In the aftermath of sweeping and topical works by Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, and Lauryn Hill, the gauzy peace-and-love/think-of-the-children sentiments sketched out by R&B singer Jerzee Monet on her aptly titled Love & War debut seem positively quaint. True, the Jersey-reared performer gets assists from the Ruff Ryders crew--DMX, Eve, and Ja Rule guest on three tracks--but their contributions are largely cosmetic and unlikely to have much currency among those who'd be interested in this kind of smoothly flowing, adult contemporary release. That said, Monet has a terrific voice--honeyed and silky during the smoochy bits, salty during her sterner messages, and always forefront in the mix. Soulful, doe-eyed ballads like "Work It Out" and "Tonight Is the Night" are ideal after-dark snuggle anthems. Even the topical need a little loving now and again. --Kim Hughes
Love & War,Jerzee Monét,Dreamworks,Contemporary R&B,Pop,R&B,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,United States of America
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Our Love to Admire
Interpol Manufacturer: Capitol Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000PY32CO Release Date: 2007-07-10 |
Tracks:
- Pioneer To the Falls
- No I In Threesome
- The Scale
- The Heinrich Maneuver
- Mammoth
- Pace Is the Trick
- All Fired Up
- Rest My Chemistry
- Who Do You Think
- Wrecking Ball
- The Lighthouse
Amazon.com
Moving up to a major label has hardly lifted Interpol's spirits. This is a good thing. Even with the twisted Wild Kingdom album cover and bassist Carlos Dengler's unexpected Wild West makeover, on its third studio album the black-clad New York quartet still sounds inflexibly menacing, grasping tighter than ever to its doomy post-punk influences and delving further into frontman Paul Banks's emotional unrest. Everything sounds a little bigger and brighter, sure, but at their core songs like "Rest My Chemistry" and "Wrecking Ball" are heroically sinister, goaded on by prickly riffs and slow-bleeding rhythms. The group briefly jumps to life on the buzzing "Heinrich Manouver" and exhibits an unexpected dash of humor on "No I in Threesome," but it's the closing "Lighthouse" that best defines the set--a late-night lament that simply steals away into the dark. --Aidin VaziriAmazon.com
Our Love To Admire is at once unmistakably Interpol and undeniably new. The witty and perverse "No I In Threesome" is an upbeat ode to shaking up a staid relationship propelled by Carlos D's peerless bass melody while the tenderly observant "Pace Is the Trick" proves that the band are still the masters of the dramatic - check the painful pause right before the sinfully satisfying return of Sam's thundering drums and Daniel's ringing lead guitar. The band's impressively seductive evolution is obvious all over the record, but never more so than on tracks like "Mammoth," "Who Do You Think" and on the album's lyrical centerpiece, the ghostly "Rest My Chemistry." While Daniel is understandably proud of the song he cautions against reading too much autobiography into its lyrics. "We always leave the interpretation to the listener," he says. "I mean, you shouldn't watch a movie for the first time listening to the director's commentary!"Our Love to Admire closes with "The Lighthouse," a funereal dirge that is among the most unexpected and memorable songs ever recorded by the band. Almost entirely percussion-free, the song is constructed around Daniel's mournful guitar and Paul's sparten lyrics. Not only is it one of their finest moments to date, it provides the album's most goose-bump inducing moment, the very same reflex shivers that make Interpol live shows such an exhilarating experience. As the very last song the band recorded for the album it was, they say, the hardest to play. The hypnotic guitar part was played on a 50-year-old guitar that had toxins on the strings, providing Daniel with a blistering and painful sensation in his fingers. The band weren't even sure the track would make it out of the studio, but once they heard Paul's remarkable vocals they were floored. The song - and the album - doesn't so much end as it bleeds to a close with a long, echoey coda filled with feedback and strings. A fittingly dramatic end to a stunning and emotional journey. Interpol is back, every bit as good as before but charged with a new spirit, a new direction, a new label and, most of all, a new confidence.
Interpol Photos
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More from Interpol
Antics |
Turn on the Bright Lights |
The Black EP |
Customer Reviews:
Hoping for more.......2007-07-30
Pioneer to the Falls, The Heinrich Maneuver and Rest My Chemistry sound like they would have fit in nicely with either of their first two albums, but neither would have been stand outs. Not that they are bad songs, they just don't grab you and pull your soul into the song like a good portion of their previous work would do.
