Opposite [Import]

Opposite [Import]

Track Listings

1. Handcuffed (Did You Pay For This)

2. You Say

3. Tic Tac Toe

4. Fugasse

5. Police In Helicopters

6. Spanic

7. Rain 2

8. Hey You

9. Time To Fire Up The Place

10. Basement 3

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

Opposite You
Average customer rating:

"I won't send roses."

A delightful album

Marriage is sweet.

Marin and Jason are AMAZING!

who pick these songs

Opposite You
Marin Mazzie , and Jason Danieley
Manufacturer: P.S. Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000BDGVXQ
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

Honeysuckle Rose
Harold Arlen Songs (Come Rain or Come Shine, When the Sun Comes Out, Stormy Weather, That Old Black Magic)
I Want You to Be...
I Got Lost in His Arms/Who Are You Now?
Contrapuntal Berlin (Simple Melody, An Old Fashioned Wedding, Youre Just in Love)
A Sorta Love Song
I Wont Send Roses
The Aba Daba Honeymoon
Nellie the Nudist Queen
The Natural Order of Things
-15. Stephen Sondheim Suite (Happiness, Good Thing Going, Too Many Mornings, Not a Day Goes By, Move On)
Opposite You

Description

Fans of married couple Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley have long wondered when the mellifluous-voiced Broadway stars might sing together on an album. "Opposite You," expanded from their acclaimed evening of duets, is the answer to those prayers, celebrati

Customer Reviews:

"I won't send roses.".......2007-06-09

Though Danieley is a huge success in Curtains, and Mazzie is a major star in Spamalot, this CD of them together is uneven, and ultimately a disappointment. Their voices just don't "go together." Mazzie has a huge soprano voice, and her strong vibrato, which often sets off a song beautifully on the stage, sounds fuzzy here, as if she is singing "between the notes." Since she is singing the harmony much of the time and Danieley is singing melody (more quietly), this becomes a problem, as her strong vibrato makes the melody hard to hear and follow. I found myself wondering what the songs would have been like if Danieley had sung the harmony to Mazzie's melody.

Still there's loads of energy here for those who love these stars, and there are some great solos. Danieley shows off his smart humor in the solo "I Want You to Be," a hilarious, staccato song in which he addresses his lover, saying "I want you to be the mother of the children I'm not sure I want to have, I want you to be the loving wife I come home to, if I do..." His impeccable diction and control of vibrato make this a delightful take on whether to get married.

Irving Berlin's "I Got Lost in His Arms" is a lovely solo by Mazzie, though she tends to sing it in full voice, when subtlety might have added to the mood. Since that song is paired with "Who Are You Now" (Jule Styne and BobMerill), she has a chance to show all her talents. The most enjoyable duet track is "Contrapuntal Berlin," which combines "Simple Melody," sung by Mazzie with "An Old Fashioned Wedding" sung by Danieley, and "You're Just in Love," in which they sing in counterpoint. "Abba-Dabba Honeymoon" is another terrific song.

Perhaps it was the choice of songs, perhaps it was the arrangements, perhaps it was the mixing, or a combination of all, but these two huge voices just did not blend effectively on many songs, especially the slow ones, nor did they offer new interpretations of these standards. The really fast songs are fun to hear, but the CD is too loud, the melody is not always clear, and neither star is shown off to his/her best. They both deserved better. n Mary Whipple

A delightful album.......2007-05-17

It is very rare to hear two voices that sound so good together. To think that these two found each other is amazing. It is truely a match made in heaven. The songs on this album showcase their voices perfectly. I can't wait until the next collaboration.

Marriage is sweet........2006-11-14

I love Jason Danieley.

So there's objective viewpoint out the window.

I mean, really, I adore the man. His voice is perfection to me, and it's what I always hoped mine would grow into. His performances have always been professional and touching, and oh! that voice! His wife doesn't lack for talent, either.

And now the steel-throated couple is together at last on a duets album.

While there's nothing really wrong with the album, these two are amazingly talented, and they can do better than a lot of what's on display here. About a quarter of the songs are neither good nor bad. They're just... there. However, when these two are good, they're very, very good. The Sondheim medley that closes the album is pure bliss - these two were born to sing his words and music. Danieley offers a simply gorgeous "Good Thing Going/Too Many Mornings", Mazzie responds with a rendition of "Not a Day Goes By" that actually doesn't pale in comparison to Bernadette Peters' version, and the two come together in a rapturous performance of "Move On" from Sunday in the Park with George that almost erases the memory of Mandy Patinkin from the original Broadway cast.

Individual songs of note are "The Natural Order of Things", a sadly pretty rumination on age and change that benefits from some truly moving lyrics and musical phrases, the endearingly goofy "Nellie the Nudist Queen", and Harold Arlen's "Honeysuckle Rose", a well-chosen album opener.

