YT is a high energy rap artist from Houston. He has toured with artists like College Boyz and the South Park Mexicans.
Still Country,YT,Full Stomach Entertainment,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop
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Stand Still, Look Pretty
The Wreckers , Michelle Branch , and Jessica Harp Manufacturer: Maverick ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0009F43V8 Release Date: 2006-05-23 |
Tracks:
- Leave The Pieces
- Way Back Home
- The Good Kind
- Tennessee
- My, Oh My
- Stand Still, Look Pretty
- Cigarettes
- Hard To Love You
- Lay Me Down
- One More Girl
- Rain
- Only Crazy People
Amazon.com
The Wreckers are Grammy-winning songstress Michelle Branch and friend/journeywoman Nashville singer-songwriter Jessica Harp, a team whose solid craftsmanship and soaring, airtight harmonies often lift their hook-smart contemporary country stylings above what's too often mere fizzy, pop-crossover formula. They may have entered the public consciousness via the wide exposure of "Good Kind" on the primetime soap opera One Tree Hill, but the bracing, back-porch charms of the single "Leave the Pieces" should find them a following well beyond that series' teen audience. The reflective title track, gritty folk charms of "Tennessee" and giddy crowd-pleaser "My, Oh My" are suffused with a lyrical maturity that's the perfect counterpoint to the duo's sturdy musical constructs. Solid songs all, delivered with a muscular vocal conviction that does considerably more than merely sell them. --Jerry McCulleyAlbum Description
The Wreckers are about creation, not destruction. Bringing together two young, fearless female singersongwriter-acoustic guitaristsGrammy®-winning, platinum-selling Michelle Branch and collaborator Jessica HarpThe Wreckers' debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty, blends Branch's pop-rock sensibility with Harp's country-folk style. Edgy yet rootsy, on Stand Still, Look Pretty, The Wreckers have a ball.Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Harmony, Catchy Lyrics.......2007-07-26
Okay.......2007-07-09
I hope this review was helpful.
Wow.......2007-05-28
Great debut.......2007-05-23
Chick with rockabilly.......2007-05-22
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Still Feels Good
Rascal Flatts Manufacturer: Lyric Street ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000QCUDL8 Release Date: 2007-09-25 |
Album Description
It all begins when the lights go down. For Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus, it has been that way since they were playing for a handful of people in a club in Nashville's Printers Alley. These days, of course, they play for thousands of screaming fans a night, drawn by state-of-the-art production and sound, and by spectacular vocal harmonies in service to an ever-expanding catalogue of hits. In between, it was the magic of those performances that catapulted Rascal Flatts into the front ranks of entertainers in all genres.
By any measure, Rascal Flatts is in elite territory. They are the reigning 2006 CMA, ACM and CMT Vocal Group of the Year. In 2005 they added Billboard and R&R Artist of the Year trophies as well. The trio also picked up its first three Grammy nominations in 2005, and their "Bless The Broken Road" received the Grammy for Country Song of the Year. Coming off the biggest selling artist album of 2006, Rascal Flatts is geared up for their brand new album coming on September 25.
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It Still Moves
My Morning Jacket Manufacturer: Ato Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000C0FBM Release Date: 2003-09-09 |
Tracks:
- Mahgeetah
- Dancefloors
- Golden
- Master Plan
- One Big Holiday
- I Will Sing You Songs
- Easy Morning Rebel
- Run Thru
- Rollin Back
- Just One Thing
- Steam Engine
- One In The Same
Customer Reviews:
Not so great!.......2007-05-12
How a rock and roll record should be!!!.......2007-04-04
this is a must have, and a no-brainer!!
can't get enough of this band........2007-02-11
Worth every second!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-08-12
Mahgeetah- 4 and a quarter stars- This song isn't the best opener, but it passes.
Dancefloors- 4 and a quarter stars- This one is similar to Mahgeetah but different in many ways. (Think about it, it makes since.)
Golden- 5 stars- This song is probably one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Ya gotta love it.
Masterplan- 4 and 3 quarter stars- Close, but not as good. Don't get me wrong. You'll wanna here it.
One Big Holiday- 4 anda half stars- This song is a good rocker. And it has the best name.
I will sing you song- 4 and a half stars- This is the long one, about 9 minutes. But it's worth every second.
Easy Morning Rebel- 4 stars- It's a good one. The short beat at the begining of the song with the horns is great mon!
Run Thru- 4 stars- Great guitar and stuffffffffssssssssss!!!??..
Rollin Back- 3 and a half stars- Bit of a disappointment here. Sorry My Morning Jacket.
Just One Thing- 5 stars- Now that's better. Short but Awesome!