For now, Our Love to Admire will sit in the drawer. I'll probably go see them in concert when they swing by, in hopes that their stellar live show will turn my opinion of the new material. Until then I'll throw on Turn on the Bright Lights and enjoy Interpol's past brilliance.
Darker, more moving, Interpol scores again-.......2007-07-29
Where's the bass?.......2007-07-29
In comparison to the past two albums, I really think it falters. Turn on the Bright Lights was a great, moody, NYC album that really worked on a lot of levers. The tempo changed from song to song with some great power riffs and patches of silence soon followed by a booming bass and ghostly rhythm guitar sections.
Antics turned up the volume and tempo and was a great progresson from the first album. I really enjoyed seeing the band perform both albums at their shows in 2005.
This third album sounds like they tried to slow everything down again, but made it really boring, possibly because of over-processing the album. Everything sounds kind of washed out and not as crisp as past albums. What I miss the most is the bass and drum driven songs. Sure, they throw in some bass/drum solos, but you don't feel it in every song like you could in their past two albums, Antics in particular.
Enough with the Joy Division Comparisons!!!!.......2007-07-28
Stunning.......2007-07-25
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002UAU Release Date: 2002-07-15 |
Tracks:
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
- With A Little Help From My Friends
- Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
- Getting Better
- Fixing A Hole
- She's Leaving Home
- Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
- Within You Without You
- When I'm Sixty-Four
- Lovely Rita
- Good Morning Good Morning
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
- A Day In The Life
Amazon.com essential recording
Before Sgt. Pepper, no one seriously thought of rock music as actual art. That all changed in 1967, though, when John, Paul, George and Ringo (with "A Little Help" from their friend, producer George Martin) created an undeniable work of art which remains, after 30-plus years, one of the most influential albums of all time. From Lennon's evocative word/sound pictures (the trippy "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," the carnival-like "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite") and McCartney's music hall-styled "When I'm 64," to Harrison's Eastern-leaning "Within You Without You," and the avant-garde mini-suite, "A Day in the Life," Sgt. Pepper was a milestone for both '60s music and popular culture. --Billy AltmanCustomer Reviews:
Best Album Ever!!.......2007-07-30
The genius of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr shine in this album. Two of them are greatly missed. There are just no words to describe this album except for Pure Genius.
I've been reading some of the negative reviews on this album, and yes there are quite a few! Some say this album is satanic, others say it's overrated. Whatever! This album is not satanic, nor is it overrated. I think this album opened up a new kind of music into the world, and people loved it.
George's Indian music is amazing, and lets not forget John's masterpiece, "A Day in the Life."
I'm lucky enough to own the record, which I bought at a flea market for a $1.00. Yes, some moron sold his Sgt. Pepper album for a buck!! I took it home and the album works perfectly! I doubt it's a first edition, but who cares?
If you don't have this album, go buy it! Give it to your kids so they can appreciate what GOOD music sounds like.
~~Kat
6 MONTHS.......2007-07-28
ALL Beatles Albums.......2007-07-25
A 5-Star Album That's Substantially Overrated.......2007-07-24
One of the most interesting facets of the SGT. PEPPER experience is that for a record hailed as a psychedelic landmark, it isn't all that psychedelic, at least not when compared to 1967s other flagship albums: SURREALISTIC PILLOW (Jefferson Airplane), ARE YOU EXPERIENCED (Jimi Hendrix), FOREVER CHANGES (Love), THE DOORS (self-explanatory), and THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN (Pink Floyd). SGT. PEPPER is largely the manifestation of Paul McCartney's pop inclinations matched with peerless production, its an old-fashioned entertainer's album for the rock era. Even among the more production-oriented records of the era, PET SOUNDS (The Beach Boys) and DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED (The Moody Blues), it still sounds straight forward.
