title: There's Always Time for Tea

text:
The message of this movie is to be found in its quiet moments. It is in the silent angst of a woman torn between her personal convictions and public obligations. It is in the graceful and dignified demeanor of a queen, despite the battles that rage within her. You would not know it to look at her, and that's precisely how she would have wanted it, lest you should think her to be some heartless monarch.

The Queen's(Mirren) initial decision to refrain from making any public statement after Princess Diana's death was as much rooted in protocol as it was in a personal grudge. Why should the monarchy make an official statement on behalf of a lady who was no longer the Princess of Wales? Moreover, why should she have to acknowledge a woman who made a mockery of her family? Lost in her own world of justifications, she waits for the hysteria to die down and the public to "come around"; but they never do. The newly elected Tony Blair(Sheen) serves as a barometer for public opinion to the monarch and coaxes her ever so gently to address Diana's death in a statement, especially with the media quick to disapprove of her stoic disposition. However, Blair, a keen observer, is also mindful of her internal conflict and respects her all the more when she finally makes a decision to appease the English people despite her own misgivings.

The British Monarchy has always lived in the shadow of Diana's popularity, a friction that was brought to surface with the tragic incident. If this movie is a propaganda, then it is a good and well deserved one; at least Her Majesty has finally found a level playing field with the "People's Princess". No, the Queen would not have you believe her to be some heartless monarch, but a wise woman who has endured countless administrations throughout the decades, and in doing so, has realized that the demands of her people are more important than her own, even if her appeasement ultimately came at the eleventh hour. Mirren's acting is controlled and contemplative, as it should be, Micheal Sheen lacks presence and the motley cast that surrounds them are forgettable. Considering that more than three-fourths of screen time is devoted to Mirren, the weak supporting cast is not a mitigating factor to the overall excellence of the film by any means.

P.S. This may not be the true representation of what went on behind Buckingham Palace in 1997, but it paints a highly believable scenario.


title: God Save the Queen -- From Herself

text:
Highly recommended to anyone who appreciates a good story, THE QUEEN recounts the first week after Diana Spencer's death from the perspective of Queen Elizabeth and Tony Blair, expertly portrayed by both Best Actress shoo-in Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen.

A well-organized collage of news footage and dramatic reenactments, this is a great movie that focuses on the royal family's steadfast refusal to address the British public about the former princess's fatal car crash - despite the prime minister's incessant pleas for the Queen to make a televised statement.

Though I suspect the Brits will see this differently, from my perspective, THE QUEEN is a study of head-in-the-sand loyalty to tradition and what happens when the unpredictable and unprecedented happens to inflexible, robotic royals. But I bet for the Brits, with a story as recent as this one, there are as many interpretations of this film as there are English citizens.

Regardless it's not just Mirren and Sheen who shine here.  James Cromwell (the farmer from Babe) plays a spot-on Prince Philip, the Queen's traditionalist husband.  Alex Jennings delivers a convincingly vulnerable Prince Charles, whose pesky ex-wife has suddenly captured his nation's vigilant sympathy.  And Helen McCrory offers a fascinating Cherie Blair, the prime minister's anti-monarchist wife who suspects her husband's sympathy toward the Queen stems from a son's respect for his stoic mother.

All in all THE QUEEN is a great flick that could entertain everyone, regardless of their interest in England's dysfunctional royal family.

-- Regina McMenamin


title: A Royal Sin if Helen Mirren Doesn't Win the Oscar

text:
I just viewed the film "The Queen" today after traveling well over an hour to a theatre that is not afraid to show movies that actually have quality at heart and not just box-office results. I find it, first, a shame that most people will not see this movie, nor, probably, will never even hear of it. It is truely a movie that was made for two reasons, the first being to actually make a well-produced, directed, and acted film. The second, to bring a very real and timely issue to the screen in the hopes that people will see it for what it truely is.

The film begins on the second day of May in 1997 shortly after Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) is elected as Prime Minister of Great Britain in a landslide victory. Queen Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), of course, is grudgingly forced more or less into offering him the job which obviously he accepts with the ideas of modernization and advancement of the country at heart. Skip ahead several months and move the scene to Paris on that fateful night of Princess Diana's car accident and death at the hands of the paparazzi. A several brief phone calls later and the entire English Royal family is awake and watching the news for further up date except the young William and Harry.

"How are the children, Charles" asks Mirren.

"I've decided not to wake them until we have further word on the matter" answers Prince Charles (Alex Jennings).

And so begins the struggle that each family must go through when one of their own dies; or is Diana really one of their own? To the English populist, who instantly begin attacking the royal family for showing no sign of grief or remorse; while interiorly the queen orders continuously that "this is a private matter."

Blair is caught in the crossfire as the newly elected Prime Minister and must decide if he should side with the people or his sovereign. Trying to easy the tension between the two Blair must face off with the queen with polite, respectful, graceful tact and show the people too that the government is doing something out of all the chaos of this unexpected and troubling event.

"The Queen" is not a tabloid into the lives of the royal family; and only hints at the affair between Charles and Cammila, the supposed hatred Elizabeth and Philip have towards Diana, and inner workings of the public versus private funeral arrangements for Diana that may or may not have been stirred up out of malice, but rather shows the tame, more than likely, real life scenerio and roles played by every one who participated in them. The hatred and spite, if any, in refusing to have a public funeral was not so far as to have Elizabeth publically condemning Diana, but more so as a way to protect her grandchildren from the same fate that Diana, her whole life after being married into the royal family, spent in the presses eye. Overall the production shows the inner, much more humane, and understanding nature of the royal family than the one painted by the press.

As for the film itself; production wise, it was a very nuanced approach to a subject that could have easily been reduced to an hour episode of 'Jerry Springer'. Not that I did not have my qualms about certain aspects of the movie, particularly the presences of the Queen Mother. Sylvia Syms' protrayal is nothing to be criticized, but rather the character in the screenplay always seems to be the comic relief. The 'old, senile, fat lady' who is always there for a good laugh, but really serving no other purpose than that was, unfortunatly, all she was good for in the film. But that minor detail, though so what annoying on film, was such a minor glich in an otherwise well made production.

As for performances; James Cromwell (yes, that James Cromwell) as Prince Philip makes an equally headstrong, subborned partner for Elizabeth and both play off each other well. Jennings as Charles casts the Prince in a rarely seen sympathetic light as a man who did have grief to deal with after his ex-wife's death. Applause definitely go out to Michael Sheen as Tony Blair, a family man at heart who, as an outsider, eventually sees the understandable reasonings behind Elizabeth and family's privacy in the midst of both scandal and sorrow.

But the real star of the show is of course Helen Mirren, in a performance as powerful, haunting, and exact that one actually forgets this is an actress portrayal and completely believes this is in fact Elizabeth the Second, Queen of England. As the title says, Mirren is definitely the queen, and it certainly would be a royal sin if this actress did not finally win an Oscar that she has so desperately earned on many occasion with her portrayals on film. Helen Mirren, along with Meryl Streep, is the most talented and versatile actress working in entertainment today.

Without a doubt, 'The Queen', is easily one of the ten best films of the year; the director of 'Dangerous Liaisons' and 'Mrs. Henderson Presents' has created a stirring and important film that addresses the subjects of both the paparazzi and the private affairs of those constantly in the public eye and the portrayal they are given by the journalists and other media sources to the public as opposed to their actually workings in dealing with such issues that can have enough sorrowful impact upon them personally, let alone having the entire world watching and judging them as they grieve.


title: PRECIOUS GRAMOPHONE RECORDS

text: This 10CD set is a very precious but vivid record of Furtwangler’s artistic activities during the war time. The sound is very good although all the performances were taped in monophonic way. We are lucky that we can listen to these outstanding readings of music giants by one of the greatest conductors in music history. Furtwangler, and only Furtwangler, can give us such a wonderful spiritual world. Terrific!


title: Definitive Recording of Beethoven's Nos 2,4

text: This CD, recorded more than 50 years back but remastered digitally in 24 bit domain at EMI Japan recently, has spacious ambience, warm timbre and excellent rendition. One of maestro Klemperer's best!


title: Definitive Recording of Beethoven's No 9


title: Definitive Recording of Beethoven's Nos 5,8


title: A Real Gem in the Classical Catalogue

text:
The rendition of Friedrich Gulda is so celestial that I can't help to share my feeling with all the Gulda fans.

The Well-tempered Clavier has two books and each book comprises twenty four pieces of `Preludes & Fugues'. Any piece among these forty eight preludes & fugues is a real challenge for the player, no matter shorter or longer in terms of playing time.

His performance, taped in early 1970s when Gulda was at his peak, is a unique interpretation with unbelievable clarity, exquisite nuance portrayal, just right pace and masterly control on dynamics from the pianissimo through the forte. All these factors make his reading so revealing as well as persuasive in presenting the grandeur fabric of Bach's masterpiece as if the music is endowed with vivid life, evolving and growing spontaneously, and the player doesn't stands between the listener and the music any more. Moreover, Gulda's staccato is extraordinarily charming.

Friedrich Gulda ranks absolutely among greatest Bach exponents in the world, such as Edwin Fischer, Sviatoslav Richter and Glenn Gould. Oh, surely, the harpsichord version from Wanda Landowska is another miracle. It's a great pity for me not listening to Rosalyn Tureck's interpretation yet.

Recommended without reservation!


title: An Excellent Rendition of Berlioz's Requiem

text:
The Requiem Op.5 is one of Berlioz's greatest works and its performance demands luxuriously a large scale orchestra, a boys' choir, a huge chorus and a tenor (in IX Sanctus). The array is no less enormous than Mahler's symphony No.8 requires.

Simply speaking, Sir Colin Davis and LSO ensure an excellent Berlioz performance. This splendid Requiem recording of 1969, like other Berlioz discs from LSO under the baton of Davis, can be rated first class in terms of all aspects. Davis's unique reading is as charming as before, especially at chorus sections. The original recording keeps high level of Philips and the CD transfer is also well done.

Colin Davis ranks absolutely among greatest Berlioz exponents. This Requiem interpretation stands undoubtedly along with those legendary performances from Charles Munch and Sir Thomas Beecham.

Highly recommended!


title: Fantastic...

text: What can I say about this record? A lost classic. Great early work from John Murry, and breathtaking vocals from Bob Frank. A beautifully executed document of broken hearts and lost loves, and a lighter listen than their records of murder ballads. Worth seeking out, but a rare gem...


title: This recording is the way to go for anyone interested ...

text: This recording is the way to go for anyone interested in hearing the Mozart horn concerti on the natural horn.


title: Great set, even without the texts

text:
This set is an amalgamation and re-release of a centenary set EMI issued in 4 boxes of 5 CDs each in 1998 (you can still find three of them on Amazon, like this one: [[ASIN:B0000241R0 Poulenc: Concertos, Orchestral & Sacred Music  (Edition du Centenaire, 1899-1963)]]).

The recordings are from the 1960's and remastered in 1998 when the centenary set was originally issued.  There is one new short track added "Un joueur de flute berce les ruines" for solo flute, but the rest is a direct copy from the original discs.

I'm not usually a huge fan of these older recordings, but these are almost all fantastic and hold a special authoritative weight, as Poulenc himself was present when these works were recorded (I'm not sure if he was present for all of them).  He is also one of the two pianists in his Concerto for Two Pianos, which makes for a special treat.