It's worth a look if you're a fan of either singer. And as an album from Broadway performers, its mix of Arlen and Sondheim is a refreshing change from the usual Wildhorn/Webber/Boublil-Schönberg selections that riddle similar debuts.

Marin and Jason are AMAZING!.......2006-06-29

Opposite You is a flawless recording. I had the privelege of seeing Marin perform live and rest assured that her voice is just as flawless in person. Some of the song choices are unusual at first glance but after hearing them you will fall in love with Marin and David's playful renditions of songs like "Aba Daba Honeymoon" and "Nellie the Nudist Queen". I get tired of hearing the same old standards and I appreciate that they took risks with their song choices.

who pick these songs.......2006-06-24

I have seen both performers in person on several occasion.Thought both were terrific.Couldn't wait to play CD.It was difficult to listen to.Some songs actually made me cringe.I couldn't listen to it all at once.I kept waiting for it to get better,it never did.The producer is Tommy Krasker,what was he thinking?The liner notes mention "There's a lot of great material out there that would like to meet you,Mr. and Mrs. Danieley",aparently Mr. Krasker choose not to introduce them.What a waste of talent.Next time I hope they get better advice and direction.

Average customer rating:

drag on and on and on and on and on
In Stores Now "Hell and Back" the second album of Drag-On.
Whats It all about
Opposite of H20 = Fire
Decent debut for Drag

Opposite of H2O
Drag-On
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hell and Back
Ryde or Die, Vol. 1
Ryde or Die, Vol. 2
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Walk Witt Me

ASIN: B00004C4PG
Release Date: 2000-03-28

Tracks:

Parental Advisory (Intro)
Opposite Of H20
Spit These Bars
Groundhog's Day
High Roller (Skit)
Niggas Die 4 Me
Here We Go
Snipe Out
Click, Click, Clack
Get It Right
Shaquita (Skit)
Ladies 2000
Drag S*** (Skit)
Ready For War
Hot D*** (Skit)
The Way Life Is
Pop It
What's It All About
Life Goes On

Album Details

Different Track Line-Up Than the Domestic Release.

Customer Reviews:

drag on and on and on and on and on.......2006-12-12

After 79 reviews this cd gets 4 stars that is only a huge misconception of how redundant and lame this is,this man has no charisma,the production is disjointed,lyrically it offers nothing.And the handicap n****s sketch is sick,the only handicap is the thick idiot on the front cover who claims hes a rapper

In Stores Now "Hell and Back" the second album of Drag-On........2006-03-23

This Album isn't Drag-On's greatest and it's not a classic
you know good music from Drag-On like I do, go get Hell and Back.

It's in stores now February 2004.

Whats It all about.......2005-11-28

I mean the song...but the hype no I got this and I dont even play it I like that other song spit these bars but thats it 2 songs 2 stars.

Opposite of H20 = Fire.......2005-10-24

This album got bad criticism when it came out but honestly I think it's very underrated, sometimes Drag-On's lyrics aren't on point (but mostly they are) but then there is great production from Swizz Beatz to enjoy.
DMX sounds like he could be X's little brother trainded by him, and comparing it to DMX's own catalouge this sounds mostly like And Then There was X if one was to compare, with all kind of songs partyanthems, to darker songs and just streetraps.
The best songs are probably the ones that goes in a specific theme throughout the whole song, brought in a story almost like small movies: Snipe Out, Groundhog's Day and of course the song about his father LIFE GOES ON.
Only One song that I usually skip Ladies 2000 but the rest is pretty straight.
Overall a good album and most songs are actually the opposite of H20 = Fire.

Songratings:
1. Parental Advisory (Intro) --
2. Opposite Of H2O - (featuring Jadakiss) - 7/10 (gangsta)
3. Spit These Bars - (featuring Swizz Beatz) - 9/10 (Dragon's own Ruff Ryders Anthem)
4. Groundhog's Day 10/10 (laid back story track)
5. High Roller - (skit) --
6. N***as D** 4 Me - (featuring DMX) -- 9/10 (classic DMX singing hook with great beat)
7. Here We Go - (featuring Eve) - 7/10 (partyanthem)
8. Snipe Out -- 10/10 (story bout an assassin)
9. Click, Click, Clack - (featuring P Killer Trackz) -- 10/10 (gangsta)
10. Get It Right - (featuring DMX) -- 10/10 (amazing beat , good)
11. Shaquita - (skit, featuring Capone) --
12. Ladies 2000 -- 3/10 (boring song)
13. Drag's S*** - (featuring Styles) -- 8/10 (good)
14. Ready For War - (featuring The Lox) -- 7/10 (streetrap)
15. Hot D*** - (skit) --
16. Way Life Is, The - (featuring Case) -- 10/10 (song about death and struggling)
17. Pop It - (featuring Icepick Jay) -- 8/10 (another good ruffryderpartyanthem)
18. What's It All About - (featuring Parle') -- 6/10 (kind of corny hook, and beat isn't too good)
19. Life Goes On - (bonus track) -- 10/10 (great track that you can't help but to love if your heart isn't cold as ice, about his father)

