Caress [Original recording remastered]

1. Catch the Rhythm

2. Charmed

3. You Got It Too Uptight

4. Love Spell

Tracks:

Bastille Day
I Think I'm Going Bald
Lakeside Park
The Necromancer: I. Into The Darkness/II. Under The Shadows/III. Return Of Prince
The Fountain Of Lamneth: I. In The Valley/II. Didacts And Narpets/III. No One At The Bridge/...

Customer Reviews:

Rush Takes A Huge Step Backwards - Oops!.......2007-07-08

After picking up Neil Peart after the departure of the mediocre John Rutsey, you could hear the direction change right away on Fly By Night. Neil brought so much to the band both with his phenomenal drumming and his excellent work as the band's main lyricist. Then...Caress Of Steel happened. This overly-ambitious piece of art-rock derailed their efforts. Building towards the perfection that 2112 would bring, the boys from Toronto went a bit too far with the conceptual song-writing and created an albumn that alienated many of their earlier listeners. The album would go on to be such a poor success that there would be no tour and they would head straight back into the studio to record the album that would rescue them from permanent anonymity, 2112. Let's look at the song listing:

Bastille Day - One of the two truly great songs on this entire album. Bastille Day is a straight ahead rocker with good riff and poignant lyrics. Geddy is in full wail here and Alex is rocking. Great tune.

I Think I'm Going Bald - Uh.... What? Now, I like this song, but many a critic has bashed it to death like a baby harp seal with a billy club. Hilarious, but apparently not what Rush fans were looking for. Sounds like a leftover from the first Rush album. I've lost a few more hairs. I think I'm ... I'm going bald. Oh yeah!

Lakeside Park - The other truly great song on this mess. Lakeside Park was written about a place not to far from where Neil was born (as Geddy tells us on All The World's A Stage). One of my favorites.

The Necromancer - This sprawling, sludgy, drear-fest clocks in at a little over 12 1/2 minutes long. Now, I think they were reading way too much Tolkien and smoking way too much hash during the writing and recording of this song. It is dragging and moody and depressing and I can't really bear to listen to it all that often. Samll spots of clarity make it an occasional listen, but that's all. You could O.D. on this song. What they were going for was clever and mythical, what they got was a song to get stoned to. The distorted narrative voice makes me cringe when I hear it. Wow.

The Fountain Of Lamneth - Ok, there are parts of this ponderous 20 minute opus that shine (the opening part of the suite) and there are parts that make you want to run away screaming (Didacts and Narpets). Overall, it is clearly better than The Necromancer, but it seems unfocused, erratic, clumsy.

The biggest problem with Caress Of Steel is that there was no flow with album at all. The songs didn't mesh as a whole and that's very distracting to the listener, not to mention that they had some very strange selections (Bald). You can feel that this is Rush trying too hard to be experimental and clever and it doesn't work very well. Like all Rush albums, it isn't unlistenable, there are still a few gems here. Not a big winner with their newly garnered fans back in the day, Caress Of Steel will always be considered Rush's greatest blunder.

Deal with it!

Among all the things wrong with this album,.......2007-06-18

From the botched cover, where the whole thing was supposed to be silver (as in steel) but it came out with a bronze look, to the 'Down the Tubes' tour that nearly had them dumped from the label, the music is the one saving grace. Musically, it's the real beginning of what was to follow for the next 5-6 years at least. But knowing the history of it gives it even more appeal, don't you think?

A difficult album to listen to: kind of depressing in a way (particularly 'The Fountain of Lamneth'), but irrepressible in the hold it gets on you. Even the much-loved '2112' doesn't grab you like this album does - once 'I Think I'm Going Bald' or 'Panacea' gets into your brain, it will NOT go away. And some of the riffs are still some of the best guitar parts ever. For that reason alone, it would be my favorite Rush album, beating even the ultimate 'Festival of Alex Lifeson' album, 'Permanent Waves.'

Rush - 'Caress Of Steel' (Mercury).......2007-05-25

Review no. 143. Third album from the premier Canadian power rock trio. First came out in fall, 1975. Remember those hilarious scenes from 'That '70's Show'? I, personally had experienced many like those when someone was actually playing a Rush album nearby. Until recently, I haven't heard this record all the way through for I don't know HOW many years now. Tracks here that've always done it for me were the opening rocker "Bastille Day", "Lakeside Park" and the twenty-minute REAL piece of progressive '70's rock epic "Fountain Of Lamneth: In The Valley/ Didacts And Narpets/ No One At". Never really fully understood what that tune is all about anyway but have always dug it, to no end. Long live RUSH!

Good attempt, but falls short in many ways.......2007-03-26

Clearly Rush bit off more than they could chew on their third album. This one is much more ambitious than "Fly by Night", but overall lacks the energy of their next album, the classic "2112". "The Necromancer" is a great song, but the other epic song on this album, "The Fountain of Lamneth" is not so good. The music is lackluster and the lyrics are overblown and pretentious. The other dog on the album is the silly "I Think I'm Going Bald".

The classic "Lakeside Park", "Bastille Day", and "The Necromancer" make this album worthwhile. Certainly any Rush fan is going to want to own this album, but people just getting started with Rush who want an introduction to their 70's era music should look to the albums from "2112" to "Hemispheres".