Steam Engine- 5 stars- Even better than just one thing! YYAAAYYY!!!!!!
One in the Same- 5 stars- Worse than steam engine but better than just one thing. It's a beautiful song.
That's what I think. And if ya don't agree, too bad cuz i'm keepin my opinions. Peace out, MMJ!!!????....
Tight but loose.......2006-07-16
Okay, it's not that simple, but it's close. It's easy to like tracks like "Golden" and "Mahgeetah" because they're pretty dang catchy and are a bit more focused than most of the other songs (actually, the end of "Mahgeetah" is a pretty awesome jam session). Most of the other songs won't quite jump out at you, but have a unique appeal that I haven't really heard in any other rock bands - the songs may carry on too long and not really go anywhere, but who cares? It's fun to listen to them just jam on as if they were sitting on a porch on a warm summer evening, which is where some of the "live show" comparisons come into play. Speaking of which, I saw them at Coachella this year and they were positively amazing. I was with two people who had never heard of MMJ and they were absolutely blown away, their set was truly electric.
A perfect way to introduce yourself to this CD is to listen to it on a long drive. The relaxed arrangements just seem to make the time pass effortlessly and reduce a lot of the stress of sitting in your car for an extended period of time. Then again, I'm listening to it right now while getting ready to go for a night on the town. With a slightly shorter running time this album could have been a true classic, but as is it will have to settle for being a great album.
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Free
Chris Dodd , Fiona Pears , Anthony Chadney , Ben Crawley , Christopher Robson , and Raoul Platt Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002RUAAQ Release Date: 2004-10-05 |
Tracks:
- I Am The Day
- Stay With Me
- Voca Me
- A Song Of Enchantment
- Ave Verum
- Do Not Stand At My Grave
- When A Knight
- A New Heaven
- I Vow To Thee My Country
- Lament
- Twilight
- Be Still My Soul
- Adoramus
Amazon.com
English composer Robert Prizeman has taken a conventional English boy's choir--usually a haven for sweet songs and ecclesiastical renderings--and made them contemporary without selling out any of their intrinsic charm. Their stacked choral voices and lead sopranos, dressed up with electronica rhythms, synthesizers, and strings still sound like they could be coming from the church balcony, even while they exude an Enya-like appeal. While there are adaptations of Gregorian chants and Sibelius hymns, most of the songs are Prizeman originals based on those styles, with texts often drawn from Latin Liturgy. Except for the chilled romanticism of "Stay With Me," and the rhythm driven "Adoramus," whose chorus sounds like a Harry Potter incantation, few of the songs on Free have the anthemic pop appeal of "Salva Me" or "Vespera" from previous albums. Instead, Prizeman has opted for a more serene sound on Free, even with their first video from the disc, the yearning "I Am the Day." Some of it, like Prizeman's setting of a Walter de la Mare poem on "A Song of Enchantment," gets lugubrious. But most of Free floats on gentle soprano breezes, intrinsically innocent, even if the boys might be smoking cigarettes behind the altar. --John DilibertoCustomer Reviews:
HEAVENLY.......2007-06-19
Sweetest voices ever!.......2007-06-16
Awesome.......2007-01-04
Soothing and thought provoking.......2006-02-23
Pure Crystal.......2006-02-20
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The Best of the Kentucky Headhunters: Still Pickin'
The Kentucky Headhunters Manufacturer: Mercury Nashville ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001E5X Release Date: 1994-09-20 |
Tracks:
- Dumas Walker
- Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine
- Rock 'N' Roll Angel
- Oh Lonesome Me
- The Ballad Of Davy Crockett
- Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line
- It's Chitlin' Time
- Spirit In The Sky
- Let's Work Together
- Honky Tonk Walkin'
- Dixie Fried
- Redneck Girl
- You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Customer Reviews:
The Best Of The Kentucky Headhunters:Still Pickin.......2007-05-28
The Headhunters Are Friends Of Mine!.......2006-05-14
kentucky headhunters - still pickin' cd.......2006-03-09
A Different Flavor of Country.......2005-11-26
No flash...just talent........2005-10-09
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I Still Believe in You
Vince Gill Manufacturer: Mca Nashville ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002OLC Release Date: 1992-09-01 |
Tracks:
- Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away
- No Future In The Past
- Nothing Like A Woman
- Tryin' To Get Over You
- Say Hello
- One More Last Chance
- Under These Conditions
- Pretty Words
- Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart
- I Still Believe In You
Amazon.com
Vince Gill has always been ambitious man: he got his start with the progressive new grass outfit Bluegrass Alliance but didn't stay long, and he soon became guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the country-folk middle-roaders Pure Prarie League. He stayed with the band for three years before working as a sideman to Rodney Crowell and eventually signing with MCA in 1984. His career skyrocketed, fueled by tasteful country material and his creamy vocals. 1992's I Still Believe in You was his biggest success, and the title cut a monster hit. It's not a spectacular record, but Gill's vocal strengths and guitar work are hard to deny, and these 10 songs, featuring guest spots by Delbert McClinton and Alison Krauss, represent his style very well. --Roy Francis KastenCustomer Reviews:
Vince Sings Like No One Else.......2005-11-22
Except for the late, great Roy Orbison, Gill stands alone when singing of love's heartache or love's joy. He transmits more than words and a story when he sings. He gives us a glimpse into his heart.
In this album, Gill allows us to be his companion, confiding in us his anguish, his joy and his pain in such instant and forever classic love songs as "I Still Believe In You," Tryin' To Get Over You," "Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart," and "No Future In The Past."
Take you pick. Play them. Then play them again and again. If you aren't already, you'll be addicted to this man's voice and soul when you listen to this album.
country music excellence.......2005-01-09
At 5 x platinum, "I Still Believe in You" has been Vince's biggest selling CD, and the title song was a big hit; it won many awards, among them the CMA Song of the Year and Album of the Year for '93, as well as giving Vince the Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year awards, and the '93 TNN Music City Awards gave Vince the Single of the Year and Instrumentalist of the Year award as well.
Vince's band is superb, and are a part of what makes this such an excellent recording, the booklet insert has all the lyrics and I do like the pensive b&w cover photo, rather unusual for a non-classical CD, but maybe appropriate, because this album is a 100 % country classic, and on my list as an essential for any CD collection of that genre.
Total playing time is 36'23 thoroughly enjoyable minutes.
Vintage Vince.......2003-04-25
Gill wrote or co-wrote all of the songs included here with eight different collaborators. He claims only the title song was autobiographical. It is a reassurance of devotion to his wife Janis, even though the obligations of fame often impede their time together (alas, Amy Grant came along and permanently impeded their time together a few years ago). Many of Gill's slow songs have a tendency to sound alike. He gets away with it by using diverse subject matter and by coming up with lyrics that touch a universal chord. "No Future In The Past" deals with lost love while "Nothing Like A Woman sweetly extols the pleasures of having a woman to love. "Under These Conditions" looks at potential lovers who bypass adultery because their families need them while "Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart" addresses the reluctance to fall in love again for fear of getting hurt.
In addition to using diverse subject matter, Gill sequences his tracks well enough that the listener is never placed into a coma. The interspersed uptempo tunes place as much emphasis on the beat as the lyrics. "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" is one of Gill's most soulful recordings ever, while "Say Hello" sounds as if it could be a revived classic from the '60s Bakersfield era - very similar to the kind of material that Dwight Yoakam has popularized. "Pretty Words" is a footstomping bluegrasse number, while "One More Last Chance" is a carefree slice of rockabilly. These faster tunes nicely convey that amidst all the seriousness, Gill relishes the chance to cut loose.
Vince's breakthrough album.......2002-07-19
You'll believe in this album for years to come!.......2001-10-20
Of the ten tracks, five of them were HUGE hits for the country music world. These five blockbusters are: "I Still Believe in You," "One More Last Chance," "No Future in The Past," "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away," and my favorite, "Tryin' To Get Over You." Even to this day, I still hear all of those songs on the radio a lot, that's how great they are.
The five non-hits in I Still Believe in You aren't bad either. As a matter of fact, all of them are good songs, especially "Nothing Like A Woman."
I'm 21 and I like Vince Gill's music, my mom is middle-aged :) and she's a fan, and my grandfather is 87 and he says Vince Gill is his favorite country music singer. In other words, it doesn't matter how old you are, if you like great country music, get this album while you can! Even if you're not that big on country music, at least give it a listen, it might surprise you.
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Still Feel Gone
Uncle Tupelo Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00008J2RC Release Date: 2003-04-15 |
Tracks:
- Gun
- Looking For A Way Out
- Fall Down Easy
- Nothing
- Still Be Around
- Watch Me Fall
- Punch Drunk
- Postcard
- D. Boon
- True To Life
- Cold Shoulder
- Discarded
- If That's Alright
- Sauget Wind (Bonus Track)
- I Wanna Destroy You (Bonus Track)
- Watch Me Fall (Demo) (Bonus Track)
- Looking For A Way Out (Demo) (Bonus Track)
- If That's Alright (Demo) (Bonus Track)
Amazon.com
Before March 16-20, 1992 secured Uncle Tupelo's place as Commanders in Chief of the alt-country assault during the early '90s, Still Feel Gone stated emphatically that they were no musical tumbleweeds. Though twangy, lap-steel-heavy ditties like "Watch Me Fall" and "Still Be Around" cradle a country heart, the bulk of this disc is a nod to Uncle Tupelo's garage- and punk-rock heritage. The songs find their hooks in the twittery vocals of Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy, but beware the rapid-fire drumming of Mike Heidorn. When Uncle Tupelo fires up its tribute to late Minuteman D. Boon, you'll realize there's more to these country boys than meets the ear. This 2003 expanded and remastered version includes three unreleased demos, the "Sauget Wind" single, and their rare cover of the Soft Boys' "I Wanna Destoy You." --Nick HeilCustomer Reviews:
What about the extra tracks?.......2006-10-20
It's a bit of a sluggish mess, though, sonically! I wonder if anyone who has this remastered version can talk about a) any changes in the sound and b) the quality of the bonus tracks.
[If you're curious about Uncle Tupelo and don't have any of their albums, get their "greatest hits" collection for starters. They only have 4 real albums, though. Note that "March 16-20" is a VERY acoustic album, the others all mix acoustic and electric instruments.]
Complete Album.......2006-06-30
It's a little less from the gut than 'No Depression' but not yet overly cerebral. It rocks at times and is moody at others and evokes a sense of desperation and defiance. For some reason, while very different, it reminds me of the Stone's Sticky Fingers (but this may be a stretch)
still feel gone, indeed..........2004-12-10
Uncle Tupelo's best work - Still Feel Gone.......2004-08-22
at first listen to this remastered disc I was amazed.
thrown back at how well the songs work and feel.
this is by far the most consistent album of all the UT releases.
I highly recommend this one!
A period of transition, as one reviewer says, Not quite!
These boys wanted it and they got it. The musicianship is all there. You can't miss it!
It really shows just how well practiced these songs were and they come across that way.
I've heard these tracks in different ways and they all work just the way great songs should.
A universal arsenal of classic alt-country with a touch of sin.........
Oh my, now THIS works for me!.......2004-07-22
I had a hard time getting past the first 7 songs, though. I kept playing each one 3-5X in a row, because each song is a gem in it's own right. It took me hours just to get through the full CD, lol...
Buy it and enjoy it - this one is a classic for sure.
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The Storm Still Rages
Rhonda Vincent Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005K9SI Release Date: 2001-06-05 |
Tracks:
- Cry Of The Whippoorwill
- Is The Grass Any Bluer
- Don't Lie
- Drivin' Nails In My Coffin
- I'm Not Over You
- Bluegrass Express
- Just Somone I Used To Know
- On Solid Ground
- Each Season Changes You
- My Sweet Love Ain't Around
- You Don't Love God If You Don't Love Your Neighbor
- When The Angels Sing
- The Martha White Theme
Amazon.com
In recent years, Missouri-born Rhonda Vincent has become one of a handful of extraordinary singers whose voices personify the grace, power, and poetry of contemporary bluegrass music. The 13 exquisite cuts on Storm Still Rages (which she produced, and on which she is joined by luminaries like singers Alison Krauss and Sonya Isaacs, and guitarist Bryan Sutton) is a worthy follow-up to 2000's critically acclaimed Back Home Again, which marked Vincent's return to bluegrass after a foray into mainstream country. Whether on a rousing tribute to the late Bill Monroe ("Is the Grass Any Bluer"), spirited bluegrass reprises of honky-tonk classics ("Drivin' Nails in My Coffin" and Hank Williams's "My Sweet Love Ain't Around"), a sterling Vincent original ("On Solid Ground"), or a fervent, old-timey gospel number (Carl Story's "You Don't Love God if You Don't Love Your Neighbor"), Vincent reminds us what great singing, and great modern bluegrass music, is all about. --Bob AllenCustomer Reviews:
Fantastic Bluegrass Music.......2007-01-01
Stellar album.......2005-12-14
Brilliant work from one of bluegrass's finest!.......2005-04-30
Rhonda Vincent's album The Storm Still Rages is nothing short of spectacular!. Rhonda not only demonstrates her incredible angelic voice, but her prowess on the mandolin. Her playing is spectacular!. From start to finish, this is a brilliant, well-produced album!. The first cut Cry of the Whippoorwill, is catchy and instantly singable. Kenny Ingrams banjo starts this track off, drawing you in. The tribute to Bill Monroe Is The Grass Any Bluer is touching, especially since I read that Rhonda got to meet the legendary Monroe on her birthday. Don't Lie is one of my favorite songs with the chorus: "Just go ahead and say goodbye, but don't lie". The up tempo Driving Nails in My Coffin is heartbreaking, and tells a story of a woman alone drinking herself to death because she can't forget her true love. I'm Not Over You is gorgeous with beautifully tight harmonies and Hunter Berry's signature grunting fiddle. Every song on this disc is a winner but my personal faves are: Cry of the Whippoorwill, Don't Lie, Solid Ground, I'm Not Over You, Driving Nails in My Coffin and My Sweet Love Ain't Around. If you love bluegrass, buy this disc. If you want to hear stellar musicians perform buy this disc! And if you have never heard of Rhonda Vincent, this disc will be played over and over again! It's in rotation in my CD player right now!.
Rhonda is Fantastic!.......2004-01-24
Rhonda sets fast pace with high-energy bluegrass.......2003-03-15
There are occasional slow songs, like Don't lie, but the bulk of this album is full of up-tempo, driving bluegrass, such as Bluegrass express and an excellent tribute to Bill Monroe (Is the grass any bluer?).
Just someone I used to know was a country top ten hit for Dolly as a duet with Porter Wagoner, although it had previously been a country top ten hit for George Jones with the title A girl I used to know. Porter and Dolly also recorded Each season changes you, another song Rhonda covers here. Rhonda does both of these songs at a faster pace than Porter and Dolly, in keeping with the mood of the album. These changes work well, but change the meaning of the songs subtly.
With Rhonda having recorded a series of very high quality albums over the previous decade, I didn't think there was any room for improvement, but this might just be the best of the lot.
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The Science Fiction Album
Various Artists Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000066HE5 Release Date: 2005-02-08 |
Tracks:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Aliens
- Sound Effect - The Nostromo
- Alien
- A.I.
- Armageddon
- Sound Effect - Apollo 13 Lift-off
- Apollo 13
- Back To The Future
- Battle Beyond The Stars
- Battlestar Galactica
- The Black Hole
- Contact
- Capricorn One
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- The Day The Earth Stood Still
- Dune
Tracks:
- Galaxy Quest
- Sound Effect - Dogfight in Space
- Enemy Mine
- Ghostbusters
- Gremlins
- Heavy Metal
- Independence Day
- E.T.
- Judge Dredd
- The Last Starfighter
- Lifeforce
- Sound Effect - Crash Landing
- Lost In Space
- Mars Attacks
- The Matrix
- Predator
- The Right Stuff
Tracks:
- Moonraker
- Robocop
- Silent Running
- Sound Effect - Alien Organism
- Species
- Stargate
- Starship Troopers
- Starman
- Star Trek - TV Theme
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture End Title
- Klingon Attack
- Sound Effect - Warp Drive
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Star Trek: Generations
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Tracks:
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
- Sound Effect - Transporter Crew
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Theme
- Star Trek First Contact
- Star Wars
- The Empire Strikes Back
- The Empire Strikes Back
- Return of the Jedi
- Sound Effect - Battle Stations
- Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace - The Flag Parade
- Anakin's Theme
- The Adventures of Jar Jar
- Duel of the Fates
- The Time Machine
- Things to Come
- The Thing From Another World
- War of the Worlds
- When Worlds Collide
- Total Recall
- You Only Live Twice
- Superman
Customer Reviews:
The penultimate collection ..........2006-12-07
I have always had a weak spot for (good, or maybe even intelligent) science fiction/fantasy and film music, especially its way of evoking mystery, grandure and wide open spaces. Call it a weakness if you want. But it was maybe really kick started off, for as far as I can remember, with Star Trek. But especially Star Trek II, III and IV - essentially a trilogy - because of their very romantic but very warm, human core, set on the broadest canvasses of unlimited and mysterious outer space. But then there was the music for adding that essential extra dimension of emotion and atmosphere. I am happy that much of the music on this album is from the Star Trek series and films, often equaling or sometimes even outclassing the original recordings.
This kind of music (for the movies) should be seen as an art on its own rights with its own merits and qualities. As such, the musical sequences on these CD's are a beautifully played cross section of some of the most evoking orchestral music for science fiction/fantasy film ever created. And I very much like the nicely blended, wide and deep orchestral soundpicture with enough reverberation to evoke a sense of wide open spaces.
I am quite thrilled by tracks like the evocative music from Dune, truly transporting one to the vastly sands of Arrakis (the music is wonderful, but to my great regret I think the movie itself is a flawed masterpiece at best, alas.). And then there is the very different, goofy music for Ghostbusters (memories of childhood), the spoofy but electrifying music from Mars Attacks (lovingly parodist music, this, with not a little touch of irony) and the happily adventurous, forward driving Theme from Galaxy Quest ('Never give up, never surrender!'), now also used for the internet-based fan-series Star Trek: The Hidden Frontier. On the other side of the spectrum we have the atmospheric music for Enemy Mine (an underestimated 'little' movie), the Theme from The Right Stuff (actually science FACT, not fiction, this film, just like Apollo 13, of course), the eerily attractive music for Species, the original End Title for Alien (not used in the theatrical version of the movie, where it was replaced by music from howard Hanson's Second Symphony), the exquisitely exotic music for Stargate, the sweet and warmly sympathetic, beautifully re-orchestrated, theme for Starman, the title cue for Star Trek: TOS (much more melodiously played than the original! If only a series nowadays could continue to be as thought provoking and as original as Star Trek was during its launch, fourty years ago ...) and a truly overpowering End Titles Suite from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. I especially like the thrillingly grandiloquent rendition here of the music for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And how nice it is to hear the (thematic) similarities between James Horner's music for The Wrath of Khan, his great break-through as a film music composer, and his (two years) earlier music for Battle Beyond the Stars (which did indeed help him earn the job for writing the music for Star Trek II) ...
But on the 'down side', if one is looking for - for example - the gorgeously expansively played End Titles from Cocoon, it is not included here: one has to acquire the album that 'kicked it all off', so to say, namely 'Space and Beyond', also on Silva Screen. I was very pleased also with the inclusion on that album of some of the music from the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, namely where one of the characters, Tasha Yar, in one of the episodes (Skin of Evil) is saying goodbye to her crewmmates: sweetly sentimental and simple music which I have always wanted to own on CD. I guess that a few cues from the other two sequals ('Alien Invasion: Space and Beyond II' and 'Space3: Beyond the Final Frontier') didn't make it onto this 4 CD collection-album as well, but I guess that it would be the 'better part of the bargain' to opt to buy this 'The Science Fiction Album' instead of buying all three albums separately. Well, of course it is for yourself to ultimately decide what you really want ;-)
If I were to nitpick (which is not easy with such a marvellous project as this one), then I would say that while all music is performed with magnificent grandure and with style, some of it is not performed as crisply and as technically 'on the spot' as some of the original recordings: ensemble is a little slack and the playing somewhat stilted sometimes, losing some of the edge and the originality of the writing. ET and Star Wars spring to mind, but then the soundtracks for Star Wars are traditionally recorded with the magnificent London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro John Williams himself, and these superior recordings (especially the ones for Episode I, II and III) can't really be bettered, IMHO. Likewise for the music from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, I believe that in the end one really has to resort to the ultimate reference, namely the original recording (which is true in many other instances of 'original recordings'), and then the 20th anniversay colector's edition of this soundtrack on Columbia/Legacy (truly unmissable, this veritable classic of sci-fi/film music soundtracks!).
But all in all this 4CD-collection amounts to probably being the penultimate high quality sci-fi music album collection (I certainly know of no other project that comes as close quality as well as quantity wise), with some of the most memorable musical moments from classic to modern sci-fi/fantasy film captured in lavish orchestrations.
Collection-wise: five *stars*. Playing: generally four *stars*, sometimes more. The recording quality: five *stars*. The music (qualified on its own merits as film music) and its (re)orchestrations: generally five *stars*. In the end this is all highly recommended, and certainly not to be missed by science fiction and fantasy film music fans. Klaatu barada nikto.
Muisic of the Spheres.......2006-11-06
The Ulllllltimate Sci-Fi Music Collection.......2005-10-23
The moment I ripped off the shrink-wrap and popped it into my cd player was a moment of great trepidation. Believe me when I tell that I've seen my fair share of sub-par orchestral recording in my lifetime. Very often they are in those big super-packs of music, and suffer from poor direction, improper mastering, and sometime even pathetic orchestration (or worse yet have something sounding like a cheap synthesizer and a kazoo in place of a full orchestra). I needn't have worried though. This sucker is fantastic.
Many people who are not audiophiles will probably miss the point of this cd collection. It is not the original versions of the pieces. It is re-orchestrations, mostly by the phenomenal Prague Symphony Orchestra. Many of these themes didn't sound all that hot in there original versions because they were low budget films or were not recorded in high-fidelity. Here they are given the full treatment, mastered with the most loving care imaginable. Often the version found in these cds is SUPERIOR to the original.
Remember the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey? Of course you do. But how many times have you heard a cheap imitation of the original version from the movie, starting too low in volume and ending too high (and missing the essential pipe-organ that gives it that extra oomph)? Well, this first track in the entire collection is not only everything it should be instrumental and timing-wise, but it also has been oh-so-carefully adjusted during the mastering process so that at no time is the music either too low or too high in volume (surely a benchmark for every other recording ever to be made of the piece).
Or what about the theme from the (at-the-time) uber-creepy The Black Hole? The orchestration of this piece of music goes from tiumphant to terrifying and back again, with a splendor and cleanness that I CERTAINLY don't remember being in the original recording.
Then there's the new version of the theme from Independence Day, complete with a violin solo, a far more electrifying ending climax, and a chorus so thunderous that you feel like applauding at the end. Simply indescribable. Kind of like the MIND-BLOWING rendition of the theme from The Last Star Fighter. This has been one of my favorite themes for a long time now, but I've never heard it played like this. I think the original version of the theme is something like 1 minute long, but this new version doesn't just fade out (HAHAHAHA!!!!) THIS version is THREE minutes long, goes through the main theme THREE times, with the final strains being so triumphant and joyous I could not help but feel an electrifying charge the first dozen or so times (come to think of it, I still feel that way). This is superior to the original in EVERY way. AWESOME.
And let's not forget the incredible new rendition of Stargate with it's heavy use of clarinets (for Egyptian effect!) and a triumphant new ending (completely lacking the chanting from the original version. This version is so different that for the first minute it is very hard to tell that it is in fact Stargate. But then the main theme kicks in, and then you get this incredible flute solo for my favorite part of theme (the whole thing is played slower, but arguably more powerfully than the original). My goodness. At first I found the thing so different I didn't like it. But then I listened to it again. And again. And again.
I could go on and on, talking about the fantastic new rendition of Moon Raker, the ear-popping Battlestar Galactica, the classic Star Trek (First Contact has a minute or two of the theme from Star Trek:The Motion Picture before going into the main theme), or the sweet renditions of music from the Star Wars movies (or the music from E.T.).
I have to mention though that this collection was not picked based merely on what people want, or on what is popular. No, the people who made it obviously thought a GOOD music collection was better than a popular one. That's why you get a heartbreakingly beautiful theme from A.I. instead of the main theme. It's why you get music from movies that you probably never gave a second thought to the music (because the movie was lousy). It's why you get Armageddon, Judge Dredd, and Robocop (who would have guessed their music was so COOL when there was all that crazy action and bad-acting going on on-screen).
I said it before and I'll say it again. This cd-set was mastered with tender-loving-care, and it shows BIG-TIME. High-fidelity the likes of which I have not seen since the days when cds were brand-new in the world. Dolby Surround. Perfectly balanced. BEAUTIUFL orchestrations. About the only thing that makes me scratch my head is the weird sound-effect tracks (Oooookay.....). Other than that, it's PERFECT. Obviously they could not include every sci-fi theme ever (no one can), but this collection is REALLY GOOD. A lot of great themes that got away (forgotten gems :), new versions of old favorites, and under-appreciated classics aplenty, but ALWAYS the full and complete versions with nothing cut-out (the theme from Dune is quite extended).
If you love movie music (and sci-fi movie music in particular) you MUST buy this awesome collection). It is not the original recordings. Almost always the new ones are better (if they aren't better they're just equal). This is what you have been waiting for. I for one am going to be buying quite a few cds from this company in the future. Give your ears the treat they deserve. Buy it NOW.
SciFi Album gift.......2005-07-20
Away From to be a Collectible Peace.......2004-12-16
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Deeper Still
Beth Nielsen Chapman Manufacturer: Artemis Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000639WB Release Date: 2002-03-26 |
Tracks:
- World Of Hurt - (with John Hiatt/Andy Bey)
- Angels By My Side
- Every December Sky - (with John Prine)
- Wait For The Way
- Shake My Soul - (with Bonnie Raitt)
- All Comes Down To Love
- All For The Love
- Deeper Still - (with Vince Gill)
- Sleep
- Feathers Bones And Shells
- There's A Light
Amazon.com
Beth Nielsen Chapman has long been a music-industry favorite, with the likes of Elton John championing and performing her songs. To say she's had it rough, though, barely does justice to the events that inform 1997's Sand and Water and its follow-up, Deeper Still--the death of her husband and her subsequent fight with breast cancer. Deeper Still's acceptance of hard truths will resonate with many listeners, while others will raise an eyebrow at Chapman's insistence that there are "angels by [her] side." As Hallmark as she can sometimes seem, though, it feels a bit churlish to throw stones at someone who could've folded as easily as continuing to record. Deeper Still offers nothing as pop perfect as "This Kiss," the hit she cowrote for Faith Hill, but those tuned to its singer-songwriter pitch will treasure it nonetheless. --Rickey WrightCustomer Reviews:
Beyond Beautiful..........2007-07-29
In each song Beth connects with her listens in a most beautiful & profound way - it is truly awesome!
I would categorize this music as folk or folk-rock. However, on this particular CD, there is also a celtic-flare to several of the songs.
So, if you like "folk-rock"-type music & music that touches your heart, then this CD is for you! I honestly can't recommend it highly enough!
Not quite as strong as SAND AND WATER but close.......2005-07-16
HIGHLIGHTS:
"Every December Sky" uses the fallen leaves of autumn as a metaphor for mortality. ("And every leaf of fire lets go/melting in the arms of Earth and snow") Bonnie Raitt guests along with frequent songwriting partner Annie Roboff on "Wait for the Way", an ode to having patience while "time heals all wounds". The title track is the finest paraphrase of "it's better to have loved and lost" I've heard. A pennywhistle and Vince Gill's harmony bolster the track, summed up in its final line "you will always have what you gave to love". "Sleep" is Chapman's paean to world music, incorporating Native American flute, Tibetan bowl, Conch shell and street sounds of an Indian market in its unorthodox arrangement. Chapman imagines death as a place with "wondrous wings and blinded eyes/that see even beyond seeing/The same heartbreaking sorrow/The same unspeakable loveliness/All at the same time/How beautiful and sad". "Feathers Bones and Shells" reminds us of how fragile life is, that "nothing escapes/the wind blowing through/the feathers, bones and shells". Beth's accompanied only by her piano and John Catching's cello. "There's a Light" is a non-denominational hymn of sorts, asserting "To this world we will die/but our hearts know/We'll see more on that side/when the door opens wide/We will fly, we will fly/we will all go". The restrained arrangement never allows itself to crest into bathos. Emmylou Harris and Kimmie Rhodes add subtle harmony as Chapman ends the album with the antithesis of opener "World of Hurt".
LOWS:
The mechanized electronic drum drone of "All for the Love" feels out of place in the context of the mostly organic sounds Chapman has offered on the bulk of the album. It's no so much "poor" as poorly used. It might have been better held onto for a future project where it would sound of a piece. It may just be incredible coincidence, but "All Comes Down to Love" sounds AMAZINGLY close musically to the PUSH STARS "Drunk is Better than Dead". At least, I'm hoping it's just astounding coincidence. The acoustic guitar parts are identical..the song is OK but the smell of plagairism ruins it for me.
BOTTOM LINE:
This still is quite a contemplative album and not "sunny pop" by any means, but it's not as laden with melancholy as SAND AND WATER was. Though I feel S.A.W. was a better work of art, you may find yourself putting this one in the player more often.
Simple, beautiful, pure--.......2003-02-13
Listen to this with an open mind........2002-12-16
I consider this album to be special. This assumes that we can put aside inhibitions and listen openly to the content of the songs. Some are upbeat; many are slow and reflective.
As for the recording, the information informs us that numerous sites are used for the recordings. On good equipment this shows: in lack of clarity and in digital 'edge' to the voice. In what seems a common style in US C & W recordings, there is little ambience and the sound does not open up enough; my 'ScanSpeak' tweeters appear to have taken a vacation! A quick check with a digital editor shows clipping; with minor clip restoration, plus slight presence lift, the sound becomes more acceptable.
Do listen to the poetry...
Unspeakable loveliness!.......2002-07-12
This is an extremely moving CD from beginning to end. It might not lift your heart, but it will stir your soul. And art is about moving you in some way, even if it is not always upbeat and happy.
Other reviewers have commented on the famous singers who have lent thier talents to back-up vocals. This, I think, is a tribute to the strength of the material that Ms. Chapman has created.
Other reviewers have also commented on indvidual songs. The one that moved me most is called, "Sleep" as I recall. On it, Ms. Chapman sings of "The same heartcrushing sorrow, the same unspeakable loveliness... all at the same time." These lyrics could describe the entire CD.
Dance Music:
- Straight From Streets Presents Houston Hard [Explicit Lyrics]
- Straight Thuggin' for Life [Explicit Lyrics]
- Supernatural
- The Best Man [Soundtrack]
- The Houston Hard Hitters, Vol. 2: The Soundtrack [Explicit Lyrics]
- The Preliminaries
- Thicker Than Water [Explicit Lyrics] [Soundtrack]
- Throwed Yung Playa [Explicit Lyrics]
- Trueself Soundtrack [Soundtrack]
- Trying to Survive
Dance Music
Greatest Hits 1970-2002 [Limited Edition] [Import]
Mozart: Concertos for piano No23; Brahms: Piano Concerto in Dm No1, Op15
Flamenco Chill Sessions: The Flamenco Chill Out Compilation [Import]
O Melhor Ainda Esta Por Vir [Import]
Miserere/Vox Patris Caelestis/
Next Year [CD-single] [Import] [Live]
Bizet - Carmen / Béatrice Uria-Monzon, Papis, Vaduva, Le Texier, Lombard [highlights]