Gridlock's grinding noise and pounding, violent rhythms may owe much to the legacy of industrial bands of the late 1980s, but on Further, their sophomore release, the duo of Mike Wells and Cadoo prove they aren't out to make just another tired old industrial album. Light, soothing atmospheres are desecrated (but in a good way) by the percussive onslaught, as though pleasant dreams were being interrupted by unspeakable nightmares. Vocals manifest themselves in that coarse, typically industrial manner, but they are sparse and fitful, strategically kept out of the way of the music. The resulting mix places the group somewhere amid the musical Bermuda triangle of Skinny Puppy, Dive, and Autechre. There's a stark, terrible, apocalyptic beauty to the songs--sleek, seductive, but hiding a hideous secret. A very engaging recording and a worthy follow-up to 1997's excellent The Synthetic Form. Just don't listen to it alone in the dark. --Steve Landau
Further,Gridlock,Pendragon Records,Dance Music,Industrial,Industrial/Gothic,Pop
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An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Deryck Cooke , Georg Solti , Wiener Philharmoniker , Anita Valkki , Berit Lindholm , Birgit Nilsson , Brigitte Fassbaender , Christa Ludwig , Claire Watson , Claudia Hellmann , Dame Gwyneth Jones , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Eberhard Wächter , George London , Gerhard Stolze , Gottlob Frick , Grace Hoffmann , Gustav Neidlinger , Hans Hotter , Helen Watts , Helga Dernesch , Hetty Plumacher , Ira Malaniuk , James King , Jean Madeira , Joan Sutherland , Kirsten Flagstad , Kurt Böhme , Lucia Popp , Marga Höffgen , Marilyn Tyler , Maureen Guy , Oda Balsborg , Paul Kuen , Régine Crespin , Set Svanholm , Vera Little , Vera Schlosser , Waldemar Kmentt , Walter Kreppel , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000424H Release Date: 2005-09-13 |
Tracks:
- Of All Great Musical Compositions... (Examples 1-4)
- The Fundamental Symbol... (Examples 5-11)
- Returning Now To The Nature Motive... (Examples 6, 12-16)
- A Number Of Further Motives... (Examples 5, 17-21)
- A Second, Much Smaller Family... (Examples 22-25)
- So Much For Nature. (Examples 26-38)
- The Cause Of The Deterioration... (Examples 39-44)
- The Other Transformation... (Examples 45-48)
- Several Other Motives... (Examples 49-52)
- Two Further Motives... (Examples 41, 53-61)
- The Basic Motive Associated With The Spear... (Examples 62-68)
- Along Another, More Complex Line... (Examples 69-72)
- In Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 69, 73-75)
- Returning Now To Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 76-79)
- Love Is Another Of The Central Symbols... (Examples 80-83)
- Later In The Same Scene... (Examples 84-87)
- Freia's Motive Has Two Independent Segments... (Examples 88-91)
- The Label 'Flight'... (Example 92)
- When Fasolt, In Scene Two Of Rhinegold... (Examples 93-98)
- A Little Later In The Interlude... (Examples 99-103)
Tracks:
- The Other New Motive... (Examples 104-109)
- There Are Several Independent Love-Motives... (Examples 110-114)
- The Characters In Whose Lives... (Examples 115-120)
- One Further Motive Belongs... (Example 121)
- The Sword Motive Recurs... (Examples 122-130)
- Ironically, This Phrase... (Examples 131-135)
- Closely Associated With Gutrune's Motive... (Examples 136-140)
- Here We Come To The End... (Examples 141-146)
- Complemtary To This Symbol... (Examples 147-149)
- One Last Central Symbol... (Examples 150-157)
- One Further Motive Connected... (Examples 158-161)
- There Are One Or Two Motives... (Examples 162-168)
- These Motives Of Alberich And Mime... (Examples 169-171)
- Quite A Number Of The Subsidiary Motives... (Examples 172-176)
- Besides This Family Of Motives... (Examples 177-180)
- Our Final Example... (Examples 10, 181, 182)
- In The Final Scene Of Gotterdammerung... (Examples 181-183)
- Even More Masterly... (Examples 184-188)
- Now If We Return... (Examples 189-191)
- This Masterly Way... (Examples 192, 193)
Amazon.com
When Wagner set the Ring to music, he intended the orchestra to act in the fashion of a chorus from a classic Greek tragedy--setting the mood and commenting on the action. In order to allow a nonverbal musical line to reflect on the plot, Wagner developed a psychologically and musically complex symbology to communicate his thoughts to the listener. From the beginning the Ring has spawned numerous written commentaries on the relationships of the motif structure, but by using examples from the Decca Ring recording, Deryck Cooke's thoughtful spoken commentary is by far the most accessible guide for either the fledgling Ring enthusiast or the seasoned veteran. --Christian C. RixCustomer Reviews:
Ring introduction critique.......2006-11-04
FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE.......2006-08-16
It wasn't the first time this has been tried. The famous HMV sets from the late 20's also included recorded examples of over 100 motifs. (These, by the way, are available as part of the Pearl reissue of those wonderful HMV recordings). What that set lacked was the wonderful insights as well as the approachability of the talk by Deryck Cooke. Cooke was a great and much missed musicologist - a Mahler expert responsible for the performing edition of the Tenth Symphony still most played today, a fascinating explorer into the nature of music's basic building-blocks in his excellent book, The Language of Music, and an inspiring and elucidating critic of Wagner's work as shown by the fascinating book he left unfinished at his death, I Saw the World End.
On these CDs he does much more than list the leitmotifs and identify them as calling-cards. He shows the amazingly integrated and organic growth of the musical material that Wagner uses throughout his vast work. He demonstrates how motifs can change their sense and meaning as they evolve through the drama. And he shows how the complex combinations of motifs can radically advance both the musical and the dramatic narrative of the piece. There are even places where he corrects the misinterpretation of some of the motifs that had become ingrained from early commentators' false labels.
This set should engage and enlighten anyone with an interest in Wagner's huge and inexhaustible tetralogy. Do give it a try - no matter how far down the road to Wagnerianism you are.
Welcome back to a classic analysis.......2006-05-28
If all you want is dilettantish baby food, there are plenty of dumbed-down Wagner commentaries on the market, stretching from Anna Russell's famous monologue (which doesn't pretend to be anything other than a parody aimed at morons) to the latest standard-issue "Wagner-was-a-Nazi-boo-hiss" feuilleton (which, unfortunately, does). Without reasonable score-reading skill you will find Cooke useless, however diligently you have ploughed through Marx, Jung, Freud, or other gurus purportedly relevant to THE RING. Cooke expects you to use your brains and your musical sense. Quelle horreur. At today's BBC his "elitism" would render him unemployable.
Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle.......2006-05-15
Bottom line, buy this set and study it if the Ring has captivated you as it has countless others. The presentation is dry, but sticking with it brings measureless and longlasting rewards.
Very Functional.......2006-03-19
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Volume 3: Further in Time
Afro Celt Sound System Manufacturer: Real World ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005ASHF Release Date: 2001-06-19 |
Tracks:
- North - Part 1
- North - Part 2
- When You're Falling (featuring Peter Gabriel)
- Shadow Man
- Lagan
- Colossus
- Life Begins Again (featuring Robert Plant)
- Further in Time
- Go on Through
- Persistence of Memory
- Silken Whip
- Onwards
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
While not as out-of-left-field revelatory and astonishing as their exalted debut, nor as darkly magnetic as their sophomore follow-up, Volume 3: Further in Time finds Afro Celt Sound System fleshed out, funky, and fiercely fresh. Now a band of 20-some-odd players, the Afro Celts push forward with unbounded energy and focus, organically driven beats, and a thoroughly joyous fusion of West African and Irish traditional music enhanced with dissonant Eastern influence, psychedelic trip-hop groove, and a monster flood of sonic waves. The resultant sound is somehow both cutting-edge futuristic and primitive in its visceral virility. Demba Barry steps up with an unexpectedly punchy African hip-hop-styled vocal on "Shadowman," "Lagan" plays out into an orchestral swan dive, and, throughout, Johnny Kalsi and Moussa Sissokho come on like gangbusters with the drums. Real World label honcho and world-music champion Peter Gabriel does a stunning turn on the eminently catchy "When You're Falling," and Robert Plant contributes a powerfully epic rock vocal on "Life Begins Again." Fine as all these moments are, the centerpiece of volume 3, where the band achieves beyond perfect synthesis, is the ecstatic groove-lock on the African acid ceilidh of "Colossus." Volume 3 is the tune-in turn-on we've been waiting for. --Paige La GroneCustomer Reviews:
Sounds A Bit Like M E H D I.......2007-07-28
ALSO RECOMMENDED: M E H D I ~ Instrumental Paradise Volume 8 ...A True Gem, JUST GO LISTEN TO THE SAMPLES !
Awesome CD!.......2006-11-26
Unique and upbeat.......2006-11-06
Incredible - the only word to describe it.......2006-08-02
She bought me the CD (and also "Seed, which is great too), and I've been listening to it obsessively since. I know it's now a cliche so rate this CD 5 stars, but the beautiful, haunting melodies and the catchy, rythmic tehcno beats make this CD one of the best in my collection. It was a great find for me especially, since I'm getting sick of all the horrible pop/rock/rap that's out there. If you're like me, and you're sick of all "today's hits" and are looking for something to dance to and have a great time listening to, BUY THIS ALBUM! It is something very fresh and amazing. Aah, North 2 just came on with that awesome celtic instrument riff and dance club style techno beat. I gotta get back to dancing!
My mind has been blown.......2006-05-30
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Time Further Out
Dave Brubeck Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002AAL Release Date: 1996-11-05 |
Tracks:
- It's A Raggy Waltz
- Bluette
- Charles Matthew Hallelujah
- Far More Blue
- Far More Drums
- Maori Blues
- Unsquare Dance
- Bru's Boogie Woogie
- Blue Shadows In The Street
- Slow And Easy (A.K.A. Lawless Mike)
- It's A Raggy Waltz (Live At Carnegie Hall)
Amazon.com
Time Further Out extends upon the concepts first enunciated on the Brubeck Quartet's surprise hit Time Out, but in this case with the organizing principles involving the leader's varied compositional treatments of the blues--traditional and otherwise. Thus a darkly ruminative tune such as "Bluette" treats a fairly standard 12-bar form in a very non-standard manner, interpolating a variety of classical devices that suggest the melodic influence of Chopin and the contrapuntal devices of Bach in its treatment, with a yearning alto solo from saxophonist Paul Desmond that suggests the emotional content of a blues, without specifically referring to standard devices. As if to italicize his band's mastery of polymeter, pianist Brubeck treats the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth tunes in corresponding meters, to particular effect on the 7/4 hoedown of "Unsquare Dance," the 8/8 barrelhouse changes of "Bru's Boogie Woogie" and the engaging dissonances of his 9/8 mood piece "Blue Shadows in the Street." And on "Far More Drums," drummer Joe Morello displays a mastery of 5/4 metric variations and African-styled polyrhythms that was unheard of for that time, save for percussive grandmasters such as Max Roach. --Chip SternCustomer Reviews:
Essential jazz for you collection.......2007-04-01
DAVE DID IT AGAIN.......2007-03-15
Though Time Out is rightfully regarded as the pinnacle release in Brubeck's career, Time Further Out does not disappoint. The melodies and rhythms reflected the joy of a performer who loved and continues to love doing what he does best, namely entertaining listeners in the style that only Mr. Brubeck could only hope to ever achieve.