One of many Beatles' masterpieces.......2007-07-23
Average customer rating:
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Facing Future
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Manufacturer: Mountain Apple Company ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000JFG3 Release Date: 1993-09-01 |
Tracks:
- Hawai'i '78 introduction
- Ka Huila Wai
- 'Ama'ama
- Panini Pua Kea
- Take Me Home Country Road
- Kuhio Bay
- Ka Pua U'i
- White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i
- Henehene Kou 'Aka
- La 'Elima
- Pili Me Ka'u Manu
- Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man
- Kaulana Kawaihae
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World
- Hawai'i '78
Amazon.com
To gauge the magnitude of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's popularity in his native Hawaii, consider this: following his death in 1997 (at age 38, attributed to his profound obesity), Kamakawiwo'ole's body lay in state in the state capitol, only the second person to receive such an honor. Kamakawiwo'ole's appeal lies in his love for prestatehood, precondominium Hawaii and the expressiveness of his gently passionate voice, which can float through higher registers with an ease that brings Johnny Mathis to mind. Several selections ("Ka Pua U'i," "White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i," the sun-kissed "La 'Elima") feature Kamakawiwo'ole in a traditional mood, using only his ukulele to adorn the charm of his native lyricism. Others, such as the Jimmy Buffett-like "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man" add playful contemporary touches that suit Kamakawiwo'ole's style. Most touching are the string-backed laments that open and close the album, "Hawai'i '78 Introduction" and "Hawai'i '78," initially a reflection on his father's death, later on the passing of Hawaii's native culture. Best known is his medley "Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World," which played over the closing credits of the film Meet Joe Black. --Terry WoodAlbum Description
There's a smart balance of traditional Hawaiiana and contemporary tunes on this CD. There's heart-tugging warmth along with unexpected chuckles. The end result is a candid, honest reinforcement of his vocal breadth.Customer Reviews:
Breath of fresh air!.......2007-07-28
Takes you to a happy place.......2007-07-23
You need this classic for your Hawaiian music collection.......2007-07-21
I love this cd!.......2007-07-20
I know that is where IZ is now in the land of lemon drops and bluebirds. He is happy and singing his songs to the angels. Buy this cd and you will be very glad you did!
facing future.......2007-07-14
Average customer rating:
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Love
The Beatles Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000JK8OYU Release Date: 2006-11-21 |
Tracks:
- Because
- Get Back
- Glass Onion
- Eleanor Rigby/Julia (Transition)
- I Am The Walrus
- I Want To Hold Your Hand
- Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing
- Gnik Nus
- Something/Blue Jay Way (Transition)
- Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter
- Help!
- Blackbird/Yesterday
- Strawberry Fields Forever
- Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows
- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
- Octopus's Garden
- Lady Madonna
- Here Comes The Sun/The Inner Light (Transition)
- Come Together/Dear Prudence/Cry Baby Cry (Transition)
- Revolution
- Back In The U.S.S.R.
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- A Day In The Life
- Hey Jude
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
- All You Need Is Love
From Amazon.co.uk
It begins with a twittering of birdsong lifted from "Across the Universe." And once the triple-tracked a capella harmonies of "Because" enter, followed by snatches from "A Hard Day's Night" and "The End," leading into a fired-up "Get Back," it becomes obvious that this is far more than just another Beatles compilation. This is Love, conceived by the Fabs' former producer George Martin and son Giles as a stageshow soundtrack to Cirque de Soleil's Las Vegas spectacular of the same name, but appears to have taken on a life of its own. Whereas the Beatles' last release, 1, delivered the (over?) familiar hits in a nice, simple package, Love is a mélange of the familiar and obscure, all literally mixed together in one 78-minute audio collage which succeeds in reminding the