This Is Speedmeter V.2 [Import]

1. At The Speakeasy

2. Have You Got The Message

3. Dapper Dan

4. Speedtrap

5. Work It Out

6. You Got Me Started

7. Foot & Mouth

8. Return To Palmetto

9. Power Generation

10. City Strut

11. Crew Cut

12. Time For Change

Tracks:

It Could Happen to You
Isnt This A Lovely Day
How Insensitive
Exactly Like You
From This Moment On
I was Doing All Right
Little Girl Blue
Day In Day Out
Willow Weep For Me
Come Dance With Me
You Can Depend On Me

Amazon.com

This album appears in the footsteps of 2004's The Girl in the Other Room but doesn't sound like a follow-up. Whereas The Girl saw the pianist-singer abandon the Great American Songbook for more personal pastures, From This Moment On sees her working out on standards done in traditional arrangements. Although the tracks here are by the likes of Cole Porter, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, and the Gershwins, Krall sounds more at ease than ever before; perhaps digging deep inside on The Girl loosened her up. Backed by the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra on seven tracks, Krall sings off the big band with ease. On the title track, she keeps up with a galloping bass and explosive brass arrangements and even ventures into scatting toward the end of the song. Her voice has also acquired a wonderfully worn texture in the past few years, and it works wonders on the ballads (just listen to "Isn't This a Lovely Day" and "Little Girl Blue" for instance). When standards are done like this, there's just nothing like 'em. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

From This Moment On is an 11-song collection that captures the Canadian-born sensation in full swing, in great company, and at the top of her game. It could also be called her strongest, most cohesive release to date. Krall--for the few still unknowing--is the 41-year old sensation whose cool, heavy-lidded vocals and strikingly sensitive piano-playing has helped her transcend barriers of genre to become a popular artist of the first order who has carved herself a permanent position at the top of the jazz charts. In songs, mood, and delivery, From This Moment On reveals Krall's personal ardor for that golden era of song-making, when Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and (especially) Nat "King" Cole were in their prime. It's musical territory that Krall has often explored, but this album was certainly not a case of simply repeating past formulas: Krall's A-team of support--producer Tommy LiPuma, engineer Al Schmitt, and arranger/bandleader John Clayton--were on hand to ensure that inspiration was kept on an edge, unhindered by the studio environment.

More Diana Krall

All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio
Live in Paris
Love Scenes

The Girl in the Other Room
Christmas Songs
Stepping Out

Customer Reviews:

Best Jazz singer around.......2007-07-28

You can't go wrong if you purchase this cd. Diana Krall at her best!!!

Cover Artist.......2007-07-19

I listened Diana Krall live in concert tonight. I did not know much about her except that she is regarded as one of the greatest jazz artists of our generation which made me feel rather ignorant as I am a big fan of jazz. She played for an hour and a half tonight and she is obviously a talented musician. However, one thing struck me as odd ... for one of the shining lights of modern jazz, she sang one, ONE, original song. All of the music she played were covers of some of the greatest jazz music ever recorded. What became evident is that this talented woman bears a talent that is only skin deep. The one original song that she sang was horrendous, a lyrical disaster. I cringed each and every time the refrain was repeated. Granted the crowd, purveyors of insipid music one and all, ate it up. Her own music can't all be that bad can it? I walked away with the thought that music, as in fine arts, has simply become a playground for lazy artists to appeal to lazy fans who don't expect any more than rote regurgitation. Diana Krall is a cover artist. What galls me about her fame and fortune is that talent alone didn't make her famous. Is it because she's an attractive woman who can tickle the keys of a piano and sing in a sultry voice? There are multitudes of rock cover bands who get ridiculed for playing songs they didn't write. So, why does this woman get lauded for doing the same thing? Talented yes, but genius? ... to compare her to Cole Porter or Nat King Cole would be sinful.

Diana Krall Excells!.......2007-06-27

Diana has one of the greatest voices in the jazz biz. She plays a great piano, sings as a song bird, and is truly a marvelous performer.
(Cute too.)

Buy this one. If you like jazz, it is a Must in your portfolio/collection.

"From This Moment On" ~ Diana Krall.......2007-06-26

Listening to my CD of Diana Krall, "From This Moment On," is so relaxing.
Diana executes her songs with her strong, yet mellow voice.
The "back-up" band is a great asset to this CD, so between Diana singing and the band playing, you feel like you're "In Concert!"

Everyone HAS to hear it to believe it!

Mike

From This Moment On.......2007-06-10

From This Moment On~ Diana Krall is easy listening jazz at its best. Ms Kralls vocal skills are remarkable and she sings these traditional jazz tunes with conviction and fortitude of a grandmaster of jazz. The book-let is beautifull if a bit sparse. The photographs are simply put it amazing and she looks stunning. The production value is right on the money and I like it since it so easy to listen to even for jazz beginners such as myself. Highly recommended indeed and I easily give this album 5 out of 5 stars.

