Word of Science [Import]

1. Nights Interlude

2. Case Of Funk

3. Coming Down

4. Stop (Crack)

5. Biofeedback

6. Mega Donutz

7. Playtime

8. Aftermath

9. Fun

10. Back Into Time

11. Dextrous

12. B.W.T.M.

13. Sal

14. E.A.S.E.

15. How Ya Doin'

Word of Science,Nightmares on Wax,Warp,Dance

Average customer rating:

A Word of Science Nightmares on Wax Manufacturer: Warp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: In a Space Outta Sound Carboot Soul Mind Elevation LateNightTales Smokers Delight ASIN: B000ERU5J0 Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

1. Nights Interlude
2. A Case Of Funk
3. Coming Down
4. Stop (Crack)
5. Biofeedback
6. Mega Donutz
7. Playtime
8. Aftermath
9. Fun
10. Back In Time
11. Dextrous
12. BWTM
13. Sal Batardes
14. E.A.S.E.
15. How Ya Doin?

Average customer rating:

Doctor Who: The Abominable Snowmen/The Web of Fear Original Soundtrack Manufacturer: BBC Audio ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books | Adventure | Alternate History | Anthologies | General | Graphic Novels | High Tech | History & Criticism | Series | Short Stories | Space Opera General | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Doctor Who: The Wheel in Space (BBC Radio Collection) Doctor Who: The Space Pirates (BBC TV Soundtrack) Doctor Who: The Faceless Ones (BBC TV Soundtrack) Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace (BBC Audio Collection) "Doctor Who", The Evil of the Daleks (Dr Who Radio Collection) ASIN: 0563494182

Album Details

Patrick Troughton Braves a Double Dose of Yeti in These Exclusive Recordings of Two Classic Lost Television Adventures with Linking Narration by Frazer Hines on These Exclusive Recordings of Two Classic Lost Television Adventures. The Complete BBC Episodes of Both "The Abominable Snowmen" and "The Web of Fear" Are on this Double CD Set. These Discs Are Recorded with Mp3 Files (Not Regular Audio Discs) So that the Extensive Running Time Can Fit.

Average customer rating: Jello does it again The most economics-oriented of Biafra's albums Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill the poor.

If Evolution is Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Evolve Manufacturer: Alternative Tentacles/AK Press ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books General | 20th Century | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books World | History | Subjects | Books | 17th Century | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | 21st Century | Byzantine | Expeditions & Discoveries | General | Islamic | Jewish | Medieval | Renaissance | Revolution | Slavery & Emancipation | Transportation | Women in History General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Comedy & Spoken Word | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Become the Media Machine Gun in the Clowns Hand High Priest of Harmful Matter: Tales From the Trial Beyond the Valley of the Gift Police I Blow Minds for a Living ASIN: 1902593049 Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

1. Depends On The Drug
2. Talk On The Death Penalty/When Psychopaths Guard The Henhouse
3. The Murder Of Munia Abu-Jamal
4. Clinton Comes To Long Beach
5. The Hex-Files: Space Shuttle Sequel
6. Half-Time
7. The New Soviet Union

Tracks:

1. Talk On Censorship - It Takes A Pillage To Raze A Child/Talk On Censorship-The Contract On America

Tracks:

1. Talk On Censorship - Bridge To The New Dark Ages/Talk On Censorship-Which Way To The Zoo?
2. Wake Up And Smell The Noise

Book Description

The fifth of Biafra's legendary biting and poignant spoken word albums. Tracks include: Depends on the Drug, Wake Up and Smell the Noise, Murder of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Clinton Comes to Long Beach, Half Time, The Hex Files: Space Shuttle Sequel, The New Soviet Union, Talk on Censorship

Customer Reviews:

Jello does it again.......2006-07-26

You can't go wrong with Biafra's fantastic sense of humor, especially in conjunction with his ever-scathing political commentary.
This is a highly listenable and entertaining set of cds, which is not to undermine their importance. They are challenging and thought-provoking, addressing contemporary social and political issues, and weave together a perfect blend of satire and seriousness.

The most economics-oriented of Biafra's albums.......2004-12-25

Jello Biafra pontificates on a number of issues that I personally find important: the need for teenagers and young adults to have free access to entertainment, music and media of their choice; the banality and anti-aestheticism of "mainstream suburbia" and the suit-and-tie, Christmas-shopping, pro-sports mentality fed to us in the media (that's how their corporate sponsors make money after all).

But here Biafra is much more concerned with the economics playing behind the scenes. Rather than "whine" about Tipper Gore, the PMRC and their efforts to deny people under a certain age certain types of albums (and movies, video games, possibly even live concerts), here Biafra goes into a much more powerful threat to freedom and democracy: corporate power and the DE FACTO censorship and authoritarianism it brings. You could best think of this album as a rebuttal to conservative economist Milton Friedman's book CAPITALISM AND FREEDOM.

This album was recorded in late 1997/early 1998, the era of anti-gang paranoia, the Newt Gingrich regime, NAFTA, drug wars, welfare reform, and Wall Street uber-alles. Biafra clearly points out President Clinton's repeated concessions to the conservative right, not just the Wall Street right but also cultural reactionaries (one of which would have been first lady had the Supreme Court not handed the 2000 pres election to Bush). This frustration over pro-corporate, pro-suburbia, anti-marijuana, anti-musical freedom "liberal" Democrats was certainly at least part of the fuel behind Ralph Nader's 2000 campaign.

Biafra points out, very honestly, that the corporate media deliberately blames society's problems on everything except the real cause (how screwed up our economic system is (this is a verbatim quote)), which not only unnecessarily scapegoats innocent people like Marilyn Manson and divides the nation among race and culture lines, but assures that the real problems will never be solved.

Of course, to inspire the people for social change, he also gives examples of how Russians and Eastern Europeans overthrew their communist-by-name-only regimes and set up democracies run, in some cases, by rock musicians! Granted, neocapitalist fervor has been pushed too hard on the ex-"communist" countries, but the basic idea of a mass of people overthrowing a corrupt and elitist political regime is definitely something that a democratic socialist like myself can wholeheartedly support!

After listening to this album you too will be inspired to renounce the capitalist economic ideology and dream of the day when America will experience a general strike. Even if you don't agree with Biafra's (or my) quasi-socialist philosophy of wealth, work and property, you will be forced to admit that America is going down the tubes and that "It's the economic system, [...]"

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill the poor........1999-01-11

If you didn't get the summary and for some reason actually took it literally, then you've probably never listenned to the Dead Kennedys. Well, ex-Kennedy lead singer Jello Biafra has taken his razor blade-like social awareness and criticism to spoken word. You won't believe what you learn, and worst of all you'll never be able to pledge allegiance again(OH NO!!). Buy this. Yeah, yeah. I know that's all you hear every evening as you vegetate in front of the new opiate of the masses, i mean television, but this might actually wake you up. Besides, if you've found your way to this review than you must have some interest in Biafra or the Dead Kennedys. If you just stumbled upon this as a poor innocent good citizen, well, good. You need this. It's like Viagra for the brain. Arm the homeless!

Average customer rating: The power of the human mind and time travelling in the Zone

The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas Vol 9-10 Various Manufacturer: Genius Products ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items: The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas, Vol. 3 & 4 ASIN: B0006Q93K6 Release Date: 2005-08-16

Customer Reviews:

The power of the human mind and time travelling in the Zone.......2005-05-10

The power of the human mind comes into play in the four episodes included on Volume 9 of "The Twilight Zone" DVD series, while time traveling is the common theme on Volume 10. It is the first disc that has two recognized classic episodes of Rod Serling's celebrated anthology series, but since the other has Buster Keaton I will round up in splitting the difference:

Episode 43, "Nick of Time" (Written by Richard Matheson, First aired November 18, 1960) stars William Shatner and Patricia Breslin as newly weds Don and Pat Carter. The honeymooners are waiting for their car to be repaired in Ridgeview, Ohio when the superstitious Don becomes obsessed with a table top fortune-telling machine that dispense little cards answering yes or no questions (I have seen a web site that gives you step-by-step instructions for making the machine). A classic "Twilight Zone" episode with a wonderful performance from a rather restrained Shatner.

Episode 57, "The Prime Moved" (Written by Charles Beaumont and based on an unpublished story by George Clayton Johnson, First aired March 24, 1961) stars Buddy Ebsen as Jimbo Cobb, a man with psychokinetic power and when his friend compulsive gambler Ace Larsen (Dane Clark) learns about this, he takes Jimbo to Las Vegas to make big bucks. But while Ace is getting Jimbo to manipulate the dice in the craps game, he is blowing off his girlfriend Kitty (Christine White). That is when Jimbo blows a fuse. A nice little story, one of the few to actually show some heart in the Zone.

Episode 73 "It's a Good Life" (Adapted by Rod Serling from Jerome Bixy's short story, First aired November 3, 1961) is one of the most horrifying "Zone" episodes and features Billy Mumy as Anthony Fremont, the monster who is terrorizing Peaksvillle, Ohio. You see, Anthony can not only read minds, he has enormous power and no restraints. That is why all the adults in town always tell him, whether he turns someone into a huge jack-in-the-box or kills the crops by making it snow, "That's a good thing you did." "It's a Good Life" is an absolute classic that was unnecessarily redone in "Twilight Zone--the Movie," which only proved that imagination is more terrifying than special effects.

Episode 63, "The Mind and the Matter" (Written by Rod Serling, First aired May 12, 1961) is the story of Archibald Beechcroft (Shelley Berman), who reads a book on mind power that allows him to do whatever he wants just by concentrating hard enough. Unfortunately, what Archibald wants to do is make every person on Earth disappear. While it has some nice moments, this is an average episode at best.

Episode 18, "The Last Flight" (Written by Richard Matheson, First aired February 5, 1960) was sold to "The Twilight Zone" on the strength of a simple idea: a World War I pilot lands at a modern airbase. The pilot is Flight Lt. Decker (Kenneth Haigh), who fled during a dogfight, leaving his best friend surrounded by enemy fighters, doomed to die. After flying through a strange white cloud, similar to the Matheson employed in "The Incredible Shrinking Man" one would assume, Decker lands at a modern day American air field in France (you have to pretend we had them). There Decker learns that he might have a chance to redeem himself and more importantly, a reason to do so.

Episode 78, "Once Upon a Time" (Written by Richard Matheson, First aired December 15, 1961) is a rare opportunity for outright slapstick in the Zone. The show features the great silent comedian Buster Keaton as janitor Woodrow Mulligan. Disgusted with the fast paced and high priced society of 1890, Woodrow steals a "time helmet" from the inventor who employs him, and travels to 1962. Of course, he is in for quite a bit of future shock. The 1890 sequences are down in silent fashion, with cards instead of dialogue, but the humor is trite rather than funny. Keaton is fine, but the gags are second-rate at best, which is really a surprise since the episode was directed by Norman Z. McLeod, who directed the Marx Brothers films "Horse Feathers" and "Monkey Business." This is just one of those cases were major talents come together and produce a small pop instead of a big bang.

Episode 59, "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim" (Written by Rod Serling, First aired April 7, 1961) stars Cliff Robertson as Christian Horn, traveling to a new life in California. Similar to "The Last Flight," this episode hinges on a pivotal image: while searching for water and food for his dying son, Horn walks "over the rim" to discover a paved highway, telephone poles, trucks and a diner. However, the conclusion of this episode ends up paralleling "The Last Flight" way too much to avoid eyebrow raising. Still, the performance of Robertson makes this one work on its own terms.

Episode 45, "The Trouble With Templeton" (Written by E. Jack Neuman, First aired) December 9, 1960) features Brian Aherne as Booth Templeton, an aging actor who longs for the happy days in the Twenties when his wife as still alive. Late for a rehearsal of a play he finds himself back in 1927. Finding his wife Laura (Pippa Scott) alive at a local speakeasy he is stunned to find that while she is as beautiful as he remembers her, she is a vulgar little flirt. His perfect memories destroyed, he returns to the present at which point he makes a rather stunning discovery. I have a special fondness for this episode because I did not see the twist coming. Sydney Pollack plays Willis, the young director who is not happy with Templeton's commitment to his craft.

Average customer rating:

Doctor Who: Dalek's Masterplan/Mission to the Unknown Original Soundtrack Manufacturer: BBC Audio ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books | Adventure | Alternate History | Anthologies | General | Graphic Novels | High Tech | History & Criticism | Series | Short Stories | Space Opera General | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Doctor Who: Galaxy 4 (BBC TV Soundtrack) The Myth Makers (Doctor Who) The Massacre (Doctor Who) Doctor Who: The Savages (BBC TV Soundtrack) Doctor Who: Marco Polo (BBC Radio Collection) ASIN: 0563494174

Album Details

The Daleks Threaten to Destroy the Fabric of Time Itself in this Exclusive Recording of the Epic Lost Adventure Starring William Hartnell on These Exclusive Recordings of Two Classic Lost Television Adventures with Linking Narration by Frazer Hines. The Complete BBC Episodes of Both "The Dalek's Master Plan" and "Mission to the Unknown" Are on this Double CD Set. These Discs Are Recorded with Mp3 Files (Not Regular Audio Discs) So that the Extensive Running Time Can Fit.

Average customer rating:

A Word of Science Nightmares on Wax Manufacturer: Warp ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music International Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000025MCZ Release Date: 1991-01-01

Tracks:

1. Nights Interlude
2. Case of Funk
3. Coming Down
4. Stop (Crack)
5. Biofeedback
6. Mega Donutz
7. Playtime
8. Aftermath
9. Fun
10. Back into Time
11. Dextrous
12. B.W.T.M.
13. Sal
14. E.A.S.E.
15. How Ya Doin'

Average customer rating: Good fun from the funniest guys on radio! Political correctness jumps out the window...

Rocket Science John Boy & Billy Manufacturer: Arista ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000DFSL Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

1. Hoyt: Back At NASA
2. Married Man Talks Dirty
3. Marvin: The Loomis Caper
4. An Olympic Flashback
5. Mad Max: 25 Rules For Women
6. Best Of Dumb Crook News
7. Murray: Carlos The Mime
8. JB&B Playhouse: A Matter Of Life & Dub
9. Rune Sorbees
10. Hoyt: Back At NASA
11. Rhubarb's News Nuggets
12. Hurricane Haney
13. The Pushup
14. Mad Max: Liquid Meat?
15. Marvin: The Mars Rock
16. JB&B Playhouse: Lost At Sea
17. Miss Dipesto's 25 Rules For Men

Customer Reviews:

Good fun from the funniest guys on radio!.......1999-08-09

Enjoyed the album very much. What a hoot

Political correctness jumps out the window..........1998-12-18

John Boy and Billy are not going to make you feel good if you are unable to laugh at yourself.

The characters on this "radio show" album are as rich as those we used to see during the early years of Saturday Night Live.

Mad Max: Spring-loaded in the "ticked off" position, and willing to attack women, gays, PETA and anything the writers can think of.

Lipless: An opportunity to laugh at the people who laugh at the people who laugh at other people.

Miss Dipesto: The predictable, mercenary secretary who is always dumping some guy for a good reason: "We had religious differences. He thought he was God, and I didn't."

Marvin Webster: The African-American who remembers what it was like to be a black man who found endless amusement in the bland entertainment that enraptures white people. "Man, what is it with you white people and outer space?"

Dub: This is one character I will truly miss. He played the part of the "clueless older gentleman" again and again. A geriatric John Belushi, the Dubber is now dead...

This troupe is original, refreshing and unrepentingly disrespectful of everything. Many of their other releases are only available through their website "thebigshow.com", and we can only hope that they broaden their distribution channel.

Get the album at your own risk. If you do not laugh out loud, you are probably a pederastic priest or the parent of one.

Average customer rating:

Pirates: Dead Men Tell Their Tales Original Soundtrack Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music ASIN: B000PMGS5O Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

1. Treasure Island
2. The Pirate Captain
3. Leaving The Ship
4. The Hidden Cove
5. Creeping Around
6. Burying The Treasure
7. Storm At Sea
8. Caribbean Islands
9. Rowing To Shore
10. Shore Leave
11. Pirates At Play
12. In The Tavern
13. On The Seas
14. The Chase
15. The Final AttackBONUS TRACK:
16. Pirates of the Caribbean Theme

Album Description

CD: MUSIC INSPIRED BY PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN BONUS DVD LONG JOHN SILVER'S RETURN TO TREASURE ISLAND

Average customer rating: boldly went...others went there a bit later

A Word of Science Nightmares on Wax Manufacturer: Warp ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music International Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Smokers Delight In a Space Outta Sound ASIN: B0000072KC Release Date: 1991-01-01

Tracks:

1. Nights Interlude
2. Case of Funk
3. Coming Down
4. Stop (Crack)
5. Biofeedback
6. Mega Donutz
7. Playtime
8. Aftermath
9. Fun
10. Back into Time
11. Dextrous
12. B.W.T.M.
13. Sal
14. E.A.S.E.
15. How Ya Doin'

Album Description

French version of the Warp Records UK dance act's 1991 debut album. 15 tracks including the ace 'Nights Interlude' that's been included on numerous chill-out collections. Standardjewel case.

Customer Reviews:

boldly went...others went there a bit later.......2005-08-06

Buy and then kiss my face!
No, really, you'll want to. Its a blinder, eclectic, electric, and....erm ectreclic for all i know too.
Very hard to come by, but well worth it. Production might sound a bit iffy by todays standards but the ambience is one of unlimited possibilites, of free-wheeling genre blendage, and of real freshness. The kind of expansive, imaginative album that knows its creating something pretty new.

Dextrous- belter, BASS!

Coming Down- funkay

Playtime- warms my nether regions.

Biofeedback- errrm, BASS!

This is superior to their later "oooh lets make a album themed around smoking weed, te he he" type releases, which are fine but far less adventurous and layered, and more basic Chill Out comp fare. Still, if thats your bag, you could buy them, or alternatively get a life.

Average customer rating: Get the 13-disc box set from AmazonUK! Original Audio CD Verison Still Available Wonderful Content, So-so Quality Nice idea, but not worth it for loss of sound quality A must-hear before the movie comes

The Complete Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Radio Show Various Artists Manufacturer: BBC Audio ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books | Adventure | Alternate History | Anthologies | General | Graphic Novels | High Tech | History & Criticism | Series | Short Stories | Space Opera General | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music ASIN: 0563494212

Album Details

The Complete BBC-4 Radio Series of Both "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "Douglas Adams's Guide to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" on One Double CD Set. These Discs Are Recorded with Mp3 Files (Not Regular Audio Discs) So that the Extensive Running Time Can Fit. The Audio also Includes a Previously Unbroadcast Interview with Author Douglas Adams. Also Included is Douglas Adams' "Guide to the Galaxy", a Behind the Scenes Look. These Discs Will Play Only on Equipment Capable of Reading Mp3 Files.

Customer Reviews:

Get the 13-disc box set from AmazonUK!.......2005-10-19

$117 on the secondary market for this inferior set? HA! Go to AMAZON UK and get the complete 13-disc set in a beautiful box set for about $84 shipped. (I just received mine!)

It doesn't take Marvin, with a brain the size of a planet, to see which is better.

Original Audio CD Verison Still Available.......2005-03-26

With regard to concerns about the audio quality of the this MP3 version, the original audio CD version ("The Collector's Edition"), an 8-CD set, is still available from Amazon UK. I paid a little more than twice the MP3 price. The ISBN number of the Audio CD version is 0-563-47702-4.

Wonderful Content, So-so Quality.......2005-02-04

I imagine that there are quite a few fans out there who, like me, adore the Hitchhiker's books but have never heard the orginal radio shows. To all of you out there: you won't be disappointed. The radio dramas have a very talented cast, and they're full of wonderful soundscapes and effects that bring the sometimes abstract plots of H2G2 into sharp focus. Other reviewers have put it better, so I'll leave it to them.

The added features give an interesting perspective -- there's a "making-of" feature with interviews of the cast and producers, and there's a wonderful extended interview with Douglas Adams which covers not only the making of Hitchhiker's but his views on, well, Life, the Universe, and Everything. I imagine that Mr. Adams must have been a wonderfully charming person in real life; he certainly comes across that way in the interview.

That said, the sound quality of the first and second series on MP3 is not so great. I was happy with mine until I heard a friend's copy -- she had the same "Collector's Edition" but in Audio CD format on 8 discs. (The packaging is basically the same, though obviously 8 discs take up slightly more room.) Compared with the CD format, my MP3's sounded a bit flat and fuzzy, and there are cracks and pops. It didn't bother me because I'm used to listening to old records, but it was disappointing to hear what was supposedly the "same edition" sound so much better. The flat sound of my MP3 edition might just be due to the fact that I don't have any fancy dedicated MP3 player, just my PC and Windows Media Player, but I thought it worth mentioning.

If you want to pay a bit more (not much more) to get better sound quality, the ISBN for the Audio CD format is 0-563-47702-4. I can't seem to find it on amazon.com, but it's on amazon.co.uk. (Amazon, please don't be mad at me for recommending something from your counterpart!) If you're not an audiophile, the MP3's are pretty good, a bit cheaper, and you can get them without overseas shipping. Either way, the Collector's edition is definitely worth picking up.

Nice idea, but not worth it for loss of sound quality.......2004-06-25

I love the radio series of Hitchhikers...REALLY love it, both series of it. I owned them for years on cassette tape and used to listen to them regularly. Then, recently, fueled by the news of the new Tertiary Phase (which will be broadcast in Sept. 2004), I decided to upgrade my cassettes of the Primary and Secondary Phases to CD.

And I saw this wonderful sounding "all on one CD" mp3 release, going for a cheap price, and thought, "What a great idea!". Although slightly dubious about what the sound quality would be like, I ignored the other negative reviews here which criticised it and bought it anyway.

Bad mistake. There is a constant barrage of crackle and popping going on in the background, which ruins the programme for me. The radio series is so reliant on its sound and sound effects that having a constant popping in your ear is not only irritating, but downright insulting, and I am shocked that the BBC actually allowed this to be released.

The fact that SIX CDs are compressed onto ONE (with LOTS of room left over if you look at the burn markings on the CD) should be warning enough, but I did not heed it and paid the price.

Quite a large price, actually, because I instantly went out (in quite an annoyed huff) and bought the original CD releases of the Primary and Secondary Phase. Which sound beautiful.

Do yourself a favour and do NOT bother ordering this mp3 CD; spend the extra dough and get the decent original releases. Or perhaps wait for a DVD-Audio of it...really THAT is what the BBC should have done.

You may end up spending double what you would if you got this mp3 CD, but believe me: the Hitchhiker's radio series IS worth it.

A must-hear before the movie comes.......2004-05-02

The first radio series of Hitchhiker was utterly marvellous, and I believe will stand up in history as the 20th century's equivalent of 'Alice in Wonderland'. The second series never achieved the same zenith, for several reasons:

1. It was very much a follow-on to the first series, and thus it could never hope to be as devestatingly original.

2. Although there are one or two grand ideas in the second series -- such as the Platonic concept of a disinterested philosopher actually running the Universe, and Zaphod colluding with psychiatrists to destroy the Earth -- these don't permeate the whole series in the same way that the Earth-as-ultimate-computer idea held almost everything together in the first series.

3. In fact, apart from Zaphod feeling he must find Zarniwoop, our heroes wander fairly aimlessly through the second series, largely reacting to circumstances and just trying to survive.

4. The absence of Trillian means that there is no female protagonist until the three Lintillas arrive in episode 5. Quite apart from the benefit of a female perspective -- if Douglas was capable of writing from one -- a female voice gave additional colour to the first series. Until you've heard a couple of episodes, it can at times be hard to distinguish between the voices of Mark Wing-Davey, Geoff McGivern, and at times, even Simon Jones.

5. One of the many stars of the first series was the background music, which provided a wonderful selection of much of the best 'space' music of the 1970s -- Stomu Yamash'ta, Patrick Moraz, Terry Riley etc. In the second series -- perhaps for reasons of expense -- we get Paddy Kingsland's original music, which is nice enough, but was never going to win any awards or achieve commercial success.

6. Douglas Adams seemed to have used up many of his best philosophical ideas in the first series. At times you definitely feel that Peter Jones, as the Book, has been given a second-rate selection of observations for the second series. The second series contained one or two of Douglas's gripes about the late 70s -- e.g. the noisiness of discos, and the surplus of shoe shops on the high street -- but one wonders whether it was really worth making them a major theme of a sci-fi story.

7. The decision to broadcast episodes 8 to 12 on Monday to Friday of the same week was a mistake. It was just to much to take in so quickly. Perhaps the production team were unaware how the first series became such a cult: university students (particularly in Cambridge) were taping each episode, and very quickly copies of copies of copies of the original broadcast were circulating around the colleges. You really needed to hear each episode at least three times to begin to appreciate all that had been put into it. With episodes coming every night, as they did in the second series, you never stood a chance of getting that familiar before the next episode arrived.

OK, that's all the negative criticism. There are many reasons for liking the second series almost as much as the first series. Stephen Moore is fantastically versatile here -- e.g. as Marvin, as the pupil, and as the disinterested philosopher -- and his achievement really deserved to be compared with Alec Guinness in 'Kind Hearts and Coronets'.

Album Review:

1. 7 Years & 50 Days [Import]
2. A View from the ED/GE [Import]
3. Ahead, Vol. 1
4. Ambient Lounge, Vol. 4 [Import]
5. Angel Beach: the Third Wave
6. Baby & the Satellite [Import]
7. Bar Social, Vol. 3
8. Bitches Without Britches
9. Blueprint
10. Break for Love: Danny Rampling [Import]

Album Review

album review

Album Review

This Is Chill Out: the Late Night Session [Box set] [Import]

Clementi: Flute Sonatas

Christmas: Hymns & Tropes from Midnight Mass

Music: Lili Purprea [Import]

Cold Lampin'

Dead Soul Tribe

Glory Glory Hallelujah

Boxcar Sky

Chama Acesa [Import]

Boulez Conducts Webern, Vol. 3

Billie's Blues/Blue Light 'til Dawn [Import]

Cancoes Para as Caboclas Que Amei [Import]

Chilled/Moods [Box set] [Import]

Doing My Own Thing

Jazz Music jazz-music-20