listener just why the Beatles truly are, as Lennon put it, "toppermost of the poppermost." There's no new Beatles material per se, but the songs are all approached differently--some are cut together in a flawlessly mixed medley (check out "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You/Helter Skelter"), some reassemble different backing tracks and vocal performances to create new spins on old classics; but all the songs are revitalized considerably. Even in its weakest moments (which probably work better in the context of the show itself), Love is still a formidable prospect, and one has to admire Martin's willingness to go out on a limb with such a project. While purists may complain that the cut 'n' paste nature of the project is simply tampering with perfection, at the very least it'll make them reach for the originals and enjoy them all over again. For newcomers and everyone else, it makes a fine listen, both in its sonic clarity (the actual tracks are the best they've sounded on CD) and audacious nature. --Thom Allott
More from the Fab Four
The Capitol Albums, Vol. 2 |
Revolver |
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band |
Anthology 1 |
Anthology 2 |
Anthology 3 |
Customer Reviews:
The Beatles... They're the epitome of awesome!.......2007-07-29
Phenominal.......2007-07-24
Tremendous.......2007-07-19
Where are the listening samples?.......2007-07-18
love the love cd.......2007-07-15
Average customer rating:
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Summer Of Love: The Hits of 1967
Various Artists Manufacturer: Time Life Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000OLHGUC Release Date: 2007-06-19 |
Tracks:
- San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair) - Scott
- Happy Together - The Turtles
- Windy - The Association
- Creeque Alley - The Mamas and The Papas
- Gimme Some Lovin' - The Spencer Davis Group
- Incense and Peppermints - Strawberry Alarm Clock
- Little Bit O'Soul - The Music Explosion
- 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) - Harpers Bizarre
- The Letter - The Box Tops
- Heroes and Villains (single version) - The Beach Boys
- Reflections - The Supremes
- Let's Live For Today - The Grass Roots
- Darling Be Home Soon - The Lovin' Spoonful
- I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder
- Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees
- Carrie-Anne - The Hollies
- Talk Talk - The Music Machine
- Sunday Will Never Be The Same - Spanky & Our Gang
- Kind Of A Drag - The Buckinghams
- A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
Tracks:
- I Feel Free - Cream
- So You Want To Be A Rock'N'Roll Star - The Byrds
- Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane
- I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) - The Electric Prunes
- Get Together - TheYoungbloods
- I'm A Man - The Spencer Davis Group
- Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
- Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats
- San Franciscan Nights - Eric Burdon & The Animals
- (We Ain't Got) Nothing Yet - The Blues Magoos
- Season Of The Witch - Donovan
- Wake Me, Shake Me - The Blues Project
- You Keep Me Hangin' On - Vanilla Fudge
- Down On Me - Big Brother & The Holding Company
- Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine - Country Joe & The Fish
- Paper Sun - Traffic
- Pushin' Too Hard - The Seeds
- It's A Happening Thing - The Peanut Butter Conspiracy
- Mary, Mary - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
- Stroll On - The Yardbirds
Tracks:
- Opening (DVD)
- A Communal Experience (DVD)
- The Human Be-In (DVD)
- An Interactive Event: The Grateful Dead (DVD)
- Jimi Hendrix and The Real Foxey Lady (DVD)
- Getting Real Experimental (DVD)
- Going Against the Grain (DVD)
- Cream: Challenging Musical Landscapes (DVD)
- The Who: A Distinctive Sound (DVD)
- Images of Woodstock (DVD)
- Rock 'n Roll's Power (DVD)
- Crosby, Stills and Nash Add A Fourth (DVD)
- Bad Vibes at Isle of Wight (DVD)
- The Pressures on Janis Joplin (DVD)
- All My Friends are Dead (DVD)
Album Description
The Summer of Love had a special look and a special feel, but above all it had a special sound. This collection of 40 hits on 2 CDs recaptures that sound and the DVD features performances by some of your favorites like Jefferson Airplane, the Doors, the Rolling Stones and more.Customer Reviews:
Great deal.......2007-06-26
The CD's are awesome. And for a price of $30...it rocks!