Overall judgment: 8/10

Decent debut for Drag.......2005-09-28

I'll start by saying for the first 4 years I had this I would have gave it 3 stars but I listened to it a good bit lately and I think it deserves 4 stars. Packed with 15 songs and not many guests (most just do the hooks), you get a good deal of Drag and I see that he has the ability to carry a whole album with a decent final product. Of the 15 songs, 1 is almost classic material, 3 are ok and the others are good. Production is decent but repetitive (but then again look who did most of the beats). Swizz BEatz does 8 songs (I can't stand more then 3 of his beats on 1 album), P Killer Trackz does 3 sogns, and DJ Iroc, Teflon, DJ Shok & David Starr all do 1 song. A goo dalbum for RR fans or Drag-On fans to have and slightly better then his 2nd album.

#2 - 7.5 (f/ Jadakiss)
#3 - 8.5 (nice beat -- f/ Swizz Beatz)
#4 - 8 (nice story)
#6 - 9.5 (f/ DMX -- great upbeat track)
#7 - 8 (f/ Eve -- nice beat)
#8 - 8
#9 - 8.5 (f/ P Killer Trackz -- nice beat)
#10 - 8 (f/ DMX)
#12 - 7
#13 - 7
#14 - 9 (f/ LOX -- tight beat)
#16 - 8 (f/ Case -- deeper song)
#17 - 8 (f/ Ice pick Jay)
#18 - 8 (f/ Parle)
#19 - 8 (another deeper song)

Mel Jason Smalls -- b. around 1979 -- Bronx, NY
check all my reviews

Average customer rating:

Not a KSE rip off people!!
ok..
Some good solid metalcore
A temporary solution for insomnia?
Germany's best kept metalcore secret, may leave you wondering Killswitch Engage who?

Opposite from Within
Caliban
Manufacturer: Abacus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002Y4TSI
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Beloved and the Hatred
Goodbye
I've Sold Myself
Stand Up
Senseless Fight
Stigmata
Certainty... Corpses Bleed Cold
My Little Secret
One of These Days
Salvation
Diary of an Addict
100 Suns

Customer Reviews:

Not a KSE rip off people!!.......2007-01-11

To the people who think that Caliban took a look at KSE's playbook and ripped them off, you need to do your homework. Caliban RELEASED their self-titled debut in 1998. It was most likely recorded in 1997, 3 whole years before KSE released their self-titled debut. SO...those people don't now what they are talking about. The Opposite From Within is Caliban's sixth (6th) studio release, and by my count KSE only have four, do the math, it's that simple. Caliban are a very underrated band playing some brutal metalcore that only the German's know how. As far as I'm concerned they are the campions of German metalcore. Awesome, awesome CD buy it, you will not be disappointed. Another sick metalcore band (more emphasis on the METAL, then on the CORE) is Cataract. Buy all of their albums as well. Brutally heavy stuff!

ok.........2006-08-10

don't get me wrong here.. im not one of these people saying caliban are a killswitch engage ripoff but.. ever since they sold themselves to roadrunner these german metallers have been doing something thats not really them (or wasn't really them).. theres a fine line between melody and brutality and making the two have just the right balance (killswitch's first two albums did it perfectly).. its not that any of the songs are particuarly bad its just they sound so FAKE.. its like they wrote 2 minutes of heavy stuff and some roadrunner exec. came along and said: 'we need to insert melodic bits with boyband vocals here, here and here'.. and hey presto! we have a caliban album.. and its not just caliban that are guilty because so many metalcore bands are doing it now and none of it sounds very natural (demon hunter's new album is another obvious example).. despite all of that its alright to listen to for a couple of days but im not expecting it to join the likes of tool, gojira, isis, (early) metallica, etc. on my permanant playlist.. theres just nothing particuarly deep about it for a repeated listening experience..

Some good solid metalcore.......2006-06-21

First off and straight to the point this is a very good cd. Caliban are insane, but there is one thing that annoys me and that is f#*kheads that write music reviews about genres they dont even like. WTF!!!! the music is obviosly gonna suck if you don't like metalcore. If your into metalcore then i suggest you have a listen.

A temporary solution for insomnia?.......2005-12-06

After reading all those positive reviews of if like Killswitch Engage, then you'll like Caliban. So I bought the album hoping to hear some similarities of music. Boy was I disappointed! I disgree to the comparison to KsE because they don't even sound remotely similar at all.

After listening to "Opposite from within", I realised that they are trying way too hard to sound metal & should stick to what they do best (not sure if they know); hard rock style nu-metalish songs. The screaming style singing sounds pretty much monotonous throughout the albums. Not sure if he (Andy Dorner)is confused of being in a metal or emo band? (very evident in his voice). I reckon that Denis Schmidt's voice is the preferred sound for this band as it is clear & a lot deeper than Andy's. Then again he's got the voice that's perfect for those hard rock style nu-metalish songs. This can be heard on track #7 "Certainly...corpses bleed cold" & not hard to understand why this song is the best song on the album. Other alright songs are track #1,4 & 5.

I'm giving it 2 stars for creating wicked darkish music. Overall if you require background music or can't get some snooze, I recommend this album.

Germany's best kept metalcore secret, may leave you wondering Killswitch Engage who?.......2005-09-20

Caliban's "The Opposite From Within" is just one of those records that comes along so unexepectedly. Easily matching some of the top metalcore releases of 2004 (most notably Unearth's "The Oncoming Storm" and Killswitch Engage's "The End Of Heartache"), Caliban brings much to the table and completely annihilates a lot of the competition. Caliban doesn't do anything drastically different from the melodic metalcore style we've all grown accustomed to by now, they easily show their musicianship over younger newer bands just cropping up in the scene. Having more than 7 years of being a band under their belt, Caliban offers a record that any fan of the genre will fall in love with. But What surprises me the most is that these guys are relatively unknown, even at a time when Metalcore is at it's Zenith. I could easily see these guys getting the kind of attention Killswitch Engage or As I Lay Dying does. All I can think is that they most be alot bigger in Europe than they are here.

Ok first off, a lot of people are gonna tell you "yea they sound like a german Killswitch Engage", which is kinda true and kinda not. It's true that the two bands share a lot of similarities, most notably their nact for writing beautifully aggressive music, but I wouldn't see much more of a comparison than that. Actually to me, Caliban is much heavier than Killswitch Engage, and much more melodic at times. That may sound almost blastphamous to some (keep in mind I am also a huge KSE fan), but it's entirely true. Caliban shows throughout the entire cd, they can play some of the most blisteringly melodic metalcore around. "The Beloved And The Hatred", the opening track, shows this illustration perfectly. Seemlessly switching between tortured screams, and beautiful melodies, Caliban basically introduces you to what they are about. The clean vocals are actually done by one of the guitar players, not the main vocalist/screamer Andreas (which if anyone has seen the video for "The Beloved And The Hatred" or the band's live show, you would know). Tracks like "Goodbye" and "Senseless Fight" are a couple of my personal favorites, but honestly it's so hard to choose favorite songs on this cd, as I can't really find a bad one on here. Caliban's breakdowns are even pretty interesting, and easily fit in with the beautifully crushing music, and are sure to ensight dance floors everywhere they are played. I constantly find myself listening to this cd entirely, it's just that good. After 4 albums of perfecting their style, Caliban have reached their pinacle with this masterpiece, and I can only see the band going up from here.

If you're a fan of heavy metal or hardcore, then I highly recommend this cd to you. It was easily one of the best records of 2004, and more than a year after it's release I find myself still listening to it just as much as I did right when it came out. If you like any kind of melodic metalcore, especially Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying, I guarantee you'll love these guys. With Metal and Hardcore being so big right now, I wouldn't be surprised if these guys see at least some kind of success. They don't necessarily re-invent the wheel, but with "The Opposite From Within", Caliban definitely perfects it.

Average customer rating:

I've learned my lesson on agreeing with people...
"Emotional"? Uh... No.
Poison the Well - 1999
Great stuff
intense

The Opposite of December
Poison the Well
Manufacturer: Trustkill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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You Come Before You
Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
Frail Words Collapse
Shadows Are Security

ASIN: B00004R8EB
Release Date: 1999-12-14

Tracks:

12/23/93
Wish for Wings That Work
Artist's Rendering of Me
Slice Paper Wrists
Nerdy
To Mandate Heaven
Not Within Arms Length
Mid-Air Love Message
My Mirror No Longer Reflects

Album Description

Poison The Well build off of the South Florida sound that hardcore kids have come to embrace over the past few years; they make hardcore all encompassing. Imagine mixing the musical and vocal stylings from Harvest with the pure emotion that is found on a Boy Sets Fire record, and the tight and devastating clean guitar riffing of Meshuggah, and you will only begin to appreciate what Poison The Well is. Fans of all genres of hardcore/metal will adore this new album. Beautifully executed, dynamically crushing, and with a spectacular live show, Miami's newest rockers are poised to knock your socks off. Emotions and anger induced passion have never sounded this impeccably sweet when transferred to music.

Customer Reviews:

I've learned my lesson on agreeing with people..........2006-07-04

Darkprince, I've heard a lot of people say PTW fall out of sync a lot on this album and to be honest I'm too busy rocking out and enjoying the album to notice so I'm willing to give you all the benefit of the doubt. But to say this album is not emotional is just plain spiteful. You were angry when you wrote your review, as was I, and admittedly that makes for some pretty bad reviews. I have a couple of corrections to your review then I'm going somewhere else with this.

The double bass drum, when used in excess, is annoying and that's why PTW only touched on this lightly. And two the vocals are good/bad depending on who you ask. My acquaintance Nic likes metal, like you. In your defense however you like some underground stuff that I've, admittedly, never heard. I think that gives you some credibility and you've earned SOME of my respect. Anyways Nic doesn't like the vocals cuz he likes some pansyass crap.

Look, I don't care if people like metal, hardcore, grindcore, trance, whatever. But it's when people cross over the fence and give bad reviews is when you, literally, cross the line. I obviously don't have a lot of nice things to say about metal, which is exactly why you're not seeing me go over to a metal CD and giving it one star. That's pointless and it wastes everyone's time. Reviews are about how a band or album stand in its own genre. In this case, hardcore and in this case amazing. Good day.

"Emotional"? Uh... No........2006-06-23

In response to erikguy's review: Aren't life's little ironies funny? In several of your reviews, you've been heard to attack "stupid 80's metalheads" over their taste in music, calling them, among other things: "retarded" and "cowardly." Yet in your recent review of Funeral For A Friend's album "Hours," you actually sided with my negative opinion of the album. I, who proudly proclaim myself to be - in your words - a "stupid 80's metalhead."

On to the album then. Yep, it really is pretty abysmal. The guitar and bass work, for the most part, consists of chunky power chords strung together sloppily. The result sounds fragmented, dull, crude and just generally badly written. For an album which so many proclaim to be so "emotional," you would think it would at least convey some sense of melody, but there's none to be found.

The drumming is equally poor. It's made up of repetitive and simpliatic rhythms, heavily reliant on the snare drum, which fail to synchronise well with the guitars. The double bass pedal, on the rare occasions when it is used, is mainly used in short bursts to beat along with one repeated chord from the guitar, which is not only pointless, but gives us the (probably correct) impression that Poison The Well are such incompetent songwriters that they are incapable of incorporating the double bass into the overall song structures. Even the album's speed is done wrong; it rarely rises above mid-tempo, and thereby failing to give any impression of energy, even while the opportunity to go for an anthemic approach instead is wasted.

And then there are the vocals, possibly the most disappointing element of this album altogether. They consist mainly of weak, high pitched wails, which not only grate the ears, but also clash badly with the music. Occasionally we have short bursts of lower moans which I assume are passed off as this album's clean vocals. I have yet to hear another such incompetent singer. Possibly the only redeeming factor of this album is the production, which is clean enough, and you can hear the bass, even if the drums are flat and over-produced, a failing common of the hardcore/metalcore genre.

In conclusion then, my message is pretty simple. If you want angry, emotional music, powerfully evocative guitar work and rabid drumming, tortured howls dredging up inner agony, then for the love of God, BUY SOMETHING ELSE! Pick up "Slaughter Of The Soul" by At The Gates, if you want some idea of what I'm talking about.

Poison the Well - 1999.......2006-04-12

This is Poison the Well's first major release on Trustkill Records, home of many hardcore acts. It is also the first record introducing Jeffrey Moreira [vocals]. He does an outstanding job and it would come to show on later records that his skill as a singer/songwriting are nearly unmatched in the "Screamo" genre. Poison the Well is also skilled at catching you off guard with a softer more melodic feel fresh out of being battered by brash hardcore breakdowns with interesting time signature changes, noted especially in "Mid-Air Love Message" and "12-23-93." The lyrics are great and even the clear spots sound good. This is an amazing release given it was a time when "Nu-Metal" was peaking and hardcore was still fused with punk rock elements, and before all these Metalcore shenanigans/hooligans were even born. This album is a must if your a fan of Misery Signals, Skycamefalling, or 7 Angels 7 Plagues.

Great stuff.......2006-02-22

This is a very good, intense CD from start to finish. There is no time to breathe when this CD is playing, its just pure kick you in the face screams over powerful guitars and drums. As another person said, the screams dont become annoying, it has just the right sound to it with just the right amount of spoken words. If you want one of the best hardcore CDs out there then you must own this. Only complaint is the length of the album, a bit too short, but every minute is worth listening,, so buy it.

intense.......2006-02-06

this album is the first full length of one of the best hardcore/metal/whatever-you-want-to-call-it bands out there. although the album length is a bit on the short side, not one filler song is present. it is very evident a fair bit of thought went into creating the songs (impressive drumming and guitar throughout the entire album). this was one of the first/best bands that began implementing melody into the traditional hardcore/metal styles, and the impact they're had is enormous. it's hard to come by other albums that pack this much energy in their music. the lyrics are very well written (nerdy has to be one of the best love poems every written), and the timing of non-screaming vocals is very well placed and well executioned (tracks 1, 2, 5 are all great examples of this). some people complain of the production of this album, i would not want these songs done any other way (while later albums are still incredible in their own ways, this one by far has the most raw energy in it).

Average customer rating:

a musical masterpiece...
Incredible
Essential Fela
Dance for enjoyment
The Nelson Mandela Of Music

Opposite People
Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Open & Close/Afrodisiac
Expensive Shit / He Miss Road
Confusion / Gentleman
Live in Amsterdam
Zombie

ASIN: B00000JOEZ
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Tracks:

Opposite People
Equalisation Of Trouser And Pant
Sorrow Tears And Blood
Colonial Mentality

Album Details

Two Releases on One CD

Customer Reviews:

a musical masterpiece..........2004-11-11

Its rare that you can listen to an album that stands alone both on MUSIC and MESSAGE... Fela's music consistantly does this... one element doesn't compensate for the other... both are presented at an unbelievably high spiritual and musical level. Take SORROW TEARS & BLOOD... well before Fela's powerful message comes in, the tune is unbelievably musically engaging in depth and funk... Coltrane with a JB pocket.... then Fela comes in mocking the sounds of an approaching police car with his voice... (*anyone familiar with Fela, especially as his music matured is well aware of the brilliant way his pieces just build and build and not simply "stop" where you'd expect them to, but to keep going in interesting directions.) - - within moments, Fela is wise enough to state the first chorus of his verse several times prior to "chanting" his scathing indictment of the army and police in his own country (which can be assumed to also represent police and military abuse throughout the world)... in response the well orchestrated chorus responds with the same vigor and intensity of the horn's JB like horn punches letting you know that they agree and are listening... After the message has been stated Fela delivers his message, then returns to that incredible verse of his once again, then the vocals make way for his solo, Fela being one of the one of the only men in history who could probably be described as both the African JAMES BROWN (actually JB said this) and John Coltrane (my opinion).

The first time I heard some of the tunes on this album I remember it hit me similar to the first time I discvoered modern Jazz... I had turned the radio dial too far to the left, and heard this music that was so different and non-worldly that I wound up just laying on the floor feeling the world was spinning and not knowing what was going on... it was like a religious experience. Rarely since had I had such feelings toward music... but when I listened to Fela's BLACK PRESIDENT CD (which had two of the tunes from this album) it happened all over agin.

Though Fela has developed a cult following since his death, I think the world has yet to truly describeda man with a message as strong and powerful as the Marley's and Gil Scott Heron's and groove that has MANY REVIEWS uttering the words JB and ART BLAKEY in the same breath (and actually knowing what they're talking about.)

(P.S. The Vocal arrangements over the incredibly mysterious, sharp, yet funky rhythmic groove and horn arrangements in COLONIAL MENTALITY in my book serve as high points in musical innovation and performance.)

Incredible.......2003-09-23

A great album for both those new to Fela and those long familiar with him. There's not a bad song on here: all four tracks are infectious and danceable, with a variety of rhythms and tempos to keep it interesting and excellent soloing from Fela and the rest of his band. I think Sorrow Tears & Blood is my favorite Fela song; lyrically, it is timeless, and musically, it is enchanting.

Essential Fela.......2003-04-08

If you buy one Fela release, make it this one. "Sorrow Tears and Blood" and "Colonial Mentality" are absolutely essential to your introduction to Fela's body of work. Betcha can't stop at one, though.

Dance for enjoyment.......2001-04-27

One part Marley, One part James, One Part Trane, Fela is a hero I only recently discovered. These two albums from 1977 are classical and rock solid. The best tune is Sorrow Tears and Blood which is so timeless, because it can apply to the Cincinatti police brutality situation that happens to colored people in this nation.The late 2pac is a true poet similar to the great Fela. I hope open-minded hiphop listeners check this album out, because Fela's drummer Tony Allen lays down beats so hot they will make your sweat evaporate.

The Nelson Mandela Of Music.......2000-07-25

It's twenty years ago that I first listened to Fela. Funny how time flies. I was a musician at the time, looking for a new direction, something that wouldn't grow stale so easily, and to me Fela represented it. My first record of his was Sorrow Tears And Blood. This music has the power to grab you and never let go. It's relaxed, yet pulsing, funky cool, yet heart warming. This is about real life problems, heroism, suppression, fearlesness and integrity. Reading up on his life adds dimension to the music. Be forewarned though. Once you've heard Fela Anikulapo Kuti ('the one who carries death in his pouch') it will be hard to go back to silly love songs and shallow commercial tunes. Although not a mainstream name, Fela more than deserves a place among the musical legends of the 20th century. If the quality of the true classics is that they don't grow stale, Fela is right up there with them. His music is timeless.

Average customer rating:

Really unique prog metal
Recommended for fans of hard music that want something new.
SUMMARY OF OPPOSITE EARTH'S WORLDWIDE PRESS

Headspace
Opposite Earth
Manufacturer: Conquest Music Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000069KF
Release Date: 1998-03-24

Tracks:

Always Now
Primal
Natural Defense
Blame
Headspace
Falling Down
Statement
Visuals
Dog Dreams
Cycles

Customer Reviews:

Really unique prog metal.......2005-09-03

I remember a few years ago hearing two songs from this CD a few years ago ("Cycles" and "Falling Down"), and finding them to be quite interesting. Musically, the band is fairly tight and very proficient players. So, I finally decieded to buy the whole album, and discovered the musical goodness extended beyond the two tracks I heard. If you're looking for some progressive metal that is different then other stuff you've probably heard (like Dream Theater, or Symphony X), then I'd say give Opposite Earth a try.

Recommended for fans of hard music that want something new........1999-02-02

I heard of these guys many years ago thru the metal underground, but their style a changed a little since then. If you are into groups like Sanctuary or Nevermore, then you will enjoy this too. It is heavy in parts, but the vocals are more mainstream...no high pitch wailing or low grunts. Lots of good guitar/keyboard tradeoffs for Dream Theater fans, but not nearly as progressive as DT...but a little heavier. I suspect that being their first album, their budget was limited. The sound is clear, but I would be very interested to hear them with a major-label budget, because they have lots of different moods and changes that could be made even better with some more studio polish. The lyrics are very interesting throughout, and I would like to read some interviews where they explain some of the meanings behind the songs. Favorite tracks are Cycles, Primal, and Visuals.

SUMMARY OF OPPOSITE EARTH'S WORLDWIDE PRESS.......1998-09-23

"I've been hearing this group's name starting to pop up all over the place so I was anxious to check this out...this act prove themselves a worthy contender. Fusing in various influences Opposite Earth have a classy sound with a lot of melody and progressive elements but never lose sight of the bite. The vocals of Steven Vincent are a strong point for the band in his clear timbre meanwhile backed by the very tight action of the other four band members. The inclusion of some light keyboard work of Rick Risberg adds a lot of mood and individuality to their songs." ILL LITERATURE (Los Angeles, CA)

Headspace is chops - heavy and very well arranged. The album is richly flavored...Thematically, though Headspace is not morbid, it is very Metallican ... "Always Now," the album opener, sets off with a groovy and heavy riff ... killer rhythms and flailing drum patterns build up the song. Towards the end is a pounding riff that reminds one a lot of the "darkness imprisoning me" riff in Metallica's "One." "Primal" starts with a Primus-like bass riff, opening the gates ... and shredville, then gliding smoothly into a melodic guitar run. "Natural Defense,"... features, cool synthesizers and guitar solos. "Blame" and "Statement," the first singles off the CD, follow suit ... You ought to give this CD a spin ... INK 19 (Georgia/Florida)

Opposite Earth has gained recognition in European and American underground scenes after their two EP's "Omed" and "Visuals". "Headspace", the debut album, firmly states that they go their own path, where groovy psychedelic modern [sounds] almost overshadows their progressive ... roots. It is not common to see bands with inspirations from both progressive genre and good grunge (Soundgarden) or psychedelic rock/metal (Tool). Add trippy Middle Eastern motifs, groovy catchiness and you are about to get the complete picture. The record is very well balanced and gives a pleasant experience. The target audience for such music is very wide... EDGE OF TIME (Denmark, Lithuania & Spain)

If you're a fan of the classically influenced and technically proficient handiwork of the prog genre, then Opposite Earth are one of the best purveyors of the scene. METAL MANIACS (New York, NY)

Opposite Earth hails from Florida. Headspace's press release describes them as "combining a sense of Phrygian Modality and Middle Eastern melodies with chopping power grooves and great melodic sense." I think that about sums it up. The CD wastes no time getting started with "Always Now." "Primal" is a more complex song; not easy to describe, but I like it. "Natural Defense" is a rather progressive, heavy tune. "Blame" is possibly the most melodic of the first 4 songs...and is one of the best songs. "Headspace" is another great heavy progressive tune. "Falling Down" isn't as heavy as the previous songs and is probably my favorite. "Visuals" has a unique melody and is an interesting song. "Dog Dreams" is another cool progressive tune. "Cycles" finishes the CD with some of the best songwriting and playing on the CD. HEADY METAL (Dallas, TX)

After earning lots of accolades ... Opposite Earth has now put out their first full length release [HEADSPACE] ... The band has very strong technical foundations which really shine through in the compositions ... The first thing that you hear is a very modern sound ... with Opposite Earth, though, the vocalist has a much more modern sound in addition to the instrumentation. Having heard the bands [earlier releases], I knew that a lot of subtle complexity was built into the music. I think that the reason that it's subtle is because of the great band chemistry. They play together seamlessly, so it's easy to miss the shifting time signatures and other displays of technicality. You just end up noticing some very cool melodies. This is a talented and cohesive band that fans of modern metal need to check out. PROGRESSIVE LIST

"Visuals" ... was voted "Best New Release" at the Tampa Bay Music Awards. Visuals followed from the well received Omed, which garnered the band favorable local, national and international press. With good label backing this band could be huge. They don't offer the same cliché sound, but carry it to a different level." WILD RAG (Montebello, CA)

Since the release of "OMED" this band has been one of my personal favorites, but "VISUALS," the new release is far beyond all expectations. The song writing is absolutely compact and all of the songs are different. With out a doubt, "Visuals" is one of the five best compositions of the year. The powerful guitars are blended with masterful keyboards that take away the breath of the listener. "Opposite Earth" is an incredible band with a highly original sound. 12 points out of 12 points. HEAVY ODER WAS!? (Germany)

Walking Heart Attack
Average customer rating:

More fantastic music from Holland K Smith

Travelin' time

He'll have you jumpin'!

Walking Heart Attack
Holland K. Smith
Manufacturer: Topcat Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
General | Blues | Styles | Music
Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music
Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Jungle Jane

ASIN: B00000JGYA
Release Date: 1999-07-13

Tracks:

Walking Heart Attack
Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Deacon's Son
Little Boy Blues
Hypnotized
Queen Of Sheba
This, That And The Other
Take Me Back To Memphis
Cindy Lee
For Cryin' Out Loud
Beautician Blues
Night Train

Customer Reviews:

More fantastic music from Holland K Smith.......2007-07-24

Holland K. Smith is one of a kind unique and talented artist!
His star is on its way up! This is a great addition to any collectors collection!
A must have, the small tracks that amazon has to listen to do not do it justice.
Buy it you will love it!Walking Heart Attack

Travelin' time.......2002-06-02

On a recent trip to Texas, I had the opportunity to meet & hear
Holland at a blues club in Ft. Worth. I was impressed by his
energy and ability to keep the crowd movin'. He is one man I
want to hear again. His music has become my traveling sound
for many future trips this summer. His combination of blues,
swing & rockabilly are remarkable. Looking forward to hearing
the new CD for release soon.

He'll have you jumpin'!.......2002-01-29

WARNING! LISTENING TO THIS CD CREATES AN INABLIITY TO SIT STILL! I logged on to buy this CD after hearing it on the jukebox, and was saddened to see that no one had reviewed it. Holland's style seems to be a mixture of blues, jazz and swing, with a lot of rockabilly thrown in....but however you choose to label it, it works. I have also heard this man play live at some of the Fort Worth blues clubs, and have found it impossible not to at least tap my foot while listening. You'll be tapping, you'll be dancing, you'll be jumpin'! Rumor has it that he's coming out with a third CD in 2002....I plan to buy that one too.

Average customer rating:

Headspace
Opposite Earth
Manufacturer: Spv
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Always Now
Primal
Natural Defense
Blame
Headspace
Falling Down
Statement
Visuals
Dog Dreams
Cycles

Average customer rating:

Introspective, poetic and highly danceable!

Opposite Extremes
Stochastic Theory
Manufacturer: Sonic Mainline
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000J4S7NE
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

Conditional
No Illusions
OK
Losing My Religion
Here
Simple Choices
Don't Speak
In Time
Price of a Lifetime
All These Walls
Simple Choices (Hide and Seek Mix)
Here (Caustic Mix)

Product Description

Opposite Extremes is the second full-length disc from Madison, WI's STOCHASTIC THEORY, blending influences from everywhere from NEW ORDER to MESH to THE POSTAL SERVICE. This is electro-pop with an indie-rock edge, balancing dancefloor appeal with increasingly complex rhythms and arrangements accompanied by project founder Chuck Spencer's introspective lyrics. Featuring 10 new tracks, including a cover of R.E.M.'s classic 'Losing My Religion' and club remixes by Stochastic Theory and Caustic, Opposite Extremes begins where ST's breakout debut 'Soliloquy' left off - exploring themes of isolation, frustration, and uncertainty while picking up the pieces of a broken heart and a broken life. Far beyond the constraints of your typical ''synthpop'', Stochastic Theory is an increasingly original act on the electronic forefront and is steadily building a following thanks to inclusion on high profile live bills including ASSEMBLAGE 23, ICON OF COIL, and STROMKERN. SENSUOUS ENEMY, & CTRLSHFT.

Customer Reviews:

Introspective, poetic and highly danceable! .......2006-11-09

For those seeking underground EBM/Synthpop music that will keep you dancing, go to the artists website to sample some of these highly creative songs. The lyrics are poetically appealing while avoiding any self pity in spite of the heartbreak of the thematic contents. More amazingly is how this artist was able to self-harmonize on all the tracks, singing in various ranges and octaves, making this release sound as though it had a bevy of backup vocalists. Do seek this one out, you won't be disappointed!

Music Info:

Music Info

music info

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