Average customer rating:

Awesome!
A real talent - great album, great live
Great Retro debut from really talented singer
Whatever 'school' you put him in, Ryan Shaw's definitely head of the class
True Soul - Not New Soul

This Is Ryan Shaw
Ryan Shaw
Manufacturer: One Haven / RED / Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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S.O.S.: Save Our Soul ( Amazon Exclusive with Bonus Track )
Introducing Joss Stone

ASIN: B000NJXBYA
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Tracks:

Do the 45
We Got Love
Nobody
I Am Your Man
Working on a Building of Love
I Found a Love
I Do the Jerk
Lookin' for a Love
I'll Always Love You
I'll Be Satisfied
Mish Mash Soul
Over & Done

Amazon.com

Just when you thought the 21st century retro-R&B revolution was grinding to a sunken-hearted halt, Ryan Shaw comes along and revives the revivalist moment: This Is Ryan Shaw, the 26-year-old's phenomenal debut, dazzles not just because he can sing a song like Bobby Womack's "Lookin' for a Love" without letting the rear-view mirror leach him of his own soul, but because his originals--first single "Nobody," "We Got Love," and set closer "Over and Done"--convincingly replicate the classic sound of such forebears as Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, and Wilson Pickett. Here's a man who can plead, please, and play out love-struck dramas with his voice as though the '60s never ended; if his sound borrows heavily, it pays back what it owes with genuine contributions to the genre. Shaw's is real R&B without the raunch--a return to uplift too self-respecting and sincere to land on the retread pile. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Awesome!.......2007-07-29

From the first song to the last song the
"This is Ryan Shaw"
album is pure gold.
This young man will go far in the music business.

A real talent - great album, great live.......2007-07-25

I saw Ryan Shaw open for Buddy Guy in Ann Arbor. Most of the crowd probably did not know who he was before the concert, but he left to a standing ovation. (Buddy did great too - he's a legend and a must see).

Ryan is a great talent, singing with such soul. He sings with such range and seems comfortable in several different styles. Some songs remind me of Memphis Stax (in the sytles of Sam & Dave, Otis Redding) of 60's Motown (Do the 45, I Found a Love), some like Keb'Mo (We got love), and some have a little funk (Nobody).

Tell your friends. Buy the album. See him live. You won't be disappointed.

A great talent like his should be appreciated by the masses.

Great Retro debut from really talented singer.......2007-07-12

Ryan Shaw has a great voice, a really great voice, similar to Terence Trent D'Arby without all his dramatic attitude and he sounds like he's actually having fun. He clearly loves the genre of old school R&B, Motown, and Soul and could hold his own among all but Otis, Stevie, Marvin, and James Brown. The majority of the songs however are too retro for my taste. They have that late fifties, early sixties simplicity that's full of energy but offer nothing you haven't heard before on a Time Life commercial for oldies compilations and the arrangements offer nothing new like Joss Stone's latest does.

That said, the songs "Nobody" and "We Got Love" are unbelievably good and worth the price of the disc alone. I've been playing them constantly. In another era they'd garner him instant stardom. They may even do that now.

Whatever 'school' you put him in, Ryan Shaw's definitely head of the class.......2007-07-10

What a voice. The first time I heard "Nobody" I thought I was on an oldies station. Ryan Shaw can belt the lyrics out with more soul than I've heard in a long time. He does make me think of Sam Cooke or Otis Redding, but honestly--he's himself and that's way beyond fine with me.

Shaw clearly demonstrates the old adage of RESPECT as well. There's no explicit language or situations that would prevent an Old School grandparent from introducing the kids to this music.

True Soul - Not New Soul.......2007-07-06

From the blog [...]:
Want some new music that's not filled with "B*&%$ and H@$"? You've got to check this young man out! Ryan Shaw is a 26 year old from Decatur, GA that will take you back to the days of sweet soul music with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Sam Cooke. Great voice and slammin' retro tunes. I'm hoping he gets the air play he deserves on the so-called 'urban' stations.

The cd is a stable, midranger - a few new tunes by the artist, familiar standby's from Bobby Womack and Otis Redding. Right now I'm listening to Nobody, It's Over, and We Got Love. Sweet. Check him out, he's touring this summer with Joss Stone.
Now when you've finished checking this out, go tell yo' momma AND your daughter!

Average customer rating:

This Delicate Thing We've Made
Darren Hayes
Manufacturer: Powdered Sugar
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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On the Verge of Something Wonderful
On the Verge of Something Wonderful
The Tension And The Spark
Savage Garden - Superstars And Cannonballs: Live And On Tour In Australia
On the Verge of Something Wonderful, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000SUKPR0
Release Date: 2007-08-21

Tracks:

Fear of Falling Under
Who Would Have Thought
Waking the Monster
How to Build a Time Machine
Casey
Step into the Light
Sing to Me
Conversation with God
Sun Is Always Blindind Me
Listen All You People
Only Opne
Bombs Up in My Face
Great Big Disconnect

Tracks:

Future Holds a Lion's Heart
On the Verge of Something Wonderful
Neverland
Walk Away
Maybe
Me Myself And (I)
Lucky Town
I Just Want You to Love Me
Setting Sun
Hundred Challenging Things a Boy Can Do
Words
Tuning of Violins

Average customer rating:

A must have...
Harry Potter moves on.. and so does the music
The Magic is Gone
Atmospheric...But That's About All
Musically Spellbinding

Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire

Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

ASIN: B000BGH22W
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

Story Continues
Frank Dies
Quidditch World Cup
Dark Mark
Foreign Visitors Arrive
Goblet of Fire
Rita Skeeter
Sirius Fire
Harry Sees Dragons
Golden Egg
Neville's Waltz
Harry in Winter
Potter Waltz
Underwater Secrets
Black Lake
Hogwarts' March
Maze
Voldemort
Death of Cedric
Another Year Ends
Hogwarts Hymn
Do the Hippogriff
This Is The Night
Magic Works

