One drawback between some albums by the same artist is that there often is a formula.  There is that pattern with these two projects.  Both start off with a well orchestrated rocker ("Isabel" and "Runnin' To Win"), followed by another high energy song ("You Can Make It" and "What Have You Got"), with a ballad as the fourth song ("The Road" and "Haven't Seen You For A Long Time").  Back in the album days, the first songs on side B are also good lively rockers ("Now Or Never" and "Valaree"), followed by a mellower but intense hit ("Can You Help Me" and "Changed Hearts, Changed Lives").

One variation of the formula are the finales.  "Hearts Of Fire" closes with "Reason For Your Life", a quiet commercial ballad that is meant as an encouragement.  "Cutting Edge" ends with "Armed And Ready", a complex rocker with Randy Thomas and Brian Duncan sharing lead vocals, challenging the believer to be a valient Christian.

One contrast of the original covers.  "Hearts Of Fire" show the band all smiling.  "Cutting Edge" has a picture of them looking more somber and unhappy.  One thing I'll comment:  unless the theme dictates seriousness, I like it when Christian artists show the joy of the Lord instead of trying to look cool.

If you are smart enough to know that Christian rock is not a contradiction of terms, these classics belong in your collection.

My favorite songs on the collection are: "Isabel", "Can You Help Me?", "Contender", "Reason For Your Life" (all from "Hearts Of Fire"), "Runnin' To Win", "What Have You Got?", "Falling In Love Again", "Changed Hearts, Changed Lives", and "Armed And Ready".


title: Unique

text:
A Song I Heard, the first song on this album, is kind of breathtaking. The whole album has a kind of magic. Maury was Jim Croce's lead guitarist and is known (by those who know) as a musical genius. All this by age 24 when we lost him and Jim both.

You can still get this album from the Maury Meuhleisen tribute site for a reasonable price. Seek and you will find.


title: Surprisingly good!

text: I've had this CD for a long time, and I always enjoy listening when I find it again! I don't usually like albums that are collections of different artists, but this one is surprisingly good. I like pretty much all these songs, the artists are good, and it's kind of relaxing feel good country. No Easy Horses sticks in my head the most, but I like all these songs pretty well, which again is a pretty good recommendation all by itself.


title: Not quite like the old days but still very good.

text:
Metallica has certainly had a divisive history. Since the release of the Black album, many feared they just didn't have the thrash in them anymore. This proved true as time went on, with the release Load, Reload, & St. Anger. Then out of nowhere, they come back with Death Magnetic. 8 years later, they come back once again with a very solid album.

Rather than give a bunch of incoherent paragraphs about what the album sounds like generally, I decided to break it down track by track.

Disc 1:
Track 1 - Hardwired. The album opener certainly kicks you in the teeth right off the bat. They have returned true to form with low E galloping and fast, syncopated uptempos. This is definitely one of the highlights of the entire 3 disc set. My only complaint was, it was way short, clocking in at just over 3 minutes.
Track 2 - Atlas, Rise! This one is not as fast or thrashy as the previous track but it is just as heavy. I especially like the intro and other transitional riffs. The chorus is quite catchy as well.
Track 3 - Now That We're Dead. This track starts out slow and doomy but it has a pretty cool drum part and it picks up in the verses. The strong point on this one is definitely the instrumentals. The lyrics and melody were ok but it was more melodic than I like my Metallica.
Track 4 - Moth Into Flame. Another cool, fast song, brings back the thrashiness and speed that Metallica really shines at. A really good track all the way through.
Track 5 - Dream No More. They went for a more heavy but slow approach with this one. The vocals are not very interesting. Not crazy about this track.
Track 6 - Halo on Fire. Another slower one but better than the last track, except when they are doing the clean guitar part. For this disc, this and track 5 were definitely not as good as the other ones.

Disc 2:
Track 1 - Confusion. This has a really cool intro. The verse is meh but going back into the chorus, it picks back up. A decent track, not great but not one of the worst on the album.
Track 2 - ManUNkind. This has a very slow, mellow intro but after about the 20 second mark, it picks up and they have some really cool riffs going on. I like the vocals in the verses and the chorus is cool as well. This one got stuck in my head for awhile.
Track 3 - Here Comes Revenge. Slow buildup but the riffs are heavy, even though a bit slower. Still some thrashiness going on. Very decent track.
Track 4 - Am I Savage? Slow and mellow intro. Builds up to a slow, groove metal part. This track was just ok, nothing special really.
Track 5 - Murder One - Nice buildup in the beginning but unfortunately, it doesn't lead to anything exciting. The vocals are cool but the riffs, not so much. Didn't really like this track.
Track 6 - Spit Out the Bone. Ok, now this will not disappoint! Fast, heavy and epic. Awesome tune!

Disc 3:
Track 1 - Lords of Summer. I really like this track. Actually a bit disappointed that it didn't make the cut for the main 2 discs and is only on the bonus disc. It's every bit as awesome as Hardwired and Spit Out the Bone.
Track 2 - Ronnie Rising Medley. A collection of Rainbow covers, with of course a Metallica spin on them. A very strong track.
Track 3 - When a Blind Man Cries. A Deep Purple cover. Not really crazy about this one. There is a plethora of better songs they could have picked. This wasn't even on an album, it was a B side.
Track 4 - Remember Tomorrow. Classic Maiden! A solid cover of a great tune. They actually sound a lot like the original version here.
Track 5 - Helpless (Live)
Track 6 - Hit the Lights (Live)
Track 7 - The Four Horsemen (Live)
Track 8 - Ride the Lightning (Live)
Track 9 - Fade to Black (Live)
Track 10 - Jump in the Fire (Live)
Track 11 - For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live)
Track 12 - Creeping Death (Live)
Track 13 - Metal Militia (Live)
Ok, this is where I decided to break my rule and review all the above songs in one. The reason is, in general, they all had the same quality. I'm sad to say, that's a bad thing. These tracks are apparently an entire concert that they did but it sounds like it was in a club or something. The mix is not very good and as a whole, the band just doesn't sound very good here. The biggest offender is definitely Kirk Hammett. It sounds like he just doesn't practice his solos for these songs at all anymore. I was disappointed that so much of the disc is taken up by this group of songs. They could have used that valuable real estate for more unreleased material, or maybe made the other discs longer and included the earlier ones in this disc.
Track 14 - Hardwired (live). This is the one that started it all. Pretty cool that they included the same live version that debuted the song. Good version as well.