The original set was a little bit better in that it included essays and short descriptions of each of the works (which is included here), but also the texts of his many many songs and operas, which are missing here (though the original set only had the texts in French with no translations).  You can search around and find texts and translations of Dialogue des Carmelites, but almost everything else is tougher to find.  Some might find that ok since some of his early music's texts is mostly nonsense and abstractionism and his later music is mostly religious.  But I prefer to keep the texts handy and improve my French.

I won't go too much into Poulenc's music, since it's a matter of taste.  I prefer his later works to his earlier ones -- I like the development of his later style with the bittersweet melodies that still maintains a very "suave" and unmistakably French flavor to his music, and tend to shy away from the spikier early music.  Instead, I'll focus on the performances.

In terms of performances, most of them really cannot be beat.  The orchestral works are unparalleled.  I am especially impressed with the thunderousness of the Organ Concerto, the elegance of the Piano Concerto, and the exuberance of the Sinfonietta.  The list goes on.  Les Biches and Aubade are nice, but the real standout of the ballets is Les Animaux Modeles.

The vocal and opera works are also close to perfect.  It makes a huge difference that almost all of the singers are French.  Poulenc wrote his vocal works (and a lot of his non-vocal works) so that the text flows almost conversationally with the music; the singing line never sounds forced, and the performances are almost always well balanced between the voice and its accompaniment, whether it's a piano or a full orchestra.  All three operas are presented beautifully here (I consider La Voix Humaine to be a mini one-act).  The way Poulenc sets his music is that you feel that you almost don't need the texts to understand what is being sung.  Almost.

The piano works are also overall beautifully played with Gabriel Tacchino, Bernard Ringeissen, Jaques Fevrier performing all of the works.  There's a lot of little works, so they can kind of bleed together.  But they are all entertaining and hold the attention a little bit better than a composer like Satie.  The chamber works are very good too, but sometimes they sound a little overmiked.  I find the complete chamber works on Naxos are an excellent set of reference recordings that provide a fresh perspective that are often a bit more crisp sounding.

For the completists, this set isn't truly complete because there are some small bits and bobs missing.  For example, La Soiree de Nazelles for some strange reason is missing a few of the variations.  Or Les Animaux Modeles is the suite and not the full ballet (two scenes are excluded from the suite).  This bothers my OCD side just a smigden, but only because I like both of those works so much that I wonder what's missing and why they would bother to do that.

I am glad to see this set back in print because it is close to flawless and Poulenc is an underappreciated composer.  Woe unto you if your French is lousy on top of not having the texts, because you're missing out on some gems.  It's not as devastating as not having texts for the Stravinsky set that's out there, but you are missing out on a very rich layer of appreciation for this 20th century genius.


title: A Rite to reckon with

text: Zubin Mehta sometimes doesn't get much love among classical listeners, but in modern music he's often outstanding. This LA Philharmonic Rite of Spring from the '60s (I can't yet speak to the other works here) is one to reckon with. I heard it as part of the 20-CD 100th Anniversary Rite of Spring box set put out by Decca of various "Rites" under various conductors, and it surprised me--and I think it's slightly better even than his New York Philharmonic reading. The later New York one features both sound quality and playing that are just slightly more refined, but at the same time, sound-quality-wise, a little more distant too, which saps some of the energy. In this LA recording, the piquant woodwinds have great presence and play with great character, something that helps sustain sharp interest throughout. And Mehta seems to be almost the only conductor besides Bernstein who understands how important the trumpets are in the conclusion to Part 1, and how their contribution to the texture can add so much excitement to it. There is power and raw energy aplenty here, and they make this a really good, even great "Rite." Recommended.


title: Scratching the Bruckner itch

text: Opinions certainly vary about Paavo Jarvi's Bruckner, and I can't speak to his 5th, or 6th, or 7th, but I have no doubts about this 9th, having lived with it for a number of months. Like many, I hold in high regard both of Karajan's Berlin recordings of the 9th, along with Giulini's from Vienna. They are flawless and beautiful. But like translations of the Iliad or Odyssey (or anything), none can capture every nuance or suggestion of meaning, and Jarvi here comes through with what I sometimes wish I would hear in those beautifully sculpted readings from Berlin and Vienna, which also at times seem to these ears a little icy or remote. Some say Jarvi's orchestra here is second-tier, and it may lack the ultimate degree of polish or tonal sheen you'll hear from those other two. But here, especially in the final movement, I hear subtleties of phrasing that suggest both a fair amount of rehearsal time as well as a conductor who understands every bar of the score: the slightest hint of a slowing here or a pause there, or an accelerando that is subtle enough to not disturb the longer arc that Jarvi maintains through these entire, 27-minute-long movements. Less of the sheer magnificence of Berlin or Vienna perhaps, but the final movement here is permeated with more of a loving warmth and a kind of sadness. Listening to Karajan or Giulini, I sometimes find myself wishing that they would phrase as Jarvi does here. This one is a keeper, and maybe it shouldn't be your first Bruckner 9th, but it ought to be on the list if you like a broader and more searching approach to his music.


title: I believe that they heavily and explosively played them all night long.

text:
Sorry, English isn't my native language.

After they officially started their career with the debut single "Love Me Do" and with the newcomer Ringo Starr, thus they might have played less wildly than before. And you know that John said in his later years, "We played like punk rockers in Hamburg years".

They already had the beauty of the harmony in this live recording.

By listening to this live recording, you can see that huge Beatles fans were boys rather than girls in Hamburg years.

The youngest Beatle George shouted it well in his "Roll over Beethoven" like he did it in his later recording. George has sung many numbers in this album with his pure and innocent voice that could have appealed to the audience (and "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby"). Paul sang Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie", I think it's rare. And Carl Perkins' "Matchbox" sung by John. It's also rare. These are in Disc 1.

Track 4 of Disc 2 "Falling in love again" is a well known song, sung by Marlene Dietrich in the movie "Blue Angel", that story is set in Hamburg.

And at the beginning of Disc 2, a master of ceremonies calls in German "fünf  Minuten vor zwölf" that means five minutes before midnight. I believe that they heavily and explosively played them all night long and you can listen to the heavy performances by the young Beatles in this album.

Disc: 1
December 21st (eatimated): Real #1&2
1. Be-Bop-A-Lula (Fred Fascher: vocal)
  2. I Saw Her Standing There
  3. Hallelujah, I Love Her So (Horst Fascher: vocal)
  4. Red Hot (John on organ)
  5. Sheila
  6. Kansas City / Hey Hey Hey Hey
  7. Shimmy Like Kate
  8. Reminiscing
  9. Red Sails In The Sunset
  10. Sweet Little Sixteen
  11. Roll Over Beethoven
  12. A Taste Of Honey
December 25th (eatimated): Real #3
  13. Nothin' Shakin' (But the Leaves on the Trees)
  14. I Saw Her Standing There
  15. To Know Her Is To Love Her
  16. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
  17. Till There Was You
  18. Where Have You Been All My Life?
  19. Lend Me Your Comb
  20. Your Feet's Too Big
  21. I'm Talking About You
  22. A Taste Of Honey
  23. Matchbox
  24. Little Queenie

Disc: 2
December 28th (eatimated): Real #3
  1. Twist and Shout
  2. Mr. Moonlight
  3. Besame Mucho
  4. Falling In Love Again
  5. I'm Talking About You (partly)
  6. Long Tall Sally
  7. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry
  8. I Remember You
  9. Roll Over Beethoven
10. Goodnight
December 31st (eatimated): Real #4
  11. Introduction
  12. Road Runner (soundcheck)
  13. Hippy Hippy Shake
  14. A Taste Of Honey (Tony Sheridan: backing vocal)
  15. Ask Me Why
Bonustrack
Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers Real #3
  16. Hully Gully
Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes Real #4
  17. Money
  18. Dizzy Miss Lizzy
  19. Twist And Shout
Carol Elvyn and the Star Club Combo Real #?
  20. Big River

Live recording: December 21st, 25th, 28th and 31st 1962.

EGDR-0004 2CD SET [P] Eternal Grooves.


title: I think, she researches the sheet music well

text:
Beethoven
Complete Piano Sonatas - Volume 1

CD 1
Theme I: Heroic Ideals
Sonata No. 29 in B flat Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'
Sonata No. 11 in B flat Op. 22
Sonata No. 26 in E flat Op. 81a 'Les Adieux'

CD 2
Theme II: Eternal Feminine - Youth
Sonata No. 4 in E flat Op. 7
Sonata No. 9 in E Op. 14 No. 1
Sonata No. 10 in G Op. 14 No .2
Sonata No. 13 in E flat Op. 27 No. 1
Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'

HJ Lim
Yamaha CFX pianos
Recorded: 2011
EMI

I like her peculiarity and individuality. Fast tempo and exaggerated articulation she plays might make you feel it's rough, but she sings well Largo of the 2nd movement of No.4 (she plays sempre tenuto not tenuto, but it's within the limits of an interpretation) and she sings Adagio of No.11 with melancholy. She repeats the every exposition of the 1st movements except No.13 and 14, so that I find the conspicuous difference between the exposition and the recapitulation of those Sonata forms.

Does she play her own way dynamics? No, she plays the 3rd movement of No.9 with beautiful dynamics and right Fermatas (at 1'49 and 2'46 of the 3rd movement of No.9). She researches the sheet music well.


title: The best album that Claire - Marie Le Guay ever released

text:
Sofia Gubaidulina Portrait
Invention pour piano (1974) - 1' 01
Chaconne pour piano (1963) - 9' 17
Musical Toys (1969) - 18' 45
Une collection de pieces pour piano pour enfant
A collection of piano pieces for children
Introitus (1978) - 22' 18 *
Concerto pour piano et orchestre de chambre
Concerto for piano and chamber orchestra
Claire - Marie Le Guay, piano
Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne
Jean - Jacques Kantorow, conductor
Studio recording: 2004
* Live recording: 2005

This is an album that collected intimate works by Sofia Gubaidulina in the age of the Soviet Union. It is easier to listen to than the difficult work ([[ASIN:B001EBSV2I Bach Violin Concertos & Gubaidulina 'In Tempus Praesens']]) that Anne - Sophie Mutter released. The sound of this album is good. The listener can hear powerful sound when listening by a large volume. 'Chaconne (1963)' is Bach-like, that was forbidden at Soviet era. 'Musical Toys (14 pieces)' are a little scary though they are the pieces for children. The piano doesn't take an active part to 'Piano concerto Introitus'. It is a quiet tune to which the piano and orchestra take an active part almost equally. It's written for "a chamber ensemble of 18 strings to which are added, aside from the piano, flute, bassoon and, briefly, oboe". I don't understand the meaning of "briefly, oboe". Jean - Jacques Kantorow conducts very well and the orchestra plays also well. Isn't it the best album that Claire - Marie Le Guay ever released?


title: Wow

text: Excellent dynamics and sound from a fully realized live performance. One is struck by Berg's dynamic range, his creativity, his ability to merge tonality and atonality to create lush as well as sometimes brutal textures.  Levine  and the Met Opera orchestra brings it all out -  and Van Dam and Silja are, not surprisingly, fantastic.


title: Stunning

text: The lieder are fine (if Von Otter did better) but the Orchesterstucke and the Chamber Concerto - wow... What sumptuous music - what energy - the orchestral piece contains and what delightful (and playful) twists and turns the Chamber Concerto provides.  Berg threw everything into both...What treats for the ear they are....


title: Ten stars!

text:
Five stars are not enough. If Amazon had the equivalent of the Penguin guide's rossettes, this would get a double rossette!.

The warmth of tone, precise execution, excellent ensemble, and inspired interpretations from the Quartetto Italiano make for the most richly rewarding experience avaialbe to the string quartet listener. Add first rate engineering from Philips, and you have one of the greatest treasures in recorded music.

And for a bargain basement price too!

No hesitations. Get this one while you can.


title: A great treasure beautifullly remastered

text:
I have long treasured this recording of Verdi's Requiem.  I lived with it for many years on LPs, then audio cassettes, then the first CD release.  The LP sound was excellent in its day.  By the time the CDs appeared the sound, as transferred, was edgy and dated.  Now we have a budget priced yet thorougly remastered release from Universal in Germany.
The stereo stage has opened up and the overall sound is spacious and the resonance delights the ears.  Listening to this newest version of Reiner's Vienna recording of the Requiem I kept thinking, "Yes, this performance is every bit as great as I thought it was when I first heard it 35 years ago - only now I hear even more of its beauty in greater detail and without distortion.

There are indeed other great performances of the Verdi Requiem, some of them little known, such as the 1949 Eugen Jochum recording with the Bavarian State Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with Cunitz, Hoengen, Ludwig and Greindl (available coupled with the Bruckner Te Deum)on an Orfeo 2 CD set)and the 1970 film of Leonard Bernstein conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with Arroyo, Veasey, Domingo and Raimondi in St. Paul's Cathedral, London (Kultur DVD), and there are others so well known I'll leave it to the reader to think of them.  But my heart will always remain in love with this performance.

An earlier reviewer has presented an evaluation of both performance and performers, so I will close simply with the urgent recommendation that anyone who knows Verdi's music or who is becoming acquainted with it should buy this 2 CD set while it is available.  Such a low price to pay for so much glorious music-making!

As for the Reiner/Vienna reading of Richard Strauss's Death and Transfiguration, it is very fine, although some will prefer the cleaner, more energized performance with the Chicago Symphony on RCA/BMG, but the Verdi Requiem alone justifies purchase of these CDs.


title: Outstanding Berwald interpretations x 2!

text:
This superb twofer collects two identical sets of performances: Franz Berwald's Sinfonie singulière, Sinfonie sérieuese, and the Ouverture to Estrella de Soria - that is, some of his finest orchestral works.

The first CD includes Tor Mann's performances from 1938 (live braodcast), 1946 (studio), and 1941 (studio), plus an excerpt from a rehearsal of the Ouverture to Estrella de Soria (1959). Recordings are in mono, but the transfers are very good - even the 1938 recording sounds fresh. And these exceptional, stunning performances should not be missed: 100% goose bumps are guaranteed.

The second CD has an identical programme, save the rehearsal excerpt. Here we hear the "enfant terrible" of Swedish classical music conducting: Sten Broman (perhaps mostly famous for his eccentric wardrobe) in live broadcast performances from 1968. The stereo sound is very fine, and these performances are also deeply memorable and moving.

In addition, this edition includes also a 96 page booklet (in Swedish and English) with extensive and illuminating material on the performances and the Berwald performing tradition in Sweden.

Perhaps this is mainly a collector's item. But it is a unique document, with outstanding performances which should be ranked among the very best (i.e., Markevitch's and Björlin's, see [[ASIN:B000001H01 Symphonies 3 & 4 / Symphony 4]] and [[ASIN:B000UZ4EOI Berwald: Overtures, Concertos & Symphonies]]).

Highest possible recommendation (for collectors)!


title: Seminal performances of Schubert's "Unfinished" and Sibelius' 7th

text:
This CD features three seminal performances under ledendary conductor Yevgeny Mravinsky's baton, with Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra:

Schubert, Symphony no. 8, D. 759, recorded in 1978 (studio)
Sibelius, Symphony no. 7, op. 105, recorded in 1965 (live)
Sibelius, Swan of Tuonela, op. 22 no. 3, recorded in 1965.

I will focus on the two symphonies.

Mravinsky had always something special to say with his interpretations. He didn't try to show off, but his profound understanding of the musical idiom resulted often in extremely powerful and thoughtful performances.

Schubert's Unfinished gets a broad, carefully delineated account (27:37). Tempis are generally slow, sometimes surpricingly slow, which make details very clear. But the point is, as I see it, to emphasize the structurally important aspects of the work. Marvelous playing from the orchestra. It's a stunning performance.

References include Furtwängler (DG), Walter (SONY) and Abendroth (Berlin Classics).
Furtwängler: [[ASIN:B00007BGXS Wilhelm Furtwängler: Live Recordings 1944-1953]]
Abendroth: [[ASIN:B000FA4WFY Die letzen Symphonien]]
Walter: [[ASIN:B000002A8D Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 8, Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3]]

Sibelius seventh, by contrast, gets a swift interpretation (20:18). Again, however, Mravinsky surprises us with remarkable structural points. The central trombone theme is one case. On this performance it really stands out, more ripe than solemn. The final bars, a typical Sibelius "throw away", are shockingly powerful and very different from, say, Berglund's very modest accounts. (The Leningrad brass department playing style contributes: the sound of their trashy trombones is razor sharp, and they play with vibrato.) Don't die before you hear this performance.

References include Beecham (EMI), Barbirolli (EMI), Maazel (Decca) and Davis (Phillips).
Beecham: [[ASIN:B0013FSVDE Sibelius: Symphony No. 7; Pelléas et Mélisande Incidental Music; Tapiola; The Oceansides]]
Barbirolli: [[ASIN:B00004TQPX Sibelius: Symphony No. 1, 2, 5 & 7; The Swan of Tuonela]]
Davis: [[ASIN:B0000041BW Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies 2]]
Maazel: [[ASIN:B00004TTX3 Sibelius: Symphonies No. 4 & 7 / Maazel, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra]]

In sum, an essential record. These performances will give you new perspectives on familiar works.

Warmly recommended.


title: Sofronitsky--Schumann Fant in C--on IPG's best of all time

text:
IPG rated versions of the Fant in C as such

Backhaus, Gieseking, De Lara, Moisiewitsch, Sofronitsky, Fiorentino, Richter x 2, Arrau, Hough, A. Fischer, and I think Horowitz was on there.  They gave fiorentino's(APR) the top mark with Moiseiwitsch(Testament) coming in a close second. Sofronitsky(1960) is in pretty good company there.  This version is not that version, but it is pretty good.  The Mozart is also good, but the rest of the disc, meaing, the Liszt(dante son.) is awfully boring, lacking the barnstorming quality which usually means the pianist takes it more introspectively, but it lacks that also, making it just a blaaaa performance.  The Lyadov is also a snoozer, but sofrinitzky is one of the greats and this disc is worth the fant alone.


title: Maybe the greatest Rach interpreter of all time.

text: Buy this disc, his rach is out of this world, it has a little of everything, a pinch of Horowitz, a splash of Richter, and a big ol' spoonful of Rach himself-you cant get any better than this. The liadov howeveer is , though technically brilliant not as exciting and even bopring at times, but the rach is good enough to maintain a five star rating.


title: Great Way to hear a great pianist-beside scriabin

text:
Sofronitsky is a master-anyone who can make late Scriabin sound as substantial and enjoyable as Chopin must be special.  I rank him in my top five pianists, and know he is responsible for my respect for Scriabin, a composer who would be much regarded if all were exposed to his music through him.  Most discs a general consumer can find of Sofron's are scriaibns, the sonata's prelude poems, etc-on urania, melodyia, and he is included in Philips comprehensive, though highly questionable, Great Pianists Series.  And of course an entire disc is devoted to Scriabin while the other is of his extraordinary chopin recordings.  His mazurka's are out of this world, almost all of which are included in Andante's mch more respectable Chopin historical survey.

So most people will not ever hear anything from Sofronitsky beside Scriabin and Chopin.  But not if M elodyia has anything to say about it.  This Russian School series has proven to be very selective in the past, for instance the Heinrich Neauhaus releases are of interest only fans of fans of students, while the pianism itself is second tier(beside a great, if not these greatest Scriabin Piano Concerto with Golovanov)

But this set of Sofron's works is wonderful for it's wealth of material most of us cannot find elsewhere.  Chopin's scherzi are two items new to me that I found to be exhilarating, and the jewel of the entire set was the Schumann Sonata-interestingly similar to Gilels in many respects-a rendition I compare with Gilels recently re-released version on Brilliant Classics(and another finer though more restrained version on BBC Legends).  The Rachmaninov, as always with sofron was first rate.  The sound is good, not great, but no where is it anything that will spoil the pleasure except for those who are intolerable of anything less than super sound, and i have found those people are poor judges of pianism as it is anyway since the discs they prefer are so overeditied that to gage a piainsts talent has been rendered impossible by the engineers-

For those who wish to hear the best sofronitsky-check out his Schubert disc on Vista Vera which contain some Schub\liszt trans, moment musical and impromptu's-the lieder trans are on par with the best of all time.

His disc of Rach and liadov is another priceless purchase that reveals Sofrontisky to be possible the greatest rach interpreter of his generation-a generation that includes Horowitz-and Richter-, and finally his Fantasie in C(schumann is a true specialty of Sofron as it seems to be with the purist and most supreme russian virtuosos)that ranks as one of the top recordings of all time. This same list put Fiorentino's and Moiseiwitsch as his to superior's and that may give you an idea of the company he keeps.  This disc is a great p[ace to introduce yourself to a great pianist you probably haven't heard of.


title: Came in perfect condition!

text:
I ordered this one to collect, so I'm extremely happy with the condition it came in. The shrink wrap is still fully intact (sometimes, the plastic tears along the seams over time). There doesn't seem to be any of the classic shipping damages either, the corners of the box are still nice and sharp!

Plus, this is price was awesome, in NYC the only places you can buy albums in person charge a good premium. This one was going for $45 in-store, so this was a good deal for me.


title: Five Stars

text: excelent product!!!

user_id: AFOZCMLZMZNJOFKKILCFUGBYDTOA


title: excellent 2nd disc for "Something To Be"

text:
Track listing:
1. Something To Be (downtown version)
2. When The Heartache Ends (piano version)
3. Not Just A Woman
4. You Know Me
5. Dear Joan
6. Lonely No More (jason nevins rock da club mix)
7. Lonely No More (francois l. club mix)

Exclusive Ep, once only available only at TARGET stores and no out of print.  Excellent collection of non-lp tracks & remixes that some of which were only available on import singles.


title: Oh boy

text:
For those of you who don't know, this album is the follow-up to a perfectly brilliant debut album, Prototype. That's a balance act. You can't sound the same, because your audience will get bored, and you cannot differ too much either, because the audience won't recognize what they liked about the performer to begin with.

In this case, the group chose to alter quite a bit. Whereas Prototype was mostly about Eurodisco, Halcyon Days is more romantic. This was not completely news when Halcyon Days was released, but I sort of expected Prototype II anyway. Boy was I surprised, and yes, a little bit disappointed too, to begin with. But I kept listening anyway and discovered that a) the album grows on you, and b) the songs are really, really good in their own right.

So what about the songs? Well, there is one really emotional song that will probably make every teenage girl's heart melt, We Could be Heroes. I'd like to characterize Angel of Night and Will My Arms Be Strong Enough as ballads too, the rest are more or less up-beat songs. Temple of Love, the first single, will either lift your spirits or annoy the life out of you. It has completely exploded on Swedish radio, 7 weeks after release date they still play it like crazy. I don't mind, I love it. And the album also contains a cover from Alexander's Army of Lovers days, Obsession.

What else is there to say? We get to see much more of Marina (who acording to the other band members is the macho of the group), Alexander creates scandals every now and then, and Martin is even cuter than before and has become very whitty in interviews. I just love these guys.


title: The Best, The King Forever

text: I am in love with this CD. The incredible talent, one of the rarest this world has been blessed to know, this CD set that was created with the phenomenal movie THIS IS IT is absolutely extraordinary. I listen to this so much, and BLAST it in my car with the windows open - actually to give anyone nearby sitting at a red light a great song to listen to. Each song is amazing. The indelible images of Michael from the movie remain in my memory and make this an especially sentimental CD. I love Michael Jackson - I will keep his memory ALIVE.<br />MUST BUY CD!


It's hard to believe that it's been over five years now since we lost Caroline John, the actress perhaps best known for playing Doctor Liz Shaw alongside Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor in Doctor Who's 1970 season. Yet despite appearing on the long-running series for a single season, fans never forgot the character and the actress returned to reprise the role numerous times on audio for Big Finish Productions in the years before her passing. The last story recorded before her passing, the appropriately titled The Last Post, stands as a tribute to character and actress alike.

For a character sometimes seen by fans as having been ill-served on TV beyond her initial introduction, Liz Shaw was greatly expanded upon in this single release. The Last Post is told in a series of meetings, conversations, and letters between Liz and her mother, Dame Emily Shaw (played by Rowena Cooper). Unlike her daughter, Dame Emily is no scientist but one thing she does have in common with her daughter is that she has secret work of her own. Not only do we meet Liz's mother (described rightfully as "delightful" at one point) but also learn of Liz's sister, nieces, and nephews. It's a neat bit of character development and one that opened the door to a sequel mentioned in the extras interview that, sadly, weren't able to come to pass.

Despite that, listening to this release makes clear Caroline John's consummate skills as a performer. A noted stage actress whose pre-Who credits included working with Laurence Olivier at the National Theatre, John was perhaps an actress never well served by the series she was best known for but Big Finish made up for it in spades with her Companion Chronicles and this one especially. She not only is a wonderful actress to bounce off of in the form of Cooper but is given a chance to play both dramatic scenes and narration, allowing for both actress and Big Finish to make the most of her skills and the Companion Chronicles format. Indeed there may be no better moment(s) for John than the one that opens the story and is reprised in context later in the story where she announces “My name is Liz Shaw and I've come to stop the end of the world!" That only adds to how enjoyable the story is.

That may also be in part because it's a story that's one part tribute to that first season of the Pertwee era as well. The first episode's exchanges take place sometimes between scenes from those stories or fill in some of the details about their aftermath. There's a certain thrill to be taken out of listening to the two go back and forth as Liz tries to explain to her mother her work at UNIT (only to be surprised her mum knows the Brigadier) or Dame Emily comments on her outfits and hairstyles just as fans have over the past four decades. Indeed there are references to many of the Earthbound TV stories of the 1960s and 1970s which will make fans quite happy.

Yet writer James Goss wasn't content to just write a piece that effectively boiled down to a continuity checklist. Even as he weaves in references from Spearhead From Space, The Silurians, and The Ambassadors of Death, Goss is weaving in his own story. A thread that runs through this story and eventually builds up to the first episode's superb cliffhanger. Goss brings this threat front and center in the second episode which also brings Liz to the fore as well. The result is a fine SF thriller that also weaves in much of what the single with Liz Shaw what it was.

Indeed, that might be the best way of summing up The Last Post. An unintended final performance from one of Old Who's most under-utilized performers, the story stands as a tribute to an era of the series and to the actress that brought Liz Shaw to life. It does in a story that weaves in compelling stories and fine performances along the way which showcases not just an excellent Doctor Who story but a highlight from across Big Finish's nearly twenty years of audio drama storytelling.


title: Great album

text:
Here is a track listing:
Side 1 : For You; They didn't Believe Me; S'Wonderful; Under A Blanket of Blue; Necessity; I'll String Along Without You; Lonesome Man Blues (w/ Louis Amstrong); Ad-Lib Blues (w/ Louis Armstrong); Sometimes I'm Happy
Side 2: That Great Come and Get It Day; Don't Blame Me; Thou Swell; You Are Love; I'm Confessin'; Necessity (w/ Ella Fitzgerald); Out of Nowhere; One Hundres Years from Today; Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

On Retrospect Records


title: Great music

text: Excellent music for relaxing. Will watch for more.


title: Excellent blues singer

text: Love this blues singer . I'm a young person and found this music really delightful . Put some spunk in my step . If you love the blues buy this ;excellent choice for real music lovers .......


title: Great !!!

text: It was a great pleasure doing business with you. Album arrived ahead of time and was a great  addition to my collection. Thank you for being there for us.


title: Five Stars

text: Very nice cassettes nice voice


title: relaxing music

text: You can't beat Mozart, relaxing music.


title: For rock fan of ANY genre, a must have!

text: Yeah yeah, I know that's a bold claim, but it's true. in '66, '67 the Beatles changed everything with amazing and unprecedented studio experimentation. One of the many cool things about experiments is how they  COULD have gone. These 2 discs are just plain delightful to listen to on  their own merits, and even more so when we wonder what would have happened  had THESE been the released tracks. They are so good I even feel someone  totally unacquainted with the Fab Four could get into it.


title: A good artifiact, but that's about it

text: I wanted to pop open champagne and celebrate when the Anthology releases came out, but I don't listen much to this first one anymore. Most of the first disc is of low sound or music quality, and disc2 is okay but not as  good as the released material. Finished verdict: Must have for Beatles fan,  but for anyone else I say pass.


title: so enjoyable

text: fantastic selection of music that really brightens the day........he is so very talented as are all members of his orchastra


title: Great Collection Of Songs.

text: A Lot Of Great Songs That He Did Over His Career. Got It At A Very Reasonable Price I Am Very Happy With The Collections Songs And The Excellent Condition That It Is In Thank You To The Seller For This Very Rewarding Offer.


title: The President And First Lady Of Country Music.

text: The Artists And The Music Great CD Excellent Condition Plays Great Excellent Collection Of Songs.


title: Charley At His Best.

text: This Is The Best Collection I've Seen Of Charlie Pride Yet So Far And I Thought The Last One Was Good But I Think This One Is Better Yet So Many Songs To Pick From To Listen To All I Can Say Is WOW!!!!!.


title: Great Music Collection.

text: I Liked The Collection Of The Different Songs That Were Chosen To Be Included In This Collection Of Charlie's Music I Say Excellent Collection Of His Music.


title: There Will Never Be Another George Jones.

text: The CD Was Excellent I Knew Before I Got It That It Would Be Because I Had A Copy Of It Before When Time-Life Released It And I Lost The Copy I Used To Have And So I Want To Thank You Very Much For Making It Available For Me To Purchase Again So Thank You Again.


title: Very Honest Dealer.

text: Excellent CD In Excellent Condition Plays Great And I Just Want To Thank You For Being An Honest Dealer When Selling This CD To Me And I Appreciate The Excellent Condition The CD Is In And How Well It Sounds Thank You Again..


title: Five Stars

text: Good Job Iceman.


title: Biggest Charley Fan Known.

text: Wow Great Item Reminds Me Of When Charley Started Singing..


title: An Excellent Album By An Excellent Artist.

text: This Is Charlie's First Album And I Have A Copy Of It And It Is Excellent I Just Sent It To Be Transferred Onto A CD Because The Older LPs Never Get Done Out On CD Format Very Often So If You Can Get It Do So For This Is What Charlie Sounded Like When He First Started And He Had Very Excellent Voice Even In The Beginning Like He Does Now.


title: Five Stars

text: On time & as advertised. Very relaxing music!


title: hah yes

text: best album they done, the music is not as crazy as the album after this but yet still good. i love this album.


title: The Soul of Spain

text: I stumbled upon this compilation browsing through Amazon. How I adore Spanish string, guitar and castanets. The wailing of the Opera singer is moving and enticing. While the music plays I can imagine running through the fields of Andalucia or a riveting bullfights in pamplona. The Soul of Spain is an excellent introduction to Spanish Culture. I highly recommend this compilation to anyone interested in spanish music.


title: Ridiculously excellent sound

text: Great songs + great voices = great album!  I've loved their music for ages and heard that they occasionally still perform. The "leading lady" has such a unique and beautiful sound, and these guys really know how to pull together for a perfectly harmonious acapella.  Love it.


title: Not What I Thought

text: I really like about half of the songs on this album.  So if you are an optimist like me, this album was worth getting.  I didn't care for about half of the songs on it only because many of them are extremely simple and repetitive and I guess I was hoping that all the songs would sound more like Duck Sauce.  There were two songs by Duck Sauce on this album and I knew that when I bought it.  Overall, although this didn't end up being all that I had hoped for I'm glad that I bought it for those 10 or so songs.


title: Wish I could give this more than 5 stars!

text: This collection of covers and original works is absolutely epic -- and a MUST have for any fans of Wilson's brilliance and ingenuity, not to mention the sheer beauty of his music. I cannot recommend this highly enough.


title: Feel the power of the hunter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

text:
I have been always fascinated with this album in particular, I know! , its a compilation, I know!! it isnt available in cd it never has been !!! I found it in an import records store when I was like 12 or 13 years old and I didnt purchased the album  now I regret and I wish for a time machine to get back to that moment, however I always have wanted to have it either vinyl or cd , time ago I got the tracks from this album as mp3 but Im wishing someday this awesome album be finally re-edited , untill then ill keep enjoying one of the finest compilations of the N.W.O.B.H.M.  I have ever noticed.

HM


title: Superfuzzed!!!!!!!!!

text:
Swedens, Space Probe Taurus is a blast! , the band manages amazingly to deliver the most heavy, distorted, loud and of course fuzzed guitars, armed with a strong influence of Mc5, Monster Magnet, Blue Cheer to mention a few, SPT can turn the air into a dense atmosphere were your vision can turn blurry , the oxigen run the risk to coagulate and your ears could possibly bleed, lyrics are full of the required philosophy , sci-fi, cosmic topics, bikes and cars, women, all of this full of energy, Sweden is a blessed ground were many of the best contemporary makers of stoner rock are growing and offering the best music to the genre and even re-defining the path to follow, SPT are not new in the european scene the have a large list of previously released demos, kinda hard to find, I hope Sjoberg soon decide to re-release them gradually , as far as I know many of their greatest songs from SPT back cataloge are going to be included in their sophomore effort wich soon will see the light, im waiting and hoping.

HM


title: The first two of many still unreleased Newsted projects

text:
IR8 and Sexoturica two all stars band that Newsted put together during the famous break that Metallica took during the 90s, Newsted rejected to got married and changing diapers and used his money , not millions (as rumored the two Metallica bosses were greedy) to build an independent recording studio, create a record label and then he runned several band under different names and diverse heavy styles, IR8 reunited Devin Towsend on guitars, Tom Hunting on drums and Jason on bass and vocals and Sexoturica featured Jason on bass and vocals, adreas kisser on guitars and Tom Hunting on drums, the musical quality of this two projects is quite remarkable, heavy, Jason sound influenciated by Machine Head (whom vocalist is featured in other so far hidden project) drums are really trashy and guitars are kinda clean but intense, in other words trash 80s and 90s trash , other projects claim to be very interesting according Jason words, they jump from Trash, to Speed, to Death to Progressive and even Psychodelic and Stoner, names such as "Blastula and the Satanitones" , "Tree of The Sun", "Quarteto da Pinga", "Godswallop" and "Filthy Young Impalors" are managed and all of them are allstars alineations with people from Sepultura, Exodus, Strapping Young Lad, Machine Head, Kyuss etc. but so far they are keep archived and even Jasons site "Chophouse Records" is temporarilly out of line , a while ago Scott Reeder ex-Kyuss by Myspace toldme he had no idea when this projects are going to be released, they were intended to see the light almost immediatelly but so far..., anyway it brings me a pleassure to realize I have a copy of an album that have reached to this day the price of $44.00 usd (and increasing I hope LOL), if Jason keeps his projects for himself untill the end of the time, as well the reedition of this cd, it will be a shame but at least I can consider myself the owner of a copy that may worth a couple of hundreds in the near future, I would have no problem to burn it and sell it if I hear a good offer.

HM


title: Sincerely Amazing

text: This release from Grannis demonstrates how young musicians are, thankfully, still able to express themselves with mature musical ideas and lyrics.  Kina's voice is incomparable to anyone else's i know.  her sounds are soothing and melodious.  "Blindly," "people" and "Another day" are all great tracks.  Kina's style is extremely individualistic; her high voice flows seamlessly over the sounds of her guitar.  support new music and buy this EP.


title: Solo Tour de Force

text:
This really is pretty amazing music.

Subtitled: "Solo Cello & Voice", it is mostly cello.  A very personal journey through a creative landscape.  He is quite a cellist (as suggested by the many great projects he has contributed to).  This is a studio-ish project recorded live in a monastery chapel.  The pieces are essentially improvisations, though come across as fully developed compositions.

01. Heavenly Mother
02. 22 Years From Now
03. Abshi Ehn
04. Ruby Cares
05. Built to Race
06. Kermit
07. Sat/Sun
08. 4 Suits of Rags
09. Sky Blue High
10. They'll Still Be Together
11. T2 #4
12. Grandfathers of the Speed of Light
13. Azul
14. Nyekem Wicka


title: Five stories for kids

text:
Five moose stories read in character by the author, includes:

1) Lazy Jack
2) Sleeping Beastly
3) Iron John Robin and the Little Drummer Boy
4) Piggy Wiggy
5) The Little Moose Who Couldn't Go To Sleep


title: DC Favorite's Holiday Project

text:
1992 release.  Over 70 minutes of holiday classics from wonderful vocalist and her band will put some jazz joy in the season.

Tracks:

01) Good Christian Men Rejoice
02) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
03) Coventry Carol
04) Toyland
05) Make Me A Present Of You
06) What Child Is This
07) Wassail Song
08) A Christmas Love Song
09) Winter Wonderland
10) Silent Night
11) Masters In The Hall
12) That's What I Want For Christmas
13) The Christmas Song
14) Wish Me Happy New Year Darling
15) Let There Be Peace On Earth


title: Korean Band

text: Korean pop/rap-hop group had several projects available there.  This is a 12 track CD released in Korea, mostly sung in Korean.


title: 1995 Release

text:
The tracks on this project are:

1) Dig A Little Deeper In God's Love
2) The Lord Still Lives In This Old House
3) Walkin' & Talkin' With My Lord
4) Beyond The Cross
5) I Just Steal Away & Pray
6) Lord, I'm Ready To Go Now
7) Don't Get Down On Jesus
8) Standing In The Safety Zone
9) Church
10) Some Day Soon


title: 1989 release

text:
Tracks:

01) New Way To Love
02) Dying To Meet You
03) Hold My Heart
04) Cryin' Time
05) I Surrender
06) Help Is On Its Way
07) Listen
08) Should'a Been Love
09) Feels Like
10) Carry The Cross


title: Swedish release

text:
1998 CD single from the Swedish pop singer comes in a picture sleeve.

Tracks included are:

01) All 'bout the money
02) Are you ready?


title: 1989 release from Philly band

text:
Track list:

01) Something's Gotta Give
02) One Step at a Time
03) Can I Touch You?
04) Storybook Romance
05) Going to Church
06) Hold It in Your Hand
07) Living in a Shell
08) Where is Home?
09) You and Me


title: unique fusion of influences - ladino/sephardic jazz

text:
Matt Darriau : clarinete, kaval bulagaro, flautin irlandes, trompeta china
Curtis Hasselbring : trombon
Ted Reichman : acrodeon, b-3 hammond-leslie
Meg Okura : violin
Sam Bardfield : violin
Mary Wooten : violincello
Brad Jones : bajo
Roberto Juan Rodriguez : percusion
Roberto Luis Rodriguez : trompeta, bombardino, trombone de piston

1) Wolfie's Corner
2) Paseo Del Prado
3) Hadida
4) baila! Gitana Baila!
5) Piruli
6) Para Peru
7) Marranos y Conversos
8) Dice el Sabio Solomon
9) Sosua la bella
10) Turkish-Bulgarish (Vedado Street Mix)

As one might expect from John Zorn's label this is fairly unclassifiable original music, all written by Roberto Juan Rodriguez (except the last track), stirring together a vast array of influences and styles across the diaspora.


title: Exclusive Live In Studio Compilation

text:
Nice selection of artists all recorded live at the station in Boulder.

The Doobie Brothers - Nobody
One EskimO - Kandi
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Sarah McLachlin - Loving You Is Easy
Phoenix - 1901
Goo Goo Dolls - Home
Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs - Beg Steal Or Borrow
Broken Bells - The High Road
Corinne Bailey Rae - The Blackest Lily
Big Head Todd & The Monsters - Beautiful
Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard - These Roads Don't Move
O.A.R. - Shattered (Turn The Car Around)
Natalie Merchant - The Man In The Wilderness
Martin Sexton - Boom Sh-Boom
The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
Alpha Rev - New Morning
Mary Chapin Carpenter - The Way I Feel
Jakob Dylan - Nothing But The Whole Wide World
John Hiatt & Lyle Lovett - Thing Called Love
Moby - Pale Horses


title: Full length CD

text:
1) I Can See Clearly Now
2) Daddy, I Love You
3) God Bless the USA
4) Amazing Grace
5) You Were Meant to Be
6) Somewhere Out There
7) Ave Maria
8) Dreams Come True
9) Lullaby
10) Amazing Grace (Reprise)
11) Away in a Manger (bonus track)


title: An unknown classic

text:
Will McFarlane : Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Songwriting (except track 10)
Lenny LeBlanc : Bass
Joey Holder : Keyboards, Drum programming

King of Kings
Hear the Voice
Whole Lot to Learn (About Love)
You Are the Light
They That Wait
Hallelujah (The Word)
Caught By Your Love
What Do You Fear
These Praises
Be Exalted Lord


title: Nice Selection With Some Previously Unreleased Tracks

text: The Dido, Angie Aparo, and Kelly Price tracks were unreleased prior to this set.  A good holiday selection here.


title: Great Selection of Favorites

text:
Track list:
1) Come Worship the Lord
2) Glory to God
3) Holy is His Name
4) lilies of the Field
5) The Pleiades and Orion
6) I Am the Bread of Life
7) Lord, Every nation on Earth Shall Praise You
8) Healer of My Soul
9) St. Teresa's Prayer
10) The Hiding Place
11) Surrender
12) Wonderful Counselor
13) Glory to God
14) The Master Musician
15) Come Holy Spirit (Veni, Sancte Spiritus)
16) Laudable Exchange
17) Psalm 131
18) One Faith
19) The Bread of Life


title: 2 CD Set

text:
Released in 1994.

Contains:

The Joyful Mysteries
The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Glorious Mysteries


title: Unusual Concept, Great Playing

text:
This disc documents improvised segments of shows from one of Wayne's long stands at the 55 Bar in Greenwich Village (with Keith Carlock and Tim Lefebvre or Will Lee). Essentially many highlights are sequenced into a near medley over an hour long.  Some are fairly short (hence the 21+ tracks), a few are full length.

As Wayne says in the notes: "Greenwich Mean captures playing from the Summer of 97 through the Spring of 98, with a hundred hours of tape screened for outstanding moments of spontaneity that form a CD."

I might perhaps have preferred hearing a full show (though the Enja live release provides that from a slightly different period), but this concept takes things in a different and more unpredictable direction.

The leadoff track: "Infinity Split" is the bomb and in itself makes this disk essential.


title: 1996 Independent Folk CD

text:
Tracks:
North to Alaska
Save the Whales/Drunken Sailor
Gay '90s
Ballad of the Yukon
Diggin'
Big Mike Heney
First Steamboat to Dawson
Ben My Chree
Slow Boat to Skagway
Squaws Along the Yukon
The Frozen Logger
Alaska Flag Song


title: A Great and Unexpected Project from Rich Mullins

text: Rich Mullins' song cycle features an expanded Ragamuffins line-up on a project he believed very strongly in.  There are a few breathtaking songs on here, fantastic performances and a fascinating story line.  Hard to find, independently released.  If you don't have this you should get it.  Enjoy (and contemplate the content).


title: Extraordinary

text:
Ths is a tremendous album.  Mellow and uplifting it nevertheless explores an extremely wide range of subjects (lyrically and musically), most of which are far beyond the depth of mass marketed Christian music.  While this it clearly comes from a Christian perspective (and there are several extraordinarily moving worship songs on it) it is more about life, written from a perspective that anyone (Christian or not) can identify with and appreciate.

The vocals and musicianship are excellent, the songs astoundingly personal and transparent, the subject matter compelling, and the delivery magical. You won't be disappointed.


title: 1992 Indie Release

text:
Tracks:

I See The World
Breathless For A Day
Passive Voice
Out Of Line
The Diamond Store
She Comes Running
Oblivious
Carnival Desires


title: Rick's Final Testament

text:
His last release.  Songs are:

Monument
My Miracle
Living Water
I Surrender
Angels
I Know I'm Healed
I Stand and Worship You
Please Rain Down
Send Your Mighty Power
I Need Thee


title: Pretty Unique

text:
Michael Winograd - Clarinet
Joey Weisenberg - Mandolin
Patrick Farrell - Accordian
Pete Rushefsky - Tsimbl
Daniel Blacksberg - Trombone
Nick Cudahy - Bass
Richie Barshay - Percussion

1 - The Beginning
2 - Zhok in G Minor
3 - Sher 199
4 - Freylekh for Gwen Stefani
5 - Morning Song
6 - Svatben Jok
7 - Arrivals/Departures
8 - Patriot Bulgars
9 - Zhok in D Minor
10 - Nayer Khusid Tanz


title: Track List

text:
2 Disc Set:

Sensual Saxophone 1:
carmen
saxophone serenade
you are so beautiful
ave maria
dawn
pomp & circumstance
two voices
love's reflection

Sensual Saxophone 2:
rondo a la turk
forever
artist's life
lover's tale
sensual saxophone
piano reflections
struttin' in style
soul searching
remembering you
the sandpiper


title: program of piano music for babies

text:
Delightful program of piano music to nourish baby's developing mind, played on instruments from the Met collection, played by Martin Souter.