My favorite Caress.......2007-03-09

This is by far my favorite Rush album. It is not THEIR favorite according to things I've read and almost got them dropped from their label. But, DAMN, I'm glad they made it. The songs are all good (even Going Bald) and hint at their more polished and refined epics to come. The beauty of this album is listening closely to the instrumentation and performances. They are piecing it together with loving care and great attention to detail. This is a band with limitless possibilities and massive talent that is just discovering what it can do. An "awakening", if you will. The fact that these songs are experiments with new styles, emotions and arrangements and yet are still great and entertaining is mind-blowing. Lakeside Park and Bastille Day are the more commercial songs, but my favorites are The Fountain of Lamneth and The Necromancer. The middle section is, bar none, the heaviest thing Rush has ever recorded and builds masterfully to a crushing climax. The third section is good, but a little dragged out. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as an introduction to Rush. But someone who already has an appreciation for the band will find treasures waiting within.

Debussy for Daydreaming: Music to Caress Your Innermost Thoughts

Average customer rating:

Life Is But A Dream...
Beautiful, dreamy
Fabulous collection !
An excellent introduction to Debussy and French music
Dream and Classical music are magic

Debussy for Daydreaming: Music to Caress Your Innermost Thoughts

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Mozart for Meditation
Beethoven at Bedtime: A Gentle Prelude to Sleep
Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit
Baroque at Bathtime: A Relaxing Serenade to Wash Your Cares Away
Chopin and Champagne: Set Your Mood for Romance

ASIN: B0000041CL
Release Date: 1995-04-11

Tracks:

Syrinx
Maid With The Flaxen Hair
Clair de lune
Petit Suite - En Bateau
Reverie
La plue que lente (Valse)
Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun
String Quartet In G minor: Andantino doucement expressif
Sonata For Flute, Viola And Harp: Interlude
Arabesque No. 1
Valse romantique
Images For Orchestra: Perfumes Of The Night

Customer Reviews:

Life Is But A Dream..........2006-08-30

This CD is just pure magic. I know that is such a cliche' thing to say, but it really is. Of course, it really won't appeal to those people who are into EXTREME LIVING...whatever the hell that means, because to me, extreme living is living close to the soul, close to the spirit, close to the Invisible Source that makes and creates all things in and out of Itself.

Debussy was a composer who lived very close to this Invisible Stream. His music reflects a gentleness and yet a strength that flows throughout each composistion. The arrangements are dreamy and mystical and allows one to go into their "inner chamber" and pray in secret to the One who knows their heart as well as their soul.

As much as I love this CD, I tend not to listen to it in the car. I once listened to it while making a routine drive to Santa Monica. The CD stopped and I had somehow missed all of my exits and ended up in Ventura...talk about being in dreamland!

It's a great CD to put in your walkman and go to an outdoor cafe' where you can sip a cafe latte and write poems to an unknown lover whose face you cannot remember, but whose gentle breath is the scent of lavendar...oh, I wax poetic...so sorry...

If you are into quiet and stillness, get this CD...it's truly a breath of fresh air in this noisy, crowded, extreme world we have to be in but not necessarily of...

Peace & Blessings

Beautiful, dreamy.......2006-07-17

This music evokes both emotions and images of life waking up in spring, even being in a magical forest where anything can happen, or floating on clouds. You can just enjoy the music and let your imagination soar or the music can take you into that trance-like state where you can access creative ideas and creative solutions to any problems - and maybe they just dissolve of their own accord.

Fabulous collection !.......2005-09-13

If you like Debussy - whom I have heard called one of the progenitors of ambient music - you will love having his most inspiring and beautiful works together on one cd. These works are tranquil and serene, and yet they don't fade into the background - no matter what you are doing - because they are true art. When this cd is playing you can't help but listen and sigh. My cats love this cd, too.

An excellent introduction to Debussy and French music.......2005-06-30

Compilation CD's like this are an excellent first CD to purchase when first exploring a new composer or style of music ("Expressionism" in Debussy's case). And this Philip's "Set your Life to Music" collection is usually a sure and safe way to do that given their well thought-out selections, themes and quality recordings. This CD here contains many of the most popular, lyrical and enchanting works of the 19th-century French composer, Claude Debussy. The range of selections are diverse and satisfying: from his major solo piano works through his top chamber music (for 2-5 instruments) to the full-blown orchestral selections of great imagery and dreaminess that can transport one into another world of great serenity. (But, there are enough sudden changes in loudness and rhythm to upset any notions of perfect bliss and keep the daydreamer from falling asleep - hence the title, "for Daydreams" and not "for Bedtime" like in other offerings in this Philips' series) Regardless, this CD is an excellent introduction to Claude Debussy as well as being overall relaxing music to enrich one's life.

One interesting music history tidbit on Debussy that might interest the new listener: Even though Debussy did not like the label, his music was labeled "Expressionism" for the similarities to what the French artists like Monet were doing at the same time. In Debussy's case, his intent was to create "emotional impressions" with music that evoked specific moods and images in the mind - not unlike what the "impressionistic painters" were trying to do on canvas using pure color and form to evoke the fleeting, emotional moment of a landscape scene. "Prelude of the Afternoon of the Fawn" is a good example of this dreamy, lingering, emotive style of music.