Amazon.com

Big news on the Harry Potter musical front: After scoring the first three installments in the series, John Williams has been replaced by Patrick Doyle. Still, Williams never feels far away. His main theme pops up here and there, and a track like "Voldemort," which eloquently illustrates the soul of a blacker-than-black wizard with thunderous cymbal crashes, shrieking horns, tumultuous strings, and a stately finish, firmly belongs in the Williams mode. Overall, Doyle acquits himself well. He can do light when needed ("The Quidditch World Cup," which starts out like some kind of jig), but mostly he's required to be ominous ("The Quidditch World Cup," which ends in martial war chants). Among the highlights are the aforementioned "Voldemort," but also the frantic, overpowering "The Dark Mark." Note that the CD concludes on a jarringly different note with three songs by the Weird Sisters, the group that performs at Hogwarts' Yule Ball. Led by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, the ad hoc band also includes members of Radiohead and Cocker's side project Relaxed Muscle. "Do the Hippogriff" is a fast-paced rocker that somehow comes across like a grungy hybrid of Billy Idol's "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself." The other two songs--"This Is the Night" and "Magic Works"--are less obvious, and much better. Still, the contrast between these tracks and the instrumental score that precedes them may not be to everybody's taste. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth film (and soundtrack album) in the massively successful Harry Potter franchise-nearly $1 billion in U.S. box office alone-features a score by Academy Award-nominated composer Patrick Doyle and three songs written by modern rocker Jarvis Cocker, and performed by Cocker, Jonny Greenwood, Phil Selway, Steve Claydon and Jason Buckle-with all these musicians also appearing in the movie.

Customer Reviews:

A must have..........2007-07-30

This is a must have for any REAL HP fan.....had to have it! Along w/ the other ones available :)

Harry Potter moves on.. and so does the music.......2007-05-23

As a collector of movie soundtracks, it was unthinkable not to get this fourth album of the Harry Potter series. After reading the mixed reviews, I was apprehensive as to whether it would sit on my shelf collecting dust or get a good workout in the CD player.

I own all four albums, and as avid a fan as I am of John Williams, I would have to say "The Goblet of Fire" rates up there with "The Philosopher's Stone" (which really did set the standard for the rest of the following albums). In fact, I would have to say that "The Goblet of Fire" is my favourite. The music is quite simply beautiful and atmospheric. Standouts are "Harry In Winter" (this particular track I can't help but have on repeat mode in the car), "Death of Cedric" and "Foreign Visitors Arrive". "The Quidditch Cup" makes me want to catch the next plane to Ireland! And call me old-fashioned, but "Neville's Waltz" and "Potter Waltz" are pleasant and lovely to the ear.

As for the rock songs at the end, I usually bypass them. Some complain about the jarring disconnect between the orchestral aspect of the soundtrack and the loud rock of the end - well, at least they're at the end and not in the middle! And let's face it. How many people would have grumbled that those songs that featured at the Winter Ball were left out?

I've always loved the work of Patrick Doyle (e.g. "Sense and Sensibility" and "Much Ado About Nothing"), and this soundtrack is no exception. He didn't 'fill' John Williams' shoes on this score. He pretty much created a new pair. Harry's story and personality have shifted on. It would be remiss of us to think the music wouldn't evolve as well.

So has this soundtrack lost that feeling of magic? I would have to say a resounding 'no'. It's certainly a lot more listener-friendly than "Chamber of Secrets"!

The Magic is Gone.......2007-05-10

John Williams is not simply a hard act to follow...he's THE hard act to follow. Nonetheless this score falls far short. There was once magic in the land of Hogwarts.. themes were stated boldly and elevated the story, flurries of woodwinds nurtured scenes of flight. Doyle's score does dare to quote William's melodies at 3 points in this score. They are harmonized poorly and treated even worse. The rest of the score just goes downhill from here. He does introduce his own new "themes." These are presented as boring quarter note string lines that you can't seem to remember 10 seconds after you hear them. The rest of the scoreat it's best is a prime example of dated cliches. The dialogue scenes are overly sappy and the action scenes become hokey in an almost silent film music stlye. Watch the graveyard scene again and laugh, check out the dance scene where characters get lifted in the air as simple scales comically mirror their moves. The most common reaction to the music after viewing the film is "I don't really remember it as being good or bad." If you go back and watch it again I think you story will change. The magic is gone.

Atmospheric...But That's About All.......2007-03-31

One of the joys for me of the John Williams "Harry Potter" scores are the lush, melodic leitmotifs. On "The Chamber of Secrets" album alone there are wonderful themes for Fawkes, Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart, not to mention Colin, Hedwig and The Flying Car. They're charming, evocative pieces that stand alone apart from the moodier, more percussive tracks composed to accompany the actual movie. Unfortunately, there's nothing that even comes close to these in Doyle's "Goblet of Fire" score. There's certainly drama ("The Maze") and pathos ("Death of Cedric"), but nothing thematic that you'd want to hear over and over again. And what themes there are ("Neville's Waltz" for instance) I find woefully banal. (And don't get me started on the acid rock songs that close the album.) So this is a true movie score in the sense that it's pretty much all background music; it certainly creates atmosphere and serves as a reminder of the film's superlative visuals. But what works well in the theater doesn't translate very well for the home audio listener.

Musically Spellbinding.......2007-01-09

This album is a must for an Harry Potter fan, both young and old, from the mild to the extreme. I also recommend the entire collection of soundtracks to the movies. Each one is full of calm, soothing melodies we have come to enjoy from Harry Potter.

This Left Feels Right: Greatest Hits With a Twist

Average customer rating:

don't waste your money
The point?
Disapointed
Love it.
What a let down!!!!

This Left Feels Right: Greatest Hits With a Twist
Bon Jovi
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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New Jersey

ASIN: B0000DZ3DG
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

Wanted Dead Or Alive
Livin' On A Prayer
Bad Medicine
It's My Life
Lay Your Hands On Me
You Give Love A Bad Name
Bed Of Roses
Everyday
Born To Be My Baby
Keep The Faith
I'll Be There For You
Always

From Amazon.co.uk

First of all, hats off to Bon Jovi for trying something different with This Left Feels Right--a selective collection of their most popular songs with a twist. That twist isn't a purely acoustic reworking, MTV unplugged style--anybody looking for that experience will be sorely disappointed by what's on offer. What Bon Jovi have done is re-record these songs in a completely different way while maintaining the original lyrics, melody and song structure. What's different then? Well, quite a bit actually. Check out the almost trip-hop beat and distorted vocal of "Wanted Dead or Alive", or the lazy soul of "Livin' on a Prayer". "It's My Life" is a beautiful piano-only standout, almost worth having the whole album for.

The tracklisting isn't perfect, concentrating largely on their 1980s period (there's nothing from These Days, for instance). As such, the venture works as an effective cheese-extraction exercise, keeping the elements that made the originals so great, but removing shouty, hairspray-fuelled "whoa-yeahs". What we get is something that is closer to Jon Bon Jovi's last solo offering--the criminally underrated Destination Anyway. It doesn't always work ("Bed of Roses" just sounds like a warbling cover of the powerful original and by the time they reach "Always" it's obvious they've run out of new twists), and no doubt there will be legions of bemulleted faithfuls who will denounce this as blasphemy of the highest order. Sure, it's probably just record-company filler, but it's a worthwhile investment and you won't be embarrassed to have it on when your mates come round. --Cortman Virtue

Customer Reviews:

don't waste your money.......2007-07-23

I HAVE LISTENED TO BON MJOVI SINCE HE START3ED HIS CARRER AND I NEVER THOUGHT HE WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I WAS SO EXCITED BY THE TITLE MI COULD HARDLY WAIT TO HEAR IT. IT WAS SSSOOOOOOO BAD.....I COULD NOT REDCOGNIZE A SONG UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST HALFWAY THRU. ONE SONG SOUNDS LIKE THE NEXT...IF YOU DON'T MIND LISTENING TO HIS MUSIC AT HALF THE SPEED THEN THIS IS FOR YOU, THERE IS NO EXCITMENT IN THIS MUSIC AT ALL. I LISTENED HOPING HE WAS SRARTING MELLO AND WAS GOING TO JAZZ IT UP NO SUCH LUCK...THIS IS ONE CD OF BON JOVI'S I COULD DO WITHOUT.

The point?.......2007-06-28

So let me get this straight...all of Bon Jovi's hits were gathered together, chopped up, and destroyed to produce this piece of trash? How about an ACTUAL greatest hits album?

Disapointed.......2007-06-25

I did not like any of the songs on this album. It really only ranks 1 star, but I'll give a point for trying something new.

"This left feels right" sounds like it was done by a high school cover band trying to be artistic. Ranks WAY below Tesla (see "Five man acoustical jam" for those of you younger then 30).

I am a Bon Jovi fan and bought this without reservation. I suggest you sample the songs before you buy.

Love it........2007-05-09

I love this album. I also love the original songs. Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't. For those who are gasping at the supposed blasphemy of messing with classics, well, if this is all they have to worry about, their lives must be pretty good and I'm happy for them. As for me, I'm impressed that Bon Jovi took a bit of a risk. I think it worked out nicely. I'd happily buy more of this style from them.

What a let down!!!!.......2007-03-22

I was SO disappointed when I listened to this CD! It's a remix of the songs. They are done acousticly and it is not worth buying. I love Bon Jovi, but this was a HUGE disappointment! I am not happy with this CD at all.

Average customer rating:

Drifting away?
Not one of Acoustic Alchemy's best albums
Great from beginning to end
Come This Way
Who are Acoustic Alchemy?

This Way
Acoustic Alchemy
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000PHX55K
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

Love Is All There Is
Ernie
Who Knows
Slampop
Out Of Nowhere
This Way
Tied Up With String
Only In My Dreams
Carlos the King
Egg
Now I'm On My Way

Album Description

Acoustic Alchemy are the British acoustic guitar duo of Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale, and with "This Way" they are celebrating a remarkable two decades since their debut with 1987's Red Dust. For all this time they have been a quiet phenomenom, constantly topping the jazz charts in the USA, being nominated for GRAMMY's and touring the world. Following the pop-soul vibe of 2005's "American English", the duo have delivered their most aggressive and swinging, hard rocking and artfully jazzy disc to date. The regular touring/recording band of Terry Disley, Snake Davis, Fred White, Julian Crampton and Greg Grainger are joined by guests such as the buzz-of-today pianist Neil Cowley, trumpeter Rick Braun, saxman Jeff Kashiwa and, on the reggae-tinged Ernie, the great Specials Trombonist, Dennis Rollins. Just two tracks, "Out of Nowhere" and "This Way" feature only the duo - the rest are a fine mix of old-school soul/jazz, funk, reggae, and rock with a mixture of electric guitars, acoustic guitars and the horn section all combining to create a smooth but completely passionate album of classy jazzy guitar music.

Customer Reviews:

Drifting away? .......2007-07-25

Ever since "Red Dust and Spanish Lace" and "Reference Point", Acoustic Alchemy has long been dominating my acoustic guitar jazz collection. Greg Carmichael has fine-tuned their sound since Nick Webb's passing but this album seems to have lost their signature sound even more (I think it kinda started from "American/English" already). There's hardly any track to remember, or even impress from the whole CD. The guitar sound is almost like background music overshadowed by other instuments among quite a few tracks. CDs like "The Beautiful Game", "AArt" are great through their reorg, but this one is losing their depth and clearly drifting away from their core style.
Real Acoustic Alchemy, WANTED!!!

Not one of Acoustic Alchemy's best albums.......2007-07-15

I bought and listened to This Way, and also went to Acoustic Alchemy concert in Phoenix on June 23rd, which mainly promoted this album. It's very listenable, but it's fair-to-middling alongside the rest of AA's 20-year oeuvre. More significantly, it's not very much like the Nick Webb-era material, except possibly for the title track. Other good tracks are "Love Is All There Is," "Ernie," and "Carlos the King" (named that because, according to Greg Carmichael, it was influenced by Carlos Santana). They played "Ernie" and "Carlos the King" at the concert, but "Carlos" wasn't so great live, because the album version has a substantial trumpet part and they didn't bring a trumpeter on the tour. The worst tracks are probably "Slampop" and "Egg."
The current state of AA is like what an Amazon reviewer said about Pierce Brosnan's last 007 movie--that it bore little resemblance to the original Bond. I'm disappointed, although this album is decent enough that I'll probably keep it. Look at the first review of this album; I agree with it.

Great from beginning to end.......2007-07-09

When was the last time you enjoyed every song on a CD? Acoustic Alchemy is about
to change your mind about CD purchases! From beginning to end, every track grabs your
attention and excites one emotion or the other. Well versed, well timed, well written and
very well executed.

In listening to this work of art, it is clear that this troupe had a great time producing this.
Everyone whom I have shared this with has fallen for it, and I suspect - no - predict you will too!!

I gave it 4 out of 5, only because I wanted more! Another 3-4 tracks like these would have been
perfect! I just have to wait for their next compilation!

Come This Way.......2007-07-03

This Way has been a long time coming. It is fabulous, and has alot of older Alchemy sounds plus great new tunes. Fantastic guest artists. Bought 2 so I don't have to share. We knew it would be great when we heard them play Ernie in concert. Been waiting since then for its release. Thanks to Amazon, received it within 6 day to my front door. You did it again, AA and so did you Amazon.

Who are Acoustic Alchemy?.......2007-07-03

Acoustic Alchemy is, or was based on the foundation of two acoustic guitarists with a simple standard format around their playing. Drums, Bass guitar, and some keys. Contrary to an earlier review, when AA bought their flight to the States from England by winning a talent competition to play aboard American Airlines(also AA...cute~), they did so as Greg Carmichael and the late Nick Webb... not Miles Gilderdale. Nick actually recruited Greg to form AA. Gilderdale did not enter until after 1997's Positive Thinking (which Nick contributed some song-writing to help in the transition that Greg would continue forward and keep AA alive). Nothing against Miles, and not to nit-pic about detail, but one cannot mention Acoustic Alchemy in the same breath without Nick Webb...but the fact is, the music that was truly AA unfortunately died in Nick's absence.
I've loved these guys since I bought the 1987 MCA Sampler LP that also included Larry Carlton and other up and coming instrumentalists. The element that made AA was the 'focus' on the acoustic guitars through the fresh, infectious melodies of Nick and Greg. They fused many styles, but always with a catchy hook and melody. I was fortunate enough to see these guys live in 1993 prior to their release of 'The New Edge'and also met them after the show(as they often met with fans for autographs) & was a definite highlight as far as live shows go. Really nice English lads! ((Get the 'Best Kept Secret' DVD!~and the counterpart CD, 'Arcanum'! ie: a nice moment when they were in Florida for a gig, and visited the launch of the Columbia Space Shuttle, inspiring them to dedicate a song to the awe that is 'Columbia')).
Since Nick passed on however, it appears to me that the formula that created AA was lost and to cover up for it, the acoustics that would grab you, draw you in and not let go, suddenly became mulit-layered, multi-instrumental, I-hate-to-say-typical, pop-Jazz that only leaves me wondering. Sounds good, and I'm glad that Greg's getting recognition through awards and all, but only pales in comparison to the years prior to the wishfully optomistic 'Positive Thinking'. I applaud Greg for continuing the dream, and I certainly wish him the best, but I'm sad to say, AA has left behind it's 'Natural Elements' for a more safe and formulaic environment.

The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal Of Life Ends

Average customer rating:

second time is a charm
Dominant... almost
Surprisingly An Excellent Follow Up Album
Too Little Too Soon.
One of the Best New Bands

The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal Of Life Ends
Evans Blue
Manufacturer: Hollywood Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000PKG7HA
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Tracks:

In a Red Dress And Alone
Shine Your Cadillac
Q (The Best One Of Our Lives)
Kiss the Flag
My Damsel: A Confession To an Adversary
Pin-Up
Caught a Lite Sneeze
Fear
Dear Lucid, Our Time Is Right Now
Painted
The Pursuit

Customer Reviews:

second time is a charm.......2007-07-29

I don't do many reviews but after the blabber i was reading i figured my 2 cents wouldn't hurt at all...I heard the "they came out with a new CD too fast" take, the "they sound like the first one too much" take and I dont know what the hell your listening too....its not even close, this effort eclipses the first one, not even close.....7-8 songs listenable on a CD nowadays is a rarity, highlights...Q,Pin Up, In a red dress, dear lucid.....painted is good too however the last 4 mins of filler I could do without...I thought EB's first effort was a reach at best, with a couple of highlights.. I'm glad they decided to counter so quick with #2.....in my opinion best rock CD so far of 07, and i 've listened to it 6-7 times already before writing my opinion as opposed to listening to it once and then complaining about it....for those that think it sounds too much like EB's first effort, get over it, your wrong!....highly recomend this!! From what I've read you can probably get one from the used bin from some of these others who didn't like it.....buy it!!

Dominant... almost.......2007-07-27

Because I thought their debut was one of the best albums of the year last year, I didnt expect anything better with this album. Although I still dont think it was as good as "The Melody..." there are enough amazing songs such as Q, Pin-up, and The Pursuit, to make this a great listen. Again its not as good as the debut, but if you want to hear some great music and you loved the debut as much as I did, then definately check it out.