So there you have it. A good album overall. Not great but not terrible either. even though the album has some missteps, I still recommend it for the old school Metallica fans.


title: The Two Origins

text:
Okay, I bought both the original Origin and the reproduced Origin, so here are all the facts:

1. the original Origin has better sound quality than the reproduced one. The reproduced Origin is kind of scrachy and echos alot of Amy's voice in a industrial kind of way, it sometimes can give you a head ache. The original one does not.

2. Although it's true on the reproduced version the tracks Whisper and My Immortal are the Fallen version while on the original version they are different from Fallen, but the Origin version of Whisper and My Immortal is not that different from Fallen. My Immortal is almost the same as the one on Fallen, if you don't pay attention, they sound exactly alike. And Whisper is just a more industrial version than the one on Fallen. So basically only Imaginary is worth hearing.

3. While it's true on the reproduced version there are alot more songs, but pretty much only Wash It All Away, Missing and an addition of a different version of Where Will You Go are worth hearing. The rest of the songs are really not that great, and many of them are fillers. But Wash It All Away and Missing are really really awesome songs you shouldn't miss.

4. While it's true in the insert of the reproduced version alot of the lyrics are wrong, but that also kind of happens on the original version. But on the original version they have credits, but disappointingly, they did not mention who wrote what songs.

5. Someone said there's a hidden track on the original version that wasn't on the reproduced version. Sorry, that is not true. There is no hidden track on the original version, Eternal, the last track, is just composed of the reproduced version of Eternal and demise. That's it.

So buyers: If you don't care about sound quality that much, I suggest you save your money and time (for bidding on ebay, the only place you can get the original Origin under 50 bucks) and buy the reproduced version. If you are a die hard Evanescence fan (like me) then buy both versions, the reproduced version is only about 10 to 11 bucks, what have you got to lose? (and since you are a die hard fan I would assume that you wouldn't care spending a little time and money to get the best sound quality of the Original version)

The album in general:

It's much darker than Fallen. The songs are mellower and slower and the lyrics are less complex than Fallen (meaning they didn't use as much imagery and complex words as they did on Fallen). Alot of organs and piano are used to create a more gothic feeling. Also, on Fallen all the songs (like I reviewed on Fallen) are like they come out of you, one of the reasons for that is because on Fallen all its lyrics are "I" statements. But on Origin there's less of that feeling. two of the songs are directed to "You" (Where Will You Go and Lies). As you know Evanescence was originally titled a "Christian" band, and Origin really has more of that "Christian" feeling: the music is kind of preachy and choir-like. But non-Christians, no worries, the songs did not make any direct reference to Christianity so even if you are really anti-Christian or an Atheist you still can enjoy the songs (I'm an Atheist myself and Evanescence is my favorite band)


title: It takes Teamwork

text: That's actually a good Lp released in the day of a slew of new wave artists & crossover pop rock acts with a fun loving sound of Pop Muzik's M. Nonsense new wave fun!


title: CD Good

text:
Everything you wanted to know about the cool group Brothers Johnson, but were afraid to ask. This is a two disc CD, make no mistakes, about a group that had some major hits back in the 70s, but still only a handful for a two disc compilation. Yet, I decided to give it a try since I really like their major hits such as Stomp!, I'll Be Good To You, & Strawberry Letter 23. Even Get The Funk Outta My Face was a disco floor pleaser back in the day.
Fortunately, they have assembled this two disc CD with the major hits lining the creases with the lesser known hits in between, and if you like the sound of the Brothers Johnson, the others follow suit pretty much in the same vein, though a lot of those I have never heard before, because even when I bought their first albums on vinyl record, as a disco DJ, I rarely listened to the full albums.
So if you take any long journeys in your car, this one is sure to fill up some time on your CD player.
I'll be good to you, good to you . . .


title: Opera treat

text:
I don't care for opera, nor do I see opera musicals, but this production has an interesting supply of angles that utilize the brilliant score. From the stop motion animation motion picture An Opera Fantasy to Disney's record album vinyl Lp, the score is offered early to children and the young at heart.
There are various filmed productions of this beloved opera from various countries and spare no expense in captivating the eye, and are available on DVD.
This 2-record collection is a fine example of those productions and I recommend this issue for any collection. Lighthearted, and breezy, the score composition is sensational.


title: Collection of movie classics from MGM

text: Assorted collection of hits you have heard and a few not so ordinary.  Mostly a collection of random songs, themes, and outakes from well loved movies such as Ben-Hur, Gigi, Wizard of Oz, Unsinkable Molly Brown, Dr. Zhivago (Lara's theme), Singing Nun, Born Free, Gone With The Wind, & lots more!<br />These songs, all of them, are the original cuts and there are no remakes or redos as some collections have.  A nice 2 vinyl album set for an afternoon or lazy evening of listening to movie songs from the past. Debbie Reynolds gets her fair share of karat gold as three of her songs are included, four if you count "How The West Was Won" theme. Two versions from Gone With The Wind, and Ben-Hur. Also Born Free.

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title: Masterpiece Motion Picture Soundtrack Compilation

text: Even if you're not a fan of classical esteemed music, this one is a sure fire winner using high tech visuals from space with melodic ballet scores that blend masterfully with roaming space modules. Unusual does not define, as more or less, extreme! Also is the memorable title song, ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA, which has been used in many other renditions, even disco by Salsoul Orchestra but labeled 3001 instead. There are some metallic like songs that formulate space voyages and paths to the unknown, using hard core vocals stretching as far out into the bitter cold galaxy. This is a music scored journey that helps visualize what the future of mankind could be if he were to grasp it, and indeed, take the future seriously. The primeval world ties the connection from first discovery of tools and war among primates, then discovering the wandering monolith, an unexplainable mechanism from outer space, unknown to mankind, but can be seen again in the far future by astronauts in space. The music puts this entire realm into cosmic perspective.<br />My only minor complaint here on Amazon is lack of complete track listings vinyl or otherwise, so I uploaded the Side 2 label for reference.


title: POTC Vintage Soundtrack

text: Even with the latest POTC ride soundtrack available on CD, this old school Disneyland record will never go out of style because it has a deep voiced narrative by pirate Thurl Ravenscroft following you along the journey in the caverns and caves.  The sound effects and songs are from the ride as this record was produced to promote the grand opening of the ride itself. Great addition to any vinyl record collection, and a must have for Disney fans alike!


title: Lesser known disco album

text: They Said It couldn't Be Done was the main dance floor hit off this one, but I personally preferred Our Love because it had the upbeat Philly sound I really liked back then, which the best soul dance groups were all about at the roots of disco music. Now for Mighty Clouds Of Joy LP.


title: Broadway Brass takes Guys & Dolls DISCO

text: The very early part of the historic disco boom presented many unheard of quickie groups ready for the fast buck to pave the way to make people dance while doing it. This collection is a generic sound of that classic disco fever, with songs taken from the broadway musical and strung together in bouncy cotton candy overtone. If you like the songs, and you can appreciate disco in the early stages, than this album will go down like a cold glass of milk.


title: grim grinning ghosts come out on compact disc,

text:
Picked this one up while shopping the 20th Century Music Shoppe on Disneyland's Main St. USA, along with it's closest friend The Pirates Of The Caribbean CD. Both exclusive on the theme park attraction soundtrack, promos, deleted tracks, sound effects, and total theme park ride experiance. Both also begin with Walt Disney outakes of his first introduction to the attraction.
The Haunted Mansion CD begins with his worldwide intro of the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland and continues forward with deleted sequences involving Madame Leota. Then it begins where the actual ride starts in the present day experiance we all know and love, beginning with the "ghost host" narrative. Anyone who has been on the ride knows where it goes from there, and it does not miss a heartbeat. There are some extended music backgrounds, screams & groans, plus lengthy graveyard score, but it relishes in all the sound effects the Haunted Mansion has to offer.
Additional sound clips from Tokyo Disneyland, Paris Disneyland are a plus, especially with Vincent Price narrative for Phantom Manor. There are still many more extras of music, sound, and ad promos, plus bloopers during voice re-hearse-al.
"Hurry back. . . hurry back. . . "


title: You + Me = Love is included elsewhere

text: The nearly 11 minute 12" version of the infamous disco jive song is actually included on cd labeled DISCO CONNECTION, also found on Amazon, and as for the Undisputed Truth? True, I am a big fan of 70s, even 60s soul, but this group was never for me other than the big disco song. I much rather hear stuff like Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Ball Of Confusion from other groups.


title: This rendition of Verdi's requiem is unacceptable

text:
I agree with many people who have a problem with Andrea Bocelli. Surely, they could have chosen a much better tenor, like Jose Carerras or Roberto Alagna. Renee Fleming does have a charming voice, and Borodina has great depth in her emotion, but these two don't seem to fit as a balanced cast in this requiem by Verdi. And personally, I prefer Gergiev conducting the Russian operas, not an Italian piece.

All in all, I wouldn't recommend this version of Verdi's requiem to anyone. Bocelli is just not operatic with his voice. He should stick with his Pop music and stay away from Puccini, Donizetti, etc.

I would recommend conductor Emil Tabakov's version, with singers Romanko, Ombuena, and de Grandis. As long as the CD on Capriccio Records doesn't run out of stock.


title: Great Three CD Set

text: I love early country, and this one not only checks the box, but adds Porter songs and songs to the present. A very good summation of her hits a major tracks, at a great price. Sound quality is great.


title: Great Value, Some Albums Sound Quality Suspect

text:
I first listened to Perry Como as a child, where my father purchased his albums and sings, (such as "Juke Box Baby" and so he has been a favorite with me for over 40 years, . To get down to brass tacks, CD one,  (For Young at Heart, etc) dounded similar to recorded LP's vs a trransfer. Sound very muted/compressed like it went through filers. No scratchy, just that my LPS sound much better.

The second CD, (By Request, etc) was MUCH better, and sound really good. AS night and day difference between CD1.

The third CD was obviously a record transfer. I can hear the noise of the record, no filtering at all.  The "Seasons" Christmas CD was a hodgepodge of recorded LP mono and stereo, both very noisy.

CD 4 is a further example, the first LP (Music Hall, sounded distorted and not pleasant, while Como Swings was great.

Not to be to long on this, this is not a cleaned up set, and much was a direct recording from LP, and much not even filtered to remove stratchs or hiss, much like old LP's. It is hit and miss. The price is still good, and you listen with earbuds or through something not expensive, it may not matter. But sitting here, using my streaming player, the difference is easy to hear, and you do not have to be an audiophile to here it. When I was playing it, others asked me what was wrong with the sound.

As I said, the price is great, but do not expect great sound at all. Expect low average for much, good to others. I think many of the "imported" sets like this you throw the dice. I have a Porter Waggoner  one like this, and it is just as bad, yet I have a Connie Francis one which is excellent.

Be warned. I am keeping it because, basically, it is hard to get his recordings. A best of would sound better (and does) but this covers EVERYTHING.


title: This Fa Fa Fa Fa Fantastic

text: Nothing better! Good sound, fantastic price, the best soul of that era. WELL WORTH IT!


title: I had the cassette version of this for many years ...

text: I had the cassette version of this for many years. Got the CD version just last week and listened to it for the first time in a very long while. Oh nostalgia!


title: Calming

text: I sure can think things through once I have a calming atmosphere to listen to and none better than this cd.  Relax and work go hand in hand


title: Great selection of music by 4 composers that evokes the magic of Vienna from 1830 until 1870

text: This is a very enjoyable CD that is full of waltz music from the period of 1830 to the beginning of World War I. By the time of the Civil War in the United States these waltzes had become world famous. The selections and order of presentation is excellent, smooth and flawless, moving from the waltzes to a final choral piece by Heuberger. After the Congress of Vienna, the city became a major center for culture, art, and music and it is during this time that grand dance halls were constructed where the citizens could dance to the waltzes of Vienna’s talented composers. Brothers Johann Strauss and Joseph Strauss are represented by the Emperor’s Waltz and Village Swallows, respectively, both included in this collection. Also, a Vienna Operetta began to flourish in the 1870s, Johann Strauss’s overture to Der Fledermaus is included in this collection. I found this CD to be full of excellent selections that create a sensation of what Vienna music must have been like during this exciting period.


title: Super job, super voices.

text:
It is certainly easy to understand the popularity of the Magnificat by Bach. It is strong and vibrant, it is balanced and elegant, and it is reflective and expressive. It bursts forth at the listener like an explosion and then receeds to a vast range of intricate mazes of orchestration and lyrics.

I sometimes think (or hear) Bach favors certain instruments, keyboards and strings, over wind and percussion. However in this wonderful work, the human voice and a vast range of period instruments are seemlessly integrated into a superb concoction of ear candy.

Never does the chorus overpower the orchestration or vice versa. The complimenting vocal and instrument dialogues are sublime. The same can be said for the duets between Sopranos or the duet between the Tenor and Bass. The final three minutes evoke armies of angels ascending and descending, accompanied by trumpets, pulling the piece together grandly and completely.

I would strongly recommend this for those who appreciate classical vocal music, of a religious nature, rendered in reverence and beauty.


title: Grab it before it’s gone! Super record!

text: 35 years later it’s still a favorite!  Saw this band perform at a college party in 1985 and made a point to hunt down this record.  Great rock with a slight Pop edge. Highly recommended.


title: Don't like Courtney Love but I love this song

text:
I'm no fan of Courtney Love but I do like this version of Gold Dust Woman.  She gives it a hard edge that makes it even more enjoyable than Fleetwood Mac's original version.

I'll buy the soundtrack this song is on just for this one song.

Gotta give credit to Courtney and the team that re-did this song:  they got it right!


title: Great CD but buy Volume 2 instead for better value. Same music w/ Bonus tracks!!

text:
This is a great soundtrack if you are a Maurice White or Earth, Wind & Fire fan.  The music is easily recognizable as Maurice White music and can be enjoyed even if you have not seen the Gatchaman movie.

Con: The only problem with this one is that if you buy Volume 2 you will get all of the same music that is on this CD plus the alternate version of each song.  I would recommend for the value buy Vol 2 instead of this title and avoid buying both Vol 1 & 2 since you'll just be wasting money on the same music.


title: "We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home."

text:
Politics aside (for a moment), let me get one thing out of the way right off: David Strathairn's impersonation of Edward R. Murrow is absolutely incredible -- indistinguishable in look, temperament and mannerism from actual footage of Murrow from the 1950s. Murrow comes across as dark, brooding and intense - an image not lightened by TV's harsh lighting and black-and-white spectrum. That verisimilitude carries throughout the film as well, as it captures the fashions, habits and psychological realities of the Cold War era.

"Good Night and Good Luck" is a political film in the best sense. Like Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," this film depicts one era in order to shed light on contemporary issues. In the 1950s, the issue was Senator Joe McCarthy's self-serving persecution of supposed communists in the American government and arts establishment. The American institutions that might have corralled McCarthy were mostly silent, cowed by the Senator's bully-boy tactics, lies and smears. The media, concerned about losing corporate sponsorship, opted for safe fare like quiz shows and Uncle Miltie. That is, until CBS newsman and TV host Edgar Murrow decided to confront McCarthy head-on.

Of course, the impact of the film's political message depends on whether one sees similarities to the situation today. Director George Clooney, for one, clearly is using the film to criticize both the current government and the mainstream media. One's view of the film is bound to be colored by one's personal opinions on the matter.

Murrow's 1958 speech to his CBS peers - a device that frames the film - is a challenge to use television as something more than a mere box of wires and lights. In Murrow's opinion, using a powerful medium to amuse and distract without educating and broadening is not just a wasted opportunity but a sign of America's imminent demise.

The ensemble cast (incuding Clooney, Mort Downey, Jr. and Jeff Bridges) functioned impressively to give the impression of real working entity. The film's use of actual archival footage of Senator McCarthy was inspired -- having an actor play the man would have played into the charge that Clooney was exagerrating him. For all the seriousness of the film, Clooney is not above having a little fun: inserting actual commercials for Alcoa and Kent cigarettes were fun as period anchors as well as underscoring the issue of product sponsorship that continues to bedevil the media.

Thankfully, Clooney lets the facts speak for themselves and does not sermonize. I found the film to be even-handed and inspiring. Murrow's brand of truth-telling does not go down smoothly, but is absolutely essential for the proper functioning of a democracy. "Good Night, And Good Luck" presents the Murrow story effectively and engagingly -- and none too soon.


title: Outstanding Performances in this Great Return of the Western

text:
3:10 to Yuma is about Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) and his band of thugs who have repeatedly orchestrated several robberies in Arizona in the late 1800s.  It is also about Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a self-deprecating rancher who is doing what he can within his own ethics to get his family by, but he is failing.  Evans first meets Wade when he and his sons witness one of the robberies. Soon, Evans visits the town of Bisbee alone to confront a man he is in arrears with and he happens upon Wade and his gang again, who had drawn the authorities out of town after having Wade's top goon Charlie Prince (Ben Foster) inform the authorities of the latest robbery and saying that Wade's group headed elsewhere.  Evans leaves and meets the Bisbee authorities when they see him helping a wounded bounty hunter, who Wade and his men shot during their robbery.  Evans informs them that Wade and his men are indeed in Bisbee.  Evans actually plays an active role in apprehending Wade, and he agrees to assist in escorting Wade to the town of Contention, where Wade will take a prison train to his inevitable execution for his many murders and robberies.  That train is the 3:10 to Yuma and the movie's primary focus involves the ride to Contention and the various encounters with Wade's pursuing gang and many other enemies along the way.

3:10 to Yuma is a well polished piece of western cinema.  If Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven was an elegy to the once alive and well American genre then I guess 3:10 to Yuma is an fitting in memoriam.  It's a remake actually, although almost unrecognizable from the original 1957 western.  Other than what amounts to being a fairly unsatisfying conclusion, 3:10 to Yuma is one of the best films of 2007 so far.  There are many things to praise here.  James Mangold (Walk the Line, Copland) puts together a fun and entertaining shoot'em up that also happens to deliver in both style and substance.  The characters are great here and the performances are handled well enough that I wouldn't be too surprised if we saw two or three get credit in the upcoming award season.  Although, the fantastic screenplay may very well be the unsung hero.

Christian Bale repeatedly solidifies his reputation as a great actor by, in my humble opinion, actually upstaging Crowe.  Part of that is the character of Wade, which I'm almost tempted to say was written to be an ego-booster for Russell Crowe.  I'm not one of those people who tries to bash Crowe though, he is amazing in this too.  His presence is formidable in anything and the character of Ben Wade definitely calls for it.  The best performance in this film and who I think would be well rewarded with a Golden Globe or an Oscar nomination is Ben Foster as Charlie Prince.  I'm pretty sure we'll see him get nominated and perhaps even win. He is incredibly scary and one the best villains to come along in some time.  Gretchen Mol and Peter Fonda were very good in their limited roles as well.  I actually think this is hands down the best ensemble cast of the year so far and one of the best to come along in quite a while.

Still, the film does seem anti-climactic and maybe upon another viewing I'll concede that the ending was satisfying, but for now it really is that alone that keeps 3:10 to Yuma from getting a perfect rating.  It's the first film of the year that I'd recommend seeing as soon as possible because by award season this will likely be one of the movies everyone is talking about.


title: Recommended!

text: Very happy to add this to my library!  Lots of varied performances and music.  Sound is a bit dated by today's standard, but should be owned by all euphonium players.  Glad that Potenza Music saw fit to get these released.  Recommended!


title: Tuba Solo

text: I purchased this for the superb Rafael Aldo Forte "Dance Rhapsody for Tuba" ably performed by Andy Rummel.  Great new work by this well-known (at least to us tuba players!) composer.  The playing on the other tracks is not shabby either!  High recommended!


title: It just looks awesome..

text: Being a huge AC/DC fan I had to have this. It looks awesome framed up on the wall above my record player.


title: Looks Awesome!

text: Looks like the picture


title: This is the most amazing CD

text: John Petrucci really knows how to play and write songs. Glasgow Kiss is extremely addicting along with Curve, Wishful Thinking, and all the others.


title: The best album from the Kings of Slob Rock

text: Everything about this album is sleazy, slobbish fun. The production is loads better than on their previous releases, their sense of humor is at full tilt, and the unrepentantly sleazy joy just bleeds from every single track. They weren't a punk band, but they were 100% punk in attitude. Not a bad track on the album - as good as any greatest hits they've released.


title: Five Stars

text: Great buy and fast service


title: How am i the first to review this???

text:
It's a series of interviews with actual groupies about the whole groupie phenomenon. The girls and women recorded here are equally charming, perceptive, filthy ...

This album is a true gem and has been sampled by bands and DJs over the decades and inspired a plethora of street slang in the counter-culture.

The Groupies Iris Music Group IMG-285 Produced by Alan Lorber

Six Groupies: Conversations that took place in a Manhattan recording studio in May, 1969. During a 12 hour session they describe a lifestyle of star-f*cking. Rock 'n' roll was changing, a society growing up.

Just how does a groupie begin? When does the transition from screaming teeny-bopper to full fledged live-in come about?

An exchange of identities for sex. Genet? DeSade? Nightmarish? The private-innards of the rock-machine? Go-go gossip? The hidden side of innocence? They talk about each other talkin' 'bout friends. Jim, Janis, Jimmy, an eulogy? Erotica? Neurotica? Sex-ethic? Sexual-politic crap-status?

A one of a kind. A chronicle. A diary. A scrap-book of the turbulent 60's.


title: Remarkably prescient

text: I first heard this record way back when I was in college and it would be hard for me to exaggerate how much it influenced me. The story is remarkably prescient. An astronaut returns to earth after a lengthy space voyage to discover a society in which everything - politics included - is judged by its entertainment value. Sound familiar? I've spent my life watching this story's predictions come true. Of course, there are science fiction novels that made similar predictions, but what Ossman's story adds is the richly colorful and humorous audio dramatization presented with all the accomplished flair of a Firesign Theater production. While this record is technically a David Ossman solo project, all of the Firesign Theater members participate. Needless to say, puns and pataphors predominate. Does anyone still make complex audio dramatizations like this? Does anyone still have the attention span (and cultural literacy) to listen to it? I'm not sure. The power and value of this impressive record may have ironically been lost to the inchoate passage of time.


title: Love Prince great stuff

text: I love Prince he is amazing what a genius


title: Justified and Ancient seems so long ago...

text:
I was first introduced to The KLF/JAMS in 1996... when it was far too late to hear their entire back-catalogue. I've had a copy of "Doctorin' the TARDIS" since that time. Laid my hands on "The White Room" with the bonus disc in 2005.
This year I started, with more effort, to try to find used copies of some of their prior stuff. I don't do vinyl... having lived through the 70s and 80s, I welcomed the advent of the CD. I realize I'm limiting my options, but I've still managed a few gems...
Such as "Chill Out."
So different from anything else by them, but immensely pleasing. This album shows how much Rockman and King Boy were masters of the sonosphere. This album, designed to give you the 'feel' of a cross country road trip is mesmerizing, creepy (at moments) and beautiful. For me it furthers the mystery of who the Ancients of Mumu were and the 'master plan' they deny having was...


title: Don't ask me...

text: I've been a Norman fan for years, since shortly after the actual album came out. The Trilogy has long been, for me, a standard of what Christian music should have been at the time, instead of the schlock most of it was.<br />This is a nice, alternate take of a favorite album.


title: In another...

text: I've been a Norman fan for years, since shortly after the actual album came out. The Trilogy has long been, for me, a standard of what Christian music should have been at the time, instead of the schlock most of it was.<br />This is a nice, alternate take of my favorite Larry Norman album.


title: So long ago...


title: A garbage edition

text:
One star for thsi version, four stars for the music inside.
This is one of those things that band band certainly has no control about.
THis is the second Scorpions album, a quantum leap in terms of quality when compared to their first album (LONESOME CROW). It if the firt album with guitar virtuoso Ulrich Roth.

And what this version here offers? Nothing. It has no technical data: no band line-up, no studios where it was recorded, no lyrics, even the songwritng credit is null (because it says only "Schenker" in the credits, not making it clear it it was Michael (as IT WAS in the case of "Fly To The Rainbow") or it is Rudolf).

I put some photos for you to check the horrible edition.

Is is a cheap edition, a disgrace, a shame. The mjusic inside deserved better.


title: Eighties heavy metal at its best!

text:
This Swedish guys got it right. In their second of only two studio albums, this one (released in 1984) iby far the best. And really the best!
Canadian rock critic Martin Popoff gives this album a 10. And a 10 it is. Enigmatic, energectic, chaotica, well produced, smart and well crafted solos.

A gem, a real gem.


title: Kkkkkkkk!

text:
If this is considered a masterpiece, the world has gonne crazy since the sixties.

