Dance of Death [Import]

Dance of Death [Import]

Track Listings

1. Wildest Dreams

2. Rainmaker

3. No More Lies

4. Montsegur

5. Dance Of Death

6. Gates Of Tomorrow

7. New Frontier

8. Paschndale

9. Face In The Sand

10. Age Of Innocence

11. Journeyman

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Japanese edition of the British metal icons' 2003 album is scheduled for earliest release. Details TBA. Toshiba.

Tracks:

Appalachian Spring: Very Slowly
Appalachian Spring: Allegro
Appalachian Spring: Moderato
Appalachian Spring: Fast
Appalachian Spring: Subito Allegro
Appalachian Spring: As At First (Slowly)
Appalachian Spring: Doppio movimento
Appalachian Spring: Moderato - Coda
Rodeo: Buckaroo Holiday - Allegro con spirito
Rodeo: Corral Nocturne - Moderato
Rodeo: aturday Night Waltz - Introduction - Slow Waltz
Rodeo: Hoe-Down - Allegro
Billy The Kid: Introduction. The Open Prairie
Billy The Kid: Street In A Frontier Town
Billy The Kid: Mexican Dance And Finale
Billy The Kid: Prairie Night (Card Game At Night)
Billy The Kid: Gun Battle
Billy The Kid: Celbration (After Billy's Capture)
Billy The Kid: Billy's Death
Billy The Kid: The Open Prairie Again
Fanfare for the Common Man: Molto deliberato

Amazon.com essential recording

Happy is the composer who has an advocate as passionate and talented as Leonard Bernstein. These Copland performances have been the preferred versions since they were first issued--better even than the composer's own, later recordings. Originally they were spread over two discs, but thanks to the extended playing time of the compact disc, you can now get all three great Copland ballets together, along with the ever popular Fanfare for the Common Man. Bernstein brings to this music the right sharpness of rhythm but also a typically open-hearted warmth. He coaxes a virtuoso response from the New York Philharmonic, which knows this music as well (or better) than anyone. Self- recommending. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

What more could one ask for?.......2007-06-27

Aaron Copland's masterful works are here interpreted by Bernstein. Nothing says the American sound like Copland, and there is no better interpreter than Bernstein. This recording is one of the best in my collection. I would recommend this to anyone (even non-classical music fans).

Definitive Is Right.......2007-02-27

I have the SACD version of these recordings (except for the "Fanfare" which, in this case, is the version taken from Bernstein's recording of Copland's Third Symphony) and I must agree with others here that the performances are definitive. The "Rodeo" has more energy than any other recording I know of, in fact it can almost go over the top! "Billy the Kid" is quiet and tender, dramatic and bold and "Appalachian Spring" is dead-on. The last section of this ballet is one of my very favorite pieces of music and Bernstein's tempo and phrasing here could well be called perfect.

Definitive Recordings of Copland's Popular Ballet Scores From Bernstein, NYPO.......2007-02-11

Without question, this splendid CD is my favorite recording of some of Aaron Copland's most popular orchestral ballet scores. In Leonard Bernstein he had both a good friend and a devout ally, who successfully championed Copland's music, helping to ensure his reputation as one of the greatest - if not the greatest - 20th Century American composer. Sony has done a superb job in digitally remastering this recording, offering some of the best sound I've heard from a vintage Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic recording. But more importantly than the recording's superb sonic quality is the quality of these performances of Copland's scores. Bernstein leads in New York Philharmonic in these virtuoso performances, replete with lush, vibrant playing from the winds, horns and strings. His warm, truly heart-felt interpretation of "Applachian Spring" is truly mesmerizing, and the best I have heard from a recording. And yet, I am am just as impressed with his conducting of both "Rodeo" and "Billy the Kid"; the latter replete with superb solos from the orchestra's timpanist. An elegant performance of "Fanfare for the Common Man" closes out this CD recording. Fans of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra shouldn't hesitate in acquiring this superb CD.

American Music at its Highest .......2007-02-04

If I was forced to recommend one CD of American music, I would feel very safe in backing this one. These interpretations have yet to be surpassed, and not even Copland himself could muster the same type of perfection that Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic did in this recording. Bernstein's way with Rodeo is unbelievable, and this alone is worth the price of the disc. The music on this recording has a lot to do with why, as Americans, we can all be proud of our place in the history of western music.

With 39 reviews under me, I will dispense with the adjectives to try and describe each interpretation of each piece on this disc, and simply say that these performances have been recommended by almost everyone (professional critics included of course) since they appeared; get it and find out why.

The best of Copland.......2007-01-09

For the Aaron Copland fan, this CD has the essentials: the most popular and easy listening of the Copland body of creations. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful!!!
Relaxes your mind.
Relaxing music from a great composer
Better than just an introduction
Great CD

Grieg: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002A21
Release Date: 1994-08-09

Tracks:

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: Morning Mood
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: Ase's Death
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: Anitra's Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No.1: In The Hall Of The Mountain King (Peer Gynt Suite #1)
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 16: I Allegro molto moderato
Norwegian Dance, Op. 35 No. 2
Sigurd Jorsalfar: Homage March
Jeg elsker dig, Op. 5: Jeg elsker dig, Op. 5 (Ich liebe dich)
Lyric Suite, Op. 54: No. 3: Norwegian March
Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34: No. 1: Heartwounds
Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34: No. 2: The Last Spring
Lyric Suite, Op. 54: No. 4: March of the Trolls
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: I The Abduction of the Bride - Ingrid's Lament (Peer Gynt Suite No. 2
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: II Arabian Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: III Solvejg's Lullaby
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: IV Peer Gynt's Return Home

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!!!.......2007-05-14

I bought this for my husband but fell in love with it myself. I had never heard of it but now consider Edvard Grieg my favorite composer. It is magnificent.

Relaxes your mind........2005-12-30

The peer gynt suite is very delicate and it relaxes me. Whenever I hear the first movement of Peer Gynt, I feel as if I am walking along the forest at dawn with sunshine passing through the tall trees. It calms me and I usually close my eyes to imagine Grieg's creative masterpiece. What also interests me the fourth movement. It starts with slow and quiet and then slowly the music accelerates with power. Like the title, "Mountain King," says itself, you can feel the grandness of the music toward the end.

The piano concerto in a minor is my favorite. This music seem to convey the full spectrum from quiet and delicate or gracious feel of music to more powerful and magnificent all proportionally adequately. It is very enjoyable. Whenever I listen to this music, I feel as if I am resting in the high mountainn looking at the full panorama. Anyway, that's just my imagination I feel from his music and of course, yours can be very different from mine.

As for the CD quality, I hear no distraction sound and it is recorded well, I think. The little cover booklet can be informative about Grieg. Also nice price from Amazon.

Relaxing music from a great composer.......2005-08-02

I absolutely loved the string music on Track 3. I remembered it from an old PC RPG called Quest for Glory IV. I was disappointed to find out that Track 4 was only a minute and a half long, because I grew up loving that song from the various places I heard it (Fantasia and a kid Detective PC game from the late 80's).
Overall, though, Grieg's greatest hits is a must-have for collectors of classical music. Grieg is revered as Norway's greatest composer of all time and he certainly has a knack for creating imagery of bustling fjords and majestic mountainsides with interlaced river ravines.

Better than just an introduction.......2004-04-28

This CD goes beyond just introducing Grieg. It is a truly beautiful and for me, invaluable collection of this excellent composer. Grieg had an inimitable gift for exploring emotion, often sadness and nostalgia. However, he also had a large touch of the virtuoso, as demonstrated by the famous Piano Concerto. True, the last 2 movements are not included here; however, the first is still stunning. The Peer Gynt Suites are wonderfully played, and Ase's Death and Heartwounds are especially noteworthy - the lush orchestral sounds of these gorgeous pieces unfold exquisitely. Homage March is a nice change of pace, upbeat and with a memorable theme, and Leonard Bernstein moves at a devilish pace in March of the Trolls. This CD will not disappoint you - buy it today!

Great CD.......2002-01-29

For an intro to Greig, this is great. The "hall of the mountain king" is done very well.

Average customer rating:

Read my reasons before you disagree with me.
pick it up!! you won't be sorry
Sage, Human Death Dance
I Wanted To Like This
Sage's Best Album -

Human the Death Dance
Sage Francis
Manufacturer: Epitaph / Ada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000OMD4D4
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

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Underground For Dummies
Civil Obedience
Got Up This Morning
Good Fashion
Clickety Clack
Midgets and Giants
Broccoli Break
High Step
Keep Moving
Water Line
Black Out On White Night
Hell Of A Year
Call Me Francois
Hoofprints In The Sand
Going Back To Rehab

Amazon.com

After cutting his teeth in spoken-word and rap-battle circuits, Sage Francis launched into hip-hop, sort of. On his first handful of nationally visible solo records (Known Unsoldier being the must-have of the bunch), Francis knotted his stylistic roots, mixing his vocal skills in an emcee's equivalent of cracking his knuckles. As Non-Prophets--with DJ Joe Beats--he signaled his hip-hop arrival on Hope, with referential credentials blaring over beat-down backdrops. Of course, he'll tell you all this himself, and more, and does. The first proper track on Human the Death Dance, "Underground for Dummies" brings all comers up to speed on the Francis oeurve. Thus primed, Francis outs with the clearest presentation of his entire, moody, linguistic repertoire. He's had it in him for years, but this time around, he learned to make a mix tape. In one exemplary run, "Got Up This Morning" brings in revenant folkie Jolie Holland for a back-porch jam that rags on the deserving Charles Bukowski, then "Good Fashion" muscles forward, percussion-free, on the strength of a pounding string ensemble. Finally, "Clickety Clack" explodes forward in a thunderous, dungenous groove. It's hip-hop, sort of, but if this is a death dance, good riddance to the deceased. --Jason Kirk

Customer Reviews:

Read my reasons before you disagree with me. .......2007-06-28

A bad song by Sage is better than anything supposedly good on BET or the radio. Let me get that straight. I base my reviews off other Sage CDs not the "mainstream" or any body else out there.

Now that I said that here is my review.

My personal favorite stuff from him is the Sick series. Personal Journals was very good but different (just like the song says) Healthy Distrust I needed to listen and listen again to actually catch on. But I love that CD too. Now Human the Death Dance...I hate to say it but I am not feeling this one. Every cd is totally different from the last one. Which is not a bad thing but this cd is really out there and is nothing even close to the intial Sage I heard that made me a life ling fan (The Sick Series). If you have never heard any of those CDS please find a way to check those out...great great stuff. My favorite track on this cd is Keep Moving that song is the best on this cd. When the next cd comes out I will get that one too. I buy the CDs of people I really like and regardless of what I think of this cd I bought and will keep it.

pick it up!! you won't be sorry.......2007-06-23

This cd is a must have if you are into the mid-west scene, or underground period. Definitely one of Sage's best albums. If you don't believe me just give some of the samples a listen. Great beats and amazing lyrics just pick it up man.

Sage, Human Death Dance.......2007-06-12

In general I like this CD. I am an avid Sage fan and have been following his music for years. I really enjoyed some of the beats on this CD though I felt many did not reach their very possible apex. I like this one about as much as Healthy Distrust. His verbage is there as always, my favorite "Buried in a Faustian bargain bin." However none of the songs got to me as much as say, Hope or Make-Shift Patriot. I felt the potential for some of the songs on Human Death Dance to hit this pinnacle but they just fell a little short. The CD is definetly worth purchasing but if you do not have his older stuff I would start with that - Known Unsoldier, Personal Journals, and Hope are my favorites though there are others. In fact on Human Death Dance on the second song, last verse, Sage goes through his story using all the titles of his CD's in different and effective ways, very cool.

I Wanted To Like This.......2007-05-31

Let me start off by saying that I am a FAN of sage francis. I love his music, his words, his ideas, his creativity. I could go on and on giving him praise but this is a review on a cd i found to be dissapointing.
Perhaps my hopes were just set too high. After a dissapointing Healthy Distrust album I was ready for Sage to come back and reel me into his world again. It is hard to be critical about something that someone obviously put his heart into but i was unable to find myself being "caught" by this album like i have been with so much of his past work. While it is definatly leaps and bounds above A Healthy Distrust, this album is no where near as good as Personal Journals or any of his ..Sick albums

Sage's Best Album - .......2007-05-26

If you've heard Sage Francis before and you're considering buying this album, do yourself a big favor, and buy it.

Before I got this album, I had only heard about 8 songs of his from several years ago (Majority Rule, Hey Bobby, etc.). I thought that his stuff was great, but like my expectations of a lot of independent artists, I thought that it was probably just a fluke. You know, the artist fades into obscurity, never advancing.

Well, Sage proved me wrong on this one. He's advancing by leaps and bounds.

This album, Human Death Dance, brought back everything I learned to love about hip hop: Braking the mold, Love of fresh word & rhyme, beats and music that make you realize what you are hearing is totally new.

It starts off with a cool little montage of old recordings he had of himself rapping when he was a kid - then the next track "Underground for Dummies" is a summary of his experiences starting out, his naivete as his strength, managers, etc... his influences (very cool). The background music sounds like nostalgic memories (hints of 80's pop music?) with the end result being a sound in hiphop I've never heard before. It's timeless and an instant classic.

I could go on for every song on this album ("Clickety Clack" blew me away!) but I recommend you get this album, open the lyrics book that comes with it, strap on your headphones, and enjoy the ride.

It's one of those albums that will remind of you of this summer, years into the future.

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set]

Average customer rating:

A good gift for novice

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00012QLTQ
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Album Description

Music can be both calming and relaxing, or invigorating and passionate...this phenomenal 20-CD set is definitely the latter. This amazing collection brings together for the first time the most passionate music of all time, from Ravel's Bolero, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Wagner's Magic Fire Music to Ravel's La Valse, Orff 's Carmina Burana and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This is a must have collection for every passionate music lover.

Customer Reviews:

A good gift for novice.......2007-05-12

This was a good gift for somebody learning about Classical music in Japan.

Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid and Rodeo Suite; Ferde Grofé:Grand Canyon Suite

Average customer rating:

Astounding "Canyon"; "Rodeo" Rivals NYP
Superb recordings of American classics.
Copland and Gould - LSC-2195
Gould conducts Copland and Grofe
Superlative performance of Copeland

Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid and Rodeo Suite; Ferde Grofé:Grand Canyon Suite

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Copland: Appalachian Spring; Rodeo; Fanfare for the Common Man

ASIN: B000003FGZ
Release Date: 1993-05-11

Tracks:

Billy The Kid: Suite: Introduction: The Open Prarie
Billy The Kid: Suite: Street In A Frontier Town
Billy The Kid: Suite: Mexican Dance And Finale
Billy The Kid: Suite: Prairie Night: Card Game
Billy The Kid: Suite: Gun Battle
Billy The Kid: Suite: Celebration: After Billy's Capture
Billy The Kid: Suite: Billy's Death
Billy The Kid: Suite: The Open Prairie (reprise)
Rodeo: Suite: Buckaroo Holiday
Rodeo: Suite: Corral Nocturne
Rodeo: Suite: Honky Tonk Interlude
Rodeo: Suite: Saturday Night Waltz
Rodeo: Suite: Hoe-Down
Grand Canyon Suite: Sunrise
Grand Canyon Suite: Painted Desert
Grand Canyon Suite: On The Trail
Grand Canyon Suite: Sunset
Grand Canyon Suite: Cloudburst

Customer Reviews:

Astounding "Canyon"; "Rodeo" Rivals NYP.......2007-01-05

Close your eyes and be transported to the Canyon. In this remastering of a 1960 recording, Morton Gould shows his chops as a superlative conductor and interpreter of this Grofe classic. The work itself is wonderful, but Gould and his orchestra provide nuances that absolutely delight. Of the five movements of "Grand Canyon Suite", the final, "Cloudburst", ceases becoming music and is elevated to pure sensory experience. It is no longer notes on a page finely executed; it IS the sky, the wind, the sheets of rain (a sheer, shimmering slide of sound), the thunder, and it is perfect. The four prior movements are nearly as excellent, with the second, "Painted Desert", casting an eerie shadow over the listener's mind with spellbinding brush strokes. This is a performance delivered with painstaking care.

Gould's treatment of Copland's works, recorded three years earlier, were of great personal interest, as one of my earliest exposures to "serious" music was the great Bernstein recording of "Rodeo", and "Buckaroo Holiday" in particular. Surprisingly, Gould and company give the NYPO a run for its money. They are just as energized, brash and even raw (hear the horns, and it's fitting) as New York; ditto the "Gun Battle" episode of "Billy". Gould threw himself into Copland's scores and whipped his musicians into a frenzy when called for, and the results place Gould's readings of these two pieces of Americana right behind Bernstein.

This CD - beautifully remastered - is a bargain.

Superb recordings of American classics........2004-04-27

I thoroughly agree with all other reviewers (though I wish some would spell Copland's name right!) Morton Gould conducts with great verve and sensitivity. "Rodeo" is terrific and it also includes the seldom heard "Honky-Tonk Interlude" which is a delight in itself.
The Grand Canyon Suite is a highlight with its marvellous orchestration and melodic richness. Although the score is influenced by a number of composers such as Dukas, Ravel, Respighi and even Richard Strauss, it nevertheless feels entirely
original. "On the trail" is beautifully rhythmical,one can really feel the trotting
of the donkeys, and the sound effects are pure joy. Note the
ee-ah-ing of the donkeys, so superbly part of the music. (somewhat reminescent of Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream overture.) The Cloudburst is a sonic triumph.
This recording comes from 1957, but digitally remastered. Sound is demonstration quality. Still probably the best available, highly recommended.

Copland and Gould - LSC-2195.......2004-02-12

I've heard Copland conducting these two works on recordings and I've heard the famous NYPO/Bernstein's 1960 recording of these two works on Columbia Records, yet Gould and his Orchestra fills in the blank spaces that was left out in previous and recent recordings.

He takes his troup to NYC to Manhatten Center, in Oct of 1957, and have the legendary RCA producer, John Pfeiffer and Lewis Layton, produce and engineer this recording session to be encaptured on 3-track tape (where the "Billy the Kid" was released on RCA "New Orthophonic tape recording" - the BCS-130), then to eventual vinyl (LM/LSC-2195). Gould, being somewhat of an arrangement conductor in the 50's, manage to pull the stops out in how these two Copland pieces are to be presented-to where the listener can feel that they themselves are back in the Wild, Wild West of the 1880's. He doesn't rush through these two pieces like some other conductors do. Gould takes his time trying to tell the story within the music. He uses emphasis, emotion, tempo and dynamics where it should be per each chapter in a story. Excellent listening for all!

This BMG "Living Stereo" release of the LSC-2195 Copland/Gould is a faithful reproduction as it can be of the original vinyl release.

Gould conducts Copland and Grofe.......2003-11-21

It may surprise some to discover that American composer/conductor Morton Gould conducted such fine performances of other American composers' music. These RCA Victor "Living Stereo" recordings are vivid, excellent proof that Gould was a really fine conductor and not just of his own music.

The performances of the suites from Copland's ballets "Billy the Kid" and "Rodeo" are among the best ever recorded. They benefit not only from Gould's wonderful sensitivity and appreciation but from excellent playing by the "pickup" orchestra and the still remarkable "Living Stereo" recording process, in which RCA used only three microphones and advanced mastering techniques.

Ferde Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite" was a "labor of love" as the skilled composer/arranger spent considerable time carefully depicting his impressions of one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Grofe had been a very successful arranger for Paul Whiteman and is still remembered for the very first orchestration of George Gershwin's "An American in Paris," premiered by Gershwin at the piano with Whiteman conducting in New York's Aeolian Hall in February 1924.

Grofe composed a number of original orchestral works in later years and the "Grand Canyon Suite" is probably his best. It contains memorable melodies and is skillfully orchestrated throughout. It so impressed Arturo Toscanini that he recorded it in 1945 for RCA Victor, under the supervision of the composer. Grofe himself conducted a recording of the suite for Everest Records in 1960. Gould's recording is excellent. The final movement, depicting a spectacular thunderstorm, is absolutely awesome. I think this recording may surpass an earlier favorite, also recorded for RCA Victor, by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston "Pops" Orchestra.

This is all very fun and very exciting American music.

Superlative performance of Copeland.......1999-12-26

Billy the Kid & Rodeo were both etched in my soul when as a young boy I listened along with my mother. This performance by Morton Gould remains for me above any other that I have heard and I have heard many given my love for them. This is a re-issue of an original 3 microphone/3 track TRUE stero recording made by RCA in their 'Living Stero' series and originally recorded in 1957. A must have for Copeland listeners. It is a bonus that it also contains 'Grand Canyon Suite.'

Average customer rating:

Classic Maiden
Good follow-up
Garish CD cover
A quick review without the bias and overzealous youthful enthusiasm
great but somewhat repetative and drawn out

Dance of Death
Iron Maiden
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000BYM3K
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

Wildest Dreams
Rainmaker
No More Lies
Montsigur
Dance of Death
Gates of Tomorrow
New Frontier
Paschendale
Face in the Sand
Age of Innocence
Journeyman

Customer Reviews:

Classic Maiden.......2007-07-09

This is vintage Maiden at their ferocious best - could this be their best album since Seventh Son??? Effortless and flowing melodies, aggressive staccato power riffs, tight harmonic guitar interplay, fiery yet intelligent solos, key changes, rapid-fire passages, epic story-telling and a progressive attitude make this album a joy to listen to. These guys are no hacks, once again they prove to be talented musicians and songwriters who ply their trade with skill and taste. I absolutely love the minor-major key switches on Montsegur and Gates Of Tomorrow. There are several anthems to add to the Maiden canon but I won't list them all here, and there isn't any filler - all songs are excellent. The keyboards are a nice touch and are tastefully used in some places to create a rich symphonic sound. Finally, the cover artwork is quite impressive and is certainly the best one to date - the inner cover and the CD label image fit the concept nicely. Maiden fans or classic/progressive metal fans - don't hesitate to get this great album. Metallica-style metal fans might not enjoy it as much...

Good follow-up.......2007-07-05

On 2000's comeback album, "Brave New World," Bruce Dickinson reunited with Iron Maiden for their first studio album together since 1992. Three years later, Maiden released their 13th record, which was also their ninth with Dickinson, and their first album to feature the songwriting help of drummer Nicko McBrain. "Dance Of Death" continues in the same vein as "Brave New World," because its songs are very long, progressive, and have an "epic" feel. These songs are, on average, over six minutes long, and several of them, including the title track, clock in at well over seven minutes. But, even though the songs never seem to drag on for too long, the album as a whole is overly long and drawn out. The only other thing holding this album back from being a masterpiece is that it has no classic songs.

With that out of the way, there is still a lot to enjoy on "Dance of Death." The three guitarists--Dave Murray, Janick Gers, and Adrian Smith-are all in fine form, as especially showcased when they solo (which they do on almost every song), and Bruce's voice is, of course, also in great shape. Whether crooning, digging deep, singing soulfully, or even going falsetto (which he does in "Montsigur"), Bruce's vocals are impeccable.

The first two songs, "Wildest Dreams" and "Rainmaker," are highlighted by rather long, mazey, winding guitar solos (plus "Wildest Dreams" also has a catchy sing along). "No More Lies" starts out slowly, like a ballad, but it eventually gains speed (with the help of punching riffs and four tasty, back-to-back solos). Other highlights are the wailing, almost careening guitars on "Gates of Tomorrow," and the ambient closer, "Journeyman," which backs clean, acoustic strumming with creatively-placed violins.

It is a no-brainer that "Dance of Death" is yet another great album from these British metal legends, even if it isn't perfect. Recommended to all fans.

Garish CD cover.......2007-06-25

Would someone please explain to me the story, intent or purpose behind this album art? What an embarrasment. I mean, it's just ridiculous! We have a painfully out-of-place Eddie/Grim Reaper figure standing in the center of what appears to be some sort of pagan Mardis Gras troupe gone haywire. It looks like something you would see if you combined Crique De Soleil, a Druid ritual and an acid trip during a bad night in New Orleans. Kinda makes me lose my appetite when I look at it....

Derek Riggs, we miss you.

As for the songs, I personally like Rainmaker and Age Of Innocence, but nothing much beyond that.

A quick review without the bias and overzealous youthful enthusiasm.......2007-05-22

That adage about catching lightning in a bottle seems to apply here. There was a time that metal was the biggest thing on the planet and everything that came out sounded new and refreshing. Harkening back to the days of Paul Di'Anno, the punk forces driving the early sound of Iron Maiden made them head bangingly catchy. It was tunes you could hum, toe-tap, make you move while you were doing something and catch your ear if you were occupied...you would still end up paying attention.

This kind of pacing and sonic attention-getting lasted up until roughly the Powerslave album. I'm not saying that things since then are bad or unworthy, they just didn't catch attention or have me humming afterwards or moving with the music. This album has taken that downwards a notch.

I didn't find myself even paying attention after a very short while. The songs, as others have mentioned, are heavily laden with hooks and sequences from previous album's songs and not even the catchy hooks. As much as I wanted to be positive, I cannot recommend this album. It doesn't stand up at all well with what the band has had to offer over the years. As far as the entire IM catalogue, this one comes closest to being their own metallic cure for insomnia. There are some passages in a couple of songs that showed signs of approaching originality and lack of self-pastiche but they are far too few to give the album merit. And the band's addiction to minor-key drudgery becomes fatiguing. Remember Sunlight And Steel? Remember Running Free? Hello, band? You are allowed to be upbeat with your metal music once in a while. This sounds like a band trying to become one of those suicidal '90s goth snore-fest groups. I don't know, maybe they're getting tired after all those years of life in the metal fast-lane. I guess you can catch lightning in a bottle, but it only lasts for a few years from your first album. You can't even hear the echoing reverb of the distant thunder anymore.

great but somewhat repetative and drawn out.......2007-04-06

this is the second album put out by maiden with their six man line up, and i have to say its their weakest. brave new world and a matter of life and death are better IMO. this is a good album, but i feel like a lot of songs have strikingly familiar sounds to them. Im in the middle of Montsegur and ill be like that sounds like...put old maiden song title here...and so forth. i mean being the 13th album they put out i guess you can expect a band to recycle some riffs. and its been three years since their last album BNW so its not like they rushed it out or anything. i just dont think its as solid an effort as the previous album nor the upcoming MOLAD. I think face in the sand is my favorite track, and while Pashcendale is a good epic, its somewhat repetative, and drawnout. maybe it wouldnt sound so drawn out if they were a little more complex, but its pretty much the mercenary only 9 minutes long. the title track although doesnt really suffer from this as much, doesnt capture my interest as much as it should either. over all an average album.

Average customer rating:

The Whole Thing
Hauntingly Beautiful
Good-enough readings but outstanding sound
Passionate
Maybe this is THE (one disc-) Peer Gynt album to own ...

Grieg: Peer Gynt

Manufacturer: Virgin Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet

ASIN: B0007Z47JI
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Tracks:

No. 1 At The Wedding (Prelude To Act I)
No. 2 Halling
No. 4 The Abduction Of The Bride
No. 6 Peer Gynt And The Woman In Green
No. 7 Peer Gynt: 'You Can Tell Great Men By The Style Of Their Mounts!'
No. 3 Springar
No. 8 In The Hall Of The Mountain King
No. 9 Dance Of The Mountain King's Daughter
No. 12 The Death Of Ase (Prelude To Act III)
No. 13 Morning Mood (Prelude To Act IV)
No. 15 Arabian Dance
No. 16 Anitra's Dance
No.17 Peer Gynt's Serenade
No. 19 Solveig's Song
No. 20 Peer Gynt At The Statue Of Memnon
No. 21 Peer Gynt's Homecoming. Stormy Evening On The Sea (Prelude To Act V)
No. 22 The Shipwreck
No. 23 Solveig Sings In The Hut
No. 25 Whitsun Hymn: 'O Blessed Morning'
No. 26 Solveig's Cradle Song

Customer Reviews:

The Whole Thing.......2007-05-10

If there's an earlier 'Peer Gynt' recording that's complete (as opposed to just the 'suite') I've never heard of it. This is the entire incidental music to the play, not just the usual 'Dawn', 'The Hall of the Mountain King' 'Solveig's Song', etc.
Jarvi's reading is smooth and incisive and the choral parts are wonderful. I've never heard a scarier version of HOTMK. I never even knew that there was a solo vocal part for Peer himself, but here it is.

My only complaint-and it's a tiny one-is that the selections are not in the order that they would appear in Ibsen's play. But that's picking a very small nit indeed.

Hauntingly Beautiful.......2007-03-11

Conductor Paavo Jarvi does a masterful job of leading the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra plays with great emotion and precision creating an exciting and almost hypnotic effect. Although Beecham's version is very good, his Peer Gynt does not come close to matching the sheer beauty of Jarvi's.
The soloists on this album are outstanding. I consider baritone Peter Mattei to be the most talented baritone of his type today and his rendition of Peer Gynt's Serenade is nothing short of incredible. Soprano Camilla Tilling as Soveig has a lovely ethereal sound to her voice which is used to great effect in her songs. Tilling has the loveliest female voice I have ever heard. Mezzo Charlotte Hellekant has also grown on me as Anitra. Many of these vocal songs are not included on other versions of Peer Gynt, which is a great shame. The choir, something I don't usually enjoy, is very impressive.
I would rate this CD as by far the best version of Peer Gynt and perhaps my favorite CD of all time. The sound quality of the recording should also be mentioned because it is absolutely stunning.

Good-enough readings but outstanding sound.......2007-02-21

I don't find that Paavo Jarvi and his Estonian forces have much to say in the familiar numbers from Peer Gynt. You must turn to Beecham for sheer delight in famous numbers like In The Hall of the Moutain King, Morning, Anitra's Dance, and so on. Where this recording scores is in the unfamiliar numbers; Peter Matteo's excellent rendition of the little-known Peer Gynt's Serenade is one highlight, as is the convincingly crude folk fiddling that begins half a dozen numbers.

Secondly, there's the sound. The engineers have achieved quite exceptinally clear, open sonics that I've never heard the like of in Peer Gynt. Even when Jarvi's conducting is ordinary and his Estonian musician ae playing at far less than virtuosic level, the gorgeous sounds coming out of one's speakers remain alluring. As far as completeness goes, the Ruud 2-CD set from Bis is unchallenged.

Passionate.......2006-08-18

The story line gives the listener a guide to follow the music, but the score leaves out the connections for the listener to only imagine the performance. The music is passionate and descriptive and introduces the listener to the singing voices of parts of the presentation that are left out in the "Suite." I appreciate hearing it over and over.

Maybe this is THE (one disc-) Peer Gynt album to own ..........2006-02-15

... to keep closely beside the gorgeous, incisively intelligent and deeply concentrated performance (also on 1 CD) with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and Barbara Hendricks singing the role of Solveig (Sony Classical).
Together with the recordings by Neeme Jarvi (27 cues; DGG), Marriner (only 12 cues; EMI), Tate (17 cues; EMI), Blomstedt (19 cues; Decca), Dreier (the first truly complete recording of all of the original music (1978); 32 cues, including 'Bridal Procession', 'Solveig's Song' and three 'Norwegian Dances' all of them n o t originally written for the play; Unicorn UKCD + NKFCD) and Ruud (the first complete recording with 29 cues plus all of the dialogue, making a total of 51 cues, coming up on 113 minutes; BIS), these two (1-CD) albums by Paavo Jarvi and Esa-Pekka Salonen are as complete as can get concerning this so called 'incidental' music for the Henrik Ibsen play of Peer Gynt. Nowadays, Peer Gynt is Norway's No. 1 national epic, thereby giving this music extra significance and poignancy. Originally, there are in all some twenty-six numbers of incidental music for the play: almost ninety minutes of music, as can be learned from the booklet-essay. And according to the booklet, twenty of those are on this album; No. 5, 10, 11, 14, 18 and 24 are left out of this recording. 'Solveig's Song' wasn't originally written for the stage play but nonetheless included as such on this CD, so actually 19 original pieces from Peer Gynt, op. 23 are on this album, and not 20. But anyhow, such 'criticism' would amount to nitpicking ;-)
Here I would like to warn the reader that this will be a somewhat one-sided review, as I have only ever heard the Peer Gynt-recordings of Esa-Pekka Salonen, Per Dreier (freshly inspired, very natural performances) and this newest one of Paavo Jarvi. So this review is, for what it is worth, a personal and somewhat subjective approach, leaving out many other alternatives ...

Anyhow, as for the one-CD albums of Peer Gynt, op. 23, the merits of the Salonen/Oslo Philharmonic album (aside from the artistic ones, which are huge, as well as spot on as far as the 'Nordic' atmosphere of the music is concerned) lie in the fact that - up to now - it has been as near 'complete' a rendering of the music for Peer Gynt - as much as fits on one CD - as one might wish, covering the whole dramatic arc of the play from beginning to end (but without any of the spoken dialogue). I believe that this new recording with Paavo Jarvi is even more complete - as could be fitted on one disc - and gives the listener an even better feel of the drama of the play, if only because there is more singing here, namely by Peer Gynt (in the delightful 'Peer Gynt's Serenade'). Also, one hears here seldomly recorded, but wonderfully evocative pieces, such as 'Peer Gynt and the Woman in Green', 'Peer gynt: you can tell great men by the style of their mounts', 'Peer Gynt at the Statue of Memnon' (similar to 'Prelude Act III: Deep in the Coniferous Forest' on the Salonen/Oslo Philharmonic album. Actually it is the same piece, but it was never intended as the prelude to act III) and 'The Shipwreck'. Simply delightful, all this! As are all the soloists - truly, the best one could wish for! - singing in this recording. If I may steal a quote from Tim Ashley, The Guardian, May 13, 2005: "Peter Mattei is the swollen-headed Peer, Camilla Tilling a dignified, unsentimental Solveig and the incomparable Charlotte Hellekant a camp but lethally seductive Anitra." But although Camilla Tilling's Solveig is superb, IMHO she is not as completely involved-sounding or as convincing in the projecting of the troubled mind and heart of (especially the elderly) Solveig as does Barbara Hendricks for Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Even more than Esa-Pekka Salonen's performance with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, this recording offers the listener a more 'true to the letter-performance', as the music is here performed as heard during the play, as witnessed by 'Solveigs vuggevise' ('Solveig's Cradle Song'), where her singing is interlaced with the 'Whitsun Hymn', which, to the ears of this listener, only heigtening the sense of drama and storytelling.
All in all a fantastic album, I believe, and one that brings into focus the drama even more than other recordings of this music. Even though the orchestral playing of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra is maybe a (slight) nodge below that of the Oslo Philharmonic under Salonen and missing out on the deepest or finer layers of melancholy and dramatic tension (which are indeed touched upon by Salonen, I think), it is warmly sympathetic and more lush (as is the acoustics of the recording venue).
The really adventurous or Peer Gynt-completists (and once taken this step, the all too brief Suites will never be an option again!) should really go for Dreier or Ruud - this last one is said to be simply magnificent (music as well as acting) - but this generous one disc album, with some of the most gorgeous playing and singing, is warmly recommended (at least, in my opinion) to anyone who loves this wonderfully evocative music. Delightful!

Average customer rating:

Decent interpretation marred by terrible intonation
excellent choice for Romeo & Juliet

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0002XV310
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

No.1 Introduction
No.2 Romeo
No.3 The Street Awakens
No.4 Morning Dance
No.5 The Quarrel
No.6 The Fight
No.7 The Prince Gives His Order
No.8 Interlude
No.9 Preparing For The Ball
No.10 Juliet As A Young Girl
No.11 Arrival Of The Guests
No.12 Masks
No.13 Dance Of The Knights
No.14 Juliet's Variation
No.15 Mercutio
No.16 Madrigal
No.17 Tybalt Recognises Romeo
No.18 Departure Of The Guests (Gavotte)
No.19 Balcony Scene
No.20 Romeo's Variation
No.21 Love Dance
No.22 Folk Dance
No.23 Romeo And Mercutio
No.24 Dance Of The Five Couples
No.25 Dance With The Mandolins
No.26 The Nurse

Tracks:

No.27 The Nurse Gives Romeo The Note From Juliet
No.28 Romeo With Friar Laurence
No.29 Juliet With Friar Laurence
No.30 The People Continue To Make Merry
No.31 Folk Dance
No.32 Tybalt Meets Mercutio
No.33 Tybalt And Mercutio Fight
No.34 Mercutio Dies
No.35 Romeo Decides To Avenge Mercutio's Death
No.36 Finale
No.37 Introduction
No.38 Romeo And Juliet (Juliet's Bedroom)
No.39 The Last Farewell
No.40 The Nurse
No.41 Juliet Refuses To Marry Paris
No.42 Juliet Alone
No.43 Interlude
No.44 At Friar Laurence's
No.45 Interlude
No.46 Juliet's Bedroom
No.47 Juliet Alone
No.48 Morning Serenade
No.49 Dance Of The Girls With The Lillies
No.50 At Juliet's Bedside
No.51 Juliet's Funeral
No.52 Death Of Juliet

Customer Reviews:

Decent interpretation marred by terrible intonation.......2007-04-06

I had great difficulty restraining myself from turning this off when listening to it for the first time, because London does such a terrible job of being anywhere near in tune for much of it. Combined with many missed notes in the brass, messy passagework in the strings, and woodwind playing that seems intent on doing anything BUT creating any sort of phrase, it's doubtful this is worth even the small price Amazon has it listed for.

For a budget recording of this that's actually decent, I'd be much more inclined to buy Naxos' release of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine's version under Andrew Mogrelia.

excellent choice for Romeo & Juliet.......2006-04-14

I am writing mainly in response to Sarman (Sweden). I own the fforte edition and have played this many years on several systems. On Onkyo DR-UN7 dvd receiver driving Epos 22's, the sound is excellent, as it was using Panasonic dvd player, NAD amplifier, and Epos 11's. Previn is one of best interpreters of Prokofiev--after all, he is a Russian born in Berlin. I don't know who could call either the playing or the re-mastering "dull". The natural alternative is Gergiev, re-issued on Philips great 50 recordings at medium price. That is also quite good. I would avoid the others.

Average customer rating:

Hallo-wha?
An interest take on the usual
Could have been great but . . .
It's not That bad...
Tries to please everyone

Halloween

Manufacturer: American Gramaphone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000AOV3N
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Toccata In DeMole
Hall Of The Mountain King
Harvest Dance
The Flying Dutchman
Z-Row Gravity
Funeral March Of A Marionette
Rock & Roll Graveyard
Night On Bald Mountain
Crystal
All Hallow's Eve
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Rite Of Twilight
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Tracks:

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The Other Side
Enchanted Forest II
The Reaper
Ghost Voices
Alien Spaceship
Enchanted Forest III
Mountain King
Digital Death
Souls Demise

Customer Reviews:

Hallo-wha?.......2006-04-19

Let me start by saying I've never listened to Steamroller before picking this up. I am a big fan of Halloween and have quite a collection of music/sound fx so naturally, this was a must buy when I saw it.
Strictly from a Halloween fan's point of view, I can't recommend this except maybe for a kids party. The synth on the tracks really removes any spookiness from the tunes and makes them fall short of Halloween-worthiness. Tocatta and Hall of the Mountain King are some of my absolute favorite classical pieces and here they are given a royal treatment...if they were produced on a Commodore 64, or Casio keyboard for you younger folk.
The FX disc isn't horrible, but it's below the average generic sound fx you find in the bargain bin. Again, not much scary except for the fact that I spent money on this.
If possible, check it out before you buy.

An interest take on the usual.......2005-11-06

I wasn't sure what I'd think of this from reading other reviews, but I really did like it. I'm not really familiar with Mannheim's other stuff (but if the rest of the Autumn cd is anything like Harvest Dance, I'm looking forward to getting it), so I didn't have any preconceived ideas. I have a lot of the classical pieces on other cds, but I like the different twist given to them here. And I did like the sound effect cd. Nicely spooky (I have enough other sound effects cds with screaming and muching ghouls, etc).

Could have been great but . . ........2004-10-15

As a big Steamroller fan, perhaps my hopes were set a little too high. I envisioned more original music (perhaps a more scarier vibe than the silly one this CD has to it) and maybe a few covered tunes. Chips originals (from the Fresh Aire series)found on this CD outshine the weak efforts put forth on the covered and rearranged tracks. The sound effects disc sets a great(and creepy)mood, that should had been followed through with some new and equally scary compositions.

If you're a die hard Mannheim fan (as in 'I just have to own everything Chip puts out') I say go for it. But otherwise spend your Halloween money elsewhere. Overall this is a forced and lazy effort.

It's not That bad..........2004-06-14

It's not scary. There, you have it, that's what it all boils down to. With a creepy cover like that, you'd think it would be terrifying! It's not, but it's not bad, either!

A lot of the songs sound kind of like low-budget MIDI tunes that are sometimes embedded in websites.. but I think that might have been what the Steamroller was going for. Kind of like a broken Music Box? Anyway, only a few sound low budget, the rest sound good, even a few are a little "eerie" but at the same time, there's a lot that pretty much remind me of something you would hear come out of sesame street toy. The sound effects are great, though.

There's a few songs that are bad. there's a few that are "babyish" but there's also Lots that really capture the mood of halloween and some of it's eerieness. I can't really recommend it for Halloween itself (maybe if you already have every halloween cd already) but I think any Chip Davis fan should give it a listen.

Tries to please everyone.......2004-06-02

One of the neat things about the holiday of Halloween is that it is so versatile. Where Christmas has a very straightforward story (Santa or Jesus, take your pick), Halloween can be many things. Some people see it as a sort of Mardi Gras atmosphere, where any kind of costumed theme is suitable. Others see it as a dark holiday, only suited gothic castles, zombies, and monsters. Still others celebrate it in the style of gory slasher movies, complete with deranged serial killers and buckets of blood. And then there is the non-scary childrens Halloween, where the ghosts are cute and jack-o-lanterns all have goofy grins.

Customer Reviews:

Reissue of a much-praised MTT debut.......2006-06-26

At 78 min., this is much more generous than other collections that pair Prokofiev's two Suites from Romeo and Juliet. The angry reviewer below is mistaken to accuse Tilson Thomas of composing any transitions of his own devising--he only placed portions of the ballet in dramatic sequence (Prokofiev's suites are in no particular order). This was MTT's first recording with RCA as music director in San Francisco, and when it was released in 1996, the U.S. reviews were rapturous.

Not so the British. The Gramophone grumbled about 'slick efficiency' and 'stickiness.' I think that's not true. The only problems that keep this recording from the highest rank, as far as my ears tell me, are first, the recorded sound. Though wide-ranging and dynamic, the original release tended to be coarse and thuddy (I don't own the reissue at mid-price, but perhaps something has been done to correct this).

The second and more important reservation isn't MTT's fault. Great conductors have already preceded him. Ancerl, Mravinsky, and Mitropoulos are among the old maestros who made outstanding versions of excerpts from the ballet. Among moderns we have had sonic blockbusters from Salonen and Abbado, both of whom dig into the score as MTT does not, and both of whom benefit from the astounding viruosity of the Berlin Phil. As for the complete ballet, versions by Lorin Maazel with the Cleveland Orch. on Decca and Gergiev with the Kirov Orch. on Philips stand out. MTT has a lighter touch than all of the above, which isn't necessarily a bad thing--his avoidance of shmaltz is admirable to me.

In fact, there are stretches here that sound just as good as the best. I can see why other listeners give this recording five stars; in light of so many great ones, I settled for four.

The best available version of this music, hands down........2005-05-19

When Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony released their version of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" a decade ago, critics hailed it as the gold standard among all recorded versions of this music. Even now, there seems no reason to revise that opinion. Choosing from among several available suites prepared by Prokofiev himself, Tilson Thomas shaped a version that is both dramatically and musically complete. He and his orchestra do full justice to the bittersweet lyricism and astonishing emotional range of Prokofiev's music. Especially at its mid-range price, this CD is a must for anyone who loves Prokofiev.

Fantastic.......2004-08-04

Michael Tilson Thomas is truly one of the great living conductors. The things he has been doing with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for a decade now have been wonderful. This is one of the conductor's earliest collaborations with RCA Victor in selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Although other reviews have summed up most of my feelings on this CD, I do just want to emphasize MTT's musical vision in creating his own suite. The performance is incisive, dramatic, forceful, and thoroughly pleasing. As always, the SFSO plays with totally conviction and total faith in their music director. As one of the leading Russian experts of today, MTT has created here a fantastic disc.

Music Info:

Music Info

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