title: Dance bar blues!

text:
My very first review on Amazon was for an odd album out of the Christian music alternative market from way back in the late '80s or early '90s by a band fronted by one Tim McAllister called "World Theatre".  He was kind enough to comment on my reivew (it was the only one there) and I tried to find out if he had done anything else.  It turns out he had but this stuff was hard to find.  Well, that is how I came across Papa Salty's "Swing It Big!" CD.  Produced by McAllister, whom I suspect is none other than Papa Salty himself, the album is a blues swagger doused with a variety of saxophone that one can rock and bop to most likely in a backroom smoky gin joint somewhere in the south (nevermind he was playing in Portland at the time).  This is a blues album that you can dance to.  It practically calls you to pick up your feet and move.  Salty's deep baritone voice booms over the tracks and there is a lot of fun throughout with nothing, even the crushing weight of relationships that marked especially old blues tunes, ever getting really heavy.  Just the opposite in fact.  Usually, some of the original songs poke some fun at their players such as "Three Hundred Pounds of Joy".  There are some nods to the Portland, Oregon setting ("Burnside Boogie") and a few popular covers ("Lonely Lonely Nights"; "Think").  These guys were having fun and it comes across.

Unfortunately, this CD isn't currently available on Amazon anymore.  If you're a blues fan who likes the lighter side of this smokey music and likes it with a lot of pep and energy then you should chase this disc down.


title: "Every single word you said will one day change the world."

text: I really really really like this album though I think many people would find it rather average.  Much appealing is Mike Weise's impassioned, baritone vocals.  Deep but warm and accessible.  The album kicks off with some energy with the rocker "The Change" and then slows down for the rest of the album.  "Discretion" follows and is immenently singable and buoyant but in a college rock sense, not pop music sense.  The enigmatic "Her Whereabouts", best song on the album, follows third in the batting order and is a cryptic piece that to my mind recalls the rash of sightings of the virgin Mary by a variety of people all across the world and what has happened with one of the girls who has claimed to see this.  Most of the rest of the songs have something to recommend them but aren't as strong as the first three in the lineup and the last song (as was so irritatingly done with so many different albums in the 1990s CCM alternative rock crush) includes not just "In the Eyes of Love" but another hidden track after several minutes of bias hiss.  This last song is whimsical and fun, quite a departure from the overall tone of the album so it is good that it is separated but why couldn't they give it its own track?  For those interested I am going to go out on a limb and say that you'll like it if you like up front, deep but melodious male vocals and a acoustically minded light rocker with some light dredgy tones to it.


title: Heavy (and dense) as it goes.

text:
I'm happy to see that there's at least one review for this dramatically spectacular album.  This, like so many other recordings, certainly deserves more people to hear it.  However, this is one of those albums that will be enjoyed by a select few for good reasons.  This multi-guitar drenched number is not about fast riffs and flying fingers over the fretboard.  It is about heavy atmospheres that hang like palls over one's head.  It is, in a word, dense.  It is also cathartic as you feel exhausted, wasted, and even exposed (emotionally) by album's end.  And yet, this is where you also feel like you have been through dark passages of truth and are now free to crawl up into the light.  The primary songwriters of Undercover, Ojo Taylor and Gym Nicholson, had both been through temporally and spiritually dark times prior to and during the production of this album and it shows.  Divorces and deaths of spouses will do that for a soul.  A world weary maturation and an honest questioning of one's faith in relation to childhood fables and excuses will also do that.  These boys go at their questions, their feelings, and their experiences with intensity and honesty and integrity.  Fronted by Sim Wilson's cathedral filling vocals this is perhaps the album that came to define and marginalize Undercover unlike any before or since.  More technically accomplished than the former garage outing "Branded" and less modern and scattershot than the following "Devotion" "Balance of Power" is a cohesive set of eleven passionate songs.

World Come Crashing Down ~ Wanna scare away some people from your disc?  Start off your album with a heavy, dense sounding bit of muscular music.  A light piano line draws us back in just before Sim starts singing, "I can see it's hard to read your eyes/ Your eyes are all prepared to take me for a ride/ Oh, my sould upset, I'm so upset/ The world come crashing down/ The balance of power is all upset/ And now we're going down".  You can look at this song as a political statement or as the turmoil of an intense relationship, platonic or romantic.  It works on many levels and ultimately recognizes that trust betrayed by suspect motive upends good relationships now out of balance.  This is a subtle piece of metal that takes its time to grind its way into your brain, and grind it will.  Keyboards are used to support an ominous tonal quality.  The simple beat, stutter beat, beat that underpins the song only emphasizes the feeling of inevitability of the world come crashing down.  Great song.
Via Dolorosa ~ I remember after this album had come out there were a lot of questions and debate about this song, expressing the mystery of "the way of the rose."  It is a steady but initially slow rocker and, ultimately, about the Catholic and Anglican traditions about the stations of the cross as Jesus carried it up to Golgotha.  It quickens the pace about midway through.  I like this song and it fits the tone of the album but I will admit that this was a harder song for me to get a handle on despite the refrain "You never told me/ the end of the story."
The Eyes of Love ~ A more standard rocker, at least for this record.  It maintains and furthers the established mood and feeling of density.  There is a very nice guitar breakaway beginning in the last third portion of the song with rhythym and percussion supporting the deepening guitar lines and scrittiness.  It ends much more fiercely than it begins.
Land of Luxury ~ Ah, distortion!  Yes!  The swirling, whirling, kaleidoscopic blending of guitars before they coalesce into a deep groove.  This song is tasty!  It does eventually settle into more of a standard sound and, as the title suggests, is a rant against the pursuit and worship of wealth.  This song lyrically would echo very well in America's recent culture of the rich stealing from the middle and sometimes empoverishing them while largely remaining above it all.
Time ~ Probably my favorite song of the album.  The song starts off with an acoustic steel string guitar that sounds just slightly out of tune making for a seque into an ominous intro that builds and builds.  The subject of the song is not time itself but how man uses it to ultimately destroy and rip himself and others off.  "The poetry of the people is no longer spoken and the will of the willing has long since been broken.  Silver and gold have become the brass token...Time is slipping away from me."  The song builds and ends in crescendos and crashing choruses of guitars.  I also love the feeling of righteous indignation that this song expresses.
Love Me Dangerously ~ The shortest song on the album is also the lightest in touch and tone.  It is a fun guitar-fuelled light bit of playful relief from the heaviness of side A (remember when our vinyls and cassettes had a and b sides?).  Because of the increased tempo and lightheartedness of the song this sticks out a bit on the album but thank goodness it is there as it offers a fuller picture to the darkness.  It offers breath and hope, and some of the best drumming on the album.
Light of Day ~ This is a punk-infused gritty rocker.  The lyrics are a bit obtuse on this one and may make some scratch their heads, but their heads will also be bobbing along.  LOD is much heavier in tone than the previous song but it also bridges the gap to the heaviness of album's closing tracks.  It is a rocker, great guitar features and fretwork, and is not as dense as what is to follow.
Last Rites (There Is No Sky) ~ One of the things that Undercover was known for was their thick synth tones and this song makes full use of them.  With lyrics about cathedrals and moments of stark, strained bleakness this song goes from table setting to table prayers to table clearing and is very cryptic.  "Put your thumb to my head", Sim quietly intones, "There is no sky...There Is No SKYYYYYYY!"  This is not about hope for the hopeless.  This is about doubt in the face of death and the fact that sometimes it feels that there is no comfort for us.
Bridge of Life ~ "Darkest night and searching skies/ I can almost see your eyes/ In the stars you wait for me/ Until I'm free to cross the bridge of life".  This energetic rocker precedes the saddest song of the album.  Interesting as this seems to be a call to the lover who has passed on telling them that they will be seen as soon as we, in the here and now, are free to cross over into eternity.  It is a song filled with both hope and distance.  Great guitar solo and extensions keep us locked in to this adult's fragile prayer.  And, thematically, it prepares us for our being locked in the anguish of the here and now as on the following song.
I Love You So ~ The most heartwrenching song of the album.  The mournful, dirgey guitar cries over the course of this song, it bleeds out its heart.  Sung gently, "Don't you remember, whisper to me, promise to me/ I'll never leave you, never hurt me, now I miss my honey/ I called your name, no answer came, another day gone by/ And even though I love you so/ How I miss you, how I love you so".  The pain of love departed.  Light lines of piano settle the pace and give this song an elegant, elegiac touch.  A background vocal chorus with some female singing helps to accentuate the longing, the deep pain, the vacancy that was left in the heart.  I'm going to admit this: this song makes me well up in tears.
Mea Culpa/ Remember Me ~ Stunning.  Absolutely stunning guitar work.  I think that Nicholson might have laid down three separate guitar lines at times during this song.  At times swirling, at times buzzsaw groove, at times distorted shunts and quick spirals, at all times present and dense.  This song has a tremendous amount of enery.  It gets the heart bumping and the blood going.  It is driving and thick but carries off a singular groove through the song.  The lyrics, while acknowledging our fallen place and need of God, also escape into our relationship with Him and recognize and revel in it.  "Know, You know You stole my heart/ My soul and Yours are one/ Never want to have it back/ To always feel we've just begun/ To feel the heat/ To feel the rage/ Of life, of love, the wars we wage/ Live for You, I die for You/ I'm head and heels in love with You/ Remember me!/ Remember me!/ Remember!"  This song gets me excited and yet, at the end, it transitions into a slow pummeling that breaks out all sorts of guitar shredding goodness and wild, weaving tones.  I literally get chills.

When it comes down to it this is one of my favorite metal albums of all time, and my interest in metal has greatly expanded since the time this album came out.  Nicholson's developing prowess with the guitar really shows on this LP.  One last note: around the time (or just before) this album was put out Gym and vocalist Sim were trying to start up a new band, Boy's Club (yes, horrible name I know), and some of the songs here came out of that particular inspiration.  Some of the Boy's Club songs can be found on one of Undercover's later releases but I'm sorry that I don't recall which.  But for those that find great enjoyment in "Balance of Power" it would be worth a little of your time to find the Boy's Club material.


title: How do you pronounce the name of this band?

text:
Al-ekes-uh?
Uh-leash-ee-uh?
Uh-leash-yuh?
Ay-lex-ee-uh?
Uh-lex-ee-uh?

I don't know.  Maybe that's why this alternative, female-fronted, industrial-tinged band never really took off.  Or maybe it was because they were a Christian band (you'd be hard pressed to know this unless you payed super close attention to the lyrics and really scrutinized them, or read the purposefully evangelical content of the interior CD jacket) and they marketed themselves within a Christian music market that probably wasn't too keen on looking beyond a peppy "I love Jesus" lyrical approach and sound.  Or maybe it was that the catchiest song on the album went something like "M!U!R!...D!E!R!...K!I!L!L!...M!U!R!...D!E!R!...K!I!L!L!" (it's a truly catchy tune).  That one just might have caused some concern amongst the parents of our impressionable youth.  Alexia hits the ground with mean, aggressive grooves and dirty, fuzzy (even grungy) guitars and has some great memorable songs like "i could murder", "unloved", "iiiiii", "i can't breathe", and "be the one".  I really like this album.  I'm not that into female lead singers or industrial but I gotta admit this entire offering really works for me (not nearly so much their follow up, "Disfigured").  If you've found your way to this review you (1) either already know most of what I'm talking about or (2) have had this little slice of sharpness pop up on your "you may like this" Amazon helper.  If the latter is the case then I highly encourage you to check this out (should only cost you 3-4 bucks).  You won't be disappointed.  I go back to this disc often.


title: An unknown Christian group covers (or "translates") some then contemporary songs.

text:
I like this CD okay mostly because of the discovery factor.  You know, when you're watching or listening to something and all of a sudden a light goes on and you're like, "I know this!"  It catches your attention and works its way into your conscience all the stronger and you have more of an affinity for it.  Lifeform's album "The Covering" worked this way for me as I was familiar with several of the songs that they covered or "translated" though I am unfamiliar with where over half of the album comes from.  The album consists of:

1) He's A River ~ a "translation" of the excellent Simple Minds song "She's A River" found on their album "Good News From The Next World".  SM's song is far superior and musically Lifeform can't keep up but the get the gist of the song and keep the fun rock groove intact.
2) Jesus On Your Side ~ kind of a whiny song.  Not very good.  Don't know the original.
3) When You're With Me ~ a decent rendition of the rocker originally sung by Michael Been of The Call fame and found on his self-titled album "On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakthrough".  Been's voice was phenomenal.  Check that album out pronto!
4) At the Cross ~ meh.  Not familiar with the original.
5) You Still Blush ~ okay but I'm not familiar with the original.
6) Deep Love ~ don't know who originally did this.
7) Tower of Strength ~ I don't know as I'm not able to listen to the song now and I'm doing this from memory but this might be a cover of a song by The Mission (UK) off of their album "Children".  If it is I'm not familiar with their original but in trying to dig up some info this is what I came across.  But this might not be it either.  Unknown.
8) The Gift ~ This I do know is a Lone Justice song off their "Shelter" album.  Pretty good.  I wish it had been the Bruce Cockburn song off of "Strange Circumstance".  Either would thematically fit on this CD and work as faith-oriented songs.
9) Covering ~ probably the turd of the album.  Maybe it's an original?  Don't know.  Don't care in this case.
10) Private Universe ~ this might be a "translation" of the Crowded House song off of their "Together Alone" album but, again, I don't know.  I'm not familiar with CH's original or if this is what is being covered.

At any rate, for those who might not know this is a CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) release.  I've not found anything else put out by these guys and we really haven't lost anything on that point.  An oddity for those who enjoy covers is whom this will perhaps please the most.  Otherwise pick up original versions where cited.


title: A meditation on the lowliness of our position and the altitude of God's magnificence.

text:
I really enjoy this TVB release (the sophomore album that doesn't suffer the slump as it goes in very different direction musically than its predecessor, an at times muscular and musically diverse but feet-finding album) but it is not at the top of my list of their albums.  The sound recording is very much a product of its time (not really a complaint but you can hear it) and this rock band does something musically very different than their first album: they mellow out and slow down.  This takes away a lot of their punch and rawness but they still maintain their emotional energy, stretching it over vulnerable voices and exposing delicate, weak, and yearning hearts.  Pritzl invites some guest female vocalists and utilizes them on almost every song.  The result ends up being an unusual (and sometimes uncomfortable) mix of two-steps removed from contemporary rock and two-steps removed from contemporary Christian music (though closer to the latter than contemporary rock for the time).  Here are some thoughts on each song:

1) There Is No One Like You--a beautiful song full of odd flourishes and subdued but rousing guitar solos.  A vibrating female echo and sighs compliment the rich and vulnerable vocals of Michael Pritzl.  The title of the song says it all: there is no one like You (God) but for good measure Michael reminds himself (and us) of what he is: "I am nothing!".  Keyboards and a tuning on the guitar give this song a higher pitch that, though it still works, brings the weightiness of the song down and makes it feel like it could almost fit within the confines of early 1990s CCM.  Though best described as an alternative rock worship song it doesn't mete out the rock feel very much.  Still, a beautiful song.  4/5 stars
2) The Face of Beauty--there is a jazzy feel at times during this album and that is on display here, especially with the guitar solos.  This song accomplishes the more straightforward rock sound though still not a heavy one and Michael again is joined by a female singer who alternates lines with him later in the song.  This song morphs into track 3 and, while it could stand on its own, is much better when combined with track 3.
3) Stay With Me--slowing "The Face of Beauty" down and inclining God to "stay with me" Pritzl and a few female vocalists wail and cry out their heart, first in words and then in haunted wails, while a heavier guitar solo comes in and shines awhile.  Tracks 2 and 3 combine for an exhuming of the heart and a collapsing of the knees, falling down before the Lord and heaving.  Combined 4/5 stars
4) Undone--with a shimmery guitar and mellow, easy-listening vibe (some strings are incorporated, a cello and violin I believe, both down in the mix) Pritzl softly implores "wait/ don't hide/ please shelter me in Your side/ from there my strength is derived/ I am done" as he sings in a secure and higher pitch that is calm and comforted.  3.5/5 stars
5) As I Am--the first truly great song on this album the eight-plus minute song slowly lows and rises and cycles in waves keeps its consistency with the album by maintaining the same basic sounds as the other songs (including strings again on this one) but evokes powerful longing as Pritzl and co. (including some other male and female vocalists) sing "sometimes I cry/ because the world is dark and torn apart at the seems/ sometimes I cry/ for I am weak/ I, I, I am my beloved's/ and He loves me as I am".  There is some nice fingerwork on both the acoustic and electric guitars, with an electric passage almost capturing a spanish picked flavor.  The swelling vocal invocations also make this track stand out.  Pritzl has perhaps never been so vulnerable as he is on this song.  5/5 stars
6) Like the Sun--driven by a funky but simple little drumbeat this is more of a standard song that doesn't try to do too much or too little.  Light strings, fluffy keys, and a vibrating doxology at the end...okay, make that three ends as the song stops for a sustain twice making one think that it's over only for it to come back again.  Lyrically the song is a simile for the Son of God being "bright" like the sun.  Pretty basic stuff on this one.  3/5 stars
7) Gold--if you listen closely you can hear this song presage many of the songs on their third self-titled album.  It is also grittier (listen to that low-toned background ryhthym guitar play with some dirt) and hearkens back to the first album's rock feel.  The lyrics are troubled and searching and the music, while still keeping mostly in tone with the rest of the album, supports the mood albeit subtly.  The song doesn't bonk you over the head.  This has been a fan-favorite at times.  4/5 stars
8) Song of the Harlot--"As I Am" may have been the first truly great song on this disc but SOTH is the apex of this album and one of the finest songs TVB has ever conducted; this is one of my all-time favorite songs.  This is a heartbreaking song with distorted and stretched keys and guitars, a serviceable bass and drum support, and alternately fragile and anguished-dynamic vocals.  This is both a story-song, a self-revelatory song, and a sinner's pleaful prayer of low estate.  As some might guess the story of the song is that of the woman in scripture (the gospel of Luke 7:36-50), described as an "immoral woman" [probably a prostitute], who hears of Jesus' nearby visitation and she goes to him and, in the midst of powerful religious men, came and worshipped Jesus by washing and drying His feet with her tears and hair and then anointing His feet with perfume.  The learned men surrounding Jesus, who had shown Him no special deference even as such was due to a guest, condemned Jesus for letting a sinner touch Him.  How could He claim to be holy and a prophet and abide this?  Well, read the scripture to see how Jesus replied to them and showed them their puffed-up hearts!  The song then moves into self-revelation as Pritzl concludes "so many times I have been the whore", selling himself out for things that are less than Christ, worshipping false idols.  He then moves alongside the biblical "whore" and empathizes with her and cries out "If I could be anyone at all/ Well if I could be any one at all/ Then let me be the whore at Your feet."  Whew!  Powerful words.  Incredible sentiment.  Brilliant song.  Tell your friends and everyone else about this song!  6/5 stars

Song of the Harlot lyrics: "In the night/ the harlot moves across the floor/ She turns the handle on the door// One hundred eyes/ seem to look right through her/ why she's there?/ they're not sure// Behind her love/ she falls down to her knees/ Without a word/ she begins to weep/ and her tears/ fall down upon His feet// And she smothers them/ with kisses/ and she dries them/ with her hair// In my life/ sorrow has kissed my lonely heart/ fear of man tears me apart// And I've tried/ but many times I've loved the world/ many times I've been the whore// I've cried a million tears/ maybe more/ so many times/ I have been the whore// I will fall down/ on my knees/ I will sing/ "I love, my love"/ I will weep/ "I love, my love"// I will sing/ cause I love, my love/ and my tears will fall/ down upon Your feet// Let me smother them/ with kisses/ let me dry them/ with my hair// If I could be/ anyone at all/ If I could be/ anyone at all/ Let me be/ the whore at Your feet"

9) Eleanor Rigby--a haunted version of the Beatles' song with emphasis on the refrain "look at all the lonely people".  For me this song initially seemed out of place.  But it has now clicked for me: this album is a contrast between the lowliness of our form and position and the altitude of God's beneficience and grace.  Christ's wounds offer us the appropriate places to hide ourselves.  There is a weariness elsewhere, and little relief.  This song echoes this last sentiment and sets us up for the denoument of the album.  4/5 stars
10) Through My Tears--an important song that caps off the disc this is a summation of all that has come before it with Pritzl singing steadily and surely, "I am nothing, I am nothing, unless You make me more".  The female vocal offers an emotional underscoring by way of rhythmic trill and echoing verse.  The female counterpoint, I think, is worked out the most effectively on this song.  Except for the energy of the chorus the song is calm, like a steady hearbeat.  It is not racing into rock theatrics nor is it slowing into mopey tears.  Lyrically it references many points on the album, including "Eleanor Rigby", as it sums up the heart of this work, this emotive movement: "I've seen the lonely people/ crying out in the night/ screaming out for shelter/ from the storms of this life// There is just one thing/ that remains/ You, always You// If I descend into the depths of hell/ You will find me/ And if I climb above the stars/ You are there// Through my tears I know/ One thing remains/ You, always You".  How incredibly true.  5/5 stars

One thing that I believe: this album took guts to make.  I'm glad TVB has 'em!  Thanks guys.


title: New breed children rise.

text:
Michael Pritzl's band The Violet Burning bowed with "Chosen", an album that wore its Christian heart on its sleeve.  That heart, though, was much different than most of what all was out and coming out at the time.  First, the lyrics were both Psalm-like and prophetic (often speaking with God's voice to man).  The vocals were sometimes raw and sometimes sweet and quiet but always clear and easy to hear (up front in the mixes).  Second, the music ranged from sappy and mellow ("I Will Always Stand By You") to flavored with a punk-funk ("Groove Baby-White Soul") to gritty, guitar-drenched rock ("The Last Ones").  Third, there is some beautiful, unique, and extraordinary guitar work on this album courtesy of (if I remember correctly) Andrew Prickett; the mix has the guitar up sometimes and in the background at others but whichever both come through loud and clear.  Fourth, even at the time of its release the production felt lacking and it helped to carry the quality of the CD and songs to "you're not going to likely hear that on the radio" and lent a rawness to the album that helped it to feel even more unique.  Even so to this day if I'm making a mix CD of my favorite Violet songs and I have 13 albums to choose from that came out after this there are still one to three songs off this release that will still make the cut.  It's a great CD.  The truth is I love this CD despite its obvious flaws and I would give it five stars except for the obvious flaws.

Songs:

1) There Is Nowhere Else--great start to the album.  A praise song that is mellow but progresses into a bleeding, longing guitar solo.
2) If You Let Me--funky flavored bass keeps it light and bouncy despite heavy, deep, meaningful lyrics.  Vocals also high and a bit bouncy.  Odd pairings in this song that surprisingly work.
3) I Will Always Stand By You--simple repeated piano chords and a synthesized-sounding bass lead into what is a slow and sappy sounding song.  Still, if you get caught up in the lyrics, you will sing along.
4) Rise Like the Lion--great guitar and reverb synth intro that has literally given me chills, as do several other points in this fantastic song.  The guitar soars and rises and falls but is placed in the background of the mix.  This song is about hope and being raised up: "When the world overwhelms me/ I hear your voice/ clear as the day/ and you say run, I will hold you/ you say run to me, I will kiss you/ you say run to me, I come running/ I will rise like the lion/ from the slumber".  Exciting guitar moments throughout.
5) Love Is the Loaded Gun--this song has a punk sensibility but plays with some funk-sounding passages and throws in soaring, cloud-busting guitars.  Pritzl sings raspily and loudly in this song.  At times I get carried away with this song and then at others the flaws smack me around and cause me to wonder, "Why did they do that?"
6) The Killing--wow what a song.  With the sound of hammer-to-nail echoing in the background this song takes us on an abbreviated story of the cricifixion of Christ and, in the main verse, puts us in the supplicant's mournful role of recognizing that they are "killing my Lord".  The live version of this song just kills.  Thematically heavy and emotively, evocatively sung.  Great stuff.
7) The Last Ones--heavy, deep guitars open this song that slowly but steadily mows along with a defiant tone and killer guitar passages.  This is one of the songs that routinely makes it to my favorites mix.
8) Groove Baby-White Soul--a funky, rocky little number.  You might be able to dance to this one.
9) Violet--one of the more accessible songs which, queerly enough, makes it stand out as unusual on this album.  This one could have been on the radio.  Driving but not obnoxious beat.  More melodic guitar pieces that move the song along without putting too much punch or emotional draw into it.  Straight-forward singing that doesn't play at trying to be rawk or punk or ACM and lyrics that are forgettable.
10) Sweet Mercy--it's all there in the title.  This is a love song recognizing the sweet mercy that we receive from God.  Fairly simple praise song that just avoids sappy CCM treacle.
11) Heart Wide Open--this is a bit of a Jekyll/ Hyde song.  It starts off as a cloying, simple, lament-sounding song that morphs into a wringing, straining, climbing, and calling song that wants to climb into the atmosphere full of longing and hope.
12) New Breed Children Rise--great beat.  Great lead guitar.  A chorus of backing vocals that sing "We are the fire/ We are the souls/ We are the children/ We are yours" while Pritzl sings above them "We are the light".  Uplifting.  Hope filled.  A fitting way to end the album.

I've heard rumor that the Violets may be re-releasing this CD as a remaster (plus bonus content?).  If you're on the fence about whether to get this or not get off the fence and get it.  But maybe wait a bit to see if a re-release becomes available.


title: 5 stars for the original "88" release.

text: The second disc is just icing on the cake.  But it is nowhere near as good as the original release and much of the material at the end of the second disc are snippets of live performances as opposed to the whole shebang that you get on the first disc.  This is an extremely hard (and expensive) disc to find.  Do yourself a favor.  Check out the single release of "88".  A fantastic, bluesy live CD with three killer songs to end the disc including "You Don't Scare Me" (chills that song gives me) and "I Could Laugh" (trust me, it's not funny >wink< >wink<).


title: Moody, Cure-ish alt-pop with clean, affecting vocals.

text: I took a chance on this album pulling it out of a bargain bin.  I'm glad I did.  I was very pleasantly surprised with an album full of mostly low-key, mature pop song stylings from a mostly one-man band by the name of Tim McAllister.  McAllister's voice has a nice range of affective emotions from melancholy to growing hope.  Several of the songs have a story outline to them and, while the lyrics are fairly routine, the music and arrangements are evocative and serve the songs nicely.  "Gently Down (Last Thursday)" is a heart-breaking eulogy for his sister and her passing and shows what fine, little snippets of life can be captured in song.  I've given this album 4 stars because some of the synthesized music dates the album.  However, if you're ever in the mood to chance a Cure-ish, emotionally rich album you could do a lot worse.


title: Great item

text: Great music


title: Ecellent set and great presentation

text:
This is a great set. It includes 7 discs, one for each frequency: 396, 417, 444, 528, 639, 741.
The music is very attractive and pleasant but I understand the main object of these frequency CDs is that of getting the music frequency interact with our own.
This is not precisely music for meditation but frequency-healing music, which is the reason why I got it.
It comes with a medium sized book that explains in fairly simple, clear terms how the frequencies work. This is a very big subject and one many of us know little or nothing about so I greatly appreciate the accompanying book.

attachment_type: IMAGE


title: The Definitive Monkees

text:
"The Monkees" was the first album from...well...The Monkees. The album is an absolute classic of the genre and contained numerous hits that are still staples in Micky and Mike's shows to this day. Songs like "Papa Gene's Blues", "Last Train to Clarksville", and of course the original "(Theme From) The Monkees" are still songs that are well-known almost 60 years later.

The Deluxe edition provides a lot of extras such as original versions, backing tracks, and alternate takes of the songs; there's rarities that are really available nowhere else, particularly solo works by Davy and Mike. There's also a beautiful booklet enclosed. This is a rare set that's well worth seeking out!


title: A Great Introduction To An Amazing Talent

text:
"The Essential Jerry Reed" is a very good package of Reed classics at an extremely affordable price: as a value proposition it's hard to beat, though I would have preferred to pay more for a 2-CD package (or better yet, a box set). I think that sometime people think of Reed and think of his hits like "When You're Hot, You're Hot" but forget his decades of other work like his great instrumental albums with Chet Atkins (if you don't have "Me and Jerry" and "Me and Chet" make it a priority to order them now; they are both available on a special CD with bonus tracks).

I admire Jerry most for his amazing command of the guitar: watching and listening to him has always simultaneously inspired me to want to the play the guitar, while serving to remind me that I'll never be able to master the instrument fully. He was simply an amazing player, and this CD lets that shine especially in tracks like "The Claw". As for the hits, those are represented here in fine form, with Reed's "Guitar Man" superior in every way to Elvis' version, and his delicate and heartfelt "A Thing Called Love" still standing as one of the finest songs about love ever written. Of course the irrepressible "Amos Moses" is just plain fun ("Well I wonder where that Louisiana sheriff went to?") and is a swamp music classic.

This CD has nice liner notes but no single CD can really do justice to a career like Jerry Reed's. I still think the CD is worth five stars; even though it's incomplete as essential Jerry Reed listening, it's a great introduction to Reed and his music and the price makes it accessible to fans old or new.


title: Intriguing Midwestern Indie Rock At Its Most Idiosyncratic

text:
I really didn't know what to expect from Indiana indie rockers Uvula when I ordered "About What You'd Expect," but found the album to be a worthwhile collection of interesting songs. Lyrics are a particularly strong feature here, and musicianship is generally good though it frequently meanders from post-punk into proto-grunge in its brash crudeness. The songs are frequently in unexpected keys that feature odd rhythms and peculiar syncopation. Harmonies are good (I particularly love Tina Barbieri's voice) and are used in sonically interesting ways, appearing at unexpected places, adding to the calculated aural mayhem. Just when you think you're about to hear more high-energy rock with abundant discombobulating chord changes, perfect harmonies appear, catching the listener off guard (e.g. "Momcat" and "Ostrich.")

There of lots of great tracks on "About What You'd Expect," and a couple that were not favorites: I loved "Ostrich" and "Kicking Heel" in particular, while my least favorite cuts were the grating "Turbulent" and "Miseries of Neutrality," which had interesting lyrics but were too disharmonious for my tastes. I was interested in the diversity of techniques and sounds heard hear (I was especially surprised to hear the extensive whistling on "King of the Echo People.")

Uvula is an interesting band and this CD deserves a wider audience that it has received. I was torn between a three and four star rating, but decided on four as I think it's important to encourage new musical creativity, and I have repeatedly listened to the CD, which implies to me that Uvula did something quite good here. Pick it up if you can find it.


title: The Garments Of Identity Interpreted By Hugh Laurie

text:
This, the third installment in the Professor Dr. Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld series, is witty and sly like the predecessors, but I found it to be slightly weaker than the first two. The first volume "Portuguese Irregular Verbs" is my clear favorite, and is one of the best things written in the last ten years; likewise "The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs" never fails to entertain (I still laugh when I think about von Igelfeld practicing veterinary medicine without a license.) In the earlier books, von Igelfeld had more numerous (but briefer) adventures that allowed for a quick pacing; here the plotlines begin to drag a bit. Don't misunderstand me, I loved "At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances," I just liked the other two storylines more. Since this book makes reference to events and characters in the first two volumes, I do recommend reading (or listening to) them in order, though it isn't strictly mandatory.

This time, von Igelfeld absorbs himself in a faculty political intrigue (which is sly, yet at times candidly accurate in its absurdity) as he takes a visiting professorship at Cambridge. Not only does he get totally immersed in academic political struggles, he has major issues with English toilets. (These two parallels surely can't be coincidental.) In the end his dealings with the politics of Cambridge and English bathroom design leave a clear opinion of Germanic superiority in von Igelfeld's mind.

Soon after the return from Cambridge, von Igelfeld is invited to become a Distinguished Corresponding Fellow at the Colombian Academy of Letters. This eventually leads to political intrigue at a different level when von Igelfeld is held captive at the Villa of Reduced Circumstances and encounters a strange group of rebels and government loyalists. It all concludes with von Igelfeld becoming the President (yes, of the country, not the Academy) and thus a target for violent overthrow. His ability to extract himself gracefully from that situation is dealt with in a most ingenious and amusing manner.

This is another great volume by Alexander McCall Smith, and I recommend it everyone with a dry sense of humor and an inclination to mock the excesses of academia. I have read the book and listened to this reading by Hugh Laurie, and they provide different but complimentary experiences. Laurie is an excellent choice to read this book as he excels at accents and linguistic nuances. The four CD's are divided into numerous short tracks pausing at logical points in the plot, making it very user friendly for people listening in short sessions. I love to read, and I recommend reading the original highly, but also love this audiobook adaptation, which is perfect for those on the go.


title: DVD

text: THE LEWIS FAMILY  DVD  HAD NO SOUND  /THIS WAS A GIFT  FOR MY MOM  AND  WHEN I TOOK IT OVER N GAVE IT TO HER SHE WAS SO HAPPY UNTIL  WE WENT TO WATCH N LISTEN TO IT /NO SOUND  /  I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I NEVER HAVE RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM AMAZON  THAT  WAS  DEFECTED /  PLEASE  SEND ME ANOTHER  LEWIS FAMILY N GA/ I WILL GLADLY MAIL THIS BACK TO YOU/


title: LOVE THESE 2 MEN

text: LOVE THESE 2 MEN ,THIS CD AND RECOMMEND IT TO ALL I MEET N KNOW.THEIR SINGING IS ENJOYABLE  GOOD HARMONY , THE SONGS WERE WELL DONEBY BOTH DAILEY N VINCENT  HAVENOT RECEIVED RHONDA YET AS OF SEPTEMBER14 2014 /ANXIOUS TO GET THIS CD .LOVE RHONDA /ALL OF THE VINCENTS ARE TALENTED N WONDERFUL SINGERS.


title: one of my favorite PILLOWS albums

text: glad to have a physical copy (:


title: Five Stars

text: Excellent as expected.  Thanks.  Miguel


title: Amazing and Inspirational

text: This is one of my Favorite Religious CDs. Their voices are just So amazing and warming! This is a MUST have in every loving home


title: AMAZING

text: THE BEST CD THAT I HAVE IN MY COLLECTION! it is Amazing, I have seen the show and i think that that is why! It is even a great album if you have not seen it! AND it is hard to find, in this format! the other ones have missing tracks!


title: Great song!

text:
Awesome song by Yoshiki.  I loved and I had to buy it.  It's not easy to buy CD singles
anymore (unless it's through Amazon).  It has two versions:  the actual song and a karaoke
version.  However the disc is small, but it played in my computer.  Worth a listen or get the
Dahlia album by X Japan (it also contains this song).  I just wanted this song!


title: Shades of history

text:
I have been waiting to get this ever since Kamijo released the trailer
for it.  (Check out his YouTube channel)  It tells of the life (past and present)
of Louis XVII as a human and vampire.

There are seven tracks and I love each one!

1 - Presto - this has a Versailles like vibe to it.  A mix of classical and rock.

2 - Sacrifice of Allegro - it is almost like a procession, more on the classical end.

3 - Royal Tercet - more classical and is that a musical box near the end?

4 - Dying Table - more symphonic metal sounding.  Reminds me musically of Zombie/
The Red Carpet Day

5 - Sonata - symphonic metal/rock blending. . .

6 - I don't know the name of this song - but it is haunting. . .

7 - Throne - Again reminds me of Versailles - this time of The Revenant Choir &
Aristocratic Symphony - The guitar and drums dominate this track.

Excellent CD.  If you miss Versailles or want something new/old in Symphonic Metal,
you must buy this CD!  Also check out Moulin Rouge and Yamiyo no Lion for more
Kamijo!


title: CD

text: Every song on this CD is good. It is definitely worth the money to purchase. My favorite songs on the CD are I Got My Scream On, How Do I Get There From Here, Fearless, and Had Me @ Hello (Olivia Holt Version).


title: CD

text: This CD has the hit single Music Sounds Better With U Featuring Mann plus the song Epic. It is a great CD to add to your collection if you're a Big Time Rush fan.


title: Album

text: I love Christmas music and this is a good Christmas album.


title: CD

text: If you're a Justin Bieber fan I recommend getting this.


title: Awesome EP

text: Awesome EP by R5. If you're an R5 fan I recommend getting this.


title: Awesome EP

text: I love this EP. My favorite songs are Take It From The Top, No Place Like Home, and Play My Song. If you're an Austin & Ally fan you should definitely get this EP.


title: Walmart Exclusive

text: This is the Walmart Exclusive version of Shake It Up I<3 Dance. I got this because I am a Shake It Up fan. My favorite songs from the album are Beat Of My Drum by Zendaya, Blow The System by Bella Thorne, Afterparty by Roshon Fegan and Caroline Sunshine and Getcha Head In The Game by Bella Thorne. If you are a Shake It Up fan I recommend buying this.


title: Awesome EP

text: I love this EP from Trevor Jackson. Every song is upbeat, catchy and amazing.


title: Awesome Song and Remixes

text: I love Replay and the remixes are awesome. This is another awesome song from Zendaya


title: Album

text: I watch the tv show all the time and this is a great album to go along with the tv show. If you  like country music than you will not be disappointed with your purchase.


title: CD

text: Great album from Cody Simpson. Every song on this album is awesome. If you aren't a Cody Simpson fan then you will be after you listen to this album. It is definitely worth the purchase, you will not be disappointed.


title: Great album

text: If you're an Austin & Ally fan, Liv & Maddie fan, or a Jessie fan then you will not be disappointed. Album has great songs on it like "Shake Santa Shake" by Zendaya, "I Love Christmas" by Ross Lynch & Laura Marano, "Snowflakes" by Olivia Holt, "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" by Dove Cameron, "Favorite Time Of Year" by Debby Ryan, and "Christmas Wrapping" by Bella Thorne.


title: CD

text: This CD has Big Time Rush's smash hit Worldwide and a Remix of Til I Forget About You on it. It is a good CD to add to your collection if you're a Big Time Rush fan.


title: CD

text: If you like the music from Austin & Ally, then you will love this CD. My Favorite songs on the CD are Chasin' The Beat Of My Heart, Face 2 Face, Who I Am, Better Than This, and Steal Your Heart. I am upset that Timeless, No Ordinary Day, Living In The Moment, I Got That Rock N' Roll, and The Me That You Don't See aren't on the album but it is a great album nonetheless.


title: One of the best remasters of all time and a marvelous archive of hidden treasures!

text:
I reviewed this album many, many years ago considering that it was a favorite at the time, and still is as of this writing. I wanted to return here and review the expanded deluxe edition of my favorite U2 album "Unforgettable Fire". Originally released in late 1984, it marked a profound change in style from the austerity of "War" towards a mix of atmospheric ethereal sounds, thanks in part to the collaboration with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, both of whom have produced marvelous works of art, both solo and with others.

 This particular edition that I'm reviewing not only remasters the original release but also included 16 extra tracks, some of them live recordings from the tour that promoted this album, and also a huge stash of B-sides and slightly altered versions of the original songs that made it on the regular album. Even better is the inclusion of B-Sides that didn't even make it on the much beloved "Best of/B-Sides 1980-1998" collection and some of the songs that actually were on that collection, appear on here, in slightly altered versions, some of which I'd say are actually the 'true' versions.

 The original album is in remastered form. For those familiar with the original album, there’s little need to explain much other than to say that it is a marvelous blend of rock, atmospheric etherealism, and beautiful songwriting and an atmospheric sound that in my opinion, nobody else, not even U2 themselves ever came close to recapturing again, until Lanterna’s “Desert Ocean” album 22 years later but that’s for a whole separate review. My favorite tracks are the four-track bundle starting the title track with its serious atmosphere of beautiful keyboard arrangements, excellent drumbeats, and overall dark but blissful atmosphere. Following that is the eerily beautiful track “Promenade” with Bono’s vocals amidst a very subdued background melody. Following that is the haunting instrumental “4th of July” with a haunting sound that conjures the feel of watching the fireworks from a very great distance away. And who can forget the ever-enduring classic “Bad” with its marvelous songwriting, craftsmanship, and atmospheric texture.

 It is however the second disc containing B-Sides, rarities, and remixes that highlight this review. Most of these songs are a mix of experimental noodlings, and tracks that would definitely sound out of place on the regular album but nevertheless have their own merit in the B-Side world.

 Starting at track one, is a live performance of the opening track "A Sort of Homecoming". A real treat is the a live version of their famous classic "Bad" which is one of my favorite songs on the parent album. If you loved the studio album version, this live performance does the album version proud and has a unique of it's own. The live version's climax gives way to a winding down phase and gradually fades down and comes to a beautiful conclusion. The next track "Love Comes Tumbling" is a B-Side that appeared on the "Best of 1980-1998/B-sides" compilation albeit in slightly edited form. The song has a very unusual sound with an obtuse sound that feels more like something from Roxy Music's "Avalon" or a mid to late 1980s Bryan Ferry recording. Especially with the drum loop. The guitar textures are very unusual and have the feel of a mix of spirits, and even angels actually performing with the band. Even Bono's vocals have the feel of echoing from a great distance. It feels very different from other songs that U2 did during this period and it is one of my favorite U2 B-sides from this era. The song was actually done in a few different versions. The version on here is almost identical to the one found on the "Best of" compilation but has a longer instrumental intro before the vocals start. The next song “Three Sunrises” is a very strange bird of a track in the sense of beginning with an ambient intro but then when the full song goes into full gear, it suddenly shifts in actual tuning and almost adopts a whole different pitch altogether. This kind of playing with musical tunings is very, very rare in pop music and those with perfect pitch or have a strong recognition of musical notes will notice this really odd trick. Overall, the song is a really great song. Even better is before ending, it changes back to the ‘normal’ tuning in the closing seconds almost like going through dimensions before emerging back into ‘this one’. This version is the same as found on the “Best of 1980-1990” collection. "Yoshida Blossom" is a B-Side that didn't appear on the compilation but finally makes its presence. Probably among the closest to feeling like the "War" era, this song begins with a discordant guitar intro and blends into a heavy keyboard intro before becoming a fast-paced instrumental, very much a cross between the feel and mood of "New Year's Day" with the rhythm patterns of "Wire" and utilizing the best of both songs. The shrieking guitar effects in many respects replace lyrics and conjure up the pain and terror that befell many survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. I can easily imagine the agonized faces when listening to the guitar effects. Mentioning that, an extended version of “Wire” follows “Yoshida” with a very different intro and different rhythm patterns before shifting instantly into the version heard on the parent album. The vocals feel much more echoing. Next up is an extended version of “Pride” Who can forget Bono singing about the scars of Memphis 1968 on that great classic? Because it was what put the parent album on the map, it is noteworthy because appears on here in an extended form with an extra vocal passage with Bono's famous "In The Name of Love!" lyric sung in extended form starting at 3:02 and in a much greater intensity. Overall, with this extra power, this already great song is made into an even better enduring classic. The next track is a reworking of the opening track "A Sort of Homecoming" with a very different reworking including a mix of acoustic passages in place of the original rock guitar sounds that dominate the original song. Even the pitch tuning sounds different giving this version a feel that is very different from the original yet maintaining the spirit at the same time. For some odd reason, the song "11 O'clock Tick Tock" finds its way here in extended form. Originally recorded and released before even their debut album "Boy", it has an unusual blend of wintery atmospherics and late 1970s/early 1980s New Wave. For those who have been critical of the band or record labels' decision not to include this on the 'Best of' collection, you’re requests have now been answered. This song for many seemed to drift in the netherworld of 'bootlegs' or 'EPs' and there are two other versions out there but at least one of them is now available on the deluxe edition of "Unforgettable Fire". A second version of “Wire” called the ‘Celtic Dub’ mix makes its appearance. Despite the title, I don’t hear anything ‘celtic’ in this version but the textures feel slightly altered from the original parent album version. A great song in slightly different form nonetheless. My favorite track on here is the atmospheric instrumental "Bass Trap". If there was ever a song that I felt captured a bit of heaven, this might be it for me. The song is a very quiet, moody instrumental with the guitars played with a heavy ethereal backdrop comprised of atmospheric keyboard arrangements and bluesy sounds. I often picture a mix of office buildings amidst a mostly cloudy evening sky during the spring, summer, and autumn and the mix of urban street lights and office window lights providing contrast with the blue evening skies. It is mostly repetitive with some slight variations but it is meant to be like a heavenly journey through the modern world. This version on here is much longer than the version found on the “Best of/B-Sides” with some added passages. I overall find this version on here to feel more ‘complete’. The haunting instrumental "4th of July" makes it's second appearance in a slightly longer form. It feels very much like the parent album version but with some tweaked sounds. Finally there is "Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Come" which is a great closer to this set of B-Sides. It has a very strong bass guitar as a backdrop and it provides the song a lot of punch as it develops some background vocals and U2's early 80s trademark guitar sound in the background. I get the impression that if the song "Bad" was recorded at the same time as the songs from the "War" era, it would've sounded a lot like this.

 As a long-time fan of U2 over many years, I've come to appreciate all of their albums starting with "Boy" and even all the way up through their "Songs of Innocence" and enjoy all of them to varying degrees. Yes, the following two albums "Joshua Tree" and "Achtung Baby" are far more famous, deservedly so, and sold countless millions, but to me, “The Unforgettable Fire” remains among my favorites, if not my actual favorite U2 record in their entire career. Having said that, it is a real delight that this marvelous album not only saw much-needed remastering but also a second CD with a huge treasure chest of B-Sides and some different versions of the original tracks, especially since some of these lost treasures were never available anywhere except maybe on rare bootlegs or long out-of-print vinyl released. Now they are given a new lease on life on the deluxe 2-CD version of this magnificent album. If there are yet more songs that still didn’t make it on here, I’m not aware of them but even so, this deluxe edition of “Unforgettable Fire” is one of the best ways to re-release an album in remastered form: The original version in remastered form, and a second disc of B-sides, and remixes of the original songs.

 Unless you are a casual fan of U2’s music, if you just buy the one-CD version remastered, you are likely to miss out on a huge treasure chest of hidden gems. Highly recommended.


title: This is absolutely a masterpiece!

text:
Why this was only found at a local grocery store I will never understand. Although it's been out for many years now, I still cannot get enough of it's beauty and unique sound that is present only on here.

 "September Sonnet" is a beautiful mix of romantic jazz with space/electronic groove sounds to give the song a futuristic atmosphere. "My Heart Beats For You" is a strongly robotic blend of electronica, and New Age with a romantic and lovely atmospheric sound all of it's own. The most unique track though is "Hinterland Diaries". The track starts with a very unsettling aquatic ambient intro, becomes more intense with beautiful keyboards and electronic sounds and becomes more ominous before settling into a beautiful sunny major note song. The song almost gives the feel of the sun breaking out after a major thunderstorm.

 Highly recommended CD. It's not easy to find however but if it is found, GET IT TODAY!


All of you MTV TRL morons are being manipulated into buying into this garbage. It's as dumb, superficial, rude as any of the bubblegum pop on the radio these days. I,m not even going to give a detailed review because Willa like Britney is a total disgrace to pop music and is the reason why I turned to new age for some fresh air.<br />Please whatever you do don't buy into this .... Buy some Enya, Tears For Fears, Michael McDonald, The Orb, or some Genesis. For the love of God support real musicians. Don't give your money to corporate ... like Willa Ford or Britney Spears because they are the reson why pop music died.


title: Christian Music History-Makers

text:
This is the one - "Friends In High Places " - that I believed started it all.

When I say "started it all," I mean was the first CD from this huge Australian worship team from the Hills Christian Life Centre.  Since then, over a dozen CDs have been made and bought by the millions not only in their homeland but in America, Canada and elsewhere.

Their songs, as you hear on this debut album, are not only worshipful but catchy and are played by worship bands in churchs all over North America in the past dozen-or-more years. Hillsongs have to proven to be right there, if not above, Christian "stars" like Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.

Now, almost 15 years after its release, this CD has become a part of Christian music history.  It was great then, and still sounds good today.


title: The Realities in Which We Lived.

text:
Life must have been boring back in 1953-55 for this country, though it was an exciting time for me in Knoxville, Tennessee; the black & white camera loved me on the local talent show, Your Startime.  However, my favorite movies were in Technicolor.

There was no excitement in the CBS studios, and it took a multitude of people to get that show 'on the air.'  Even the behind-the-scenes "action," accusations, etc. didn't get a stir from Murrow.  And George Clooney as Friendly wasn't very ... friendly.  His inherited good looks (Hi, Nick!) couldn't carry this dull story.  He wasn't  his usual suave, debonair presence.

I felt cheated to have to pay full price to see B&W when I grew up loving the vividness of Technicolor.  Back then, in the movies, everything was bigger than life.  In this feature movie, nothing was life; it was all downplaying important people as if they were ordinary.

His interview with Liberace was 'informative' but average; I guess folks of that decade would not have caught the innuendo.  His show was nothing compared to 'This Is Your Life.'  I wasn't old enough to appreciate a smoking dragon of a newsman.  He went too far with his ego-forced antagonism against McCarthy.  None of us liked what he was doing, but we didn't pay $3,000 to get our point of view on television.  I'm surprised he was allowed to get away with it, as newscasters are supposed to be imparital, or at least portray imparitality.

Their realities of life in New York were not our realities in the smaller towns.  Granted, McCarthy ruined many lives including his own, but that smoking and advertising Kent cigarettes also killed people with its own poison.

I was expecting too much from George Clooney, as I do admire his dad; they are both incredibly talented.  Surely, life in the fifties was not all in black & white.  We did have sunshine in the South, and people knew how to smile and sing.


title: ENTERTAINING MID-NINETIES ALBUM

text: Think of BROKEN VOICES as the Little River Band with a female lead singer.  Not surprising since BV features LRB founder Graham Goble and lead guitarist Stephen Housden.  All those richly layered harmonies are prevalent here along with strong melodic content.  Vocalist Susie Ahern does good work on the ten tracks.  To my knowledge, this is their only recording, and even if you're not into LRB, VOICES delivers some quality music.  Especially noteworthy:  the grandiose and hypnotic HALLS OF JUSTICE.  LESSONS OF LOVE, RESTLESS HEART and TANGLED SKEINS are also strong tracks.  The production work and engineering are top-notch.


title: SUPER MUSIC

text:
SUPERTRAMP is one of the 70s most refreshingly original groups:  inventive, melodic, eccentric, flamboyant, exhilarating!
Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson are two of music's best keyboardists and John Helliwell, Dougie Thomson and Bob Benberg are fabulous too.  And those exquisite lyrics and melodies!
This collection of 14 tracks represents key highlights of their illustrious career from 1974 through 1985.
Of course, their hits from BREAKFAST IN AMERICA are well represented:THE LOGICAL SONG (who else could make words like cynical, political sound so melodic), TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, GOODBYE STRANGER and the satirical title tune---their biggest USA hits.
But the rest of the tracks are equally memorable.  Both RUDY and CRIME OF THE CENTURY could be showstopping Broadway tunes---theatrical, dramatic, emotionally charged.  Minor hits like DREAMER, GIVE A LITTLE BIT and IT'S RAINING AGAIN add dimension and even the critically panned CANNONBALL has dynamic instrumental flourishes.
SUPERTRAMP is a definite must for those 70s audiophiles looking for the decade's best!


title: A TRULY GREAT VOICE

text:
I had the distinct privilege of attending a Gary Morris concert at the Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, Maryland many years ago--and he was awesome!  I also managed to meet him in person backstage afterwards--a personable, unpretentious gentlemen for sure.
This album was recorded live at the Ellen Eccles theatre in Logan, Utah in 1995 and features only Morris and Gary Hooker, his long-time guitarist--a truly acoustic event.
Many of Gary's hits are performed plus one new song and several album cuts.  The fifteen live recordings are all ballads, which is Gary's forte and are all well-voiced by one of contemporary music's finest vocalists--the man who took country music into a whole new arena.  Every song is perfect but my personal faves are:  LIVE, the new song given both the live performance and the studio track with additional music enhancing this beautiful song; BREAD AND WATER, HOW DID I GET HERE, SOUTH DECEMBER ROAD, PLAIN BROWN WRAPPER and the classic WIND BENEATH MY WINGS.  Additional highlights are two classic hymns--HOW GREAT THOU ART and AMAZING GRACE plus his emotional performance of BRING HIM HOME from the musical LES MISERABLES---wow!
All in all, a tremendous live concert that I highly recommend.


title: A TRAVEL THROUGH TIME

text:
In the electronic/pop synth world of the 80s, LOVELIGHT must have seemed like a breath of fresh air or a mismatched sock.
This 1987 release does have lots of synthesizer, mainly in orchestral or string simulation.  But you also get real instruments too:  piano, the haunting harmonium, trombone, flugelhorn particularly.
Peter Skellern is a British singer/pianist/composer whose only real hit in the U.S. Was the lovely YOU'RE A LADY.  His subsequent career focused on recreations of 30s-40s classics, especially Fred Astaire hits.
Skellern is not a great singer--the songs on LOVELIGHT have been done by much better singers.  However, one can't deny his devotion and commitment to these great compositions.  The chorale group on WHAT ARE YOU DOING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE and WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR are just gorgeous.  The other 3 most famous songs are pleasantly presented:  ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE, THESE FOOLISH THINGS and SEPTEMBER SONG.
Listening to LOVELIGHT is like stepping back in time to moon and June rhymes, glorious melodies and peaceful relaxing times.  Fans of Harry Connick, Michael Feinstein and Michael Buble might enjoy this CD.  While Ronstadt and Stewart did it better, Skellern's effort is commendable.


title: ON THE LOOSE

text:
SAGA was extremely efficient in brilliant instrumental interludes, driving non-stop rhythms and big blustery electronic rock.  This collection spans 15 years of their prolific if not superstar career.
I like SAGA, especially their biggest US hits, ON THE LOOSE and WIND HIM UP.  They amassed lots of albums, mostly successful overseas.  Lead vocalist Michael Sadler has also had some success in his solo career.
The main drawback of this talented band, at least on this 15 track compilation, is by the 7th or 8th song, you realize they start to sound alike.  Granted, they're flawlessly performed, but I would like more variety in their repertoire.
Probably better to enjoy in stages, 5 or 6 tracks at a time.  Still a good choice for adventurous 80s fans.


title: 8th Day is an amazing group.

text: I enjoy their music- very real and very inspiring. Thank you.


Joseph Haydn: String Quartets Op. 54, 1 & 2 - Smithson String Quartet is a 1989 BMG Classics recording starring the Smithson String Quartet as they play Haydn's  Quartet G major Op.54, No.1 and No.2. Kenneth Slowik has written the music notes. A splendid performance that I very much enjoyed. Highly recommended. 5/5.


title: Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius

text: Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius is a 1993 HMV Classics starring Anthony Rolfe Johnson in the role of Gerontius. Vernon Handley leads the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Graham Handley has written the music notes. Truly a magnificent performance by Anthony Rolfe Johnson. I very much enjoyed listening to this brilliant recording. Highly recommended. 5/5.


title: The Art of English and Italian Song

text: The Art of English and Italian Song is a 1994 Vanguard Classics recording starring counter-tenor Alfred Deller as he sings Dowland, Morely, Caccini and Scarlatti to mention a few. He is accompanied by Desmond Dupre on the lute and viola da gamba and George Malcolm on the harpsichord. Listening to Alfred Deller is truly a treat and one has the feeling that he truly understands the nature and spirit of the music that he is singing. A magnificent performance. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.


title: Britten: Curlew River

text: Britten: Curlew River  is a 1998 Philips Classics recording under direction of Sir Neville Marriner who leads member of the Academy of St Martin in the fields. One also has the immense pleasure to listen to the London voices. The booklet contains all the lyrics along with well-written Music notes. Gidon Saks was splendid in the role of the abbot. Highly recommended. 5/5.


Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 95/Schubert: Quartet D.887 is a 1999 Deutsche Grammophon recording starring the Hagen Quartet as they play Beethoven and Schubert. The sound quality is superb and it verily feels as if one is listening to this in performance. A great performance by the Hagen Quartet. Highly recommended. 5/5.


title: Beethoven: Favourite Piano Sonatas

text: Beethoven: Favourite Piano Sonatas is a 1993 compilation album featuring the recordings with pianist Alfred Brendel from the early and late 1970's. Julian Haylock has written the music notes. Truly an amazing performance by Mr. Brendel. Well done indeed! Highly recommended. 5/5.


title: Come Scoglio

text: Come Scoglio is a 2003 Bluebell recording starring soprano Elisabeth Söderström as she sings Puccini, Wagner and Berwald to mention a few. Truly a magnificent and unique voice that I very much enjoyed listening to. Highly recommended. 5/5.


title: Jussis Basta - Jussi Bjorling

text: Jussis Basta - Jussi Bjorling is a 1995 BMG compilation containing some of Jussi Björling's best. On this we hear him sing among many Bizet, Verdi and Borodin. Being a fellow Scandinavian I am very proud of his accomplishments. Truly an amazing talent. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.


Scandinavian Winds Armens musikkar Dirigent Mats Janhagen is a recording featuring the The Band of the Swedish Royal Army under the direction of Mats Janhagen. One here gets a varied mixed of brass music written by such composers as John Philip Sousa, Sergej Prokofiev and Percy A Grainger. Truly an enjoyable recording. Highly recommended. 5/5.


title: Arnold Bax - Symphony No. 7, Four Songs

text: Arnold Bax - Symphony No. 7, Four Songs is a 1988 Chandos Records under the direction of London Philharmonic Orchestra.  One also has the immense pleasure to listen to tenor Martyn Hill. I very much enjoyed listening to this record. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.


Saint-Saens: The Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra [The Romantic Piano Concerto - 27] is a 2000 Hyperion Records recording starring Stephen Hough on the piano. Sakari Oramo leads the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Philip Borg-Wheeler. Also included are short biographies of the performer and the conductor. A very fine performance on behalf of both Stephen Hough and the Orchestra. Highly recommended. 5/5.


Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 33, Allegro Apassionato, Op. 43 / Honegger: Cello Concerto / Faure: Elegie, Op. 24 / D'indy: Lied, Op. 19 is a 1991 Philips Classics Productions starring cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. We get to hear Mr. Lloyd Webber play not only Saint-Saens but also Fauré, D'Indy and Honegger. Robert Jordan has written the music notes.  Yan Pascal Tortelier leads the English Chamber Orchestra. An excellent performance on behalf of Mr. Lloyd Webber. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.


Beethoven: Fidelio (1953 October 12, Vienna) is a 1953 Bellaphon recording starring Wiener Philharmoniker under the direction of Wilhelm Furtwangler. Music notes and lyrics are available in English. The sound quality is amazing being that the recording is close to 60 years old. Furtwangler truly understands Beethoven and conducts with a deep seated masculinity and  bravura. A great recording worthy one of the greatest composers. Also starring the amazing Rudolf Schock. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.


Verdi: Overtures and Preludes - Riccardo Muti is a 1995 Sony Classical recording starring Orchestra Filharmonica della Scalla being led by Roccardo Muti. Rudiger Schillig has written the music notes. Translated into English by Stewart Spencer. One could call this Verdi 101 and it certainly is a delightful recording sure to delight both the novie as well as the seasoned listener of classical music. Highly recommend indeed. 5/5.


Gerard Souzay Sings Lieder By Claude Debussey is a 1962 Deutsche Grammophon re-issue (2002) starring Gerard Souzay, baritone and pianist Dalton Baldwin. Roger Nichols has written concise and well-written music notes. All the lyrics are available in French, German and English. A great vocal performance by Mr Souzay. Highly recommended. 5/5.


Celibidache Franck: Symphony in D Swedis Radio Symphony Orchestra is a 2000 Deutsche Grammophon recording under the direction Sergiu Celibidache who leads the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. His son Serge Ioan Celebidachi has written the music notes. The recording can divided into two parts. First part I like, i.e., being the Cesar Franck recording. Paul Hindesmith is a bit too modern for my taste and sounds more like sound then music. Alright, but not recommended. 3/5.


title: Kurpinski: Overture "Zamek na Czorsztnie" / Clarinet Concerto. Lessel: St. Cecilia Cantata / Piano Concerto in C, Op. 14

text: This is a recording of two prominent Polish composers who worked and lived during the early to mid part of the 19th century. The music can be said to be heavily influenced by that of both Mozart and Haydn. In fact,Lessel was a pupil of Haydn. The music notes are available in both Polish and English. These are both extensive and very well-written. Included are also short biographies of the performers.  One nice feature is that it lists all the members of the orchestra and what respectively plays. Especially noteworthy is the performance of the pianist Emilian Madey. He plays very passionately yet with a masculine touch that makes for a great performance. The sound quality is outstanding. Highly recommended indeed. 5 out of 5.


title: Beethoven: Sinfonia n. 8 / Brahms: Sinfonia n. 2

text: On this Ermitage recording we get to hear a 1958 recording with conductor Hans Knappertsbush who leads the Munchner Philharmoniker . The first piece we get to hear is Ludwig van Beerhoven's Sinfonia n. 8 and the second is Johannes Brahms Sinfonia number 2. The booklet does contain music notes. However, unfortunately these were only Italian. Still, this is a very fine recording. Recommended. 4 out of 5.


Dvorak Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Carnival Overture is a Decca Record Company recording from 1966 under the direction of Istvan Kertesz who leads the London Symphony Orchestra. It was released on CD in 1987. Ray Minshull has written well-written music notes. It also contains a drawing of the composer. Highly recommended. 5/5.


Edvard Grieg: the Three Sonatas for Violin and Piano is a BIS Records AB recording from 1994 and starring Dong-Suk Kang on Violin and Roland Pontinen on piano. Kang plays a stradivarius and Pontinen plays on Steinway. Rune J Andersen has written the music notes which are both informative and very well-written. The booklet also contains short biographies of the performers. Highly recommended. 5/5.


title: Spirit of Geist

text: Spirit of Geist is a recording under the direction of Boo Peter Tillberg who leads the Capella Rediviva on this Daphne recording from 2003. Geist sounds like a mix of of Handel, Bach and Vivaldi. He was noted by his contemporaries as being heavily influenced by Italian Influences. Boo Peter Tillberg and Christer Hellström has written the liner-notes. The lyrics are in Latin and English. Recommended. 4/5.


title: Love Go

text: Love Go being Fleshquartet's 2000 release is a mix of experimental rock, classical music and ambient. Infact it is very hard to have a 100% clear definition of this album. However, one could call it avantgarde.  The booklet is quite sparse with a few black and white photos and a list over whom plays what. It has elements of Laibach and Tangerine Dream. 4/5.


title: Talk on Corners (13 Tracks)

text: Talk on Corners (13 Tracks) being The Corrs 2nd studio album and their 1997 release is a mix between Celtic Folk Rock and Pop music. The lyrics are alright but nothing special. I have heard this kind of lyrics many a time. The sound is more rock then folk and it seems very main stream without being special in any way. Allmusic gave the record 4 and Rolling Stone 3. I would like to give it 3.5/5 but since 4 is a bit high then 3/5 seems more right. All the lyrics are included in the booklet and we get some photos of the band but not a list of whom plays what on the album. 3/5.


title: Everyone's Got One

text: Everyone's Got One  being Echobelly's debut album and their 1994 release sounds a whole lot like Oasis, and Blur. Singles released on this album are "I Can't Imagine The World Without Me", "Bellyache", "Insomniac" and "Close...but". The lyrics have a tendency to be a bit too political at times and that is a bit annoying. But one has to admire such convictions even if one does not agree with them. The booklet is a sham and looks like some friends took the photographs with their private cameras. All the lyrics are included but not chronologically which makes no sense. Overall this is a very strong debut album. 4/5.


title: Stand Up & Testify

text: Stand Up & Testify being Popsicle's 1997 release and was their 5th and final studio album to date. The album contained such singles as "Dry Spot", "The Price We Pay", "The Sweetest Relief" and "That was Summer". I must say that this album was a very pleasent surprise and it is definitely an record that I would recommend. 4/5.


title: Abstinence

text: Abstinence being Popsicle's 1994 and their 2nd studio album is a very good album of indie pop. Songs that I particularly like are "Make Up", "Step inside my mind" and "Mayfly". The booklet is quite cheap with no lyrics, shoddy photos and it looks like the cover was created a good friend of the group. 4/5.


title: Anthology 1

text: Anthology 1 is the first of a three volume collection and was released 1995. We get a new track called "Free as a bird" and this was billed as the first new Beatles in 25 years. We also get to hear mono versions of songs, different takes (Can't buy me love takes 1 and 2) and songs played by prior members like Pete Best and Stuart Suthcliffe. The sound quality of the early songs is quite poor and it is sometimes hard to hear what they sing. 4/5.


title: Mahler: Symphony No.2, 6 Fruhe Lieder, E

text: Mahler: Symphony No.2, 6 Fruhe Lieder is a pleasent recording under the direction of Giyseppe Sinopoli. The sound quality is good but not 100% crisp and that is a shame. It states that it is a digital recording on the outside, but on the last page in the book-let is clearly states that it was newly remastered for this release and some of the sounds feel a bit faint. The book-let is not very well done and it seems as if Deutsche Grammophon skimped on it a bit (small font, hard to read font). Being niggard is not a good sign. The painting on the outside makes no sense and I have no idea what they were thinking. The photograph of Mahler is very nice. The essays written inside the first Paul Banks and the second by Henry-Louis De La Grange are both well-written but suffer from a hard to read font. I give this recording 4/5 stars.


title: Live Tomorrow

text: Live Tomorrow~ Laleh is a quite mediocre recording by Laleh. Her vocal skills are ok but nothing special at all. The lyrics are alright but they could have been so much better. However, I want to make sure that no one gets the idea that I think that this is a bad album. It is quite nice to listen to and a totally ok album which could have been so much better. The book-let is simply put it a joke and is totally atrocious. It looks she shops way to much at H&M and that is just way boring and drab for my taste and some of the photos look like they were shot by friends rather then a professional photographer and that is not a good sign at all. The person that decided how the cover art must have been an amateur since it looks like cheap photo shop project.Live Tommorow is a quite good Sade sounding track but many other tracks are not on this level at all. Somewhat recommended but as written earlier this could have been so much better and it gets the 3 stars that it justly deserves.


title: Painkiller

text: Painkiller by Brainpool is a totally ok album and the lyrics, music and vocals are all ok, but they never peak beyond this and they therefore get 3 stars and not more. It is like they could happily sing about anything as long as it has this honky doree aura. Still 3 stars is not a failure.


title: There's Only Now  ~ Eskobar

text: I am not saying that this is a particularly bad album, it is just not all that interesting. The vocals are average, the lyrics ok and the sound very generic. Their manager should have told them to get decent hair cuts as well and what is up with those tacky looking leather jackets.  They are quite plain looking and should have had something other then their own faces on the album cover. What they wear in the book-let is much nicer and seems a bit more personal then what they wear on the cover. They have major potential that is dragged down by the quite avergae sounding music and lyrics. I will give them another try...


title: Good Covers Of Druggie Tunes

text:
Way back in 1989, the Make A Difference Foundation convinced some (at the time) prominent hair metal and hard rock bands to cover some of their favorite rock songs from bands who had members die due to drug use.  Money raised from the project would then be used by the foundation to fight drug addiction.  It was a great idea at the time but it's funny that many of the bands on this album were actively using drugs at the time.

None of the covers are that bad.  The best songs, in my opinion, include Gorky Park's "My Generation," the Scorpion's "I Can't Explain," and Ozzy's "Purple Haze."  Cinderella's version of Janis Joplin's "Move Over" is also excellent.  Other bands on the album include Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and Skid Row.  There's also a drummer's delight in "Drum Madness" and highlights from a Moscow music festival.

Overall, it's not a shabby album.  The live performances are pretty forgettable, but the album's other tunes are worthy of multiple listenings.  If you really love hair metal and hard rock like I do, you'll be just fine purchasing this album.


title: Amazing

text: So many great things in one album. I loved all the little extras that came in it. Plus the music was great


title: Amazing

text: It came in early and in great condition. The album itself is amazing and I love that I could add it to my collection because every song in this album is just perfection.


title: Amazing

text: The album was amazing


title: Midnight

text: "Nothing Good Happens After Midnight" is such a great song, bouncy, catchy, addictive.  It's up with great tunes like Scotty McCreary's.  This is a strong independent release.  Zach has become an artist whose next release will wind up in my collection.  Enjoy!


title: Rose Colored Glasses

text: Wow! I buy a lot of vintage LPs, but this one totally knocked me out. I'd never heard of Nellie Lutcher before, but what an amazing artist. Her jazz interpretations of these tunes sound fresh 60+ years later. The standards like "You Made Me Love You," "It Had To Be You" and "The Sunny Side Of The Street" seem unique, even after hearing countless renditions by many artists. On "Rose Colored Glasses" Lutcher's personality comes through so strongly. She sounds like she was having he time of her life during these sessions; and the fun is infectious. She has a quirky vocal quality that is hard to describe, but if Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington's voices ever met at a crossroads, it might well be Nellie Lutcher. This is one gem well worth seeking for fans of great jazz vocalists.


title: My Midnight

text: Anders Osborne's "Spacedust & Ocean Views" is a strong set.  My general impression is that Osborne turns down the pacing compared to his rocking set "Peace" that had a hit in my personal top ten of "Dream Girls"  I like his 1999 CD "Living Room" that was more acoustic based and closer to this set.  Here, there are some softer sounds, some blues-tinged tracks, and some swamp swagger.  Of my two favorite tracks, "Lafayette" bounces to a mid-tempo beat and Osborne's vocals slurred and sloppy, "Some people tell me I get the truth, but I can't have it if I get the blues."  "Wind" is another inventive track, "Looking for a wind that knows my midnight, make me feel alive."  Other tracks like "Move Back to Mississippi," "Tchoupitoulas Street Parade" and "Ponchartrain" are also gems.  Osborne's latest set is a bit more subtle, but rewarding with repeated spins.  Enjoy!


title: Where Hunger Meets the Edge

text: Beth Hart's "Better Than Home" is a strong CD.  It will gather criticism from some long-time fans for slowing the pace & simplifying the arrangements.  The most effective of these slower tracks is the lovely "Tell 'Em to Hold On" where Beth's vocals throb with emotion & sincerity, "Everyone's looking for something to hold; some kind of savior; They need to be told to hold on."  The title track is also a gem with a peppier midtempo melody, "I have found the place where hunger meets the edge & now I'm facing God."  Other tracks like "The Mood I'm In" & "Mechanical Heart" are also grand.  Enjoy!


title: Time for Hanky Panky

text: Toni Price moves to new territory with "Cherry Sunday Orchestra."  The most apt category is "Western Swing."  The music is relaxed and swings with a small jazz combo on the opener "Moonlight Saving Time" that urges for time zones that extend the night so lovers have more time for hanky panky.  "Bird in the Hand"  is another gem with Warren Hood's fiddle shining on the bridge and Toni's vocals blissfully teasing, "That good man really loves and wants to settle down; You like your fun and want to run all around; You know he's patient; He aims to please; He can only wait so long before he's got to leave."  "I Surrender Dear" softly sways with tasty blues swing as Stanley Smith's clarinet haunts sadly until the arrangement blasts the tempo up about two-thirds of the way as the song and boogies to a blazing finish, "I may seem proud; I may act gay; Oh but it just proves I'm not that way."  Other tracks like "Blues for Rampart Street," "A Kiss to Build A Dream On," and "Do You Take Me For A Fool?" are also gems.  Enjoy!


title: Makes You Happy

text: Teddy Thompson appeared at a tribute to the late country superstar George Jones recently.  This 33 rpm yellow vinyl single has Thompson in full country mode.  It's not unlike his "Up Front & Low Down" CD.  On George Jones' "Window Up Above," Thompson mines the angst of the track, a lover watching a woman he still loves marry another guy, "I hope he makes you happy, that you never lose his love."  The B side of the single is Willie Nelson's "Sad Songs & Waltzes," a slow uber-melancholy track about another spurned lover, "I'd like to get even with you cause you're leaving... You've no need to fear it, no one will hear it, sad songs and waltzes aren't selling this year."  Teddy Thompson has such a gorgeous voice that this little gem is worth finding.  Enjoy!


title: Searching for the Healing Spring

text: According to her website, 2010's "Ever Since You Never Heard of Me" is Melanie's newest CD.  The folk-popper who captured so many fans with her hit "Brand New Key," her appearance at the legendary Woodstock concert and her early recordings on Buddha has continued to work as an independent artist.  This set is another strong offering produced by her son Beau Jarred Schekeryk and her husband-producer Peter.  "There is a thread that joins each to the other, brother to the sister, sister to the brother, and it's almost like being in love," Melanie sings on her opening anthem "Angel Watching."  "A Kiss from the Heart" slows the pace with a lovely melody and a sentimental treatise on love.  "I Tried to Die Young" is a wry look back on the vagaries of youth, "My heart kept on breaking in the cracks of the edge where the hand of a shadow grabbed the hand in my head; There were demons I know there & they still come back, but we've become friends, my demons and I."  Beth Nielsen Chapman joins a chorus of background vocals on the African-folk-flavored "Motherhood of Love," "Are we all on our own island struggling with our broken dream, searching for the healing spring?"  "Hushabye" is an emotional heartbreaker about a military widow comforting her son.  "Deserts of Blue" is a gorgeous instrumental composed by Beau Jarred.  "Big Big Bear" is a silly two-minute track that that puts a smile on your face.  The set concludes with the electric rocker "My Surprise," "It's my love & I'll do what I want when I want to with it; It's my love & I'll wear it like a flag."  This is a delightful set by one of our master musicians, well worth the search!  Enjoy!


title: Your Arms Would Always Hold Me

text: "The Mercury Years" highlights recordings after Yuro's most commercial period with Liberty records.  While this music didn't sell as well, certainly incredible music wears well with the test of time.  On Bobby Scott's "I Love My Man" she croons softly while strings drench the arrangement on a quiet intimate track.  She takes the often-recorded Duke Ellington classic "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" and reinvents it to a slow soulful crooner.  Yuro's vocals are emotionally powerful on "Maybe You'll Be There," "You said your arms would always hold me; You said your lips were mine alone to kiss; Now after all the things you told me, how could it end like this?"  The lush strings punctuate another stunning vocal on "There Must Be A Way."  Teddy Randazzo's "Get Out of My Life" is tailor-made for Yuro's delivery.  "Can't Stop Running Away" has a luscious pop sound, "I keep going day after day, trying to leave you behind; Keep on going, running away, but you're still on my mind."  "Excuse me girl for being so cold and for the tears you shed; Can't you tell by the look in his eyes he didn't mean a word that he said?" Timi belts on the keep-your-hands-off-my-man theme on "Cuttin' In."  "The Amazing Timi Yuro: The Mercury Years" includes all the tracks from her Mercury album plus a number of other singles recorded for the label.  Whether her music sold or didn't, Yuro consistently kept up the quality as the result of her great talent.  Enjoy!


title: Feels Like Paradise

text: Elliott Yamin's holiday CD is a special treat.  "Warm Me Up" is apparently a new song that Yamin delivers with his soulful croon, "Come warm me up, it's cold outside; Let's bundle up by the fire; Come warm me up, it's Christmastime, I want to know what's your desire?"  Perhaps the star standout of the CD is "Merry Christmas, Baby."  It may be hard to imagine how a track that's been recorded in versions by Christina Aguilera, Chuck Berry, Booker T & the MGs, James Brown, Dion, Etta James, Elvis Presley, Bonnie Raitt, Low Rawls, Otis Redding, Bruce Springsteen & Stevie Wonder could sound fresh, but this funky performance has great punch in the percussion with Yamin's vocals through the roof, "You bought me a diamond ring for Christmas & I feel like I'm in paradise."  His reading on Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas" and Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" are both excellent.  With only eight tracks, this CD goes by quickly leaving us wanting more.  Bravo!


title: The Goat Across the River

text:
I recently saw this singer @ an Open Mic night & searched out her CD.  "Mabel's Beauty Shop & Chainsaw Repair" from 1996 is a sweet timepiece.  Although there are 32 tracks on the disc, there are 10 songs with most of the others being connected by silence, children's giggles or band chatter.  "Believer" opens the set with a banging beat & Sparks' vocals like a psychedelic siren, "I don't want to play your games; I don't even want to know your name."  "Shame" hypnotizes with a slower beat and Sparks' vocals full of lament & anger, "What happened to her last night?"  "Gold" is an addictive track with prominent acoustic guitar & electrified backing, "Are you cowering in some corner?  Are holding something back? Do you fear your own emotions?  Are you afraid that they'll attack?"  "George" is a rock blast with a cracking electric guitars like soldiers marching across a war-torn emotional landscape.  Some of the songs fall between hard rock & folk like "Still Walk" that has a soft refrain & then explodes into a thundering chorus.  "Cecil" has an electrified folk arrangement like baroque rock with Sparks' vocals like a born-again Grace Slick, "Scoundrels & a cast of thousands, Cecil went here before me, looked at the goat* across the river."  Sparks, who wrote all the songs, has lyrics that dominate her melodies.  However, in this imaginative original set, it works.  "Mabel's Beauty Shop & Chainsaw Repair" is a mix of contrasts, well worth exploring this independent Carolina sound.  Enjoy!

*That's what my ear hears.  It's my story & I'm sticking to it!


title: Cat in the Vacuum

text: It is rare to hear a CD that is so perfectly awful as this.  This is the kind of CD you give to your girlfriend just before you break up with her.  This is the CD you give to the neighbor who continually lets his dog use your back yard as a toilet.  Molly Jean was 19 when this was recorded.  It was produced by a member of the Volebeats, which enticed me to buy it.  It is rare to hear a singer so dreadfully off pitch, occasionally flat, frequently sharp but only about 5% of the time does she actually come close to hitting a note, even when she writes the songs.  This music is like the first American Idol show of the season where Simon laughs at how bad you are and finds funny insults.  "Oxycontin Denim Whore" is one of Molly's original songs.  Not only is she a very poor singer; she also is not much of a songwriter.  She does a cover of a song called "Needle in a Haystack" that I believe was done by a Motown band called the Velvelettes.  It has a nice bass line, which is the nicest thing I can find to say about this CD.  If you had a cat with their tail in the vacuum cleaner, you might get an idea of the sound.  This is an independent release.  Molly Jean has made her CD.  For reasons now clear to me, very few have bought it.  This is one to avoid at all costs unless you are of a perverse musical nature that delights in the banal.  I haven't found a CD this dreadful since Ramblin' Jack Eliott's [[ASIN:B00000JZAU The Long Ride]]; and this is actually worse than that.  Molly Jean is pretty young girl.  I'm sure she'll find something she can do well. Taxi!


title: Keg of Dynamite

text:
Jeepers creepers!  When I first put this CD in the changer, I didn't much enjoy it.  I kept comparing everything to Steve Goodman.  He was such a magical performer.  I saw him live twice, once at the Earl of Oldtown in Chicago and once at Universal Studios in Los Angeles.  Both times I got to talk to him; and he was always upbeat and personable.  On his recordings, there is a joy and warmth in his voice that didn't come across on most of these versions on first blush.  Now, after listening a couple times, I'm coming to have a much greater appreciation for this second tribute disc that follows 1989's "A Tribute to Steve Goodman."

The track that made me pop for the price was Ana Egge's "Old Fashioned."  She's such a stunning recording artist in her own right and adds her wistful vocals to this sentimental diamond.  Having Kate Fenner do vocals on "The Ballad of Penny Evans" adds to this stark song.  It was always amazing to hear Steve -- obviously a guy -- sing, "My name is Penny Evans."  The song suits Fenner's range more than Chris Brown's, but is quite moving.  Luther Wright & the Wrongs do a nice job of picking on the instrumental "Jessie's Jig," which was the title of one my favorite Goodman LPs!  On first blush, Matt Keating & Emily Spray's "Danger" seems homespun and pedestrian.  But this is one of the tracks that have really grown on me the more I listen.  Their harmony highlights what a lovely melody Steve penned, "Sittin' on a keg of dynamite every night."  Similarly, Chris Brown's "Yellow Coat" just made me want to play Steve's record when I first heard it.  But it has also grown on me, highlighting the haunting melody of reminiscence and regret.  Tony Scherr's "Just Lucky I Guess" with just his bass as background is stark and simple that places the song & melody front & center.  Kate Fenner outlines the "sad state of casual affairs" with her take of "I Just Keep Falling in Love." It is a delightful sentimental weeper where she falls for a lover who "wants to be free to feel nothing at all."  One big departure is the track from Steve's "Affordable Art" set, "Watching Joey Glow."  The electric guitars make what was a humorous track in Steve's hands seem an ominous result of a nuclear accident in that hands of Teddy Kempel.

Okay, so now I like this set!  It pays to put your discs in the changer a few times!  :)  Steve Goodman was a unique songwriter & performer, who will never be replaced.  This set serves to keep that legend alive.  Listen & then spin the original.  Enjoy!


title: going nowhere

text:
First, I should say that, unlike many people reading this book, I'd heard about the ending of the series before I even started reading. However, I think that spoiler is allowing me to enjoy the series more than I would have otherwise. Backlash builds the story very slowly. It's not even clear what the larger story arch is about. In retrospect, the Fate of the Jedi series probably takes too long to actually set up the larger threat. As such, much of Backlash might seem pointless. However, knowing what's coming ahead, I can tell you there is a point.

With that caveat, how is the book? For me, Backlash is where the Fate of the Jedi series began to lose its way. While some of the previous books were a bit slower, they did have some interesting character moments or plot points. I loved the relationship between Luke and Ben in Outcast and Omen. The Mind Walkers provided some great moments through reviving the ghosts of the past.

By contrast, Backlash takes place primarily on the planet Dathomir and not much seems to happen. Aaron Allston skims over characterization, even to the extent that he leaves major plot holes. For example, Luke and Ben cross paths with Han and Leia - and there's barely any reaction! Luke had been exiled for a decade and yet there's little emotion in their reunion. Ben has some great moments in solving puzzles, but Allston almost always ruins them by having somebody state, "Well, good thing you trained with the Galactic Alliance Guard", making Ben seem like a one-trick pony.

The plot also remains bogged down. For an absurdly large part of the book, Luke and Han take part in the Dathomiri equivalent of the olympics. Allana gets kidnaps and escapes from a crazy mechanic, pulling some utterly unbelievable feats, including flying the Falcon. Frankly, I never liked the Solo kids because they always seemed like "super kids", and I'd hoped Allana would avoid that fate, but no such luck.. Fortunately, the tension between Daala and the Jedi explodes out into the open. Still, there's not enough "there" there.

Overall, I do feel like the Fate of the Jedi series is getting lost. As much as I like seeing the characterization of Luke and Ben, there really isn't much in this book that's worth the price of admission. There's little character development, few action scenes, and the plot stalls. Thus far, this is my least favorite book in the series. I'm crossing my fingers that Allies proves better.


title: a lost gem!

text:
I'd always wondered what happened at Ord Mantell ever since Han Solo mentioned the bounty hunter in Empire Strikes Back. After 30 years, I only just realized that there was an audio drama about the incident produced way back in 1983. Even more surprising, it's actually pretty good!

STORY

Simple, yet effective. We get to see the bounty hunter and how Han escapes. We see the Rebels concerned about fundraising (or fund-stealing). However, what I really liked about this show was the humor. It captures the wonderful humor of A New Hope. My favorite scene was Leia's attempt to use a comlink to convince an Imperial officer to let them escape. It reminded me of Han's famous scene in the Death Star prison block, but with Leia's feminine twist.

PRODUCTION QUALITY

The sound effects sound like they're from the movie. The voice acting doesn't sound exactly like the actors from the movies, but it's close enough that you won't suspend disbelief. To my surprise, the soundtrack was new and original, not just a rehash of John Williams. I liked it and only wish it were available separately.

OVERALL

If you're a Star Wars fan, you need to track this down. Fortunately, it's not that hard. You can download the mp3 of this audio drama for free at the force.net.