This, considered the Beatles first "serious" album, is an embarassement. The lack of ability i. their instruments is plain for all to see. George's playing of the sitar could have been done by a five-years old. Also, even the melodies are completely lacking (and dumb).

Worst Beatles album ever.


title: It is incredibly bad

text:
This is not just dated. This is an incredibly bad album. It is a nothing album. It is unbeliavable that Van Zandt released such garbage. No wonder The Boss writes all material for his albums. He msut have benn apalled when Van andt showed him some of his "song ideas".

I went for it eager to lsiten it, because I had never listened nothing of Van Zandt solo career.

Now, that's tow disappointments in a row. First, I went for a compilation and a lvie DVD about Nils Lofgren. Totally useless both of them. Now, there's this utter abismal album by Steven van Zandt. Heck

Both situtations make it totally clear why both guitarists accept gleefully their roles as sidekicks to Bruce Springsteen. They can play. They can not write for their lives.


title: CAn't Feel it

text: After amazing albuns "OPERATION MINDCRIME" and "EMPIRE", this was a disapointment for me. Boring at the extreme, overproduced, it clearly show that the band was already losing their creativity vein.


title: 55 minutes of praise by Kim Clement

text: If you have ever been to a church service with Prophet Kim, you will certainly enjoy this CD. It is very annointed, have a good time praising the Lord with this album. p.s. Im sure Prophet KC is jamming away with God in Heaven, amen.


title: A really great CD by Clement

text: This was a really blessed 2 disc set by Prophet Kim with 21 songs. The Spirit of the Lord is present on this music, you will enjoy. God bless you!


title: Most annointed CD i have ever owned

text: I usually only review material that i have bought from Amazon, but i couldnt sit by without commenting on this CD. First off, i second everything said from the other two 5 star reviews.The prescence of the Lord is evident on every single song. Be prayed up to fill the full effect of this album. God bless you.


title: Kingdom Come by J Phillips

text: Good job by Sis Jill Phillips. All ten songs on this cd are a blessing. Jill's voice is wonderful of couse, and she does justice to these awesome tunes. God bless you.


title: the prophet speaks

text: the Lord God always uses Kim Clement whenever he preaches the Word. This two cd set in no different. It is a very edifying message. See for yourself. Thank you, God bless.


title: have a bash with Ash

text: Love Wishbone Ash? Don't have all their albums from the 70s and 80s? Grab this one up! 27 fantastic tracks of twin guitar rock 'n' roll.


title: Don't stop here, go directly to a compilation

text:
You can't tell a book by it's cover and you can't tell an album by it's sleeve. See that guy with the cool red strat looking all rock and roller? That's not representative of what is on the inside.

"Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" is a classic, smoking, hard rock song. If you love that song, the rest of this album does not have that same type of sound. This was an attempt at connecting with a too wide of an audience by throwing everything out there to see what sticks.

"Hoochie Koo" is great, "Uncomplicated" is passable and the rest of album is terrible.

In defense of Rick Derringer, I believe that this was his first solo work coming off of the McCoys and acting as a sideman where he was trying to find himself. Rick Derringer operates best as a guitar shredding, hard rocker and not playing crappy, pop-slop.

This is one of the few artists that when he formed his self- indulgent "Derringer", playing extended versions of his best songs, with endless guitar solos,... that forum served his talent the best.I feel is "King Biscuit Flower Hour live cd" is his best work


title: overrated and sounds dated

text:
This album is not bad but it is no masterpiece. The songs sound old, very garage-rock. Some of it is unlistenable. Its pretty tough to listen to the whole thing at once.

"Alone again or" however is an incredible and unique song. UFO does a cool version of this song.


It came exactly as advertised and plays wonderfully. It didn't come to me on time, even though I paid extra for it to, but it is great to have.


title: Five Stars

text: no problems


title: Rock/Funk with subdued christian overtones

text: I really liked this album--a lot more than their first one--especially good when one takes into account all of the crap of so called "Christian" music at the time (I hate that label--does Christian describe a certain sound of music???) Three of them later formed a spinoff group called LLoyd (not the rapper), and released an absolutely great alternative/modern rock album in 1998 (Thoughts From A Driveway), which in my opinion, is even heads & tails above anything Imagine This ever recorded. One of my favorites of all time, but I digress. That's just my two cents which is worth, well, about two cents...


title: Star Bores

text: A big disappointment.  Just for the record, I don't want to pay good money just to see 35 minutes of a good film.  And that is precisely what you get with Attack of the Clones.  You get an astounding 35 minute action sequence preceded by some of the most boring and horrendously acted scenes imaginable.  Everyone knows that Anakin Skywalker and Queen Amidala get together and give birth to Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.  So why do does Lucas have to shove their budding relationship in our face and down our throat?  It lingers on for, what seems like, an eternity.  And the whole time it's plaqued with a horrible script and bad acting.  It reminds me of Pearl Harbor(which was worse).  The plot is almost incomprehensible.  You never really find out why someone was trying to asassinate the Queen.  It was probably Natalie Portman's acting instructor.  On the positive side, I did like Ben Kenobi, Jango Fett and Lord Tryrannus. Christopher Lee is always a great villain.  And, of course, the special effects are top of the line.  But that is not enough to save this film.  I don't know what happened to Lucas, but I think he waited too long to make his recent films.  These last two Star Wars movies just don't measure up to the originals.  It's too bad, because I believe Lucas is capable of much more. ...


title: Cool special effects

text: This movie has some of the best fight scenes and special effects. I highly recommend for fantasy martial arts fan.


title: a hidden meaning

text:
the song "the gambler" is considered one of the greatest songs ever written.only a select few songs can claim that distinction.songs like "stairway to heaven","imagine" and "freebird".but this ones meaning may be misconstrued by many.
  the gambler ,in the story , says "for a taste of your whiskey,i'll give you some advice". then he bums a cigarette and asks Kenny for a light.so,why is this gambler ,who is so full of good life advice,without any smokes,a drink,or even a light ? he says "ive made a life out of reading ppls faces.and if you don't mind me saying,i can see your out of aces".
  in the bob Dylan song,"house of the rising sun",he says "the only 2 things a gambler needs are a suitcase and a trump.".so maybe the gamblers just traveling on to go gamble some more and he doesn't care if he's smoking or drinking.but then DYLAN  says "and the only time he's satisfied is when he's on a drunk".so that's why he gets Kenny to let him drink his last whiskey.because he's trying to get started on his next drunk because "staring out the window into the darkness " just wasn't doing it for him.
  i think theres a deeper meaning to all of this.and I think its that he's REALLY  saying "I screwed up my life this way.dont screw up yours the same way.being a gambler is no life at all.but knowing when to sieze opportunity is.be mindful and be careful".