Mozart:
1) Minuet in F K2
2) Minuet in F K4
3) Minuet in F K5

J. S. Bach:
4) Minuet in G Major, BMV Anh. 114
5) Minuet in G Major, BMV Anh. 115
6) Prelude in C Major, BMV 846/1
7) Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring BMV 147

Mozart:
Sonata in C Major, K545
8) Allegro
9) Andante
10) Rondo
11) Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - Variations
12) Rondo in D Major, K485

Beethoven:
13) Bagatelle in A Minor, Fur Elise, WoO 59
14) Allegro from Sonata in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1
15) Allegretto from Sonata in C# Minor, Op. 27, No. 2
16) Adagio from Sonata in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1


title: Live at the Wetlands 8/5/00

text:
Great sound, nice show.

Tracks:
More Trouble Every Day
Easy Meat
Filthy Habits
The Evil Prince
I Have Been in You
Flakes
Latex Solar Beef
Willie the Pimp
Inca Roads
Cosmik Debris
King Kong/KK Improv


title: 1993 project

text:
Digitally recorded, features a range songs from popular Catholic composers:

1) Sing a New Song
2) Be Not Afraid
3) Hosea
4) Here I Am, Lord
5) One Bread, One Body
6) On Eagle's Wings
7) Prayer of St. Francis
8) We Have Been Told
9) We Remember
10) Eat This Bread
11) Parce Domine Chant Mode 1


title: Early Integrity Music Worship Project

text:
A 1990 concept worship project with original performances, predating later Integrity Music series (same producers).

Tracks are:
Come Into His Presence (Lead: Matthew Ward)
We Lift Up Your Name (Lead: Rick Riso)
Faithful (Duet: Melodie Tunney & Lenny LeBlanc)
Everlasting Love
All Things (Duet: Leonard A. Tucker, Jr. & Stephanie Hall)
Your Love (Duet: Lenny LeBlanc & Kelly Willard)
Blessed Are Those (Lead: Rick Riso)
Nothing Compares To Your Love (Lead: Lenny LeBlanc)
Love That Never Ends
Think About His Love (Duet: Kelly Willard & Rick Riso)
I Hear Angels (Duet: Leonard A. Tucker, Jr. & Stephanie Hall)
When I See Your Smile (Lead: Matthew Ward)


title: Well Done Record of Civil War Music

text:
Bill Carrothers - Piano, Melodeon and All Other Noises

Songs:
Tenting on the Old Campground
Battle Cry of Freedom
The Cavalry March
Angel Band
Dixie
Marching Through Georgia
Flag of Columbia
John Brown's Body
All Quiet Along the Potomac
Lorena
Yellow Rose of Texas
Bonnie Blue Flag
Carry Me Back to Old Virginia
Battle Cry of Freedom (Reprise)
Somebody's Darling
Marching Through Georgia (Reprise)
The Vacant Chair
Kingdom Coming
Weeping Sad and Lonely
Hard Times Come Again No More
Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel

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title: 2003 Studio Release

text:
Tracks:
In Everything
We Belong to You
Pslam 23
Blessed Assurance
Hold on Tighter
Psalm 108
The Glory of Your Name
Dwelling Places
Complete
You've Got a Friend


title: Mix for active yoga

text:
tracks:
Under the Red Line - EPD
Smooth Temptation - Ibizarre
Wandering Around, Lost - Genuine
Pink Flamenco - King Kitch
Espacio Suave - Natural Trance
DB - Marius Mellebye
Saw the Eclipse - Chris Zippel
Kristall - G-Trance-Point
Puesta del Sol - King Kitch
Luna del Miel - Tierra Negra
Katyia's Dance - Suzanne Teng
China Lily - Suzanne Teng
Lotus - Suzanne Teng
Under the Red Line - EPD


title: Strong Debut

text:
Tracks:

Night of a Million Moons
Swinging on His Arm
Hearts
Dressed in White
Long Time Gone
Here We Go
One Like I
Morning
The Way I See It
Starry Skies


title: Indie Philly Rock/Folk Songwriter

text:
Full band approach to very personal songs with a variety of moods and sounds.

Tracks are:
Strong Enough for You
My Independence Day
Don't Talk About It
It Must Be a Holiday
Wait a Minute
I Asked My Father for a Ride
Speaking in Rhymes
Summer
I've Got Your Number


title: 2003 Studio Release

text:
New songs to encourage through good times and bad.  Songs included are:
Nothing's Gonna Keep Me Down
We Are the Ones
Hold Me
Cleansing Storm
It's Done
But for the Grace of God
I Need Your Mercy Tonight
Slipping Away
Problems at Home
It's Not Over 'Til It's Over
I Still Need You


title: nice set

text: Arranged and Produced by Lari Goss, with Craig Nelson, Lari, Mark Douthit, Mark Baldwin, Quartet of Jim Murray, Terry Blackwood, Roni Goss and Herman Harper.


title: Tasty Singer Songwriter Folk

text:
tasteful vocals and guitar with a variety of friends.
Tracks:
North Country Road
Wasteland
Madison
Hometown
Dark Eyes
Driving Northbound
House of Cards
Poet Game
North Dakota
North Country Road (Reprise)
Silent Night


title: Collection of Classics

text:
Blue Suede Shoes
Honey Don't
I'm Walkin'
Matchbox
Susie Q.
Memphis
Maybelline
Slippin' and Slidin'
Be-Bop-A-Lula
Roll Over Beethoven


title: Contemporary Gospel Vocals

text:
Vision - A.D. is Carl Bowman, Johnny Edwards, Ondrei Edwards, Todd Edwards, Andrae Golliday, Maurice Golliday.

Tracks:
Slow Motion
Wounded Soldier
Anoint Me
Follow Me
Zion
Bind in Love
Blessed are They
Amazing Grace
We Need You


title: Good Sampler with Videos

text:
AUDIO:
Razed High - Ladies & Gents
The Streets - Let's Push Things Forward
Flunk - Kebob Shop 3 A.M.
People Under the Stairs - Acid Raindrops
Dan the Automator - Bear Witness
RJD2 - Let the Good Times Roll Pt. 2
Mr. Scruff - Vibrate
Rick Holstrom - Shake It Pt. 2
Amon Tobin (feat. MC Decibal R) - Verbal
PC Kahuna - Hayling

VIDEO:
The Streets - Let's Push Things Forward
FC Kahuna - Machine Says Yes
DJ Z-Trip - How to Rock a Party


title: Hosanna Music Worship Album

text:
Song List:

1) Up to Jerusalem

2) The Day of the Lord/It is Good/Bless the Lord

3) The Lord is Building Jerusalem/The God of Israel is Mighty/Blow the Trumpet in Zion

4) Where Does My Help Come From/Hinei Ma Tov (Behold How Good)

5) For the Lord is Marching On

6) Baruch Haba (Blessed is He Who Comes)

7) Yet Will I Praise Thee

8) Yahweh is Holy

9) Sing Hallelujah

10) Arise O Lord/Be Bold and Be Strong/God is Gone Up With a Shout


title: Very Well Made French Canadian Pop

text:
Produced by Guy Roche, Jeff Lorber, Marc Perusse with top notch Canadian, American and French session players. Nice voice, well crafted.

Tracks:

Je Suis Chair

Soleil Perdu

L'amour Parfait

Donne-moi un Peu de la Peur

L'enfant Disparu

Ou est ma Foi

Voir le Loup

Conquistadore-moi

Je Fais le Taxi

I'm Ready for Mine

Rendez-vous


title: Christian Vocalist

text:
Album produced and arranged by Lari Goss.  Well made pop worship project from 1991.

Songs:

Hear a Sound

Every Eye

Bless Our Nation

Strong Love

Breathe on Me

Heavenly Joy

Holy Lord Most High

Unknown Needy

He is Here

Radiant Day


title: Exclusive Edition With Bonus Tracks

text: This version of the release has an exclusive NEW studio version of "In a Little While" as well as an additional DVD track.  Includes all material on the regular release, plus extras.


title: Early Project of Jeff Johnson

text: A contemplative instrumental project that somewhat defies description.  Very gentle, soothing and meditative, yet remaining characteristic of aspects of Jeff's work, this project seems a shared venture between him and others he often collaborates with (Sandy Simpson, Dieter Zander, and Kathy McClatchey are co-producers and performers).  The music all flows and works together seamlessly, utlizing a shifting cast of instuments and players, some of whom lend contributions to only a song or two.  Perhaps a little atypical but also good for that reason.


title: Doo-Wop Acappella

text:
Interesting set of Doo-Wop styled acappella takes on a wide range of material (some classics, some popular and an originals).

Tracks are:

Stuck With You (from: Huey Lewis & the News)

Hello City (Barenaked Ladies)

I've Gotta Get a Message to You (Bee Gees/arr. Moxy Fruvous)

Melissa (Allman Brothers)

Off and On

The Lazy Boy (Moxy Fruvous)

With or Without You (U2)

Can't Help Falling in Love With You (Elvis Presley)

You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon)

In the Still of the Night (arr. Boys II Men)

Kokomo (Beach Boys)

One (U2)


title: Well Presented Introduction to the Classics

text:
This recording of marvelous works is an easy first step for the classical-music-phobe or the otherwise overwhelmed. - Douglas Hyde, Classical Music Editor, AUDIO Magazine.

Tracks:

Russian Easter Overture, Opus 36 - Rimsky-Korsakoff

Air From Orchestral Suite in D Major, BWV 1068 - J. S. Bach

Parigi, O Cara (duet from La Traviata) - Verdi

Finale, from String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Opus 96 The American - Dvorak

Dies Irae from Requiem in D, K. 626 - Mozart

Finale, from Concerto for Violin in E Minor, Opus 64 - Mendelssohn

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Opus 13 Pathetique - Beethoven

Gretchen Am Spinnrade, Opus 2 - Schubert


title: Nice collection of top CCM from 1999

text:
Mighty Good Leader - Audio Adrenaline

Supernatural - dcTalk

Incomplete - Switchfoot

Suckerpunch - Five Iron Frenzy

Life on the Edge - Eli

Thicker - Chasing Furies

Lead Me - Raze

I Do Believe - Steven Curtis Chapman

Follow - Delirious?

Better Off - Pete Stewart

Entertaining Angels - Newsboys

Anything Genuine - Smalltown Poets

Unfazed - The Waiting


title: A Rarity

text:
Follow up to his debut five years earlier after what seem to be a lot of changes.  This project has an unmistakable point of view.  Tracks are:

When the Storm Is Over

Little Lucy

Book of Life

God Music

No More Plastic Jesus

Holy Father Save Them

Love's Sweetest Voice

What Does God Think of Me

Aryan

I Abide


title: Aggressive New School

text:
Tracks are:
Poppa No Joke
Trails
Gotsta Move
Cumface
Square One
New School
Queens


title: Classic Maranatha Singers Praise and Worship Project

text:
The Greatest Songs of Yesterday & Today:

1) O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing/Sing to the Lord/We've Come Here to Praise

2) Praise My Soul the King of Heaven/Glory/Jesus You Are Lord

3) The Power of Your Love/My Savior's Love/O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus

4) Here is Love/O How I Love Jesus/O Lord, Your Tenderness

5) How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds/The Sweetest Name of All/Jesus, Your Name

6) No Higher Calling/When I Survey the Wondrous Cross/I Come to the Cross

7) Take My Life and Let It Be/Lord I Want to be a Christian/Here I Am

8) Hear My Prayer/The Lord's Prayer/This Kingdom


title: Modern Worship

text:
Worship music of the Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN, written, arranged and performed by members of the worship team.

Includes:

1) Here in This Place

2) Surely Goodness and Mercy

3) Your Love is Better Than Life

4) In the Calm

5) You Will Be Our God

6) The Solid Rock

7) Oh For a Heart to Praise My God

8) I Wait for the Lord

9) Glory Be to God the Father

10) Tender Mercy

11) Only One God of Grace

12) Now to Him Who is Able


title: Jazz Vocal Trio

text:
Direct to Digital audiophile recording on disc made in Japan. Jazzy vocals with some guitar accompaniment.  Prudence Johnson, Tim Sparks and Roger Hernandez.

1) Nothern Lights

2) I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

3) In a Mellow Tone

4) Lost and Found

5) Since I Fell for You

6) You and I

7) Auld Lang Syne

8) Flying Home


title: Chant program by Benedictine Nuns of Kergonen

text: 19 pieces in an original, unique liturgical program from Saint Michael's Abbey, Kergonan.


title: Soothing

text: "Gold Record Award Winner... A precious collection of favorite lullabies tenderly performed by Sherri Huffman especially for baby."


title: Music from our colonial heritage

text:
Historical and entertaining.  This CD presents many songs from the Colonial era as they would have been played and heard then on period instrumentation.

Songs: Brookline/Dwell at Ease

One Evening Having Lost My Way

Hopkinson's Dedication to George Washington: Come Fair Rosina/My Love Has Gone to Sea

From Erin to the New World: O Blame Not/Ned of the Hill

Sergeant Champe (Barbara Allen)

Across the Waters: The Banks of Newfoundland/The Greenland Whale Fishery/Shenandoah

Would Fate to Me Belinda Give

America, Commerce, And Freedom

Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be

The Lass of Pattie's Mill/Down in the North Country

Cornwallis' Country Dance: Yankee Doodle/Quick Step/Brighton Camp

Would Fate to Me Belinda Give (Reprise)


title: Early 90's Contemporary Christian

text: Gary Chapman co-produces, sings and plays on a well made CCM project with solid songs and good vocals from Lesley.


title: Hosanna Praise & Worship Collection

text: Second special praise and worship collection focused on God-centered spiritual warfare.  Long Play with lyrics.  Leaders: Bob Fitts, Bob Kauflin, Kent Henry, Mark Conner, Ron Kenoly, Don Moen, Rusty Nelson, Randy Rothwell. Songs: 1) Let's Go Take This City 2) Not By Might Nor By Power 3) Jesus Jesus Glorious One 4) We Will Stand 5) Rise Up 6) We Serve a God of Power 7) We Give Thanks 8) Jesus Christ is Lord 9) O Deliverer 10) One of Us 11) Lift High the Lord Our Banner 12) Mighty Warrior 13) We're Going Up to the High Places 14) We're Not Ashamed 15) We Take a Stand 16) I Will Build My Church 17) We Lift Up a Shout 18) Victors in Christ 19) Jehovah-Nissi.


title: Rare Material

text:
This disc has quite a few rare tracks, so it's not just a sampler of album tracks.  Items of note are:

Boneclub - Two live songs Minnesota 12/4/92

Baby Animals - Live Newcastle, Australia

Aimee Mann - Jimmy Hoffa Jokes is non-album

Paula Cole - Two demo versions (different than the debut CD)

Suzanne Rhatigan - A demo and a live acoustic track from Munich


title: Askew

text:
Gary's off kilter take on almost everything.  The song Lou Reed is worth the disc.

Tracks:

1) God Your Hello 2) Cattle Drive 3) Carpet Burner 4) Passion in the Night 5) Mama Lay Your Boy Down 6) Hard Times 7) Along Came a Ditch 8) Lady Blue 9) Lou Reed 10) Guilt Trips 11) Rock Bottom 12) Junkie's Lament


title: Comedy Set

text: This 1992 release catches Steve's wit and wisdom before the crowd at King's Place in Cleveland.


title: Praise and worship trio featuring Scott Williamson

text:
1) The Storm

2) So Amazing (Psalm 139)

3) Famished

4) Joy

5) Pour Your Anointing Oil on Me

6) Jesus, I Will

7) Break Me, Lord

8) I Lift My Eyes

9) Before the Throne of God Above

10) The Power of Your Love


title: Nice CD

text: 10 songs from the daughter of David & the Giant's David Huff. This project features some guest spots from Phil Keaggy as well as David Huff and Tommy Sims.


title: Nice Collection With A Theme

text:
Songs:

Belong - Geoff Moore

Moment of Mercy - Aaron Jeoffrey

Thirsty - Chris Rice

The Message - 4Him

Two Sets of Joneses - Big Tent Revival

Pray - Rebecca St. James

Send Out a Prayer - Annointed

King of the Hill - Eli

Think About Jesus - Greg Long

Blue Skies - Bryan Duncan

Rest of Time - Bob Carlisle

If Not for Love - Wayne Watson

I Will Be Free - Cindy Morgan

When All Is Said and Done - Geoff Moore


title: One of his best

text: Live from 1999 with a top notch band (Fergus Marsh, Hugh Marsh and Greg Black), this is an excellent disc.  Songs: Ready My Heart; Comfort My People; Burning Ember; Hear Our Prayer; The Wellspring/Holy Lord; Wings of an Eagle Intro; Wings of an Eagle; I Feel the Winds of God Today (Kingsfold); The Drumheller Circle Story; Drumheller Circle; Shepherd of Live (Psalm 23); Here by the Water; Call Home; Deep Calls to Deep


title: It's only not a classic because it couldn't care less about being one, and almost gets there anyway.

text: How on earth does this not have a review?! Nevermind that this is where the Mekons began. It's solid, sloppy, catchy-ass fun, holds up better than most punk/ postpunk. Maybe not as vital as Wire's first three or as influential as Gang of Four, but I would easily stack it against the latter. The Mekons early self-professed techincal incoherence has always been more myth than reality, and probably leads to this being underrated. You write me a better song than "Work all Week." Go ahead, do it.


What a long strange trip it's been for Malefic and Xasthur. What's even stranger it seems, is that he ended up finding a new home on the very hip indie label Hydra Head. Sure HH has released its share of dark heaviness, but black metal, especially of the ultra personal, cult and grim kind, is so concerned with staying true, and not selling out. So it's a bit of a coup that HH nabbed Xasthur. Especially after a whole mess of records on Moribund, Total Holocaust Blood Fire Death, Profound Lore and Southern Lord. There has apparently been a bit of a backlash in the true cult BM underground. But f-ck 'em. Hydra Head is a killer label and Malefic probably just got tired of being screwed left and right. Plus, oh what a joy it is to watch the true grim warriors weep at the loss, their corpsepaint smearing in long grey streaks. But it really is their loss more than any one 'cuz damn if this isn't the best Xasthur record since Nocturnal Poisoning. And that's saying a whole lot considering how much we've loved pretty much everything he's ever done.

The thing With Nocturnal Poisoning is that it was this perfect mix of sorrowful melancholia and black buzz, the sound was murky and muddy and fuzzy, but above it, were delicate melodies, dreamlike minor key filigree over a bottomless black pit. It was that strange juxtaposition that made it so special. Take that pretty element away, and you're left with just another black disc of Burzum worship. It's a little like the oil paining on the cover. You could see the texture of the canvas and the individual brushstrokes beneath the art. And with the music, it was the same thing, you could see the various elements, feel their texture, see the thick grainy backdrop upon which Malefic placed all of his dreamlike melodies and murky anguished howls.

Every record after that contained similar elements, and amazing songs, but it seemed like the recordings got more brittle, lots of high end buzz, not so much of that glorious malefic murk.

Subliminal Genocide almost sounds like it was recorded right after Nocturnal Poisoning and shelved for the last few years. It's THAT heavy and dreamy and melancholy and murky and g-ddamn beautiful.

There's not a lot of black metal that you might consider truly beautiful, but the songs on Subliminal Genocide, aren't just blasting thrashing metal, they are gorgeous lilting laments, epic and majestic and minor key. Taken out of a black metal context, they'd sound like some sort of super emotional epic post rock, but as they are, buried under thick layers of blackened buzz and wrapped in huge swaths of fuzzy sonic fog, they become even darker and more desolate, lonely and mournful. Almost none of the record is faster than a loping midtempo, about half the tracks are slow motion dirges, downright doom, with the double kick coming in more as a thick black low end cloud than any sort of actual blast, and a handful of tracks are nothing but swirling whorls of sad black ambience.

And because of the fuzzy indistinct production, and the thick murky halo around every track, lots of Subliminal Genocide sounds like some bastardized black metal version of M83, or Tim Hecker, or a little like Jeck and Marclay spinning old scratched up Burzum lps slowed waaaaaay down.

This record is simultaneously so dark and depressed and utterly evil sounding, but also fuzzy and psychedelic and totally blissed out, it's sort of hard to imagine, especially listening to this right now, that there could ever possibly be a better combination.


title: good stuff that deserves to be heard!

text:
Koji's thirty eighth career disc, Final Insurance, isn't actually a brand new recording, it is (as the full title suggests) a collection of previously unreleased tracks from the period directly prior the release of Asano's first actual album, Solstice, in 1995. Wow, that was a while ago now, but I remember when we first got that disc -- who would have guessed that ten years later we'd have reviewed dozens more cds by him?

There are twelve tracks here, varied in approach from squeaky, sci-fi electronic noise (a la Ryoji Ikeda) to gentle field recordings (kinda like something Toshiya Tsunoda might do). There's improvs on guitar and piano as well... everything here is interesting, some of it harsh, some of it beautiful. He carefully selected these tracks from a vast amount of material recorded in this youthful period of sonic activity and discovery, and it's all good stuff that deserves to be heard!


title: Five Stars

text: great album and artist


title: Four Stars

text: This disc is everything I expected it to be


title: Nice

text:
Christian Falk provides us with sunny electronics that remind me of Mylo possibly under some heavy house influence.  Plus, Robyn is THE singer to use now.  I love her vocals.  Here is the tracklisting since Amazon won't supply it.

  1. Brighter days

  2. Dream on (with Robyn & Ola Salo)

  3. Mind elevation (with Demetrius)

  4. Way home (with Christian Falk)

  5. Shine (with Pauline)

  6. Something good (with Vanessa Falk)

  7. C.C.C. (with Robyn)

  8. People say (with Christian & Vanessa Falk)

  9. My heart (with Cindy)

  10. So so beautiful


title: Very good

text: Very good CD.although not destined to be a classic I love the tracks A GOOD HEART and BLUE WONDERFUL.


title: Quality of sound.

text: Very clear sound as if she was in the room with you.


title: BOOTLEG

text: BOOTLEG not original pressing


title: No Matter What

text: Some people are saying, just listen to this CD.  This is definitely Badfinger and the quality of the recording is very good for it being live in 1972 (That's 50 years ago, folks).  Nowadays if you can find anything from Badfinger you should buy it because their music is getting harder to find.  The most tragic story in the history of rock music and we can only get what we have left.  Badfinger were more than just George Harrison's house band.


title: Wonderful album full of surprises

text: The new music from Wonho is refreshingly different from his old days in Mx - it breathes with a new life that reflects him, more than the group vibe. The included items were fun to unwrap, much like getting yourself a birthday present. Well worth the price.


title: THE music for a quiet day

text: I am an avid and eclectic music collector and listener:  Beatles, King's Singers, Michael Card, Palladian Ensemble, Al Di Meola, Doyle Dykes, Allison Krauss, etc, etc. Out of my hundreds of albums, this is THE album for a quiet day of reading and reflection.  Larry Cohn does a masterful job of writing, arranging, and performing.  Pure piano with just enough nature in the background to take you to mountains, streams, and forests. Stunning.  I would love to find more music from Cohn and more music like this.


title: Should've stayed in the bedroom.

text: The singer/songwriter known as Chop Chop doesn't expand her sound on this release. It's self-involved, bedroom electronic indie pop. Whatever merit the songs have is ruined by the poor production and amateur singing. A couple tracks might sound like early New Order if they had decent production...but they don't.


title: Children of Eden on West End was brilliant.  Music keeps it alive to me.

text: I saw this show during the Gulf War.  London was deserted at that time...few theater goers.  It was performed with stellar cast, written by SUPERB (and now famous) music and lyric writer, Stephen Schwartz (along with book by John Caird.  It is simply the story of the creation of man (Book of Genesis).  Frances Ruffelle (original Eponine on Broadway (TONY AWARD) Les Mis) plays Yonah (and sings on this original soundtrack).  She was electric.  Ken Page as father...and his featured song are breathtaking.  The show closed due to lack of theater goers overall.  Therefore, did not transfer to Broadway.  It lives thru church and community performances.  The main reason it was never tried again is The Lion King.  I will always believe the idea for Lion King characters (and I LOVE this show) was a off shoot of Children of Eden.  Both superb shows.  If you can see this show, do it.  You can search for productions on their web site.  Oh, and Stephen Schwartz:  (in case you don't believe me)  wrote music and lyrics for a little show called Wicked.  I saw Children of Eden in 1986.


title: Good: but a little different

text: The new owners have slightly changed the recipe-still good-but the original was better.


title: Excellent !!!!

text: I played this record prior to framing it with my Vietnam memorabilla and was surprised at the sound quality. The record looked like it was new and the sound was great. Thank you for bringing it home.  rich


title: Five Stars

text: Very beautiful singing voice and a great rendition of each song.


title: Great performances, audio a little odd

text:
The performance is extraordinary, maybe the best there is of Sym. No. 4.

I was surprised at the praise for the audio on this SACD. In the end, I do agree with the positive reviews, but I have to say that getting good sound out of this SACD required some effort inasmuch as I found it to deviate somewhat from what I've come to accept as the norm among modern recordings. First, bass, while present, is somewhat lacking when played at moderate volume (on both the CD & SACD tracks). The situation can be rectified either by tone controls/equalization or simply by playing at high volume, but I almost never have to make such adjustments for other recordings. The recording is very clear, however, and perhaps it was wise of the engineers to leave it up to the listener to boost the bass if necessary.

The other disappointment I encountered initially was that the surround properties were unsatisfying: too much of the sound was concentrated on the center speaker. I was, however, able to enjoy an excellent sound stage by changing the mode on my receiver from "Multi-in" (the default for the SACD input) to "Multi-In + Dolby Surround"). As was the case with the bass issue, this is an adjustment I don't usually have to make; but again, after doing so, the results were spectacular. For those playing the stereo tracks only, however, the excessive centering of the soundstage is almost irredeemable. If you are in that situation, you may be able to get acceptable results by using the most cavernous surround-simulation DSP available on your receiver.

After making all the aforementioned adjustments the sound was spectacular, but I would prefer a recording that played well without having to fuss around.


title: Revelatory Sibelius, so-so recording

text:
Poor acoustics and/or recording have been the curse of far too many Szell/Cleveland recordings, ranging from problems with the recording venue, as well as unfortunate choices by the engineers. In this case hall acoustics, miking, and failure to add artificial reverberation to compensate for the lack of the real thing have made for a dead ambience devoid of any sense of being in a concert hall. The lack of hall acoustics to round out the sound has also resulted in a harsh quality. To the recording's credit, however, it brings out clearly each of the instrumental choirs, achieves good tonal balance across the frequency spectrum, and has realistic dynamic range. If you have a receiver with Digital Signal Processing (DSP), choose a concert-hall setting, and it will sound pretty good. One would not expect to have to resort to that for a recording made in 1970, but in-concert recordings lagged behind studio quality by about 30 years. Still, the "studio," i.e. non-live-concert recordings released on Epic and Columbia and later re-issued on Sony, are not really any better. What some of them gain in concert-hall ambience, they lose in instrumental balance, with violins often dominating to produce a thin sound. To hear George Szell with good sound it is mostly necessary to go to the Philips, Decca, and DG recordings made with other orchestras. Unfortunately, several of these were made with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, a wonderful orchestra today, but not the match of the Cleveland Orchestra in the `60's. So one has to make the choice between sonic excellence and the better orchestra. There are, however, some Cleveland/Szell recordings with more pleasant sound, even if somewhat over-emphasizing of strings: these include most of the Beethoven and Mozart concerto recordings, and many of the Haydn and Beethoven symphony recordings (in the latter category the "Eroica" is the worst, but that is a truly indispensable performance), and all the Schumann symphonies.

This is another recording I recommend mostly for Szell devotees (like myself) and for those with the funds to support a collection of many different recordings of the same repertoire. There are plenty of recordings of this material that feature excellent performances and excellent sound. In the case of the Mozart #40, one can have it all in a recording by Bruno Walter and the Columbia Symphony [[ASIN:B00000DS6I Symphonies 40 & 41]], which was made more than ten years before this one.

When it comes to the Sibelius Second, I agree with others who have found this a truly remarkable interpretation, with superb execution by the Cleveland Orchestra. Both this performance and the one with the Concertgebouw contain insights into the architecture of this symphony found nowhere else. The dryness of acoustics in this case, and the leanness of sound in the recording with the Concertgebouw, support the probing into this symphony's inner workings that is lost in more traditional gooey romantic interpretations. As several others have noted, this performances betters the one with the Concertgebouw, most likely because the Cleveland Orchestra was a better orchestra at the time; and, the sound quality is a tossup between those two recordings (Philips had not yet entered its golden age of recorded sound back in 1964.) There are, however, many recordings that most listeners will prefer, which present Sibelius with more lush sound, due both to the various orchestras and the respective engineering teams.

One minor criticism I have of this interpretation of the Sibelius, however, is that the violins do not come in with sufficient force when one of the principal, anthem-like themes first appears in the last movement. The strings do gain sufficient intensity by the end, but I would have liked them to have thrust forward the majestic tune at its outset. Szell nearly always goes for clarity versus grandeur, however; and he demonstrates this shortly before the coda; where most conductors would broaden, Szell refuses to indulge the romantic urge (this is a twentieth-century work, after all).

The discs are not generous, with disc 1 timing out at less than half the capacity of the original 74-minute limit. Discs 1 and 2 together only come to about 5 minutes beyond the 80-minute limit in common use; however, the intent was to present a single concert in its entirety; and the price for these 85 minutes of music, while not cheap, is not outrageous. This set is not readily available but is worth seeking out; as of this writing it was available from at least one Japanese Website without an exorbitant shipping charge to the U. S.

Incidentally, the edition of this recording that I obtained from a Japanese source did not contain the interview with Boulez mentioned by another reviewer.


title: Please re-release this

text: This is an incredibly healing, empowering inner work CD - if you love dolphins, it's even better.  Great vocals and harmonies - very instrumental in my own recovery.


title: Four Stars

text: good read  works


title: The music gets 5 stars. The one star is ...

text: The music gets 5 stars.  The one star is for the packaging.  When I opened it, the CD case was smashed.  Luckily the discs somehow remained<br />intact.


title: Good Overall CD

text: Overall, I consider this to be a good value.


title: Perfect

text: This album is super adorable, with catchy and feel good music! Me and my friends were all sitting outside on a curb outside my house, and we waited for the prime bus to give us our package:) it’s just as described and it’s perfect!


title: Five Stars

text: What an amazing CD. Although that is so Pricely, I will buy it


title: a must have!!!

text: This collection is amazing!  You have to own it!  My husband and I have listened to these talks numerous times and are always so inspired.  YOu will laugh, feel the spirit of the Lord and desire to do better after hearing these amazing words.  Yes, Brother Christensen was my religion teacher, but I know you won't regret buying this.  I gave it to my brother and sister in law for Christmas last year, and they LOVED it!


title: Bob Cain - The Best

text: Love to hear Bob Cain perform.  Wish there were more of his CDs. Anything the Gaithers do is worth watching.


title: The Rentals Rule

text: The Rentals have once again won my affection with this ode to hedonism, Seven More Minutes. Quirky lyrics and catchy melodies combine for a tour de force like no other for the last several years. This Japanese edition is even more recommended as it has a bonus b-side entitled "The Great Bank Robbery". Like the other tracks on the album, the Rentals execute their performance with perfection. I have compared it to a mix between Jumping Around (From the this album) and the Beatle's Rocky Raccoon. Whether this Japanese edition or their others, this albu is an absolute must for any rock, new wave, or Weezer fan!


title: Remixed, Remastered and Resplendent

text:
There's a Christmas song containing the lyrics, "it's the time of year when the world falls in love..."  Well, that tune is not on this CD.  It's on the Sinatra Christmas album.  But, the lyrics represent a  feeling that the music on this cd embraces.  I've listened to this album for many years and have always enjoyed the emotional warmth that is embodied in the arrangements and the voices of the children, as well as the almost ethereal qualities on a few of the cuts.  These qualities stem from the delicate piano touch and light jazz phrasings of Vince Guaraldi.  It's infectious.  Guaraldi does a superb rendition of My Little Drum (actually,The Little Drummer Boy, a hit for the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1958).  I never cared for the song, but the combination of the voices and the soft piano touch results in a relaxing work of beauty that I can now enjoy.

This is one of the few Christmas releases that I've never found tiring or tedious.  I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christmas and winter seasonal music.  It is mostly jazzy, pleasant and soothing.

This 2006 release contains four alternate takes in addition to the full album.  The sound quality is excellent and much improved over the 1988 CD release.


title: Best of The Best Xavier Cugat Ever!

text: I am aware that, over the years, I have awarded Five Stars to other Cugat CD's I reviewed. But if I was to choose THE BEST OF THE BEST XAVIER CUGAT, this record is IT! The rhythm section cooks and cooks and cooks from Track 1 to the last! The solid brass and reeds complement the rhythm section and vice versa and blend perfectly with the perennial marimba, Cugat's musical "trademark" heard here in the background of the ensemble playing instead of in brief solos. I believe this 1957 recording  was Cugat's last for Columbia before he switched to Mercury starting in 1959 with a collection of excellent modern-styled Latin recordings such as Cugat Plays Continental Hits, Cocktails with Cugat and Movie Music styled by Cugat-to name just three.