Likes...

Product Description
The voice of Dani Siciliano will be familiar to many of you, as her distinctive jazz colored tones have been heard on the remarkable albums of Matthew Herbert. Many of his most memorable songs and live shows have been enhanced in no small part by Dani's vocal performances. This is only one facet of Dani’s work; as you’ll hear when you listen to this, her debut solo album.

This is a song-based vocal album that uses the relationship of technology and sampling in combination with live instrumentation. Dani’s approach to songwriting and recording is beatifully original, however the tracks on Likes... are still based on the wordplay and hooks of great pop music. Each song has a unique character and the surrounding productions have been tailored to fit each one perfectly.

Dani has an extraordinary musical worldview, informed in equal parts by jazz and soul, punk and country, go-go and hip-hop and of course house and electronica. Fragments of all these can be heard on "Likes..."

"Walk The Line" is acerbic, driven by the twisted dancehall production of the tune. The beautiful "All The Above" duet with Mugison is dreamy for the most part until Doctor Rockit appears with his accordian and the song becomes a future ballad for polka-dotted, tangoed dancefloors.

Dani Siciliano likes...cars from the seventies, sidewinders, King Tut and to make music that is immediate and challenging. "Likes..." is a remarkable achievement by a remarkable talent.

Likes...,Dani Siciliano,K7,Dance Music,Electronic,Jazz-House,Left-Field House,Pop

Average customer rating: A Long Awaited "Gem" Bette Davis in a musical...yes, you heard right

Two's Company Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Duke, Vernon | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Make a Wish (1951 Original Broadway Cast) A Family Affair Seventeen & High Button Shoes (Original Broadway Cast) Baker Street, A Musical Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (1965 Original Broadway Cast) Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B0007X9URY Release Date: 2005-04-11

Tracks:

1. Overture - Orchestra
2. Theatre Is A Lady - Bill Callahan
3. Turn Me Loose On Broadway - Bette Davis
4. It Just Occurred To Me - Peter Kelley
5. A Man's Home - Hiram Sherman
6. Roundabout - Ellen Hanley
7. Roll Along, Sadie - Betty Davis
8. Out Of The Clear Blue Sky - Peter Kelley
9. Esther - David Burns
10. Haunted Hot Spot - Ellen Hanley
11. Purple Rose - Bette Davis
12. Just Like A Man - Bette Davis
13. Finale - Bette Davis And The Company
14. Bonus Track: A Like The Likes Of You/What Is There To Say/I Can't Get Started With You/Who's To Blame - Vernon Duke
15. Cabin In The Sky/Honey In The Honeycomb/Taking A Chance On Love/The Love I Longed For - Vernon Duke
16. Out Of The Clear Blue Sky/Roundabout/Autumn In New York/Island In The West Indies - Vernon Duke
17. Introduction/April In Paris/Rendevous Sans Addresse/Summer Is A-Comin' In/La Musique Avant Toutes Choses/April In Paris - Vernon Duke
18. I Can't Get Started - Vernon Duke
19. I'm Gonna Ring The Bell Tonight - Vernon Duke

Album Description

The 1952 original Broadway cast recording, on CD for the first time! Features Oscar winner Bette Davis in her only musical stage appearance. Bonus tracks include a song by Nancy Walker and material composed & performed by composer Vernon Duke.

Customer Reviews:

A Long Awaited "Gem".......2007-07-09

My LP of this show was totally worn out, so I'm absolutely delighted to have this on such a great sounding CD. Davis is right up there with other musical luminaries such as Hepburn in COCO and Bacall in WOMAN OF THE YEAR and APPLAUSE. All three were non-singers who acted, and their recordings are really just a joy to have to offset soprani like Cook, Chenowith, and Lukker.

This really is a must have recording for any true musical comedy lover who wants the unusual and historical. Davis's "Turn Me Loose on Broadway" is wonderful from her "Mistah conductah, iff You Pleeees" to her slightly off tempo "hey" in the dance break. Davis did try to sing several times through her career. Frank Loesser's "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" has been on a few collections, and there was that failed musical version of THE CORN IS GREEN entitled MISS MOFFAT that closed in Philadelphia. Betty Davis wasn't a good singer, but she tried!

The supporting cast is excellent, and I think it's just a joy to hear an old-school musical by one of the forgotten greats, Vernon Duke. That's why I'm really pleased to have the Duke bonus tracks on the CD as well. It's a great value with Davis, Duke, and Lawrence Welk and his orchestra as well. The album was coveted for years, and it's just wonderful to have it in better sound than it ever was.

Bette Davis in a musical...yes, you heard right.......2006-10-05

Bette Davis in a musical? In 1952, when her film career started on yet another downward spiral and she was unceremoniously labelled as "box office poison", the legendary Ms Davis decided to do the unthinkable, and made her Broadway musical debut in TWO'S COMPANY, a fluffy little revue that would have certainly folded a lot quicker if a mega-watt star like Davis was not in the starring role.