title: ICONIC !

text:
THIS SONG IS the sexiest song i have ever heard in my life ! that includes a LOT of sexy songs too.when i first heard this song on the radio,i couldnt believe my ears !"did she just say I TOUCH MYSELF ?"AND that song has fueled my sexual ever since.its one of a kind to be sure.she also has lines i really appreciate like "i'll go down on my knees.i'll do anything for you".
but,ironicly,theres sort of lovey dovey lines too like "you're the sun that makes me shine".this song is absolutely iconic.i think it is the best sexy song there ever was.years from now,if they look back on this time and ask,"what was the sexiest song?"they will be like "there was 'feelin love' by paula cole and 'love fool',and oh yeah yeah there was that song where the girl touches herself!"
i say buy it,love it,make it happen.


title: i gave 1 star because they wouldnt let me give 0

text:
what is this song about?this guy mustve been all toked out when he thought up this because its all a bunch of druggie rambling.ive heard this song many times and it makes no more sense no than it did 20 years ago when i first heard it.
  is it a hotel?
  is it a metaphor?
  is it a lsd world where his trips took him?
  is it a state of mind?
  is it just a unreal place?
  is it heaven?
  is it hell?
  well WHAT THE HELL  is it?
  how come they cant leave?is it las vegas,so they are addicted and cant stop?is it because they're dead?
  who knows?but whats more,WHO CARES?if you want a song thats quite good and full of mary smoke and acid ,listen to "i am the walrus" or "in-a-gadda-da-vida" not this excuse for a song.
  and i know theres someone out there going on about how its symbolism.well,when symbolism goes so far inward it becomes esoteric.then people dont say "groovy,man!thats heavy!" they say wtf?
  i think this song sucks if you havent guesssed by now.dont buy it.


title: Young Brendel

text: Back when I was in college, learning to love classical music, there were no better values on vinyl than the many cheap treasures offered by Vox and Turnabout. I bought them by the dozen from a mail order place called Publishers Central Bureau, for a mere buck apiece. Many of them were recordings by the young Austrian pianist, Alfred Brendel—mostly Beethoven, Mozart, & Schubert. I've owned his Beethoven cycle 3 times—LPs, CDs in the '90s (which I foolishly sold), and in this set. A friend gifted me with it and I'm happy to have Brendel's lively, agile, and intelligent performances back in my musical life. This box is a treasure trove and, despite the variable sound quality, well worth owning. P.S. I'm writing this exactly a year after the review above and this set is selling for $500. Yikes. I like Brendel a lot, but that's a lot to pay for a pile of old records.


title: Less musical interest than historical curiosity

text: Think of this as a piece of musical archeology. Back in the 19th century if you wanted music in the house, you played it yourself. These are actual period transcriptions for 2 guitars of popular opera overtures. Unfortunately, the musical interest here is less than that of the historical. The Mozart and Rossini overtures are okay, but the others are really not too tuneful or interesting. It comes across as glorified noodling on 2 guitars, or what they called "sewing machine" music. I'm not dissing the players, who are perfectly competent. It's just that there's not much here very entertaining.


title: First-class Debussy

text: No need to say much other than to second what the original reviewer here said: Absolutely first-class Debussy as good as anything else out there.


title: Enjoyable accounts

text: These are enjoyable but not exceptional accounts of these Chopin pieces. It will do your music collection just fine if its the only Nocturnes and Preludes that you own. No shame in that. But to hear this music at its best, look for the recordings by Arrau and Rubinstein. The latter brings his incredible joie de vivre and the former a sensuality and gravity that's sine qua non. But to repeat, Harasiewicz does a perfectly fine job that anyone can enjoy.


title: Lovely CD of Latinesque tunes

text: Two guys with nylon string guitars and another guy with percussion, doing handsome Latin-tinged tunes by one of the guitarists. A lovely, unknown little album out of Minneapolis, but quite nice to sip wine to. Don't let its obscurity discourage you. If you enjoy nylon string and Latin music, you'll have a good time.


title: Great Album

text: A very eclectic sounding album from Madonna.


title: Spectacular Debut For Young Canadian Songtress

text:
Young Mandi Perkins has recorded a wonderful debut record in Broken Window. Songs like "Why," "Closer To You," and "Fallen Under" showcase the Toronto, Canada native's great voice and songwriting skills.

She is working on her second album, but in the meantime, get a copy of this, and be able to say that you were on the ground floor on a great talent when she was just starting out.


title: Great album

text: One of the best albums in rock n roll.


title: Stunning Album

text:
It took me a while to assimilate all the many styles on this album.

But I'm glad I did.

Now I can't stop playing it.

It combines symphonic progressive, dashes of heavy metal, acoustic folk, and all kinds of things.

The songs are long--everything is over 8 minutes, and Queen Maibe is 20 minutes or so.

The composition and playing are wonderful.

The vocals are not quite as good, but OK.  (The lead male singer sounds like Joe Walsh.  He often has overmuch tremolo.  But this is not terrible.)

The variety, the wonderful melodicism, the confidence, the exuberance are terrific.

Pig Farm reminds me of another superb Venezuelan prog band, Tempano.

Brilliant stuff.


title: Now they know how many Softs it takes to Fill the Albert Hall

text:
I have had a single phrase from this show stuck in my mind since I watched it on television in 1970.

Some have said that this performance marked the acceptance of popular music into the musical establishment as the Proms (as they are affectionately known) are seen as the pinnacle of popular, classical music concerts with the great and the good in attendance.

I disagree with this notion as in my humble opinion, that honour belonged to Deep Purple performing live on the South Bank Show for Melvyn Bragg. At least they deserve the moniker of a popular music group.

Back to this album.

A warts and all live recording of Soft Machine performing without introductions or chit chat, does not let up through out the brief concert, almost as if the group were aiming to bloody the noses of the establishment in attendance. The band at that time are a far cry from the originals but they had clearly progressed into a more avant garde ensemble utilizing an improvisational mode.

My heart leapt as the phrase which had struck a chord so many years before roused my brain and I could just imagine the looks of satisfaction from the band members as they left the stage, as if they had, indeed stuck two fingers up to the British Establishment.

I love this album and have played it so much since I got it.

Buy one and make sure it has a good home to go to.


title: Worth it for the DVD alone; for fans only though

text:
If they just released the DVD I would have been happier, but for the price I'll go with it.

I saw this package at HMV one day and because I love Finger Eleven and have seen them live twice, I bought this and checked it out. The package is both a CD and DVD, in a DVD case. The CD contains demos annd the DVD contains nearly 3 hours worth of Video material. Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, here's the pros and cons according to me:

PROS:
-The DVD has lots of videos to keep you interested, even a Rainbow Buttmonkeys video.
-The first track off of the CD, Sacrifice, is awesome! It should have been included.
-Rare performances on the DVD to be found
-The interviews were quite cool
-The DVD has all the videos

CONS:
-The Capital Ex Ed Fest show is not included. WHY???????? Finger Eleven were the best act at EF this year. They said they'd be recording it and eventually releasing it in the middle of the show. Please tell us it'll get released someday soon. I was at that show and it was one of the best shows of 2007 (The Strength in Numbers double concert with Sum 41 was better though, and is #5 on the best shows I've seen, with Ed Fest #7), and I was front row for about six songs until I got tired of the pit (so we went to the back).
-The "One Thing" video is only the "Performance version".
-Only half shows are included
-The "Drag You Down" performance is TERRIBLE quality!
-It's not hard to understand why the unreleased tracks on the CD were not released, they sure are filler. Really the only good track is "Sacrifice", the first track. The Paralyzer demo sounds like it was made by some kid in his basement wanking around with keyboards and what not.

So overall, buy it if you're a fan, but just be aware of what I said, though.


title: The Variety of Frankie Laine.

text: I chose this rating because Reader's Digest put together a mixture of Frankie's singing history over the year's of his life. This is a collection of some of his best performances. Dig a little deeper into his recordings to find some of his performances that one doesn't hear in this set to satisfy your aural pleasure of Frankie. I first heard him when he did the "Rawhide" television series opening tune. I was hooked. I don't have any of his other recordings, so this will suffice for me as I hope it might for you.


title: One of my favorite albums!

text:
While I have been a fan of Michael Kamen's for years, I only recently learned of this work and, intrigued, found that it had been uploaded on YouTube. I was stunned, and I knew I had to make the purchase, even at the overinflated prices on the third-party market.

The genesis of this concerto goes back to Kamen's collaboration with Eric Clapton on the '80s British TV miniseries Edge of Darkness, during which Clapton commissioned this work. Clapton performed the concerto in a concert at Royal Albert Hall in the early '90s, but for whatever reason he wasn't available for this recording. Japanese guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei was chosen to fill in, but Hotei's obscurity in the West has thus doomed this album's availability to remain exclusive to Japan, and I believe it is also out-of-print.

This is a shame, because this is really an exciting piece. Kamen composed this concerto to flirt with the conventions of two supposedly opposing musical idioms -- symphonic repertoire and rock 'n roll, and, to its credit, there is never really a stretch where it comfortably fits into either category, keeping a unique synthesis that, IMHO, is quite beautiful. The closest comparison I can make would be the "American Symphony" cue that Kamen wrote several years later for the film Mr. Holland's Opus, although Kamen's work here reaches a level of sophistication that simply can't be achieved in a piece that is only five minutes in length.

The First Movement is by far the longest and with the broadest musical range, encompassing something of a spectral overview of what can be expected, weaving a musical journey through the soundscape with a nice resolution.

The Second Movement is slower and more introspective. This movement is perhaps the most "classical" in tone, with several of the runs sounding almost baroque (if not for the amplification).

The Third Movement is where Kamen really lets loose. This is probably the most "rock"-like section of the piece, but Kamen's melody and harmonies are infused with such a tremendous sense of joy and warmth... the word that springs to mind is "reunion," like receiving a hug from a long-parted friend. I've listened to this track on repeat over-and-over-again just to maintain that emotion.

Also featured is "Nuclear Train," a cue from the aforementioned Edge of Darkness that Kamen co-wrote with Clapton, although still performed by Hotei (this time backed by the Seattle Symphony). Honestly, it doesn't live up to the heights of the concerto, but it is still worth listening to with its driving pulse and minor-key bombast.

The final track is a solo-less version of the concerto's Third Movement, included on the album, I think, to allow interested parties to play along at home, but also because it is interesting to hear only the accompaniment and get a feel for how it interacts with the solo.

As I stated earlier, this album was a Japan-only release and I'm pretty sure it's OOP, so (as the above links no doubt demonstrate) purchasing a copy won't be cheap, but I think you will find it to be a rewarding purchase.


title: Great version of "Farewell", not so sure about the rest...

text:
This is a nice little split single, from Boris' pop phase (and I suppose Asobi Seksu is always dreampop). Side A starts off with Asobi Seksu doing Boris' epic "Farewell" from the album Pink. It's a sweet version with plenty of atmospherics, big booming keyboard sounds flying all over the place, some processed drums, and big old guitar sounds. It only runs five minutes, so it's shorter than any of Boris' versions, but it's the longest song on this entire set.

Boris covers Asobi Seksu's "Neu Years", starting with some epic big sounds, huge drums, rolling & hyperactive, then the saccarine Wata vocals swirling around & around. Nice, and highly-produced.

If you get the vinyl, there's a download card where you are able to download four more songs - two more Boris' album cuts, and two more Asobi Seksu songs which I suppose must also be album cuts. Asobi Seksu's "Perfect Crystal" is a chirpy, cheerful number that sounds like latter-day Cocteau Twins- it's a bit annoying and doesn't really blow you away. 'Meh no Mae" is a bit more sedate and stretched out, with nice atmospherics and those high, high vocals, still sounding very operatic and latter-day Cocteau Twins. The Boris tracks "Flare" and "Spoon" are both from New Album, released around the same time, of which the former is a big chirpy rock bouncer with a highly-produced sound that you'd hear in a big-impact TV commercial or something, and the latter is another huge song, at least in the intro, but when Wata starts her breathy singing it sounds quite a bit nicer. Hmmm...

The album art seems to be mainly from the Asobi Seksu people - lots of cute bunnies (simple line drawings on white on the outside, big colorful spread on the inside fold-out.