Surprisingly An Excellent Follow Up Album.......2007-07-26

Evans Blue has released their second album in a rather short amount of time from the release of their previous album, however thankfully the music did not suffer at all. In fact I find this album to be slightly superior to their debut. I still think that "Eclipsed" is my top favorite song from their debut, but this album has a far more amount of songs that I enjoy. Among my top favorites are "Q (The Best One Of Our Lives)," "My Damsel: A Confession To An Adversary," "Pin-Up," "Shine Your Cadillac" and "Painted." My only complaint is with "Painted" unfortunately. The song itself is great and one of my favorites, but it goes on for far too long. I enjoy the extended outro up until the shockingly good guitar solo ends at about the 7:30 mark. After that the song takes a horrible downward turn into a bunch of background noise, guitar feedback, chanting and yelling. I could have done without all of that. But otherwise this album is just as good, if not better than their debut and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of modern melodic rock music.

Too Little Too Soon........2007-07-25

It wasn't much more than a year ago that Evans Blue came onto the scene and injected some much needed freshness into the modern rock scene. With their debut, The Melody And The Energetic Nature of Volume, each song was catchy enough to be a single, yet weird enough to ensure staying power, and with enough substance to attract even the most fickle of rock fans. Although the album didn't quite reach the same level commercially, as some would have predicted, it still set the band up with a solid fanbase and quite a bit of anticipation for their next album. All the better then, that after a year and a handful of months, they are back with a brand new album, right? Well...

It's not that "The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal Of Life Ends" (Holy long album titles, Batman) is a bad piece of work. In fact, when listened to immediately after the first album, it holds up rather well. However, what always happens with rush-jobs such as this, and all the more unfortunate for a new band, is that they were not allowed time to grow and to create something new. Basically, "The Pursuit..." sounds like it could have been the second disc to a double album of the debut. There really hasn't been much change to the Evans Blue formula -- not that it needs change -- so if you have spent the last year digging the first album, it's going to be rather difficult to appreciate this one, as it sounds virtually indentical. Heck, they even covered another solo female pop-artist. This time around, it's Tori Amos on "Caught A Lite Sneeze." Deja vu, anyone?

The blunt truth is that had Evans Blue waited another year, experimented and grown a bit more, they would more than likely have a stunning second album in 2008 to crush the competition with. But as it is, "The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal Of Life Ends" is too little too soon.

One of the Best New Bands.......2007-07-25

Evans Blue's first CD played for almost an entire year in every playlist that I listened to. This new CD is going to have the same longevity. I love this bands sound. It's more mature, tighter (new drummer), and just as emotional and well written as the first CD.

Average customer rating:

GREAT! Brings back lots of Memories
Great fun
Dan's first album...Wiggle the Wiggles out of your CD Player
Thank goodness for Dan Zanes!!!!!!
My daughters favorite!

House Party
Dan Zanes
Manufacturer: Festival Five Rec.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dan Zanes & Friends - All Around the Kitchen! Crazy Videos & Concert Songs!

ASIN: B0000CC85J
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

House Party Time
Wabash Cannonball - with Bob Weir
Queremos Bailar
Hop Up Ladies
Washington At Valley Forge
Jamaica Farewell - with Angelique Kidjo
Tankoh-Bushi
Down In The Valley
Waltzing Matilda - with Deborah Harry
West Indian Counting Song
Sunny Old Sun
Tennessee Wig Walk
Shining Star
How Do You Do? - with David Jones
Daniel In The Den
Surrounded By Friendship
Old Joe Clark
Hey Little Red Bird
We Shall Not Be Moved
A Place For Us - with Phillip Glass

Amazon.com

For parents, listening to Dan Zanes provides not only instant Raffi relief, but also the warm sense of belonging to the right crowd. On each disc he trots out a posse of cool friends like Sheryl Crow, Suzanne Vega, and Lou Reed and he delivers his openhearted lyrics with the rare roots-rocker's gift for stirring grace into grit. It would seem that the release of his fourth record, House Party would be ripe for a backlash--how long can the hokey conceit of a bunch of aging groovsters banging out kids' tunes in a Brooklyn basement hang onto its charm? Looks like we'll have to wait and see, because House Party rages on with the same winning, welcome-to-our-homespun-revolution vibe as its predecessors. Deborah Harry takes a twirl on "Waltzing Matilda," Bob Weir fires up the "Wabash Cannonball," and Angelique Kidjo bids "Jamaica Farewell," but the Zanes originals are this record's proving grounds, and they pin the tail on the donkey with bulls-eye precision. Contributions from returning regulars Barbara Brousal and Rankin' Don--the best couple of favors a party could hope for--send Zanes' campaign to become the guy who turned lampshade-wearing into a kindergarten fashion craze soaring. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

GREAT! Brings back lots of Memories.......2007-07-27

I purchased this CD for my baby and she and I love it! She loves the tunes and the songs bring back memories from my childhood. I would highly recommend this CD. It's fun and will have you singing along.

Great fun.......2007-07-25

My daughter loves this cd and it's grown on me too. She and I dance a lot to this. One favorite is the "Wabash Cannonball" and "Waltzing Matilda" with Debbie Harry is fantastic.

Dan's first album...Wiggle the Wiggles out of your CD Player.......2007-06-12

You may have seen Dan on various spots on Sesame Street, I first saw him in his yellow suit, singing Jump Up. This album continues the wonderful music that my daughter has turned my wife and my self on to. The beats are there, and the lyrics are very catchy.

So do yourself a favor, swap out Wiggles or Barney for Dan and his Friends, and enjoy kids music once again.

Thank goodness for Dan Zanes!!!!!!.......2007-05-21

Mr. Zanes, you could not have come along at a better time! In a market where Teletubbies, Barney and the Wiggles seem to have the corner, this parent-friendly album is a welcome relief from all the fruit salad/I love you, you love me/lemondrops and gumdrops drivel that permeate my mushy stay-at-home mom brain!

When I was a single college gal, I remember listening to very hip, fun music. Then came pregnancy and babies. Then Baby Einstein music (which is good, but sounds like someone's ballerina jewelry box after awhile), Barney, Sesame Street and nursery rhyme CDs that took over my music collection. Ack!!! What happened to me? I decided it was time to search for something new for me and the kids to listen to.

After finding this CD and loving it, I just assumed that my one-year-old and four-year-old would not like DZ because it sounded too different from what they were used to. Boy, was I wrong! My older one thinks she is listening to "cool music" -- which she is! We especially like the "Wabash Cannonball" but every song on here is a hit with my kids. The guy is truly talented, and it's just great stuff. And it's fun to hear the celeb singers on a kid's album. Finally, we all have "cool music" to listen to!

My daughters favorite!.......2007-05-14

I bought this CD since Dan Zane is on the Disney Channel. My daughter absolutely loves it! She asks to hear "House Party" all day every day. We dance and sing and it has brought a lot of fun into our house.

Average customer rating:

This Is Somewhere
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Manufacturer: Hollywood Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000PKG7H0
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Tracks:

Ah Mary
Stop the Bus
Apologies
Ain't No Time
Mr. Columbus
You May See Me
Lose Some Time
Mastermind
Here's To the Meantime
Falling Or Flying
Big White Gate

Amazon.com

What distinguishes Vermont's Grace Potter from the recent run of the female singer-songwriter mill is her affinity for anthems and a powerhouse band that can deliver the goods. Though quieter fare such as "You May See Me" and "Lose Some Time" finds one foot in folk music, her heart is plainly with hard-charging rockers such as the opening "Ah Mary," the melodic propulsion of "Ain't No Time," and the supercharged kick of "Mastermind." Ballads such as "Apologies" and "Falling or Flying" show her soulful side, while the sexually assertive road song "Stop the Bus" provides further indication of her range. The closing "Big White Gate" sounds like a gospel cousin of John Prine's "Angel from Montgomery." --Don McLeese

Average customer rating:

The most overrated album of the 21st century so far
fun
You need to hear this. The songs make it a true classic.
A Classic Album
Fun, fast and punchy - 4.5 stars

Is This It
The Strokes
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005QIPH
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

Is This It
The Modern Age
Soma
Barely Legal
Someday
Alone, Together
Last Nite
Hard To Explain
When It Started
Trying Your Luck
Take It Or Leave It

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

With all the media hype that dogged the Strokes before the release of their debut album, it's rather apt that they chose the title Is This It. On the strength of just five songs released on two singles, the Strokes were being hailed as everything from the saviors of rock & roll to the Savior himself. Surely, few bands could live up to the impossibly high standards set for this young five-piece, but the band needn't have worried: Is This It is one of the most exciting and energetic debut albums to spring from New York's long-dormant club scene. In fact, the Strokes are a New York City band through and through; like the Velvet Underground, these are a bunch of uptown artsy types elegantly slumming downtown to the tried and tested themes of sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Their singer-songwriter, the fantastically named Julian Casablancas, delivers his lyrics with a weary nonchalance that belies his age on songs like the title track, "Soma," "Hard to Explain," and the altogether wonderful "Barely Legal." And the band recalls the likes of Television and the Stooges on "Last Nite" and "The Modern Age." Let's hope this sexy, stylish, and undeniably cool band is the future of rock & roll. --Robert Burrow

Customer Reviews:

The most overrated album of the 21st century so far.......2007-06-24

This is mediocre rock'n'roll. Nothing particularly great about it in any way. It will remain one of the mysteries of live how this group and this album got so hyped up. (I've never seen them live, maybe their live shows have got something that NYC critics picked up on. But on the basis of this recording?? Feh!)

fun.......2007-06-11

intitially i wasn't quite sure about these guys but as as an old rocker and surf bum, i really lke they're music. yup, these guys probably ripped off someone, somewhere but you know what? who doesn't to some degree and for what it's worth they are totally fun and their tunes just click. i read one reviewer who said they ripped off high strung and i even went so far to get the high strung cd and yes it is very similar but nowhere near as good.

You need to hear this. The songs make it a true classic. .......2007-06-07

When this album came out in the Fall of 2001, it hit my friends and I like a sledgehammer. We found ourselves endlessly trying to come up with analogies to describe the sound, and we could never quite do it. All of my friends, who had tastes ranging from punk to indie rock to radio pop, loved this record. The songs were simply that memorable and that good. Unfortunately, the Strokes were largely dismissed as an image band or a hipster band. Even worse, their follow-up albums honestly weren't as good. Still, this thing still puts a smile on my face every time. I rank it as high as any classic album ever made.

A Classic Album.......2007-05-30

I bought this album a little over a year ago, and I've probably listened to it over 200 times since then -- seriously. I realize that I'm way late to the party, but I wasn't paying much attention to the music scene back in 2001 and I lived in California.

I certainly wasn't aware of all the hype surrounding the Strokes -- their look, alleged influences, "importance to rock music," etc. All I knew was their hit, "Last Night," and remember thinking: "that's a catchy tune, but it seems to me that the singer is trying to sing like Lou Reed on "Rock 'n Roll" and the guitarist stole the riff from Tom Petty's "American Girl." The video from the same song reminded me of the High School bands that I remember seeing back in the early-to-mid '80s.