One interesting observation: just as Miles Davis once said that Herb Alpert's trumpet-playing style was so distinctive that you knew it was Alpert who was performing after putting forth so much or so little as three notes, the same could be said of Brubeck's piano style.
No unequivocal comparisons can be made in distinguishing the quality of work between Time Out and Time Further Out. This is taking a stab, but I would say that Brubeck's piano style is more at the forefront in the latter.
Anyway, get both of these classics if you haven't already done so, and enjoy the listening experiences.
Incomparable.......2007-02-10
Much looser and less self-conscious than "Time Out", "Time Further Out" finds the guys light years more comfortable with the odd time signatures they must certainly have realized (and accepted!) would become their main claim to fame, as well as with each other (Desmond was originally quite put out that Morello had demanded to be a "featured" drummer instead of a faceless time-keeper) -- and the results are obvious. This is only peripherally "intellectual" jazz; the Quartet is now expressing itself emotionally and spiritually through those odd time signatures ... it ain't just a gimmick no more, Sports Fans!
It flows, it rocks, it scales lofty peaks -- yeah, ol' ham-handed Dave is still pounding out those block chords; Paul is still smoother than silk or any other sax-man that ever lived; Gene is still running the voodoo down and Joe is still ... Joe: but the individuals have melded their sounds and their personalities, here, and the music is otherworldly, heaven-sent, and relentlessly listenable even to non-aficianados. Put it on for your girlfriend, sometime, don't make a big speech or anything, just let ot percolate through the room, and see where THAT gets you ... !
A word about Joe Morello. I'm a drummer myself, and many favorites have come and gone since I first heard him play "Take Five" on my daddy's hi-fi -- but he's the one drummer in the world I have never gotten over and never will. Buddy Rich blazes, Krupa stokes those fires down below, Max Roach'll make you think intricate interlocking thoughts; hell, even Ron Bushy (the "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" guy) and John Bonham and Terry Bozzio deserve the attention they recieved. The current crop of jazz meisters have chops and technique far beyond the abilities of mortal men --
But nobody -- NOBODY -- tells a story like Joe Morello. Nobody makes 'em talk like that, makes 'em sing like that, or puts you somewhere out in the jungle listening to four or five hand-drummers having an honest-to-god conversation. You know how Eric Clapton never tries to fast-talk you on guitar? That's how Morello is on drums.
Back in '61, drum construction had not yet gone all-maple-plies-and-razor-sharp-bearing-edges; the base was still the African mahogany of Krupa's day, mixed with a little poplar, and the sheer sound, the deep, mellow tone, of those drums is one reason folks will still be listening to solos from pre-1970 long after those who played them have left the planet. Morello doesn't have to hit you over the head with speed or technique -- just let the drums speak for themselves.
Seductive, mon, seductive ...
BACK TO MY ROOTS.......2007-01-10
Brubeck truly shows his skill in this excellent album........1998-11-12
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Another Mother Further
Mother's Finest Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000259T Release Date: 1989-05-25 |
Tracks:
- Mickey's Monkey
- Baby Love
- Thank You For The Love
- Piece Of The Rock
- Truth'll Set You Free
- Burning Love
- Dis Go Dis Way, Dis Go Dat Way
- Hard Rock Lover
Customer Reviews:
One of the best albums I own........2007-01-31
WAAAAAAAAAAAAY Under rated!!!!!!.......2006-07-12
big slab-o-funk rock.......2006-06-17
Waaay Ahead Of Their Time & Painfully Underrated!!.......2006-01-31
Mother's Finest was one of the
rockinist-funkiest-slamminest bands ever!
Coming out of Atlanta, GA (Doraville) with a sound all
their own, they were contemporaries with Funk / Rock
pioneers like early Funkadelic, Rufus featuring
Chaka Khan & The Isley Brothers as well as southern
rock icons like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers,
The Doobie Brothers, etc., but they never-ever got
the love and repsect (sadly!) that they so
richly deserved!
This 1977 album was my first introduction
to them by a then teenaged cousin of mine
and over the next three albums:
This one, 1978's more R&B-influenced but still hot
"Mother Factor", which begat the classic hit
"Love Changes" (probably their most remembered!)
and the blistering "Mother's Finest LIVE" from 1979,
I became a definite fan!
The soulful and powerful vocals of lead singer
Joyce "Babyjean" Kennedy are right up there with
Chaka Khan's, Ann Wilson's and Pat Benetar's for
their penetrative powers!--Talk about underrated!
The band itself was funky and hard rockin' as hell
all at the same time, and their live show was high
energy at it's best!--I saw them in 1979 at age 15!
It's a shame that they aren't mentioned up there with
other 70's rock greats, but I'll be damned if they
don't deserve to be!
There are alot of closet MF fans around the world and
quite a few of their guitar and vocal licks have
found their way into many a rock and R&B
album over the years!
The gems of this album are "Baby Love",
"Truth'll Set You Free", "Thank You For The Love",
"Mickey's Monkey" (a rocked out version of the old Motown classic!)
and their funk / rocky answer to a then
pervading disco sound "Dis Go Dis Way"...
All-n-All a good gem for anyone who digs funky
southern 70's hard rock!---Buy It!
One of the most underrated albums of the 1970s.......2006-01-07
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Further Down the Old Plank Road
The Chieftains Manufacturer: RCA Victor ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000ABGD3 Release Date: 2003-09-09 |
Tracks:
- The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
- Jordan Is A Hard Road To Travel
- Hick's Farewell
- Shady Grove
- The Girl I Left Behind
- Rosc Catha Na Nuimhain/Arkansas Traveller/The Wild Irishman
- Lambs In The Greenfield
- The Moonshiner/I'm A Gambler I'm a Rambler
- Wild Mountain Thyme
- Chief O'Neill's Hornpipe
- Bandit Of Love/The Cheatin' Waltz
- The Squid Jiggin' Ground/Larry O'Gaff
- Three Little Babies
- Fisherman's Hornpipe/The Devil's Dream
- Talk About Suffering/Man Of The House
- The Lily Of The West
Amazon.com
As on Another Country (1992) and The Old Plank Road (2002), the venerable Irish acoustic band celebrates the shared sources of Celtic music and America's Appalachian folk/old-timey/bluegrass canon. That several of the guest players are veterans of all three sets lends a note of continuity to the palpable joy of discovery that fairly leaps from every track. Highlights are non-stop, but Allison Moorer's doom-laden vocal on "Hick's Farewell" raises goose-flesh, as does Emmylou Harris' "Lambs In The Greenfield," while Don Williams' treatment of an old Scottish ballad, "Wild Mountain Thyme," reveals a sturdy, unsentimental masculinity. The Chieftains are generous hosts throughout, often taking a back seat so their collaborators may shine. A poignant note: harpist and multi-instrumentalist Derek Bell, a longtime Chieftains member, died just after the Plank Road sessions were completed. That these were destined to be among his final recordings makes them all the more worthy of treasuring. --Christina RodenCustomer Reviews:
Great second set of roots music from "The Plank Road Sessions".......2006-04-17
Chieftains Merge Irish & Bluegrass Influences.......2005-03-22
Highlights include Tim O'Brien's foot-stomping rendition of "Shady Grove, John Prine's plaintive "The Girl I Left Behind," Ricky Skaggs' "Talk About Suffering/Man of the House" and Nickel Creek's performance of the centuries' old "Raggle Taggle Gypsy."
Several of these songs were not originally recorded for this album. "Fishmerman's Hornpipe/The Devil's Dream," which features the lightning fingers of Doc Watson, was recorded in 1980-81. Four other tracks (9-12) were recorded in 1992, presumably during the sessions for the 1992 release ANOTHER COUNTRY.
Overall, this is a thoroughly satisfying album from Ireland's best ambassadors of Irish music. [Running time 55:06] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Way Down The Old Plank Road.......2003-12-09
Highlights on this one, for me, include John Hiatt's version of the Uncle Dave Macon song Jordan is a Hard Road, and Doc Watson with the Chieftains.
The Nickle Creek version of Raggle Tagle Gypsy doesn't do it for me -- I've been spoiled by listening to the Planxty version for years.
All in all a great listen, with an interesting historical connection.
further is better.......2003-10-01
I was surprised that there was no mention of the passing of Derek Bell in the liner notes of the cd. Perhaps a tribute to him will be made in an upcoming cd.
The Chieftains turn out another winner.......2003-09-21
This album has a wide variety of both Irish and American pieces on it, opening with the old standard "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy", performed with Nickel Creek to stunning results. Next comes the American folk song "Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel" with John Hiatt, and if it weren't for Hiatt's superbly raspy old-time voice this would pass as a traditional dance from back over on the Emerald Isle. Following this upbeat tune comes a mournful Southern song with Allison Moorer, the solemn "Hick's Farewell", her voice backed quietly by Paddy and his boys and attended to by the sorrowful wailing of Matt Molloy's flute. "Shady Grove" with Tim O'Brien has lyrics that are very American in nature but a tune that, like much of the material on this album, could have come right out of Ireland itself.
The incomparable John Prine accompanies The Chieftains on "The Girl I Left Behind", employing his once-twangy but now warmer and deeper voice to a song that sounds like a lot of his other work - not a bad thing, mind you. The following set with Jerry Douglas contains the Irish tunes "Rosc Catha Na Mumhain" and "The Wild Irishman", both played superbly, as well as an unexpected treat - "The Arkansas Traveler", undoubtedly one of the best-known old-time folk songs that transforms the track from a set of Celtic tunes to a sort of Irish hoedown, as the liner notes put it. After that comes a superbly sad/sweet Irish song, "Lambs in the Greenfield", played with a past Chieftains collaborator Emmylou Harris, to lovely results. In the space of Band 8 Joe Ely shows up with his roguishly rambling voice, singing two tunes that suit his demeanor well - "The Moonshiner" and "I'm a Rambler".
Country legend Don Williams turns up on this album to sing that beautiful old Irish ballad, "Wild Mountain Thyme" with his virtually-trademark deep country voice that gives the classic air a new dimension. Chet Atkins plays on "Chief O'Neill's Hornpipe", which if memory serves was actually recorded back on The Chieftains' first bluegrass/country endeavor, "Another Country", and could be considered the single cheap shot on the album, even though the collaboration is still very high quality. Band 11 contains Carlene Carter's "Bandit of Love" from 1980, sung by the composer and The Chieftains' own "The Cheatin' Waltz", the former taking up a much longer time slot than the latter. The famous Nitty Gritty Dirt Band gives a spirited performance of "The Squid-Jiggin' Ground", a lively little song rather peculiar in subject but catchy in tune, its words having been set to the Irish Larry O'Gaff's Jig by immigrants to Newfoundland, Canada.
Patty Loveless delivers a wailing rendition of "Three Little Babes", an anguish-filled variant of an old English air sung in the Appalachian Mountains. On track 14 Doc Watson plays a sprightly hornpipe popular on both sides of the Atlantic, "The Fisherman's Hornpipe", followed by another famous tune, "Devil's Dream." Long-time friend of The Chieftains Ricky Skaggs lays down another soulful Southern song, "Talk About Sufferin'", written in the gospel singing tradition of the American southeast. The final tune, "The Lily of the West", has been sung by The Chieftains on a past album, "The Long Black Veil", in collaboration with Mark Knopfler. But sung here to a different tune with somewhat altered lyrics by Rosanne Cash, Johnny "The Man in Black" Cash's daughter, the song takes on an entirely different feel, to my ears less appealing than Knopfler's rendition but still enjoyable.
All in all, "Further Down the Old Plank Road" is anything but an attempt to administer one last whack to a long-dead horse, to paraphrase the liner notes of "Water from the Well" (also a great album). Even though American music is the predominate style on the album, it's still a real treat for Chieftains fans and a great listen for any fan of traditional Irish, bluegrass, or country music, or any of the performers above for that matter. Highly recommended!
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Further Down The Spiral
Nine Inch Nails Manufacturer: Nothing ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001Y89 Release Date: 1995-05-30 |
Tracks:
- Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)
- The Art Of Self Destruction, Part One
- Self Destruction, Part Two
- The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)
- Hurt (Quiet)
- Eraser (Denial, Realization)
- At The Heart Of It All
- Eraser (Polite)
- Self Destruction, Final
- The Beauty Of Being Numb
- Erased, Over, Out
Customer Reviews:
Best of the remix CDs.......2007-01-07
Halo 10 "Further Down the Spiral" is probably the most popular NIN remix CD as it was released during Trent Reznor's commercial and critical pinnacle, following the release of his masterpiece "The Downward Spiral" (1994).
NIN remix albums in general are usually a mixed bag. While the Halo collector may want to collect all the singles/remix CDs just for the sake of owning a complete Halo collection, and while some hard-core fans may relish everything Trent Reznor has to offer, other, more casual fans may not be interested in remix albums. "Further Down the Spiral" is really the one NIN remix album that I would recommend to hard-core and casual fans alike.
If you are expecting to hear something like "Closer" or "Head like a Hole," something with an infectious hook, "Further Down the Spiral" is most likely not going to satisfy you. But "Further Down the Spiral" has something else to offer--some of the most atmospheric, captivating music you will ever hear. While some music is just something to listen to in the background, "Further Down the Spiral" creates an aura of eerie serenity, that is paradoxically disturbing. Unlike "The Downward Spiral" it doesn't assault the senses, rather it takes hold of the listener more subtly. It's a CD to listen to in the dark when no one else is around, a CD to lose yourself in.
If you already own "The Downward Spiral," "Further Down the Spiral" is an excellent choice to purchase as a companion. If you are just a casual fan and are on the fence about what remix CDs to buy, I would recommend "Further Down the Spiral" as your first choice. If you are going to pick up any of the remix albums at all, stick with this.
Non-white noise.......2006-12-20
Songs that go from semi-music to irritating noise and last four times as long as one can abide, while "playing" the same thing over and over and ...well, you get my drift.
If great music is your thing, pass this one up. Or write me a note and tell me why on earth such a great group would release such an abomination.
Amazing.......2006-07-14
The coherence comes from the skillful arrangement of four remixes of one particular song - "Mr. Self Destruct" - with three remixes of "Eraser" providing a secondary theme. The "Mr. Self Destruct" songs are the four pillars that give the album its structure. They are like the four acts of an archetypal story: Introduction, Development, Crisis, and Resolution. The "Eraser" variations counterpoint them, with the other songs elaborating on various aspects of the central idea: the downward spiral of addiction.
"Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)" kicks off the proceedings, with a version more carnal than the original. Women moan in the background, creating a sensual soundscape punctuated by a techno-inspired version of the chorus that sounds like reckless indulgence. The emerging rave beat is a good aural metaphor for what could be an ecstasy-soaked night of sexual abandon. The pigs are definitley marching.
Our introduction to the world of addiction continues with "The Art of Self Destruction, Part One" - the first of the "Self Destruction" variants. It begins with an insinuating sonic pulse and whispered lyrics that could be a death wish personified, lulling you to the edge of the abyss. The phrase "I control you" repeats as it builds to a crescendo.
"Self Destruction, Part Two" meets the crescendo with an unexpected explosion of blues guitar work that vaguely echos another famous rock song about pigs. But the industrial elements (rhythmic freight elevators, pounding percussion, a chorus of heavy machinery) take it into another realm entirely. Contrasting quiet passages enter with a sampled orchestral violin section to really mix things up (!)
"The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)", Reznor's ode to suicide, is a journey into the netherworld of eerie, ambient sounds, backed by a slow, halting version of a recurring melodic figure from "Closer" (which does not otherwise appear on this album, instead being reserved for its own collection of remixes). We're fully into the development section, now, exploring the self-destructive side of addiction - the "moth-drawn-to-the-flame" aspect, which is further elaborated in "Hurt." This version sounds almost identical to its original counterpart, but with cleaner guitar and vocal lines. The flame in this case is heroin, to which the song's protagonist (and Reznor himself, at one point) suffers an addiction. A mournful ballad full of regret and helplessness, "Hurt" was powerfully interpreted by Johnny Cash toward the end of his life. It's a great song - haunting, sad, and beautiful all at once.
Enter "Further Down the Spiral's" major counter-theme with the first variation on "Eraser", called "Eraser (Denial, Realization)." If Mr. Self Destruct is a personification of addiction, then Eraser is a personification of that to which one is addicted - the Bad Thing that gives you pleasure and works to destroy you at the same time. This first introduction of Eraser literally sounds like a machine getting up to speed before bursting to life with a heavy rhythm guitar backed by drawn-out screams of "Help me!". No actual lyrics are present; just a malevolent presence bringing suffering and putrefaction.
An interlude is next, an instrumental called "At the Heart of it All" - pure industrial goodness, all rhythmic clanking and compressed air hissing, with a sad synth pad underneath keeping a two-chord ostinato going.
The second "Eraser" remix follows, "Eraser (Polite)", which is quiet and matter-of fact, emphasizing the lyrics: "Need you, Dream you, Find you, Taste you/Use you, Scar you, F*** you, Break you."
Next, "Self Destruction, Final" sounds a bit like George Thorogood might if he switched from booze to speed. It's the true climax of the album, with a pounding industrial beat countered by bluesy guitar solos between bursts of frenzied lyrics. It oozes manic despair and brings the whole theme of self-destructive addiction to a head. Musically, it resembles the height of a "bad trip" - a savage, hallucinatory experience. Musically inventive, it manages to sustain itself for nearly ten minutes, building and building well past expectations, and never losing interest. It is my most often played track.
The denoument begins with "The Beauty of Being Numb." The title does not reference "Mr. Self Destruct", but the music certainly does. It begins with the groove from the previous song, but playing backwards at steadily increasing volume before abrubptly transitioning to something almost indescribable - an instrumental of loungy, muzak-like variations over a rhyhm track made up of pig grunts, electric buzzers, and some truly disgusting and very wet sounds, the origin of which I do not care to know. To me it sounds like the latter part of a drug-induced high giving way to nausea. The sounds of flies buzzing suggest the aromatic ferment of decay as the song draws to a close.
Finally, Eraser has the last say with "Erased, over. Out." If the prior track is a high turning into nausea, then this one is the sickness afterward - both the physical and mental torment of coming down and realizing you are completely helpless.
"Further Down the Spiral" is a lot more than a collection of variations on the themes of "The Downward Spiral"; it is an emotionally gripping journey of its own.
THE remix benchmark.......2006-05-26
And let me tell you: the people who rave about NIN remixes are telling the God-honest truth. For about the price of an EP, you get 9 very different remixes centered around five songs from The Downward Spiral, along with two completely new creations. Actually, the term "remix" could be considered inapplicable to this album - the songs are just that different from each other, even when they're centered around the same song.
"Piggy", "Self Destruction Part One" and the two Aphex Twin originals ("Heart Of It All" and "Beauty Of Being Numb") form the heart and soul of this album. They show exactly what one should do with a remix album: completely reinvent the track. The fact that this album succeeded, in an era where remixes were largely avoided, proves this. Even if you avoid remix albums like the plague, give this one a chance. It might just change your mind.
my first foray into dark music.......2006-05-10
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The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Quasimoto Manufacturer: Stones Throw ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0007YJGFE Release Date: 2005-05-03 |
Tracks:
- Bullys--T
- Greenery
- Crime
- Hydrant Game
- Don't Blink
- Players Of The Game
- Bus Ride
- Closer
- Maingirl
- Civilization Day
- Bartender Say
- 1994
- Another Demo Tape
- Raw Deal
- Seasons Change
- Mr. Two-Faced
- The Exclusive
- Fatbacks
- J.A.N. (Jive Ass Niggaz)
- Shroom Music
- Rappcats, Pt. 3
- Strange Piano
- Life Is... (AKA 'Chippin'')
- The Clown
- Raw Addict, Pt. 2
- T.N.K.
Album Description
One of THE most anticipated follow-ups in the modern era of independent hip-hop, MADLIB's most famous alterego returns with a playground of stoned-out, helium-pitched rhymes over his hottest beats yet. Includes appearances by MADVILLAIN, and MED. Please note promotional advances of this release have a sampled deep voice that says (loudly and repeatedly)"THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF LORD QUAS". This sample is only on promo advances (and perhaps bootlegs), not on the version that you can purchase from reputable record retailers.Customer Reviews:
LOVELY, BUT IT IS NOT AS INTERESTING AS THE FIRST ONE.......2007-02-15
Lord Quas does it again........2006-10-18
This album is just as absurd as its predecessor; and while it may not be quite AS dope as The Unseen, it is still a classic in its own right. Much like It Was Written is to Illmatic, Quasi released a classic sophomore album, which deserved tons of critical acclaim, but didn't garner it, because critics were expecting another Unseen. While the formula is the same, there are subtle differences in between the two albums that set them apart from one another, and make The Unseen slightly better; still, this release on its own deserves no less than five stars.
Quasimoto still sounds like a mix of Q-Tip and Eminem on this album in flow, and sounds like an incredibly stoned Kool Keith lyrically. He's greener than a head of lettuce on this release, and gives you even more suburban jazz with his production. You're not going to bump this in your ride, no, but when you need an album to take you to a farawar land where everyone is tripping off of shrooms, and listening to scat records, this is one of the finest choices you could make this side of The Unseen.
If you're familiar with Madlib, then this album won't be difficult to get into; even though it'll still be weird as hell. It may make no sense to you at first, and even after repeated listens, it becomes more and more clear that the stuff Quasi spits only makes sense in Madlib's warped mind. Perhaps if your mind is equally warped, you'll be able to enjoy this even more than the average music critic; I know I did.
What?.......2006-09-05
For when you're feeling green..........2005-12-22
Eventually word surfaced that while working on multiple serious projects, Madlib pieced together his Quasimoto concept on the side, never planning to release it. The story goes that Stones Throw owner/Madlib landlord Peanut Butter Wolf talked Jackson into taking a chance and releasing what was at the time perhaps the most daring hip-hop album to see widespread distribution. In the years since, Madlib has become arguably the most creative and prolific figure in underground hip-hop. And Lord Quas? He's done a nice job of dividing hip-hop fans with his lunacy, and believe it or not, he's back for more mischief with his unimaginable sophomore album, The Further Adventures of Lord Quas.
Spread out over twenty-six tracks, Adventures plays out more like a Captain Beefheart or Frank Zappa project than your typical rap release. Using more samples than any standard ten rap albums combined, Madlib has created an ambitious sound menagerie that can hardly keep it's focus long enough to ever hit the two minute mark. Mixing oddball samples, vocal experiments, various sound-bites, and other unidentifiable sources with beats and an occasional rap, Jackson doesn't tell a story, but further sculpts the world he shares with his high-pitched alter-ego Lord Quas.
So what exactly is Quas like, you ask? First off, he is the bad character. Much like Madlib, Quas is a big fan of the greens. In fact, similar to The Unseen, Adventures often feels like a testament to the raw creative madness that can be brought on by a little bit of reefer, or in Jackson's case, a boat load. Rather than exploring themes, Madlib focuses on style and attitude, spending the glut of his time developing the personality of his all-too-bored studio partner Quasimoto.
Equal parts funny and confusing, Adventures is not for the everyday rap (or rock) listener. In fact, Adventures isn't for the everyday mind. With repeat listens, the beats start setting in and the subtle themes and jokes become lovably novel. Believe it or not, the vocal effects, bothersome as they may first seem, might even start to make sense. Quas is not here to be easy, Madlib makes that very clear from beginning to end with only the single, "Rappcats Pt.3," coming off as accessible.
Often times feeling more like a hip-hop version of a Cheech and Chong film, Adventures retains a high entertainment value throughout; that is, if you realize before pressing play that you are in store for a wholly madcap listening encounter. Jackson already has a number of first-rate hip-hop and jazz albums under his belt; to some, Adventures is just another peep into Madlib, hip-hop's current classic character, and his studio shadow, Lord Quas, the bad character.
dope.......2005-11-14
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The Moon Is Down
Further Seems Forever Manufacturer: Tooth & Nail Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005AKIL Release Date: 2001-03-27 |
Tracks:
- The Moon Is Down
- The Bradley
- Snowbirds And Townies
- Monachetti
- Madison Prep
- New Year's Project
- Just Until Sundown
- Pictures Of Shorelines
- Wearing Thin
- A New Desert Life
Customer Reviews:
Technical indie rock? You betch'er bottom...........2006-03-24
You hear hints of the fabulously melodic guitar work in some FSF members' former bands, Strongarm and Shai Hulud, two south Florida hardcore bands that were formidable in their own rights, advising the vegans and Christians to put a more acute sense of melody and incredibly profound lyrical introspection in the headstrong, brutal scene. It worked.
So now we have The Moon Is Down, their first and arguably best offering in their woefully truncated 4 release career. Kleisath's trickster drumming (untopped in indie rock) slithers sneakily around Dominguez's and Colbert's chordally-vague, tag team arpreggios, while Neptune's bass stabilizes the odd progessions. Carrabba's melodies are exceptional, but technically speaking his voice is mostly adequate, and in some spots shines through (see "Monechetti"). He does a better job with his pen, tackling the boy vs. girl dichotomy, the subject of 80% of the tracks, a little more seriously and with more depth than the band's generic progenies.
Not technical in the guitar virtuouso sense, but in the great songcrafter sense. Technical virtuousity should be a means to an end, but some musicians propound the converse of such as a means to feel artistically superior. The masses want something different, and we get it with TMID.
A Powerful, Sophisticated, and Transcendent Work of Beauty.......2006-01-29
best.......2006-01-25
Chris Carraba should never have left.......2005-09-28
The way tempo, rhythm, and beat are all combined so seamlessly with fundamental mood is unlike anything else I've ever heard. You don't have to be banging your head relentlessly to know that you are truly moved by what you hear (although, of course, I don't mean anything against headbanging, either). It was this album that taught me that music does not have to follow the traditional verse/chorus song structure, and this experimentation is yet another thing on which the album thrives. Finally, the musicmanship is spectacular, especially that of Steve Kleisath, who keeps the percussion constantly unpredictable.
In a time when I was still in my early teen years and trying to find music that truly moved me, this album helped provide the standard and show me what I was truly missing in the world of independent music. To this day I can still play "The Moon Is Down," "Snowbirds and Townies," "New Year's Project," and "Just Until Sundown," and they will still feel the same as they did the first time I listened to them. I think 5-star ratings may be given away too generously by Amazon.com reviewers, but this is a 5-star album all the way because it helped change the way I listened to music.
unstoppable.......2005-04-28
also for those who listen to dashboard stuff and like the lyrics, you'll probably like these even more. especially New Year's Project and The Bradley. killer lyrics.. very well delivered. musically there's a ton of crazy stuff that you'd only hear if you pay attention, like how in Montacetti has this crazy 6/8 groove, and how in the Bradley they switch meter from 5's to 6's. as seen in the other cd's, FSF's hooks and grooves are so ridiculously creative. you will enjoy this cd for both its poetry and its musicianship.
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Further In
Greg Brown Manufacturer: Red House ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001BB5 Release Date: 1996-09-24 |
Tracks:
- Small Dark Movie
- Think About You
- Two Little Feet
- Hey Baby Hey
- China
- Where Is Maria
- If You Don't Get It At Home
- You Can Always Come To Me
- Someday When We're Both Alone
- Not High
- Further In
- If I Ever Do See You Again
Amazon.com
Greg Brown might be one of America's most underrated national treasures. The singer-songwriter from Iowa has penned so many good songs over the course of his career, simply going from strength to strength. And Further In might be the best yet, as spare as a Japanese garden, illuminated by small touches, like the slide work on "China." At his darkest, Brown can conjure deep shadows, and he does on "Small Dark Movie," but he's also more than capable of relieving any traces of gloom ("Hey Baby Hey"). --Chris NicksonCustomer Reviews:
Outstanding.......2007-03-06
Greg uses wonderfully simply, yet creative lyrics to grab hold of you and connect with you on a deep emotional level. His strong guitar playing and breathy baritone voice add to the enjoyment. All the songs are super. The ones that grabbed me earliest were Think About You and China. Lately If I Ever do See You Again has struck me as the most powerful on the CD. If you've ever loved, get this album. You won't be sorry.
Yet another facet of a true diamond..........2006-05-18
What a Gift.......2005-02-18
What rock has this guy been living under?.......2003-09-05
Very Fine.......2003-03-01
This is modern folk music mixed with traditional country and western. He has a sexy, slightly guttural singing voice, and the instrumentation, mainly acoustic guitar, is first-rate.
The songs are charming and highly memorable. The lyrics are meaningful: these are adult songs about adult relationships.
I wish the lyrics had been included in the packaging, but that is my only quibble with this cd.
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One Step Further
Jenna Drey Manufacturer: Audio One Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000FOT8BS Release Date: 2006-05-16 |
Tracks:
- One Step Further
- By The Way
- Killin Me (Rizzo Radio)
- We're All Alone
- Don't Wanna Cry Anymore
- Shadow of A Stranger
- Why Should I Believe You (Harris Radio Remix)
- All Out Of Love
- Impossibility
- Thousand Times A Day
- I Told You So
- Was It Something I Said
- Breaking Me
- Why Should I Believe You (Hot AC)
- Why Should I Believe You (Churko Bagpipe Radio)
- Killin' Me (Giuseppe D. Remix)
- One Step Further (Rockin Radio Remix)
Product Description
Jenna Drey has currently finished and set to release a new album, One Step Further. The street date is set for June 20, 2006. The album features 13 hot new tracks, and also includes her hit singles, "Killin' Me," which became a top 10 Billboard summer dance anthem in 2005, and "Why Should I Believe You." Now her current single, "Why Should I Believe You" is already climbing both Billboard radio and club charts, giving Jenna two consecutive Billboard singles, including Billboard Top 50 best dance songs of the year. The album also features several other hot singles which will be released over the upcoming months, including the sexy, energetic track, One Step Further, written by Drey, her co-writer and engineer, Mihai Boloni, and producer, Kevin Churko. Even though Jenna's chart success has been realized through the dance genre, Jenna's music is truly defined as great pop music with a dance flair. The new album contains an assortment of original songs, even a few mid-tempo tracks, and several beautiful ballads. Jenna is adamant in this view when she says, I really do not like drawing a line in the sand in regards to differentiating between great dance and great pop music. Jenna also just released the music video for "Why Should I Believe You," making it one of the first music videos to be filmed in high definition (HDTV).Customer Reviews:
One Step Further :).......2006-07-07
It starts out with the dancy/bumper: "One Step Further" that is just so infectious that you cannot help but want to dance to it. That song just sets the pace for the next couple of tracks. "By The Way" - which is another catchy song that makes you just tap your feet. With a very catchy chours. That song leads into the club anthem "Killin' Me" the Rizzo Edit. I LOVE this song. Jenna's voice shines, the melody is great and the production is amazing! She takes a classic ballad by Air Supply: "All Out Of Love" and does a phenomenal job turning it into a dance song but keeping with the same melodies of the original song. KUDOS! There are plenty of dance songs on here that will have you dancing around your house, make for a great workout or get you all pumped up for a night out on the town.
A lot of people have this misconception of dance artists....that that's all they can do. That they are one dimensional and not very versatile. Some are and have their one or 2 hits and then fade away. Not here, with Jenna. She can really belt! She showcases her beautiful voice on "Shadow Of A Stranger" - which is a great ballad that she just belts on!!! WOW! Goosebumps! I have pressed repeat many times on that song!!! It shows her WIDE vocal range. Another song that breaks the dance mold and stands out on this set is "Impossibility" - it has a nice pop/rock sound with a splash of a country sound to it. LOVE IT!! "I Told You So" is another slower song that Jenna's vocals really shines throughout. Great lyrics! One of my favorite songs on this CD is: "Was It Something I Said" - It fuses pop/rock and dance into one great track. The verses have a heavy guitar and a strong bass then the chours kicks in with a dance beat.....VERY catchy! The final song: "Breaking Me" is another amazing ballad that just makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. SO melodic. Everything the songs on todays radio are missing.
There are 3 mixes of "Why Should I Believe You"
2 mixes of "Killin' Me" and 2 mixes of "One Step Further".
A CD that pleases through and through! An artist that stands out and everyone should be on notice for! FANTASTIC! A must have in everyone's CD collection! Jenna Drey is here to stay!! Deservingly so! I listen to this CD on my iPod daily.
So, are YOU ready to take it One Step Further?????
One word - Amazing.......2006-06-20
Jenna and her team did an amazing job putting this album together. The production is top notch. I can't even pick a favorite. I love the whole package.
This is definitely a "Must Have"!
Album Review:
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Album Review
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