TWO'S COMPANY ran on the box office power of Davis, and the moment she became ill and started missing performances, the closing notices were posted (the show limped along for 90 performances). Nevertheless, this curious jewel of a show was recorded, and now gets it's CD premiere thanks to British boutique label Sepia.

Apparently, Davis was so embarrased by her performance, that she attempted to buy every single copy of the original LP in order to destroy them. One can just imagine Davis (in full Margo Channing mode) swaggering into a record store and slamming a pile of TWO'S COMPANY albums onto the sales counter ("don't bother to wrap `em!").

While Davis was never a singer, she croaks out her songs quite well, and what she lacks in musicality she compensates with comedy and sheer brio.

Performing the more demanding material is Ellen Hanley, known to musical fans for her Tony-winning role as Thea in "Fiorello!"; as well as Adrianna in the 1963 Off-Broadway revival of "The Boys from Syracuse", and replacing Polly Bergen in "First Impressions" (the Jane Austen/'Pride & Prejudice' musical of 1959).

Sepia's remaster of the TWO'S COMPANY album (taken from original 78's) is quite crisp and clean, with some slight hiss and sonic wobble in certain areas (like towards the end of "Haunted Hot Spot"), although we are lucky to have this title on disc in the first place.

Known for their copious bonus tracks, Sepia do not disappoint, and the TWO'S COMPANY disc is filled out with extensive supplementaries (Nancy Walker singing "I Can't Get Started" and Jack Smith with "I'm Gonna Ring the Bell Tonight"); and a whole "Vernon Duke plays Vernon Duke" section.

Now that TWO'S COMPANY has been released on compact disc, we can finally hear what all the fuss was about.

Average customer rating: Not as great as I thought... It sticks with you best album 6 Feet Underground Sounds like depeche

6 Feet Underground De , and Vision Manufacturer: A Different Drum ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Subkutan Devolution Monosex Two [with 3 bonus tracks] Zehn ASIN: B0002KQOLW Release Date: 2004-07-06

Tracks:

1. I'm Not Enough
2. I'm Not Dreaming of You
3. Unputdownable
4. Turn Me On
5. 6 Feet Underground
6. Aimee
7. Right On Time
8. Take Me Over
9. You Are the One
10. Beside You
11. Klangmonaut
12. Take Me to Heaven

Album Description

De/Vision continues to polish and perfect their own sound, with emotional lyricism, top-notch electronic production, and memorable melodies. Though "6 Feet Underground" may not be the band's most club-friendly album (songs like "I'm Not Dreaming of You" or "Turn Me On" certainly have dance-floor potential) the album still stands out as one of the band's best, focusing on the emotional roller-coaster of love and relationships.

Customer Reviews:

Not as great as I thought..........2006-09-22

I expected more from them this time around but it seemed that they mellowed a bit too much on this album. It's more on the slower/softer side of De/Vision.

The title track was boring as dripping molasses. The rest of the songs faired a bit better. Nothing grabs you from the onset. Get to listen to it a few more times to appreciate some of the tracks here.

Good De/Vision album overall though.

Definitely not for casual listeners.

It sticks with you.......2006-02-21

I recently discovered De/Vision, and I am slowly buying all the old stuff. This one is by far the best, even better then the latest release.

best album.......2005-11-23

i first heard devision a few months back, their devolution album. i wasn't really impressed. it sounded too much like club mix music lacking in creative lyrics. the only exception for me was the song "drifting sideways" which,to me, was excellent. it combined the electronic sound with real lyrics, and a solidified composition.

i have to compare it with trent reznor in that you really need to pair interesting background with an equally interesting lyrics/singing to make a *whole* song, which he does. (though his style is more industrial).

6 feet underground
i LOVE this album. they took the strengths that were developing in songs like "drifting sideways" and made an entire album with that quality. music you'd actually want to listen to, even outside of the club, where you can actually really *hear* it.

for me, this is definately their strongest album. after listening to it excessively, i went back to devolution, and some of it was able to grow on me then.

6 ft is also a somewhat darker album than the others. more emotional/ more somber/ introspective. but not lacking in good beats.

6 Feet Underground.......2005-11-10

Not their finest work to date, De/Vision's "6 Feet Underground" is still a very worthy effort and a good CD for the seasoned fan. Overall, the album has several solid tracks, but very little in the way of a sure-fire, over-the-top hit.

The two singles on the album, 'I'm Not Dreaming of You' and 'Turn Me On' are excellent tunes, and are certainly worthy of being released as singles, but they are relatively slow and not even the best tracks on the album. If you're looking for the more 'danceable' side of the band, then 6FU may ultimately disappoint you.

However, released on both singles discs are several incredible, club-worthy remixes, that I feel are actually better than the original tunes.

My personal favorites on 6FU are the opening track, 'I'm Not Enough' which is in a similar vein to the two previously mentioned tracks, but a little livelier, and 'Take Me Over', which begins with a nice little melody, then kicks you in the head with a hard-driving, Ministry/Industrial-style rift. Sublime.

'Take Me to Heaven', the disc's closing track is a haunting, Depeche Mode, a la "Songs of Faith and Devotion"- type song, which lead-singer Steffen pulls off extremely well. The song's sultry lyrics blend nicely with the dark, desolate composition. Picture a cross between DM's 'Clean' and 'I Feel You.' However, the references to DM and the aforementioned Ministry, are just that, references for the uninitiated. De/Vision very much stand on their own merit.

'Beside You' and 'Right On Time', contrary to most of the rest of 6FU, make you want to move. The former is pretty catchy, while the latter is mostly instrumental, and falls just short of being a club hit.

'Unputdownable' reminds me of early Camouflage, but with much better English, and 'Aimee' is a nice little tune as well. Both songs have been released as b-sides and really aren't any better than that.

The title track is very dark and waaaay too long. I truly enjoy its brooding sensitivities, but it simply seems like they couldn't figure out how to end it. Too bad, because its not a bad song.

'Beside You' is OK, but it is yet another slow-ish track. In general, 6FU has a fistful of very good tunes, but ultimately fails to deliver as a whole. Perhaps if all the slow-ish songs were divided up and put onto several different discs, they would sound even better. But a lack of variation on the CD is really the only thing that prevents this from being one of the band's best.

Sounds like depeche.......2005-10-21

I love de/vision their music is incredible. If you like depeche mode than you'll love these guys. This album is not their best but it is a 10 for me. I cant wait for the next from them.

Average customer rating: This is the album I have been looking for, for years I dream of Hairbands . . . . This disgusts me. Alex Skolnick's solo offering rules! Alex Skolnick Rules!!!

Goodbye To Romance: Standards For A New Generation Manufacturer: Skol Productions ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Transformation Last Day in Paradise Attention Deficit The New Order Hall of the Mountain King ASIN: B00008ZA2A Release Date: 2002-03-20

Tracks:

1. Detroit Rock City
2. Dream On
3. No One Like You
4. Goodbye To Romance
5. Still Loving You
6. Skol Blues
7. Pinball Wizard
8. Ofri
9. War Pigs

Album Description

Take classic hard rock tunes from the 70s and 80s by the likes of Kiss, Scorpions, Black Sabbath and others. Rearrange them with rich harmonies and pulsating grooves of swing, funk and Latin. Throw in fiery improvisations on hollowbody guitar, double-bass and drums. What do you get? The Alex Skolnick Trio. At age eighteen, Alex Skolnick became a guitar hero with the metal band Testament. A few years and several albums later, he went on to perform and study jazz in New York, earning a music degree. Now, the worlds of metal and jazz have come together. Hear the result on "Goodbye To Romance: Standards For A New Generation."

Customer Reviews:

This is the album I have been looking for, for years.......2005-10-18

I love both heavy metal and jazz, and I have been looking for a good confluence of the two. I've found some swingcore (Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Hipster Daddio & The Hand Grenades, Leslie Bell & The First Bang Band), but most of it never lived up to its potential. The Lukather/Carlton collaboration was good but also fell short, and Stanley Jordan's experiments were too tentative.

This, however, is terrific. Skolnick is a great guitar player with serious knoweldge of music theory. The arrangements are truly in the jazz idiom, with the requisite improvistational feel and the triad chord structure, but the melodies are metal all the way (if tamed a bit). I've been listening to this album a lot.

I dream of Hairbands . . . ........2005-04-02

It came to me in a dream that I should get a big band together (like count basie's) and do covers of megadeth!

This disgusts me........2005-03-21

His tone is ugly, there is no soul, he is just shredding scales with no melodic content. This is not jazz. I have a hard time writing this without cursing. I am almost ashamed to be a guitarist because of garbage like this.

Alex Skolnick's solo offering rules!.......2004-04-20

After playing in two of the biggest and most important metal bands (Testament and Savatage) in the world, Alex Skolnick decided it was time to move on and explore different musical textures. Alex has always been so much more than just a typical metal guitarist who can shred his heart out. Even when he was in Testament, one of the leading forces of thrash metal, his sense of melody made him stand out among any other guitar player in the genre. His bluesy and jazzy feel became an indispensable part of his musical vision and it was clear that he would have to move on to broaden his horizons.

I bought Goodbye to Romance as soon as it was released in 2002 through Alex's independet label Skol Productions and was greatly pleased when I saw he'd taken the time to sign the CD for me. Upon reading his message in the booklet, I was even more intrigued than before. This isn't just an average cover album of a once-metal guitarist. While Alex covers and pays tribute to lots of rock and metal classics of bands including KISS, Aerosmith, Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, The Who and Black Sabbath, he also plays two of his own songs ("Skol Blues" and "Ofri"). Moreover the tunes sound nothing like the original versions, they are all re-worked and put into the framework of Alex's jazzy musical direction. The song patterns are quite different (and sometimes even more interesting) and rich with variety, melody and warmth.

This project took off the ground when Alex had a dream in which he heard a very beautiful melody and had to wake up. As he couldn't place the tune, he felt compelled to pick up his guitar and work it out, only to find the melody he'd heard was a jazzified version of Scorpions' "No One Like You" and the rest is history. He put together a great band employing two very talented young musicians: John Graham Davies (double bass) and Matt Zebroski (drums).

Miles Davis has always been a great influence on Alex's songwriting. This solo release also seems to follow the path opened up by Davis decades ago. The music here is unbelievably eclectic and borrows elements from rock, funk and blues. It's an amalgam of all of these textures centred around a strong jazzy background. It's very deeply constructed, yet it flows so naturally. The interplay between all the instruments gives the album its final shape.

The title Goodbye to Romance actually has a very special significance, because as we all know, the song "Goodbye to Romance" was a song on Ozzy's debut album with guitar god Randy Rhoads, who was one of Alex's idols and biggest influences. Back in the mid-90's Alex played with Ozzy for a handful of shows in England and felt deeply honoured about playing Randy's songs so when he decided to release his solo album he titled it after this tune. As stated in the booklet, it is commonly known that Randy was planning to eventually leave the band to pursue his classical music education, but was unable to due to his untimely passing. Alex, on the other hand, just like Randy, was bold enough to leave his rock stardom behind and went back to school for his music degree. Randy's spirit guided him through all the way.

This is one of my favourite instrumental albums ever and I wish Alex nothing but all the best in his future career. I know it must be hard to create something like this, but if he ever gets to put another solo album I'll be one of the first to buy it.

Alex Skolnick Rules!!!.......2003-10-13

I saw the trio perform live in Indy. IT WAS AWESOME... I remember Alex from back in the Testament days... It is great to see him doing something like this that he really loves. The show was great start to finish... A CD can never do justice to a live jazz concert... but this one is good. I got to hang out with Alex for a bit after the show. Truly an artist that appreciates his fans. I would highly recommend this treasure to jazz and metal fans alike.

Average customer rating: Prototype Andrew Lloyd Webber Not Bad For A First Effort Absolutely promising! ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER + TIM RICE = A DELIGHTFUL MUSICAL

The Likes of US Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast) The Wedding Singer (2006 Original Broadway Cast) Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast) See What I Wanna See (2005 Original Off-Broadway Cast) Billy Elliot ASIN: B000BSM27K Release Date: 2006-03-28

Tracks:

1. Introduction
2. Overture
3. Twice in Love Every Day
4. I'm a Very Busy Man
5. Love is Here
6. Strange and Lovely Song
7. The Likes of Us
8. How Am I to Know
9. We'll Get Him
10. This is My Time
11. Lion-Hearted Land
12. We'll Get Him reprise
13. Love is Here
14. A Man on His Own

Tracks:

1. Entr'acte
2. You Can Never Make it Alone
3. Hold A March
4. Will This Last Forever
5. You Won't Care About Him anymore
6. Going Going Gone
7. Man of the World
8. Have another Cup of Tea
9. A Strange and Lovely Song reprise
10. The Likes of Us reprise

Amazon.com

At the beginning of this two-disc CD, recorded live at England's Sydmonton Festival, the Narrator (a droll Stephen Fry) welcomes the audience "to the 40th-anniversary performance and yet world premiere" of The Likes of Us. The show was the first collaboration between composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, back in 1966, but it was never produced, and the duo went on to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Interestingly, The Likes of Us displays embryonic elements of both aspects of Webber's work: the early pop- and rock- tinged offerings ("You Can Never Make It Alone") and the latter neoclassical strains ("How Am I to Know," which can easily be imagined as a Phantom-type aria) with little hints of operetta ("Strange and Lovely Song"). Based on the story of the Victorian philanthropist, Dr. Thomas Barnardo, the show also incorporates a children's chorus, making it all sound at times--quite often, really—-like a slightly haphazard version of Oliver. It's a fascinating piece of juvenilia, but as such is of interest mostly to Webberheads. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Details

2005 Digitally Remastered (At Abbey Road Studios) of the Original London Cast of the Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical. Includes Full Libretto and Deluxe Packaging.

Customer Reviews:

Prototype Andrew Lloyd Webber.......2006-08-31

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber were once so young that nobody would take them seriously enough to stage their early work.

Undaunted, they cobbled together a first effort, and when nobody was interested quickly pressed on with something completely different. The result - like so many musicals and operas that didn't quite make it - was partially lost - in particular the original "book". All that is left were the songs.

So this is a concert version, with connecting comment from a narrator, rather than either a record of a "real" (staged) performance, or a conventional "original cast recording" with the songs extracted from their context.

It has to be said, even by someone who on the whole admires ALW, that this is well short of being a forgotten "Evita". None the less - we have to be grateful that the songs have at last been recorded. I agree with another reviewer's opinion of the "staying power" of the commentary - which sounds as if it has been more or less ad-libbed and does not improve with repeated hearings - it is indeed a shame it is not on separate tracks so it can be "programmed out".

But yes, if you take your musicals seriously you will obviously want this one for your collection. I doubt if it will ever be on anyone's list as their favourite Andrew Lloyd Webber, but who can tell?

One exercise that will be found amusing by people who know Webber's work is tracing bits of music he later re-cycled in other works. The composer commented on looking at the score again after so many years that he had always felt that he had re-used so much that this alone would have precluded a production - and was surprised to find so little he was aware of reusing.

Not Bad For A First Effort.......2006-05-12

Hello,
I have listened to this a few times now and believe what it is basically a cross between "Oliver" and "Tenderloin", as say Leslie Bricusse might have written it. It is cute, but sounds very derivative and "'60s"
I enjoyed the commentary at first, but by the third listening, found it very annoying. It is too bad that the tracks were not set up so the talking could be skipped. I am thinking seriously of loading the whole thing on my computer and editing out all the talk and applause.
I am glad I bought it, but only as a historic curiosity which makes my Lloyd Webber collection complete. I don't see much future listening.

Absolutely promising!.......2005-12-02

The Likes Of Us is not a great musical. It's narration is awkward, forced and dramaturgically immature. Too many musical numbers are gives to umimportant characters, and the plot too often strays away from anything interresting. The characterisations are weird and underdevelopped.

When that is said, The Likes Of Us contains some of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's most tuneful, witty and touching songs. Taken for what it is, a musical experiment by two very young song writers, The Likes Of Us is very promising and absolutely fascinating.

The witty narration added to this performance (unfortunately not separately tracked) clearly points out the show's weaknesses. Which helps the audience appreciate what truly is good by this show. I would without hesitation recommend anyone to buy this recording rather than anything ALW wrote after Song And Dance.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER + TIM RICE = A DELIGHTFUL MUSICAL.......2005-11-27

The story of "The likes of us", the first ever musical made by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is indeed an old one, dating 40 years in the past. Before the two met, ALW was starting his history studies at Oxford and Rice was a law student. Then in 1965 the two of them made acquaintance and, realizing their potential, began working on a musical called "The likes of us", set in the Victorian London and concerning the life and exploits of one dr. Thomas Barnardo (1845-1905), a British physician and philanthropist who founded many homes for destitute and homeless children of London's East End. Although the musical numbers were completed and a book written, the show never reached the stage. Until, now that is, when in July this year "The Likes of us" had its first and so far only staging at ALW's annual Sydmonton Festival. That live performance was recorded and is now released as this double CD edition.

Due to the fact that the book was never finished and eventually got lost, Tim Rice wrote a new one for this performance. The structure of the show captured on these CDs is rather unique, since the musical numbers are tied together with the brief narrations between them instead of the conventional dialogue. This narration is delivered by the character of The Narrator, played here with enormous gusto and humour, by Stephen Fry, one of the most respected British comedians today. His witty remarks are one of the great assets of this recording.

The score, although written 40 years ago, is pure gold. The melodies, freshly orchestrated, grab you from the very beginning in the best ALW fashion. This is not the classy rock or pop sound of their later joint shows `Superstar' and `Evita', nor the operatic crescendos of `The Phantom', but rather the beautifully arranged pieces of music similar in style to the ones in the musical theatre of that time. The orchestrations are done very well, and the part where the orchestra takes a solo melody within a song helps us to capture the loveliness of the score. The numbers itself comprise of the solo numbers and ensemble ones, mixed with dancing. Only two of the tunes did ALW use in his future work: a bits of `The likes of us' was used in `Variations' and `Love is here' later become `Travel hopefully' in `By Jeeves'.

Of course, one has to make reference to Tim Rice's lyrics. Even though ALW used many good lyricists throughout his career, an undisputed fact remains Tim Rice was the best of the lot. He has a special gift of playing with words, finding perfect synonyms to express a certain action. Also, he is especially noted for his humorous cynicism, which is also evident here. One of the funniest numbers in this piece, called `Going, going, gone', features Tim Rice as an auctioneer handling an auction. This was the first song ever written by ALW and Rice and it is very nice to hear Sir Tim singing this entertaining piece in which his craftsmanship with words is obvious in full extent. The show does not lack humour, as a number called `A lion-hearted land', taking place at the cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street clearly demonstrates as well.

The cast performing this work is equally good. Some of them we've encountered before, like Hannah Waddingham, who plays here a prostitute called Rose, and can also be heard on the original cast recording of ALW's musical `The beautiful game'. The role of Dr. Bernardo is played in a pleasing tenor voice by Adam Brazier, who currently stars as Walter Hartright in the just opened Broadway production of ALW's newest musical `The woman in white'. The other roles, such as Barnardo's helper Syrie, are also well cast.

The CD comes in a nice package, together with a booklet and a libretto. The booklet contains the informative notes written by ALW, Tim Rice and Stephen Fry. The sound quality is excellent.

Conclusively, "The likes of us', besides being a really good musical, is also a reminder of just how great collaborators ALW and Tim Rice are. The musical itself be it in its present form or with a little bit of reworking, has all the qualities needed for a successful stage run. In the booklet, Tim Rice mentions the pleasure he and Sir Andrew had in working together again. We can only hope this reunion will be enough for them to take a next daring step: that is, their collaboration on an entirely new musical project. In the meantime, the musical theatre buffs will have to enjoy this little gem that Lloyd Webber and Rice duo finally decided to bestow upon the musical devotees.

Average customer rating: Now this works... Really (really) fun -- Seriously toe-tappin' stuff

Everybody Likes Hampton Hawes: Vol. 3, The Trio Hampton Hawes Manufacturer: Ojc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: This Is Hampton Hawes: Vol. 2, The Trio Vol. 1-Hampton Hawes Trio (20 Bit Mastering) The Green Leaves of Summer All Night Session!, Vol. 1 For Real! ASIN: B000000YNC Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

1. Somebody Loves Me
2. The Sermon
3. Embraceable You
4. I Remember You
5. Night In Tunisia
6. Lover, Come Back To Me
7. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
8. Billy Boy
9. Body And Soul
10. Coolin' The Blues

Customer Reviews:

Now this works..........2006-07-22

Great Jazz trios are a rarity these days, it's really good to know that there was time when Jazz was truly played at a very high level and artistic expression was the genuine real thing!

Really (really) fun -- Seriously toe-tappin' stuff.......2001-01-18

Oh, yeah, baby. This is some serious 50s groovin'. A really beautiful trio featuring nimble piano, brushy drums, and bass solidly in place. Listen to it over and over until your head explodes.

Average customer rating: Moravian songs, via Janacek, Godar, Bittova and Skampa Skampa Quartet is great - the singer... yikes

Janácek: Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs Leos Janacek , Iva Bittová , ¿kampa Quartet , Vladimír Godár , and Skampa Quartet Manufacturer: Supraphon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Janácek, Leos | ( J ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Elida Cikory Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs ASIN: B00061X9YC Release Date: 2005-03-01

Tracks:

1. Tuzba (Desire)
2. Stst'/Steadiness
3. Lavecka (Bench)
4. Stesk (Woe) - Skampa Quartet
5. Obrk Mileho (Lover's Likeness)
6. Svatba Kom (Gnats Wedding)
7. Kouzlo (Charm)
8. Slib (Promise)
9. Orisek Lovy (Hazel Nut) - Skampa Quartet
10. La (Love)
11. Jablunka (Apple Tree)
12. Jabucko (Sweet Apple)
13. Co Je to Za Nebe (What Sky)
14. Safva C (Alderman's Daughter)
15. Cervenab(Little Red Apples)
16. Dobr(Good Hunt)
17. He Warden)
18. Kony Mil [My Lover's Horses]
19. Kv MilodejnLove Herbs)
20. Pcko (Posy)
21. LoucenMilou
22. Jindy a NynThen and Now)
23. T (Uneasy)
24. VzknMessage)
25. Belegrade (Belgrade) - Skampa Quartet
26. Milenec Vrah (Lover Killer)
27. Pomluva (Calumny)
28. LoucenParting)
29. Sirota (Lonely Soul)
30. Osamel Alone)
31. Komu Kytka (For Whom the Posy)
32. Z Od Mil (Love Shining)
33. Polajka (Thyme)
34. Kol(KolTown)
35. Psano (Love Letter)
36. Karafi(Carnation)
37. Rozmarsemary)
38. Pamy (Mementos)
39. Zpevulenka (Tender Little Tune)
40. Nejistota (Uncertainty)
41. Kukacka (Cuckoo)
42. Zahrcka (Fence)
43. Muzikanti (Musicians)
44. Vernost' (Faithfulness)
45. Bolavlava (Headache)
46. Osud (Fate)
47. Daleko ProvdanWedded Far Away)
48. Budk (Wakening)
49. Dobrada (Sound Advice)
50. Slzy echou (Tears of Comfort)
51. Koukol (Corncockle)
52. Kalina (Guelder Rose)
53. Pohreb Zbojnv

Customer Reviews:

Moravian songs, via Janacek, Godar, Bittova and Skampa.......2006-05-09

This is a unique recording of Janacek's transcriptions of Moravian folk songs. Originally for piano and voice, they have been transcribed by Slovak composer Vladimir Godar for string quartet and (occasionally) three-voice male chorus. Here they are performed by renowned Czech singer and violinist Iva Bittova, accompanied by the Skampa Quartet and chorus. The effect is not so much of classical liede, but of authentic eastern European "popular" songs - the sonority of the string quartet adds to this in no small part. Janacek would be proud.

Skampa Quartet is great - the singer... yikes.......2005-07-28

I honestly did not know what I was getting myself into when I bought this CD. I love Janacek, I love folk songs... how could I go wrong? Iva Bittova! I was concerned that she would have a 50yr old woobly voice, but instead what exists is a thin VERY nasal tone... perhaps she should be singing traditional Bulgarian music! The voice is expressive, just ugly.
The recording quality is not very good, either. On many of the tracks, Iva seems to be muffled and in the background of the recording.
Really - dont waste your time and money, unless you really would just like to have a recording of over 50 Janacek songs.

Average customer rating:

In So Many Words InMemory Manufacturer: Dough-Main ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Safety In Rumors ASIN: B0006BGXQS Release Date: 2004-11-09

Tracks:

1. American Bachelor
2. Accents Are Overrated
3. Red Carpet Complex
4. Dry Bristles
5. Fidelity
6. Girls & Boys
7. Daddy Raised Us Kings
8. Characters
9. Paper Street Murders
10. My Frist Time
11. Soma

Average customer rating: a great Piece of History

Red Hot & Blue Live (Radio Broadcasts from 1952-1964) Dewey Phillips Manufacturer: Memphis Archives ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Country | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Dewey and Elvis: The Life and Times of a Rock 'n' Roll Deejay (Music in American Life) Alan Freed's Moon Dog Show WDIA: History, The Music, The Legend Elvis Presley - Ed Sullivan Shows ASIN: B000003UEH Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

1. Live Broadcast 1952-1964

Album Description

If 1950's rock radio was defined by the unique personalities of the likes of Alan Freed and Wolfman Jack, Dewey Phillips was unique among the unique. He brought black rhythm and blues to white teenagers in Memphis two years before Freed started doing the same in Cleveland. He brought rock 'n' roll to television a year before Dick Clark's American Bandstand. And while segregation was imposed on virtually every aspect of life in the streets, "Daddy-O" Dewey gleefully integrated the airwaves of the South. These selections offer a glimpse into this unique performer during his rise, at his peak, and in the decline of his career. It is a voice whick has not been heard before and will likely not be heard again - a voice which changed the social landscape of Memphis and the musical landscape of the world.

Customer Reviews:

a great Piece of History.......2002-09-19

Here are the sounds of yesteryear captured through the voice of a fascinating character (Dewey Phillips) who introduced me to the real Blues via his dj chatter when I was a teenager. Yes this is Nostalgia with a Capital "N". The arcane vocubulary, the primitive broadcasting (including the scratchy, over cued 78's, and of course the classical blues of the South are all on this CD. (Even the first Ricky Nelson recording appears from a late spring 1957 broadcast.)

Average customer rating: Goidbye, album underrated band An improvement 16-layer dip too filling 2 guys, 10 songs, one great album

Young Effectuals The Helio Sequence Manufacturer: Cavity Search ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Noise | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Neo-Psychedelia | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: You Forgot It in People Z Show Your Bones Details We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank ASIN: B00005QG9D Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

1. Reh.vuh.lee
2. Give, Give, Give
3. (Square) Bubbles
4. Knots
5. The Echo-Blomp
6. Nothing's OK: Everything's Fine
7. Cut The Camera
8. Fall And Winter/Necktie Noose
9. Kablerium Vs. Obliviousity
10. Take, Take, Take

Customer Reviews:

Goidbye, album.......2006-03-31

I'm listening to this album right now. It's alright. Very
noisy,trippy, indie..... This reminds me of a more industrial
experimental psychedelic ween. You be the judge on that. I
only thought,"[Square] bubbles," was really good. Plus track 9 is O.K. Songs range 5-6 minutes. Instrumental opening. Spacey
synth. Dreamy occasionaly, like track 1 and, " take take
take."

underrated band.......2005-09-16

A friend of mine played The Helio Sequence for me and since then I haven't been able to get over them. This band is simply amazing, and they get better with every listen. These guys are musical mad scientists. The music is complex and demands you attention. And every time you listen you learn something new from it. This album is light years better than anything I've heard from indie-sensations Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Modest Mouse, The Shins...

This band deserves attention, they're awesome.

An improvement.......2003-12-27

I've had these two young men's first disk since around when it came out and have waited for a new disk in the hopes that they would add more vocals and cut back on the lengthly 7 minute songs. My wish came true. The men are studio genius, they make some of the most wonderful loops in recent memory. I would suggest this disk to anyone who likes involving, spirling songs.

16-layer dip too filling.......2003-04-29

I saw these guys at SxSW and was amazed at the amount of sound and energy they were able to generate for just two guys. I was impressed enough to pick up a copy of the CD at the show based largely on the song 'Cut the Camera' which is also the best song on the CD. Unfortunately, many of the songs get lost in a wash of synth-loops and other effects in a man v. machine struggle for control. The potential is certainly there once they gain enough confidence in their vocals and songwriting to let the songs and melodies breath a little more. Will they be given a chance?

2 guys, 10 songs, one great album.......2003-03-04

Whatever happened to cause the Helio Sequence to spawn this album must have been some ordeal. Every song deals with corporate masquerading, the drudgery of the daily grind and 70-hour work weeks with potently venomous lyrics. The fact that the social criticism is coupled with some of the most beautiful and densely layered pop music is the real accomplishment.

All of the songs float above your head with multiple melodies from bouncing bass, wailing guitars and synth squiggles, all of which combine to comprise a lush tapestry of sound.

"Echo Blomp" sounds like it is being rained down from Heaven's P.A. system while "Kablerium vs. Obliviousity" is a racing six minutes that could energize a corpse. My personal favorite is "Take Take Take," which is nearly two songs. The first 4 minutes is a cheary dirge that sounds like a spring meadow looks and the final 3:30 or so is a heartbreaking symphony done on synthesizer.

One magazine successfully described this album as a cross between the Beach Boys and British shoegazers like Spacemen 3, early Lush and My Bloody Valentine. If that sounds good to you, then there is no way you'll be disappointed by this album. Unconditionally recommended.

Average customer rating: The Best Release Of This CD Yet

Todays Report Manufacturer: Atenzia Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00008RWQG Release Date: 2004-07-06

Customer Reviews:

The Best Release Of This CD Yet.......2006-12-01

"Today's Report" (October, 1999) is the first album from A.C.T a Swedish progressive metal band. This particular release is the Atenzia release which remastered release, which includes not only the bonus track from the Japanese release, but also two additional bonus tracks. As with the Avalon release of the album, the first bonus track is third overall on the album instead of at the end where one normally finds bonus tracks. However, you will find that it fits well in that position on the album. The additional two bonus tracks are demo tracks from 1996 and are placed at the end. This remastered version was released on March 1st of 2003.

I find this to be an enjoyable album to listen to; musically it is very strong. The lyrics and vocals are the weakest parts of the album, but not to the point where it is a serious detriment. Some of what they did on this album may seem formulaic on their later albums, but here it is fresh and new. The album opens with "Abandoned World", a strong number which is heavier than the majority of the album. Other cuts of interest include "The Wandering", "Waltz with Mother Nature", "Today's Report", and the bonus track "Grandpa Phone Home". There is also "Personalities" (The Long One), which is several smaller pieces strung together to form one longer piece. This is the strongest part of the album, as it includes "Lord of Lies", "Emelie (Ms Amnesia)", and "Insomniac".

The band includes Jerry Sahlin (synthesizers, vocals, backing vocals, vocoder), Tomas Erlandsson (acoustic and electronic drums and percussion, soundscapes, baking machine and swollen kneecap, backing vocals), Ola Andersson (guitars, backing vocals), Peter Asp (bass, percussion, backing Vocals), and Herman Saming (lead vocals, backing vocals, silent trumpet). The guests include Mike Turner (Today's reporter), and The kids (secret messages).

Album Review:

1. Love Is the Answer
2. Make Things Right
3. Mirror System [Import]
4. More Songs About Food & Revolutionary Art [Import]
5. Move Ya Body [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]
6. Music For The Masses 2
7. Muy Rico! [Import]
8. Oh My Gosh [CD-single] [Import]
9. Parallel Life
10. Plankton Man Vs. Terrestre

Album Review

album review

Album Review

Born to Rock [Enhanced]

Martinu: Serenade No2; Quartet

Last Man on Earth [Import]

Music: Take Your Time and Get It Right

In Need of Medical Attention

High as Hell [Explicit Lyrics]

Joy

Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 10 [Import]

Johnny & Jack & Tennessee Mountain Boys [Import]

Fiebre [Limited Edition] [Import]

Long Time By

Ethiopiques 6 [Import]

Les Derives du Signe

Michael Torke: Book of Proverbs

Soliloquy