Average customer rating:
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Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing
Keith Urban Manufacturer: Liberty ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000ICM5QW Release Date: 2006-11-07 |
Tracks:
- Once In A Lifetime
- Shine
- I Told You So
- I Can't Stop Loving You
- Won't Let You Down
- Faster Car
- Stupid Boy
- Used To The Pain
- Raise The Barn (featuring Ronnie Dunn)
- God Made Woman
- Tu Compania
- Everybody
- Got It Right This Time
Amazon.com
It's tempting to read these songs--many about hope in the face of potential heartbreak--as an adjunct to Keith Urban's own tabloid-fodder life, which lately reads "ex-junkie country star marries Nicole Kidman, enters rehab." But his three previous albums have similar dark undertones. That would also be an underestimation of Urban's creative powers, which are broad enough to balance assembly-line Nashville pop with emotionally fine-tuned artistry. Breezy rockers like "Faster Car," sweet hooky ballads like "Shine," and readymade big-chorus hits like "Once in a Lifetime" rub elbows with more complex numbers like "I Can't Stop Loving You"--an essay about sad courage that starts with an acoustic guitar and adds instrumental textures as it unfolds--and "Stupid Boy," a tale of loss and self-discovery. It's no coincidence that both those songs climax with Urban's own crying guitar solos. As a player, his bold, midrange-heavy tone complements his most nuanced vocal performances. Another highlight is "Raise the Barn," which Urban co-wrote and sings with Ronnie Dunn. The cheerful tune, inspired by the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, is a tribute to the durability of the human spirit--a subject Urban seems to know more than a little about. --Ted Drozdowski
More Keith Urban
Be Here |
Golden Road |
Keith Urban |
Customer Reviews:
Best Concert Ever!.......2007-07-25
Awesome.......2007-06-28
Great voice...but.......2007-06-27
Aussome Keith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-06-19
Love this guy!.......2007-06-08
Average customer rating:
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Elliott Yamin
Elliott Yamin Manufacturer: Hickory Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000N60HD6 Release Date: 2007-03-20 |
Tracks:
- Movin On
- Wait For You
- Find a Way
- One Word
- You Are the One
- I'm the Man
- Trainwreck
- Free
- Alright
- Take My Breath Away
- A Song For You
Amazon.com
Elliott Yamin's debut is so agreeable and well-executed it may well convert hardened R&B experts--the kind who'd normally distance themselves from a disc with a TV pedigree. With sincerity and a voice that vaults itself to places no talent-show contestant should be able to go, Yamin bares his soul here in a way that would do his hero, Donny Hathaway, proud. Tracks like "Take My Breath Away" and "You Are the One" find him twisting a wrench around love-stained lyrics; "I'm the Man" and "Find A Way" flow with hat-in-hand grace (and, in the case of the latter, a scat worthy of a vintage jazz stage); and opener "Movin' On" immortalizes the season five judges'-table words of Paula Abdul: Ellliott Yamin is "one funky white boy." As he proves with this five-star album, he is also among the most gifted artists ever to a turn a stint on the show into a recording career. --Tammy La GorceCustomer Reviews:
Where's the Jazz...?.......2007-07-30
Impressive debut!.......2007-07-30
Some of the songs on this CD felt a little lacking at first, but just let Elliott overwhelm you with his feeling--and believe me he will. He takes these songs--some of them average, some impressive--he takes them to a different level. He's shown it here, give him better songs, and he will hit them outta the field! Honestly, I can't wait to see what he does next.
Elliott's AMAZING.......2007-07-25
Lovely lovely lovely.......2007-07-21
An exceptional debut that grows on you.......2007-07-20
Indeed when I first bought the album and upon the initial listens, I couldn't help but be disappointed that such a great talent had put out a CD that in my opinion was very forgettable, granted I did like a few songs at first, such as the first single "Wait For You" and "Movin On". Thankfully I refused to give up on the album, and after making myself listen to the tracks multiple times I soon realized my initial impressions of the album were pretty off. No this is not a 5 star album or a classic in my opinion (but then again how many debut albums are?), but I now regard it as a very solid r&b/pop album. The tracks on this album really do grow on you, so I just want to stress to fans of Yamin that if they're not crazy about the album at first give it a chance before making your final judgments.
The album is definitely very R&Bish / soulful (who says white men can't have soul right?), but there are also pop influences present on the album. Almost every song is well written, especially such ones as "Find a Way", a modern R&B track about the unfairness of the world, and how love has to find a way in order to cope with it all. "Free" is another lyrical highlight about how we have the freedom to be able to make our dreams realities if we put our mind to it, although it's not one of my favorite songs melody-wise.
