Symbol [Import]

1. Long Long Silk Bridge

2. Purple Rose Minuet

3. Traveler in the Wonderland

4. Song of the Sleeping Forest

5. Plateau Which the Zephyr of Flora Occupies

6. Fairy Dance of Twinkle and Shadow

7. Flaming Love and Destiny

8. Dying Black Swan

9. Blue Sky and Yellow Sunflower

10. Capriccio and the Innovative Composer

11. I Close the Doop Upon Myself

12. Symbol of Live, Love, And Aesthetics

13. Music from the Lake Surface

Tracks:

The Dead Flag Bues
East Hastings
Providence

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

On first listen, Montreal collective Godspeed You Black Emporer sounds familiar, like sonic-landscape architects the Dirty Three. But pay closer attention to this debut full-length and you'll find something much more compelling: G.Y.B.E. mix found sounds, voices, lilting string sections, and musique concrète into structures that tell a story. With each listen, a new plot twist is unraveled, a new movie sample identified--you start to listen closely with headphones to pick up new subtleties you couldn't hear previously. Three tracks, a bit over an hour, of great music that defies categorization. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com

It's hard to imagine this disc coming out of Montreal or, really, any urban habitat. The postrock instrumentals on f#a#(infinity symbol), distantly related to the sounds made by the Australian band Dirty Three, serve as walking music for a loner hoping to hitch a ride in the middle of the Arizona desert and dealing with the inevitability of another night in coyote territory. Godspeed's swelling array of guitars, bagpipes, cellos, violins, trumpets, and drums is riveted together with an understated hope that is emotionally clutching, often devastating. This core of heavy Midwestern stoicism, saturated with waves of strings, hardcore interludes, and ripples of Morricone guitar, leaves listeners with the understanding that there is no escape from the badlands that surround and permeate us. --Michael Woodring

Customer Reviews:

great debut.......2007-06-16

I totally love this record. Their music here is based less on noise and more on melodies. It's a really great album even if it's quite different to their later releases.
I remember when I first heard this album many years ago I was totally captivated.

-- I have.......2007-05-18

this is one work that demands your full attention and time (three songs at aprox. 1 hour total) so just set back and take the ride,brilliant glorious music , just fall into it ---

blew my mind........2007-04-12

this album gives me goosebumps.
it sends me through a roller-coaster of emotions!

it is totally epic.

this was the first album i ever heard by godspeed in my life, so it was a pretty much life changing moment. haha.

it needs to be listened to in one sitting though,
no other way should be allowed.

A Post Apocalyptic Soundscape.......2007-03-26

"We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine, and the machine is bleeding to death". Those are the first words you hear as Godspeed You Black Emperor's F#A#oo begins to play. A low, quiet, droning sound is heard as an aged man reminisces about the end of times. Immediately, the listener becomes aware that this is no ordinary album. It instantly comes off as being extremely dark and depressing, but at the same time it grabs you with a sense of eery curiosity. Although words like "dark" and "grim" may set off a death metal precognition, that would be false. These sounds are smooth and elegant, not the least bit offensive as a raging metal power chord. Think of a slow, droning air raid siren off in the distance on a cloudy day to get the feel of the "dark" sounds present in F#A#oo.

And those sounds fit perfectly with the style of this album. Unlike conventional rock or pop music, this album has more in common with classical music. Each of the three songs on F#A#oo is over 15 minutes long. Each song could subsequently be broken down into multiple movements, almost like a symphony. The band has over 10 members and lots of instruments at their disposal (everything from violins and brass to guitars). The resulting sounds are varied but minimalist in nature. But because of the obvious departure from conventional bands this album can and will be a complete turn off to most first time listeners. While I may have a hard time convincing people with bad first impressions for whatever reason they may have, I can try to let them know what makes this album such a gem. Anyone who is willing to push aside any initial qualms with F#A#oo will certainly appreciate it.

The first track is titled "The Dead Flag Blues" and seems to float around theme present in the monologue spoken at the start of the album. There are no lyrics in F#A#oo, only spoken words. After nearly nine minutes the music seems to have gone no where. Just airy, grim, chords and a faint high pitched fluttering of a guitar string acts as the build to the main theme which begins about 10 minutes in. There's no melody present in these first nine minutes, just the sounds of instruments emulating what you could perceive as environmental sounds. As if you were standing in open barren landscape with a cold wind blowing over dark skies.

One might be quick to lash out that that could be nine minutes of filler but they would be mistaken. Those nine minutes set the scene. Those sounds swirl around in your mind and put you in the mood of the song. The artists then takes that and very very slowly speeds it up, adds a few notes here or there. Over that time, almost without notice, the music is rising in tension and building up. Eventually you become aware of the build up and the song will explode into a melody or a solo which in time tapers back off into barely nothing, all while remaining elegant and smooth.

The music never gets technical and doesn't display any sort of virtuosic instrument playing by any means, but It's these moments that make F#A#oo so great and memorable. Not only do the artists craft sound-scapes that can truly get the listener thinking, they do so with a certain elegance that's present because their minimalist approach. They're able to make sounds on their instrument that anyone can produce, but they craft them into situations that leave the listener thinking, "How could they possibly know to put that violin note with that trumpet sound? They fit perfectly together."

Like a movie, F#A#oo is best if experienced in long sessions. The whole thing could very well be listened through in one sitting, and that's not so hard because it's possible to get sucked into not want to come back out. This music leaves a lasting impression on the listener. The textures and production quality easily hypnotizes and keeps the listener enthralled as the songs progress. By the end of it all you're bound to leave with a deep melancholy feeling of lose. It's rare to come across such music that can hit all the right notes to trigger a response within the listener, and F#A#oo will have you in a different state of mind when the final sounds taper off. And while F#A#oo can easily be one of the most morbid, dark, and sad pieces ever written, that's also why it leaves such a lasting impression that sets it above a lot of music. Sometimes the saddest music is also the most beautiful.

All in all, F#A#oo is quite possibly one of the most thought inducing CDs I've ever heard. The apocalyptic sound-scapes almost instantly bring to mind scenes of devastation and barren, desolate landscapes. This runs through your mind the entire album which leads to a movie-like experience. To me, one of the greatest qualities that make up good music is the ability to move you and to transport you to another place and F#A#oo succeeds at doing this perfectly. The long track times and drawn out build ups may not be for everyone, but for us who are willing to look into something different for a change will be pleasantly surprised. Everyone should at least give this album a shot and experience some of the most thought provoking music ever.

A New Age Arises...And Rock Dies.......2007-03-21

Imagine the death of rock & roll as we know it. What would it sound like if rock was taking it's last breath? How would you sum up a life of rock and describe it as you lye suffering from the pain of knowing that death is certain with the next few days.
This album summarizes the above questions perfectly to me. The music moves slowly from a near stop to peaks of pure anxiety and back down again. As if a dying person was able to conjure enough energy every 5 or 10 minutes to express all of their lifes feelings...and then resting their eyes while they grasp for enough energy to continue their story...over and over until they ultimately pass.
Slow moving progessions of a story well told slowly but anxiously build to extremely energetic peaks of excitement. All of this done with a powerful guitar and drum supported by a symphany of instruments...almost like a soundtrack to life, thus my point.

An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen

Average customer rating:

Ring introduction critique
FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE
Welcome back to a classic analysis
Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle
Very Functional

An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Deryck Cooke , Georg Solti , Wiener Philharmoniker , Anita Valkki , Berit Lindholm , Birgit Nilsson , Brigitte Fassbaender , Christa Ludwig , Claire Watson , Claudia Hellmann , Dame Gwyneth Jones , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Eberhard Wächter , George London , Gerhard Stolze , Gottlob Frick , Grace Hoffmann , Gustav Neidlinger , Hans Hotter , Helen Watts , Helga Dernesch , Hetty Plumacher , Ira Malaniuk , James King , Jean Madeira , Joan Sutherland , Kirsten Flagstad , Kurt Böhme , Lucia Popp , Marga Höffgen , Marilyn Tyler , Maureen Guy , Oda Balsborg , Paul Kuen , Régine Crespin , Set Svanholm , Vera Little , Vera Schlosser , Waldemar Kmentt , Walter Kreppel , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Baritones | Voices | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Wagner's Ring: Turning the Sky Round
Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sir Georg Solti
Decoding Wagner: An Invitation to His World of Music Drama (includes 2 CDs)
Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen / Levine, Metropolitan Opera (Complete Ring Cycle)
Ring of the Nibelung

ASIN: B00000424H
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Of All Great Musical Compositions... (Examples 1-4)
The Fundamental Symbol... (Examples 5-11)
Returning Now To The Nature Motive... (Examples 6, 12-16)
A Number Of Further Motives... (Examples 5, 17-21)
A Second, Much Smaller Family... (Examples 22-25)
So Much For Nature. (Examples 26-38)
The Cause Of The Deterioration... (Examples 39-44)
The Other Transformation... (Examples 45-48)
Several Other Motives... (Examples 49-52)
Two Further Motives... (Examples 41, 53-61)
The Basic Motive Associated With The Spear... (Examples 62-68)
Along Another, More Complex Line... (Examples 69-72)
In Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 69, 73-75)
Returning Now To Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 76-79)
Love Is Another Of The Central Symbols... (Examples 80-83)
Later In The Same Scene... (Examples 84-87)
Freia's Motive Has Two Independent Segments... (Examples 88-91)
The Label 'Flight'... (Example 92)
When Fasolt, In Scene Two Of Rhinegold... (Examples 93-98)
A Little Later In The Interlude... (Examples 99-103)

Tracks:

The Other New Motive... (Examples 104-109)
There Are Several Independent Love-Motives... (Examples 110-114)
The Characters In Whose Lives... (Examples 115-120)
One Further Motive Belongs... (Example 121)
The Sword Motive Recurs... (Examples 122-130)
Ironically, This Phrase... (Examples 131-135)
Closely Associated With Gutrune's Motive... (Examples 136-140)
Here We Come To The End... (Examples 141-146)
Complemtary To This Symbol... (Examples 147-149)
One Last Central Symbol... (Examples 150-157)
One Further Motive Connected... (Examples 158-161)
There Are One Or Two Motives... (Examples 162-168)
These Motives Of Alberich And Mime... (Examples 169-171)
Quite A Number Of The Subsidiary Motives... (Examples 172-176)
Besides This Family Of Motives... (Examples 177-180)
Our Final Example... (Examples 10, 181, 182)
In The Final Scene Of Gotterdammerung... (Examples 181-183)
Even More Masterly... (Examples 184-188)
Now If We Return... (Examples 189-191)
This Masterly Way... (Examples 192, 193)

Amazon.com

When Wagner set the Ring to music, he intended the orchestra to act in the fashion of a chorus from a classic Greek tragedy--setting the mood and commenting on the action. In order to allow a nonverbal musical line to reflect on the plot, Wagner developed a psychologically and musically complex symbology to communicate his thoughts to the listener. From the beginning the Ring has spawned numerous written commentaries on the relationships of the motif structure, but by using examples from the Decca Ring recording, Deryck Cooke's thoughtful spoken commentary is by far the most accessible guide for either the fledgling Ring enthusiast or the seasoned veteran. --Christian C. Rix

Customer Reviews:

Ring introduction critique.......2006-11-04

This is very worthwhile, at the same time it requires time, patience and attention, but it does provide some keys to better enjoyment of a sensational piece of music.

FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE.......2006-08-16

This may look an intimidating, daunting and dull prospect - a 2+ hour lecture on the motifs in the Ring. Don't be put off. Whether you're a relative novice to the Ring and want to find out what it's all about, more experienced with a desire to understand the composer's methods better or an afficionado who thinks he knows it all inside out, there is great pleasure as well as elucidation to be had from this set. Originally made to accompany the Decca Solti Ring, it contains a multitude of musical illustrations taken from those recordings as well as some specially recorded by Solti just for this Introduction.

It wasn't the first time this has been tried. The famous HMV sets from the late 20's also included recorded examples of over 100 motifs. (These, by the way, are available as part of the Pearl reissue of those wonderful HMV recordings). What that set lacked was the wonderful insights as well as the approachability of the talk by Deryck Cooke. Cooke was a great and much missed musicologist - a Mahler expert responsible for the performing edition of the Tenth Symphony still most played today, a fascinating explorer into the nature of music's basic building-blocks in his excellent book, The Language of Music, and an inspiring and elucidating critic of Wagner's work as shown by the fascinating book he left unfinished at his death, I Saw the World End.

On these CDs he does much more than list the leitmotifs and identify them as calling-cards. He shows the amazingly integrated and organic growth of the musical material that Wagner uses throughout his vast work. He demonstrates how motifs can change their sense and meaning as they evolve through the drama. And he shows how the complex combinations of motifs can radically advance both the musical and the dramatic narrative of the piece. There are even places where he corrects the misinterpretation of some of the motifs that had become ingrained from early commentators' false labels.

This set should engage and enlighten anyone with an interest in Wagner's huge and inexhaustible tetralogy. Do give it a try - no matter how far down the road to Wagnerianism you are.

Welcome back to a classic analysis.......2006-05-28

Deryck Cooke's lecture series upon THE RING is almost as much a classic by now as the Solti RING cycle, with which it was originally issued on LP, and from which it derives its musical examples. The difference is that whereas the Solti RING has been continuously in print ever since it was completed, and was among the first opera sets to benefit from the CD revolution, the Cooke analysis was for long almost totally unobtainable. Now we have it back. It should be welcomed: it is a classic. Cooke's mellow, deep voice with the hint of a Celtic burr - which made him ideal on BBC radio - patiently explains Wagner's melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic metamorphoses to such good effect that if you own this recording, you really require no other RING analysis. (A pity about the abrupt beginnings and endings of too many vocal and orchestral illustrations, though.) Musicology lost a fine, sensitive thinker with Cooke's premature death in 1976.

If all you want is dilettantish baby food, there are plenty of dumbed-down Wagner commentaries on the market, stretching from Anna Russell's famous monologue (which doesn't pretend to be anything other than a parody aimed at morons) to the latest standard-issue "Wagner-was-a-Nazi-boo-hiss" feuilleton (which, unfortunately, does). Without reasonable score-reading skill you will find Cooke useless, however diligently you have ploughed through Marx, Jung, Freud, or other gurus purportedly relevant to THE RING. Cooke expects you to use your brains and your musical sense. Quelle horreur. At today's BBC his "elitism" would render him unemployable.

Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle.......2006-05-15

I originally bought this set on vinyl in the early 70s when I discovered the Ring in college. I studied the records and booklet assiduously, and after about three run-throughs I finally started getting it. Wow! Thirty-five years later, I still remember Mr. Cooke's analyses of various motive families, and I don't know how I could have mastered and loved the Ring without him. I now own this set on CD and listen again on the rare occasion of attending a Ring performance. My wife calls me a "Ring nut," but of course I'm nuts about many other things as well.

Bottom line, buy this set and study it if the Ring has captivated you as it has countless others. The presentation is dry, but sticking with it brings measureless and longlasting rewards.

Very Functional.......2006-03-19

This CD set is excellent for what it sets out to do: present the leitmotives of the Ring according to their relationship to one another and their role in developing both characters and plotlines. Deryck Cooke's lectures on each motive are very insightful, very helpful at cueing the listener into the semantic aspect of Wagner's orchestral writing. The one drawback is that the musical examples are a bit jarring. Without fade-ins or -outs, the engineering is quite barbaric. And though the orchestra was, I believe, conducted by Solti, and is beautifully done, the vocal performances can be quite unpleasant. Point being: this is not background music, but in accomplishing what it sets out to do, it is very successful, and I don't know of anything else like it.

Average customer rating:

I love this CD!!!
John Bush's group before Anthrax...
Simply Amazing!!
Armored Saint's best

Symbol of Salvation
Armored Saint
Manufacturer: Metal Blade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Delirious Nomad
Raising Fear
Revelation
March of the Saint
Nod to the Old School

ASIN: B00008V5ZD
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Tracks:

Reign of Fire - Armored Saint
Dropping Like Flies - Armored Saint
Last Train Home - Armored Saint
Tribal Dance - Armored Saint
Truth Always Hurts - Armored Saint
Half Drawn Bridge [Instrumental] - Armored Saint
Another Day - Armored Saint
Symbol of Salvation - Armored Saint
Hanging Judge - Armored Saint
Warzone - Armored Saint
Burning Question - Armored Saint
Tainted Past - Armored Saint
Spineless - Armored Saint

Tracks:

Reign of Fire [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Dropping Like Flies [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Last Train Home [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Tribal Dance [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Truth Always Hurts [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Another Day [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Symbol of Salvation [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Hanging Judge [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Warzone [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Burning Question [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Tainted Past [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Spineless [*][Demo Version] - Armored Saint
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 1: Intro [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 1: The Writing Process Begins [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 1: Illness Hits Home [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 1: Now What? [*] - Brian Slagel

Tracks:

Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Now What? (Continued) [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Pick Up the Pieces [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Dave Jerdan [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Choosing the Songs and the ... - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: The Songs: Reign of Fire [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Dropping Like Flies [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Last Train Home [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Tribal Dance [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: The Truth Always Hurts [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Half Drawn Bridge - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Another Day [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Symbol of Salvation [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Hanging Judge ]*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Warzone [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Burning Question [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Tainted Past [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Spineless [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Mixing [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Cover Art [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Looking Back [*] - Brian Slagel
Interview With Brian Slagel, Pt. 2: Goodbye and Thank You [*] - Brian Slagel

Album Description

Re-release of the bands top-selling 1991 album with two bonus videos 'Reign of Fire' & 'Last Train Home' plus 2 extra discs - disc #2 includes the Symbol Of Salvation pre-production 4 track demos with all guitar tracks performed by original guitarist Dave Prichard, plus Pt. 1 of December 2002 interview by Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records with Armored Saint. Disc #3 features Pt. 2 of the interview. Two standard jewel cases housed in a slipcase. Metal Blade. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

I love this CD!!!.......2006-08-24

Armored Saint at their best. The demos on this even doubles the dosage on this classic CD. If you are a fan of this genre, you will like Armored Saint. A "must-have" for any Hard Rock/Metal fan. Need I say more?

John Bush's group before Anthrax..........2005-01-11

...sadly this is how a lot of people remember Armored Saint today. I too thought of the group this way as I actually heard John Bush with Anthrax before I knew of Armored Saint. I loved his vocals so I decided to purchase an album from his "old band" to see what it was like. Low and behold our local CD store had a deluxe 3 disc edition of Symbol of Salvation for sale for a cheap price of $15. I quickly picked it up. Wow, I wasn't just impressed...I was blown away. Symbol of Salvation is just an amazing album with smart lyics and great vocals. After hearing Salavation, I find it a shame that Armored Saint is now mostly remembered as "John Bush's group before Anthrax" as they are a super talented band that should be remembered more than just that. I have since bought every Saint album and have actually learned to like the band even better than Bush's Anthrax outings. So if your Anthrax fan and are deciding on whether or not to purchase some Armored Saint...DO, especially this awsome 3 disc edtion of Symbol of Salvation. If your gonna remaster a disc, this is the way to do it! Two extra cds of demos and interviews...I must be in heaven!

Simply Amazing!!.......2003-06-19

It is so nice to see a re-release of Armored Saint's best work. The remaster is crisp and loud, and just a superb transfer to listen to.

The big shocker is Disc #2, which contains the demos for most of the songs contained on SOS. The late Dave Prichard's guitar work is incredible. The quality is better than most live discs out there today. There is a raw, gritty, and heartfelt vibe to the entire thing; which breathes new life into these great songs.
This is a great buy for any Armored Saint fan, as well as for anybody needing lessons when it comes to what Old School Heavy Metal was (and is) all about. Cheers!!

Armored Saint's best.......2003-06-08

"Symbol of Salvation" is clearly Armored Saint's best work. This remastered version sounds unbelievable. The drums on "Reign of Fire" are so much clearer and fuller than they are on the original pressing of the CD.

The bonus CDs are great as well. In particular, it is neat to hear 12 of the 13 tracks on "Symbol of Salvation" recorded with Prichard on lead guitar.

This is a great price for 3 cds. Buy this.

Pi (Symbol)
Average customer rating:

Brilliant work by the main man from Pop Will Eat Itself, Mr. Clint Mansell

Impressive!!!!!,,,(thoughts from an independent film director)

eh...i thought it was going to be better than expected.

The best IDM sampler soundtrack CD ever made.

Stands the test of time: does musical justice to the movie

Pi (Symbol)
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Thrive
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
1990s | By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Requiem for a Dream (2000 Film)

The Fountain

Pi

Great American Favorites

Fight Club: Original Motion Picture Score

ASIN: B000009MZW
Release Date: 1998-07-21

Tracks:

Pi (Symbol)r2 - Clint Mansell
P.E.T.R.O.L. - Orbital
Kalpol Intro - Autechre
Bucephalus Bouncing Ball - Aphex Twin
Watching Windows - Roni Size
Angel - Massive Attack
We Got The Gun - Clint Mansell
No Man's Land - David Holmes
Anthem - Gus Gus
Drippy - Banco De Gaia
Third from the Sun - Psilonaut
A Low Frequency Inversion Field - Spacetime Continuum
2Pi (Symbol)r - Clint Mansell

Amazon.com

The soundtrack to the cyberthriller Pi stands on its own as a fine compilation, and fans of the artists featured on this soundtrack will be delighted to hear solid offerings from the likes of Aphex Twin, Massive Attack, Spacetime Continuum, David Holmes, Orbital, and a mix of Roni Size's "Watching Windows" by Ed Rush and Optical. Those who have seen the film but are unfamiliar with the artists will be happily exposed to great music and should enjoy this incredibly cohesive, thematic piece. Even artists like Gus Gus and Banco De Gaia fit perfectly into this mix. The music is as complicatedly paranoid as the film's protagonist, Max Cohen, and as rhythmic and precise as the film's antagonist--the numeric system. Cohen's dialogue is interspersed through the soundtrack for a nice touch. --Aaron Tassano

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant work by the main man from Pop Will Eat Itself, Mr. Clint Mansell.......2006-12-16

An album that so thoroughly completes the movie, that listening to the album brings your right back to the tense, edgy, agitated, gripping story that is Pi. A great album on it's own, but far more powerful once the movie has been seen. In fact... I doubt the movie would have had such a striking impact without this soundtrack. Watch the movie, then do it with the sound off and you'll see what I mean. Enjoy!

Impressive!!!!!,,,(thoughts from an independent film director).......2006-06-04

The folks out here giving this soundtrack a 1 star should get christina anguilera and be happy with that less imaginative lifestyle.

eh...i thought it was going to be better than expected........2005-09-02

Well first off the CD did not come in a case (not even a CD sleeve) but thats the least of problems. The CD was not impressive as a whole. There was only 2 good songs on that CD, which sadly (I think) were the ones they kept playing on the movie I guess, because thats the reason I bought it. Anyways.......you win some, you lose some....I consider this one a loss.

The best IDM sampler soundtrack CD ever made........2005-08-29

The movie was a "low budget" production, but certainly not a "low budget appeal" film. I loved this dark surrealistic film. I love films when the main character is narrating throughout the film. Max Cohen is sharing the madness of the mental processing of information going on in his mind. Forcing his brain to come up with absolute answers involving numbers and patterns. And he suffers serious migraine headaches, as a result from it. So what do you get from a film which combines super intelligence with insanity? A soundtrack of IDM music.

All this music represents intelligence and madness. It may not impress alot of kids because it does have some softer, but yet nerving instrumental passages that build up to a more intense outcome. I think this movie and soundtrack is for older people to understand. Perhaps a "college nerd" may relate to the concept here. On this concept, perhaps those 30 years old or younger may appreciate the techno intelligence of the three "Hackers" soundtracks (artists like Prodigy, Leftfield, and Moby may be more what they could relate to.)

Dark ambient electronica. I guess that's what I would call this soundtrack of "Pi". This CD is a great introduction to the IDM artists available here.

Since I've seen this movie, and bought this (hard to find) CD, I've bought some other CD's from some artists here. I have become an "Autechre" fanatic. I have everything that they've possibly done. I've bought alot of Aphex Twin, and I have investigated other works from the other artists on this album soundtrack.

I think this soundtrack is out of print. I can't even find it "used" anywhere. When you can't find a CD "used" at a used CD store, you know it's got to be really good. People are holding on to it.

Using my own typical deductions, I have learned that, if you wanna see if a new album is any good, see how many copies of that particular album is available in the "used" bin at a used CD store. If there are many, you will know that it's proven to be undesirable. Each copy that you see in the "used" bin, is like seeing a negative review.

"Pi" is a classic! It may take a couple of listenings before you truly embrace the message behind this collection. Even I didn't take to it right away when I first heard it, but that was because I was totally unfamiliar with this kind of music. Now, I absolutely love it! It is, in fact, my favorite soundtrack CD. Only, "The City of Lost Children", "Cat People", Midnight Express", "A Clockwork Orange", "Escape From New York", and maybe "Phantasm", could be a close second, and third, etc. I love "horror" soundtracks. "Pi" is horror through intelligence. If it's dark and disturbing, I will embrace the darkness that it conjures.

Stands the test of time: does musical justice to the movie.......2004-12-28

Well over six years after its original release, the soundtrack of the movie "Pi" has stood the (initial) test of time. This in itself, considering the genre it lives in, is quite a feat. Most of tracks come from the world of beats, electronica, trance, ambient, drum-and-bass and the like, which -as we know- are extra-prone to becoming obsolete in no time. But perhaps the careful selection of the lineup of artists that delivered the music to the movie allows the album to continue to offer something now that electronica has somewhat passed its prime.

As for my favorite tracks, there's not one I dislike among the first six tracks. As for Clint Mansell's tracks (check out his soundtrack to "Requiem for a Dream" too -you'll enjoy it), which lie at the core of the movie's musical spirit, they connect the listener with the movie better than any other tracks. As a whole, the soundtrack is less than perfect (tracks by Roni Size, Aphex Twins and Autechre I can live without), but it does musical justice to a movie that has already become a cult indie film classic.

Average customer rating:

Arm yourself for some prime metal!
Great classic metal and hard rock
A must have for all metal listeners !!
Awesome!...
The album you only heard on KNAC

Symbol of Salvation
Armored Saint
Manufacturer: Metal Blade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Raising Fear
Revelation
March of the Saint
Delirious Nomad
Nod to the Old School

ASIN: B000007T6V
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Reign Of Fire
Dropping Like Flies
Last Train Home
Tribal Dance
The Truth Always Hurts
Half Drawn Bridge
Another Day
Symbol Of Salvation
Hanging Judge
Warzone
Burning Question
Tainted Past
Spineless

Customer Reviews:

Arm yourself for some prime metal!.......2005-01-07

I can't really say much more than what the previous reviewers have already stated, so let me just reiterate what an incredible metal masterpiece this is. I borrowed this CD from my brother back when it was first released. Living in L.A., I had known of Armored Saint for quite awhile and had actually seen them in a very small club back in the early eighties before they were signed. However, I had never really taken them too seriously until I heard this album. After just one listen, I was amazed at how good it was. It instantly became a disc that I considered one of the best metal albums I had ever heard. What makes it so good? Well, like some of the other reviewers have said, it's the songs. The lyrics and the overall song structure are just awesome. But, more than anything else, it's the fact that it never slows from beginning to end, it's one great song after another. There are very few albums that I can honestly say that about. Like everyone else, I have my personal favorites, but every track is really good, and to this day (14 years later) it remains one of my favorite albums of all time. If you like hard rock/heavy metal and haven't heard this one, you really should treat yourself. It'll grab you from the first chords and never let go!