Dream and Classical music are magic.......2005-02-16

This CD is one of the best among its classical collections. (bach for breakfast is my one of them) It puts me to any place I dream of whenever I listen to this cd. It usually brings me into outer space, or sometimes go to the sky or under the sea. You can also just sit back and relax while listening to the music. In addition, once I get mad or not calm enough, I just put this cd on and it cures my anger.
Classical music is magic.

The Concussive Caress, or, Casey Caught Her Mom Singing Along With the Vacuum

Average customer rating:

Really really really good
YES!!!
Debut full-length album from the Blow

The Concussive Caress, or, Casey Caught Her Mom Singing Along With the Vacuum
The Blow
Manufacturer: K. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Sound of Silver
The Good, the Bad & the Queen
No Shouts No Calls
Grab That Gun

ASIN: B0000CG8FK
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

How Naked Are We Going To Get?
Chase Dream
Untitled
A Night Full Of Open Eyes
Sweetheart
Sweetheart
What Tom Said About Girls
Nothing
Come On Pauline (Amy's Cassette For Pauline)
What The Guitar Said About Firmament
Where I Love you
What Amy Heard In Her Mother's Voice Played Backwards
Gravity (Pauline's Response To Amy)
Gravity (Pauline's Response To Amy)
The Warriors' Hearts

Customer Reviews:

Really really really good.......2007-06-01

Way back when this album first came out The Blow performed it in the basement of my dorm at college. This album is actually a story which runs through (i think it's) one summer that the narrator experienced. Each song is a story, and relates to the album as a whole. The album is best in the context of a live performance since each track is explained as to it's relation to the whole, but without context it is still stinkin' good.

gotta say, i love it.

YES!!!.......2004-07-31

Keep and open mind, and promise you will like this album.
Kheala makes very unique music, which I find to be immensely refreshing. And jesus christ, What Tom Said About The Girls should have SOARED up the charts, but life just isn't fair.

Debut full-length album from the Blow.......2004-01-30

It's an audacious album that begins with the musical question "How Naked Are We Gonna Get?" and The Concussive Caress by The Blow (the newest manifestation of Khaela Maricich after Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano) is audacious indeed. But no one is more surprised at the fact that I am reviewing this album positively than myself, considering that my first introduction to Maricich as a solo artist (sidestepping her vocal appearances on various Microphones recordings) in The Blow was via the Invisible Shield compilation, on which her "The Democracy of Small Things" (originally from the Bonus Album EP) appears. It quickly became one of the few songs I would invariably skip and Maricich became known around my household as "the girl who talks to her molecules." Luckily, I had an open enough mind to approach The Concussive Caress on its own merits--once I determined that "The Democracy of Small Things" was not featured.

The Concussive Caress isn't your average electronic pop album. It requires a little attention be paid and does not hold with common song titling conventions. Track 3 isn't titled at all and two songs--"'Sweetheart'" and "Gravity (Pauline's Response to Amy)"--expand over two consecutive tracks each. Timing isn't a consideration, either, with four of the fifteen tracks coming in at considerably less than one minute and Track 15 figuring at over ten minutes (if you include the hidden track at the end of the album). However, as with many K artists, once I got over the sheer oddity of the album, I was able to settle back and enjoy it as music.

"How Naked Are We Going to Get?" is bold in any form, with lyrics that touch on unspoken thoughts, including the idea that one can "remember the route to her heart from her thighs." All this is backed by a droning undertone and the occasional high-pitched accompaniment to Maricich's sweetly alluring voice that shows itself to be malleable to any situation. This groove is broken by "Chase Dream," with knocks its way in with the side of a drum and the staccato delivery of "I get it, got it, get it get it, got it" for 26 seconds, followed quickly by an untitled track featuring a barely tuneful guitar and drums for 22 seconds. Strangely enough, these interludes add to the narrative flow somehow that I understand but can't explain.

Pop craftsmanship comes to the fore in "A Night Full of Open Eyes," with a sound that is quite familiar with the necessities of top 40 radio. The second part of "Sweetheart" is another standout, almost purely due to its conciseness and lyrics:

He called me Doll Eyes
He called me Sunrise
He called me Hearty Thighs
He called me Super Size
He called me Heat Lamp
He called me Summer Camp
He called me...just that once and then he never called again.

Khaela's courageous (and, I must add, almost entirely successful) experimentation with different genres on The Concussive Caress is epitomized by the slow, groovy rap goodness of "What Tom Said about Girls." It is easily my favorite track on the album, not least because she really gets into the mind of this mostly unlikable character and shows his cockiness truly and satirically, making him sympathetic in the process. "Nothing" didn't strike me as very memorable at first, but eventually worked its way into the folds of my brain and emerges at unconventional times--strange for a track without a chorus to speak of.

Throughout the album, we are introduced to snippets from the Karicich's recent narrative opera, Blue Sky vs. Night Sky and if these songs are any indication, a full recording of this opera would be an event, indeed. As it is, we are merely teased with snippets of the whole storyline. "Come On Pauline (Amy's Cassette for Pauline)," "Gravity (Pauline's Response to Amy)," and "What Amy Heard in Her Mother's Voice Played Backwards" are only the most obviously titled ones of this selection. Based on their lyrical content, I'm assuming that "What Tom Said About Girls," "'Sweetheart,'" "Where I Love You," and "A Night Full of Open Eyes" are also part of this cycle and these are some of the highest points on The Concussive Caress. But even so, this album as it is could well be the crowning glory (so far, of course) in the career of The Blow.

The final track ("The Warrior's Hearts") is grandly reminiscent of the music from The 7th Guest but also sounds like something that would play under closing credits, making it the perfect closer to this disc. The entirety of The Concussive Caress runs only about thirty minutes (not including the hidden track at the end of 15), which is just enough time to take the dog for a long walk (or the ferret, depending on your pet predilections), but not so long that you have to stay the night over at a friend's house the finish the thing, unlike some bands that seem to thrive on filler just to take up the whole running time of a compact disc. It's a truly great album that leaves me wanting more.

Caress of Steel
Average customer rating:

2.5 for Rush's third album

Essence of Rush

Not For Everyone, But Worth a Listen...

BUY IT NOW!!

The Hidden Gem of the Rush Catalog

Caress of Steel
Rush
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

A Farewell to Kings

Permanent Waves

Signals

Hemispheres

Grace Under Pressure

ASIN: B000001F82
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Bastille Day
I Think I'm Going Bald
Lakeside Park
Necromancer: Into Darkness/Under the Shadow/Return of the Prince
Fountain of Lamneth: In the Valley/Didacts and Narpets/No One At

Customer Reviews:

2.5 for Rush's third album.......2006-05-04

Things come together a bit more on Rush's third album, Caress Of Steel, but there's still this schizophrenia concerning the material and direction. For instance we start with a decent rocker, Bastille Day and then segue into the completely out-of-place tongue-in-cheek Am I Going Bald, which I never would've put on the album because it just doesn't fit. Then we're off to an effective and light jaunt remembering days gone by in Lakeside Park.....then swoosh, we're pulled into the ethereal weirdness of The Necromancer.

The end result is it feels like if Kiss had taken Uh! All Night and placed it between Under The Rose and The Odyssey on The Elder, and it leaves you with this feeling like Rush just really couldn't commit to an idea or vision....or perhaps just purposefully chose to keep the selections varied. However I think it's a mistake. The oddball Am I Going Bald just comes across like the red-headed stepchild two tracks away from the fantasy narrative accompanying The Necromancer.

That all being said, I believe the latter is my favorite track on the album and marks the first time that one of these long, mult-part tales comes together pretty effectively. Yeah, it's a little cheesy with the narrative, but the music is quite atmospheric in a Pink Floyd kind of way. We also, in one of the segments of the song (hard to keep track of where we're transitioning sometimes), get to hear Geddy thump along pretty good for a change.....ahh, signs of great things to come. Also the Panacea portion of The Fountains Of Lamneth is quite nice, as is the entry portion of In The Valley.

Rush is kind of equal parts interesting and up its own somewhat pretentious ass at this point, with such catchy titles as Didacts And Narpets (an anagram for addicts and parents) and The Fountains Of Lamneth, and opuses spanning 12 and 20 minutes respectively. One minute Caress is going on about receding hairlines, the next it's Elder-esque narrations of fantasy characters on a journey. But the saving grace is that the music is great in spots and performances are fine throughout.

As a point of comparison, it dawned on me last night that at the same time Led Zeppelin was also dabbling in the dark arts, fantasy lyrics along the same lines, etc....but doing it much better I might add. They were able to throw in Ramble On (which a lot of folks don't even realize is about Lord Of The Rings) along side something that's completely unthematic and it doesn't feel like a speed bump, whereas here it does. There's no questioning Rush's talent and ability to jam on in a live setting as their strongest suit, but I think if the boys had a weak area at this point is was in narrative flow of these epics and in their arrangements...as well as their choice of instrumentation and final song selection. Zeppelin, for instance, achieved a lot of color and atmosphere dabbling with dulcimers, mandolins, etc. and it's something Rush could've used more of to give their "special" songs a flavor and voice.

Personally I think the fantasy songs are pretty geek-centric and ultimately limits your audience to the Dungeons & Dragons crowd. (No wonder I can still count the chicks who like Rush on one hand). I'm sure Plant thought so too, and as a result Zeppelin pulled a Di Vinci and was able to masquerade a lot of those themes rather inconspicuously at times. And when they didn't and chose to be a bit more obvious (say the Battle of Evermore or Stairway), the songs were layered with instruments that really accentuated the atmosphere and took you there.

This album also lacks a really strong song, like Working Man or Fly By Night on the previous records (Bastille Day or Lakeside Park come closest, but they aren't nearly as well-crafted), but overall the band is becoming more and more cohesive and you can sense that. There's a lot of brilliance beneath some of the fluff and confusion and myriad of ideas. Again, I know that better things are coming because it's all history now. If I was in the moment back in 1975, Rush is a band with a lot of potential, but a lot of schizophrenia too.

Essence of Rush.......2006-03-14

This epic album of RUSH is what separates its average radio-hit-single fan from the ardent and passionate RUSH enthusiast. Even though this was not a very commercially viable venture as the unfriendly-airplay statistics would show then, this record marked the band's foray into movement-music rather than the established paradigms of hard rock. A cursory glance at the back cover yields a meagre 5-track listing. But track 4 and track 5 are albums in themselves. Apart from this long-track innovative musical journey sessions, the band has concentrated more on highly imaginative and meandering lyrical compositions complemented by equally praise-worthy guitar, bass runs and drum rolls; Neil Peart at his best.

The first three tracks are more or less average-RUSH-fan friendly offerings, with 'Bastille Day' a very powerful and forceful track, about war and a fortress in Paris (I think). 'I think I'm going bald' is a pretty un-RUSH song...but delivered in RUSH style just as much. 'Lakeside Park', according to me is a very soft number, quite lilting, strictly abiding to rock disciplines nevertheless.

After your senses have been rocked pleasurably, RUSH introduce you to their new bent- Music in movements! The first in this future-fixation of epic storytelling comes in the form of 'Necromancer' which is divided into 3 parts...
1.Into the Darkness 2. Under the shadow and 3. Return of the Prince
The way Alex Lifeson, (lead guitarist) leads you through these three stages is pure bliss. Amazing guitaring, full of riffs, majestic intros, lilting melodies, surveying remains of the last musical piece as he proceeds to the next one. The crescendo on 'Under the shadow' has a very Zeppelin like approach (a comparison that they were gradually being subjected to). Alex showcases his adeptness at fast licks, finger tapping, penetrating and heralding leads that gives an indication of what more to expect. I liked the guitar tone that he maintained throughout the last two pieces. The last piece 'Return of the Prince' mellows down after the axe-attack to gently introduce us to the mext movement.

The last track 'Fountain of Lamneth' belongs to Alex completely and proves the master player that he should be known as within circles, outside of the RUSH fan-club. Starting very softly with 'In the Valley', the track shifts into third gear and back to slow paced rock, typical RUSH style. 'Didacts and Narpets' is a mainly a drum solo that ends abruptly..only to move into 'No one at the Bridge', an amazing and haunting arpeggio routine- which soon launches into a lead soaring high for a while and back to hangar arpeggio. 'Panacea' follows, still soft and mellow...giving way to the last arrangements.

'Bacchus Plateau' is classic RUSH rock with a stingy dose of melodious guitaring from Alex towards the end...almost undermining the propensity to estimate fireworks again.
The movement ends with 'The Fountain' that takes off from the final evolution stages of 'In the Valley' and back to its birth.

This album apart from the first three tracks, seem to more or less signify a journey of sorts...arrived at, after long hauls and still not quite achieved. (well, don't ask me for further explanations!) Well this Canadian trio have proved over the years the talent of each of their members is far more than what one would normally fathom. Geddy Lee, singer plus bass guitarist has been voted best bass player for more than 5 times; Alex Lifeson on guitars is virtuosity underrated and paves the way for Neil's lyrics to follow through. A highly talented band and quite a breaktrough album this one.

Tip: You might not savour it with one hearing. Give yourself time and you will soon get drawn to the magic that is RUSH.

Not For Everyone, But Worth a Listen..........2005-01-30

In 1975, Rush was flying high on the heels of the success of Fly By Night. That album had earned them the Juno award for "Most Promising New Group". It's probably no surprise that they quickly headed back to the studio later that year to keep up the momentum. The result of that effort was Caress of Steel. An album both loved & loathed by Rush fans. There're few who're on-the-fence about this one.

It opens with the high energy "Bastille Day". The trio playing their hearts out as if they'd witnessed this event in French history firsthand. It went on to become a concert opener for several years.

Ask 1000 Rush fans & odds are, most will agree that "I Think I'm Going Bald" is Rush's weakest, most embarrassing moment. Personally, I think apart from the silly first verse, the rest of the song is quite good. It's a rocker lamenting the loss of innocence & youth. Likely Neil's perspective of seeing the flower power 60's fade before his eyes.

"Lakeside Park" is the album's first breather that's based on an actual place the boys used to frequent in their teens. The chorus sees Alex beautifully making use of the flanger guitar effect, helping the song have its more delicate feel.

"The Necromancer" is Rush's first attempt at a continued storyline that touches two seperate albums & their second flirtation w/ prog fantasy. Fly By Night gave us "By-Tor & The Snow Dog" where By-Tor, (the evil prince) is defeated in battle. "Necromancer" sees him returning to rescue the 'men of Willowdale' (Ged & Alex grew up in a Toronto suburb called Willowdale. ha ha ha) from the spell of the really evil Necromancer. It all seems dated today, but one must separate the dated approach & listen in a '1975' context. After that, you're treated to 12½ minutes of early prog metal. It quietly sets the scene, builds in tension, rocks angrily & then returns to feel-good serenity allowing you to catch your breath! It's a Rush masterpiece.

"The Fountain of Lamneth" is Rush giving the Genesis/Floyd approach a whirl w/ a side-long epic. Like their English counterparts had done, this song is subdivided into suites. Six in all. It follows an adventurer in search of a lost fountain that holds "the key, the end, the answer". The actual conclusion to the story is fairly ambiguous & leaves open interpretation to the listener- which is where I think this song works- though others might say that's exactly why it fails. "In The Valley" begins like many other Rush songs had- starting off calmly & then suddenly blasting out gritty rock. The verses take on a more reflective tone in both lyric & music.

"Didacts & Narpets" (anagram for "addicts & parents") is a minute long, almost avant-garde hard rock piece in which Neil's frantic drumming is the showcase. Geddy lets out his most bloodcurdling scream to date at the very (sudden) end. Listen!...

"No One At The Bridge", another album breather, opens w/ the sound ocean waves as our adventurer finds himself alone & lost at sea. The song has a sparseness in the vocals that manage convey that image. "Panacea" continues the album's softer edge as it opens w/ a peacefully fingered classical guitar. For most of Rush's career, they'd stayed well clear of anything remotely romantic. "Panacea" is a nice, if not youthful attempt at it.

The pace picks up slightly w/ "Bacchus Plateau". A melodic tune complete with trademark early Geddy Lee wailing. The musical theme from "In The Valley" is reprised for the album's closer "The Fountain". Our weary hero finds the elusive fountain, but the secrets it holds are still manage to escape full, clear meaning.

I think time has given this album a bum rap. At this point, its become almost expected to knock this recording. True, the album is a bit unfocused. And true, it sold poorly & they nearly disbanded after the shortened "Down-The-Tubes" tour in support for it. But as Alex Lifeson himself has said on numerous occasions, COS was an important stepping stone album for them to make as it allowed them to refine what they'd done on it on their next release- the classic 2112. For those who yearn to hear Geddy's screeching vocals near their peak, Alex's Page/Hackett-inspired axe work & Neil still writing & playing at his youthful & eager period, then COS is an album to be heard.

BUY IT NOW!!.......2003-10-18

SHUT UP AND BUY IT! THIS ALBUM ROCKS! IT MIXES THE GREATEST QUALITIES OF PROGRESSIVE AND ROCK-TO-HARD-ROCK PERFECTLY. BUY IT!

The Hidden Gem of the Rush Catalog.......2002-07-20

Caress of Steel brings back so many memories. It was the first Rush album I ever bought and to this day continues to be in heavy rotation in my cd player. The songs are nothing short of amazing. Bastille Day is perhaps the hardest piece of rock that Rush ever produced(this side of Working Man). Didacts and Narpets is amazing display of power by Neil Peart. But the real heart of Caress is The Fountain of Lamneth which is nothing short of breathtaking. Fountain is the one of Rush's earliest documented experimentations with extended suites (the first being By-Tor and the Snow Dog) and it is a smashing success. Lee and Lifeson's music is raw and powerful on the aforementioned tracks but substantially more subdued on the track Lakeside Park about a park that Neil used frequent as a teenager. The addition of Peart in '75 on the Fly by Night album transformed Rush into an intelligent PROGRESSIVE rock band and Caress of Steel(also released in '75) continues their ascent upward towards greatness. A must have for even the casual fan. Highly Recommended.

Enchanted Caress: Previously Unreleased Material

Average customer rating:

Disappointing demos
Sheer Brilliance. Progressive/Pop/Psych at it's finest.

Enchanted Caress: Previously Unreleased Material
Illusion
Manufacturer: Renaissance
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000005NNP
Release Date: 1996-11-19

Tracks:

Nights In Paris
Walking Space
The Man Who Loved The Trees
Getting Into Love Again
As Long As We're Together
Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
Living Above Your Head
Crossed Lines
You Are The One
All The Falling Angels

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing demos.......2005-07-12

Illusion was sort of a "sequel" band to the original lineup of Renaissance. In 1977, the surviving original Renaissance members -- singer/songwriter/guitarist Jim McCarty, vocalist Jane Relf, keyboardist John Hawken, and bassist Louis Cennamo -- added lead guitarist John Knightsbridge and drummer Eddie MacNeil to form Illusion. The band recorded two excellent progressive rock albums, "Out of the Mist" and "Illusion" (now both on the CD "The Island Years"). Unfortunately, they ran headlong into the Punk and New Wave acts that were then sweeping through British rock, and they were let go by Island Records.

"Enchanted Caress" consists of demos, produced by Jim McCarty, which were used to try and get a new record contract for the group. After hearing them, it easy to understand why they weren't able to do so. While some progressive bands (like Yes and Renaissance) responded to New Wave pop by trying to adopt that sound, McCarty decided to try and give the group a sound that we would call adult contemporary/MOR today.

Illusion certainly recorded some attempts at commercial love songs on their two albums, but they were produced with the same full, rich arrangements (dominated by Hawken's lush keyboards)as the group's longer, more prog material. Here, we get three minute pop songs with bland playing and trite lyrics, like "Getting into Love Again", "You are the One" and "Nights in Paris". The fact that these are demos excuse, in part, the lack of any instrumental excitement (and rumor has it that Hawken may actually not be on these demos), but not totally. The obvious attempt at commercial songwriting precludes any instumental stretching. The biggest attraction for many people to Illusion was the beautiful alto vocals of Jane Relf, but even she can't elevate the mediocre material. The closest track here to the classic Illusion sound is "The Man Who Loved the Trees", with a fairly intricate piano part and an emotional Jane Relf vocal.

The other two most worthwhile tracks aren't even Illusion tracks, strictly speaking. John Knightsbridge turns in a hard rock arrangement of Richard Rodgers classic "Slaughter on 10th Ave." that is interesting (even if it may be patterned after Mick Ronson's version). And the CD concludes with the last recording of Renaissance founder Keith Relf, who died before Illusion formed. "All the Fallling Angels" is a haunting ballad which sounds oddly like a track from David Bowie's "Space Oddity" phase, and easily outclasses the rest of this material.

This CD is now out of print and fetching steep prices, so only hardcore Renaissance/Yardbirds/Illusion fans should make the effort. Everyone else should now pick up the easily available "Island Years" to really hear what Illusion was truly all about. Or get Jim McCarty's two solo albums to hear more successful attempts with mellow pop.

