Christmas, Vol. 2

1. Joy to the World

2. I Wonder as I Wander

3. Little Drummer Boy

4. First Noel

5. O Holy Night

6. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

7. Some Children See Him

8. Suite de Noël

9. Lo! How a Rose E're Blooming

10. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

Christmas, Vol. 2,Kurt Bestor,Bonneville / Bwe,Christmas,Christmas / Chanukkah,Contemporary Instrumental,Holiday,New Age,Pop

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Average customer rating: It was pretty good. Welcome New Additions It's ok. Great (semi)-modern Christmas record... I want a Rickenbacker guitar

A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2 Various Artists Manufacturer: A&M ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Girl Groups | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music 1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Holiday Music | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 1990-1999 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: A Very Special Christmas A Very Special Christmas 3 A Very Special Christmas - Vol. 5 A Very Special Christmas Live! A Very Special Acoustic Christmas ASIN: B000002G0M Release Date: 1992-10-20

Tracks:

1. Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
2. Jingle Bell Rock - Randy Travis
3. The Christmas Song - Luther Vandross
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Frank Sinatra/Cyndi Lauper
5. The Birth Of Christ - Boyz II Men
6. Please Come Home For Christmas - Jon Bon Jovi
7. What Christmas Means To Me - Paul Young
8. O Christmas Tree - Aretha Franklin
9. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Ronnie Spector/ Darlene Love
10. White Christmas Tree - Michael Bolton
11. Christmas Is - Run D.M.C.
12. Christmas Time Again - Extreme
13. Merry Christmas Baby - Bonnie Raitt And Charles Brown
14. O Holy Night - Tevin Campbell
15. Sleigh Ride - Debbie Gibson
16. What Child Is This? - Vanessa Williams
17. Blue Christmas - Ann and Nancy Wilson
18. Silent Night - Wilson Phillips
19. I Believe In You - Sinead O' Connor

Amazon.com

The follow up to the original, this collection in many ways surpasses the initial effort. Duets seem to rule here, with Cyndi Lauper and Frank Sinatra double teaming on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," while the irrepressible Ronnie Spector shares the mic with Darlene Love for a resplendent "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson give "Blue Christmas" a steamy and sizzling once-over. Vanessa Williams stops the disc, though, with her simple yet stunning rendition of "What Child Is This." The then-sign-of-the-times inclusion, Michael Bolton, offers a forgettable "White Christmas," but it's the only real clunker in the bunch. Always just a tad too country to make it as a cross-over artist, Randy Travis still makes "Jingle Bell Rock" his own in his smooth way. --Steve Gdula

Album Details

Second Volume of this Landmark Christmas Collection. Green Cover Art.

Customer Reviews:

It was pretty good........2007-01-17

The tract 3(Roasting on an open fire), tract 10(The White Christmas-by Michael Boton) and 15 (Sleigh ride- by Debby Gibson) were my favorites. It was pretty ggod, actually.

Welcome New Additions.......2007-01-09

The new songs in this cd are great additions to the long list of popular Christmas songs. These tracks will endure like the rest of the good ones, and it's well worth getting for your Christmas collection!

It's ok........2007-01-03

I thought that I would love this series of music cd's, but I was wrong.
You get one of two great songs, and the rest are no good.

Great (semi)-modern Christmas record..........2006-11-27

Favorite tracks:

1. Tom Petty

12. Extreme

9. Ronnie Spector

There should be something for everyone. Rock to Country to Rap...

I want a Rickenbacker guitar.......2004-12-09

This album is good, but it isn't quite the classic that the first Very Special Christmas is. The highlight is definitely the opening song by Tom Petty. The rest of the album is somewhat uneven. While there are some fine performances by the likes of Sinead O'Conner, Ronnie Spector and Darlene Love, there are also a few lame performances by people like Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Bolton and Extreme. One of the oddities here is a "duet" between Frank Sinatra and Cyndi Lauper. They actually just used an old vocal by Frank from 1947 and added Cyndi's voice to it. In an interesting side note, they originally tried to have Paula Adbul do the duet, but she was unable to hit the right notes. The only artist here that is repeated from the the first Very Special Christmas is Run-D.M.C., but the song they do here is far inferior to the classic "Christmas in Hollis". Overall it's a decent Christmas album, and if you are a fan of the performers featured on it, I would recommend it.

Average customer rating: Priceless, at any price Good overview Great Music!!!!!!!!! Very nice for a Danny Elfman collection Bring on Volume 3

Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 2: Film & Television Music Manufacturer: Fontana Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Elfman, Danny | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 1: Film & Television Music Serenada Schizophrana So Lo Sleepy Hollow: Music from the Motion Picture Edward Scissorhands: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ASIN: B000002P4P Release Date: 1996-12-03

Tracks:

1. Edward Scissorhands Suite: Main Titles
2. Edward Scissorhands Suite: Storytime
3. Edward Scissorhands Suite: Suite
4. Edward Scissorhands Suite: Suburbia-Barber
5. Edward Scissorhands Suite: The Grand Finale
6. Dolores Claiborne Suite: Main Titles
7. Dolores Claiborne Suite: Vera's World
8. Dolores Claiborne Suite: Flashback
9. Dolores Claiborne Suite: Sad Room
10. Dolores Claiborne Suite: End Titles
11. To Die For Suite: Main Titles
12. To Die For Suite: Suzie's Theme
13. To Die For Suite: Busted
14. To Die For Suite: Wheepy Donuts
15. To Die For Suite: Finale
16. Black Beauty Suite: Main Titles
17. Black Beauty Suite: Baby Beauty
18. Black Beauty Suite: Jump For Joy
19. Black Beauty Suite: Frolick-Sick
20. Black Beauty Suite: Bye Bye Jerry
21. Black Beauty Suite: Memories
22. Black Beauty Suite: End Titles
23. Batman Returns Suite:Birth Of A Penguin
24. Batman Returns Suite: Trouble Suite
25. Batman Returns Suite: The Finale
26. Batman Returns Suite: End Titles

Tracks:

1. Mission Impossible Suite: Trouble
2. Mission Impossible Suite: Looking For Job
3. Mission Impossible Suite: Betrayal
4. Sommersby Suite: Main Titles
5. Sommersby Suite: Return Montage
6. Sommersby Suite: Finale-End Titles
7. Dead Presidents Suite: Main Titles
8. Dead Presidents Suite: Daughter
9. Dead Presidents Suite: Montage
10. Dead Presidents Suite: Nam
11. Dead Presidents Suite: Nightmare
12. Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Overture
13. Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Jack And Sally Suite
14. Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Christmas Eve Montage
15. Freeway Suite: Main Titles
16. Freeway Suite: On The Road
17. Freeway Suite: Back In The Car
18. Shrunken Heads Suite: Main Titles
19. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Family Dog'
20. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Family Dog'
21. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Mummy, Daddy
22. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Barkley Superhero 'Nike Commercial'
23. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: The Flash 'Theme'
24. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Pee Wee's Playhouse
25. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Beetlejuice - Animated Tv Series 'Theme'
26. Untitled
27. Untitled
28. Untitled
29. This Is Halloween (Original Demo For Nightmare Before Christmas)

Amazon.com

A delightfully buoyant, mock-creepy collection of film scores from Hollywood's first and best call for quirk, strangeness, and charm. Focusing on Elfman's post-1992 work (much of it for director Tim Burton), this 2 CD set features excerpts from Edward Scissorhands, To Die For, and Batman Returns, among other lesser items. -- Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews:

Priceless, at any price.......2007-07-06

Years ago, watching peter Jennings cover the funeral procession of Princess Diana, my soul was captured by some hauntingly beautiful music that at times played in the background. So began my mission to find out what it was, who wrote it and how I could get it. After some correspondence with the network I was put in touch with the woman who "put together" that part of the programming. All she could remember is that it came from the movie "Black Beauty". THEN I found out how many versions of that had been made lol. With determination, I finally found it, and had a local music store order it for me.
There are no words to describe what this music does to me. I did try listening to some of the other tracks, but they didn't even come close. I rate this music right up there with the 1971 score for "Jane Eyre" by John Willams... and that's pretty high :D

Good overview.......2007-04-18

Very nice overview of Elfman work. Insufficient by itself but worth having along with the full soundtracks. Bonus disc is a nice extra.

Great Music!!!!!!!!!.......2005-09-08

I Love Danny Elfman's music so much that I have started my own collection of the soundtracks that he composed. For a while, I was trying to find the "Beetlejuice" theme song from the TV show, but thanks to this release, I finally have it!!! Keep up the good work Elfman!

Very nice for a Danny Elfman collection.......2005-08-02

Music For A Darkened Theater, Vol.2 is a great cd!!! I love all of the tracks on both cd's,but my fav. ones are the t.v. scores and the This Is Halloween demo!!! If you love this,then i recomend looking at all the actually albums on this cd and his other works!!!! good job,Danny Elfman.

Bring on Volume 3.......2005-05-04

The liner notes and "This is Halloween Demo" on this compilation are well worth the CD price by themselves. Danny comments on each of the tracks on the CDs which is a rare and ego-free look at what a composer thinks of his own work.

Edward Scissorhands is magical, Black Beauty is a rollercoaster of emotion, and Dolores Claiborne makes me want to find the nearest piano. This is not a "Most Popular" compilation, rather it aptly showcases Danny Elfman's (and Orchestrator, Steve Bartek's) brilliance and wide range of style.

Every suite has an Elfman signature, such as the layered complexity which never sounds overdone, or the use of a choir as an instrument.

This (and Volume 1) are examples of the work of a modern day composer who consistently stands out as one of the best.

If you like this and have the spare cash, grab the individual scores from some of the movies he has worked on, including "Men In Black", "Spiderman", "Batman", "Batman Returns", "Nightmare Before Christmas", "Edward Scissorhands", "Mars Attacks" and so many more.

Average customer rating: Microcosmos Great value with a few flaws eeh, I guess I don't like Bartok that much Best classical value out there 5 Stars for the music and performance

Bartok: Complete Solo Piano Music Manufacturer: Vox (Classical) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music General | Bartók, Béla | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Elegies | Requiems, Elegies & Tombeau | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Bagatelles | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Impromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Bartok: The Piano Concertos Béla Bartók: The 6 String Quartets - Takács Quartet Complete Piano Works of Scriabin Bartok: Violin Concertos, Viola Concerto, 6 Duo for 2 Violins, Violin Rhapsodies; Yehudi Menuhin Bartók Plays Bartók ASIN: B00008X5AY Release Date: 2003-05-27

Amazon.com

Sàndor, still active at 90 as this reissue appears, was a student of Bartók and a preferred interpreter of his music. Since this set appeared on nine LPs in the early 1960s, it has been the standard for Bartók's piano music; in this fine-sounding reissue, it still is. Sàndor can hit hard enough for such virtuoso pieces as the Piano Sonata and "Out of Doors," but he also retains the romantic element heard in the composer's own playing which tempers the harsher qualities of the music. While this collection isn't quite as complete as advertised (some early, insignificant piano music by Bartók is omitted), it includes all of Bartók's significant piano music, including such relatively obscure gems as the Bagatelles, eight Improvisations, and many delectable folk arrangements which will appeal even to listeners who think Bartók is too challenging for them. Vox's recorded sound, superbly remastered, resists obsolescence as effectively as Sàndor's performances. Even with the inclusion of the early books of "Mikrokosmos," which will appeal mostly to piano students, this set is worth several times the asking price. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Microcosmos.......2007-03-08

Sándor was a champion not only of Bartók's music but also of Bartók's style of playing. He often complained that people were too quick to see Bartók as ultra-modern, and to fail to appreciate the rich seam of lyricism that also runs through his music.

The piano music is dominated by short pieces, many of them written for piano students, notably the collections "Microcosmos" and "For Children". These, together with suites of folk dance arrangements, make up the bulk of the solo piano output.

Sandór plays these short, and often simple pieces, with neither too much nor too little art. As a gifted teacher, he knew unerringly how much music each of these small vessels held. The result is beguiling - but be warned: no-one can listen to the 153 short pieces of Microcosmos end-to-end. This is an anthology to be dipped into, not swallowed whole.

The remastering is pretty successful (fortunately - some of Vox's CD reissues are plagued by severe deterioration of the original tapes). And it's for half nothing-what's not to like?

Great value with a few flaws.......2006-07-28

I am not a Bartok expert by any scale, but I do like the way these pieces, without exception, are played. There are, however, a couple of other problems.

As mentioned by an earlier reviewer, very few of the works are split into tracks - Mikrokosmos is divided into 7 for each of its six volumes, and to accomodate for a full CD. In these seven tracks there are 121 songs. I would have much preferred if the songs had been split into tracks. Almost the entire CD set is this way - Fifteen Hungarian Songs is one track, Fourteen Bagatelles, etc. It is very annoying when one wants to hear a particular song in those tracks and not the others.

Another detriment to the collection is the recording quality. It is decent most of the time, but in loud sections the piano buzzes. One might be able to ignore it, but I think that it detracts from the passion of the forte quite a bit.

Overall, for $18 it is pretty decent, but if you are like me and like to keep your music library neatly organized (and aren't extremely cheap), I would not recommend this set.

eeh, I guess I don't like Bartok that much.......2006-07-25

I like the fact that Bartok is into the folk tradition and all, but he just tends to forget the fact that melody has to be SOMEWHERE in the music. I'm all for creative expression when you're sitting alone at the piano, but abstract music should be reserved for performance art. I like playing some of your stuff Bela, but I just don't want to listen to you.

Best classical value out there.......2005-10-05

To put this set in perspective, for months I would go to my local Tower Records fishing for worthwhile classical CDs at least once a week. One of the discs that sat in the bins the longest was a single CD of Bartok piano music, played by Zoltan Kocsis. It was Volume 7 of a complete series. This CD listed for $17.99, and as long as I went to that Tower Records, it did not budge an inch, nor was its price amended.

Now, Kocsis is one of the greatest pianists alive, and if anyone is worthy of commanding a premium, it is him. And to be fair, that CD is going to be re-released on October 11 as part of a Collector's Edition - eight CDs, $63.97 MSRP. But it's already going up against this little gem, which contains five CDs with all of the truly great solo-piano works by an internationally recognized Bartok specialist for $21 - not much more than the cost of one CD from the other set. This kind of value is not to be taken lightly.

I came to this set with my impression of Sandor informed by his complete Prokofiev - ultra-hard, sometimes rhythmically slack, always melodically lacking in some way or another. But he held a very special feeling for Bartok, and saved his best playing for the great Hungarian. In passages like the first of the Three Csik Dances, the opening of the Improvisations Op. 20, or in the Ten Easy Pieces, there is a simplicity, charm and wistful homesickness that is quite touching. In pieces like the Out of Doors suite, the Sonata, or the Burlesques, there is a vicious, impulsive energy, a wicked sense of humor and an overabundance of overtones. It is never mindless, inappropriate or even overly harsh - it's just very, very loud.

In this set I like best the endless landscape of the Sonatina, the unusual colors and fragrances in the Etudes, the brilliantly conceived Bear Dance (the last of the Ten Easy Pieces), and the multifaceted, complex, gorgeous Improvisations. Any fan of Bartok should hear these.

5 Stars for the music and performance.......2005-04-04

This is a fantastic deal, but the problem with this Collection stems from the fact that the pieces are often not separated by tracks. This is especially annoying for the Children's Pieces and Mikrokosmos. There are so many pieces, one wears out the fast forward button and still may miss the particular piece one is looking for. The booklet is fairly insightful, and the performer is widely hailed as the supreme interpreter of Bartok's piano music. So aside from this slightly annoying at times and ridiculously annoying at other times flaw, this is one of the best deals in Classical music. Don't hesitate. Add it to the cart.

Average customer rating: Innovative & fun WOW! battle of the Christmas remixers... LIKE A LITTLE SPICE IN YOUR HOLIDAY?

Christmas Remixed, Vol. 2 Various Artists Manufacturer: Six Degrees ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Six Degrees Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Christmas Remixed: Holiday Classics Re-Grooved Merry Mixmas The Reindeer Room: A Christmas Chillout Home for the Holidays The Reindeer Room Volume II: A Christmas Chillout ASIN: B000A2H1ZU Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

1. Jingle Bells (Bombay Dub Orchestra Mix) - Joe Williams
2. The Christmas Song (Tonal Remix) - Jimmy McGriff
3. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (John Beltran Remix) - Bing Crosby
4. White Christmas (King Kooba Remix) - Charlie Parker
5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (MNO Remix) - Rosemary Clooney
6. Frosty The Snowman (Rondo Brothers Remix) - Patti Page
7. Good King Wenceslas (Patrick Krouchian Remix) - CSSR State Philharmonic
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas (Ohmega Watts Remix) - Charles Brown
9. White Christmas (Kaskade Remix) - Bing Crosby
10. Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (Red Baron Remix) - Berlin Symphony Orchestra
11. Winter Wonderland (Future Loop Foundation Remix) - Vic Damone
12. Silent Night (46bliss Remix) - Mahalia Jackson

Amazon.com

In the age of the digital cut and paste and sonic download, these assorted mixers prove that good taste in source material will get you a cooler result no matter how many rhythm tracks, horn blasts, repeated phrases and other techno smoke and mirrors you can throw at a song. Producers Jeff Daniel, Doug Bernheim, and David Hargis expertly picked some prime time pieces from the likes of jazz singer Joe Williams, the mighty organ master Jimmy McGriff, bebop king Charlie Parker and pop jazz crooners, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney, to name a just few. There are even some symphony and philharmonic orchestras whose big recordings are overlaid with alluring new flourishes that sound like they might have always been there in "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and "Good King Wenceslas." You will probably never hear anything like Clooney's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," being channeled through a distant galaxy with a wreath of rhythmic and melodic aural affects, or Mahalia Jackson's saintly gospel voice turned into an etheric presence on "Silent Night." But it's guaranteed that you will be repeating again and again every alchemical track when the CD is over. Hot. --Martin Keller

Album Description

In 2003, Six Degrees Records released the first volume in the Christmas Remixed holiday series. The concept of taking Christmas classics as performed by such luminaries as, Bing Crosby, Mel Torme, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong and handing them over to a cast of the world's best modern dance, hip-hop and electronic producers yielded one of the most entertaining holiday records in recent memory. In fact, the All Music Guide went so far as to comment, "There will probably not be a better new Christmas album this year than this one, and there may not be a better one for many years." The Los Angeles Times added, "Any group of tracks that yields as many smiles as this deserves a spot in the holiday CD rotation".

Christmas Remixed 2 follows in the wake of its predecessor's success with the same winning formula guaranteed to please fans of the first volume while winning over new converts. Once again such holiday favorites as, "Jingle Bells", "The Christmas Song", "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and "Silent Night" are performed by a dream team of interpreters like Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Patti Page, Rosemary Clooney and Charlie Parker. These tracks are then remixed and re-grooved into fun and accessible modern versions sure to please even the most hardened of holiday scrooges. Christmas Remixed 2's great cast of remixers includes Kaskade, John Beltran, King Kooba, Future Loop Foundation and the Bombay Dub Orchestra.

Thanks to Christmas Remixed 2, the holidays will be fun and funky once again!

Customer Reviews:

Innovative & fun.......2007-01-08

I bought this CD and a couple of others like it last December, as a DJ booked for Christmas parties. A few of the songs don't really work with the added beats, but most of them are really fun and different. If you're sick of the same songs played over and over again every Christmas, you will definitely appreciate this CD in your player.

WOW!.......2005-12-20

The only word needed here! Too bad that the majority of listeners will never hear the original cuts (other than White Christmas by Bing). But this CD at least brings these artists back to the forefront. Who'd have thought we'd hear Patti Page THUMP THUMPING with a real beat behind her on FROSTY THE SNOWMAN or the totally other worldly sound of Rosemary Clooney's HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. This is a Christmas season must. It will be in our 400 CD changer for New Year's eve dancers!!!!

battle of the Christmas remixers..........2005-12-04

With the glut of remix albums flooding the market these days, it should come as no surprise that there are a slew of them showing up in the Holiday music bins... two of the more promising new ones (despite the awful cover art on both) are Merry Mixmas on Capitol/EMI and Christmas Remixed 2 from Six Degrees. Will either of them have you hip-hopping arond the tree?

Turns out the real party is happenin' on Christmas Remixed 2 where our holiday mixmasters seem to know how to make something new and fresh out of a familiar tune. This new collection lives up to (and perhaps even improves upon) the original Christmas Remixed from Six Degrees released in 2003. Each track has a distinct personality, and there's a good mix of vocal and instrumental selections (unlike the all-vocal Merry Mixmas). Highlights include:

*Bombay Dub Orchestra's jazz/funk wah-wah guitar drenched "Jingle Bells" perfectly blended with Joe Williams' vocal
*tasty twists on Jimmy McGriff and Charlie Parker by TONAL and King Kooba
*the head-bobbin' beat of "Frosty the Snowman" remixed by the Rondo Brothers (with Patti Page's hilariously looped "thumpity-thump-thump" refrain)
*Charles Brown's "I'll Be Home for Christmas" mutated into a strange retro-synth hip hop ballad by Ohmega Watts
*the sinister funky drumming superimposed upon "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" by Red Baron
*46bliss' ethereal, spooky "Silent Night" with the echoing vocals of Mahalia Jackson and backing choir (this one would have been even better without the backbeat, though...)

Sure, there are a few tracks that coast and go on a little too long, but overall this is a perfect example of what a good remix album should be: originals reimagined in interesting, creative ways with plenty of stylistic variety and thoughtful track sequencing. Hey, I bet grandma would even get a kick out of this stuff (especially after a couple Tom and Jerrys...) [Note to Santa: How about a Christmas Remixed 3 in my stocking next year?]

Decision: Christmas Remixed 2 (break)beats Merry Mixmas, y'all... word (and so forth...) [see my Amazon review of Merry Mixmas for more details...]

LIKE A LITTLE SPICE IN YOUR HOLIDAY?.......2005-11-02

LIKE SPICE IN YOUR EGG NOG? THEN YOU'LL LOVE THIS CD.IT HAS MANY OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS AND SONGS INCLUDING MAHALIA JACKSON AND HER JAZZ COUNTERPART, ELLA FITZGERALD!PUT A LITTLE TWIST IN YOUR HOLIDAY AND BUY THIS CD...IT'S A BLAST!

Average customer rating: Great Collection A remarkable anthology High-quality, marvelously varied intro to baroque music

Essential Baroque Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Academy of Ancient Music | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Academy of Ancient Music | ( A ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: 25 Baroque Favorites The Best of Baroque Music Baroque Masterpieces Greatest Hits: Harpsichord Baroque Guitar ASIN: B00006L3IL Release Date: 2002-10-08

Customer Reviews:

Great Collection.......2007-01-19

Essential Baroque is a great collection, especially for the price. It has two CDs packd full of the best Baroque music. Like most Baroque collections, it has the best of some of the better known artists like Handel, Bach, and Vivaldi. However, unlike most other collections, it excels in adding some good pieces from lesser known artists from the period.

A remarkable anthology.......2005-09-08

A fine selection of pieces excerpted from the chamber ensemble, solo and opera repertory. Some recordings, though from paramount artists, are elderly; yet, performers are anyway flawless. It may be objected that a few of Vivaldi's masterpieces were disregarded.

High-quality, marvelously varied intro to baroque music.......2003-12-13

I am buying this as the perfect gift for Russian and Chinese scientist friends. They have knowledge of classical music but perhaps not much about baroque music, which achieved special popularity in the U.S. during the 1970's and 1980's. Russians seem to have more familiarity with romantic classical music, while the more recently arrived Asian classical buffs have special affinity to the "Classical" classical period and the great 19th Century romantics. How can a baroque sampler be better than with a span of music ranging from solo harpsichord to full orchestra and chorus, and from the very familiar (Pachelbel Canon and Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah) to a trio sonata by Zelenka and the Dardanus Overture by Rameau. Not only that, but both the period instrument and living tradition baroque styles are represented by noted performers (e.g. Trevor Pinnock and Christopher Hogwood; and Henryk Szeryng, Andras Schiff, Pepe Romero, and Alicia de Larrocha, respectively). The producers were careful enough to state that the "Albinoni Adagio in g minor" was actually composed by Remo Giazotto - though in fact Giazotto did use a fragment of Albinoni. This is definitely not a supermarket special, but a box of choice musical bonbons.

Average customer rating: Fulfilling Overview of the Baroque Era in Music and Words An Excellent Introduction to the Music of the Baroque Era

Discover Music of the Baroque Era Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Allegri | Allegri, Gregorio | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. 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| Music Stradella, Alessandro | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Sweelinck, JanPieterszoon | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Telemann, Georg Philipp | ( T ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Discover Early Music Discover: Music of the Romantic Era Discover Music of the Classical Era Discover Music of the 20th Century The World of Early Music ASIN: B0007ORDYK Release Date: 2005-03-22

Customer Reviews:

Fulfilling Overview of the Baroque Era in Music and Words.......2005-05-09

Yet another great bargain-priced package from Naxos effectively provides an overview of the rich Baroque period with two discs containing more than 2 ½ hours of music and a comprehensive, 140-page primer booklet. Compiled by music historian Clive Unger-Hamilton, the collection is well-chosen to represent the many different facets of the era without recycling the more obvious candidates like Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons". The quality of the playing and singing is top-notch throughout, and the program contains quite a smorgasbord of pieces from dramatic opera arias to harpsichord pieces (sometimes played on authentic instruments, other times on modern grands) to full-blown choruses. Standout tracks include Allegri's "Miserere mei" with an ethereal boy treble soloist; two arias sung by soprano Ingrid Kertesi, in particular, Almirena's lament, "Lascia ch'io pianga" from Handel's "Rinaldo"; and a lovely "When I am laid in earth" from Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas" performed by soprano Kym Amps. The choral pieces can be astounding from Bach's "St Matthew Passion (BWV 244)" performed by the large Hungarian Festival Chorus and full symphony orchestra to the eight voices that wrap themselves around "For unto us a child is born" from Handel's "Messiah".

The booklet itself provides great value as you listen to the selections. There is a well written 85-page essay by Unger-Hamilton, who manages to encapsulate an enormous amount of information about this period which leaves a novice like me with a more solid basis of understanding the music of the Baroque era. In fact, what is quite valuable is that Unger-Hamilton provides a specific historical reference for each piece on the recording in his essay. There is also a very helpful glossary and an intriguing timeline which covers musical milestones relative to similar milestones in history, arts and architecture and literature. Moreover, there is an alphabetical list of the key Baroque composers and an accompanying map of Europe with important music centers and the composers associated with these cities. The thoughtful presentation of this package really makes the $8.98 price tag one of the great bargains here.

An Excellent Introduction to the Music of the Baroque Era.......2005-04-04

This is one of a series of the 'Discover ...' 2 CD sets -- at super-budget price -- from Naxos that makes use of complete movements of music from the era in question. It is accompanied by an excellent booklet - a thick one! - with an explanatory essay that gives background on the music as well as blow-by-blow descriptions of the music being presented. All the selections (from such composers as Monteverdi, Handel, Bach, Scarlatti, Schütz, Purcell, Corelli, Pachelbel, Charpentier, et al.) are from Naxos's extensive library of recorded music and as far as I can tell all the performances are top-notch.

In addition there is a Timeline of the Baroque Era that includes material about the music, history, art, architecture and literature of the times. There is a map of Europe that shows where various composers lived and worked. There is a list of composers (more than just those whose music provides the audio examples) with their dates and locations. There is a glossary of common musical terms. There is also an extensive list of music suggested for further listening. I can easily imagine this set being the springboard for a newcomer to baroque music to begin a lifetime of enjoyment of these and similar works.

The presentation is thoughtfully done and the whole thing is in a slipcase that will preserve the CDs as well as the booklet for years to come.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating: Even more polished than Volume 1

Corelli: Concertos, Vol. 2 Arcangelo Corelli , Nicholas McGegan , and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Manufacturer: Hmf Classical Exp. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Corelli | Corelli, Arcangelo | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | 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 Classical | Imports | Stores | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Corelli, Arcangelo | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Corelli: Concertos, Vol. 1 Corelli: Sonate a violino e violone o cimbalo, Op. 5 Torelli: Concertos Rameau: Orchestral Suites (vol. 1) Violin Sonatas Op 5 ASIN: B00005MNJ0 Release Date: 2001-09-11

Customer Reviews:

Even more polished than Volume 1.......2006-04-08

Arcangelo Corelli (1653 – 1713): Concerti Grossi Op. 6, Volume 2 (concerti nos. 7 through 12). Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, directed from the harpsichord by Nicholas McGegan.
Recorded in April 1990 by Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, California.
Harmonia Mundi USA Originally issued on HMU 907015, re-issued in the budget Classical Express series as HMCX 3957015. Total time: 57’13”.

Anyone who wants to become more familiar with that typically baroque musical phenomenon, the Concerto grosso, ought to start with the most famous set of all, the twelve concerti by Arcangelo Corelli. These were published one year after the composer’s death in 1713, but had been performed by him in Rome for over twenty years with one of the most polished orchestras of the age. The modern historical performance practice movement has brought forth quite a large number of recordings of these works, but the 1989/1990 offering from San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra is still able to hold its own; after many years at full price, it is now being almost given away as part of the “Classical Express” series, and lovers of baroque music are themselves to blame if they do not buy these two CDs. The second of the set was recorded a year later at a different venue, and after listening to both parts one after the other, I personally reached the conclusion that Nicholas McGegan and his team did rather better on Nos. 7 through 12: the playing seemed a little less hectic, rather smoother and even more polished, with the chamber organ of the continuo shining through rather more convincingly. Also, the recorded sound was rather more balanced, without the slightly “churchy” acoustics of the first volume. McGegan’s tempi are relatively fast in comparison with, say, Sigiswald Kuijken and La Petite Bande on BMG-DHM, but this tends to enhance the listening experience as a whole, although the Largo at the end of the Christmas concerto (No. 8) does lose something of its traditional sentimentality in this way. But altogether, this is a firm recommendation, particularly for baroque music-lovers who need to budget carefully.

Average customer rating: christmas with the jews Neil Diamond, The Christmas Album Vol 2 Volume II is far better than Volume I A worthy follow-up to Volume 1 fireside Christmas music

The Christmas Album, Vol. 2 Neil Diamond Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: The Christmas Album Beautiful Noise A Christmas Gift of Love Christmas Memories Tennessee Moon ASIN: B000002ATB Release Date: 1994-10-11

Tracks:

1. Joy To The World
2. Mary's Little Boy Child
3. Deck The Halls/ We Wish You A Merry Christmas
4. Winter Wonderland
5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
6. I'll Be Home For Christmas
7. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
8. Sleigh Ride
9. Candlelight Carol
10. Away In A Manger
11. O Come All Ye Faithful
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. Angels We Have Heard On High
14. The First Noel
15. Hallelujah Chorus

Customer Reviews:

christmas with the jews.......2007-06-13

o' come all ye faithfull. when i think of christmas my thoughts are of christmas trees, a warm fire, a tall glass of a fine coniac, and an old jewish man singing carolls. this is the only christmas cd that will really bring the hollidays home. if you want your family home for the hollidays, just let them know that neil diamond will be there wanting, singing and steeling the good china.

Neil Diamond, The Christmas Album Vol 2.......2007-01-09

Awesome! Neil does it again. I love his voice, his choice of songs. Volume 2 is almost as good as Volume 1!

Volume II is far better than Volume I.......2005-12-28

I may be giving this a rating that's slightly too high, but because he is much better this time around, this will get a four star rating. These songs are still "Neil Diamafied"(A description of the stately way that he kind of talk-sings), but at least I could sit and listen to this volume without wanting to leave the room or vomit. I don't know if these songs suit his singing style, or that he worked harder at singing them correctly or what, but I think I might not sell Volume II like I did my Volume I a couple of days ago on the Amazon website. I am kind of dumbfounded how a Jew who doesn't believe that Jesus is the messiah, can sing songs about Jesus being the savior, but whatever floats his boat. Who knows he might be in the organization JEWS FOR JESUS, which are Jews who believe Jesus is the messiah. He doesn't ham up this set of songs like he did on the first volume, so that makes it a much more enjoyable listen. If you're a big Neil Diamond fan, you need not hesitate.

A worthy follow-up to Volume 1.......2005-03-02

Neil Diamond's second Christmas album is a rare treat. It's debatable as to whether it's better than volume 1. Some may say it is; I personally say #1 is the superior. But most are agreed that they're both enjoyable and memorable Christmas albums. My favorites are "Joy to the World" (it begins with sharp piano notes and is eventually joined by a young gospel choir); "Mary's Boy Child" (a little-known and little-heard Christmas hymn and Neil does a wonderful job with it); "Away in a Manger" (nothing unique here, it's just that this classic song, for whatever reason, is missing on most Christmas albums); and the "Hallelujah Chorus" (an admirable effort that pays off very well).

Most of the others are sung in the good old fashioned traditional style--the way they were meant to be sung, if I may be so bold. The only song I don't really care for that much is "Deck the Halls/We Wish You a Merry Christmas". It seems to have a little of that musical style somewhat similar to his rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" on volume 1. Except this one does not have as much of the "barbershop quartet" style to it. Whatever it is, it's an approach that Neil Diamond does not have the right voice for. But even that one is tolerable.

Overall, this is an excellent Christmas album which will not disappoint the average Christmas music enthusiast.

fireside Christmas music.......2003-11-20

With a velvet voice what more could you wish to listen to,sat next to a blazing log fire,with snow gently falling outside

Average customer rating: "cinema's main stay themes prevail ~ City of Prague"

Reel Chill: The Cinematic Chillout Album Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Albinoni | Albinoni, Tomaso | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Nyman | Nyman, Michael | ( N ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Rota, Nino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sakamoto, Ryuichi | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vangelis | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Reel Love: The Cinematic Romance Album Classical Chillout Classic Chillout, Vol. 2 Ultimate Movie Album Cinema Choral Classics ASIN: B0002IQGT4 Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

1. Sarabande [From Barry Lyndon]
2. Main Theme [From Midnight Cowboy]
3. Promenade Sentimentale [From Dive] - Mark Ayres
4. May It Be [From the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the]
5. Women of Ireland [From Barry Lyndon]
6. Adagio for Strings & Organ [From Gallipoli [
7. Romeo/Love Theme [From Romeo & Juliet)
8. Balcony Scene [From Romeo + Juliet]
9. Main Theme [From Chariots of Fire] - Mark Ayres
10. Main Theme [From Bilitis] - Mark Ayres
11. Main Theme [From Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence] - Mark Ayres
12. Main Theme [From Cinema Paradiso]
13. Main Theme [From Once Upon A Time in the West]
14. Deborah's Theme [From Once Upon A Time in America]
15. Suite: The Mission/Gabriel's Oboe/On Earth as It Is in Heaven ... - City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus

Tracks:

1. Suite: Mountains and Sunsets/The Wedding/You Only Live Twice [From You
2. Heart Asks Pleasure First [From The Piano]
3. Agnus Dei [From Platoon] - Crouch End Festival Chorus
4. Vide Cor Meum [From Hannibal]
5. Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 [From DeAth in Venice]
6. Any Other Name/Dead Already [from American Beauty] - Rick Clark,
7. Into the West [From the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King]
8. Where Dreams Are Made [From Artificial Intelligence]
9. Main Theme [From Somewhere in Time]
10. We Have All the Time in the World [From on Her Majesty's Secret ...]
11. Electronic Battlefield [From Patriot Games]
12. Now We Are Free [From Gladiator]
13. Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana [From Raging Bull]
14. Cavatina [From the DeErhunter]
15. Main Theme [From Out of Africa]

Customer Reviews:

"cinema's main stay themes prevail ~ City of Prague".......2004-08-15

What a crowning achievement to bring "Reel Chill:Cinematic Chillout Album", released by Silva America and featuring The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus ~ conductors are Mark Ayres, Paul Bateman, Rick Clark, James Fitzpatrick, Nic Raine and David Temple director of the chorus ~ one can only expect the highest quality of performances and quench the thirst of all "film-score-buffs".

Sit back and unleash the first disc with composers ~ Albinoni, Craig Armstrong, John Barry, Vladimir Cosma, Enya & Nicky Ryan, Handel, Francis Lai, Ennio Morricone, Sean O'Riorda, Nino Rota, Ryvichi Sakamoto and Vangelis ~ taking each film score cue "BILITIS", "CHARIOTS OF FIRE", "CINEMA PARADISO", "DIVA", "GALLIPOLI", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS:THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING", "BARRY LYNDON", "MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE", "MIDNIGHT COWBOY", "THE MISSION", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST", "ROMEO & JULIET" and "ROMEO + JULIET", with arrangements that soar and then simmer into pure meditation of grandeur ~ classic film music prevails, as orchestration comes to the surface with pure originality ~ one masterpiece after another is long last presented as it should have been, is cause for celebration ~ each cue is a distinctive gift for striking modernism, touching on the transition of the period in this planets history.

Second disc is waiting in the wings are composers ~ Samuel Barber, John Barry, Patrick Cassidy, James Horner, Mahler, Mascagni, Stanley Myers, Thomas Newman, Michael Nyman, Howard Shore, John Williams and Hans Zimmer/Lisa Gerrard ~ take a musical ride with "AMERICAN BEAUTY", "A.I. ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE", "DEATH IN VENICE", "DEER HUNTER", "GLADIATOR", "HANNIBAL", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS:RETURN OF THE KING", "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE", "OUT OF AFRICA", "PATRIOT GAMES", "THE PIANO", "PLATOON", "RAGING BULL", "SOMEWHERE IN TIME" and "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE" ~ our composers with passion and skill for exploring human emotions, coupled with a unique gift for striking exotic orchestral colors, make this with all it's splendor unforgettable ~ themes that ring with familiarity as each film comes to mind through music.

Silva America gives the collector a treasure of thirty film cues that any "film-score-buff" would die for ~ in the past James Fitzpatrick (producer), Reynold da Silva (executive producer), mastered by Rick Clark and David Stoner (release co-ordinator) have given us compilation with such expertise and this one is no exception ~ keep up the outstanding limited editions and deluxe package releases, with your signature tidbits for all film music fans that's in all of us...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1161 ~ (8/10/2004)

Average customer rating: I'm confused about something Solid compilation album Pretty Nice underground trying to surface (don't worry we can see you) lyricist lounge

Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 2 Various Artists Manufacturer: Priority Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music West Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Southern Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 1 Soundbombing 3 Soundbombing 2 Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 1 Soundbombing, Vol. 2 ASIN: B000050XI0 Release Date: 2000-11-28

Tracks:

1. 16 Bars - Notorious B.I.G.
2. Oh No - Mos Def/Pharoache Monch
3. Makin' It Blend - Q-Tip/Words
4. Get Up - Cocoa Brovaz
5. Get That Dough - Beanie Sigel
6. Let's Grow - Royce Da 5'9in
7. Ms. Fat Booty 2 - Mos Def/Ghostface Killah
8. W.K.Y.A. - Saukrates
9. Sharp Shooters - Talib Kweli/Dead Prez
10. Lengendary Street Team - Kool G Rap/M.O.P.
11. The Grimy Way - Big Noyd/Prodigy
12. Battle - Erick Sermon
13. Da Cipha Interlude
14. Still Here - Big L
15. Right And Exact - Dilated Peoples
16. Watcha - Master Fuol
17. I've Committed Murder (Gang Starr Remix) - Macy Gray
18. Outro Live At The Lounge - Q-Tip
19. Unknown
20. Unknown
21. Unknown
22. Unknown
23. Unknown
24. Unknown
25. Unknown
26. Unknown
27. Unknown
28. Unknown
29. Unknown
30. Unknown
31. Unknown
32. Unknown
33. Unknown
34. Unknown
35. Unknown
36. Unknown
37. Unknown
38. Bonus Track

Amazon.com

Biggie is back again--freestyling like only a dead man can on the intro to this second volume culled from the archives of NYC's Lyricist Lounge. You have to wonder why hip-hop can't let the man rest in peace? Must be something to do with the papers. Same could be said of this record's transparent attempt to keep a franchise alive and help push the Rawkus label further into mainstream consciousness. Aside from the aforementioned intro and Q-Tip's "live" outro, there's precious little evidence that the Lyricist Lounge is, in actuality, a freestyle forum with a monthly live event in New York City. The pairings of established and lesser MCs are suitably uninspired: Big Noyd and Prodigy's "The Grimy Way" and Royce Da 5'9"s "Let's Grow" even sound as if they're retreading 1980s retro-synth soundtracks. And, predictably, Mos Def (Rawkus's would-be prophet and biggest seller) is all over the record. He pairs up first with Ghostface Killah (on the previously released "Ms Fat Booty" remix), then with Pharoahe Monch and Nate Dogg (on "Oh No"), and cameos on the Gang Starr remix of Macy Gray's "I've Committed Murder." It seems that the only people that really get it are Last Emperor and RZA, whose resurrected creature-feature "He Lives" performs radical psychic surgery on this comp's rotting corpse. --Chris Campion

Customer Reviews:

I'm confused about something.......2005-10-19

This is basically adding on to what Adrian said earlier. I have had this CD for years and never noticed this. The back of the CD is not named right. I do understand that there is that He Lives song by RZA and that is track 15, but on the back of the CD it says 15 is Dilated Peoples. The version I have has Still Here and He Lives, but does not have Right and Exact on it.

Solid compilation album.......2005-08-06

A lot more known and accredited rappers are on this one and it makes for a better album from start to finish, but you still get some undergrown less known lyricits on it but not as many as Volume 1. Packed with 18 songs (1 is just a remix with a dfferent beat so it's 17 total songs), it has 2 classics, 1 almost classic, 4 I skip, 2 ok songs, and the others are good or great songs. Production is on point on most tracks as well, and a bunch of different producers get behiond the boards on this one. Hi Tek does 3 songs, Erick Sermon & ALChemist do 2 each, and Rcokwilder, DJ Roddy Rod, Ayatollah, DJ Roddy Rod, DJ Mighty Mi, Mad Lib, Prince Paul DJ Premier and Scott Storch all do 1. A good labum to have for fans of real hip hop and lyrics.

#1 - 10 (CLASSIC acapella freestyle from 1993 by the great: Notorious B.I.G. {R.I.P}
#2 - 9.5 (mos Def, Pharaohe Monch, Nate Dogg -- great beat)
#3 - 5 (Q-Tip & Words)
#4 - 8 (Cocoa Brovaz)
#5 - 8.5 (Beanie Sigel)
#6 - 8.5 (Royce da 5'9 -- nice beat)
#7 - 8.5 (Mos Def & Ghostface Killah - -nice beat)
#8 - 8 (Saukrates & Redman)
#9 - 5 (talib Kweli & the always $h!++y Dead Prez)
#10 - 9 (M.O.P. & Kool G Rap - hardcore song w/ nice beat to go with it)
#11 - 10 (CLASSIC -- Big Noyd f/ Prdogy -- GREAT BEAT)
#12 - 8 (Erick Sermon & Sy Scott)
#13 - 6 (Punch, Guilty, Phil da Agony, Cobra Red, Planet Asia)
#14 - 8 (Big L {R.I.P.} & C-Town)
#15 - 7.5 (Dilated Peoples -- great beat)
#16 - 6.5 (Master Fuol, Pastor Troy, JT Money)
#17 - 1.5 (macy Gray & Mos Def)

***there's a big gap from track 18 to track 38****

#38 - 8 (M.O.P. & Kool G Rap -- same lyrics as #10 but a different beat)

Check all my reviews

Pretty Nice.......2005-06-01

I bought this album for one song, Oh No with Mos Def and Phraoh monche and ended up liking the majority of the album. My BIGGEST beef is the large number of empty tracks between 17 and 38...what the heck is that about? I'm really glad the album showcases some of the lesser known artists like Words(worth), Consquence and Menace, and Saukrates. My favorite beat is from the Alchemist on Right and Exact, the oriental sound is ON FIRE. Pick up this album is you have some extra cash and want some hot beats and a nice mix of artists

underground trying to surface (don't worry we can see you).......2003-11-15

First of all i would like to point out there are two versions of this album. Nothing major, but the copy i own, has a track with big L & C-town (called Still Here) in the place of The Last emporer. Both tracks are worthy of the cd yet the big l is doper.

With that being said the album itself is bangin, some commercial heads are featured which is okay since we all got to make money, but this is dope hip hop and you should buy it, not only is it mad cheap used, the album is worth every cent of that four dollars.

lyricist lounge.......2002-12-25

first of all i never heard the whole cd, i've just heard the sampler which is great. this is why i've gave it only 4 stars, i don't know that the rest of the songs are great, so i only gonna give you a review of the songs i've heard. "w.k.y.a." has a nice beat, "oh no..." is a great song, "makin' it blend" has a pretty commercial beat but it's listenable, "get that doe" is great, "sharp shooters" is nice, "the legendary street team(remix)" is better then the normal one. "he lives" has some great story-telling, "right & exact" is a pure dilated peoples song. i've also heard the remix of "i've commited murder" which is one of my favorite songs.

Meditation Music:

1. Citizen of Time
2. Cobalt Blue
3. Country Evening
4. Country Morning
5. Crosswinds
6. Cry of the Loon
7. Dancing on the Edge
8. Dorje Ling
9. Evening in the Country
10. Exotic Voices and Rhythms of the South Seas

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Dynamite Texas Diva Live [Live]

Aus Münchens Operngeschichte

American Piano Works of the 1940s

Music: This Old Hat

AnotherLateNight (Re-issue)

Animal Rights

7 Lieder [Import]

40 Dayz & 40 Nightz [Clean]

60 Minutes with the King of Zydeco

16th Century English Harpsichord and Virginals Music

A Rock in the Weary Land [Import]

20 Super Sucessos [Import]

25 Años de Vida Musical

Groundhog Night

Jazz at the Blackhawk