Great classic metal and hard rock.......2004-06-23

I am not familiar with other Armored Saint releases, but I am very impressed with this album. I would rank this album as one of the best classic metal albums of all time. I consider it 'classic' because it is in the vein of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, descended straight from the line of great heavy metal of the '70s and '80s, mixed in with a hint of glam and hair metal.

John Bush's excellent vocals are the high point of the album. He can hit some very high notes and has a great range. In my opinion, Bush is competant even with the great heavy metal singers such as Bruce Dickinson, Geoff Tate, and Rob Halford. I even think Bush's voice is similar to that of Steven Tyler. The other instruments - guitars, bass, and drums - are all very well done. They seem to be placed very well within the song; they are able to both show off and fit within the context of the song at the same time. The songwriting is exceptional on this album.

Now for the actual songs. "Reign of Fire" is probably the best song on the album, being both very heavy and having an incredibly infectious chorus. "Dropping Like Flies" is also a very strong song, probably my favorite. It too has a very infectious chorus. I dislike "Last Train Home" because it reminds me too much of an '80s power ballad, like something Motley Crue would do. It is a single however, and also a good song at that. "Tribal Dance" has an interesting tribal percussion part at the beginning and turns out to be a decent heavy song. "The Truth Always Hurts" is a funky sort of song that has more of a loose feel to it. "Half Drawn Bridge" is a great atmospheric guitar solo played over a slow bassline. "Another Day" and "Tained Past" also show tendencies toward the power ballad style. The title track, "Symbol of Salvation" is an excellent metal song that picks up the slack where the mellowness of "Another Day" left off. It sports high pitched vocals and Iron Maiden-style riffs. "Hanging Judge", "Warzone", and "Burning Question" keep the end of the album rocking hard. The final song "Spineless" is a fast and thrashy metal song that will please the fans of heavier genres.

Overall, this is a well written and well executed album that shows a great example of classic metal and hard rock. This album will appeal to a variety of metal fans, including fans of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Queensryche, and others. Also fans of Dokken, Whitesnake, and other hard rock bands may appreciate this record. I highly recommend you buy this album and see how good hard rock and metal should be played, instead of the overproduced and talentless music that is often popular.

A must have for all metal listeners !!.......2003-06-09

Armored Saint. That's the band !! I perfectly remember myself when i bought this cd at Bayside, Miami. I came to USA with a couple of heavy metal mags and one of these was reviewing "Symbol of Salvation". So, when i entered the cd shop with a list of some titles, the first i ask for was this magnific piece !! Crazy to listen, when i return to Brazil i put that loud on my sound equipment and start bangin'... Bangin' 'til death !! Armored Saint's "Symbol of Salvation" is in my opinion one of the best albums heavy metal genre made ever. The guitar notes, the lines, the lyrics, the sound, everything here is perfect !! John Bush sings emotively from the beggining to the end while Gonzo destroys the kit and the rest of the band shakes your ears like a vulcain ready to starts the eruption. If you don't have this one, run fast to buy. You'll understand what i'm sayin'. "Symbol of Salvation". The key to discover what the word "perfection" in Heavy Metal means...

Awesome!..........2003-03-23

Definately one of the best heavy albums ever!Almost every song just [rocks]!Rain of fire,Tainted Past,Hanging judge.....Just b cool and buy it...

The album you only heard on KNAC.......2002-06-30

I remember 1991 very well. I was a year out of high school and making the 50 mile drive to Anahiem 5 times a week. I was attending video school and spending a minimum of 2 hours a day in my car Mon-Fri, mostly in traffic. But what got me through was my radio, which was tuned into 105.5 KNAC. As you probably know, KNAC is now online but at that time it was the most well known hard rock radio station in the world (It still is, in fact). But what really stands out now is a song I heard on the station called "Reign of fire" by Armored Saint. I liked the song so much I went out and bought the album. I loved it from the start, not able to this day to pin point any certain songs that are better or worse. The album is a package with no filler or waste. It was interesting that John Bush went from this band to Anthrax and pretty much changed Anthrax into a second rate Armored Saint. I would have prefered Anthrax stay Anthrax and Armored Saint stay who they were. But at the time Anthrax had great prospects, like being signed to Elektra and the big hit "Bring the noise" with Public Enemy brought them to the trendy set. But "..White noise" & "Stomp 242" failed to live up to Anthrax's or Armored Saints pasts and Elektra dropped them. Beyond Records signed Anthrax and released "Vol 8" which was better, but still not anywhere near as good as this album. This is the best example of how Armored Saint was before all that nonsense happened. A time machine back to 1991.

Average customer rating:

An overlooked reggae gem.
Symbol of Reality

Symbol of Reality
The Gladiators
Manufacturer: Nighthawk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music

Rocksteady | Reggae | International | Styles | Music

Ska General | Ska | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Reggae | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Trench Town Mix Up
Serious Thing
Proverbial Reggae
Sweet So Till
Full Time

ASIN: B000003903
Release Date: 1997-09-30

Tracks:

The Gladiators
Symbol Of Reality
Symbol Of Reality
Small Axe
Bumping And Boring
Cheater
Watch Out
Mister Goose
Streets Of Gold
Righteous Man
Stand Alone
Not Afraid To Fight

Customer Reviews:

An overlooked reggae gem........2004-01-09

In a time when many roots reggae bands were trying to increase sales by incorporating dancehall elements into their sound, Albert Griffiths instead focused on producing a fully realized version of his classic reggae sound. Several of the Gladiators' earlier tracks are remade and given new life by this era's increase in sound quality. In addition, all the new tunes on this disc are of such quality that they easily match this band's previous output (which is quite an accomplishment). I cannot recommend this album enough, it ranks among the top ten reggae albums of the '80s and continues to be as powerful a reggae album as you could ever find. Buy this album and give this band, who has continued churning out quality roots music for over thirty-five years, some much deserved recognition.