Sheer Brilliance. Progressive/Pop/Psych at it's finest........1999-05-22

This is a true gem. I highly recommend this to all fans of Keith Relf, Jim McCarty, The Yardbirds, Renaissance and great Progressive/Pop/Psych music. This also feautures Keith Relf's beautiful (All The Falling Angels). Relf and McCarty breathe new life into the world of music and should not be missed. Grab this one, it is a wonderful treat.

Average customer rating:

just briljant !
Another classic from Boris Midney
Midney On Top Of His Game

Caress
Boris Midney
Manufacturer: O.Z. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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

General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Boris Midney Masters: USA - European Connection
Pinocchio
Companion
Double Discovery
Black Russian

ASIN: B00000IKTX
Release Date: 1999-08-03

Tracks:

Catch the Rhythm
Charmed
You Got It Too Uptight
Love Spell

Customer Reviews:

just briljant !.......2005-02-03

If you are familiar with the superb quality of other Midney's work (USA European Connection / Beautiful Bend) you will adore this Boris Midney release. A highly overlooked masterpiece from the godfather of orchestral dance music.

Another classic from Boris Midney.......2002-03-24

If you are a fan of pure disco/dance magic, you must get this CD. Midney remains as one of the overlooked brilliant composers, perhaps because each of his project was given a different name...USA EUROPEAN CONNECTION...MASQUERADE...FESTIVAL...and the best..CARESS... CARESS stands out because of Midney's famous compact sound, fully melodic and using repitition to a hypnotic degree. These records when first released were popular, but somehow got lost in the glut of disco trash which plagued the seventies. Thank goodness, these gems are once again available to the discerning listener. As a former club DJ from the Disco Daze..i can highly recommend this CD as a Must Have...take a hint from me and check out BEAUTIFUL BEND...USA EUROPEAN CONNECTION...FESTIVAL...MASQUERADE..COMPANION..DOUBLE DISCOVERY..all these are nom de plumes for that genius BORIS MIDNEY

Midney On Top Of His Game.......2001-07-28

Caress is melodic, inventive, probably Midney's best work. It keeps the embarrassing, grade school vocals to a bearable minimum. It well utilizes the East European melodies so inherent in Midney's compositions. Two stand out tracks ("Charmed," "Love Spell") are hypnotic and compelling. "Love Spell" would be revisited several years later by New Order in their dance track "Perfect Kiss." As always, his disco works better for listening than dancing. Along with Beautiful Bend, this represents the best of the Midney projects.

Average customer rating:

Small Talk
Charles Small
Manufacturer: Blue Lady Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA3WRQ
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Tracks:

Light of Truth
Que Garota Linda
Micosa-After the Rain
Hello Like Before
Sweet Pretty Thing
Carol's Song
Lush Life
Better Place

Average customer rating:

Caress Me Baby
Jimmy Reed
Manufacturer: Prestige Records Ltd.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Chicago Blues | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Blues | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004KFGW
Release Date: 2002-03-08

Average customer rating:

"early 1960's is was all Percy Faith on the e-z charts"
Percy Faith-Bon Voyage/Carefree

Bon Voyage/Carefree

Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Theme from a Summer Place/Theme from the Sundowners

ASIN: B0000996G9
Release Date: 2003-09-16

Tracks:

Guaglione
Morgen
Eau Vive
Piccolissima Serenata
Anema E Core
Souvenir
Ciao, Ciao, Bambina
Mon Oncle
Petite Fleur
Vie en Rose
Under Paris Skies
Arrivederci, Roma
Goin' Home Train
Quia Quia
Pizzicato Polka
Go-Go-Po-Go
Brazilian Sleigh Bells
Carefree
Lisa
No One But You
Caress
Blue Is the Night
Bouquet

Album Description

A magazine long ago called "Bon Voyage" a collection of "Paris and Rome favorites." So it is, and the collection is subtitled "Continental Souvenirs." "Carefree" tells us more about Percy Faith's personality than his travelogues - with all selections written AND arranged by Faith. "Go-Go-Po-Go," a strongly rhythmic AND melodic Faith original that was the "B" side of the single of "Summer Place;" now it's in this collection with several other great Faith originals, including "Lisa," taken from a radio play Faith scored years ago. (Bill Halvorsen)

Album Description

Pianist Percy Faith, a pioneer of the Easy Listening genre, had a successful and lengthy career as the in-house conductor and arranger for Columbia Records. Faith was renowned for his musical interpretations of Broadway and motion picture music. 2 on 1 reissue from Collectables, originally released in 1960 & 1961, features 23 tracks clocking in at 68 minutes. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

"early 1960's is was all Percy Faith on the e-z charts".......2004-02-10

Percy Faith is the master of arranging selections by other composers ~ take for instance this original two LP's on one CD "Bon Voyage" (CS 8214 in 1960) and "Carefree" (CS 8360 in 1961-all songs composed by Percy Faith) ~ his tasteful treatments always highlights the quality of the composition, ultimately making them a hit all over again. Faith's formula was always to keep the arrangements fresh and new with his distinctive signature style ~ with the wave of his baton, the Percy Faith award winning orchestra is ready to strut their stuff.

Percy Faith was a staple of outstanding music during the '50s, '60s and '70s ~ his sound is unmistakable, which compiles of lush string orchestral performances ~ a treat for the ears ~ "MORGEN", "ANEMA E CORE", "MON ONCLE", "LA VIE EN ROSE", "UNDER PARIS SKIES" and "ARRIVDERCI, ROMA" Maestro Faith meets the challenge with flying colors ~ listen for Faith's originality and warmth with every cue.

Second half of the album consists of eleven Percy Faith compositions ~ "BLUE IS THE NIGHT", "BOUQUET", "BRAZILIAN SLEIGH BELLS", "CAREFREE", "CARESS", "GO-GO-PO-GO", "GOIN' HOME TRAIN", "LISA", "NO ONE BUT YOU", "PIZZICATO POLKA" and "QUIA QUIA" ~ get ready to be entranced by an audio bouquet of sound ~ Faith's scoring is wonderful and miraculous with full bodied dynamics, sends his fans into a musical frenzy ~ Percy has such a zestful enthusiasm, sharing with the listener, not only what they're looking for, but then some! Just great to have so many Faith's songs under one roof. Go ahead, dive in and enjoy every morsel...gotta love it!

Total Time 68:02 on 23 Tracks ~ Collectables 7563 ~ (9/16/2003)

Percy Faith-Bon Voyage/Carefree.......2003-09-18

Here is two more great albums by Mastro Faith.Bon Voyage is mostley a lush album with what sounds like 2 latin songs.Carefree is a mix of brass and lush strings with one Christmas song from Brazil.Here is the song list and other info.

Bon Voyage-1960 All Orchestra (Original Liner Notes)
Also called Continental Souviners
1)Guaglione-Latin
2)Morgen-Lush
3)Leau Vive-Lush
4)Piccolissima Serenato-Latin
5)Anema E Core-Lush Mantovani has a beautiful version of this song as well.

6)Souvenir-Lush
7)Ciao,Ciao,Bambino-Lush
8)Mon Oncle-Lush
9)Petite Fleur-Light Strings
10)La Vie En Rose-Lush Note:This is the instrumental song they played on the movie Airplane!Also this got a lot of play on beautiful music stations.
11)Under Paris Skys-Lush
12)Arrivederci Roma-Lush This song got a lot of airplay on beautiful music stations in the 70's and 80's.

Carefree-1961 No Liner Notes Included With This Album.All Orchestra.All Songs Written By Percy Faith
13)Goin Home Train-Brassy
14)Quia Quia-Brassy
15)Pizzicato Polka-Polka
16)Go Go Po Go-Light Strings
17)Brazilian Sleigh Bells-Light Strings/Christmas
18)Carefree-Light Strings
19)Lisa-Lush
20)No One But You-Lush
21)Caress-Lush
22)Blue Is The Night-Brass Mixed With Strings
23)Bouquet-Lush Note:This Song Is Also On Faith's Bouquet Cd Also From Collectibles.

This album is highley recommended by me.Also pick up the following albums by Faith.
Clair/New Thing
Lil Abner/Broadway Bouquet
The Columbia Album Of Victor Herbert
It's So Peaceful In The Country Paired With Mitch Miller's European Holiday Coming October 21st.
House Of Flowers/Adventures In The Sun Coming November 4th.

Driftaway
Average customer rating:

Truly relaxing

SIMPLY AWESOME

The title says it all

Driftaway
Bradlee
Manufacturer: Parliament Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Meditation Music | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Instrumental Pop & Lounge | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000034D64
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

HYMNE by Vangelis
PACHELBEL CANON IN D
EDELWEIS-- from The Sound Of Music
O DANNY BOY
WHENEVER YOU COME AROUND --Vince Gill/Pete Wasner
SUMMERTIME-- Gershwin
BRAHMS' WALTZ IN A-FLAT
EVENING PRAYER-- from Hansl & Gretel
SOARING SLEEP-- orig.
MINDPEACE-- orig.
FAMILIAR PLACES-- orig.
SURREALITY-- orig.
QUIET FANTASY-- orig.
HERE INSIDE-- orig.
DREAMFLOW-- orig.
D R I F T A W A Y-- orig.

Album Description

A Stress relieving aural experience from the Steinway piano. Like drifting into a new atmosphere. Excellent for driving. The tone and acoustics of this analog recording make it pleasant for repeated listening. The last eight improvisational pieces are emotionally complex, recorded between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Customer Reviews:

Truly relaxing.......2006-03-04

Bradlee's music is perfect for working here in my office or relaxing after the work day. His own improvisations are beautiful. Highly recommended.

SIMPLY AWESOME.......2002-02-08

These are the most cerebral, beautiful, relaxing sounds I have ever heard on one CD. Kick back and enjoy as you sip a glass of wine, or just want to get away from it all. From start to finish, every song is awesome.

The title says it all.......2000-08-15

I had heard Bradlee's music played before, but this CD managed to exceed my expectations. The music flows so well that you really will feel as though you've been transported to a different place. My favorite time to listen is after work, so I can give my mind a chance to "driftaway" in the pleasant chords of Bradlee's music. I would definately recommend this CD.

Album Review:

Album Review

album review

Album Review

Sings Poetry in Motion [Import]

6 Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord Bwv 1014-1019

A Change In The Weather

Music: The Heralds of Oblivion, Vol. 1

10cc [Import] [Limited Edition]

1916

A Christmas Album

Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Collection [Box set]

1600 Miles

10 de Coleccion [Original recording remastered]

14/6/00 - Paegas Arena, Praha, Czech Republic [Live]