The R&B Box: 30 Years Of Rhythm & Blues [Box set]

Amazon.com
The six-CD R&B Box is impressively ambitious, arching as it does from the "race record" era to the day before disco. Jump blues, boogie, postwar vocal groups, shouters and honkers, early rock & roll, doo-wop, and myriad varieties of soul music all rear their heads here; while the selections may often seem obvious to longtime listeners, the set will certainly knock out anyone new to the history of these sounds. --Rickey Wright

The R&B Box: 30 Years Of Rhythm & Blues,Incl. 60 Pg. Book,Rhino / Wea,Blues Music,Pop,R&B,V/a Compilations

---

Average customer rating: What I always wanted oldies to sound like. Something Very Different Great CD Refreshing!! If you like winehouse

Back to Black Amy Winehouse Manufacturer: Republic ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Introducing Joss Stone Alright, Still Corinne Bailey Rae The Reminder Icky Thump ASIN: B000N2G3RY Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

1. Rehab
2. You Know I'm No Good
3. Me & Mr. Jones
4. Just Friends
5. Back To Black
6. Love Is A Losing Game
7. Tears Dry On Their Own
8. Wake Up Alone
9. Some Unholy War
10. He Can Only Hold Her
11. Bonus Track 1

From Amazon.co.uk

Amy Winehouse's second album, Back to Black, is one of the finest soul albums, British or otherwise, to come out for years. Frank, her first album, was a sparse and stripped-down affair; Back to Black, meanwhile, is neither of these things. This time around, she's taken her inspiration from some of the classic 1960's girl groups like the Supremes and the Shangri-Las, a sound particularly suited to her textured vocal delivery, while adding a contemporary songwriting sensibility. With the help of producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, "Rehab" becomes a gospel-tinged stomp, while the title track (and album highlight) is a heartbreaking musical tribute to Phil Spector, with it's echoey bass drum, rhythmic piano, chimes, saxophone and close harmonies. Best of all, though, is the fact that Back to Black bucks the current trend in R&B by being unabashedly grown-up in both style and content. Winehouse's lyrics deal with relationships from a grown-up perspective, and are honest, direct and, often, complicated: on "You Know I'm No Good", she's unapologetic about her unfaithfulness. But she can also be witty, as on "Me & Mrs Jones" when she berates a boyfriend with "You made me miss the Slick Rick gig". Back to Black is a refreshingly mature soul album, the best of its kind for years. --Ted Kord

Album Description

Hailed by Newsweek Magazine as a cross between Billie Holiday and Lauryn Hill, British soul singer Amy Winehouse's U.S. debut, Back To Black hits the US amid a flurry of accolades, radio and TV buzz unprecedented in recent years for a young siren.

Her brassy mix of emotive vocals tinged with 60's girl-group stylings, sly funk, and anguished jazz, sparked the New York Daily News to crown Back To Black a "marvelous debut that would do Etta James proud" while New Yorker Magazine called her "a fierce English performer whose voice combines the smoky depths of a jazz chanteuse with the heated passion of a soul singer," and Spin Magazine affirming "there's never been A British star quite like her."

Back To Black smolders with a bristling fusion of old school doo-wop/soul inflected uprisings, (the charismatic singer/songwriter wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album) brewing instant classics such as the Shirley Ellis influenced "Rehab," the Supremes tinged title song "Back To Black," the aching "Wake Up Alone," and the album's closer, "Addicted."

Album Details

Ivor Novello Award Winner, Mercury Music Prize and Triple Brit Nominee Amy Winehouse, Follows the Release of her New Single "rehab" and Recent Sell-out Mini-uk Tour, with the Hugely Anticipated Release on October 30th of her New Album "back to Black". On "back to Black", the Follow-up to her Platinum Debut "frank" which Established her as One of the Most Exciting and Challenging Artists in Pop Music, Amy Confirms, Beyond Any Reasonable Or Unreasonable Doubt, What a Truly Remarkable Talent She Is.

Customer Reviews:

What I always wanted oldies to sound like........2007-07-31

Amy Winehouse has realized something that had always been in the back of my mind--I've always liked the sound of 60s R&B, but thought that it was a dead form that would never catch up with harder, contemporary sensibilities--at least without spoofing or just outright covering old songs. She's done it, and done it right--staying true to the sound rather than staying at an arm's length for irony's sake. Is it possible to make a wholly modern record from a retro sound while staying sincere and not mocking the source? Back to Black is proof that you can.

Something Very Different.......2007-07-29

I was in San Francisco , in a cd store of all places..go figure , and they were playing this cd.
At first i thought it was a very old re issue from the 50's Motown era, but when the guy at the counter said it was new and a hot seller i decided to listen.
First i heard Rehab , a pretty fun and amusing way to talk about bad habits..should be Lindsay Lohan's theme song.
Then came You Know I'm No Good, which i totally related to...lol.
Needless to say i went back home to boring Connecticut , and ordered it from Amazon, at half the price!
I have to say while Ms Winehouse is very young, she has a nice singing style that makes you think of 50's Motown and Jazz..and once more she does it pretty well!
Some of the songs have strong lyrics, but are not clearly noticed unless you really listen hard to the track , many are just plain fun , and have a good beat.
My very favorite song on this cd is when Amy slows it way down to do a torchy type ballad called Love Is A Losing Game.. This song is awesome! and Amy's vocals make you melt with feeling!
This young woman is clearly destined for much greater things.
The funny thing is she sounds like a black diva yet she is from the UK, and i was told is quite Jewish!
More power to her i say!
In fact Amy is quite pretty if you can get a glimpse of her without the rats nest hairpiece, gaudy makeup, and one too many tats.
I in no way insult her , but know she would clean up very well as she starts to mature and get beyond the youth oriented market i am sure her label has her set on.
This cd is pretty good and Amy's distinctive style is surely worth a listen!

Great CD.......2007-07-28

Love the music, very blues sounding. Some of the music sounds like it came from other songs, but it's a great make you smile CD.

Refreshing!!.......2007-07-27

Wow, what a refreshing blast bursts from the speakers when you hit play on Amy Winehouse's second disc. Her wonderfully strong, smoke-tinged, Ronnie Spector-channelling voice jumps out at you from the open musical arrangements that frame it. And it's not a contradiction in terms to describe those arrangements as both loose and tight. They are. Like many of those 60s classics, there's an honest organic quality to them but they never feel sloppy. In fact, the whole thing is wonderfully evocative of the classic 60s r'n'b girl groups but Winehouse's lyrical concerns and some of the electronic percussion place it firmly in the here and now. My favorites are You Know I'm No Good and the sensational title track, and Rehab is an irresistible singalong. But the whole thing is a breath of fresh air in the current musical climate.

If you like winehouse.......2007-07-26

You have to like her type of music to like the CD obviously but Id say the best songs on here are the ones youll hear on the radio. The rest of the CD is a little lack luster but good enough to bop along to. Unless you really LOVE winehouse youd probably be better off downloading (legally, ha) "rehab" and "back to black". The remix at the end is pretty cool though.

Average customer rating: Disappointed :( Superb Got a mind full of good intentions and a mouth full of Raisinets be careful with your expectations....... Prince being Prince

Planet Earth Prince Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: S.S.T./Brand New Orleans 3121 Libertad Absolute Garbage Zeitgeist ASIN: B000RMC7H0 Release Date: 2007-07-24

Tracks:

1. Planet Earth
2. Guitar
3. Somewhere Here On Earth
4. The One U Wanna C
5. Future Baby Mama
6. Mr. Goodnight
7. All The Midnights In The World
8. Chelsea Rodgers
9. Lion Of Judah
10. Resolution

Amazon.com

Because it would be un-Prince-like to release a new studio album without kicking up a little controversy first, the Artist Formerly Known As a Cool-Looking Symbol gave away copies of Planet Earth with a British news tabloid weeks before its U.S. release. Among the reasons he shouldn't have: nobody who catches wind of the peerless funk-rock-soul he lays out on these 10 tracks--least of all longtime fans--would think twice about shelling out for it. A big chunk of the appeal is that Prince finds his way back to his guitar here. The title track, a politically right-on-time environmental rant, steers him back toward "Purple Rain" territory, as does "Lion of Judah" ("Guitar," oddly, doesn't--it's more of a straight-up, shout-it-out modern rocker). And the flirty numbers are seriously flammable: "Somewhere Here on Earth" seduces with a crackly jazz vibe, while "Mr. Goodnight" gets friendly with a refined slip of rap. Coolest of all are two tracks at cross purposes-- "Chelsea Rodgers" fuses funk with disco until it's so far off the hook it's in a heap on the floor, and "All the Midnights in the World" paints a picture of artistic maturity through piano and lyrics that lean hard on positivity. There's an elegance to it that Prince fans, no strangers to pop music that's truly sublime, won't fail to appreciate. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

Simply put, Planet Earth is the album longtime Prince fans have been waiting for. Several cuts on this album revisit some of the classic Prince sound the captured fans all over the world and helped deem him an incomparable music icon. Superstar and legendary musician prince kicked off 2007 with a show stopping Super Bowls Half-time performance. Prince pulled out all the stops during the second most-watched super bowl broadcast ever. With an estimated 93.2 million viewers to entertain, Prince wasted no time showing off his stages powers and irrefutable guitar skills. He masterfully captured the attention and respect of music fans in general, while sending a message to long time Prince fans that he was ready to once again reign supreme.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed :(.......2007-07-31

Like another reviewer mentioned, due to critical praises I expected a lot more from Prince's latest CD, but was let down. I like a couple of the songs, but I'm not crazy about them, which for a crazy Prince fan like me, is a big downer. Oh well, thankfully I have all his previous other great stuff to listen to (which I'm doing right now).

Superb.......2007-07-30

This is the best over-all album I've heard of Prince since his ground-breaking 'Purple Rain' quite a few years ago. From the title of the album, I thought it would be an earth theme package but it's anything but - although the title song is a great piece of work in itself. Something on this album for everyone. Some ballads, others racier tunes. Extreme good orchestra rifts with piano, guitars and sax. Any of these selections could be a hit and almost made for FM radio. My favorite album of the year so far.

Got a mind full of good intentions and a mouth full of Raisinets.......2007-07-30

Prior to "Planet Earth," the last Prince album I can say I liked was "Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic." The last two ("3121" and "Musicology") - though obviously both commercial comebacks - did next to nothing for me. They were just more additions to the growing list of disjointed, thrown-together sub-par works that Prince began releasing back in '94 with "Come" (though not including every album after that, just that the good ones were less and less frequent). I distinctly remember how distressing it was for an artist who was responsible for such a long line of carefully crafted albums to expect record buyers to be satisfied with willful sloppiness. Yeah, with "Come" (and others) he was hurrying to get out of his Warner's contract - but all these years after the fact, what matters is the music and not his fued with the label. I continue to maintain that he hasn't released a truly great album since 1992's 'Symbol' album (and even that one was flawed, i.e. Tony M was still on board). And I still say that "The Truth" (i.e. disc 4 of "Crystal Ball") is the closest he's come to that greatness in the years since.

All that said, I'll reiterate: I like this new album. It turned out to be a nice surprise - not a major return to form, but a mostly consistently enjoyable collection of new songs. Are they all new? It's hard to say - I do have trouble believing all the musicians who are credited in the album's sparse (nearly non-existant, truth be told) liner notes turned up for recent sessions. Some of this music was quite possibly in the can for many years - the wildly varying tone, and overall sound, throughout the album supports this idea. Before delving into a song-by-song look, I'll summarize my overall feelings. The focus here seems to be tight, concise pop songwriting. Prince used to break boundaries and take chances with song form, but since those days seem long gone I'm satisfied to hear relatively straightforward songs containing strong melodies and memorable hooks. It's far preferable to the aimlessness of recent sludge like "3121" and "Musicology." I also like hearing so many guitar solos - much more than anything since "Chaos and Disorder" way back in 1995. Throughout "Planet Earth," there are lots of little musical surprises and quirks - unexpected chord changes, unpredictable melodic twists, unusual backing vocal arrangements. No, it's not "Lovesexy" revisited by any means, but it keeps the listener from being bored to tears (like the last couple of albums did).

To be more specific, take the opening - and also title - track. On a musical level, "Planet Earth" sounds very much to me like the Prince of old. The plaintive - though highly dramatic - verses that give way to swelling choruses, ultimately climaxing with a passionate guitar solo: it's a full-fledged epic Prince track (bold move to open the record with what sounds like a big finish). The piano/synth/backing-vocals section midway through sounds the vintage late-80s era. Lyrically, I'm less enthusiastic. Prince didn't used to be so literal when tackling "big issues." Here - not surprisingly, given the title - he deals mainly with the fragility of our ecosystem. Sorry, but no celebrity can escape the hypocrisy charge when lamenting the mistreatment of the atmosphere while simultaneously boasting of private jets traveling the four corners of the globe. Prince, how big is your carbon footprint? In the final verse, he sings about sending off young soldiers to fight a war, asking "If they're blessed to make it home, will they still be poor?" I'm not exactly sure what he's implying about the financial status of the armed forces, but I am a bit confused about something: in this song, and later in the album, the lyrics do get a tad bit political. I was under the impression that Jehovah's Witnesses remain strictly apolitical. How can he include this type of subject matter without violating that belief? I'm not taking any shots at his religion, I'm just genuinely curious about this seeming contradiction.

"Guitar" takes us back to mid-90s NPG, "Undertaker" style. I wouldn't be surprised if that's Michael B kicking it on this rock track. Many have mentioned it - and 'I will follow' their lead (get it?) - the main riff sounds like a certain early U2 song. Once you accept that, the song is a fun rocker with some good solos and a light-hearted lyric (what a relief after the pretentions of the first song's message).

"Somewhere Here On Earth" starts off with a hokey 'scratchy record' sound, apparently signaling it's 'old school' balladry. There's also a bit of cringe-worthiness in the lyric, "In this digital age, you could just page me/I know it's the rage." Um, really? I don't know many people who still carry around pagers - but I guess "You could just text me" didn't rhyme as well. Or it could suggest this song's been in the vault for a few years. That wouldn't be a stretch, as it sounds like it could've been on just about any album from "Around the World In a Day" onward - which I mean in the best way: it's a very good falsetto ballad in the classic Prince mold. A tad overlong, though, at nearly 6 minutes, as no new ideas are introduced to justify the length.

Things get even better with "The One U Wanna C" - a straight-ahead pop tune with a subtle, yet comfortable, countryish twang. Again, this sounds so unlike anything Prince has done in years I can't help but wonder if he pulled it out of the vault. As lightweight as it is, I love everything about it - except for the line "I ain't trying to be a hater" (which is the first of several instances of Prince forcing some 'modern' slang into his lyrics). I do like that he sings "I come like thunder" and "If u wanna get creamy" because it proves that the JW's didn't shut down the innuendo completely.

Uh-oh -- Prince gets all lover-man in "Future Baby Mama" -- and there's another (obvious) example of that 'modern' slang. Building a song around the phrase "baby mama" wasn't a great idea, even if he did break out the Linn for this one (which isn't all that exciting anyway - he was trying to evoke the old days in the exact same way back on "Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic" back in '99!). Still, it ain't an entirely unpleasant sounding song, but it feels very out of place in context of the four songs that preceded it. Maybe the course will be corrected shortly...

...in a word, no. "Mr. Goodnight" sounds like it could've been on ANY "Emancipation"-onward album. It's a sort-of rap song, and I hoped he was done with that kind of thing. Suddenly the vibe of the album has been completely altered, and necessarily in a good way. Not that I don't love the funky R&B that has been Prince's bread and butter his entire career - I most certainly do. But this generic-sounding stuff evokes "New Power Soul" more than "Sign O the Times"...or even "Diamonds & Pearls" for that matter. In fact, songs like "Come On" and "Shoo-Be-Do" from that 1998 disappointment KILL this "Mr. Goodnight" bit of indulgence. Oh well, at least it DOES have the funniest food reference in a Prince song since the immortal "Cap'n Crunch with soy milk."

"All the Midnights In the World" - short, but oh so sweet. My favorite track, and it clocks in at just 2 minutes, 21 seconds. THIS is classic Prince pop: idiosyncratic lyrics, melodically inventive, captivating vocal performance. Can this possibly be a new song? Or is this some lost "Dream Factory"-era track? It's so fantastic I can't really explain it. Who but Prince would include a reference to Zuzu's pedals from "It's a Wonderful Life"? "Amethyst and rubies, crystals and black pearls/I'd trade them all just to spend with you/All the midnights in the world." I don't usually use words like splendiferous, but it truly applies to this gem of a song.

Nowhere to go but down, I guess, after such a natural high - but "Chelsea Rogers" is actually a pretty entertaining dance track nonetheless. It's a funky disco-style song, sung along with a husky-voiced woman (reminded me of Mavis right at the beginning). It doesn't really DO all that much in nearly 6 minutes (one of only three tracks that push past 5 minutes). It's about the same length as the title track, yet unlike that well-structured epic, it wears out it's welcome after the halfway point. I haven't really bothered to figure out if the lyrics, which apparently concern a real-life fashion model, tell a coherent story.

"Lion Of Judah" brings it back to guitar-oriented rock. It's grown on me over repeated listenings, though I'm not sure what he's getting at in the lyrics. Sure sounds like something was on his mind though. A failed relationship, it would seem - one that he didn't want to end, and felt ended in the midst of miscommunication...leaving him seeking some sort of revenge? I don't know really, but I like the guitar playing.

"Resolution" - bouncy up-tempo pop, kinda like a less corny "Graffiti Bridge." Also kinda like the opening track: I like it musically, I'm less wild about the lyrics. It's actually a good bookend - both songs tackle "big issues," albeit in a clumsy way. I really like the melody, the simple arrangement, and especially the backing vocals. But spelling out the world's problems in less than four minutes is a tough order for anyone. Actually, in the final verse ("Love is like a circle, no beginning and no end..") he has the right idea - keep it a bit vague, rather than trying to specifically explain the "main problem" with war (that no one ever wins) and with people (that they never do what they say). In fact, his reasoning is incorrect in both cases, so why bother trying to cover so much ground in one song? Anyway, the lyrics are just too dopey-hippy for me to take seriously - I still enjoy the heck out of the song on a musical/performance level.

I've been listening to the album as I write this. I really have to say: the highest praise I can offer is that every time it ends, I feel like starting it up and listening all over again. I haven't felt that way about a Prince album in far too long. Not because it stands as a truly classic Prince album, but because it's the most tuneful and entertaining album he has released in ten years. And, of course, there's that track 7 that brings joy everytime it rolls around.

be careful with your expectations..............2007-07-30

I made the mistake of reading a few reviews (Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, etc.) prior to buying this CD. I was very excited that the reviews called it a "return to form" and compared it to "Purple Rain" and "Parade" era Prince. Add to this the fact that Wendy and Lisa are part of the band here, and I was definitely looking forward to hearing "Planet Earth." Well now that I have listened to it for several days...there is certainly his usual genius on a few songs, but way too many ballads/slow jams (his most recent CDs seem to have TERRIBLE pacing...i.e., the sequencing of songs sucks)...there is no doubt that "Guitar" is a cool single and that there's a few good funky tunes here, but again, to me I found about half of it to be filler. His crappy songs are still better than most people's gold, but this is not Purple Rain the sequel, or the successor to Parade or Sign o' the Times, etc. Oh well, I will keep holding out hope...and enjoying a few of the songs on here.

Prince being Prince.......2007-07-29

It really is unfair for me to write a review on Prince. I am a long time fan. Critics say it harkens backto his 80's sound. Well, maybe. But it sounds like Price being prince. He lets us know that he still rocks! Planet Earth the title track shows this. His guitar liks can't be beat (as he showed on both the Super Bowl half time show and the jam session on his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame). He gets mellow and shows that he still owns the dance floor on other cuts. Prince does what he wants when he wants as shown by giving the cd away. So people, stop tripping. He's the Purple One!

Average customer rating: Evolution of Robin Thicke Get caught up in the thicke of things Robin Thicke- Greatest CD ever Love it! GREAT MUSIC FROM A GREAT ARTIST

Evolution of Robin Thicke Robin Thicke Manufacturer: Interscope Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: A Beautiful World Collaborations Once Again Luvanmusiq Introducing Joss Stone ASIN: B000M8NMV4 Release Date: 2007-02-09

Tracks:

1. Got 2 Be Down
2. Complicated
3. Would That Make U Love Me
4. Lost Without U
5. Ask Myself
6. All Night Long
7. Everything I Can't Have
8. Teach U A Lesson
9. I Need Love
10. Wanna Love U Girl
11. Can U Believe
12. Shooter - Lil' Wayne
13. Cocaine
14. 2 The Sky
15. Lonely World
16. Angels

Amazon.com

R&B with tempo: Justin Timberlake resurrected it, and it's proving way more influential than that other lost commodity--sexy--he claimed to be bringing back in 2006 on FutureSex/LoveSounds. Timberlake is to Robin Thicke what 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys were to a band like O-Town, in fact: he pretty much made it all possible. But even though it took one blue-eyed soulster with a hot look and an achy falsetto to bang down the door for another, Thicke presents a convincing case here that he had the goods to get us grooving all along: Evolution is a classy disc that tiptoes up to its listeners, first with an elegant duet with Faith Evans ("Got 2 Be Down"), next with a slick lament that wouldn't sound out of place on a Boyz II Men disc ("Complicated"), and then with a sweet plea that commands a finger-snap ("Would That Make U Love Me"). By the time we reach the long, sweeping lullaby that is the final track, "Angels," we've also had a taste of Thicke's swaggering side ("I Need Love," "Cocaine"), his hip-hop loving side ("All Night Long" and "Shooter," both with Lil Wayne), and the side that fantasizes about 1950s Latin ballrooms ("Everything I Can't Have," a hot tamale of a number that commands a visual if ever there was one: it's impossible to hear this song without imagining a raven-haired woman with a red rose between her teeth). Despite the range of moods on display, they're all in service to Thicke's inner R&B smoothie, and they all brush up against the ear with something like affection. Hard as it will be for listeners of a certain age to get past knowing that Thicke is the son of Alan Thicke, the actor who did his part to cheese up 1980s TV with the sitcom Growing Pains, they're going to have to: with his fan base swelling by the second, the evolution of Robin Thicke is going to be a deservedly loud one. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

NOTE: This deluxe edition features a ringtone of "Lost Without U," an autographed poster, and cell-phone wallpaper.

The Evolution of Robin Thicke is the second solo album from the critically acclaimed, Grammy award winning songwriter and producer of records for such artists as Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera. The album is a timeless work of art. With a voice of purity, passion and soulfulness, Robin brings to life the stories and emotions of the last two years of his life.

The album is filled with incandescent magic. It is an album that tells the tales of love, loss, temptation, redemption and finding hope when all the odds are against you. "My greatest desire with this album was to write songs that were completely honest and sing them with the emotion I was feeling when I wrote them, so that whoever listens to my music is brought as close to my experiences and life as possible."

Reflective, redemptive, passionate and etched with a soulfulness that is undeniable, The Evolution of Robin Thicke is an imaginative and heart-felt album that you cannot help but be moved by, bob your head to and smile throughout.

FEATURING GUEST APPEARANCES BY Faith Evans, Pharrell, and Lil' Wayne PRODUCTION BY The Neptunes

Customer Reviews:

Evolution of Robin Thicke.......2007-07-30

Arrived when promised and in excellent condition. Best music I have heard in a long time.

Get caught up in the thicke of things.......2007-07-27

Rarely do you find a cd that has every cut worth listening too, worth singing too, worth repeating over and over again.....it is excellent.

Robin Thicke- Greatest CD ever.......2007-07-25

If you haven't purchased this c.d., you're definitely missing out. This is one of those c.d.s that come along every blue moon where you can listen to every track and enjoy it without skipping to the next. His voice is a voice you will definitely fall in love with. He made a great choice by collaborating with Lil' Wayne and Mary J. Blige on a few of the tracks. What I really enjoyed about the c.d. were the tracks with the bass guitar. I've recommended this c.d. to all my friends, and they love it as well. I recently purchased his first album- "A Beautiful World" and it's great as well. Get it now!!!!!!!!

Love it!.......2007-07-20

Well I just received this CD in the mail from Amazon and bought it because I saw Robin Thicke on Good Morning America where he sang "Lost Without You" which I love. The rest of the CD in most cases is excellent - with the exception of one or two songs on it I think it deserves to do very well. I also like the fact that he doesn't only sing falsetto, and he sings in very different styles which really shows his versatility.

GREAT MUSIC FROM A GREAT ARTIST.......2007-07-20

I have been a Robin Thicke fan since I saw the once long haired singer belting out "When I Get You Alone". Another early song to fall in love with is "Stupid Things". I have to admit that when I heard "Shooter" with Lil Wayne, I was not even thinking about getting this CD. I HATE THAT SONG!! But once I heard "Can U Believe", I ordered it, and have been listening to the entire CD everyday now. You won't be dissapointed!! I hope the rest of world learns to love him like I have been doing for a while now.

Average customer rating: Surprisingly good. New Look + New Sound = Alright Music This is why it's HOT!! GO RIHANNA!!! Okay, for what it is

Good Girl Gone Bad Rihanna Manufacturer: Island / Def-Jam ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: My December It Won't Be Soon Before Long Because Of You Double Up Back to Black ASIN: B000OZ2CZW Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

1. Umbrella feat. JAY-Z
2. Push Up On Me
3. Don't Stop The Music
4. Breakin' Dishes
5. Shut Up and Drive
6. Hate That I Love You feat. Ne-Yo
7. Say It
8. Sell Me Candy
9. Lemme Get That
10. Rehab
11. Question Existing
12. Good Girl Gone Bad

Amazon.com

There's a cool new development in summer singles: they no longer need to be sunny. In fact, the wetter the better. "Umbrella," the first single off Rihanna's ragingly good third album, may be her strongest ditty yet, and that's saying something considering her run of past summer chartbusters. More stylish than "S.O.S." (from A Girl Like Me) and more interesting than "Pon de Replay" (from Music of the Sun), "Umbrella" barrels forward with big, brawny drums and a hot but haunted-sounding vocal. From there, the upbeat numbers chug forth like chilled pina colada mix into a blender: "Breakin' Dishes" trades skillfully on a recent vogue for man-directed venom, and "Shut Up and Drive" borrows "S.O.S."-style from the '80s New Order song "Blue Monday." Both are irresistible. So, too, are a couple of late tracks. "Rehab" and "Lemme Get That," both produced by Timbaland, prove that being an island girl is no barrier to holding one's own amid a sizzling stew of urban beats. In fact, it's a boon--one that'll register with pop music fans instantly. -Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

Multi-platinum, award-winning SRP/Def Jam recording artist -and CoverGirl spokesperson - Rihanna has taken over the charts with her # 1 smash single "Umbrella" (featuring JAY-Z) and her chart topping album GOOD GIRL GONE BAD. Rihanna's third album release in less than two years, GOOD GIRL GONE BAD is the follow-up to 2006's platinum A Girl Like Me, with the back-to-back #1 hits, "S.O.S." and "Unfaithful"; and her gold debut from 2005, Music Of the Sun, featuring the worldwide smash, "Pon De Replay." GOOD GIRL GONE BAD boasts the production skills of Timabland, C. "Tricky" Stewart, Stargate, and the team of Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken (responsible for "S.O.S." and "Pon De Replay"), as well as songwriting contributions from Justin Timberlake and Ne-Yo, among others.

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly good........2007-07-30

Rihanna's last two albums were hit and miss and sounded incredibly rushed. Her second, A Girl Like Me, managed to go platinum and produced two successful singles. Still, she did not go down in my book as a name to look out for. But with this album, Good Girl Gone Bad, she demands our attention. She has stepped out with a bold hairstyle, fashionable clothes, a somewhat "rebellious" attitude and a new confidence that we have yet to see from her before. This album, although not flawless, is a huge improvement from her previous efforts.

The good: First, Rihanna's voice has improved tremendously. The annoying nasal quality, present on her last two discs, has almost completely disappeared. Also, her delivery is much more emotionally charge and she finally sounds connected to the music. The production on this album is mostly top notch. Of course the first single, "Umbrella," is excellent, although is may be a little over-produced. "Push Up On Me" is an undeniably catchy piece of 80's-tinged pop. But "Breakin' Dishes" has to be the highlight track, for me at least. The fierce track opens with Rihanna fuming, "I don't know who you think I am!" It is entertaining to hear Rihanna angry and the tongue-in-cheek lyrics are quite humorous. The Timbaland-produced "Sell Me Candy" and "Lemme Get That" are amazingly catchy. "Say It" is a sweet trach with great harmonies, "Question Existing" is touching, and the title track is a great way to end.

The bad: At times, it feels like Rihanna is trying too hard to be different and too much of a people pleaser (i.e. genre hopping, more pop-sounding, unconventional packaging). "Don't Stop the Music" was a terrible choice for a third single and I find the techno-pop track to be rather irritating. "Shut Up and Drive," is a nice rock influenced track, but the lyrics are a bit trashy. However, "Hate That I Love You" with Ne-Yo would have to be the hands down worst track on the album. The song is a lazy carbon copy of the featured artists' hit, "So Sick." It even uses the same shuffling drumbeat. (Also, I'm no huge fan of Ne-Yo and I think his voice is nasally.) I heard a rumor that this will be the fourth single. Um... not a good idea. Lastly, Rihanna tends to sound like Nivea at times. (Not a surprise since Nivea's husband contributed, in some way or another, to four of the album's tracks.)

Although this album is not without flaws like some people claim, the good far outweighs the bad and I'm quite impressed. Good Girl Gone Bad is a huge improvement from Rihanna's past works in many aspects. Now if only they could choose the right singles to release this album could be a big success.

New Look + New Sound = Alright Music.......2007-07-20

Rihanna definitely made the effort to step up to a more mature sound on this album. The new sound is not half bad either. However, alot of the tracks sound rushed and like no effort was put into them. The beats are solid and there are some memorable lyrics as well. Overall, Id say this cd is worth lending an ear to. Her other 2 are better, though. Hot Tracks: Umbrella, Rehab, Good Girl Gone Bad

This is why it's HOT!!.......2007-07-16

This CD is fresh and energeitic all the way through. It's truly made for those who want to dance. R&B artist take note, Rihanna has tapped a flavor of music that's rocking the spot.

GO RIHANNA!!!.......2007-07-10

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF HER BEST ALBUMS. SHE REALLY SHOWS HER VERSITILITY ON THIS ONE. I CAN LISTEN TO ALMOST THE ENTIRE ALBUM AND WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT YOU KNOW ITS WORTH GETTING

Okay, for what it is.......2007-07-09

I listened to this at work and heard it quite a few times over the course of around 5 days. It annoyed some of my workmates and others didn't mind it - I quite enjoyed some of the music on this album, which is undoubtedly well produced. I imagine that it would sound quite good played up loud at a party or in a club.

Some of the song lyrics struck me as being a little silly, but that didn't bother me too much.

I don't think I'd listen to this album very often, but if I had a lot of guests over for a party, I'd consider playing it if people looked like they may want to dance.

Average customer rating: A Sure Fire Hit!! Fergies Troubles good What a surprise... Guilty Pleasure

The Dutchess Fergie Manufacturer: Interscope Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: FutureSex / LoveSounds The Sweet Escape Loose B'day Back to Basics ASIN: B000H4VV52 Release Date: 2006-09-19

Tracks:

1. Fergalicious (Featuring Will.I.Am)
2. Clumsy
3. All That I Got (The Make Up Song) Featuring Will.I.Am
4. London Bridge
5. Pedestal
6. Voodoo Doll
7. Glamorous (Featuring Ludacris)
8. Here I Come
9. Velvet
10. Big Girls Don’t Cry
11. Mary Jane Shoes (Featuring Rita Marley & The I-Three’S)
12. Losing My Ground
13. Finally

Amazon.com

If you thought Black Eyed Pea-sized bites of Fergie might be all you could handle--that a full plate of Fergie is possibly too much for any discerning musical palate--The Dutchess might change your mind. For here the lumpen lady throws caution to the wind and threads her pop needle with an ambitious ribbon of yet-to-be-conquered genres: reggae and ska on "Mary Jane Shoes," with Rita Marley; vintage soul on "Here I Come"; '80s hip-hop on "Fergalicious"; and sophisticated R&B on the John Legend-assisted "Finally." It's a tremendous and unpredictable expenditure of effort that mostly pays off--echoes of more talented vocalists like Pink, Beyoncé, and Christina Aguilera poke through in places. But while unbridled messing about can pay handsome artistic dividends (here, the guitar-propelled rock-like track "Big Girls Don't Cry" coughs them up), ultimately it's when Fergie's at her Peas-iest that she's most lovable; cases in point are the raunchily irresistible "London Bridge," which earned every week of its chart-topping success, and the will.i.am-assisted "Clumsy," a girl-group-styled bump-a-thon that showcases Fergie's coolest and most distinctive asset--her personality--to winning effect. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

A Sure Fire Hit!!.......2007-07-26

This is one of the best "chick" CD's ever!!!! I bought it six weeks ago from Amazon and I haven't listened to anything else since it came in the mail!!! It's terrific and fresh sounding and Fergie is a real artist!

Fergies Troubles .......2007-07-25

While this CD has a lotta hip/hop R/B and pop music on it there is also some songs that seem to dig into her insecure/darker years.The ever famous "Fergalicious" "London Bridge" are fun songs to dance to as is the anonymous "Here I come". "Glamourous" Is a laid-back luxurious kind-of song. It makes me want to lay out in a raft in my pool with a chocolate martini in hand. "Pedestal" Talks about the papparazzi invading her privacy and online gossip sites pertaining to celebs."Vooodoo doll" Seems to talk about dealing with dark magic. Probably, about a bad decision she made(what i was getting at in the title)"Clumsy" about the downfalls of falling in love."All that I got" Confidently talks about her lover seeing through her MAC n Maybelline and into her heart and soul. "Velvet" One of the best songs on the CD in my opinion, is about her being in love basically. It's really romantic to put it bluntly."Big girls dont cry" I was really starting to get annoyed by this song cuz they played it on Kiss 108 like every week-day morning. But anyways it's about leaving a love that made her feel safe n' sound, which I'm sure we can all realate to."Mary jane shoes" Actually talks about the shoes and how she has like "childhood adventures" when she puts them on. "Losing my ground" Is about problems in her life that she cant run away from. "Finally" Talks about how she FINALLY achieved her dream of being a star and how she never thought she would. I find that it inspires me since I dream of being a singer someday.Well, that's about it I think. But if you are a parent skeptical of buying this for your child I would highly recommend doing so!Fergie is soo talented!And I think a great role-model. Just make sure to get the edited version. ;)
-K.F.

good.......2007-07-24

It is okay but i was hoping for more dance tunes and less slow jams

What a surprise..........2007-07-23

Okay, so I admit to being a bit naive when it comes to buying music. I saw the explicit lyrics warning but couldn't figure out why it was there, I'd heard the CD and it seemed okay to me. I looked through all the reviews, no one said there was a "clean" version. Well, now I have a CD that I can't really listen to with kids around and will probably have to list it on eBay to get rid of it.

When there are 2 versions of a CD (explicit vs. clean) it should be listed somewhere that there are 2. I like the CD. The music is upbeat and Fergie has a terrific voice but unless I'm by myself there is no way I can play this with a carfull of kids.

Guilty Pleasure.......2007-07-17

Fergie could have been just some great eye candy and no substance artist, but she is far from getting that label.

If you are the person who turns your nose up at tracks like Fergalicious and London Bridge then you don't deserve this outstanding album. This album is solid from top to bottom, and beginning to end.

First, Fergie really can sing. She moves from rap to ballards with a smooth ease that makes we want to see what she does next. Second, Ms. Stacy Ferguson doesn't lip sync when on TV shows, and the confidence she has in her voice is displayed in the album. Finally, in my opinion this is the MUST HAVE pop record for 2006/2007.

Average customer rating: We'll never turn back Mavis Staples rules quafable but not transcendent Yes and no Passion and soul

We'll Never Turn Back Mavis Staples Manufacturer: Anti ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: West My Name Is Buddy Twelve The Sermon On Exposition Blvd. [Deluxe Limited Edition --- includes 5.1 SACD version and 40 minute DVD of making the record] Sky Blue Sky ASIN: B000MR8SZU Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

1. Down In Mississippi
2. Eyes On The Prize
3. We Shall Not Be Moved
4. In The Mississippi River
5. On My Way
6. This Little Light
7. 99 And 1/2
8. My Own Eyes
9. Turn Me Around
10. We'Ll Never Turn Back
11. I'Ll Be Rested
12. Jesus Is On The Main Line

Amazon.com

As musical activists in the 1960s civil rights movement, the Staple Singers were powerful voices for equality and change. And more than 40 years after Pops's daughter Mavis spent a night in a West Memphis, Arkansas, jail at the behest of a racist cop, she still remembers the terror of the experience, as well as the counsel of Dr. Martin Luther King. That episode is at the centerpiece of "My Own Eyes," one of the most moving offerings on this collection of songs of racial struggle in the '50s and '60s, produced by guitarist Ry Cooder and featuring backing from the original Freedom Singers and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Throughout, the album proves both emotionally chilling and spiritually uplifting. On J.B. Lenoir's "Down in Mississippi" and Marshall Jones's "In the Mississippi River," for example, Cooder makes fine use of pounding percussion and snaky electric guitar to capture the danger and fear inherent in the Deep South at the time, while the title song and "Jesus Is on the Main Line" draw on gospel and the traditional framework of church hymns to promise positive solutions. Staples, who adlibs on several cuts, connecting the injustice of yesterday to the continuing marginalization of blacks in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, remains a remarkable performer, employing a throaty sensuality that rises from a deep well of tremulous emotion. If her album is musically uneven at times, her artistry and strength continue to shine as undimmed beacons. --Alanna Nash

More from Mavis and the Staple Singers

Have a Little Faith	A Piece of the Action	Only for the Lonely
The Best of the Staple Singers	Great Day	The Staple Singers: Greatest Hits

Album Description

From the liner notes, by John Lewis:

When I listen to this music, it takes me back. It takes me back to the red clay hills of Georgia, to the Black Belt of Alabama, and the Delta of Mississippi. It takes me back to the moans and groans and pains of an oppressed people yearning for freedom. It takes me back to the time when hundreds and thousands of us decided we were "sick and tired of being sick and tired," as Fannie Lou Hamer said. It takes me back to the days when ordinary people inspired by a dream decided to quench our hunger and thirst for justice in the fountains of mercy and love.

Back then, some people thought legalized segregation in America would never come to an end. But those of us in the Civil Rights Movement were inspired by a higher calling. And even if it cost us our very lives, "we weren't gone to let nobody turn us `round". We believed that the action of peace, the way of non-violence, and the power of love could overcome our oppression and remind our oppressors of their own humanity. Through the power of this faith our nation witnessed a non-violent revolution of values, a revolution of ideas that changed America forever.

The music you are listening to right now was the soul of that revolution. It was this music that gave us hope when it seemed like all hope was gone. It was the heartbeat of this music and its steady, reassuring message that bound us together as one solid force. So when we were beaten, arrested and jailed; when we stood together on picket lines or marched through the streets of the Deep South; when we faced the guns drawn, the billy clubs and the bullwhips raised; when we were teargassed, trampled by horses, or scattered by fire hoses, it was these songs that lifted us and pushed us to a higher place.

It is my hope that when you hear Mavis Staples, when you hear the Freedom Singers, and the other artists on this CD, that you too will be inspired. I hope this music will help you find the courage to stand up, speak up, and speak out and answer the call of your own conscience. It is my hope that this music will help you see what ordinary people with extraordinary vision can do when they decide they will never turn back.

Rep. John Lewis

Customer Reviews:

We'll never turn back.......2007-07-05

I enjoyed this cd very much. I had listened to the Staples singers years ago and was glad to see Mavis recording again.

Mavis Staples rules.......2007-06-28

This is one fantastic recording. Mavis has a magnificent voice . . . perfect for the songs and full of depth and determination. The musicians notably ry cooder and back up singers are up to the task as well. Mavis let her light shine brightly!!

quafable but not transcendent.......2007-06-27

This is a solid album, similar in tone to the recent retreads by the Blind Boys of Alabama and John Hammond. The historical and emotional baggage it carries help one to listen with a sympathetic ear, and perhaps lend it more pathos than is earned strictly on aesthetic merits.

Yes and no.......2007-06-27

A tribute to the legacy of the Civil Rights movement and the Staple Singers themselves. Doesn't really live up to the hype, though. Mavis has still got the drive and passion, but her voice doesn't have the range and nuance.

Passion and soul.......2007-06-26

Mavis Staples sings with passion and true soul the songs of the Civil Rights movement on "We'll Never Turn Back". The CD has all the sounds of a great Ry Cooder CD too because he did arrangements of many of the songs and he plays on them too. This CD's version of "This Little Light of Mine" shows what can be done respectfully to bring a whole new sound to an old song. This CD really deserves 5 stars.

Average customer rating: My sort of music CCR great stuff Gets me going in the morning Soundtrack of an era

Chronicle, Vol. 1: The 20 Greatest Hits Creedence Clearwater Revival Manufacturer: Fantasy ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Chronicle Vol. 2: Twenty Great CCR Classics Bob Seger - Greatest Hits The Complete Hit Singles Eagles : The Very Best of Lynyrd Skynyrd - All Time Greatest Hits ASIN: B000000XB9 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Susie Q
2. I Put A Spell On You
3. Proud Mary
4. Bad Moon Rising
5. Lodi
6. Green River
7. Commotion
8. Down On The Corner
9. Fortunate Son
10. Travelin' Band
11. Who'll Stop The Rain
12. Up Around The Bend
13. Run Through The Jungle
14. Lookin' Out My Back Door
15. Long As I Can See The Light
16. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
17. Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
18. Hey Tonight
19. Sweet Hitch-Hiker
20. Someday Never Comes

Amazon.com

Few bands of the 1960s retained as much a sense of the roots of rock and roll as did Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their music is rife with country, rockabilly, and R&B influences, a combination that produced several hit singles--most of which are present on this collection. These include "I Heard It through the Grapevine," "Lodi," "Up Around the B ," "Who'll Stop the Rain," and of course "Bad Moon Rising." This is an excellent greatest-hits collection, and a perfect introduction to the music of a band that has been enduringly influential. --Genevieve Williams

Album Description

Recorded 1968-1970 and includes 'Susie Q', 'I Put a Spell on You', 'Proud Mary', 'Bad Moon Rising', 'Lodi', 'Green River', 'Commotion', 'Down on the Corner', 'Fortunate Son', 'Travelin' Band', 'Who'll Stop the Rain', 'Up Around the Bend', 'Run Through the Jungle', 'Lookin' Out My Back Door', 'Long as I Can See the Light', 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine', 'Have You Ever Seen the Rain?', 'Hey Tonight', 'Sweet Hitch-Hiker' & 'Someday Never Comes'. Fantasy label. 1991.

Customer Reviews:

My sort of music .......2007-07-12

As Im in my sixties you might think Im to old, but this is my sort of music.I reckon " john fogerty " is a great singer. Just listen to find out. Hope you like it the same as I do.

CCR.......2007-06-28

An excellent greatist hits CD, I used a handful of songs to burn a CD with other related style of music.

great stuff.......2007-06-27

listening to this CD makes you realize how great john fogerty was back in the day. great songs, great sound.

Gets me going in the morning.......2007-06-27

I've been listening to this CD for 2 weeks in my car on the way to work.

Soundtrack of an era.......2007-06-15

This is an excellent compilation of CCR's tunes from the late 60s, early 70s. There's a reason why Credence tunes kept popping up in movies and commercials. It's great music and evocative of the era from which it comes. No need for me to review the individual tunes; anybody with a radio has head most of them. A must-have for any music fan.

Average customer rating: painfull It's okay! So hot! JUSTIN IS HOT AND HIS MUSIC HOTTER!!! Best one yet!

FutureSex / LoveSounds Justin Timberlake Manufacturer: Jive ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Dance & DJ | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Back to Basics Loose The Dutchess B'day Continuum ASIN: B000H305U0 Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

1. Future Sex/Love Sound
2. SexyBack
3. Sexy Ladies
4. My Love
5. Love Stoned
6. What Goes Around
7. Chop Me Up
8. Damn Girl
9. Summer Love
10. Until The End Of Time
11. Losing My Way
12. All Over Again (Another Song)

Amazon.com

One spin of FutureSex/LoveSounds and it's hard to believe that Justin Timberlake was ever a boy-band barnstormer--no modern-day male artist beats him when it comes to single-minded self assurance or suavity. "SexyBack," the inescapable summer sizzler of a first single off this short and thrillingly unwholesome disc, makes that clear on its own: If there was ever any question about whether sexy was in need of reviving--a doubtful proposition at best, given the sheer volume of JT's gyrating counterparts--he lays it to rest instantly over a small but insistent Timbaland-concocted beat. On that track, Timberlake's appeal is his sweet but newly thuggish-sounding voice--here's a good kid gone bad, and he's determined to convince us of it not only by tossing a few well-timed mother****ers our way but also with such lyrics as "I'll let you whip me if I misbehave." The rest of FutureSex will feel familiar to anyone who picked up 2002's brilliantly funk-flecked Justified: "Love Stoned/I Think She Knows Me," shifts from Michael Jackson-esque paranoid trilling to pulsating guitar rock; "Chop Me Up," a collaboration with Three 6 Mafia and Timbaland, gives up the grit rap-style but still manages to recall both Prince and Stevie Wonder; "My Love," with T.I., mines classic Timberlake territory with meltaway lyrics like "I can see us holding hands walking on the beach/Our clothes in the sand"; and the straight-up but groovy lament "Losing My Way" asks, searchingly, what may be the silliest question a squeal-inducing pop star has ever posed: "Can anybody out there feel me?" Rest assured, JT: we feel every past-, present-, and future-sexy verse. --Tammy La Gorce

Amazon.com

Come Along with JT through his own groovin' universe of FutureSex/LoveSounds, co-written by Justin Timberlake and produced by Justin Timberlake, JAWBreakers, Timbaland, will.i.am, and Rick Rubin, among others. Guest artists include TI, Three Six Mafia, and Hezekiah Walker. Obviously, there is no shortage of talent.

More from JT & Friends

Justified, Justin Timberlake	No Strings Attached, 'N Sync	Celebrity, 'N Sync
Justified: The Videos (DVD)	Justin Timberlake: Live From London (DVD)	Edison Force (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

painfull.......2007-07-27

This is exactly the sort of thing that should be played on headphones in the dentist's chair, just to remind us that there are things more unpleasant than a root canal. What a dreadful, boring piece of work this is. My question to the production team; were there any actual musicians in the recording process or was everything electronic samples of the worst of the synthesized '80s? [...]. Keep repeating that to yourself with the same regularity as the middle school lyrics on this recording and perhaps eventually you will come to realize that this IS NOT MUSIC, in fact this may actually be ANTI-MUSIC. If this is the future of music then we have sold our souls to Madison Avenue Moguls. This recording is so bad on so many levels that I can't even begin to review it with any kind of objectivity. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

It's okay!.......2007-07-22

I bought this CD mainly for the Sexyback song and thought the other songs on the CD would have a similar beat/feel to them. I was unpleasantly surprised to find that I really only like 3 songs on the entire CD. Many of them do not sound at all like Sexyback, some of them do not even sound like Justin Timberlake, and some sound like rap-type music. It's okay - but if you are expecting a similar sound/feel for the songs, it is not there.

So hot!.......2007-07-22

Yes, JT is hot, but so is his music! Almost every single track in this album can be released as a single. To think that I actually hated "SexyBack" when I first heard it.

JUSTIN IS HOT AND HIS MUSIC HOTTER!!!.......2007-07-06

I must say that I was very surprised that the whole CD was unbelievable... not just tracks Sexy Back and What Goes Around that is now being played in most radio stations. Every song was amazing, with great lyrics and jammin' beats. It just underlines and reiterates the incredible artistic tales of this dude. I will say that this is my first CD from him as I have bought only single tracks in the past - and definitely will not be the last. Thanks Justin, for a totally kickin' and rockin' album. LOOOOOOOVE it. Definitely blasting this on the way to Vegas!

Best one yet!.......2007-07-05

This is Justin's best CD. His sound is blended well with Timbaland and other artists. Good funky, r & b, and hip hop sounds.

Average customer rating: One Of the Best Albums of 2007 I AM... AMAZED! What we've all been waiting for I AM IN LOVE WITH I AM! excellent cd

I Am Chrisette Michele Manufacturer: Def Jam ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: So Much Better Back to Black Sex Love & Pain Ms. Kelly Collaborations ASIN: B000Q364KG Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

1. Like A Dream
2. Work It Out
3. Best Of Me
4. Your Joy
5. Good Girl
6. Be Ok feat. will.i.am
7. If I Have My Way
8. Mr. Radio
9. Golden
10. Let's Rock
11. Love Is You
12. In This For You
13. Is This The Way Love Feels

Amazon.com

If you didn't get to know Chrisette Michele by way of Jay-Z (she was the one singing sparkling hooks on "Lost Ones") or Nas (she channeled Billie Holiday on "Can't Forget About You"), stop wasting valuable seconds. Though the hype on this pure-voiced, raunch-resistant songstress has her resuscitating a classic jazz sound that rarely infiltrates R&B--comparisons to Lady Day, Nina Simone, and Ella Fitzgerald are mounting--she's more her generation's answer to Erykah Badu: any notes she wraps her lips around come out fresh-sounding, and she adds to the effect with a built-in elegance that's irresistible to R&B and non-R&B fans alike. Hip-hoppers get a custom dose of Michele's magic on "Be O.K.," featuring the flabbergastingly prolific yet still likable Will.i.am, jazz sentimentalists will instantly succumb to "Like a Dream," and anybody with ears on his or her head will warm to the slinky slow jam that is "If I Have My Way." Michele's is a rare talent; count on this outstanding debut propelling her to stratospheric heights. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

I Am, her soulful debut album, is an artistic exploration that fuses 24-year old Chrisette Michele's diverse musical interests into a wonderland. "I realize that I'm new to the music world, but I've been preparing for this moment for long time," says the Long Island native. Even before signing a recording contract, Michele had performed on concert bills with more established artists like Kem, India.Arie, Angie Stone, and Lionel Richie. "India saw me singing at the Village Underground in New York City. She came backstage that first night and graciously offered me a gig as her opening act," says Michele. Working hard in the studio writing songs and recording demos, Michele finished an album's worth of material before even trying to get signed. "I've been creating songs since I was 12, so I knew I needed the right musical blend in order to stand out from the many other performers trying to get a deal." Though already a fan of gospel and classical, it wasn't until Michele was 17 that she also developed a passion for jazz. "When I was still in high school a teacher introduced me to jazz singer Astrud Gilberto, and afterwards my life was all about jazz," she remembers. With the release of I Am, Chrisette Michele will soon be sharing those musical dreams with the rest of the world.

Customer Reviews:

One Of the Best Albums of 2007.......2007-07-31

This is what happens when you put Classic R&B, Urban, and Smooth Jazz together in one set. Chrisette has a vocal maturity, that you don't find in artist twice her age. Her voice is controlled, never overburdened, and always pleasant. My favorite songs on the album are, If I have My Way, Best Of Me, Your Joy, Good Girl, Golden, Love Is You, Is This The Way Love Feels, and the last song which is not listed on the cover, I Am One....Add this album to your collection today.......

I AM... AMAZED! .......2007-07-30

Michele's voice is a recarnation of some of my favorite jazz vocalist yet it has her own fingerprint. The message that resonates throughout this cd is love. All love. This is what music is suppose to be like. "I AM" is unique and a album that will never grow old. It moves your spirit in a way that causes you to want to love harder, not just your lover but everything on earth. This is a Cd you need to purchase immediately. I know this is a Grammy wimmer. Buy It, Buy It, Buy It NOW! You won't regret it... that is if you know good music. Feel the jazz, the neo-soul, the gospel, the R&B, feel the I AM of Chrisette Michele.

What we've all been waiting for.......2007-07-28

Chrisette Michele is the TRUTH! I just got this CD from a friend today. Once I put it in, I haven't listened to anything else. She sings about real situations, feelings, and all of the songs are so soulful. It's like she made an album for all kinds of days - when you want to party, when you want to cry, when you want to be sexy, when you're in love, etc. I've just bought tickets to her show in Nashville on August 18. I'm so impressed with this young woman - I only hope she can keep making music that affects the spirit the way this album does.

I AM IN LOVE WITH I AM!.......2007-07-26

I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH CHRISETTE MICHELE'S VOIVE FROM THE TIME I HEARD IT ON "LOST ONES" BY JAY-Z. THIS CD IS CONSTANTLY IN MY HOME AND OUTSIDE OF IT BY NE. MY NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS ALSO SINGING ALONG NOW! I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CD TO ANY AND EVERYONE!

excellent cd.......2007-07-26

This was a great 1st cd by her. I am looking forward to her next one.

Average customer rating: Tasty beats however One problem Shocked at shock value Can't stop Tim two decent cuts

Timbaland Presents Shock Value Timbaland Manufacturer: Interscope Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Good Girl Gone Bad FutureSex / LoveSounds It Won't Be Soon Before Long Because Of You Dignity ASIN: B000NA26ZE Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

1. Oh Timbaland
2. Give It To Me
3. Release
4. The Way I Are
5. Bounce
6. Come & Get Me
7. Kill Yourself
8. Boardmeeting
9. Fantasy
10. Scream
11. Miscommunication
12. Bombay
13. Throw It On Me
14. Time
15. One & Only
16. Apologize
17. 2 Man Show

Amazon.com

When the most exciting producer in pop music himself puts out a CD, the thrill is in the discovery: The world may have already suspected that Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, and a small army of other singers owed 75% of their fame to the stockpile of skittering beats Timbaland built and then graciously set them upon, but here's a chance to prove it. Or it might have been in less welcoming hands. Shock Value is a far-reaching and ambitious disc; a masterpiece, even, in its own way. But it's not at all self-centered. If there's a point being put across here, it's that Timbaland came by your vote as behind-the-scenes musical man of the hour honestly: pair him with Fall Out Boy or the Strokes, and he will not only provide tracks that surprise you by maintaining their rock 'n' roll integrity, he will also convince you that shimmer's role in rock music has, to now, been tragically misguided and miniscule. Re-team him with Timberlake and Furtado (for the near-flawless track "Give It to Me") and he will again trade vocal bites, but they will still be nibbly, not voracious. In a CD full of experiments and puzzles (why is Elton John just piano-playing, not singing? And how did the L.A. band One Republic end up on this disc?) a single truth emerges: Timbaland's taste is impeccable, but his judgment is even better. Shock Value, by virtue of its swirly beats and mesmerizing rhythms, will bring him a smidge closer to the spotlight. But because it's a disc of collaborations, he'll retain the shadowy-genius reputation that precedes him, and that he so richly deserves. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Tasty beats however.......2007-07-23

This is the first hip-hop album that I had ever bought and I'm satisfied with it. I thought this was Timbaland's solo album, but in truth only the first track "Oh Timbaland" can be described as a solo effort. As for the whole album you can expect to listen to the unique beats that is his signature.

As genius as he is in creating beats, he is no lyricist or at least a keen observer of lyrics. Take the first four lines into the song "Miscommunication" which incidentally was not written by him as Timbaland could have suggested better rhymes instead of the ones there.

My favorite among his collaborators in this album is Keri Hilson. Her smooth singing voice provided counterbalance to Timbaland's throaty effort, as evidenced in the track "The Way I Are". Unfortunately I don't feel any chemistry between Timbaland and Hilson as the lyrics would have suggested. Timbaland, as charismatic he can be, just don't have the persona for flirting with a 'co-star'.

Another collaborator worth mentioning is Amar, the British/Indian singer on the track "Bombay". Here I'm particularly fond of Timbaland's accentuation of the upbeats, slight syncopation of the downbeats, added with the otherworldly qualities of Amar's Indian singing style.

The rest of the tracks I'm not really fond of. "2 Man Show" with Elton John for example, feels a bit dry and uninspiring. The tracks with fellow hip-hop collaborators I can't really decide as this is, after all, my first hip-hop album.

One problem.......2007-07-21

Timbaland has a talent for making hits, and there are so many potential singles on this thing it's not even funny. But there are a bunch of filler songs in the middle of the album that are disappointing.

There are a lot of good, fun, danceable songs on this CD, it's just that the bad songs really weigh down the good ones. Tracks 6-10 could've been left out quite easily. Since the cd is 17 tracks long, I'm constantly skipping over those songs to get to the good ones. It's just inconvenient.

Other than that, this is pretty good. Like I said before, it's just annoying to have to skip over a bunch of songs.

Favorites: The Way I Are, Bombay, Throw It On Me, Time, One & Only, Apologize

Shocked at shock value.......2007-07-13

Now, I'm not going to say I didn't like the album. I did like it. But, I just do not feel Timbaland let loose enough.
I think he is a wild stallion, but it just felt like something was pulling back on the reins, something was MISSING.
I can't put my finger on it, but felt this album was...Too controlled to offer an SHOCK to me.
I wanted a cut loose RAW BEAT album.
I was satisfied, but being satisfied means the content was just satisfactory. I want to be satiated. I hope another album is to follow this, I really do. I'm addicted to the beats, Timbaland is EXCELLENT for those. I can't get enough. BUT, please next time don't just shock me.
I want shock waves, electricty to the veins. Maybe next time.

Can't stop Tim.......2007-07-09

This album rocks. I love that Timberland teamed up with all different types of artists. Rock this!

two decent cuts.......2007-06-30

You already know the two good cuts - theyre the singles and fully worth downloading. the rest of the album is disappointing.

in the mid 90s timbaland sounded fresh - had a new style - and was known for his creative beats. you would never know that from this new cd. theres nothing remarkable about the beats - the melodies dominate. do we buy timbaland albums for the melodies? i dont think so.

timbaland isnt trying to impress anyone - and when artists arent hungry and have no one to impress they slack off and make lame albums like this.

Christian Music:

1. The Rhythm & Blues Years
2. The Spirit's in It/I'm in Love Again/Patti [Import]
3. Tighten Up Vol. 1 (Remixes) [Import]
4. Tired of Being a Nice Guy [Import]
5. Trunk Funk: the Best of [SACD]
6. Unleash the Dragon [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics] [Import]
7. Wanna Make Love [Original recording remastered] [Import]
8. WDAS 105.3 FM: Classic Soul Hits, Vol. 7
9. Wild Style (1982 Film) [Soundtrack]
10. Zagora

Christian Music

christian music

Christian Music

Honest Abe

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 101 & 103

Hoodoo Man Blues

Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Vol. 2: 1928-1929

J.M.O. After Service [Import]

Native Spirit

Hymns of Hawai'i, Volume 2

Hot Stove, Cool Music, Vol. 1

Gone in the Morning [Import]

Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 37, Chopin: Nocturne Op. 72

In the Fishtank [EP]

Live at the Gods 2002 [Import]

Gritos Del Corazon

Cool Daddy: Experiments With Be-Bop

The Best of the Nylons