Symbol of Reality.......2001-06-19

Every reggae lover must have this crucial c.d. It's funny how a lot of roots fans are not that familiar with this band because in my opinion, while Bob was number one, the Gladiators were number two, but not by much. Singer Albert Griffiths sings in a very Jahful way and the rest of the band is amazing. "Symbol of Reality" deserves much praise. I'm surprised that I am the first one on Amazon to review such an irie album. It must be added to your collection.

Average customer rating:

A recent favorite.
Defective By Design Product
This one blew me away!
Meh...
Great album to listen to at night

Symbol of Life
Paradise Lost
Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Host
Paradise Lost
Gothic
Believe in Nothing
Draconian Times

ASIN: B00006L3LQ
Release Date: 2002-11-12

Tracks:

Isolate
Erased
Two Worlds
Pray Nightfall
Primal
Perfect Mask
Mystify
No Celebration
Self-Obsessed
Symbol Of Life
Channel For The Pain
Xavier
Small Town Boy

Customer Reviews:

A recent favorite........2007-05-01

I first discovered Paradise Lost in 2005 when I purchased Draconian Times on a whim. Although it took some time for me to warm up to its unfamiliar sound (I'm admittedly no doom metal aficionado), I eventually grew to love classics like "Hallowed Land" and "Elusive Cure." It wasn't until last month however that I decided to further invest into PL's catalog, which I did with this album and Icon. Now I'm hooked, and I can't wait to get my hands on some of their other albums!

The sound of Symbol of Life is noticeably different from that of both Icon and Draconian Times. Gone are the bleak, depressing guitar passages that graced songs like "Joys of the Emptiness," and there's much more emphasis on catchy hooks and melodic, less strained vocals. While many tend to prefer their original signature sound, I think the later material is just as good. How infectious anthems such as "Erased" and "Isolate" haven't become world-renown chart-toppers is simply beyond me, but the real magic lies in the hypnotic "Pray Nightfall" - by far one of my favorite PL songs already. Nick Holmes has definitely improved his vocals over the years, and his low-pitched ones are the best. "Perfect Mask" is a great rocker, featuring some nice riffs and a catchy chorus. Other highlights include the haunting "Mystify" and the depressive "Channel for the Pain." What's more is the two bonus tracks, which are a must - especially their rendition of Bronski Beat's "Small Town Boy," which is easily one of the catchiest songs in existence.

I highly recommend this album. As much as I enjoy bands like Moonspell and Tiamat, I must say that after hearing this, Paradise Lost have won me over! Get yourself a copy of this album, and while you're at it, Icon and Draconian Times. I in the meantime shall be setting my sights on the other albums. :)

Highlights: Isolate, Erased, Pray Nightfall, Perfect Mask, Mystify, Small Town Boy

Defective By Design Product.......2006-10-27

For those of you who care about their freedom don't buy this album. Not because of the artistic content of the disk, which is at the top (thank you Paradise Lost and Rhys Fulber) but because of the copy protection mechanism. Not only the disk may not play in your car cd-player, but you can play it on your computer only with the poor quality software "included" in the disk.
express yourself, defend your freedom, don't buy protected-content CDs.

This one blew me away!.......2006-08-23

After picking up the band's self titled album I felt a need to catch up on what I had missed from Draconian Times... This album has put all others to shame. It is currently the most played in my car. Anyone into the "goth" genre of music needs this album. There isn't a single track that will be skipped on this one. The mix of dark and heavy riffs are well complimented by incredible melody and perfectly fit vocals. Three tracks that stand out in my mind are "Erased" which have a beautiful mix of melody with a wonderful female vocal accompanyment. "Prey Nightfall" is by far the best track on the album with an dark yet pleasing feeling to the song. The last of the standouts is the titled "Symbol of Life" with a catchy beat and a dark rhythmic beat it brings this album to almost epic levels. Again any fan of "goth" music should add this to your collection posthaste!

Meh..........2005-04-26

Paradise Lost could have been the band to blow doom out to the open market but instead chose to take the path often traveled and slipped into the softer "goth rock" mode that plagues so many bands that wish to reach a larger audience. I for one noticed that with the haircuts went the (...) and what we have hear is a well produced goth-rock CD with occasional metal guitars and a few carefully placed goth-hook choruses to sell the band to a larger worldwide audience/movement. Thankfully for us, sales didn't spike as they hoped and the band has found themselves releasing a record that takes their past glories and dumbs them down to a science of pop-goth-metal that does little to bolster either genre or the credibility of Paradise Lost.

Many of the songs feature a droning mix of keyboards and guitars that lack the mournful feel of the early albums or the vibrant mix of other (still lame) successful goth-metal acts. "Erased" features an infectious chorus bit as do a few others but it does little to show the band as serious artists. The vocals are the same, the guitars/keys play the same melodies...but the writing is of a lighter heart that finds the band reaching out to the gothic danceclubs instead of the sweaty metal underworld. In doing so, the songs lack any form of serious conviction. This is an unfortunate leaning that not even an infectious goth-pomp chorus can erase.

Paradise Lost have sold their souls to the mundane. No longer powerful doom, not good enough at the gothic movement to become celebrities outside of a nation they already ruled...the band is lost in a river without a paddle on this record.

If you love gothic metal or desire every single thing the band has released this will have it's moment for you...but on a whole the record reflects as insincere, cold and without artistic purpose.

Skip it and buy "Gothic" or "Icon".

Great album to listen to at night.......2004-12-21

Ninth album from former Doom Metal band Paradise Lost. Compared to the later releases like Believe in Nothing, One Second and especially Host, Symbol Of Life album sounds heavier. The music on Symbol Of Life album still cannot be compared with albums like Gothic or even Draconian Times, but the term Metal can be mentioned again. Especially the fast and heavy "Channel For The Pain" and also the fast "Self-obsessed" remind me of songs from Draconian Times. "Self-obsessed" shows some harmonic leads that I missed on One Second, Host and Believe In Nothing. The band still uses electronics, but not as often as on other recent albums. One of the best tracks is "Erased", with some soothing female vocals. Nick Holmes his vocals are good, but I prefer his cleaner, melodic voice on the album Believe In Nothing.

An overall strong side of the album is the diversity. Not only the pace of the song, but also the balance between the use of guitars and electronics changes per song. The music on the album is melancholic, but who would expect something different from this band? One day I listened to the album after midnight and I really enjoyed it. The day after that I listened to the album in the middle of the day and the album was not half as good as the day before. I therefore recommend people to listen to the album at night.

The only problem that I have with this album and also with most other albums from Paradise Lost, is that the songs are too short. There aren't any (semi)length instrumental parts. The songs are well written, but too damn short. I also think that the songs on Believe In Nothing are better, but Symbol Of Life still is a great album.

Average customer rating:

Postmodern Pastiche reaches State of Grace

Symbol
Susumu Yokota
Manufacturer: Lo Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Grinning Cat
Sakura
The Boy And The Tree
Wonder Waltz
Martes

ASIN: B0008G2FIG
Release Date: 2005-07-19

Tracks:

Long Long Silk Bridge
Purple Rose Minuet
Traveler In The Wonderland
Song Of The Sleeping Forest
The Plateau Which The Zephyr Of Flora Occupies
Fairy Dance Of Twinkle And Shadow
Flaming Love And Destiny
The Dying Black Swan
Blue Sky And Yellow Sunflower
Capriccio And The Innovative Composer
I Close The Door Upon Myself
Symbol Of Life, Love, And Aesthetics
Music From The Lake Surface

Customer Reviews:

Postmodern Pastiche reaches State of Grace.......2007-05-11

Symbol is a sublime listening experience from the first track. Yokota is one of the most consistently original and interesting voices in electronic music, and this ranks as one of his finest releases, and my personal favorite. So, what does it sound like?

Each track on this album creates an atmospheric, beautiful, and extremely nuanced sound-world, drawing heavily on Yokota's Classical CD collection. Symbol will inspire you laptop composers to put your samplers to more creative uses. Each track is a creative collage of some familiar and some not so familiar classical motifs, cleverly (often brilliantly) cut up, rearranged, and stitched together on Yokota's computer. For example, track 12 alone uses samples from works by mahler, saint-saens, prokofiev, handel, bach, beethoven, and schumann. Sound like a mess? It's not--it's really a testament to the ability of such a creative composer (Yokota) to use such disparate elements and recombine them into a cohesive, accessible, and immediately distinctive composition. This is music that will appeal both to music snobs and those who just want a chill record. The music is extemely detailed, and essential headphones listening.

If there's a criticism of the album, maybe it's that the mood of the 13 tracks doesn't vary much--but I don't mind an album that never deviates from sublime, so I say 5 stars.

Average customer rating:

Sax Symbol
Sonny Rollins
Manufacturer: Proper UK Boxed Sets
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Little Giant
Strictly Lunceford
Klook's the Man
Bags of Soul
Doctor Jazz

ASIN: B000NVL0C8
Release Date: 2007-04-16

Tracks:

I Know
Time On My Hands
Mambo Bounce
This Love Of Mine
Shadrack
On A Slow Boat To China
With A Song In My Heart
Scoops
Newk's Fadeaway
In A Sentimental Mood
The Stopper
Almost Like Being In Love
No Moe
Movin' Out
Swiingin' For Bumsy
Silk 'N' Satin
Solid
I Want To Be Happy
The Way You Look Tonight

Tracks:

More Than You Know
There's No Business Like Show Business
Paradox
Raincheck
There Are Such Things
It's All Right With Me
I Feel A Song Coming On
Pent-Up House
Valse Hot
Kiss And Run
Count Your Blessings

Tracks:

My Reverie
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
Paul's Pal
When Your Lover Has Gone
Tenor Madness
You Don't Know What Love Is
St. Thomas
Strode Rode
Blue 7
Moritat
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face

Tracks:

The House I Live In
Bird Medley: I Remember You/My Melancholy Baby/They Can't Take That Away
B. Swift
My Ideal
Sonny Boy
Two Different Worlds
Ee-Ah
B. Quick
How Are Things In Glocca Morra

Album Description

2007 four CD box set on the Proper label featuring 50 classic recordings from the '50s that made Rollins a legend. Sonny Rollins is without doubt the greatest living saxophonist and has just entered the sixth decade in his illustrious career. The luminaries in attendance on these recordings include John Coltrane, Miles Davis, The MJQ and Thelonious Monk. The 52 page illustrated booklet tells Sonny's story and includes session detail and rare photos. Proper.

Album Details

Sonny Rollins Has Had a Long, Productive Career in Jazz, Beginning at the Age of 11 and Playing with Piano Legend Thelonious Monk Before Reaching the Age of 20. Rollins is Still Touring and Recording Today, Having Outlived Several of his Jazz Contemporaries Such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Art Blakey, all Performers with Whom He Has Recorded. We Feature Key Recordings from the Early 50s When He was Starting to Make a Name for Himself and Working with all of the above Aswell as the Likes of Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey and Donald Byrd. These Recordings Would Propel Rollins to Legendary Status.