Jazz

Jazz

Track Listings

1. Mustapha

2. Fat Bottomed Girls

3. Jealousy

4. Bicycle Race

5. If You Can't Beat Them

6. Let Me Entertain You

7. Dead on Time

8. In Only Seven Days

9. Dreamer's Ball

10. Fun It

11. Leaving Home Ain't Easy

12. Don't Stop Me Now

13. More of That Jazz

Tracks:

The Best Is Yet To Come
It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)
Me And Mrs. Jones
I'm Your Man
Comin' Home Baby (duet with Boyz II Men)
Lost
Call Me Irresponsible
Wonderful Tonight (duet with Ivan Lins)
Everything
I've Got The World On A String
Always On My Mind
That's Life
Dream

Amazon.com

It's no coincidence that Michael Bublé's new album starts with just his voice and some fingersnaps on "The Best Is Yet to Come," a song made famous by Frank Sinatra. The Canadian smoothie looks longingly towards early-'60s Vegas, an impression quickly reinforced when a boisterous horn section makes its grand entrance, about 20 seconds into the track. That Bublé means business is confirmed by the second cut, a fast-paced take on Henry Mancini's "It Had Better Be Tonight," and of course by the CD's very title, another song identified with Sinatra as his cockiest. There are just a few sidesteps from the retro formula that's served Bublé so well so far: a languid duet with Brazilian star Ivan Lins on the bossa "Wonderful Tonight," a gospel choir on "That's Life." Interestingly, Bublé co-wrote the best of those sidesteps, "Everything," a Norah Jones-esque number that alluringly harks back to sunny '70s pop. It's also the only song on the album produced by Bob Rock (best known for his work with Metallica), sending out a strong signal that Bublé should reach out to unlikely collaborators more often. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

More Music from Michael Bublé

It's Time
Michael Bublé
Caught in the Act

Album Description

Melding the contemporary and the classic in ways only he can, Michael Buble has created his most complete studio effort yet. Ranging from "I've Got The World On a String" to "Me and Mrs. Jones," in addition to two new songs co-written by Michael, Call Me Irresponsible makes this album irresistible.

Customer Reviews:

OK CD, BUT NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS "IT'S TIME"..........2007-08-02

... but it does have its moments, especially with "It Had Better Be Tonight" - that one's a grand slam home run that's guaranteed to be a live performance favourite when MB hits the road on tour.

On the flip side, his remake of "That's Life" is a clunker that could have been a smash if he'd played it closer to Sinatra's original (even David Lee Roth, of all people, did a better version!).

But I've noticed that about Michael Buble; his remakes are either fantastic or outright throw-aways. So far, "It's Time" represents the apex of his career.

Frank Bubbly.......2007-08-01

I kept hearing the name Michael Buble and finally checked him out. Heard "Always on my mind" on his MySpace page and was blown away. Loved his older hit "Home" too. Took a chance on this album when I saw it at Starbucks. Listened to it and....

Please don't try and be a new Frank Sinatra, just be yourself, Mike, you got the chops, as you clearly show on the sublime "Always on my mind". I never tire of listening to that track, but skip alll the others. My ears were bleeding listening to you butcher the Eric Clapton tune "Wonderful tonight".

The production is superb - big points for that: 1 star. 1 star for "Always on my mind".

I wish you would have recorded an entire album of new classic sounding tracks a la "Always on my mind". That would have been a 5 star album.

Wonderful.......2007-07-28

I love this CD. Michael Buble' has such a smooth voice. I can't get enough. It's easy listening, good for dancing, romantic. and I cannot say enough about the music.

Does he have a speech impediment or is it just me?.......2007-07-27

Doesn't anyone notice he has a speech impediment? He slurs some words and has a very pronounced lisp at times. I'm not making fun of the handicapped. If he was someone that I met on the street I wouldn't mention it, but he has chosen a profession that requires clear speech and should be held to higher standards. If he was my dentist, I would be good with it.

The songs where there are fewer instances of "s" or "th" etc. are fantastic, but songs like "World On A String" are reminiscent of William Hung. I really like "Me And Mrs. Jones", but I can still hear a slight lisp here and there. I don't think I remember hearing the slurring and lisping on previous recordings??? I agree with a previous reviewer that asked how the studio could put this CD out.

Buble is still on a roll.......2007-07-23

Michael Buble still fills the musical niche left by Sinatra's passing. The big band is top-notch and Michael, despite his youth, swings big time on these solid standards. Another good addition to your Buble collection.

Average customer rating:

LOVE IT!
The Voice and the Soul
Not as strong as the her first two releases
Not her best
Insipid and inoffensive, uninspired and uninspiring

Not Too Late
Norah Jones
Manufacturer: Blue Note
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Introducing Joss Stone

ASIN: B000KCHZK6
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

Wish I Could
Sinkin' Soon
The Sun Doesn't Like You
Until The End
Not My Friend
Thinking About You
Broken
My Dear Country
Wake Me Up
Be My Somebody
Little Room
Rosie's Lullaby
Not Too Late

