Sirens

1. Sirens

2. Deirdre of the Sorrows

3. Feather for Your Soul

4. Inanna

5. Durga

6. Phoenix Anastasis

7. Nakawe

8. Selene

9. Visions of Bernadette

Sirens,Mychael Danna,Hearts of Space,Ambient,Jazz Music,Neo-Classical,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Progressive Alternative

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Average customer rating: A Storytellers very good work ... with the best yet to come Isbell Stands on His Own Fantastic!!! Pretty good debut Decent but not spectacular

Sirens Of The Ditch Jason Isbell Manufacturer: New West Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Easy Tiger Killers and Stars Brothers of a Feather The Salvation Blues Sky Blue Sky ASIN: B000QUU2UW Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

1. Brand New Kind Of Actress (5:31)
2. Down In A Hole (4:18)
3. Try (4:48)
4. Chicago Promenade (3:19)
5. Dress Blues (4:07)
6. Grown (3:42)
7. Hurricanes and Hand Grenades (5:07)
8. In A Razor Town (3:15)
9. Shotgun Wedding (3:45)
10. The Magician (4:16)
11. The Devil Is My Running Mate (3:45)

Amazon.com

Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Isbell was a driving force in the rousing postmodern Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers. Sirens of the Ditch is his solo debut. A resident of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Isbell clearly has Catholic taste in his roots rock. His backing band throws together a pleasant mélange of pedal steel, organ, strummed acoustic guitar, and heartfelt Americana vocals. At first, it sounds like something you've heard before a thousand times, by Ryan Adams or was that Bryan Adams. However, on closer inspection, there's a lot more going on. After rhyming "bitch" with "ditch" in the song "Ditch," Isbell throws in a line about "dancing to 'Purple Rain'" and you're drawn in, to a clearly delineated but poetic storyline and gorgeous melodies. Isbell's best songs will remind you of Richard Buckner, Raymond Carver, and Neil Young. "Dress Blues" might be the most sympathetic and awesome song about the Iraq war yet written. Huzzah. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

Accomplished guitarist and songwriter Jason Isbell, formerly of Drive By Truckers (DBT), releases his debut solo album Sirens Of The Ditch.

The album rocks with 11 tracks all written by Isbell kicking off with "Brand New Kind Of Actress", followed by the rocker "Down In A Hole", a swampy number featuring Muscle Shoals natives Spooner Oldham and David Hood. Isbell s songwriting skills shine especially on "Dress Blues" a pensive ballad about a high-school classmate who lost his life fighting in Iraq and "Chicago Promenade" a tribute to his late Grandfather.

Listeners caught glimpses of Isbell s skills on Drive-By Truckers records with tracks like "Danko/Manuel" and "Outfit".

Sirens Of The Ditch's mystical quality can be partially attributed to the FAME recording studio (Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Otis Redding) in Isbell s hometown of Muscle Shoals, AL where the album was recorded. A lot of old soul musicians came through here in the late 60s and 70s and helped define the Muscle Shoals sound, the lifelong Alabamian explains, so that influence was always in my environment, but on this record I really tried to capture that.

Co-produced by Isbell and Patterson Hood (DBT), Sirens Of The Ditch features Isbell singing lead vocals and playing guitar throughout, joined by Shonna Tucker (DBT) on Bass and Brad Morgan (DBT) on drums. Several musicians pop in for cameos including Spooner Oldham and David Hood (Patterson s father) on "Down In A Hole", John Neff (DBT) on "Dress Blues" and Patterson himself guests on "Shotgun Wedding".

Customer Reviews:

A Storytellers very good work ... with the best yet to come.......2007-08-01

Jason Isbell is a storyteller, one whose work with DBT took me, a Southern California boy, into the tradations, beauty and horrors of his Deep South. As with the best of DBT's work, he did so in graceful, yet frequently brutal narratives. With DBT, you didn't easily forget a Jason Isbell song. "Outfit", "Declaration Day", "Never gonna Change", "Goddamn Lonely Love", "When the Well runs Dry" ... these songs are movies that play out in your mind and stay.

DBT albums like The Dirty South are intense affairs. One of the many benefits of having three top-notch contributers was it allowed Jason, Patterson and Cooley to bring their top material. In Jason's case, that always meant intense or highly entertaining material ("The Day John Henry Died").

In Jason's debut release, I have listened to it for three weeks now before weighing in with a review. Jason's songwriting skills and guitar playing are evident throughout, with many of the songs improving with ongoing listening.

However, I don't believe the overall quality of his full release is fully realized, thus the four star rating. While contributing 3-4 songs likely representing his best work per DBT album, in this case there isn't enough top level material throughout Sirens of the Ditch. This point of view probably is not fair, my expectations were very high. His previous work usually left me open-mouthed in amazement, very little here comes close to that. It likely would be difficult to produce an entire release consisting of the quality and intensity of Jason's previous work.

I conclude by noting that I am very anxious to see Jason's band in tour. I saw DBT on The Dirty South tour in an amazing show and Jason's guitar work and songs were incredible. As much as I enjoy the majority of his first release, I have a gut feeling that the next one will blow every gear and be simply incredible.

Isbell Stands on His Own.......2007-07-31

When Isbell was in the Drive-By Truckers, you just knew he had more songs waiting to be heard. On his debut solo album, he proves he has what it takes to go it alone, and even broaden his horizons a bit.

The hard rocking tunes are still there ("Try," "Shotgun Wedding"), and Isbell still shows a real talent for gothic Southern tales ("Down in a Hole"). But he's also penned a couple of great sad songs ("Dress Blues," "In a Razor Town") with lyrics that just ache: "You watch every move / And call it sleight of hand / You know it's what I do / But never who I am" ("The Magician").

This isn't the Truckers, to be sure. Isbell is at once less hard-edged and less overtly Southern than his former band. But anyone familiar with Isbell's contributions to that group will not be surprised (or disappointed) by the material here. Isbell is a real talent, and has surely put out one of the best records we'll see this year.

Fantastic!!!.......2007-07-29

Brilliant song writing! Echoes of Drive by Truckers yet still very original! Best album I've heard this year! Jason made the right decision to leave DBT's otherwise we made not have had the pleasure of this excellent début solo album. Hope there's more where that came from! Well done Jason, can't wait for a UK tour!!!!

Pretty good debut.......2007-07-28

Jason Isbell is an incredibly talented musician and songwriter. I was really bummed when he left Drive-By Truckers because his songs were many of my favorites. I was anxious to see what he'd do by himself, and I think it's pretty good. It has the same deep, soulful storytelling of his DBT songs, and his voice is great. The music on some of the songs is kind of hit and miss though. Some of them are great, but a handful, maybe half, don't live up to the power of the DBT stuff. They're a little dull. I know, it's not fair to compare his debut solo album to a band that's been around for years, which is why I'm excited by the promise shown in this album--it shows that he'll do great things on his own. In itself, though, this album isn't great all the way through. Still, if you're a big DBT fan, this is worth picking up.

Decent but not spectacular.......2007-07-27

Jason Isbell definitely has potential, but you get the feeling that he hasn't quite found his voice yet. He's only like 28 years old, and he's just separated from a great band - The Drive-By Truckers. Some of these songs are pretty good alt-country numbers, but others fall flat and bland. Also, I'm not wild about his voice: he sounds like he could be one of the singers in Rascall Flats. But if you like alt-country with a more MOR sound, this would be a good one to buy.

Average customer rating: Great Buy! Perfect Match Probably the most beautiful musical of all time Beautiful! A good musical

Jane Eyre, the Musical (Original 2000 Broadway Cast) John Caird Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: Little Women The Musical (2005 Original Broadway Cast) The Scarlet Pimpernel: The New Musical Adventure - Original Broadway Cast Recording The Secret Garden (1991 Original Broadway Cast) Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast) The Light in the Piazza (2005 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000051Y31 Release Date: 2000-11-21

Tracks:

1. The Orphan
2. Children of God
3. Forgiveness
4. The Graveyard
5. Sweet Liberty
6. Secrets of the House
7. Act One: Perfectly Nice
8. Act One: As Good As You
9. Secret Soul
10. Finer Things
11. The Pledge
12. Sirens
13. Things Beyond This Earth
14. Painting Her Portrait
15. In the Light of the Virgin Morning
16. The Gypsy
17. The Proposal
18. Slip of a Girl
19. Sirens (Reprise)
20. Farewell, Good Angel
21. My Maker
22. Rain
23. The Voice Across the Moors
24. Poor Sister
25. Brave Enough for Love

Amazon.com

Here's another to join the parade of page-to-stage musicals inspired by 19th-century fiction. This ambitious adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's haunting classic Jane Eyre for the musical theater seems to be part of a trend represented most famously by Les Misérables. It also reflects the increasing pressure to schedule an original cast recording release as close as possible to a new show's Broadway opening: in this case, in fact, the CD was both recorded and released prior to the show's opening in December 2000 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. But what's most significant for the artistic character of Jane Eyre: The Musical is found in yet another pattern: like a number of his colleagues, composer-lyricist Paul Gordon comes to the project from a pop music industry background (best known for his hit "Friends and Lovers"). And quite a few of the show's numbers benefit from Gordon's catchy craftwork, weaving melodies that are clearly destined to be whistled long past curtain. Yet the effect is sometimes too facile, not diving as deep as we would like into the emotional predicaments of Brontë's characters. You begin to crave a more deftly defined and imagined variety of sound worlds (especially for the darker aspects of Thornfield Hall) than what is hinted at. Gordon doesn't forge any new paths, but his melodic fluency does have its moments of payoff--especially in the moving final duet "Brave Enough for Love," which is also strong enough to stand on its own.

Gordon's predilections as a would-be son of Sondheim are nevertheless clear, and he's telescoped the story into mostly effective lyrics, with some thoughtful juxtapositions of material. Most importantly, he understands that this is more than a Gothic romance, foregrounding the central message of forgiveness that Jane learns as a girl. He attempts to explore the injured sense of self shared by both Jane and Rochester and sets them on a painful, mutual voyage of discovery.

The creative team also includes the veteran duo John Caird (book and direction) and John Napier (scenic design), who have collaborated on such epics as Les Mis and Nicholas Nickleby (not to mention the Las Vegas Siegfried and Roy extravaganza). And the show's creators seem to share a vision geared toward the more operatic end of the spectrum (it was opera composers, after all, who early on claimed 19th-century Gothic fiction for the stage, as in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor), with an actual parody of coloratura in one showstopper ("The Finer Things") given to Blanche Ingram. Fortunately, the two principals have large, richly expressive voices to encompass the large, complicated emotions of these characters. Marla Schaffel singswith unusual beauty and brings dimension to her Jane, while James Barbour (whose resumé includes Beauty and the Beast) is never really threatening as Rochester, but rather a tortured soul who is sweet-voiced even at his most cynical. Mary Stout is a stitch as the blustery Mrs. Fairfax. While the show has already undergone a lengthy evolution from its very first workshops, the viability of its final, fully staged realization has yet to be determined. But this cast recording conveys an authentic sense of the musical's atmosphere and emotional scope. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Great Buy!.......2007-06-08

Not only was this CD super cheap, it also arrived at my house 3 days later!

Perfect Match.......2007-03-16

The music in this album really gave me the feeling of reading the book. I think the songs were well chosen and well written, except of course for the songs sung by Mrs. Fairfax... I could have done without those. Jane and Mr. Rochester's songs carry the story well and they sound lovely. For any musical lover, or romance fan I definitely recommend this album.

Probably the most beautiful musical of all time.......2007-02-16

This is a hidden gem and if you buy it and listen to it, I don't see how you can not love it. I have bought many, many Broadway cast albums but I still am a popster at heart. With all that said, this is a cast album that soars above the crowd.

I bought this several years ago and have listened to it repeatedly since I got it. Why do I love it so much? First of all, the lyrics are full of heart and emotion and tell the story ably. But it is the music and the performances that are truly remarkable here. The melodies are memorable and absolutely exquisite. The orchestration is lush but not sappy. The performances by the two leads are nothing less than stunning.

I never get bored with this wonderful cast album and it is very, very highly recommended.

Beautiful!.......2007-01-28

I listen to this soundtrack all the time and I never get tired of the songs. If Charlotte Bronte story was written as a musical, then this would definitely be it.

A good musical.......2006-07-20

if you like old-fashioned romantic stuff, this one's for you. Some songs are very inspired, the music is,for the most part, quite beautiful, and the story line keeps the essence of the Bronte novel. I heard this right after "Wuthering Heights: the musical", which is quite good, yet this is superior. Give it a try and you might be nicely surprised. I would highly recommend it to the ones who know the novel and to English Literature students: it offers a different and interesting approach to the novel.

Average customer rating:

The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi The Receiving End of Sirens Manufacturer: Triple Crown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Feast or Famine An End Has a Start Arrivals & Departures New Wave ASIN: B000SINSTO Release Date: 2007-08-07

Tracks:

1. Swallow People Whole
2. Oubliette (Disappear)
3. Crop And The Pest, The
4. Salesman, The Husband, The Lover, The
5. Smoke And Mirrors
6. Realization Of The Ear, A
7. Saturnus
8. Wanderers
9. Stay Small
10. Music Of The Spheres
11. Heir Of Empty Breath, The
12. Pale Blue Dot

Album Description

Their second studio album is their most altruistic, enthralling, and skillful work to date. It's built up of synergetic instrumental measures and intense lyrics that flow brilliantly, transcending one song to the next. Having been well-received on tours alongside Circa Survive, Panic! At The Disco, and 30 Seconds To Mars, with appearances on Taste Of Chaos, the Warped Tour, and MTV's $2 Bill Tour, this band is not your typical flash in the pan. Produced by Matt Squire (Panic! At The Disco, Boys Like Girls).

Album Description

Their second studio album is their most altruistic, enthralling, and skillful work to date. It's built up of synergetic instrumental measures and intense lyrics that flow brilliantly, transcending one song to the next. Having been well-received on tours alongside Circa Survive, Panic! At The Disco, and 30 Seconds To Mars, with appearances on Taste Of Chaos, the Warped Tour, and MTV's $2 Bill Tour, this band is not your typical flash in the pan. Produced by Matt Squire (Panic! At The Disco, Boys Like Girls).

Average customer rating: My favorite CD for jazz standards Blankets of Nostalgic Bliss Soft . . . Soulful . . . Sighing . . . or Sad . So So Sirens Listen once and you're hooked

Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers Various Artists Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music 1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocalists | Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music 1940-1949 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 1950-1959 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Torch Songs Great Ladies of Jazz Torch Songs Great Ladies Sing Gershwin Lady Sings the Blues ASIN: B0000033V0 Release Date: 1997-04-01

Tracks:

1. Cry Me A River - Julie London
2. Black Coffee - Sarah Vaughan
3. Stormy Blues - Billie Holiday
4. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - Ella Fitzgerald
5. But Not For Me - Judy Garland
6. Stormy Weather - Lena Horne
7. Come Rain Or Come Shine - Marlene Dietrich
8. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Eartha Kitt
9. La Vie En Rose (Sung In English) - Edith Piaf
10. At Last - Etta James
11. Since I Fell For You - Nina Simone
12. What A Difference A Day Makes - Dinah Washington
13. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good - Carmen McRae
14. Soul On Fire - LaVern Baker
15. I'll Wait For You - Ruth Brown

Customer Reviews:

My favorite CD for jazz standards.......2006-05-19

I absolutely love this CD. I've had it for years and never get bored of it. Not only are they terrific songs, they are wonderful performances by the great vocalists of that time. I really enjoy buying jazz cds with various artists because I can sample new artists. After buying this CD I went on to buy music by Julie London, Eartha Kitt, and the list goes on. Great standards and great performance - the way these songs should be sung! Cry Me a River and Black Coffee - my favorites!

By the way, there's one review that describes this cd as man-bashing. I don't get that feeling when I listen to the CD. To me, it's fantastic love songs - and sometimes love is sad or unfair, or really great - and that's all there is to it.

Blankets of Nostalgic Bliss.......2005-10-22

Can you hear the soothing rawness of the needle landing on the vinyl? Can you smell the rich ruby lip rouge seducing the sound stage? Can you see the swaying sirens blessed with longing lungs and forelorn hearts? Here you have Edith Piaf and Etta James, the songs Cry Me a River and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. This collection sealed my arrival to true womanhood and music lover land. Listening to these ladies, true Torch Singers, I felt transported back to the hallways of my parents' high schools and my grandparents' parlour rooms. The biographical writings contained in the CD jacket makes for good reading as a luxe bonus. I've had this tremendous collections for years now but all that currently remains is the gorgeous CD cover, so I'm putting a freshly sealed copy in my shopping cart, as should you. Bought during a strange Eartha Kitt fixation, this CD offers a wealth of long satisfying listening pleasures. Run a bath on a rainy day or take a stroll through a fresh snowfall. Whatever ambient escape you desire, this auric interlude will warm you with blankets of nostalgic bliss.

Soft . . . Soulful . . . Sighing . . . or Sad ........2004-02-21

This review relates to the musical CD, "Sirens of Song:
Classic Torch Singers." Rhino: R2 72514. 1997.
The atmosphere, locale, and tone of these songs
and presentations is close, soft, intimate, jazzy blue,
and easily accessible.
The songs and singers are: "Cry Me A River", Julie
London; "Black Coffee", Sarah Vaughan; "Stormy
Blues", Billie Holiday; "I'm Getting Sentimental Over
You", Ella Fitzgerald; "But Not For Me", Judy Garland;
"Stormy Weather", Lena Horne; "Come Rain or Come Shine",
Marlene Dietrich; "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", Eartha Kitt;
"La Vie En Rose" (in English), Edith Piaf; "At Last";
Etta James; "Since I Fell For You", Nina Simone; "What A
Difference A Day Makes", Dinah Washington; "I Got It Bad
And That Ain't Good", Carmen McRae; "Soul On Fire",
LaVern Baker; "I'll Wait For You", Ruth Brown.
What really fascinates and pleases on this disc are
the distinctive tonalities, stylings, and intimate
involvement with the songs which each of these ladies
presents. As each voice comes on with its own song
of love-lorn experience and "wisdom" gained, it is
instantly recognizable as belonging to the particular
lady who sings it. There is pathos in these songs,
but scarely any pitiful whining. And, strangely,
although the subject matter is about sadness and
loss, the presentations are soft and soulful, very
restful and in a way, comforting. That's the way
of the world -- it happens to us all -- life is
not just laughter and blase glitz, it's also
cold experience and pain, but at some point there
has to be soulful, restful assessment and release.
For me, the slight irritation in some of the orchestrations,
is the "intrusion" of the jazzy, muted trumpets as if
inserting a bit of razzing worldly smart-aleck
comment. The other possible irritation for some
may be the inclusion of Marlene Dietrich among these
stylish ladies of song -- hers seems more like a
"campy" inclusion, with even a talking portion in
the song.
The personal standouts for me are Billie Holiday,
Ella Fitzgerald (stylish sophistication personified),
Eartha Kitt, Edith Piaf, Etta James, Dinah Washington
(what a special sound her voice has!), Carmen McRae
(another special sound).
The booklet included has excellent photographs of
Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald,
Judy Garland, Julie London, Eartha Kitt, Marlene
Dietrich, Etta James, and LaVern Baker.
The purpose is: "The lives of the women who pour their
hearts out on -Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers-
read like a litany of heartache, hardship, seesaws of
rejection and adoration, and deaths that came too soon.
Emotion and upheaval make for 'good torch.' Technically,
a torch song is about unrequited love. Here we have
broadened the definition to include all aspects of
love -- good, bad, and uncontrollable -- for that
special, or ultimately not-so-special someone." --
Norma Campbell Edwards. "Happy" listening.
-----------------------------
-- Robert Kilgore.

So So Sirens.......2004-02-15

I appreciate good jazz vocals; but, these are just ok jazz vocals, with big name singers. I guess I had expected the songs to be cleaned up a bit - you know digitally perfect. While there are a lot of wonderful songs here, by most of the original performers, that does not make them the best versions of the songs. Unfortunately the feel of the songs gradually goes from lounge jazz (good) to early Doo-whop (just ok). Still, if you're in the mood for some historic / nostalgic performances by the first first ladies of music, there is a place in your collection for this disk. I personally enjoyed Judy Garland's: But Not For Me.

The one other thing about the CD I didn't care for was the marketing technique used. It is an honorable thing to support shelters for battered women; however, it is not necessary to employ subtle, emotional male-bashing in the liner notes. Our two genders will never achieve equality, if they can't treat each other with respect and consideration.

Listen once and you're hooked.......2004-01-23

I used to work part-time at Tower Records. Every day when you work at Tower, you get to play a CD sometime during the course of your shift. Whenever I played this CD, customers would flock up to the front counter wanting to know what it was and where in the store they could find it (the first time the copy I was playing was the only copy in the store -- the first customer who asked me for it got to buy it right off the CD player and I had to special-order it for a bunch of other people). It got so popular in the store that the manager ordered a bunch and put the CD on one of the preview-play stations.

Average customer rating: Smashing Greatest Album since Beatles White Album SUMNER The Comeback Continues... Grows On You...

Waiting for the Sirens' Call (U.S. Bonus Track) New Order Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Playing the Angel Get Ready Technique Power, Corruption & Lies Low-Life ASIN: B0007WFYD4 Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

1. Who's Joe?
2. Hey Now What You Doing
3. Waiting for the Sirens Call
4. Krafty
5. I Told You So
6. Morning Night & Day
7. Dracula's Castle
8. Jetstream
9. Guilt Is A Useless Emotion
10. Turn
11. Working Overtime
12. Guilt Is A Useless Emotion - U.S. Bonus Track

Amazon.com

The Killers. Interpol. Franz Ferdinand. Without New Order's influence they could have all ended up making albums of country & western ballads. Since the demise of Joy Division in 1980, the British synth-pop quartet has been diligently changing the course of popular music, lobbing unlikely but inventive hits like "Blue Monday" and "True Faith" into the charts. Twenty-five years on, New Order remains shockingly vital. Its eighth proper album overflows with shimmering melodies, anchored by Peter Hook's spine-tingling bass lines and Bernard Sumner's thin but emotive voice in thrilling new songs like "Krafty" and "Dracula's Castle." -- Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

Smashing.......2007-02-08

I'd drifted away from New Order in the past decade or so. Even the inclusion of Billy Corgan wasn't enough to pique my interest, 'cause the music didn't seem to be as good as their old stuff. I finally got around to checking out this album a couple of months ago, and was blown away. It's a terrific collection of songs that on any other album would be highlights. Catchy, clever, compulsive, and classic - and that's just the compliments beginning with 'C'. Great stuff.

Greatest Album since Beatles White Album.......2006-11-14

It is now November 2006 and I still can't take it out of my deck. I also have it in my MP3 player. I went to the Concert in May 2005 and believe the band keeps getting better and better. I await their next album. Buy this one though.

SUMNER.......2006-11-03

what a great band. I have been a fan of this band since republic came out and now i have everything by them i am a fanatic when it comes to them. this is a great album with great catchy songs. great music from manchester england. this is classic music , not the crap you hear in america the top forty crap. great music from manchester, when i think of now order i always think of england. bernard sumner has one of the greatest voices ever and peter hook is a classic. my favorite songs on this album are KRAFTY, WAITING FOR THE SIRENS CALL , WHO"S JOE and so many others great songs. can't wait for the new album.

The Comeback Continues..........2006-10-31

Great album - more synth-heavy and musically diverse than 2001's GET READY, but not as cohesive or moving. Possibly not the best choice to start with for new fans, tho. Try LOW-LIFE instead. Here's a quick breakdown:

Who's Joe (8/10): Excellent opener saved from mediocrity by spectacular bass riffs during the chorus.

Hey Now (7/10): Unfortunately, Hooky didn't save this bland rocker (oxymoron?) from relative mediocrity. Sounds more like Electronic (Barney's side project with former Smith's guitarist Johnny Marr) than NO. Not that Electronic's so bad...

Krafty (10/10): Possibly their greatest single ever (and this is really saying something!). Absolute New Order heaven. Reminds me of their criminally unknown track, Such A Good Thing.

Waiting For The Siren's Call (10/10): Another all-time classic - better than virtually anything since 93's Regret. One of Hook's most distinctive and addictive licks ever, and a masterful performance by the entire group. It's flabbergasting they're this good 25 years on!

I Told You So (8/10): An abrupt switch to pure techno, which would not have worked if the song wasn't so good. Like many NO tunes, this one's a grower. Dark, swaggering, sophisticated, & sexual.

Morning Night And Day (7/10): Here's where the album starts sagging. Nothing awful, but the next few don't even compare to tracks 3 and 4. Still, pretty good ear candy.

Dracula's Castle (7/10): Run of the mill. Too synth- heavy and melodically meandering. Should have been a b-side for Krafty.

Jetstream (8/10): Not bad - this one was a minor hit - but something about it leaves me cold. This dancy, druggy collaboration with Ana Matronic didn't really need to be a single.

Guilt Is A Useless Emotion (9/10): Great title, great song. Pure, stomping techno, the likes of which we haven't heard from NO since 89's TECHNIQUE. Unlike some of the previous numbers, this time the electronica really works for them. The first in a trilogy of whoppers that close out SIREN'S CALL.

Turn (9/10): Cited by many online fans as the best track, this one's a driving and emotional pop gem - elegiac, catchy, and more rock-oriented like the first four tracks.

Working Overtime (9/10): Adrenalized punk-pop, Green Day-style. It all comes together on this fantastically alive rocker that leaves you grinning as the disk stops. NO have a long history of closing their albums in grand style, and this is one of their best. Along the same lines as Rock The Shack, but distinctly better.

Overall grade: 9/10. Heed the call.

Grows On You..........2006-10-28

I've had this album for quite some time now, and after initially being disappointed,the album has steadily grown on me. The songs are incredibly catchy and seem to linger...and somehow the album returns to the CD player.

**** out of 5.

Average customer rating: Too brilliant for the Warped Tour crowd Best CD Ever pinnacle of everything that is modern "emo" Stands out and above the emo label bestowed upon it... For fans of Jimmy Eat World

Between the Heart and the Synapse The Receiving End of Sirens Manufacturer: Triple Crown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Things Aren't So Beautiful Now Kezia Saosin EP Saosin The City Sleeps in Flames ASIN: B0007YMVE2 Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

1. Prologue
2. Planning A Prison Break
3. The Rival Cycle
4. The Evidence
5. The War Of All Against All
6. ...Then I Defy You, Stars
7. Intermission
8. This Armistice
9. Broadcast Quality
10. Flee The Factory
11. Dead Men Tell No Tales
12. Venona
13. Epilogue

Album Description

Electronically enhanced hard rockin' in the vein of Hot Rod Circuit meets The Refused. Their unique sound, sharpened by producer Matt Squire (Northstar, Thrice), recreates the boundaries of the genre. They have a hearty appetite for touring and a face-melting live show.

Customer Reviews:

Too brilliant for the Warped Tour crowd.......2007-03-06

Although I would hate to call another reviewer an "idiot", I agree that suggesting that this album is "emo", "punk", or sounds anything like/offers anything remotely similar to bands like Taking Back Sunday, New Found Glory, and Saves the Day...is ignorant.

This is not your average Warped Tour fare. This album is a brilliant work of art, expertly crafted by five extremely talented musicians with a level of genius you rarely find in a single member of any band, much less in FIVE members of ONE band. Seriously, TREOS is that good. And this is just the first record...

To call this album, "emo" is selling it way short. "Epicore" (epic core) or "Litcore" (literary core) would be much more appropriate. The thematic elements of this album borrow from everything from the works of Thomas Hobbes to Romeo & Juliet, with even shades of Marxist literature at points (see "Flee the Factory"). And the lyrics are like old romantic poetry. "Where art thou? I've dressed up this canvas skin; painted something colorful just for you" (Then I Defy You, Stars) is just one example of the beautiful, romantic lyrical expression to be found on this epic disc.

Musically, the three vocalists jump in and fade out in a nearly seamless, dreamy arrangement--almost like multiple thoughts jumping around inside your head (give it a shot with earphones, just once). The instrumental arrangements do the same thing, supporting the lyrical swings, and finding different ways to progress an energetic album that doesn't stop or let down for a moment (save the occasional slow segue such as that found at the end of "The War of All Against All").

The production is what floors me, though. On no other album will you find themes and lyrics so brilliantly tying an album together--giving it a coherent wholeness. Almost every song on the album has a counter-piece where lyrics, themes, and musical arrangements will blend into one another. "The Evidence" and "Broadcast Quality" for example are tied together by the line "Her fingers, like spiders, spun a web my body couldn't shed" while "Then I Defy You Stars" and "Venona" are paired by the usage of Romeo as a sort of counterpoint for the songs ("Do you like what you see?...Oh, Romeo"). For this reason, I find it almost impossible to put this album in just to listen to one song. I play it for either the first half (before 'Intermission') or the second half (post 'Intermission'). Oh yeah, and Anthony Green does high-note assistance on "Flee the Factory". Balls. To. The. Wall (since I've been way too formal).

So, every song on the album is phenomenal and has been my favorite song at one time or another. The weakest is probably "Planning a Prison Break" or "Dead Men Tell No Tales" although the former serves as a good, more-mainstream-sounding track for hooking newcomers to the band. My favorites are 'The War of All Against All', "Broadcast Quality", "Then I Defy You Stars", and "Venona".

This is the most amazing album conceptually I may have ever heard. All other albums are just music, for what it's worth. This is a movement. Hopefully Casey's departure won't keep "The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi" from being another revelation. After seeing them live a couple of weeks ago, though, I'm far from worried.

Best CD Ever.......2006-10-18

They are unlike any other band. Don't even worry about what 'genre' they fall into. The Receiving End of Sirens rocks.

pinnacle of everything that is modern "emo".......2006-09-27

the pinnacle of everything that is modern "emo", although i know that tag is misleading and incorrect (see: coheed, funeral for a friend, probably a dozen bands on mtv2, etc). soaring, strong melodies over top of slick drumming (with occassional aid of electronics) and sweet guitar licks. the band is clearly influenced by radiohead and genesis as much as they are fugazi and quicksand. very unique outing that serves both as a milestone of whatever scene some might lump them in and as the album that would make people shake the predominant view that all "emo" is uninspired, boring, and melodramatic.

Stands out and above the emo label bestowed upon it..........2006-09-18

These days, being emo is what's in but knowing emo is unfound. There are different styles of music that could all be associated with the emo label, and it could be said that emo's best days are behind them as bands try to emulate a sound that has grown tired and lacking fresh ideas.

The Receiving End of Sirens is a band that is thrown into today's mix, but they have the most diverse, powerful, and emotional sound out there. They combine elements of progressive, hardcore, punk, and metal to create something so involving and compelling that it's unlike anything considered emo nowadays. To rate this album song by song will be a disservice to the progression the listener experiences. This is not an album with filler or no direction. It is clear yet complex, optimistic while tormented, and imagined despite the reality.

It's quite amazing how a band who quietly opened a show for Saves the Day in Philadelphia would turn out to be the most inventive band we've seen from the genre in years. I don't know how they'll follow up this album but I'll be intrigued to find out. If you haven't already listened to them, you are definitely missing out on the most sensational debut I heard in 2005. Pick up Between the Heart and the Synapse and you will definitely not regret it.

For fans of Jimmy Eat World.......2006-08-11

Call it what you will... Emo/Alt/Indie Rock with heavy guitar? I don't know what the kids are calling it these days, but whatever it is, it's good. However, I do have that nagging feeling at the back of my head that makes me feel like TREOS are just copying what Jimmy Eat World successfully accomplished with "Clarity" and "Static Prevails" before they sold their souls to the Pop-Machine on "Bleed American" and then made their unimpressive effort "Futures" (what I call "The Lullabye" album). This is a good replacement for Jimmy Eat World... but nothing new or innovative. Excuse me while I go listen to "Robot Factory"...!

Average customer rating: Pretty good overall but softer than I expected AMAZING Not to shabby Yes they do sound just like alkaline trio! excellent excellent

Sirens and Condolences Bayside Manufacturer: Victory Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk Revival | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Bayside Acoustic The Walking Wounded When Broken Is Easily Fixed Discovering the Waterfront ASIN: B00018U8P8 Release Date: 2004-01-27

Tracks:

1. Masterpiece
2. Poison In My Veins
3. Phone Call From Poland
4. Talking Of Michelangelo
5. Alcohol And Altar Boys
6. A Synonym For Acquiesce
7. How To Fix Everything
8. Kellum
9. If You're Bored
10. Just Enough To Love You
11. Guardrail

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good overall but softer than I expected.......2006-06-26

First of all I'll clear up the confusion about the resemblance of this band with Alkaline Trio, the guy's voice sounds very similar but the music is nothing like it. This album starts off very strongly with the hit "Masterpiece" which bears its name in honour because it really is a masterpiece. The album is not very challenging musically however, this band makes an effort to try to sound more interesting than the other bands like them because this band includes quite a lot of guitar solos, and even though they may not be metal 200 kmh tapping, they blend in very nicely with the songs and give Bayside some originality, basically, this band can play their instruments well and have nice ideas but none of them are real geniuses with their instruments. Most of this album is quite soft, and I expected it to have a heavier and more punk edge, but in reality it is very emo, and they do have some similarities with Alkaline Trio. Basically if you like Alkaline Trio, or if you are looking for a less punk version of Lost City Angels this album should be a good buy for you.

AMAZING.......2006-03-25

THIS IS SUCH A GREAT CD BUY IT
LISTEN TWICE AND U ARE HOOKED I PROMISE OR I'LL GIVE YOUR MONEY BACK THATS HOW SURE I AM OF THIS N=BAND AND THERE SOUND
~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not to shabby.......2006-01-03

I bought this CD after hearing "Masterpiece" on the Victory sampler, just like the rest of the world. All though the band doesn't seem to bring much to the table, I find myself listening to this CD all the time. While "Masterpiece" is a great song, tracks 6, 7, and 9, I think are the best on the album. Also there is no screaming like the rest of the Victory bands, so its smoother listening for the more melodic fans. It also is a more rock sound, not a whiney emo sound like the rest of the bands out there. A definite buy, unlike Hawthorne from the sampler.

Yes they do sound just like alkaline trio!.......2005-12-29

Im gonna have to agree with the reviewer who compared Bayside to alkaline trio... and disagree with the one who said they didnt. and if you want to hear something that sounds just like alkaline trio you might as well buy alkaline trio.

not a big fan of em but fav track on here is kellum

excellent excellent.......2005-11-21

i really really enjoy this album. As far as favorite tracks, most people list my favorites, but I would have to add track 9, "If You're Bored" as a favorite. I suppose being later in the CD makes it less noticable. Really, all the tracks on this album are good.

Average customer rating: EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES AT BUDGET PRICE

Waldteufel: Famous Waltzes Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs Under $7 | Waltzes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Waltzes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Lehár: Waltzes Skaters Waltz: Les Patineurs Franz von Suppé: Marches, Waltzes, Polkas The Best of Operetta, Vol. 2 Suppé: Famous Overtures ASIN: B0000014FR Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

1. Les Patineurs, Op. 183 (The Skaters)
2. Trjolie, Op. 159 (Very Pretty)
3. Estudiantina, Op. 191
4. Pomone, Op. 155 (Pomona)
5. EspaOp. 236
6. Solitude, Op. 174
7. Les Sirs, Op. 154 (The Sirens)
8. Pluie de diamants, Op. 160 (Golden Rain)
9. Mon r, Op. 151 (My Dream)

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES AT BUDGET PRICE.......2000-07-19

Until now, Waldteufel's music has been largely understated, probably because it is not considered serious music and also that there's no one to keep alive the tradition of performing his music (which is probably also due to the first reason) as the Vienna Philharmonic have been doing with Johann Strauss' waltzes. This recording by the Slovak State Philharmonic (Kosice), with Alfred Walter conducting, brings together some of the most popular of Waldteufel's compositions, the most famous being the "Skater's Waltz"; the tempo, on the whole, is well paced, however I prefer Anton Paulik's rendition with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra on the Vanguard label. Two other well know pieces are on here, Estudiantina and the Espana Waltz (after Chabrier). For a relatively, young orchestra, the Kosice play extremely well. And Alfred Walter has the appropriate skills to bring out the right rhythm. What's more exciting (a little mysterious, even) about this recording is that every track on this CD is directly transferred from Marco Polo's Waldteufel series. But this CD costs half as much as the ones under the name, Marco Polo; I know that Naxos and Marco Polo are affiliated, but that still doesn't help me explain the price difference. Hence, this should be an extra incentive for you to go and get this CD!

Average customer rating: nice Addictive Melodious Guitars A Mediocre Effort Plagued by Subpar Vocals and Boring Ballads

Hallelujah Sirens Dirty on Purpose Manufacturer: North Street Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sleep Late for a Better Tomorrow Citrus Carnavas Yellow House Boys and Girls in America ASIN: B000FS9NAA Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

1. No Radio
2. Your Summer Dress
3. Lake Effect
4. Light Pollution
5. Car No Driver
6. Always Looking
7. Always Looking
8. Marfa Lights
9. Monument
10. Kill Our City
11. Fake Lakes

Album Description

Following the buzz of their "Sleep Late For a Better Tomorrow" EP, Dirty on Purpose will release their much anticipated debut full length, "Hallelujah Sirens" in June 2006. Often described as ethereal and emotional space-rock, Dirty on Purpose, a four-piece from Brooklyn, NY, beautifully combine sonic washes of noise with delicate, pretty harmonies. "Hallelujah Sirens" features 10 brand new, rich and diverse songs that span from upbeat tracks like "No Radio" and "Monument" to songs that build up slowly and explode with intensity like "Your Summer Dress" and "Fake Lakes." Gatefold Digipak.

Customer Reviews:

nice.......2006-09-25

Dirty On Purpose are this cool band from Brooklyn. I saw the lead singer walking around my old neighborhood of Williamsburg. They came out with an EP a few years ago. It was promising. But now we have the full album. They are this New York rock band that is sometimes psychedelic and sometimes into shoegazer stuff. "No Radio" reminds me of Belle & Sebastian. "Always Looking" is one of the best songs here. Sometimes they get spaced out like Mogwai on a few songs. Dirty On Purpose are an original band, and this is their strongest record yet. I look forward to their live show.

Addictive Melodious Guitars.......2006-08-11

I really enjoy listening to this entire album because it has fantastic guitar work. Every song is melodious and fairly mellow, but with a hint of a hard edge. If you're undecided about buying this album, I strongly suggest listening to the free clips that Amazon offers. They'll give you a good feel for whether you'll like this album, which is consistent throughout.

A Mediocre Effort Plagued by Subpar Vocals and Boring Ballads.......2006-08-02

I was really excited about this debut from the NYC band Dirty on Purpose when I first downloaded a couple of tracks from their website. I decided not to listen to the remaining songs and ordered the CD right away. To my great regret this album turned out to be a disappointment. More than half of the material sounds like it's filler, especially the lacklustre ballads which pointlessly ruin the uplifting pace set from the start. Even the better songs are lacking in originality. We've heard it all before, shoegazing drones, post-rock rhythms and sounds. All of the band members' takes on vocals sound somewhat unconvincing and bland. Even though the band managed to deliver some good sounds and tunes, the album still sounds like a compilation of songs that were not meant to be released together. I wish they released an EP instead of this, keeping only the best songs and arranging them in the best possible order. What we've got here is merely palatable but by no means tasty.

Average customer rating: I guess their run is over before it began It Dies Today is going downhill Is Senses Fail REALLY good enough to copy??? Blame Trustkill? Yes. (3.5 stars) Surprisingly decent!

Sirens It Dies Today Manufacturer: Trustkill Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: A Static Lullaby The Fall of Ideals As Daylight Dies Redeemer The Crusade ASIN: B000I2JTDE Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

1. A Constant Reminder
2. A Port In Any Storm
3. The Bacchanal Affair
4. Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur)
5. Sixth Of June
6. Re-ignite The Fires
7. Black Bile, Whites Lies
8. Sirens
9. Through Leaves, Over Bridges
10. On The Road (To Damnation)
11. Turn Loose The Doves

Album Description

The breakout band of 2005 will return with their sophomore album, Sirens to blow everyone away. After going on tour with Eighteen Visions, Machinehead, Trivium, Throwdown, on Ozzfest, and more, these guys have honed their writing skills and plan on giving their fans the absolute best record money can buy. If their new Depeche Mode cover song as heard on

Customer Reviews:

I guess their run is over before it began.......2007-04-16

I've been listening to It Dies Today since their days on Life Sentence Records. Back then this band had all the attitude and edge it needed and then some. Brooks had amazing guttural vocals rivaled by no one, IDT breakdowns were the stuff of legend, and the future seemed bright. But the musicianship was lacking, especially where the guitars were concerned. It wasn't just bad production, you could just tell that the guitarists needed to get better. The Forever Scorned EP was re-recorded the first time, and it seemed like everything was really coming together. They sounded tighter, tougher, and in most ways just better.

Then The Caitiff Choir came out, and it was pretty good. Musicianship had gone way up: a guitar solo? Hell yes. Drums were good like always, guitars were being played well (though their tone was suspect), and while Brooks did more singing, his screaming was still there. Not as prevalent, not quite as ballsy, but still there. The breakdowns were still ridiculous, though less so. Less edge, more musicianship, it was an OK tradeoff.

Then TCC was remixed and Forever Scorned was rerecorded, and all packaged into one product. I was happy. The second coming of TCC was much better, in my opinion. Tougher, edgier, but still with the improved musicianship. The remix left out some of the cool parts of the original release, but the better mix was worth it. The newer new version of Forever Scorned sounded cool on better equipment, but you could tell the guys weren't trying that hard to be great on those songs. Kind of sloppy. Still, overall, it seemed the next album would be a progression of this re-recording, and it was an exciting time.

Then the guys covered "Enjoy the Silence". I was scared. I said to myself, calm down, it's just them trying to do the cover some justice, they won't wuss out.

Now, we have sirens. Lots of singing. Extended singing. Brooks' voice sounds fine, I guess, except HE SHOULD BE SCREAMING. He does, some. It's not gone, but the ratio went from maybe 75% scream, 25% sing, to being almost evenly split. The breakdowns are run-of-the-mill. The musicianship has gone up again, I suppose, but there's no edge anymore. These guys wouldn't be out of place opening for Fallout Boy. Oh wait, they're already opening for Papa Roach. Sigh.

I hope they're doing well monetarily, at least. I saw these guys as the eventual gold standard for metalcore one day, but I guess the market for that stuff isn't there. I wonder if this loss of their edge is the cause of Brooks' departure. I'm just speculating, I have no idea.

Anyway, Sirens is ok. A disappointment for me, but it's still better than 90% of the music out there, of course.

It Dies Today is going downhill.......2007-04-11

When i began listening to The Caitiff Choir, i realized how amazing ITD is. Sure they are pretty much typical metalcore, they have some pretty sweet riffs (Freak gasoline fight accident) and some damn good breakdowns with complitcated rhythms. I heard Sacred Heart and A constant reminder and i figured that this was gonna be a good CD, so i got it. I was very dissapointed. theyre selling out, id say even atreyu is better than them at this point. Brooks' clean vocals are very whiny and sound like they should be a pop-punk album. the guitars are still pretty cool, but the drumming isnt as good as it used to be. and the breakdowns, and there are only a few, are boring, simple breakdowns. Hopefully with the new vocals, ITD will make a comeback.

Is Senses Fail REALLY good enough to copy???.......2007-04-02

As said in my title, Senses Fail is not the best band out there. Far from that, actually, as all their songs sound the same and the vocals are monotonous and somewhat strained. I still enjoy some of their songs, but they're not a great, if even good, band.
The reason I bring up Senses Fail is because this CD sounds almost exactly like the new It Dies Today album, Sirens. I'm serious. The guitars have more of a pop-punk tone and speed to them rather than the brutality they carried on The Caitiff Choir. There is a great reduction in the amount of screams in this album, and Nick's clean vocals sound like, well, Senses Fail. Don't get me wrong, there are some good songs, like A Constant Reminder, The Sixth of June, Sirens... but when I first popped this CD in, I was thinking, 'Ok, they are not the band I thought they were' (when I picked up this album and TCC, I had only heard Freak Gasoline Fight Accident). I listened to a few songs then popped it out and put TCC in, and it was like night and day. I didn't even recognize the band, and to be honest I was looking through both booklets for a lineup just to see if vocalists had changed between albums.
If you're into metalcore, pick up The Caitiff Choir. If you're into screamo, pick up this album. This is not a bad album, and fans of IDT will probably like it (I can listen to it and enjoy it) but it is not the quality of TCC. This band needs to go back to what they were good at, and emo screamo is not what they were good at.

Blame Trustkill? Yes........2007-03-11

It's rather sad that a once great band has taken a path (a.k.a. label) that directed them into a sinking trap. I actually enjoyed "The Catiff Choir" in smaller doses, even though it brought nothing new to metalcore. "Sirens" brings absolutely nothing new to the table, and the band is yet again spiraling into the generic path. Well, they basically ditched the sound that they brought us promise with our "Forever Scorned" EP, and decided to add more poppy nasally vocals and try to fit into the Bullet For My Valentine/Avenged Sevenfold/Atreyu category. And I honestly don't approve of it. This is not what metalcore is intended to be.

If you want a solid, original, listenable and enjoyable metalcore release, forget this. Try Parkway Drive, Endthisday, Misery Signals and Prayer For Cleansing instead. Or go for their "Forever Scorned" EP and reminscence about the death of a once great band that has been dramatically made over by Trustkill (just like Bleeding Through, Eighteen Visions, Throwdown, and so forth).

(3.5 stars) Surprisingly decent!.......2007-02-23

With predictable, formulaic song structures and melodic choruses that metalcore fans were tired of listening to a couple of years ago, you're just dying to hate a band like It Dies Today. But if anybody ever tells you that IDT CAN'T rock, tell that foolish person to proceed straight to the Buffalo quintet's sophomore release, last year's "Sirens." The soaring, emo-ish choruses (which are featured on nearly every track) grow a bit stagnant after only a couple of songs, but the disc is also filled with surprisingly tight and professional musicianship (i.e. chunky, inspired riffing, mean, bruising rhythms, and quickly thumping drum beats), and aggressive, Unearth-lite yells. Then, add tons of nifty hooks, and a fairly raw production job, and you've got one very solid record.

Openers "A Constant Reminder"and "A Port In Any Storm" boast pounding rhythms, busy, blistering riffs, and infectious, open-aired choruses that are big enough to require their own zip code. "The Bacchanal Affair" and the groovey "Sacred Heart" are two occasions where heavy music is held down (at least somewhat) by a wealth of clean singing, but songs like the corrosive "Reignite The Fires," "Black Bile, White Lies," and "On The Road (To Damnation)" (which is highlighted by meaty, angular riffs, and a nice, melodic guitar solo) are very punishing numbers with almost visceral yelling and almost not vocal pleasantries. Other notable inclusions are the dreary, restrained, string `n' all title track (a power ballad of sorts), and "Turn Loose The Doves," which intersperses clean crooning (that you can almost hum along to) amidst a thunderously heavy, foundation-shaking rhythm.

"Sirens" definitely does not break any new ground for the band or the genre, but it's still quite an accomplished and enjoyable affair. It's doubtlessly as good as -- and arguably even better -- than the product put out by most metalcore bands glutting the current music scene, and if nothing else, it proves It Dies Today have got some game, and know how to rock pretty darn hard. This is a recommended listen for everybody, and a must-buy for all diehard metalcore fanatics.

Meditation Music:

1. Sounds Of Water
2. Star of Wonder
3. Starscape, Vol. 2
4. Suite St. Petersburg A Piano Portrait
5. Summer Place
6. Sundari: A Jivamukti Yoga Class
7. The Best of Kitaro, Vol. 1
8. The My Classic Collection, Vol. 2
9. This Island Earth
10. Thunderstorm & Rain

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Carolina Christmas

Offenbach: Die Großherzogin von Gerolstein

Mozart: Streichquartett KV 499, 589 & 590

Music: Chamber Music

Liebe Ist Cool

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O Bingo Da Sogra [Import]

Sex Style

Musique Traditionelle D'Algerie [Import]

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy-My Favorite Heroines

Only Human

Promises: Oriental Classical Music

Playin 4 Real [Explicit Lyrics]

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The David Grisman Quintet