Some of my favorite melodies on the album are the mid tempo first single "Wait For You" which mixes R&B and pop, and the soft and soothing "You Are The One", a straight up love ballad. "Train Wreck" is a pure R&B song, and a favorite of mine, where Yamin's voice is in top form as he sings about a relationship thats heading for a "train wreck", and I love the hook of the song. On the other end, I love the upbeat rhythms of "Movin On", which boasts a hand clapping beat that accompanies lyrics about getting tired of waiting for his significant other to decide what she wants, and "movin on" with his life. "Alright" is another upbeat track, that wouldn't feel out of place in a club, the song definitely has a hip/hop vibe to it and to me sounds similar to something Usher would record. It's a great change of pace and another favorite of mine.
Thats another good thing about the album, there really is a variety of appeal on here, "Wait For You" and "You Are the One" for example would be perfect for ac radio or even pop, whereas I could see songs like "Movin On" and "Alright" fitting in on current R&B/Hip Hop stations, the album really has a range of appeal from old to young, Adult Contemporary to R&B. Even commercially the album has potential, "Wait For You" has so far become a top 20 hit on the Billbaord Hot 100, and I don't think its the only song on here capable of making it into that tier of the charts.
But perhaps the best thing about this album, is Yamin's voice itself. Even when I wasn't too into the songs yet, I still loved listening to Yamin's strong soulful voice, which shines on pretty much every track here, and fans of Yamin should enjoy the "A Song For You" cover, which is definitely a showcase for Yamins vocals. Even the tracks I don't really care for such as "I'm the Man" and "Take My Breath Away" are made much better by the voice thats singing them.
So overall I'm pleased with Elliott's debut, it took some time, but the album is one that I'll be listening to for awhile. If Yamin can improve upon his debut and grow more as an artist, he should have a long, bright career ahead. 4/5 stars
My Top 5:
1. Wait For You
2. Alright
3. Train Wreck
4. Find A Way
5. Movin On
Average customer rating:
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Translated From Love
Kelly Willis Manufacturer: Rykodisc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000J3FDPK Release Date: 2007-06-26 |
Tracks:
- Nobody Wants To Go To The Moon Anymore
- Sweet Little One
- Don't Know Why
- Teddy Boys
- Losing You
- Too Much To Lose
- The More That I'm Around You
- Sweet Sundown
- Success
- Stone's Throw Away
- I Must Be Lucky
- Translated From Love
Amazon.com
With her vocal twang and timbre, Kelly Willis will never sound anything but country. Even so, she's long been adventurous in her choice of material, and her first release in five years is her most expansive to date, as collaborations with producer/guitarist Chuck Prophet and songwriter Jules Shear (who also provides backing vocals) bring a freshness to her signature style. Half of these cuts could have fit on a previous Willis album; the other half wouldn't have fit on any of them--yet somehow they all fit together. The biggest surprise is a cover of Iggy Pop's "Success," with an arrangement that channels the Sir Douglas Quintet's Vox keyboards (with the Gourds contributing to the call-and-response). Other twists include the propulsive pop lilt of "Nobody Wants to Go to the Moon Anymore," the touch of Phil Spector girl-group grandeur in "Don't Know Why," the Chuck Berry guitar and gender reversal of "Teddy Boys," and the hint of Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl" in "The More That I'm Around You." With results that transcend category, Willis sounds like an artist renewed. --Don McLeeseAlbum Description
Kelly Willis returns after five years with the much-anticipated Translated From Love. Produced by long-time collaborator Chuck Prophet, Translated From Love is Willis' most sonically adventurous album to date. Prophet says of Willis, "She's one of those singers who can make a track come alive. She's got that kind of charisma."Translated From Love gives nods to five decades of rock, pop and country with `60s girl group drum sounds one minute and strings-drenched C&W angst the next. Its 12 tracks are comprised of originals, intriguing and unexpected covers (including a vintage Vox organ-fueled take on Iggy Pop's "Success" and Adam Green's retro-cool "Teddy Boys") plus collaborations with Prophet, acclaimed singer-songwriter Jules Shear and Kelly's husband, ace country songwriter Bruce Robison.
Customer Reviews:
Welcome Back Kelly.......2007-07-30
Translated From Love is a first class from start to finish, with a great mix of ballads and uptempo songs. For me, only the David Bowie/Iggy Pop song, Success, falls marginally short of the mark. My biggest problem with the album is that it took so long for Kelly to follow up her 2002 gem, Easy.
Gearge Strait ..Move Over .......2007-07-23
The opening song "Nobody Wants to Go to the Moon Anymore" is intelligently written with a catchy tune for all you scientists out there who are fans of country and often ponder such ideas (I swear I hear guitar licks from The Cars in a few chords). Her music has a clean sound, with great chord progressions. Her live band members are obviously talented in playing rock and roll and country in the wide variety of songs. The surprise for me was the ability of her lead guitarist to put down his guitar and play a banjo that mixes quite well with her polished sound on "Losing You" co written by Willis/Prophet. Of course for me, my favorites are "Sweet Sundown" and "Sweet Little One". If it has sunny lyrics ..it brightens the daily road ahead with a smile. Her husband Bruce Robison has written a song for George Strait, which she plays in her live venue, but I think I like her live version better.
If you get a chance to see her in a live concert, don't miss the opportunity to hear one of Texas' finest as she plays songs from this new album, which grow on you after just one playing. Highly recommended for energetic, Texas style music that fans of George Strait, Alison Krauss(AKUS) would love. Go Kelly! Welcome back.
Great country album.......2007-07-16
Great stuff and Oh that Voice.......2007-07-11
Alternative(?) Country.......2007-07-10
This album explores an expanded vision of her style - straying from the barriers of "alt.country' without ever leaving herself or her roots behind.
If you don't know Kelly Willis and hope you might be getting more of Nashville samo samo, stay away. If country swing is your thing, you probably already know her. For you, this is a must have.
Average customer rating:
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Closer
Josh Groban Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000CFW87 Release Date: 2003-11-11 |
Tracks:
- Oceano
- My Confession
- Il Postino (Mi Mancherai)
- Si Volvieras a Mi
- When You Say You Love Me
- Per Te
- All Improvviso Amore
- Broken Vow
- Caruso
- Remember When It Rained
- Hymne a l'Amour
- You Raise Me Up
- Never Let Go
Amazon.com
Thanks to a fortuitous intersection of talent and fate, 22-year-old Josh Groban hasn't finished his senior year in performing arts school but has already released his sophomore effort on a major major label. Fans of the young vocal phenom's debut will find much to enthrall them here, even if it nudges the singer closer to the center of producer/mentor David Foster's MOR pop sensibilities. Eschewing much of its predecessor's more overt classic-lite pretensions and pop-rock covers for a slate of dramatic, Eurocentric ballads that serve as a showcase for the singer's inviting baritone, Groban shrewdly positions himself as the American alternative to the Bocelli-Watson crossover axis. "Caruso" may find the singer falling short of its operatic inspiration, but "Oceano" and "My Confession" quickly showcase his true dramatic range (which seems to all but yearn for a bona fide Broadway musical challenge), while a vocal take of Bacalov's graceful "Il Postino" theme uses classical virtuoso Joshua Bell's violin flourishes to good effect. To his credit, Groban displays some promising efforts at songwriting collaboration on the bittersweet "Per Te" and "Remember When It Rains," while the ambient/ethnic soundscape of Deep Forest's "Never Let Go" offers a teasing alternative to the record's otherwise melodramatic production formula. Groban has found commercial triumph via Foster's mentoring, but there remains a nagging sense here that he hasn't truly pushed himself as an artist--yet. --Jerry McCulleyCustomer Reviews:
Beautiful Soul.......2007-07-13
Happy listening.......2007-06-27
fantastic voice.......2007-06-01
CLOSER-JOSH GROBIN.......2007-05-14
HOT! HOT! HOT!.......2007-05-10
Average customer rating:
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We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song
Various Artists Manufacturer: Verve ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000PA9Q3M Release Date: 2007-06-05 |
Tracks:
- A Tisket a Tasket - Natalie Cole
- Lullaby Of Birdland - Chaka Khan
- The Lady Is a Tramp - Queen Latifah
- Dream a Little Dream Of Me - Diana Krall
- (You'll Have To Swing It) Mr. Paganini - Natalie Cole
- Oh Lady Be Good! - Dianne Reeves
- Reaching For the Moon - Lizz Wright
- Blues In the Night - Ledisi
- Miss Otis Regrets - Linda Ronstadt
- Someone To Watch Over Me - Gladys Knight
- Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me - Etta James
- Angel Eyes - K.D. Lang
- Too Close For Comfort - Michael Buble
- You Are the Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder
- Airmail Special - Nikki Yanofsky
Amazon.com
Covering songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald is a daunting endeavor, since only Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan challenge her place as the premier female jazz vocalist in history. But the late Fitzgerald inspired and influenced a wide array of talented acolytes--from Natalie Cole to k.d. lang to Dianne Reeves--many of whom gather on this spirited, Phil Ramone-produced tribute to partially benefit the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation. Cole, backed by an eager gaggle of call-and-response male worshippers, breathes fun new life into the swingy "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," while Chaka Khan, showcasing the breadth of her range, delivers a transporting rendition of the enchanting jazz blues "Lullaby of Birdland." (The two also team up for a delicious scat-fest on "Mr. Paganini.") If lang is equally transfixing on the ballad "Angel Eyes," it's newcomer Ledisi who steals the show with "Blues in the Night," her expansive soprano often mimicking a muted or full-tilt trumpet, one of Fitzgerald's hallmarks. Performances from Etta James and Nikki Yanofsky also rivet, even if Diana Krall and Hank Jones's "Dream a Little Dream of Me" comes across as a little too sleepy, and Gladys Knight is probably not the best singer for "Someone to Watch Over Me." The album surprises with a live duet ("You Are the Sunshine of My Life") between Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder, recorded at the 1977 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Although it seems tacked on, it doesn't grate nearly as much as Michael Bublé's "Too Close for Comfort," so slick it would put an eel to shame. Skip over that transgression, and turn to the antidote of Lizz Wright's sultry take on the melancholy "Reaching for the Moon," which plumbs emotional depths not even the ever-joyous Great Lady managed to attain. --Alanna NashAlbum Description
A star-studded album from legendary producer Phil Ramone pays tribute to one of the most celebrated female vocalists of all time, Ella Fitzgerald.
This CD includes performers such as Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Ledisi, Lizz Wright, Queen Latifah, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Linda Ronstadt, Dianne Reeves and more.
Customer Reviews:
We all Love Ella.......2007-07-18
Notable Tribute.......2007-07-16
This is good, but I love Ella more than the folks trying to sing her.......2007-07-03
Of the tributes, Ledisi's "Blues in the Night" blew me away. Her vocalese imitation of a trumpet was one of the best impressions I have ever heard.
I also liked hearing Natalie Cole and Chaka Khan in duet on "If you can't sing it, you'll have to swing it." Etta James' alto was definitely refreshing on "Wait til you hear from me." She's the only woman on the CD with a voice in the lower registers and definitely different from the other vocalists.
Great CD, especially for someone new to trad jazz.......2007-06-27
Should Be A Grammy Winner In 2008!.......2007-06-11
There are so many other highlights on 'We All Love Ella', BUT the failure to include songs by TWO prominent Ella disciples (Patti Austin & Dee Dee Bridgewater), was questionable (IMO). Both of these legendary singers recorded Ella tribute projects in the past ('Dear Ella' & 'For Ella' respectively!), and they could've shined on this new CD singing 'Our Love Is Here To Stay' & 'How High The Moon ?'. Both of these songs are Ella classics without question, but are absent on 'We All Love Ella'. Oh well, maybe Verve will cook up Volume 2 ?
All in all 'We Love Ella - Celebrating The First Lady Of Song' is a first rate tribute to an American Icon, and I applaud everyone involved for the great music...which is one of the finest 'tribute' projects in recent memory. I'd also like to thank Phil Ramone for NOT releasing a shabby collection of songs (most of those countless 'remake' CDs on Shanachie Records comes to mind!!). Obviously a lot of thought & time was invested in producing 'We All Love Ella', so I'd recommend it to jazz lovers everywhere.
Peace, SD
(of 'Chakasworld')
Album Review:
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- Mishaps Happening
- Modus Operandi
- Mushroom Jazz, Vol. 2
- Music Sounds Better With You [CD-single]
- Nothing Fails [CD-single]
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