Amazon.com

Although the music of Norah Jones continues to blend pop, soul, folk, and country with a seasoning of jazz, her third album for Blue Note is the first where she's written (or collaborated on) all the material. Beneath the smooth surface lie darker strains on the album-opening "Wish I Could" (about a boyfriend lost to war), intimations of mortality in "The Sun Doesn't Like You," and the post-election horrors of "My Dear Country." The last seems to channel the inspiration of Brecht/Weill, while the equally bleak "Sinkin' Soon" is set to a jaunty Dixieland rag. Throughout, Jones's vocal intimacy and melodic warmth remain as disarmingly understated as ever. The soulful "Thinking of You," the countryish "Wake Me Up," and the syncopated "Be My Somebody" reflect the captivating style of her previous work. Although too much in the same midtempo mode becomes a dreamy lull, cut by cut, Jones's voice is irresistible. --Don McLeese

From Blue Note

Album Details

1. "Wish I Could" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitars; Julia Kent: pizzicato cello; Jeffery Ziegler: bowed cello

2. "Sinkin' Soon" (Lee Alexander-Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; Daru Oda: vocals; M. Ward: vocals; Jesse Harris: guitjo; Kevin Breit: mandolin; J. Walter Hawkes: trombone; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums, slit drum, pots and pans

3. "The Sun Doesn't Like You" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitar; Adam Levy: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Paul Bryan: Chamberlain keyboards

4. "Until The End" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer, piano; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitar; Adam Levy: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

5. "Not My Friend" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitars; Adam Levy: backwards electric guitars; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: marimba, cymbals

6. "Thinking About You" (Norah Jones-Ilhan Ersahin): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Chuck Mackinnon: trumpet; Rob Suddith: tenor sax; Lee Alexander: bass; Tony Mason: drums; Devin Greenwood: Hammond B-3 organ

7. "Broken" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, electric guitar; Julia Kent: outro cellos; Lee Alexander: pizzicato, bowed basses

8. "My Dear Country" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; J. Walter Hawkes: trombones; Jose Davilla: tuba; Bill McHenry: tenor sax; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

9. "Wake Me Up" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, acoustic guitars; Lee Alexander: bass, lap steel; Andy Borger: drums

10. "Be My Somebody" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Richard Julian: vocals; Tony Scherr: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

11. "Little Room" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, acoustic guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Daru Oda: whistle

12. "Rosie's Lullaby" (Norah Jones-Daru Oda): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Daru Oda: vocals; Adam Levy: electric guitar, vocal; Robbie McIntosh: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums

13. "Not Too Late" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, piano, Mellotron; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums

Produced by Lee Alexander

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Come Away with Me
Feels Like Home
New York City

Customer Reviews:

LOVE IT!.......2007-07-19

What's not to love about Norah? She once again gives us super music on this cd. Can't think of anything bad to say about it.

The Voice and the Soul.......2007-07-15

Bought this CD after hearing "Wish I Could" on the radio; this is a gorgeous, hauntingly beautiful, moving song.

I too am surprised to see the strongly negative reviews here. Her 3 CDs have sold more than 39 million copies worldwide, so there is clearly a strong fan base somewhere! The added plus on this third CD is that Norah wrote or co-wrote every song, so we are gaining a glimpse into her musical soul as well as hearing the beauty of her voice.

There are some real gems here. "Sinkin' Soon" evokes 1930's jazz with its honky-tonk piano (played by Norah) and its wah-wah trombone. "Until the End" has country roots. "Not My Friend" is a mellow, dreamy, wistful song with dagger-sharp lyrics. "My Dear Country" is a lament about what election day hath wrought. The final title cut, "Not Too late," winds things up on an optimistic note.

It is not surprising that Norah has good musical genes. Her father, Ravi Shankar, brought his sitar to the Beatles and Indian music to a global audience. Norah's seamless blending of country, jazz, blues, pop, and folk brings great talent and aural delight to a new musical generation.

Not as strong as the her first two releases.......2007-07-11

In my opinion, this CD is simply not as strong as her first two CDs. Most of the songs are fine, but forgettable. A couple are just a bit weird-sounding for my taste. Out of her 3 CDs, I preferred "Come Away With Me", although I understand that Ms. Jones feels that her current CD is a truer reflection of her musical style.

Right after I bought this CD, I was privileged enough to see her in concert. She is clearly talented, and has an accomplished band. The concert was wonderful and was over before I knew it. Her performance got rave reviews in the local newspaper the next day.

I look forward to her next release, mostly to see how her artistic style evolves.

Not her best.......2007-07-11

I own all three of her CDs. Come Away with Me is the best IMO. Her passion and talent shine through. Each song was worthy to be on the CD. In Feels Like Home, it seemed she relaxed a bit, had a little more fun, but lost some of the passion, a couple of the songs were not up to what I expected, but passed as entertaining. This third CD is the worst. My impression was that now that she has made a name for herself she can put any track on a CD without much scrutiny. I have listened to it a few times, but it just doesn't do anything exciting for me. A big disappointment.

Insipid and inoffensive, uninspired and uninspiring.......2007-07-08

That's about the highest praise I can muster for this effort. It isn't that it's BAD, but it just never achieves "lift off."

I wish I could wax enthusiastic, but after quite a few listens at this point, I don't think my opinion is likely to change appreciably.

Time for Ms. Jones to find her passion. It isn't evident on this CD.

Average customer rating:

the beastie boys have done it again
Skip it
Poor
Chill Background
Dreck

The Mix-Up
Beastie Boys
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000PY32CE
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

B For My Name
14th St. Break
Suco De Tangerina
The Gala Event
Electric Worm
Freaky Hijiki
Off The Grid
The Rat Cage
The Melee
Dramastically Different
The Cousin Of Death
The Kangaroo Rat

Amazon.com

Having long since shed their image as hip-hop's clown princes, the Beastie Boys now bring what feels like their emeritus recording, a celebratory instrumental memoir of all of the influences (except punk) that brought them to their secure place among hip-hop's fickle elite. The party opens with the aptly titled "B for My Name," its plodding bounce staking claim to the mid-tempo path the album treads almost throughout. "14th St. Break" picks up the pace, especially in the auxiliary percussion breakdown, complete with rally whistle. Then, beginning with "Suco de Tangerina," the album drops into a deep groove cut from dub- and dancehall-tinged ostinati that carry through a full third of its tracks. Among these, "The Gala Event" suffers from a lack of developmental motion that characterizes many of these tracks, but highlights still abound. "Off the Grid," for example, departs from the otherwise unbreakable chill and rips the proceedings wide open, blooming again and again in a series of pulsing riffs that celebrate the very institution of the instrumental groove. More than 20 years since Licensed to Ill took a long, irreverent piss into the mainstream, it seems you can still fight for your right to party. --Jason Kirk

Amazon.com

The Mix-Up is Beastie Boys' first-ever full album of all-new instrumental material. The follow-up to 2004's To The 5 Boroughs, The Mix-Up features Diamond, Horovitz and Yauch back on drums, guitar and bass, with able assistance from Keyboard Money Mark and percussionist Alfredo Ortiz, on 12 brand new wordless, sample-less, scratchless originals. Sure to please fans of the instrumental cuts from Check Your Head and Ill Communication and the cult hit compilation album made up largely of those tracks, The In Sound From Way Out!, The Mix-Up finds NYC's favorite sons drawing on one of their arsenal's primary strengths and pushing it into bold new directions.

Beastie Boys Photos

More from Beastie Boys

Paul's Boutique
Check Your Head
Ill Communication

Licensed to Ill
Awesome, I Shot That
DVD Video Anthology - Criterion Collection

Customer Reviews:

the beastie boys have done it again.......2007-07-30

a lot of people are basing this album on from their prevous popular albums like check your head, hello nasty (my favorite), 5 boroughs, ect. but there are a lot of ignorant people out there and dont realize that they have already made an album with just instruments called the in sound from the way out. and it was excellent and so was this album. put it on and just sit back and chill to it. the beastie boys do a great job mixing it up, which is one of the reasons why i love the beastie boys and one of the reasons why they are my all time favorite! its all about the music, a good band can make music with lyrics but a great group can produce music without lyrics. this album has been everything i have asked for, if you loved anything from the beastie boys, im sure you will love this. i know i did!

Skip it.......2007-07-30

I would say if you are new to the band you might find this appealing. For me it was not the same as past musical experiences I had in listening to albums of the past, including several that came after the famous "Licensed to Ill" which I have heard is one of Capitol Records all-time best selling albums. This CD left me frustrated as I did not feel there was very much creativity at all. As they say; "to each his own" but I personally felt this CD was a letdown.

Poor.......2007-07-28

Picked this up, was so excited, first song...all insturmental...i was like ya cool, i dig, then next song...no lyrics, all the way through the 12 tracks. very dissapointed, sure the mysic is good, but thats not what makes the beastie boys the beastie boys. if you are eager to listen then give the sample on amazon a quick listen, chances are that is all you will need

Chill Background.......2007-07-27

The Beasties are always giving the people what they want. They may not know they want it but after you get it, you realize you needed it. This is one of those records. It's not anything ground-breaking but it is just what you'd expect form an all instrumental (that's right, no lyrics) record from them. This record is great to chill to or have on the background of any get-together. It takes you right back to the instrumental songs of Check Your Head and Ill Communication records but is totally all brand new music. Nothing here appears on their The In Sound From The Way Out Album but it is similar in it's construction. I enjoyed The Mix-Up and I hope you do too.

Dreck.......2007-07-26

This ferkachte CD is barely worth the plastic it was printed on. How the Beastie Boys could have gone from the heights of Check Your Head and Ill Communication, and the ensuing instrumental mashup masterpiece The In Sound From Way Out, to this limp, soulless, grooveless piece of dreck is beyond me. Seriously, take it from one schmegege to another, you will not be kvelling when you listen to this.

The Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition

Average customer rating:

I love the music on this disc
nedenny
Must have

The Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition
Les Paul & Mary Ford
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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American Made World Played

ASIN: B0009IW9CU
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Tracks:

Dialog & In The Mood - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Lover - Les Paul
Nola - Les Paul
Tennessee Waltz - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Mockin' Bird Hill - Les Paul & Mary Ford
How High the Moon - Les Paul & Mary Ford
The World Is Waiting For the Sunrise - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Whispering - Les Paul
Just One More Chance - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Tiger Rag - Les Paul & Mary Ford
In The Good Old Summertime - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Meet Mister Callaghan - Les Paul
Lady of Spain - Les Paul
My Baby's Comin' Home - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Bye Bye Blues - Les Paul & Mary Ford
I'm Sitting on Top of the World - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You) - Les Paul & Mary Ford
I Really Don't Want To Know - Les Paul & Mary Ford
I'm A Fool To Care - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Whither Thou Goest - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Hummingbird - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Brazil - Les Paul
Case of the Missing Les Paulverizer (Medley from Radio Show): Avalon/Hawaiian War Chant/Where or When/I'll See You in My Dreams - Les Paul & Mary Ford

Customer Reviews:

I love the music on this disc.......2007-07-14

Les Paul and his wife Mary Ford are legends in jazz music. My favorite track on this disc is "I'm Sitting On The Top Of The World." Nobody could play the electric guitar as masterfully as Les Paul. Mary Paul's voice is so sensual on the track "I'm A Fool To Care." I love this track. "Tennessee Waltz" and "Vaya Con Dios" are classic romantic tunes. These tracks makes me think of someone special. "In The Mood" is another excellent song that puts me in a great mood. "Bye Bye Blues" is an uptempo track that stands out as one of the best here. "I Really Don't Want To Know" is a pretty song. I love the tenderness in Mary Ford's voice on this track. This disc is filled with great music.

nedenny.......2006-07-04

This must be one of the best CD's available letting new comers to LP&MF hear some of their best tracks from the 50's and they have not dated since then. Unfortunately CAPITAL in their wisdom have omitted others which should have been included. I can name but a few:- La Rossita - Mac the Knife - Three little words - Magic Melody - Hold me in your arms - Old Mexico - What is this thing called love - Walking & Whistling Blues - I'm Jealous - By the light of the Silvery Moon - Chicken Reel. and I'm sure there's more. So it looks like we'll have to wait till Les reaches his 100th Birthday before we see a Box Set.
I am tempted to wait - that's if I can manage to live as long as Les. He's doing great, and I hope he will still be playing when he reaches 100! Well done mate!

Must have.......2005-11-02

The recordings sound very modern. You can't tell this wasn't recorded yesterday; just listen to the samples. Les Paul had an inimitable guitar style. The man was the master, and teamed with the easy, lilting style of Mary Ford AKA (Iris) Colleen Summers (who started out in Western music), how could they not score? This music, while a product of its era, is timeless. This is perfection. This is the stuff dreams are made of. I usually review Classical music, but what can be more classic than this?

I only regret that a box set is not available, since I love everything that Les Paul and Mary Ford ever waxed. A particular favorite of mine that is missing is the Hawaiian love song, "The Moon of Manakoora". It is every bit as beautiful as the version recorded by Alfred Ahola Apaka, the crooning voice of Hawaii, and is recorded better. There are other notable omissions that I won't tire you with here, but this is the best set available until a box set is released. Absolutely wonderful music making. Curl up to the fire and warm with it; You'll love how it gets you in the mood.

Average customer rating:

Teddy Thompson's Torch & Twang
Fresh and innovative
From a non-country fan...
No longer "just" the son of......................
He's too cool for the room (so join the cult)

Up Front and Down Low
Teddy Thompson
Manufacturer: Verve Forecast
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Teddy Thompson

ASIN: B000QXDCI8
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

Don't Ask Me To Be Friends

Amazon.com

Yes, Teddy Thompson's parents are renowned folkies Richard and Linda Thompson. And, sure, he's spent the past few years touring the world with his good friend Rufus Wainwright, who recently wrote a song about their inimitable relationship called "Nobody's off the Hook." But it's Thompson's rich, twangy voice that deserves the spotlight. After turning out two thoroughly underappreciated albums of original material--it would be pushing it to even call them cult favorites--the lovelorn singer-songwriter takes on a dozen classic country tunes on Up Front and Down Low. It's a good fit, the bitter sentiments the inform his own work paired with the sterling melodies of Ernest Tubb's "Walking the Floor Over You" and Elvis Presley's "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone." Thompson gives each of the tunes a masterful makeover, polishing them up with an all-star cast of players that includes Iris DeMent, Tift Merritt, and Marc Ribot. Wainwright offers string his own "Down Low" into the mix without breaking the mood. It's the kind of stuff that could represent a breakthrough moment, as long as nobody gets distracted by the fact that he was born and raised in a Sufi commune. --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

Teddy Thompson's self-produced Upfront & Down Low features his angelic voice in distinctive and heartfelt readings of beloved country classics: George Jones' "She Thinks I Still Care" Ernest Tubb's "Walking the Floor over You" and Merle Haggard's "My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers." It also includes Dolly Parton's bittersweet "My Blue Tears" and the Elvis Presley chesnut "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone."

Customer Reviews:

Teddy Thompson's Torch & Twang.......2007-07-24

One usually doesn't think of men as being classic torch singers, but with UP FRONT AND DOWN LOW, New York-based young Brit singer/songwritier Teddy Thompson makes a stunning claim to that style of heart-achey pop music. Backed with tasteful arrangements on classic country tunes and his one original, Thompson unleashes his clear, plaintive and often soaring tenor to astonishing effect - particularly on "Walking the Floor Over You", "My Heart Echoes", "She Thinks I Still Care", Dolly Partron's "My Blue Tears" and his own "Down Low". Thompson delivers terrific phrasing on all tracks, especially putting over the wonderfully sarcastic edge of "You Finally Said Something Good (When You Said Goodbye)", which opens with a jaunty string quartet cakewalk. That number and the witty "Let's Think About Living" are the most upbeat among the album's 12 listed and one hidden track, a sweet and mournful "Don't Ask Me to Be Friends". Listeners who enjoyed Thompson's contributions to the BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN soundtrack will be delighted to find that UP FRONT AND DOWN LOW continues his forary into classic country & western music and delivers one of 2007's best sung albums in the process. No doubt about it - Teddy Thompson is absolute torch and twang. Look out, k.d....

Fresh and innovative.......2007-07-22

This is the best (new) album I've heard in years. The arrangements are
great. It sure beats 99% of what's being released as country music-
even though this CD is in the "pop" section at the stores.

Teddy Thompson is my kind of singer-not trying to sound like anybody
else (even though there is a little, but less twangy, Dwight Yoakam
in a couple of the tracks). I hope he does some more of the older
country classics with a couple of his own songs thrown in.

I could only rate this album 5 stars, but would have rated it higher.

From a non-country fan... .......2007-07-19

I guess this is technically a country album, but he brings a very folk/alt vibe to these songs. The result is just beautiful. Really, from start to finish. The emotion carried in his voice is so very moving. Just so soulful and touching.
If country isn't your "thing" I still say there is a place in any alt-rock collection for this CD. Perfect for a night of missing that certain someone. Perfect for a night of drowning your sorrows. Perfect for that long trip you didn't want to make in the first place. Ah, it's just perfect.

No longer "just" the son of.............................2007-07-19

Richard and Linda Thompson. I first heard of Teddy Thompson on the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack and have purchased all of his CD's. This one is no disappointment. As a country music fan, I love this CD so far, after just 2 listens. Teddy hits all the right notes, metaphorically speaking, and uses just the right amount of great backup vocals and musicians. I am taking a road trip this weekend and can't wait to crank up the speakers and listen to this CD several times in about 6 hours.
Great work, Teddy!

He's too cool for the room (so join the cult).......2007-07-18

When last I considered Teddy Thomp'son, he was building his cult. A very elite cult, because 'Separate Ways seemed to be so special that you could say, well, a lot of people just didn't have ears good enough for it.

Except it wasn't "special." And it wasn't "too good." It was great writing and great music and a remarkable voice, start to finish, without a single dud. I don't know why only a few of my nearest and dearest flipped for it. Maybe because it was depressing, in a wonderfully funny way.

Like this line: "I wish when the phone rang/it wasn't always you."

Not exactly a universal sentiment, is it?

So let's call Teddy Thompson an acquired taste --- until the day one of his songs becomes an unlikely hit and tens of thousands rush back to fall in love with all the great music they so breezily rejected.

And what of the follow-up to "Separate Ways"?

It's no follow-up at all. "Upfront & Down Low" is country. Classic country, if you will: songs by George Jones, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, the Everly Brothers, Elvis. Thompson uses a standard backup band, but he adds a string section, courtesy of the arranger responsible for the strings on Nick Drake's CDs.

Sounds like a vanity project? Not in the least. Teddy Thompson --- who didn't hear music that wasn't country until he was 16 --- understands this music completely. And delivers it authentically. But that understates. What happens in "Upfront & Down low" is captured magic, the alchemy of great taste and a compelling voice.

I went to see Teddy Thompson preview this CD in a downtown club. It was one of those rare nights: a small room, no more than a hundred people in the audience, all of them very much on the singer's side. Two violinists, a cellist and a string bass player came onstage first, then a drummer and a slide guitarist, then Thompson. Hard to miss him --- he was wearing a white suit. "I'm from the corporate office of Willie Wonka," he explained.

Naturally he apologized for the tone of the songs: "These songs are depressing. That's what country music is about."

But the songs needed no apology. They were flawless, if not exactly fun, and the title song, which he wrote, just might be the best. That song was, of course, the most depressing. Funny. I can't get it out of my head.

Average customer rating:

Great CD
Great music
Michael Buble is WONDERFUL!
Another well done CD
Fantastic CD

It's Time
Michael Bublé
Manufacturer: Home
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Michael Bublé
Call Me Irresponsible
Andrea Bocelli - Amore
Come Fly With Me (CD & DVD)
Caught In The Act (CD + DVD)

ASIN: B00070Q7VO
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Tracks:

Feeling Good
A Foggy Day (In London Town)
You Don't Know Me
Quando, Quando, Quando - duet featuring Nelly Furtado
Home
Can't Buy Me Love
The More I See You
Save the Last Dance For Me
Try A Little Tenderness
How Sweet It Is
Song For You - featuring Chris Botti
I've Got You Under My Skin
You And I

Amazon.com

Michael Bublé's assured debut and the tireless year of globe-trotting touring he spent promoting it elevated the 20-something Vancouver native into the first rank of pop crooner revivalists. His sophomore studio follow-up largely turns on the same formula that helped make his considerable vocal prowess so attractive to mainstream audiences, mixing the nigh flawless, if expected Sinatra-channeling ("I've Got You Under My Skin") with more playful and inviting renditions of pop standards like the Gershwin's "A Foggy Day in London Town," "Feeling Good," "Try A Little Tenderness" and Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin." But it's the eclectic mix of more contemporary material the singer seasons them with -- apt tribute to Bublé hero Bobby Darin -- that keeps him walking the narrow tightrope between artistic intrigue (a blues-tinged vamp of Holland-Dozier-Holland's "How Sweet It Is," Leon Russell's lovely "Song For You," with a guest turn by Chris Botti) and the kitsch-laden abyss ("Quando, Quando, Quando"'s Euro-centric duet with Nelly Furtado, a ring-a-ding-fling with the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" that echoes fellow Canadian crooner/rival Matt Dusk's more successful flirtation with Lennon-McCartney). Arranger/producer Tommy LiPuma offers Bublé a welcome swinging jazz showcase on "The More I See of You," a bracing respite from the rest of producer David Foster's slick, if typically bloodless MOR production. -- Jerry McCulley [Note: A special edition including two bonus tracks--"Dream a Little Dream" and "Mack the Knife"--is also available.]

Michael Bublé and More

Michael Bublé
Come Fly with Me
Totally Bublé

Come Fly with Me (DVD)
Two Shots
Peter Cincotti

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-08-01

The CD arrived in time and in good condition. The supplier keep me
informed of the status of my order and ETA of the product. Great service!!!

Great music.......2007-07-16

He is my favorite new singer. Very reminiscent of Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and the great Swing music of the 40's.

Michael Buble is WONDERFUL!.......2007-07-16

If you like easy listening music that`s reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, then you`ll love Michael Buble. I haven`t heard any artist this fantastic in years. This CD is the one you put in when you want to relax.

Another well done CD.......2007-07-14

This is another very well done cd by Michael Bublé. If you like his work, you'll enjoy this new edition.

Fantastic CD.......2007-07-05

This is a great CD - if you like Michael Buble's current CD (Call Me Irresponsible) you will like this one as well. This album has more slow songs on it than the current album, but still sexy and fun.

Average customer rating:

So good only Van could have picked the songs
great new album
Great Value
Great selection
Continuing writers block

The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Manhattan/EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits
The Essential Paul Simon (2 CD/DVD)
Live at Montreux 1980 and 1974
Live In Dublin
Stand in the Fire

ASIN: B000IY0FDA
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

Cry For Home
Too Long In Exile
Gloria
Help Me
Medley: Lonely Avenue/4 O'Clock In the Morning
Days Like This
Ancient Highway
Raincheck
Moondance
Centerpiece
That's Life
Benediction
The Healing Game
I Don't Want To Go On Without You

Tracks:

Shenandoah
Precious Time
Back On Top
When the Leaves Come Falling Down
Lost John
Tupelo Honey
Meet Me In the Indian Summer
Georgia On My Mind
Hey Mr. DJ
Steal My Heart Away
Crazy Love
Once In a Blue Moon
Little Village
Blue And Green
Sitting On Top Of the Wolrd
Early In the Morning
Stranded

Amazon.com

Navigating Van Morrison's extensive catalog since 1993 is a formidable task even diehard fans might not want to attempt. The Irish icon has flirted with blues, jazz, country, pop, Celtic, and his own style of indescribable into-the-mystic spiritually-oriented poetic folk on his numerous releases, making for quite a thorny culling assignment. So the EMI brass were probably ecstatic when the singer took the job himself. He weeds through a dozen or so albums released since Volume 2's mile-marker, and adds a clutch of previously unavailable mixes, rarities, and live tracks. The result: a nearly two-and-a-half-hour, 31-track double-disc set as sprawling, eclectic, and tenacious as Morrison's vision and discography. From occasionally rambling but spirited duets with veterans Bobby "Blue" Bland, Junior Wells, Georgie Fame, Lonnie Donegan, B.B. King, the Chieftains, Ray Charles, and even Tom Jones to concert versions of hits such as "Moondance" and an impressive take on Sinatra's classic "That's Life," along with hidden gems like "Steal My Heart Away," this is a beautifully assembled and sequenced collection. It presents most of this multitalented auteur's facets and softens his often crusty exterior by showing his appreciation for the journeymen that helped develop the trail that Morrison then blazed in his own distinctive style. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

The new 2-CD collection, compiled by Morrison himself, offers a comprehensive overview of his later material. The set's 31 tracks include previously unreleased collaborations with Tom Jones and Bobby Bland, as well as duets with John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Ray Charles.

Customer Reviews:

So good only Van could have picked the songs.......2007-07-31

You either love or hate Van the Man. Over 40 years he has given the world some of the most heartfelt beautiful music ever recorded. This best of provides a stunning glimpse into the breath and depth of what he is capable of delivering. Showing respect to those who came before him, this collection is absolutely outstanding from start to finish. In the hands of the recording company this offering could have been a diaster. Thanks Van for giving us your gems for this collection.

great new album.......2007-07-24

I was excited to hear that Van had out a new album. I've been a huge fan since the 70's.(that's dating myself, isn't it). This album is a nice mix of music and includes some duets with other artists. I'd like to see some brand new music from Van, but this one is great.

Great Value.......2007-07-23

This is a 2 disc CD with lots of great songs. I really like the mix of songs and definitely recommend this to Van Morrison fans.

Great selection.......2007-07-12

I won't call this definitive, but the collection's got some previously unreleased and seldom heard numbers that merit the price and hype. This is a very listenable CD that's something you can just stick in the changer and let it play. Definitely worth the money.

Continuing writers block.......2007-07-10

Despite having most of this already I paid out my money and what did I get? A reasonable overview with some obscurities, one of which "Blue and Green" is worth the cost on its own. While the music is all first class the compiling has created some jarring between tracks. I've always loved The Skiffle Sessions album but Lost John between Leaves Come Falling Down and Tupelo Honey sounds bizarre. Nearly all the tracks he has re-recorded are done better in their original incarnation and one gets the feeling that with this, the movie "best of" and the country abomination Pay The Devil before them that he has nothing to say at present. I love Morrison's music and sincerely hope there is more of it to come, its now been a fair number of years since there has been an album of original material and he is overdue for his muse to return.

Average customer rating:

one of the best CDs I own
Simply addictive!
Haunting sounds
The phenom Ms Jones
Glad i bought it ( Part II )...!

Come Away with Me
Norah Jones
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Feels Like Home
Not Too Late
Taking The Long Way
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Continuum

ASIN: B00005YW4H
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

Don't Know Why
Seven Years
Cold Cold Heart
Feelin' The Same Way
Come Away With Me
Shoot The Moon
Turn Me On
Lonestar
I've Got To See You Again
Painter Song
One Flight Down
Nightingale
The Long Day Is Over
The Nearness Of You

Amazon.com

It is not just the timbre of Norah Jones's voice that is mature beyond her 22 years. Her assured phrasing and precise time are more often found in older singers as well. She is instantly recognizable, blending shades of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone without sounding like anyone but herself. Any way you slice it, she is a singer to be reckoned with. Her readings of the Hank Williams classic "Cold Cold Heart" and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You" alone are worth the price of the CD. Jones's own material, while not bad, pales a bit next to such masterpieces. They might have fared better had she and producer Arif Mardin opted for some livelier arrangements, taking better advantage of brilliant sidemen such as Bill Frisell, Kevin Breit, and Brian Blade; or if the tunes had simply been given less laconic performances. Jones has all the tools; what will come with experience and some careful listening to artists like J.J. Cale and Shirley Horn is the knack of remaining low-key without sounding sleepy--sometimes less is not, in fact, more. --Michael Ross

Amazon.com

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Not Too Late
Feels Like Home
The Little Willies

Customer Reviews:

one of the best CDs I own.......2007-07-25

Other reviewers have gone into a lot of depth about this CD already, so I'll keep my endorsement short and to the point. The CD is fantastic and is one of the best that I own. You will never get tired of listening to this one.

Simply addictive!.......2007-07-12

This is her best album!
Her voice is unbelievable, the delivery is amazing and the lyrics are stunning!

Haunting sounds.......2007-07-06

For 3 months, my Norah Jones CDs have taken over my car stereo. This woman is very talented!

The phenom Ms Jones.......2007-06-27

This is such an outstanding production, so much better than the later(I think) CD. Miss Jones should be careful which guitar players back her up. She should stick to Bill Frizell or maybe she should try Mark Knoffler, if she can get him away from Emmy Lou.

Glad i bought it ( Part II )...!.......2007-06-20

I knew that Nora Jones was good music but i had no idea just how good...My sister-in-law bought me this CD for Father's Day...i have listened to it 3 times today. The way i would describe her lyrics and delivery is equal to "Musical Rose Petals". So smooth and so inviting is her voice. I really love the Piano work also. Her birth name being "Geethali",Nora Jones along with the likes of Michael Buble have added a nice,new,fresh selection of music to today's currently enemic sound. This album made her only the second artist ever to sweep the "Big Four" being Album,Song,Record,& Artist of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2003. Standouts for me include: "Come Away With Me","Don't Know Why", and i really like her rendition of Hank Williams SR.'s "Cold,Cold Heart". With her throw back to Billie Holiday/Roberta Flack days voice coupled with a very welcomed piano based style, Nora Jones can take me away anytime! If you've waited to give her a listen ,as did I, do yourself a favor and don't wait any longer.

Average customer rating:

MICHAEL BUBLE
I love this CD
LOVE IT!
"Just a Dream"
Michael Buble'

Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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It's Time
Call Me Irresponsible
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Come Fly With Me (CD & DVD)

ASIN: B000088E6D
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Tracks:

Fever
Moondance
Kissing A Fool
For Once In My Life
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Summer Wind
You'll Never Find Another Love
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Sway
The Way You Look Tonight
Come Fly With Me
That's All

Amazon.com

Pop's rush to raid the cradle continues with this promising debut by 25-year-old Canadian singer Michael Bublé. And while the young vocal star's good looks are smart enough for a boy band, his muse seems to have sprung from a more sassy and compelling musical era. Mentored by Paul Anka (whose '50s hit "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" is covered in dreamy, cabaret fashion here), Bublé sings in the orbits of Darin and Sinatra, covering swing epoch gems ("Come Fly with Me," "The Way You Look Tonight," "That's All") and rock era standards (Van Morrison's "Moondance," "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the Brothers Gibb, Queen's "Crazy Little Ting Called Love") with equal aplomb. David Foster's production is typically slick and played to the back row of the bleachers, but it's informed by smart contexts provided by such arrangers as Johnny Mandel, Randy Waldman, and Mike Melvoin. If the choices of material are sometimes staid and predictable, they also give the singer a crucial framework for building toward something more challenging; his is a bright future. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

Producer David Foster (Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston) has a new discovery in the wake of a very successful young find Josh Groban. Michael Buble (pronounced boo-blay) is a 25-year-old singing sensation whose smooth voice & heartthrob style harks back to the swingin' greats of earlier decades, to the likes of Frank & Dean, but also speaks to a new generation's sensibility. 2003 self-titled debut from Reprise/143.

Customer Reviews:

MICHAEL BUBLE.......2007-07-17

HE'S MY FAVORITE! I LOVED IT! I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE REST OF HIS CD'S!

I love this CD.......2007-07-08

I love this CD. Not only is it Jazzy but they are pop songs done in Michaels own way, smooth! I love it!

LOVE IT!.......2007-06-27

I love this CD. Perhaps its my love of old music or Michael Buble's wonderful voice! I highly recommend this.

"Just a Dream".......2007-06-12

Michael Bublé's voice takes me to another dimension high above. His voice has an undescribable quality that you have to experience to understand. He's like a cross between Frank Sinatra and Jack Jones. If you enjoy the standards of the American Songbook, you'll love the fresh yet traditional versions of the standards which he sings. I've been listening to the standards sung by Sinatra, Nat King Cole, etc for decades and usually don't enjoy remakes by recent modern artists; Michael Bublé is one of the rare exceptions who outshines all of the recent standards singers wannabes.

This CD is an incredibly great album to from start to finish; there's no need to skip songs which are merely mediocre or plain terrible because each song is a great rendition and a true gem.

Michael Buble'.......2007-06-09

Can't say enough about this new and up coming singer. He sounds to me so much like Sinatra when he was young. This album is very good and I enjoyed it very much.

Average customer rating:

An Ancient Muse
Sounds A Bit Like M E H D I
Ancient Muse Review
Not my style...!
Loreena is back in Style

An Ancient Muse
Loreena McKennitt
Manufacturer: Verve
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wintersong
Songs from the Labyrinth (Music by John Dowland)
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A Posteriori
Not Too Late

ASIN: B000J3EEBY
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

Incantation
The Gates Of Istanbul
Caravanserai
The English Ladye And The Knight
Kecharitomene
Penelope's Song
Sacred Shabbat
Beneath A Phrygian Sky
Never-Ending Road (Amhrán Duit)

Amazon.com

It's been nearly a decade since Loreena McKennitt's last studio album, The Book of Secrets, but An Ancient Muse picks up the caravan exactly where she left off on her mystical journey through the cultures of the Middle East and northern Sahara. The Canadian singer opens this album the same way as she did her last two recordings: with an incantation, calling out in a wordless voice across an echoing space, cleansing the air and the mind. What follows is a lot like those albums as well, a pan-global excursion centered on Middle Eastern themes and instruments cast into a dramatic exotica. Oud, dumbek, kanoun, hurdy-gurdy, duduk, nyckleharpe (a Swedish-keyed fiddle), and other ancient sounds from the region and beyond ornament her music, though "ornament" might no longer be accurate. With the exception of Hugh Marsh's gypsy violin solos and a handful of other players, it's the Western instruments that serve as ornaments on An Ancient Muse. McKennitt long ago evolved the Celtic sound that launched her career. She's virtually abandoned the harp, which hasn't appeared on her CDs since 1991's The Visit. The lone uillean pipe on "Beneath a Phrygian Sky" sounds like an echo calling from the McKennitt's past. Nevertheless, the Celtic ballad form remains central to her music, and she still draws inspiration from ye olde writers of the British Isles. Lyrics from Sir Walter Scott adorn "The English Ladye and the Knight," recalling "The Lady of Shalott." But despite McKennitt's soaring alto, the tale drags under the dirge-like meter and ponderous arrangement. The epic track of this album is the aforementioned "Beneath a Phrygian Sky," with distorted electric guitar accents and an acoustic guitar melody carrying McKennitt on another journey into her romanticized version of the ancient world. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

An Ancient Muse.......2007-08-01

Although Loreen McKinnet is one of my very favorite singers this is not one of my favorite albums.

Sounds A Bit Like M E H D I.......2007-07-26

Oh, Wow! This is a cd that will be liked by all who enjoy M E H D I, E N Y A or even Loreena Mckinnetts Previous works. It is the very essence of good new age. So tranquil, yet so spirited, this cd is a refreshing break from my well-worn collection, I just keep wanting to listen to it over and over again. I am amazed! It reminds me somewhat of Celtic Women, but still very unique. This is music to the soul. Absolutely relaxing, as well.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: M E H D I ~ Instrumental Paradise Volume 8..A True Gem.

Ancient Muse Review.......2007-07-25

This is classic, recognizable McKinnett. If you are a fan, you'll like it. If you are not, you will say, "What's new?"

Not my style...!.......2007-07-18

Sounds from the celtic music craze, zillions of years ago. We've heard it all before. And yes... they do call that music and have the nerve to label it under jazz...! Only one piece of advice keep your money or buy something else with it, unless you need a musical decor for cheap smooching.

Loreena is back in Style.......2007-07-13

Loreena McKennitt is one of my all time favorite recording artists...and she truly deserves the title of artist...she writes, arranges and performs her own music in her own studio, and her voice is gorgeous, her music lush, exotic, rich in complexity and arrangement, and just a delight for the soul. It is wonderful to have her in good tune, sharing her melodic and stirring "musings" not in an ancient way at all, but in a modern, satisfying and imaginitive manner that communicates the deepest aspects of her talents directly to our own hearts!

Music Info: