America United

About the Artist
In 1982, Grammy nominee and Tony Award winner Melba Moore recorded one of Vincent Stovall's compositions, The Other Side of the Rainbow on Capital Records. The composition appeared as the title song for that particular album. Proceeds from this single CD will be donated to a charitable organization.

Product Description
America United will be added to the list of popular songs that evoke pride and loyalty to America. Although America United was written in 1993, the lyrics ironically reflect the mood of the country following the September 11th tragedy. America United is a clarion call for Americans to unite, hold on to hope and to uplift one another.

America United,Vincent Stovall

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Average customer rating: Something new I like, finally Great Stuff - Impressive Guitar Work icky is right The Return of the Vampire Orphans!!! Some of the Best Music on the Market Today

Icky Thump The White Stripes Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Garage Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Easy Tiger Sky Blue Sky Era Vulgaris Zeitgeist Favourite Worst Nightmare ASIN: B000OYC3J8 Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

1. Icky Thump
2. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)
3. 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
4. Conquest
5. Bone Broke
6. Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn
7. St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)
8. Little Cream Soda
9. Rag And Bone
10. I'm Slowly Turning Into You
11. A Martyr For My Love For You
12. Catch Hell Blues
13. Effect and Cause

Amazon.com

Bagpipes, a song written as the soundtrack to a Michel Gondry music video, Patti Page's musical shadow, and Jack and Meg co-narrating a scavenger's rummages: It must be time for Icky Thump, the many-flavored riposte to 2006's Get Behind Me Satan. The duo starts big with the title track--Jack's fast-tumbling, falsetto-tinged lyrics jagging on hyper keyboard-sounding segues and Meg's pounding drums. They rarely shy from an idea, invoking acoustic Bob Dylan to frame "300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues," but interjecting a series of distortion-laden guitar paroxysms for good measure. The end of Icky, on "Effect and Cause," is where Jack's trademark vocal warble and spare, quick acoustic strums meet Meg's single-minded beats. Everywhere on Icky giant riffs leap and shout, with Flamenco horns and those eerie bagpipes and rhythmic shifts and Jack's impatient vocal kinetics, marking new territories even as the White Stripes again populate them with vintage ideas. --Andrew Bartlett

Album Description

The White Stripes are back with the most bombastic album they've ever produced! While revealing the band's roots in American folk music, Icky Thump is an explosive, revolutionary assault that brings together garage rock, every blues style of the past 100 years, nouveau, and flamenco. This is truly a modern rock and roll masterpiece!

Customer Reviews:

Something new I like, finally.......2007-07-31

These two keep getting better. I really think this is their best. If you've liked previous recordings give this a listen.

Great Stuff - Impressive Guitar Work.......2007-07-30

I'd been thinking of picking up a White Stripes CD for some time and finally got this one. I love it! Several songs have clear Led Zep influence (my favorite all time band). The things that Jack White does with his guitar are incredible.

icky is right.......2007-07-30

I only liked the first song. This CD just did not resonate with me like all their others. Maybe Jack should spend less time ragging on Detroit and more on writing.

The Return of the Vampire Orphans!!!.......2007-07-30

Hello World,
Get some sun and get some lessons you two. Get out and go for a hike or a fishing trip. You two "winners" look like vampire zombies, who's songs interchange with songs from before. My God, Romero will be calling any day now! Anywho, onto the music... nice hooks but overused chords might pay to get some lessons from "better" guitarists. Dont be so vein Jacko... the likes of Derek Trucks and Dan Auerbach should help ya out, maybe? And to Miss White, sexual frustration shouldn't lead to killing a bass drum sweetie. WE HEAR IT ALREADY! Maybe Janet Weiss could help ya out with that one huh? The White Stripes is an understatement!!!!! These two are "The Ivory Barcodes" huh now thats fitting!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy Junk! (note:im nut rezpunsible fer n e mispellings)

Some of the Best Music on the Market Today.......2007-07-29

Very simply put...this is some of the best and most unique music out there today. This CD rocks!

Average customer rating: Not bad, but Iha and Darcy are clearly missing A good album. The Pumpkins are back! I feel used and lied to decent music, marred by weak singing

Zeitgeist Smashing Pumpkins Manufacturer: Martha's Music / Reprise ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Icky Thump Libertad Our Love to Admire Year Zero Era Vulgaris ASIN: B000OQF6N6 Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

1. Doomsday Clock
2. 7 Shades of Black
3. Bleeding the Orchid
4. That¹s the Way (my Love is)
5. Tarantula
6. Starz
7. United States
8. Neverlost
9. Bring the Light
10. (Come on) Let¹s Go!
11. For God and Country
12. Pomp and Circumstances

Amazon.com

Inside the buzzing hive of Smashing Pumpkins' guitars is clearly where bandleader Billy Corgan feels most comfortable. So, after a seven-year hiatus for the short-lived group Zwan and his surprisingly sunny 2005 solo album, Corgan has revived the Pumpkins in all the six-string-spattered shades of emotional gray that made them one of the greatest bands of the alt-rock era. Longtime drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, along with famed boardsmiths Roy Thomas Baker and Terry Date as well as Corgan himself coproduced. Chamberlin also supports mountainous layers of guitar with his fiercest playing. California musicians Ginger Reyes (bass) and Jeff Schroeder (guitar) complete a version of the band dedicated to early bare-knuckled form, with a few exceptions: Corgan's grown into a more powerful wordsmith and his lengthy guitar solo explorations of yore are replaced with a trim, barbed textural approach that's ultimately more vicious. That is, until the centerpiece "United States" stretches into an epic punk-metal-informed sibling of Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun," with Corgan's strings singing like explosions and twisting metal as he warbles about revolution. Much of this album conjures literal and sonic visions of apocalypse, but there's grace, too, in the blithe grind of the hopeful "That's the Way (My Love Is)" and the melodic "Neverlost." Overall, Corgan's captivating effort to mine both the spirit of these turbulent times and the soul of his defining band is a smashing success. --Ted Drozdowski

Album Description

The Smashing Pumpkins are back! After seven years, the acclaimed Pumpkins have returned with Zeitgeist. Featuring the single "Tarantula," this new sound is not to be missed.

Customer Reviews:

Not bad, but Iha and Darcy are clearly missing.......2007-07-31

I'm a huge pumpkins fan, so of course I was eager to get their latest record. It definitely has some rocking riffs (Billy and Jimmy know how to do that!) but I feel like overall most of the songs are more atonal and purely rhythmic and lack the roundness and fullness of say Mellon Collie or Siamese Dream. It's alsmost as if not having James Iha and Darcy is limiting the music--even though Corgan was always the major creative influence--when it's just Billy and Jimmy, it sounds like, well just Billy and Jimmy. Worth picking up if you're a fan, but I didn't hear anything that makes me think "this is up there with my other favorite sp songs".

A good album........2007-07-30

With Zeitgeist, frontman Billy Corgan, along with drummer Jimmy Chamberlin have successfully reformed the Smashing Pumpkins and revitalized the band after seven years of silence. Despite several other projects, it seems the Pumpkins have been and always will be this duo's best artistic outlet.

As a pumpkin fan of many years, I was at first a little skeptical of a new album to be released without guitarist James Iha and Bassist D'arcy Wretzky. I know there are rumors that those two never had much of a role on any albums, but it still seemed incomplete to go on without them. However, after listening to the album several times, I must admit that the band has proven they can still make good music without all four original members.

Zeitgeist comes on strong and rocks hard throughout most of the record, proving that not only are the Pumpkins still capable of making good music, but can still rock, even into their 40's. Zeitgeist, a nostalgic record, largely rehashes (albeit a in a much sunnier fashion) the past.

Billy delivers bone-crushing walls of guitar sounding similar to the likes of Pumpkin classics Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness, as well as screeching guitar solos harkening back to the neo-psychedelic sounds that made Gish great. Jimmy pounds the heck out of the drums in manic fashion, giving the album a raw, untouched feel.

Production is approached differently than on previous albums. Corgan's voice seems to float above the music, and in places is strangely chorused (with itself?). Jimmy's drumming is front and center, sometimes does not blend as well with the music as it could.

There are moments that will quickly bring the listener back to the Pumpkins familiar mid-90's territory such as the hard hitting numbers "Doomsday Clock," "7 Shades of Black," "Tarantula," "Bring the Light," and "(Come On) Let's Go."

"Bleeding the Orchid," a dark, catchy track is reminiscent of a sound somewhere between "Adore" and "Machina."

"That's the Way (My Love is)," "Starz," "Neverlost" and "Pomp and Circumstances" are well-done mid-range rockers that are closer to the sound found on Zwan and Billy's solo record.

One difference with Zeitgeist, and perhaps in an attempt to stay relevant, is that the band takes on some political issues. Even the artwork indicates early on that this album has something to say. On the epic, standout 10-minute long rocker "United States," Billy calls for revolution, for change and challenges political apathy with the ironic statement "I don't know what I believe, but if I feel safe, what do I need?" In the pop number "For God and Country" Billy questions patriotism and fighting for a country under God. Coming from a band that mostly wrote songs about the inner struggle with all of it's associated emotions and search for meaning in a sometimes-hard life, it is a bit odd to hear a less timeless theme such as politics come forth.

What is missing on this record are the more somber, more mellow songs, which in the past have been a huge element of the pumpkins repertoire. Also missing are the incredible combinations and buildups from of quiet-to-loud. While the new sound is definitely high-energy and aggressive, it is playing only on the heavy elements of the past, which are only part of the puzzle that defines the "Pumpkin sound."

The Pumpkins are not breaking any new ground with Zeitgeist, but they are also not tarnishing their legacy as a great band, which is more than can be said of many reunion efforts.

Overall, Zeitgeist is a good record. One of the best of the year, in fact, and it is a record that stands out from most of the popular modern rock of the moment. Most people will find the songs, aggressive edge, excellent guitar and drum more than appealing. Zeitgeist is not the Pumpkins' best, but it is definitely an album worth buying and listening to for Pumpkins fans old and new.

The Pumpkins are back!.......2007-07-29

I was pretty disappointed with their last album before their break-up, Machina. I felt it was a little over-indulgent and had a lot of hard edges without the poignant lyrics Corgan is known for. However, this album reminds me of Melon Collie. Only difference is... they were able to resist the urge to put every single diddy they did while hanging out in the studio on the album. It's a short (by Pumpkins standards) and intense album with the pretty melodies set to ripping guitars. It's a great CD. I feel like they're back.

I feel used and lied to.......2007-07-29

I loved the Smashing Pumpkins, and basically anything Billy Corgan touched up to even Machina. I can honestly say, they (he) changed my life with Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie, and all the b-sides and side projects in between. I remember him saying in a interview when the band finally broke up for good, "I just want to stop before people stop caring." After this album, I no longer care. Zwan, the solo album were forgivable, but this is disgraceful and a shameful to a new level. I tried to listen to this album over and over, thinking it will click or I'll get it, but no, there's very little magic left at all in Billy's creativity tank. For example:
"I'm gonna make it I'll take it
Like everybody else
Belle of the fawning
I'm yawning..."
It isn't just the lame lyrics, it's the way he sings it, the effects they use, the everything. This reminds me of when I found out Santa Clause wasn't real, or when Jordan came out of retirement. Nothing is so good or bad that it can last forever; he should have left it be (Lucas should have left Star Wars be), he's going to discredit all previous work if he doesn't stop after this album. The magic is gone, his true fans who were truly changed by him are looking (listening) for something that isn't there. I'M YAWNING

decent music, marred by weak singing.......2007-07-28

Musically, Zeitgeist is pretty good, a return to form (Gish, Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie).

The problem is with the weak singing. I'm not one of those who ever had a problem with Corgan's voice. I don't mind the nasality/whininess, in fact on those earlier albums I loved the great variety and expressiveness of his voice -- from quiet singing to screaming, occasionally sneering, pleading, sometimes flat and emotionless, defiant, hopeful...

But on this album for the most part his voice just sounds very weak. Like he's tired, struggling just to get the breath to sing. ??? This might be intentional, I don't know. But to me it comes across -- rightly or wrongly -- as not having conviction, with the music or the lyrics. The weak singing makes it sound like he doesn't really fully believe what he's singing, and to me that really detracts from many of the songs. I just listened to Mellon Collie again the other day (still one of my faves of all time, and I've got 300+ albums), and I totally believe that he believes every word he says on that amazing album.

Even given all that, Zeitgest is still a decent album, but it loses a full star for the singing. Chamberlin still whales away strongly and effectively, often brilliantly, I'd like it if his drums were a little stronger in the mix even (but maybe they had to be pushed back a bit for fear of completely overwhelming Corgan's voice). Corgan still rocks on the guitars. Maybe it's time to bring in another singer? Somehow I don't see Corgan going for that!

Average customer rating: A step to the right, and slightly backward My Two Cents Hoping for more Darker, more moving, Interpol scores again- Where's the bass?

Our Love to Admire Interpol Manufacturer: Capitol Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Icky Thump Zeitgeist An End Has a Start Favourite Worst Nightmare We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank ASIN: B000PY32CO Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

1. Pioneer To the Falls
2. No I In Threesome
3. The Scale
4. The Heinrich Maneuver
5. Mammoth
6. Pace Is the Trick
7. All Fired Up
8. Rest My Chemistry
9. Who Do You Think
10. Wrecking Ball
11. The Lighthouse

Amazon.com

Moving up to a major label has hardly lifted Interpol's spirits. This is a good thing. Even with the twisted Wild Kingdom album cover and bassist Carlos Dengler's unexpected Wild West makeover, on its third studio album the black-clad New York quartet still sounds inflexibly menacing, grasping tighter than ever to its doomy post-punk influences and delving further into frontman Paul Banks's emotional unrest. Everything sounds a little bigger and brighter, sure, but at their core songs like "Rest My Chemistry" and "Wrecking Ball" are heroically sinister, goaded on by prickly riffs and slow-bleeding rhythms. The group briefly jumps to life on the buzzing "Heinrich Manouver" and exhibits an unexpected dash of humor on "No I in Threesome," but it's the closing "Lighthouse" that best defines the set--a late-night lament that simply steals away into the dark. --Aidin Vaziri

Amazon.com

Our Love To Admire is at once unmistakably Interpol and undeniably new. The witty and perverse "No I In Threesome" is an upbeat ode to shaking up a staid relationship propelled by Carlos D's peerless bass melody while the tenderly observant "Pace Is the Trick" proves that the band are still the masters of the dramatic - check the painful pause right before the sinfully satisfying return of Sam's thundering drums and Daniel's ringing lead guitar. The band's impressively seductive evolution is obvious all over the record, but never more so than on tracks like "Mammoth," "Who Do You Think" and on the album's lyrical centerpiece, the ghostly "Rest My Chemistry." While Daniel is understandably proud of the song he cautions against reading too much autobiography into its lyrics. "We always leave the interpretation to the listener," he says. "I mean, you shouldn't watch a movie for the first time listening to the director's commentary!"

Our Love to Admire closes with "The Lighthouse," a funereal dirge that is among the most unexpected and memorable songs ever recorded by the band. Almost entirely percussion-free, the song is constructed around Daniel's mournful guitar and Paul's sparten lyrics. Not only is it one of their finest moments to date, it provides the album's most goose-bump inducing moment, the very same reflex shivers that make Interpol live shows such an exhilarating experience. As the very last song the band recorded for the album it was, they say, the hardest to play. The hypnotic guitar part was played on a 50-year-old guitar that had toxins on the strings, providing Daniel with a blistering and painful sensation in his fingers. The band weren't even sure the track would make it out of the studio, but once they heard Paul's remarkable vocals they were floored. The song - and the album - doesn't so much end as it bleeds to a close with a long, echoey coda filled with feedback and strings. A fittingly dramatic end to a stunning and emotional journey. Interpol is back, every bit as good as before but charged with a new spirit, a new direction, a new label and, most of all, a new confidence.

Interpol Photos

More from Interpol

Antics

Turn on the Bright Lights

The Black EP

Customer Reviews:

A step to the right, and slightly backward.......2007-07-30

Interpol is potentially the best band of the last decade. 'Turn on the Bright Lights' seems to be unanimously applauded, while even 'Antics' tends to divide fans in a deep way. While TOTBL was a moodier and perhaps more bold stroke, Antics showed a band who were able to refine their sound while still moving forward. OLTA is a step a little to the right and backward: it's safer and this time the attempt to refine the songwriting takes the band away from some of the things that made them great.

'Pioneer to the Falls' is one of Interpol's finest monents and a strong opener. However, the album takes a severe step in the wrong direction and never regains its footing. 'Wrecking Ball' is the only other really great addition to the Interpol catalogue, while 'Heinrich', Rest my Chemistry', 'Mammoth', and 'Pace is the Trick' are all good and do possess an Interpol-esque quality but miss the mark. For someone new to Interpol they will likely find this album good, however anybody familiar with Interpol's previous efforts will likely begin the wait for the fourth album (it will be great!).

The tone is there for a great Interpol album but it lacks in so many ways. Paul Banks brought his voice and he sounds great,pushing his voice in new directions; but the lyrics fail to grab. On previous efforts Banks' vague and ambiguous lyrics had a way of getting under your skin, here he often goes for clairty( 'Chemistry', 'No I in threesome' which is indeed a song about a threesome..how un-Interpol), however Interpol is at their best when they rely on the atmospheric sense of mystery they are able to create instrumentally and vocally. And when Banks does go for ambiguity he comes up a little short . Daniel Kessler seems to be Interpol's only member who showed up to have a serious go at it. Sam Fogarino, one of the best drummer's in alt/rock music today, is almost completely absent from the album with the exception of 'Pioneer'. Carlos is also barely present, although he does experiment with double bass. Overall Interpol just doesn't function as a band here with the rhythm section feeling particular absent. Also it sems Interpol tried the ever doomed task of "trying to please the old fans while winning over the rest of the world at the same time", which never works. Hopefully the members of Interpol will shake this one off and go back to making albums to please themselves first. Every band needs to fail, and this is it for Interpol. However, I do believe they will be back better than ever for the next album.

My Two Cents.......2007-07-30

It is my opinion that with Our Love to Admire Interpol has returned to the subtlety of Turn on the Bright Lights, and is a better album than Antics. I owned Bright Lights for almost a year after it came out before I really listened to the album and came to appreciate it. This was partly due to how different it was from all the other music on the radio, with its eccentric lyrics and subtle musicality. You really needed to pay attention while listening to value it (at least I did). It is now one of my all-time favorites.

When Antics was released, I listened to it the first time and felt like I "got it," meaning it was in a similar vein as Bright Lights but lacked the nuance that had rewarded close listening. It's a good album, but not great. The first time I heard the new album I wasn't blown away. But I did hear some of the seeds of what had made Bright Lights so remarkable, and I stuck with it. After listening to it for a few weeks, I have to say I think Our Love to Admire is a great album. I won't do a song by song thing, since that has already been done by other reviewers. Basically, the whole record is full of little surprises and clever touches that make listening to it sort of like trying to complete a puzzle or a crossword: you're listening to a song that you've heard a dozen times before when something pops out at you from the bass line or the percussion and totally changes the shape of the song. It is that kind of detail that makes Interpol such a great band, and it really comes through on this album.

Hoping for more.......2007-07-30

Having been a big fan of the first two albums, and seeing them a couple of times in concert, I eagerly anticipated the latest release from Interpol. However, I find my self disappointed with the new album, not so much because I feel it is a bad album, but because after listening to it 5 times, I would be hard pressed to talk of any songs that grabbed my attention. I couldn't even start to hum a few bars of anything on it, and that is just so not Interpol.

Pioneer to the Falls, The Heinrich Maneuver and Rest My Chemistry sound like they would have fit in nicely with either of their first two albums, but neither would have been stand outs. Not that they are bad songs, they just don't grab you and pull your soul into the song like a good portion of their previous work would do.

For now, Our Love to Admire will sit in the drawer. I'll probably go see them in concert when they swing by, in hopes that their stellar live show will turn my opinion of the new material. Until then I'll throw on Turn on the Bright Lights and enjoy Interpol's past brilliance.

Darker, more moving, Interpol scores again-.......2007-07-29

Interpol has hit the target again with this excellent new album. Darker than their first wonderful album, more intense than the more subdued second, 'Our Love to Admire' instantly pulls the listener in with the trademark Interpol sound, but this time with a more mysterious, more atmospheric feel. There is a maturity of sound here, full of interesting chord changes and surprising measure patterns that shows these boys are growing up. There are no filler songs here, but the 'Lighthouse', an especially haunting, moving piece, proves Interpol can indeed take their their clever, pithy, staccato sound and create something more melodic and with a deepness of feeling. Highly recommended, my favorite new album so far this year.

Where's the bass?.......2007-07-29

With Antics, I could see Interpol's progression, however, I feel that this third album is a step backward. The sound relies heavily upon the guitars, the lyrics' comprehensives is nearly absent (but then again, they usually are) and there are long semi-silent, slow portions of the album that make me press Skip Forward.

In comparison to the past two albums, I really think it falters. Turn on the Bright Lights was a great, moody, NYC album that really worked on a lot of levers. The tempo changed from song to song with some great power riffs and patches of silence soon followed by a booming bass and ghostly rhythm guitar sections.

Antics turned up the volume and tempo and was a great progresson from the first album. I really enjoyed seeing the band perform both albums at their shows in 2005.

This third album sounds like they tried to slow everything down again, but made it really boring, possibly because of over-processing the album. Everything sounds kind of washed out and not as crisp as past albums. What I miss the most is the bass and drum driven songs. Sure, they throw in some bass/drum solos, but you don't feel it in every song like you could in their past two albums, Antics in particular.

Average customer rating: Disappointment of the year. Awful Still Waiting for some killer Revolver?! Great Album from a Great Band A Solid 4-Star Album

Libertad Velvet Revolver Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Zeitgeist Icky Thump Carry On Era Vulgaris Black Rain ASIN: B000P29B62 Release Date: 2007-07-03

Tracks:

1. Let It Roll
2. She Mine
3. Get Out The Door
4. She Builds Quick Machines
5. The Last Fight
6. Pills, Demons & Etc.
7. American Man
8. Mary Mary
9. Just Sixteen
10. Can't Get It Out Of My Head
11. For A Brother
12. Spay
13. Gravedancer
14. Re-Evolution

Amazon.com

When they exploded out of the gates on their 2004 debut, Contraband, Velvet Revolver were met with as much diffidence as appreciation. After all, supergroups have tended to detonate as often as succeed, and with vocalist Scott Weiland, bassist Duff McKagan, and guitarist Slash all vying to keep the lit match away from the fuse, the odds against this band ever seeing album #2 were even money at best. Surprise! Not only have Velvet Revolver survived three years with unreckless abandon, this album blows the doors off its predecessor. Save a pair of disinfected ballads ("The Last Fight," "Gravedancer"), Libertad is all about hand-grenade chords, drag-racing riffs, and circus-tent choruses. The ageless McKagan and Slash continually gun for the disorderliness of their former band (most notably on the punkish opener "Let It Roll" and its lewd brother "Spay"), while Weiland sounds--knock on wood--positively clean and like a voice of boisterous renewal on tracks like "Mary Mary," "She Builds Quick Machines," and the melt-in-your-mouth cover of ELO's "Can't Get It Out of My Head." Obviously egos have been checked at the studio door, as Velvet Revolver have already exceeded their anticipated existence. And now that existence goes back on the clock, trying to outshine a second album that's head-and-shoulders better than the first. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews:

Disappointment of the year........2007-07-31

This album just doesn't deliver. I've listened through the entire thing 3 times now, and it is a labor to not hit skip about halfway through any of the tracks. On Contraband, I disliked most of the singles but found several killer tracks that made the album very worthwhile. Tracks like "do it for the kids", "sucker train blues", "big machine", "headspace" and "you got no right" brought together the best elements of the contributing members' former bands and had terrific, driving melodies.
Libertad by contrast has nothing. It's as homogenized as radio rock can possibly be. I've yet to find a single memorable guitar riff - a first for any record slash has signed his name to. The melodies are muddy and flat, and the high treble studio polish kills any emotion that might be buried in there somewhere. By far the biggest disappointment of records released this year.I wish everyone would hurry up and get over their respective grudges and rejoin their previous bands. STP was getting washed up towards the end as well, but still nothing this bland had come from Weiland yet.

Awful.......2007-07-31

What can I say? THIS IS THE EXACT SAME ALBUM AS CONTRABAND! Instead of buying this album, you may as well just buy the FIRST one again! Could this music be anymore STOCK?

Just play any random Velvet Revolver song on a loop, and you'll have heard the first two albums.

Still Waiting for some killer Revolver?! .......2007-07-30

Ever since the stars aligned and this lineup came together. The expectations have been high for something really spectacular to come out. After listening to Libertad a few times I'm still waiting. Libertad follows a more focused direction in it's musically styling's than the debut. Many tunes have more of a punk vibe to them. Which doesn't do much for me. It's disappointing to me that nothing on Libertad really blows you away? Yes, nothing, not one tune! I think as each tune came on I was waiting for Slash to tear it up and it hasn't happened. Some aggressive in your face guitars, something with an edge to it. Something that will rock your socks off as you crank it up to 11! Something that will make you say, "GNR & STP who are they"? Libertad definitely doesn't do that. If "Contraband" left you hopping for something better. This will just leave you disappointed. With Audioslave dismantling and leaving a big "Supergroup" whole to fill. Velvet Revolver just can't put the pieces together to fill it. I'm sure this won't be a popular review here. That's why we all have our own opinions......

Great Album from a Great Band.......2007-07-30

This album is extremely well produced and has a great sound. Their first Album has nothing on this album, Libertad is very capable of satisfying those who have heard most of their previous album, Contraband. The single released before the whole album is not the best on the album. I find myself enjoying the whole album instead of released singles getting all the play time.

Overall, Great Album from a great Band

A Solid 4-Star Album.......2007-07-28

VR's Libertad is a solid hard-rock album from start to finish. I read a comment somewhere that "Libertad" feels like 1991 all over again. I agree... but so what? How can anybody expect anything else from these vets? It's a solid rockin' album, in which VR sounds less like GNR and a little more like STP. Scott's vocals stand out as more melodic than in VR's debut "Contraband", very reminiscent of STP. Slash's solos and riffs are not protagonistic but rather faint. Slash: we miss you. And that's 1 star down from 5 to 4.

Sidenote: Track 14 "Re-Evolution" just doesn't belong in any of VR's repertoire. It's clear they have no clue how to Country and they should stay away from that genre. But don't worry, it's kind of a bonus song that doesn't take out much from this overall very good album.

Average customer rating: Talent by the Bucket! Clever, Cute, CREATIVE!! Absolutely Great!! As usual, Brad Paisely rules A GREAT CD!!!!

5th Gear Brad Paisley Manufacturer: Arista ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Big Dog Daddy Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace Let It Go Lost Highway Time Well Wasted ASIN: B000PFUA9G Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

1. All I Wanted Was A Car
2. Ticks
3. Online
4. Letter To Me
5. I'm Still A Guy
6. Some Mistakes
7. It Did
8. Mr. Policeman
9. If Love Was A Plane
10. Oh Love Featuring Carrie Underwood
11. Better Than This
12. With You, Without You
13. Previously Featuring Kung Pao Buckaroos (Little Jimmy Dickens,
14. Bigger Fish To Fry Featuring Kung Pao Buckaroos (Little Jimmy Dickens,
15. When We All Get To Heaven
16. Throttleneck

Amazon.com

Like his friend Vince Gill, Brad Paisley has achieved the often-difficult feat of reconciling being an entertainer and world-class guitarist. He's proven that on four admirable albums, and 5th Gear follows in that vein. Certainly "Ticks," an airy, radio-friendly ditty, is not the true substance here. That comes with such superior fare as the insightful "All I Wanted Was a Car" and "Online," a sly satire of people's Web facades. While his duet with Carrie Underwood ("Oh Love") is a bit cut and dried, Paisley ably handles "Letter to Me," "It Did," and "Mr. Policeman," a 21st-century outrun-the-law tune. The closing hymn, "When We All Get to Heaven," and ripping instrumental "Throttleneck" are Paisley at his best. It's admirable that he invites his venerable buddies, Little Jimmy Dickens, George Jones, Vince Gill, and Bill Anderson, along with Dolly Parton, to join in, but the obligatory "Kung Pao Buckaroos" skit is wearing a bit thin. Better to feature them musically, the way he includes Dickens, Gill, and Anderson on "Bigger Fish to Fry." In a time where lines between county and pop are blurring far too much, it's comforting to know Paisley still realizes and respects the differences. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews:

Talent by the Bucket!.......2007-07-31

This extremly talented country music star has a nitch for writing his own music, and singing it well.

Clever, Cute, CREATIVE!!.......2007-07-29

First - not typical trucks, drunken break-ups, sex-filled derogatory-ness!
I LOVED the "sneakiness" displayed in "Ticks" - - ;>)

Brad Paisley! You ROCK! aaaaaaand your Grandfather would be VERY tickled for you, Kim & Huck - - -

I thank God for you & your freshness!
JJ

Absolutely Great!!.......2007-07-29

This is a fantastic CD. My favorite is still Brad's "Mud on the Tires" but this is a close second. Brad Paisley has a great voice, great songs, and amazing guitar solos.

As usual, Brad Paisely rules.......2007-07-29

The cd is great as any other Brad's work so far. Great lyrics, great music... what can I say, For country lovers, this is a must. Regarding amazon service and delivery, as usual also, it was great and super fast. That's why I'm a regular customer.

A GREAT CD!!!!.......2007-07-29

WOW is the first thing that comes to mind. Brad Paisley has done nothing but impress me from the beginning. He is a very talented vocalist/guitarist!!!! Even my husband, who is in no way a country music fan is impressed! I really LOVE his sense of humor that he includes with some of his music. Brad is one in a million...that is for sure. This album really shows how talented he is. :) My Mom, kids(ages 9 and 5) and I will be seeing Brad in concert for the first time at the end of August and we all CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!
Brad: KEEP THE AWESOME MUSIC COMING!!!!!

Average customer rating: back water revival Fantastic Album Relaxing Music Not a traditional bluegrsss album, but worth listening to several times before judging Alison Krauss CD

A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection Alison Krauss Manufacturer: Rounder / UMGD ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Calling Waking Up Laughing Not Too Late West Call Me Irresponsible ASIN: B000ND91SG Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

1. You're Just a Country Boy
2. Simple Love
3. Jacob's Dream
4. Away Down the River
5. Sawing on the Strings
6. Down to the River to Pray
7. Baby Mine
8. Molly Bán
9. How's the World Treating You (duet with James Taylor)
10. The Scarlet Tide
11. Whiskey Lullaby (duet with Brad Paisley)
12. You Will Be My Ain True Love
13. I Give You to His Heart
14. Get Me Through December
15. Missing You (duet with John Waite)
16. Lay Down Beside Me (previously unreleased duet with John Waite)

Amazon.com

A Hundred Miles or More carries the subtitle A Collection, and what a curious collection it is--cuts from soundtracks, side projects, and tribute albums, plus guest duets on other artists' albums and five previously unreleased tracks. In other words, this is a collection of Alison Krauss performances that have never appeared on an Alison Krauss album, though it holds together better than such a grab-bag approach might suggest. Highlights such as her duet with Brad Paisley on "Whiskey Lullaby" and her a cappella rendition of "Down to the River to Pray" from O Brother, Where Art Thou? will be familiar to most Krauss fans, though it's doubtful that many share her infatuation with retro rocker John Waite (with whom she revives his "Missing You" and duets on a cover of Don Williams's "Lay Down Beside Me."). Other projects represented range from Disney to the Chieftains to the Louvin Brothers (she duets with James Taylor on their "How's the World Treating You." There's minimal contribution from her Union Station band--making this a solo release by default--and little information to indicate whether the previously unreleased tracks were outtakes from earlier releases or recently recorded for this one. --Don McLeese

More Alison Krauss

Lonely Runs Both Ways

Live

Now That I've Found You: A Collection

Album Description

"A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection" is comprised of 16 tracks, highlighting Alison Krauss's career outside of her traditional releases with longtime band Union Station. The album features Krauss's collaboration with John Waite on the single "Missing You," as well as Krauss's contributions to film soundtracks, including the Oscar-nominated songs "The Scarlet Tide" and "You Will Be My Ain True Love," written for the motion picture "Cold Mountain," and "Down to the River to Pray" from the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Known for her collaborations, Krauss also includes several duets in the collection such as the 2003 hit with Brad Paisley, "Whiskey Lullaby," and her duet with James Taylor for the tribute album "Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers," "How's the World Treating You." The collection debuts five new songs: "You're Just a Country Boy," "Jacob's Dream," "Simple Love," "Lay Down Beside Me," and "Away Down the River," all of which feature Krauss as a producer.

Customer Reviews:

back water revival.......2007-07-31

I love her sweetness and clarity. She revisits gospel and olde tyme toe tappers and make you want to stomp your feet, get up and clap and say "Amen". I don't believe Alison Krauss could produce any thing that you wouldn't like. Sort of like Emmy Lou Harris. Just gifted.

Fantastic Album.......2007-07-23

I really liked the album especially "Missing You" with John Waite. Any fan of Alison will like this album.

Relaxing Music.......2007-07-18

This cd is wonderful. It is great to listen to in the car when you need something soft and relaxing. Alison Krauss has the voice of an angel. I highly recommend this cd.

Not a traditional bluegrsss album, but worth listening to several times before judging.......2007-07-17

Many remakes dot this album. Some very surprising collabrations. AK could have done very standard remakes, but instead reinvented many songs. I prefer Simple Love, which is not a remake, Sawing on Strings, a very traditional bluegrass song. These are two songs she is singing on her current tour with Union Station. She does not sing any of the duet songs on this album on her current tour.

Alison Krauss CD.......2007-07-15

Beautiful voice and great songs, but somewhat melancholy. You have to be in the right mood to listen to it.

Average customer rating: Hooray For Me More 'Being There' less 'Foxtrot' Love those VW ads... Simply just good music an experiment in refinement

Sky Blue Sky Wilco Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Country | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Icky Thump Easy Tiger New Moon The Reminder We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank ASIN: B000NVIGC0 Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

1. Either Way
2. You Are My Face
3. Impossible Germany
4. Sky Blue Sky
5. Side With the Seeds
6. Shake It Off
7. Please Be Patient With Me
8. Hate It Here
9. Leave Me (Like You Found Me)
10. Walken
11. What Light
12. On And On And On

Amazon.com

After their wild experimental streak of the past decade, Wilco's sixth studio album might feel like a bit of a comedown. Sky Blue Sky is mellow, moody, and uncharacteristically monotone, opening with a pleasant jangle and Jeff Tweedy singing a simple song: "Maybe the sun will shine today, the clouds will blow away." He doesn't even follow it up with a barbed punchline. Could it be that the restless Chicago band has settled back into its gentle Americana roots--or does this sudden mid-career reappraisal represent Wilco's gutsiest move yet? Mostly written in the studio by the full band, it's certainly the group's most cohesive album in ages, presenting a dense song cycle padded with intricate guitar work, brushed rhythms, and '70s soft-rock accents. In places it sounds like Wings ("Hate It Here"), in others Harry Nilsson ("Walken"), and in the middle it goes a bit Grateful Dead ("Shake It Off"). At the same time, there's a distinct sense of hearing a band finally at ease in its own skin. Sky Blue Sky represents the sound of Wilco finally pulling through its petulant adolescence. --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

"Sky Blue Sky" has hints of early-seventies Southern California folk-rock sweetness in the harmonies. The album is filled with brash guitar solos that take songs like "You Are My Face" and "Shake It Off" in unexpected directions.

Customer Reviews:

Hooray For Me.......2007-07-29

I like Ghost and YHF fine, but I selfishly wished they would strip back their production to reveal the simple beauty of their songwriting, lyrics, and vocals. This is my album, and I love it. It's not the most terribly original thing, but it is very very pretty. Turns out someone in the band is even a good guitar player; I listened to the solo on the first cut several times, I find it tasteful and wonderful. Anyhoo, don't know if this album is better than the last two, it just happened to be more to my personal taste. Lucky me, I guess.

More 'Being There' less 'Foxtrot'.......2007-07-27

If you love Wilco, like I do, you will love this album. It is their most accessible album in over a decade. Summerteeth and Foxtrot rank as my favorites, but Ghost is my least favorite, and I'm glad this is a departure from that. Think A.M. and Being There, with a little more wisdom and professionalism.

I've grown to love this album.

Love those VW ads..........2007-07-25

Wilco is unquestionably one of the best bands of our time, and this is certainly worth a listen.

This is very different from Ghost / YHF in that the songs are much more direct, with less elaborate mixes / elusive lyrics than their prior two masterpieces. Sort of hearkens to Being There, but with less of an alt-country sound.

One of the best of 2007 - but not quite as good as at least this fan was expecting (check out Cassadega for the best to date this year).

Simply just good music.......2007-07-21

I know it's hip to scrutinize a band's intentions, personal backgrounds, blah blah blah, but whatever happened to just listening to the music? Yes, Wilco has been experimental, using dissonance and space to create compelling noise. This time, they wrote songs that could actually be played on the radio (the nerve!) and listened to while mowing the lawn (how dare Wilco make a fun record!). I am a Wilco fan from the beginning. First record, OK. Second, became a great American band. Third, tried too hard. Fourth, became pretentious to their success. Fifth, remained pretentious to their detriment. Sixth, made a very thoughtful, cool record. Remember when Radiohead made "The Bends" and we could all sing along? Then Thom Yourke decided he should change the world and use an Atari 2600 to write "songs"? Let's hope Tweedy realizes that his fans like to hear the great songs only Wilco can write.

an experiment in refinement.......2007-07-21

Wilco's incessant experimentation and growth between albums are instantly intriguing. Despite the fact that their work is often changing genres, it is always exciting. However, as is always the case, if you fell in love with Wilco because of the 'style' of one album or another, you might be disappointed here. The moody and sublime landmark 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,' with its amazing juxtapositions of griding guitars and harmonic acoustics, has evolved into 'Sky Blue Sky,' a more even keel work indicative of introspective, peaceful summer days. The earlier instrumental experimentation has, on 'Sky Blue Sky,' evolved into somewhat superficial and cliche solos.
This album is reflective in a way that no other Wilco album has been- it is somehow singular and introverted, as though Jeff Tweedy were singing only to himself.
Wilco's evolution is inevitable and admirable. It's the subtleties that I miss on this album- the storytelling, the raw experimentation.

This is, if nothing else, what Wilco sounds like all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Average customer rating: Worth It! I'm In Heaven When She Sings Enjoyable Americana Music Gets better with age great album

West Lucinda Williams Manufacturer: Lost Highway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Not Too Late Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits The Calling Freedom's Road A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection ASIN: B000LXHGFI Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

1. Are You Alright?
2. Mama You Sweet
3. Learning How To Live
4. Fancy Funeral
5. Unsuffer Me
6. Everything Has Changed
7. Come On
8. Where Is My Love?
9. Rescue
10. What If
11. Wrap My Head Around That
12. Words
13. West

Amazon.com

Though the arrangements stray from Lucinda Williams's motherlode blend of blues, country, and folk, West may well be her best album. It is easily her most musically adventurous, and often her most lyrically inspired. Williams's singing has never sounded better, from the aching tenderness of "Where Is My Love?" to the ravaged catharsis of "Unsuffer Me." New York producer Hal Willner, who has worked with artists such as Marianne Faithful and Lou Reed, enlists the support of eclectic progressives like guitarist Bill Frisell, keyboardist Bob Burger, and violinist Jenny Scheinman, along with harmonies from the Jayhawks' Gary Louris, to weave a subtly rich sonic tapestry. Much of the material was inspired by the death of Williams's beloved mother ("Mama You Sweet," "Fancy Funeral") and the bitter breakup of a relationship (the jagged-edged emasculation of "Come On," the repetitive incantation of "Wrap My Head Around That"), though "Are You Alright?," "Learning How to Live," and "Everything Has Changed" could reflect the aftermath of both. Other highlights include "Rescue," with a languid subtlety and ambient pulse reminiscent of Beth Orton, and the dreamy, wistful title track. Where Williams's music has long cut close to the bone, the best of West slices right through it. --Don McLeese

Lucinda Wiliams Photos

More Lucinda Williams

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

World Without Tears

Essence

Customer Reviews:

Worth It!.......2007-07-30

As with all Lucinda Williams...this CD really grows on you the more you listen to it. I really like it.

I'm In Heaven When She Sings.......2007-07-30

Lucinda Williams has done some amazing work over a long career and she just keeps getting better and better. To my ears West just about the best thing she has ever done. She doesn't rock out a lot which suits me fine, because you really get to appreciate her skill with words and hear that voice...aaahhhh what a voice!

Enjoyable Americana Music.......2007-07-24

I first heard cuts from this album, on the "Imus In The Morning" show, earlier this year. He has such a great ear for music, and I liked what I heard on his show. The album is very earthy, and soulful. Lucinda Williams is a powerful singer/songwriter, and "West" is the perfect showcase for her talent. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys soulful, Americana music.

Gets better with age.......2007-07-22

Simply put Lucinda just paints a sound and words that rings true. She as far the wide buyind audience is unknown, very underrated as trash female artits do their stuff.

great album.......2007-07-21

i really like this album. have a few LW songs in a few of mu alt country compilation cd's and have heard an album or two that other people owned. Happy to have one of my own. i think I picked a good one. Theres one or two songs on the album that are wierd to me and slightly grating, but overall i think that this is some of her best music.

Average customer rating: It just keeps getting worse! The best so far? She's Like A Fine Wine, She Gets Better With Age Arrest this Woman! - More Pointless Music from Vega Better than ever

Beauty & Crime Suzanne Vega Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Similar Items: Time on Earth Courage Theology Breakfast in Bed Are You Listening ASIN: B000H6SU9A Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

1. Zephyr & I
2. Ludlow Street
3. New York Is a Woman
4. Pornoghrapher's Dream
5. Frank & Ava
6. Edith Wharton's Figurine
7. Bound
8. Unbound
9. As You Are Now
10. Angel's Doorway
11. Anniversary

Amazon.com

With a career spanning more than two decades, Suzanne Vega has long stressed quality over quantity. It's no surprise, therefore, that her first release in six years is more than worth the wait. Her eye for detail, laconic vocal cool, and thematic focus on New York City continue to distinguish her artistry, but the sonic sheen applied by British producer/multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Hogarth sparks a musical renewal. Crisp guitar riffing recalls the streetwise work of fellow New York chronicler Lou Reed, while chamber strings, electronic atmospherics, and multitracked background vocals lift the results well beyond the folk realm. Vega writes from a perspective of memory and maturity, recalling the New York of old on "Zephyr & I" and "Ludlow Street," showing the musical sophistication of bittersweet seduction on "New York Is a Woman," applying a musical Brazilian wax to "Pornographer's Dream," and contemplating her life as a wife on "Bound" and as a mother on the lullaby "As You Are Now." The results are richly satisfying throughout. --Don McLeese

Amazon.com

On Beauty & Crime, Suzanne Vega's Blue Note Records debut, the Manhattan native uses New York City as the backdrop for a collection of eleven new songs that juxtapose acoustic guitar-driven melodies with coolly synthesized beats; intensely personal lyrics with compelling, short story-like narratives; images of today's scarred cityscape with memories of Vega's old Upper West Side 'hood and Lower East Side haunts. The past commingles with the present, the public with the private, familiar sounds with the utterly new, just like the city itself. Making her first new studio album in six years, Vega says, "I feel like I really stretched my limits. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone--to sing in keys I wouldn't have sung in before, to work with different textures, to be unafraid of doing what ever sounded good to me. I wanted to make a modern classic."

Suzanne Vega Photos

Album Description

2007 album produced by Jimmy Hogarth. She is accompanied by an eclectic group including Will Malone, Gerry Leonard, Lee Renaldo, Mike Visceglia and Doub Yowell. EMI.

Customer Reviews:

It just keeps getting worse!.......2007-07-28

Ugh...I loved Suzanned Vega and then she married some fat old guy. Her music sucks to put mildly but fortunately it is a free country so you don't have to buy it...'nuf said

The best so far?.......2007-07-22

Trying to objectively assess any record a matter of weeks after its release is difficult, particularly when it's from such a complex artist as Suzanne Vega - as her previous albums show, her inherently "catchy" songs need time register for their underlying strength and hidden depths to be revealed... but, with time, it's quite possible that this could well prove to be the best release from this supremely gifted artist.

Why? Well, first off, "Beauty & Crime" once again confirms that for sheer songwriting skills she's extremely hard to beat. As with most of her previous output it's infused with great tunes, disarmingly sincere lyrics and clever production, all of which combine to make it not only instantly "likeable" but a record that just grows on you with every repeat playing. Few, if any, artists have delivered this type of eclectic combination with such consistency and now, over 20 years from her debut, it further establishes her status as the most under-rated female singer/songwriter out there.

And, compared to her previous albums? Well the bad news is that, as with her last release, "Songs in Red and Gray", there's not much innovation here... bad news because as she showed on her 90's recordings her style is perfectly suited for more adventurous production, taking her out from the comfort of folk/rock into more challenging areas. But that's clearly not where she wants to be... "Beauty & Crime" is what she wants us to hear and the good news is that it's not only a stunning return to form but a quite beautiful record that's packed full of hauntingly memorable songs. Sure, the edginess of standout tracks on her early albums such as "Left of Centre", "Neighbourhood Girls", Luka" & "Solitude Standing" may be missing but it's been replaced with something equally good: the maturity & reflection that comes with age - check out "Zephyr And I" and "Ludlow Street" to see how good this can be.

Time will tell where this stands in her already brilliant discography but, in the meantime, sit back and enjoy another pure 5 star outing.

She's Like A Fine Wine, She Gets Better With Age.......2007-07-20

When I picked up Suzanne Vega's seventh studio release "Beauty & Crime", I did what a lot of people do these days - I ripped MP3 files for my computer. When I saw that the total time of the songs was only 34 minutes, I was a little disappointed because I have waited 6 years for her follow-up to the terrific "Songs in Red and Gray". But then I played the songs. Wow! The lady still has the magic. Although the songs are pretty short (only one exceeds 4 minutes and I actually think that song - "Bound" - drags on a little too long), they pack a punch. Personal favorites are "Edith Wharton's Figurines", "Unbound" and the one everyone seems to like, "New York is a Woman", which is about a suburban man's first trip to New York City. As a suburban man who will soon take his first trip to New York, I feel like Suzanne just gave me a tour!

I thought the CD was great and I hope she sees enough success with it that we'll hear from her again, hopefully sooner than 6 years from now. I'm looking forward to seeing her for the first time live later this year.

Arrest this Woman! - More Pointless Music from Vega.......2007-07-20

You know, I love acoustic female singer-songwriters as much as the next person (which isn't saying a whole lot), but I also know trash when I listen to it. This, unfortunately, falls into the latter category. I had highly anticipated this release, alongwith the new Sinead O'Connor record, but Sinead eventually let me down with her tepid double album of a release. Vega somehow manages to outdo her with this certifiable doozy of an album, which is a pity, since her last studio album was rather pretty.

"Beauty & Crime" (Suzanne evidently has very little of the former, and she has committed the latter here), is Suzanne's "Ode to New York" (did we really need another one?). I think Tori Amos did it best when she limited her political consciousness to one song about New York on her "I Can't See New York" from the "Scarlet's Walk" album. Well, this album is no "Scarlet's Walk". In fact, its not even "99.9F", which is amongst the weakest of the Vega albums. On its own, its an oddity with no definable purpose - which is OK if the music was great. But when the recently mangled Bjork record has more replay value than this monstrosity, I don't know what to say.

Lets consider the track "Ludlow Street". Even if you're a Vega fan put aside your love for this woman for an instant. On this track, her songwriting abilities are on par with lets say, Lindsay Lohan or Jojo. I kid you not. Here is a sample:

L"ove is the only thing that matters.
Love is the only thing that's real.
I know we hear this every day.
It's still the hardest thing to feel."

And thats just the FIRST VERSE!

Things only get worse on "Pornographers' Dream", which as a tune is acceptable enough (but then again, so were "The Garbage Pail Kids"). Here, Suzanne is apparently talking about a mans' pornographic muse or something - it isn't especially clear (or interesting):

"Bettie Page is still the rage
with her legs and leather;
she turns to tease the camera, and please us at home,
and we let her."

The problem then, if we turn from the lyrics, is the abject disrespect that Vega has for the listening audience. Granted, her tinny voice isn't exactly a selling point, but she is known for making harmlessly average folk-pop songs. What she's done here however, is bewildering. Even if you're a past fan, or a lover of music by Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann etc, theres nothing here of any worth, really.

Whats even worse is the cover photo that does nothing to elevate this beyond a vanity project of the most ill conception. I hate getting personal about artists, but in this case, one has to wonder how the record company could greenlight something so abjectly pedestrian. Its Vega after all, so its not like we expected anything groundbreaking (how could we?), but still - this is beyond whatever low expectations you had coming in.

"Frank and Ava" is a song that is again a mis-step. I have to wonder, is THIS the New York that Vega is observing? Its not terribly inviting. At best, this is like someone took the concept of sitting in a cozy Starbucks drinking a cup of coffee, and reverse engineered it on the premise of "how bad could we do this". I kid you not.

People, there have been only three great albums this year. "American Doll Posse" by Tori Amos, "Release the Stars" by Rufus Wainwright, and "Paige Aufhammer" by Paige Aufhammer. This record is nowhere near the top (read the critical reviews), and I would advise Vega from avoiding the recording room like the plague, in the future. This woman is not a musician, has no right recording music, and her place can be taken by someone more deserving. Sorry, but thats the truth.

Worst female album of the Year. Avoid.

Better than ever.......2007-07-19

Loved it from the first note. So reminiscent of her first album...yet modern at the same time. Marvelous.

Average customer rating: great album Un-inspiried drivel Not their best Just okay Why linking Park! Why?

Minutes to Midnight Linkin Park Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: It Won't Be Soon Before Long Year Zero Meteora The Best Damn Thing [CLEAN] Libertad ASIN: B000OCXMAE Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

1. Wake
2. Given Up
3. Leave Out All The Rest
4. Bleed It Out
5. Shadow Of The Day
6. What I've Done
7. Hands Held High
8. No More Sorrow
9. Valentine's Day
10. In Between
11. In Pieces
12. The Little Things Give You Away

Amazon.com

Minutes to Midnight stands to defend Linkin Park's status as the hardest-rockin' softies in mainstream music. Like its predecessors Hybrid Theory (2000) and Meteroa (2003), Minutes to Midnight flexes plenty of decibel-heavy muscle ("Given Up," "Bleed It Out," "No More Sorrow") and made-to-order, melodic radio fare ("Leave Out All the Rest," "Shadow of the Day," "In Pieces"). But for all its volume, Linkin Park likes to paint its heart openly on its sleeve with suspicious sonic drama, as in the palpably saccharine "Valentine's Day." Fortunately, co-producer Rick Rubin brings all these elements to pinnacle effect with the surprise "Hands Held High." On past efforts, the combination of breezy keyboard, arpeggiated guitar, choral vocals, and a military snare-beat would yield another slab of smarm, here MC Mike Shinoda drops the two best verses of his career, blending vocal styles with singer Chester Bennington for a moving piece that's as welcome a repertorial addition as Linkin Park is ever likely to muster. --Jason Kirk

Album Description

"Minutes to Midnight" is rock's most anticipated album of the year. This album redefines one of today's most adventurous, accomplished and acclaimed bands.

Customer Reviews:

great album.......2007-07-30

this album is amazing! i can listen to it over and over again through the whole cd. if you are a linkin park fan you will not be disappointed!

Un-inspiried drivel.......2007-07-27

Please note that I am not comparing this to any of Linkin Park's earlier releases and whining because they changed their style.
On the contrary, change is a really good thing and the TRUE artists know that change = survival. If you look at all of the bands that are on their 4th + release, you will notice that most of them have adapted to survive amid failing genre and passing fads to evolve into a true vision of artistry. (expect of course bands that have found their niche' and stick with it - but we all know bands like that usually fall off sooner or later. The truly great artists evolve in syncopation with the evolution in their lives).

However, with that being said, Minutes To Midnight sounds contrived, un-inspired and rather bland. Linkin Park's newest offering is so dull that I literally got rid of this CD as soon as I aquired a copy of it (after much listening to try to decipher what exactly I as listening to).
Ditching the ground breaking style that flung Linkin Park into the lime light, they have instead adopted a more grunge/modern rock sound that has been done way too many times before by way too many bands. And that is my principle complaint with this record.
While change is welcome, a change to something more predictable and overplayed is highly un-original and rather annoying.

The musical direction on Minutes to Midnight never really goes anywhere, the guitar parts are rather repetitive and the lyrics are a disaster. Dreadful would be a better word, as the wordplay is horribly boring, lacking creativity and highly over played beyond repair. The rapping is weak and "mother-goose-ish" at best and could have easily been cut out of the album all together.
Musically, Linkin Park in Minutes to Midnight, resemble earlier 90's bands, and it almost seems as if they are trying to revive a long lost and forgotten style that was prominent in the 1990's. I suppose they felt that they needed to try something new and different, being that they had beaten the whole NU-Metal meets electronica meets pop into the ground.

-Don't get me wrong, I rather enjoyed their first two efforts and really enjoyed their re-mix album-

However, they fail miserably in their attempt to be "different" and "expand" and rather, instead of evolving, they de-evolve into an effort that seems rather forced for either the sake of a contract or money. Or both.

I disliked every single song on this album, each track could be skipped. On some of the songs, the intro starts out pretty decent, but then falls quickly downhill into drivel and garbage.
Chester's vocals sound so bad that I cringe at the sound of them. It really sounds as if he is trying to emulate a raspy, "smoked-too-many-cigarettes" tone a la' the grunge era and early 90's rock, but it sounds so cheesy and fake.

I admire and respect their desire to move on to different styles and such, but they either need to try harder or seriously sit down and do some much needed pondering. Linkin Park are truly talented people, but this album proves that they are either under the control of someone calling the shots, or they make horrible choices. Maybe that is why the lyrics are so angst filled and always lead into a full circle of depression/rage and pointlessness. Hmm...

I guess, in conclusion we shall truly see if Linkin Park have what it takes to be real musicians and artists, rather than the flavor of the week. Time weeds out the wanna bes and the passing fads.

Not their best.......2007-07-26

I really like Linkin Park, but I feel this is not their best album. Their style has changed and you can hear it in this album. I like the new style, but I really miss the old style.

Just okay.......2007-07-26

This CD was okay. It would have probably even been good if I hadn't been spoiled by their first two albums. There was not a single song on either of their first two albums that I didn't absolutely love. This album has a couple of really good songs and a whole lot of filler, which is typical of most albums out there. I just expected more from LP than I do from most bands.

I like "Given Up" and "What I've Done" (over-hype and all), and the rest of the songs are okay except "Bleed It Out" - that one just reminds me of a square dance and I always want to jump up and swing my partner. If you don't get distracted by the square dance beat, though, it's also an okay song.

Bottom line: this CD is not a total waste. It's just not as good as I thought it would be.

Why linking Park! Why?.......2007-07-25

Im going to make this quick. I've been a huge linkin park fan since I first saw the video for crawling. After that I had to have all their tracks and I enjoyed every bit of their last albums. But I dont know what happined here! This cd sounded like a pop album with sad songs for chicks. Omg I couldnt believe what I was hearing. So I gave it another listen while on my way to work. And their were only about 2-3 songs that were ok. What I liked most about the Linkin Park sound was the rap/rock mix and chesters vocals when he screams. It used to send chills thru my back. Well thats all gone now. I wish I could ask these guys wtf happined dudes!? You guys were on a role! Well anyways So if you enjoyed the other linkin park albums you might want to skip this one. Because im telling you you wont like it! I just hope they go back to the old sound on their next album. I just hate having to wait again. -_-

Christian Music:

1. An Audience of One
2. At The Foot Of The Cross Volumes 1 and 2 - Songs To Inspire Worship
3. Autumn Leaves
4. Bert Williams 1915-1921
5. Between the Days [Import]
6. Between Us
7. Big Room [Import]
8. Britney [Enhanced] [Import]
9. Butterfly, Believe
10. By Request [Import]

Christian Music

christian music

Christian Music

Magic Carpet Ride [CD-single] [Import]

Sonoko Numata, violin; Akemi Tadenuma, piano

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings/Souvenir de Florence

Music CD: Pa La Raza

The Fly Trilogy [Limited Edition] [Soundtrack]

Sun King/Edie (Ciao Baby)/Fire Woman [CD-single] [EP] [Import]

The Best of Joe Walsh

Still Yourself

Schnee [Import]

Schubert: Sonata In A/Impromptus

Quartets

Quiereme Cual Soy

Still Groovin' [Explicit Lyrics]

Five Italian Oboe Concertos

That '70s Show Presents That '70s Album: Rockin'