I kind of liked it, but just sort of forgot about the Strokes. It seems that along the way a lot of others have forgotten about the Strokes, too, which I mostly blame on the Strokes, themselves. But I'll get to that later.

But first, since becoming an "Is this It" devotee and diving back into the music scene, I've concluded that the Strokes were terribly misunderstood back in 2001. I think part of it has to do with how important a "rock scene" is to critics -- how is shapes their views of The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, Television, etc. I think critics back in 2001 wanted very badly for the Strokes to be a second coming of SOME NY band that came out any of the oft-noted NY rock scenes of the past. Some just fabricated the connections and praised them for it; others realized this wasn't the case and slagged them as poseurs.

To name some examples: I think that the comparisons to Television and The Stooges border on ludicrous. Comparisons to The Velvet Underground are valid, but mostly insofar as they relate to the similarity between Julian Casablancas' vocals and Lou Reed's on "Rock 'n Roll" and "Head Held High" (off the Loaded album). Frankly, in addition to the above-mentioned Tom Petty riff, some of the stuff from Joy Division and the Cure sound closer to the Strokes' sound than these other bands. Heck, I think I heard the Repitilia opening riff on Belle & Sebastian's "Judy Dick Slap."

But that's neither here nor there, because what I've learned from listening to a bunch of current bands that I like -- The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Shins, Spoon, Of Montreal, etc. -- is that that they ALL lift riffs, melodies, etc. from others. Heck, even Radiohead, on their epic OK, Computer, sounds an awful like Pink Floyd, the Smiths, and even Rush, in parts. So, yes, the Strokes might have clipped together sound fragments they liked, but they did it artfully (unlike, say, Oasis, who I like, but don't love partly for this reason), in my opinion, like many other excellent bands do.

The important thing here is the songs -- and the songs on this album are all great -- not "epic", but extremely catchy and unique. Unless I'm completely out of touch -- and that's a distinct possibility -- if I were in college today, "Is this It" would be one of the first and last records I would go to if I had a little party going on in my dorm room.

If someone wants to argue that the songs are "slight," OK, I'll buy it. If someone wants to say that there are roughly two songs here -- one more "Rock 'n Roll" and the other more "New Wavey" -- played five different ways each, I'll buy that, too. Finally, if someone wants to say that the band, itself, doesn't show true "virtuosity" as musicians or that the record, itself, didn't push new musical boundaries, like, say, "Sgt. Pepper," "Dark Side of the Moon," "OK Computer," etc., fair enough.

Except in the case of Julian Casablancas, who delivers the finest vocals on this record as almost any you'll ever hear since Kurt Cobain on Nevermind or Tom Yorke on OK, Computer. Some describe Casablancas' vocals as "listless" or "bored," but this only tells a small part of the story. Yes, at times he does sound bored, but then oftentimes, he'll go from bored, to growling, to outright shouting. Just check out "The Modern Age," "Last Night," "Take it or Leave it," well almost every song. One could argue that Casablancas' vocals are aided by a megaphone-like distortion; I don't disagree, but that doesn't change how effective they are for me. IIf all you did was focus carefully on Casablancas' vocals, I think there's a chance you'd become as hooked on this record as I have.

In fact, I urge you to do just that.

And on the note of production, I think the band and Gordon Raphael made a brilliant decision to make the album "sound" as retro as it does. The Strokes asked Raphael to produce a record which sounded like it was a band from the future returning to the past -- and he did. This album sounds, in style and substance, like it could have served as the soundtrack to "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."

Unfortunately, the Strokes haven't been productive, recording-wise, since "Is this It," coming out with only two records -- the good-but-not-great "Room on Fire" and "First Impressions of Earth" -- in the nearly-six years since then, and unlikely to produce another until at least 2008. And that's a shame.

Just imagine if we were sitting here, say, in 1989, and R.E.M. had only "Murmur," "Fables of the Reconstruction" and "Green" to show for themselves; or in 1970 and the Beatles had only made a "Please Please Me/With the Beatles" combo, "Beatles for Sale" and "Let It Be." [No, I am not saying that the Strokes are in the same class as either band, especially the Beatles]. They'd each have done some great stuff and some good stuff, but would have also missed out on producing almost two-handfuls of classic albums between them.

The Strokes SHOULD have come out with an album between "Is This It" and "Room on Fire;" they SHOULD have come out with TWO albums between "Room on Fire" and "First Impressions of Earth." Heck, I'd argue that they maybe they SHOULD have come out with an album since "First Impressions of Earth." Then, maybe, we'd have another classic Strokes' album or two to enjoy, in addition to the one we have with "Is this It."

Fun, fast and punchy - 4.5 stars.......2007-05-13

I remember getting this back in 2001 when everyone and their dog were stumbling all over themselves proclaiming The Strokes saviors and future of rock and the best thing since sliced bread. Unfair as it may be, all that hideous overexposure and ubiquity only served to set me against The Strokes because personally I just couldn't see what the fuss was about. Now that the hype around the band has dimmed and the music press are busy pushing other fresh new things into the spotlight, I could finally enjoy "Is This It" for what it is, a highly enjoyable collection of energetic, catchy guitar songs that borrow heavily from the rock'n'roll past - Television, Stooges - but still manage to sound modern and fresh. The album does start to suffer from sameness by the end especially when it comes to Julian Casablancas' monotone slacker delivery, but it's not much of a problem since "Is This It" wraps itself neatly in just over 35 minutes. Original? No, just like 99.9999% bands (some of them great) out there. Fun to tap your foot to? Heck yeah.

Album Review: