The Snare

Amazon.com
Started primarily as a multimedia project by Belle and Sebastian bassist Stuart David, over the course of three albums Looper has evolved into something that is only now beginning to resemble a proper band. The Snare is certainly the outfit's most focused collection yet, doing away with the bubbly, ambient doodles of 1999's Up a Tree and 2000's The Geometrid in favor of a bare-bones soundtrack feel. A slight Burt Bacharach vibe runs through songs like "Lover's Leap" and "F***ing Around," but this is distinctly dark stuff. Punctuated by sqwaking saxophones, delicately plucked strings, and twitchy lo-fi beats, it's kind of like Air without the B-movie naïveté. For those who like that kind of thing. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description
3rd album and Looper's first for Mute features ten tracks. Stuart David, in relation to the album, takes on the persona of Peacock Johnson as an alter-ego, and this is carried through the album, as well as the video for 'The Snare', which portrays this metamorphosis through a David Lynch inspired dream sequence. Stuart's stories help create the perfect blend of music, word and image that is Looper. 2002.

The Snare,Looper,Mute U.S.,Indie Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop,Trip-Hop

Average customer rating:

I am but one small instrument....
Hypnotizing
must hear; beautiful music
Decent
One of the most influential albums of my life.

Clarity
Jimmy Eat World
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Static Prevails
Jimmy Eat World
Futures
Stay on My Side Tonight
Believe in What You Want

ASIN: B00005Y7DV
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

Table For Glasses
Lucky Dever Mint
Your New Aesthetic
Believe In What You Want
A Sunday
Crush
12.23.95
Ten
Just Watch The Fireworks
For Me This Is Heaven
Blister
Clarity
Goodbye Sky Harbor

Customer Reviews:

I am but one small instrument...........2007-04-15

Is there anyone that does not like Jimmy Eat World? Surely they are one of the greatest bands of our time.. and this is my favorite of their albums. I think most everything has already been said here.. but I will just mention that this is probably the most experimental and unique of their work(drum machine and lots of violins). They simply dont do songs like this anymore. Nothing wrong with that, just know that this is a step out of place for J.E.W.

Hypnotizing.......2007-03-19

The slower songs are so hypnotic, the vocal harmonies put me to sleep but in a good way, i guess i should say its relaxing. Lucky Denver Mint, Your new asthetic, and beleive in what you want stand out. I like the faster songs better when i'm feeling impatient, but the slower songs have a place too. A lot of later bands copied or were at least influenced by this sound.

must hear; beautiful music.......2007-03-02

OH god emo!! Yes, it is a genre that connotes excruciating sonic pain; just hearing that word makes one want to become an emo serial killer. But, music is music brother, and this is darn good music, regardless of the lame stigma. Don't accept the label!

Clairity is catchy pop rock, and much more. It's full of moving beautiful melodies and great harmonies, lyrics that are meaningful, progressions that are thoughtfull, and generally touching songs; none of that screaming crap either.

The instrumentation is not in any way bland; they don't display tremendous technical prowess, but it's perfectly pretty and layered quite well; enough to keep one interested. It's not cookie cutter pop music.

It's very well produced, and after listening to it 1 or 2 times, you will begin to understand why all the hype.

After years this record still evokes feelings. Highly recommended.

Decent.......2007-01-18

This CD isnt the best, JEW gets better and better. Get bleed america and futures - they are the bomb. This CD does have its moments though.

One of the most influential albums of my life........2007-01-11

Music is relative so I can't say whether you'd like it or not, but if your a lyric lover this albums for you!

I've Got a Baaad Feelin' About This: The Complete Recordings

Average customer rating:

From The Gories To The Dirtbombs, It's Blacktop All The Way
I've got a great feelin' about this. Get it?
Another Great Darin Lin Wood Creation
Mick's Best Ever

I've Got a Baaad Feelin' About This: The Complete Recordings
Blacktop
Manufacturer: In the Red Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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If You Don't Already Have a Look
Presents 12 New Hate-Filled Classics
I Know You Fine, But How You Doin'
Shake Your Monkey
Dangerous Magical Noise

ASIN: B0000A1HSA
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Tracks:

Blacktop (Intro)
Tornado Love
I Think Its Going to Rain
Planet Earth (@#*!!)
Mojo Kitty
Blazing Streets
From Beyond
Here I Am I Always Am
Confusion
Grave
No One Knows You're a Dog
Flagpole Hill
Your Pretty Face (Is Goin to Waukeegan)
Blacktop (Outro)
Hot Lips & Swivel Hips
Searchin'
44 Blues
Bahia
Keep on Doggin' Me
Let Me Go Home, Whiskey
Goin'
She's Mine All Mine
Hide and Go Seek Pt. 1
Hide and Go Seek Pt. 2
Self-Destruct Sequence
Baby

Album Description

Full title - I've Got a Baaad Feelin' About This, The Complete Recordings. 1995 debut album from the garage inspired punk act featuring Mick Collins (Gories, Dirtbombs), now expanded with 12 more tracks that are all cover versions. 26 tracks. In The Red. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

From The Gories To The Dirtbombs, It's Blacktop All The Way.......2007-02-12

For fans of the bottomless genius well that is Mick Collins and who are familiar with his more well-known work (that's an oxymoron), this is the undisputable summary presented by yours truly -

Blacktop is:

a little more agressive than The Dirtbombs

a little less boogie than The Gories

and a good idea of what The Screws would eventually sound like.

The sound clips say it all - I just had to put it into words. Now, if you will excuse me, it's time to search for some King Sound Quartet. Rock off.

I've got a great feelin' about this. Get it?.......2005-05-06

The holy grail of garage. Mick Collins should be President of the United States. If you don't own this record, you have serious issues. Are you having troubles in yer personal life? Best Record of the 90's. Do yourself a flavor

Another Great Darin Lin Wood Creation.......2004-06-24

For those searchers who really want to comprehend what would happen if Hank Williams blended with Keith Levene this is a start, and for those who realize that the White Stripes ripped off a movement started in the early 80s by copulating Punk with Western, outlaw, "country" sounds this is a proof; Gun Club, 68 Comeback, Royal Trux/(...) Galore, Acetone, Fireworks, Jackknife,
and many others all are in league with what appears on this album. What's sad is that Blacktop's best moments were live, and that material remains hard to get. But this album is well worth having.

Also, don't be misled: DARIN WOOD was the force behind Blacktop more than Mr. Mick, who to this day refuses to credit Wood for songs that DARIN WOOD wrote, and for guitar sounds which Darrin Wood invented and perfected; Mick Collins takes the easy way out in our now fascistic culture and blames Wood's drug use for the implosion of the band, and excuses his own pettiness by demonizing drug-use; like most people these days, Mr. Collins
does not think over what a "free country" might actually mean and entail, whether geo-politically or in a rehearsal room, but in this he's just an average citizen; yet the work both guitarists did is here for all to rock and swing to; Darin Wood's talent shows in the other bands he either founded or improved: Fireworks, Jackknife, Cat Fur, etc. Collins went on to do some great work with THE SCREWS.

Fireworks best album however is the intense LIT UP, which Darin Wood himself still has about 100 copies left the the original run, and can be gotten for $15 at 15 shoal dr./CDM, CA 92625; these copies were just given over by the label in Dallas and are only available via the artist himself.

Mick's Best Ever.......2004-02-17

Blacktop's complete recordings CD, I Got A Baaad Feelin' About This, is my all time favorite Mick Collins musical venture. It's so angry and noisy compared to anything else Mr. Collins has done before or since. Janet Walker's drums are simple yet they never come off sloppy. Alex Cuervo's Bass lines tie in with Janet's drums so well, you almost miss them. And Darin Lin Wood's distored guitar riffs blend perfectly with Mick's sheet metal noise fest. This Cd is just great, there's not a bad tune on the entire disc.

Highlights include: the rockin' "Blazing Street" the outstanding cover of Captain Beefheart's "Here I Am I Always Am" and Darin Lin Woods' take on the traditional "The Grave"

I'd pick BLACKTOP over the GORIES or FIREWORKS anyday, but not '68 Comeback, I'm too big of a Jeff Evans fan. But if this kind of music is up your alley BLACKTOP will do fine.

"BABY, PLEASE DON"T TAKE MY LOVE IN VAIN!"

While your out shopping pick up some: Pussy Galore, Gories, Cheater Slicks, Gibson Bros, Bassholes, 68 Comeback, Doo Rag, Oblivians, Compulsive Gamblers, Bob Log III, Immortal Lee County Killers, Wednesdays, Quadrajets, Bantam Rooster, Drags, Demolition Doll Rods, Husbands, King Louie One-Man Band, Supercharger, Cool Jerks, Tearjerkers, and Royal Trux!

OPEN-CLOSE-OPEN: American Contest Solos for Snare Drum
Average customer rating:

A+ Snare Drum Work!!!

OPEN-CLOSE-OPEN: American Contest Solos for Snare Drum

Manufacturer: Guy G. Gauthreaux
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rudiments, Rudiments, Rudiments!

Drumline

ASIN: B00004YKUC
Release Date: 1999-10-01

Tracks:

Three Camps
Downfall of Paris
The Connecticut Halftime
Hell on the Wabash
Grandfathers Clock
The General
Battin Em Out
2040 Sortie
Six Unaccompanied Solos for Snare Drum I
Six Unaccompanied Solos for Snare Drum II
Six Unaccompanied Solos for Snare Drum III
Six Unaccompanied Solos for Snare Drum IV
Six Unaccompanied Solos for Snare Drum V
Six Unaccompanied Solos for Snare Drum VI
My Friend Norman
Three Dances I
Three Dances II
Three Dances III
March for Two Drums
Stamina
The Charger
Test Claire
Technica 9
Recital Piece for Solo Snare Drum
American Suite for Solo Snare Drum I
American Suite for Solo Snare Drum II
American Suite for Solo Snare Drum III
American Suite for Solo Snare Drum IV
American Suite for Solo Snare Drum V
Variants
Mr. Fink's March

Album Description

Finally there is a professional recording of classic snare drum solos! OPEN-CLOSE-OPEN is an invaluable resource tool for percussion teachers, band directors, and students. Twenty great solos, masterfully performed on a Gladstone snare drum, are conveniently presented in chronological order. The first six contest solos also include traditional fife and bass drum accompaniments. Complete with historical notes, this CD is a must for every snare drum enthusiast.

Customer Reviews:

A+ Snare Drum Work!!!.......2001-05-25

This is a fantastic album. It's an absolute must for any student or enthusiast of drumming. The snare drum solos on this recording are executed flawlessly and serve as an excellent study reference filling a real void. Mr. Gauthreaux has obviously spent a lot of time working on his craft. There are some wonderful classics performed, including 'Three Camps', 'Downfall of Paris', and my favourite 'Grandfather's Clock'. The sound of the recording is also excellent and very "true" to the instruments used (love that Gladstone Snare). It's about time somebody recorded these solos - great job!!!!

Average customer rating:

I am but one small instrument....
Hypnotizing
must hear; beautiful music
Decent
One of the most influential albums of my life.

Clarity
Jimmy Eat World
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Static Prevails
Jimmy Eat World
Futures
Stay on My Side Tonight
Believe in What You Want

ASIN: B00000I55U
Release Date: 1999-02-23

Tracks:

Table For Glasses
Lucky Denver Mint
Your New Aesthetic
Believe In What You Want
A Sunday
Crush
12.23.95
Ten
Just Watch The Fireworks
For Me This Is Heaven
Blister
Clarity
Goodbye Sky Harbor

Customer Reviews:

I am but one small instrument...........2007-04-15

Hypnotizing.......2007-03-19

must hear; beautiful music.......2007-03-02

Decent.......2007-01-18

This CD isnt the best, JEW gets better and better. Get bleed america and futures - they are the bomb. This CD does have its moments though.

One of the most influential albums of my life........2007-01-11

Music is relative so I can't say whether you'd like it or not, but if your a lyric lover this albums for you!

Average customer rating:

as good as their best
Quasi reached their nadir..
One of my favorite albums of the year
Whiney college rock
a very good effort

Hot Shit
Quasi
Manufacturer: Touch & Go Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000BWVMB
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

Hot Shit
Seven Years Gone
Good Time Rock N Roll
Master & Dog
Drunken Tears
Sunshine Sounds
Mama Tried
No One
White Devil's Dream
Good Times
Lullaby Pt.2

Customer Reviews:

as good as their best.......2005-11-08

quasi is one of my favorite bands, and this album ranks along with their best. I think I probably enjoy it more than the others, given how dark some of the songs are and the wide range of weird instrumentation.

Quasi reached their nadir.........2005-09-21

Well, well, well. Malcontent, Sam Coomes, is so much full of vitriol these days, he ruins this album with his tiresome leftist rantings.

I used to like Quasi quite a bit. Even when you take the politics out of the equation, the songs are still LAME.

The two word album title is somewhat apt.

One of my favorite albums of the year.......2003-12-31

This was my first exposure to Quasi and I loved it so much I purchased the rest of their catalog at one of their shows. To be perfectly honest, unlike most reviewers, I prefer this album to their earlier ones.

Whiney college rock.......2003-12-14

I liked Quasi better when they kept their noses out of politics.
This album, aloof left-wing politics aside, just leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss aren't intellectuals when it comes politics. Next time, if they'd leave their socialist leanings out of the music and add a few catchy hooks instead, they *might* renew my interest in them.
Buy "Field Studies" or "featuring 'Birds'" instead.

a very good effort.......2003-11-05

I bought this CD at one of their live shows, and, as such, my love for this album could be somewhat influenced by the great time I experienced there. I met Sam, talked very, very little to Janet, saw them play live (they are simply amazing), etc, etc. Quasi is one of my favorite bands, and the experience was one of the best ones in a long time for me.

However, even reviewing the album on it's own terms, it's actually quite amazing. Although there are only eleven tracks on here (compared to, oh, the sixteen tracks from "Featuring 'Birds'"), it's just as long as almost any other Quasi album.

This album is addicting. It's all I've been listening to for a solid two days now, with my current favorites being "Hot Sh*t," "Good Time Rock & Roll," "Master & Dog," "Sunshine Sounds," and "No One."

"Sunshine Sounds" is my absolute favorite. It's seven minutes long, and full of really great guitar work. Most of it's instrumental. It starts right away, and goes through a series of different melodies and patterns. It finishes, as odd as it sounds, like a good novel would -- everything is resolved.

"White Devil's Dream," musically, is quite different. Really avant-garde. I like it. Lyrically? Well, at least they actually had the nerve to say what they thought. Not many songwriters these days do. However, in a couple years, it's going to be really outdated, which is a tad unfortunate.

I even think the cover art and the album title are fine; the first time I saw the cover, I actually laughed. It's just goofy, that's all.

Is it worth a purchase? Yeah, of course, especially if you're a Quasi fan. They're branching out into new territories, and, for the most part, I like what I hear.

Snare
Average customer rating:

... kinda Sam Spade feelin' Sultry album ...

Miserable

What Happened?

Looper's first homogenous album (3 1/2 stars)

F'ing around

Snare
Looper
Manufacturer: Mute U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000066I33
Release Date: 2002-06-18

Tracks:

The Snare
Sugarcane
New York Snow
Peacock Johnson
Driving Myself Crazy
Lover's Leap
Good Girls
She's A Knife
This Evil Love
Fucking Around

Amazon.com

Started primarily as a multimedia project by Belle and Sebastian bassist Stuart David, over the course of three albums Looper has evolved into something that is only now beginning to resemble a proper band. The Snare is certainly the outfit's most focused collection yet, doing away with the bubbly, ambient doodles of 1999's Up a Tree and 2000's The Geometrid in favor of a bare-bones soundtrack feel. A slight Burt Bacharach vibe runs through songs like "Lover's Leap" and "F***ing Around," but this is distinctly dark stuff. Punctuated by sqwaking saxophones, delicately plucked strings, and twitchy lo-fi beats, it's kind of like Air without the B-movie naïveté. For those who like that kind of thing. --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

3rd album and Looper's first for Mute features ten tracks. Stuart David, in relation to the album, takes on the persona of Peacock Johnson as an alter-ego, and this is carried through the album, as well as the video for 'The Snare', which portrays this metamorphosis through a David Lynch inspired dream sequence. Stuart's stories help create the perfect blend of music, word and image that is Looper. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

... kinda Sam Spade feelin' Sultry album ..........2002-11-08

I listened to this CD at a listening station at a book store and fell in love with it. I had no idea they had other albums, and when I read the other reviews here, I was shocked. Well, shocked until I went and listened to the other two albums' song samples. I see now why some people would be disappointed ... I couldn't even believe this was the same band. However, not knowing any of the history of the musicians or anything like that, I have to say I'm in the exact opposite boat. I LOVE this album and you'd have to pay ME to buy the other two. I like the "soundtrack/storyline" feel of the album (reminiscent of Queensryche's "Operation:Mindcrime") and I think by far the first 3 songs are the best. The album has a very very dark, sultry, somewhat dangerous feel. But if you allow yourself to feel the groove, there's no way you can deny that most of it oozes sexuality. I was slightly bothered by the fact that many of the songs sound similar, but the smooth sensuality of it is enough to overlook that. I admit, I do not like the woman's voice on Peacock Johnson at all, and I really don't like the schmaltzy Burt B. feel of ..., but beyond that, I think this album's a winner. I'm glad I never heard their first two albums, because I don't think I'd have given this one a chance. If you like a slightly evil/dangerous sounding album, musically and artistically superior (but not heavy at all), with a sexual/sensual undertone, I recommend you give this one a shot. It's the first time I've ever wished my name was Sugarcane ...

Miserable.......2002-10-03

Remember the lush and loopy Scottish-folkies-meet-mixing-board electronica/pop sound of the Looper you had come to know and love? That's all been abandoned. Here we have a series of relatively conventional songs with Stuart David's uninspired vocals in the foreground. A regrettable change of course.

What Happened?.......2002-08-06

Looper (Stuart David formerly of Belle & Sebastian) started out with a bang. The debut album was a great mix of spoken word pieces and and very good, well crafted pop songs that formed a wonderful, unified whole. Anyone who has seen Looper perform live can apreciate how good and talented they truly are... which is why this new album is such a let down.

I am a big fan of Stuart David's work both with Looper and while in Belle & Sebastian, however "The Snare" is just completely uninteresting, uninspired and droning.

Looper's first homogenous album (3 1/2 stars).......2002-07-05

Looper has switched gears on this album, abandoning their bubbly electronic dance tunes in favor of a darker, more subdued sound with only a few common instrumental sounds running throughout the album. The halting beats and sinister whispering of Stuart David may surprise anyone whose heard past Looper albums, but this is an album that keeps you coming back. The sound at times verges on 80's hip hop, but there is no head-bobbing to be done here. The songs never build to a crescendo, and the occasional xylophone or cello is the only relief from sparse, synthesized drums and horns that take center stage on every track. Having said that, for all their subtlety, these songs are well-crafted and worthy of repeated listenings. Give it at least two before passing judgement, since the common sounds may initially lead you to believe every song sounds the same. Trust me, they don't.
P.S. For all those reviewers screaming that this is not Belle and Sebastian, you're right. That's why it's a separate band.

F'ing around.......2002-06-27

Not a logical extension of 2000's The Geometrid. This is very, very mellow. I was ensared by the earlier Looper sound, as it was almost danceable, but here there is no dance-floor material. Some of the horns remind me of Belle and Sebastian. It's a sit-back and vegetate disc.

Average customer rating:

Great Choral Singing!
Not That Bad
Mediocre singing at best
Good Stuff!

Voices and Light

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Water & Light
Eric Whitacre: The Complete A Cappella Works, 1991-2001
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Nocturne

ASIN: B0000049Q9
Release Date: 1996-12-17

Tracks:

Music Of Great Poets: Lament For Pasiphae
Music Of Great Poets: De ton reve trop plein
Music Of Great Poets: Water Night
Our Sacred Heritage: Let All The World
Our Sacred Heritage: Psalm 117
Our Sacred Heritage: Salve Regina
Our Sacred Heritage: O Vos Omnes
Holocaust Suite: Roznov Clock
Holocaust Suite: I Never Saw Another Butterfly - At Terezin
Holocaust Suite: I Never Saw Another Butterfly - The Little Mouse
Holocaust Suite: I Never Saw Another Butterfly - The Butterfly
Holocaust Suite: Tema
Holocaust Suite: Prayer Before Sleep
Music Of The People: Mungu Ni Pendo
Music Of The People: Marianne
Music Of The People: J'entends le moulin
Music Of The People: Welsh Lullaby
Music Of The People: Sometimes I Feel Like A Moanin' Dove
Music Of The People: Ah! si mon moine voulait danser
Music Of The People: Set Me As A Seal

Customer Reviews:

Great Choral Singing!.......2005-05-31

The tone of this choir is fabulous! Finally, we are able to hear some of the late 20th century choral "standards" sung with a full, rich sound (like adults are supposed to sound, the uninformed and amaturish comment by the reviewer from MN not withstanding). When will these narrow minded and vocally challanged choral singers and directors realize that vibrato is a NATURAL and necessary component for proper and healthy singing?! The beauty of the harmonies and dissonances come THROUGH proper resonance, and proper resonace can only be achieved through a voice that is free to vibrate (vibrato) healthily. This choir achieves this and produces beautiful and vibrant choral tone.

P.S. The following is in response to Blue Suede Schubert:

updated 8/30/05: I usually don't respond to negative comments on my often very opinionated reviews (why try to sugar-coat when that is neither helpful nor intelligent?) But I must respond to the above mentioned reviewer. I do more than "fancy" myself a choral expert. I AM an expert on choral techniques, traditions and styles. I am originally from Minnesota, which for all intesive purposes, has the most established choral traditions and history in the country. The accapella choral tradtion had its beginings there, for heaven's sake! I sang in one of the nation's top choirs and am now a professional opera singer. I have listened and extensively studied all choral "schools," so to speak; anywhere from Robert Shaw and Roger Wagner to Dale Warland and the Lutheran college accapella choral tradition. I think that qualifies me to render quite an acurate opinion, wouldn't you think?!!

9/14/05: Final Response to blue suede Schubert:

I don't know what your problem is. I assume you're a frustrated singer who doesn't "quite make the cut," so to speak. I'm sure all of the readers are very impressed that you corrected my accidental mispelling and for the fact that you were able to give the actual definition for a(space)cappella. That's quite impressive. However, I think I'd rather be someone who actually CAN and who DOES sing (me) rather than someone who can only attempt to write about it (you).

Not That Bad.......2004-01-03

Although "Water Night" is not all that good, the rest of the CD is. Some of my favorites are "Let All the World," "Psalm 117," "Welsh Lullaby," and "J'entends le moulin." "Tema" is a piece I have performed with my high school choir. When done well, it can be quite effective. It's not a perfect CD, but it deserves more that one star!

(For excellent recording of "Water Night," I suggest the Eric Whitacre sung by the BYU Singers: The Complete A Capella Works, which can be bought off of this site.)

Mediocre singing at best.......2000-12-27

This recording is mediocre at best. While the University of Miami Chorale is a fantastic choir, it should shy away from certain types of songs. It doesn't have the broad range of sounds that the far better BYU Singers or Concordia Choir does. 'Water Night' is sung well, but not appropriately. This song should be sung without vibrato or it destroys the effect of the setting. The dissonaces that vibrato creates takes away from the beauty of the dissonances that Mr. Whitacre has written. Unfortunately for the listener, vibrato is used in this recording and destroys nearly all of the beauty contained in this wonderful piece. Aside from that, the rest of the CD is neither good nor bad. Discerning listeners will hear the differences. The music of Rene Clausen is treated well in this recording, but not understood completely by choir or conductor. If you're looking for a recording of 'Water Night', unfortunately this is the only one on the mass market right now and sometimes beggars can't be choosers so buy at your own risk.

Good Stuff!.......2000-04-25

I have really enjoyed this CD. Some of the pieces are a little loud- drums and stuff like that- but the effects are really nice. The Miami Chorale sounds great. My favorite is Water Night...

Average customer rating:

That settles it...
Coming Into Focus
power pop perfection!
"see those guys, give them the finger"
this is rocking....

The Kick and the Snare
Deathray Davies
Manufacturer: Glurp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Midnight At The Black Nail Polish Factory
Return Of The Drunk Ventriloquist
The Day Of The Ray
Ten Silver Drops
Broken Boy Soldiers

ASIN: B00099419I
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Tracks:

The Fall Fashions
Release The Squid (Box 6)
Plan To Stay Awake
They Stuck Me In A Box In The Ground Pt.7
Stumble
Clock In Now
Chainsaw (Denn Die Toten Reiten Schnell)
In Circles
I'll Sing A Sweeter Song Tomorrow
A Calender Crime
Alaska

Customer Reviews:

That settles it..........2005-12-01

I just heard two tunes from this album on NPR tonight, and I was considering buying it. After reading your review, J. brown "Mr. Snacks", I have decided to buy it. Any band hated so much by a 'labeler' such as yourself is bound to be good.

Coming Into Focus.......2005-09-16

There is a impulse just to say ditto to the last good review. However, I will venture to explain what is so fantastic about this release. I've been following the band since The Day of The Ray. And while I liked that album, I could not help but feel that it fell short. The lyrics were intermittently interesting and the music just did not have the fusion of a REAL band. At the time, if pressed, I would have said that it was somewhere between Beulah and GBV without the post punk meets Genesis vibe or some many horns. In other words, a distant cousin to E6. Credible and good but somewhat lacking. Here, however, is different deal. Pushing the power pop to the front, tightening the lyrics, and using there past influences for accents, The Deathray Davies really stand out here. This is the point where a band comes into its own as a unit and not just a project. Whether or not this will lead to further heights or disappointment remains to be seen. Like so many later day indie bands, it comes down to interplay. And here it comes in spades. From the driving opener ( A Theme From Augusta for the 21st century.), through the post Ramones New Wave crunch of "Plan to Stay Awake", the tiny lo-fi moments made large of "Stumble" and "In Circles", and right down to the ambtious quasi-Motown stomp of "I'll sing a Sweeter Song" and the decidely Pavement pop punk of "Chainsaw", this album shows a rare group that can master the mid-tempo sound with an enough variety that you don't think they are playing songs that all sound the same as a group that has mastered a very supple style within a specific sound. This, my friends, is a sound that can simply be called rock. And of the highest caliber. The only album I like better than this in the 2005 class is Spoon's "Gimme Fiction". This is album is a joy. I think I am going to surf it but always wind up staying from start to finish.

power pop perfection!.......2005-07-08

this album is by far the best thing I've heard in 2005. Big, fat guitar hooks and super-catchy fun songs. If you like bands like The Posies or The New Pornographers you should check out this disc.

"see those guys, give them the finger".......2005-06-24

Three songs into their set one evening in Chicago, my friend leans in to say, "I think they're playing the same song over and over". "If they are, they're absolute genuises. None of these Blue Moon swilling, horn-rimmers will have the guts to ask anyone, least they look unschooled." But that wasn't the truth. The truth is that the band were your run of the mill foux hipster revivalists with more fashion sense that musical chops. The cutesy pun in their band name makes me think of the early 90's ska epidemic when the bands were called SKAface and Luke SKAwalker. Guys, dandy warhols and brian jonestown massacre beat you to the punch.(speaking of the latter, I like how you had your own joel gion wannabe on the tambourine. You might want to give him a metronome to watch to keep better time.) As the sun decends I'm sure these guys are the typical trustfund douchebags you find in the hip and arty neghborhood of any city. It's easy to live the lifestyle when others pick up the tab. You can ride the crest of other artists and cash in on their hard work and ingenuity. Therefore you dont have to work too hard...and you can sleep past noon. In closing... as we exited the club, a friend of ours who was in the balcony, walked toward us and said, "Did you hear what they said to you?" "No, we were too busy discussing their inability to get even their so called fans to move their bodies aside from walking to the restroom". "They told the fifteen people watching them to turn and give you guys the finger." "Oh, how punk." The fair sensibility of a woman saved your van from a tire slashing. One punk move deserves another. Mabye next time your in Chi-town.

this is rocking...........2005-06-12

I haven't heard this band before. Not sure where they are from. The first song "The Fall Fashions" is very impressive. They are like a combination of glam rock and garage rock. They are like Weezer at times. They are clever. There are some interesting drum sounds. There are some good guitar riffs. This is an interesting album. It seems half finished, but it's good. There are a lot of cool bands that play this sort of music. I am not sure if they can stand out in the pack. I'd rather check these guys out before I would see The Bravery or Jet. I read now that they are from Texas and obsessed with The Zombies: that makes sense.

Average customer rating:

A star is born
Hold on, this guy is going places

Cymbidium
Damon Aaron
Manufacturer: Kick Snare Hat Records LLC.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

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Ballast

ASIN: B00008LULX
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Tracks:

Today
Holler
Bungalow
Eaves
Can't Fill Up
Cymbidium

Album Description

The distillation of 30 or so songs recorded for the much anticipated and as yet to be released LP, Eaves, the Cymbidium release is the first part of a much larger story, and an introduction to Damon Aaron. Though informed as much by hip-hop and electronic music as acoustic music, this body of work is not about genre or production. This is contemplative and personal storytelling in the tradition of Terry Callier and Nick Drake. Lyrically it manages to be both literal and impressionistic at the same time, mining the between spaces and finding the commonalities. This is the central theme of the larger work this comes from and is hinted at in its title track, 'Eaves'. Cymbidium includes 8 acoustic and epic soul pieces that are modern and timeless; sophisticated and simple; roots and future and was self-produced and largely recorded at home on 1/2" inch 8-track tape and MPC.

Customer Reviews:

A star is born.......2003-03-22

Damon Aaron is the next star of singer/songwriters. This guy is going places in the musical landscape. Watch out!

Hold on, this guy is going places.......2003-03-16

An amazing artist with a far reaching and eclectic style. His songs reflect his roots which reach far into everything from acoustic folk to soul to jazz and funk. This is a storyteller whose words are as important as his music. He takes hold of you from the first playing, and the more you listen the more you find his melodies and lyrics stirring in your soul.