Shadows & Dust

Shadows & Dust

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Canada's Kataklysm, the inventors of 'Northern Hyperblast' and one of the most brutally fast and technically advanced bands on the planet are back with their sixth album on Nuclear Blast. Touring in the Death Across America tour 2002, playing with Divine Empire, Misery Index and Beyond The Embrace.

Tracks:

Redemption
Burning The Lives
Storm Winds
Failure Of The Devout
Venomous
Another Hero Lost
Final Call
Dread Uprising
The Great Collapse
Just Another Nightmare
Forevermore
Bonus Track 1
Bonus Track 2

Customer Reviews:

The Shads shoot for greatness...and succeed!.......2007-07-23

There probably won't be an album released in 2007 that is more highly anticipated, closely inspected, and strictly critiqued than Shadows Fall's new one, "Threads of Life." After selling over 300,000 copies of their last full-length (2004's "War Within"), this Massachusetts-based quintet followed in the tracks of Lamb of God and Mastodon by (finally!) jumping to a major label (this is their first release under Atlantic Records). Subsequently, the band teamed-up with a well-known producer (Nick Raskulinecz) who has worked with such pop groups as Velvet Revolver and the Foo Fighters. These things considered, this could have been just the thing that haters were waiting to scream "sell out" at.

So what are we to make of the new album? Well, here's the thing: It sounds slick. Extremely slick, in fact. Atlantic's big budget and production definitely shine through here, as evidenced by the muted rhythm guitars, crisp lead guitars, punchy drums, big choruses, and multi-tracked vocals that are as smooth as a baby's bottom. Thus, a lot of fans will be immediately turned off that it isn't as raw, intense, or edgy as, say, 1997's debut, "Somber Eyes To The Sky." But there are a couple of advantages of this huge production, including a thicker guitar tone, and hooks that are just spectacular. Thus, your first listen to "Threads of Life" will probably spent dwelling on how glossy it sounds, but after giving it a little time to digest, the album will soon reveal itself as the extremely contagious listen that it really is.

Every band member is at the top of his game here, and they turn out some of their best and most professional, phenomenal, and technical music to date. Paul Romanko is a solidified bassist, and he lays down some of his meatiest and most audible bass lines on this record, and Jason Bittner's drumming is as quick and forceful as ever. But there are really three star performers who take up most of the spotlight. The first of which is longtime frontman Brian Fair -- who proves he is much more than just a "vocalist" - he is an actual, honest-to-goodness singer! And a darn good one, too! Sure, he can still growl when he wants to, but he never sounds remotely one-dimensional or overly angry, because most of the time he opts for a full-throated singing voice which shows off his warm, powerful pipes. The two other stars are Jonathan Donais and Matt Bachand, who are doubtlessly one of modern metal's leading guitar duos. Their riffs are deliciously crunchy, their leads are usually blazing fast (but never out of control), and their solos have gotten more technical and ripping, and now even occasionally border on being melodic.

The songwriting is superb as well. Shads released a great C.D. in 2002 named "The Art of Balance," but that title could have just as well applied to this album, too, because there is variety aplenty here. The result is a superbly exciting, meticulous, contagious, diverse, mature, rich, and well-textured sound. Plus, Brian Fair also chipped in by coming up with some of his smartest and most passionate and personal lyrics. "Threads of Life" has many terrifically memorable songs, and even if some are more so than others, there isn't a single stinker or filler to be found from front to back. In other words, heavy music doesn't get much more consistent, listenable, easy to digest, or flawless than this nowadays.

The propulsive "Redemption" hits the ground running with excellent, bullying guitar leads, deft double bass slamming, and a huge, wonderfully harmonic and infectious chorus that will have everybody in the crowd waving their lighters. "Burning The Lives" works similarly, with a forceful, streamlined chainsaw guitar attack opening the song before giving way to a "Dimebag" Darrell-worthy solo and an open, cleanly sung chorus. "Storm Winds" is the album's first semi-ballad, but not to worry: the fine singing, well-placed bits of guitar crunch, and terrific solo present here make this song another keeper. "Failure Of The Devout" begins with an acoustic intro that evokes Testament before rocketing into a river of blistering, chunked-up guitar shred.

Then, however, things start to get a little more experimental. Three of the next tracks, the hooky "Venomous," "Final Call" (which is highlighted by a grumbling bass line and one of Donais' best solos to date), and the especially hefty and chunky "Dead Uprising," are all muscular yet mid-tempo chug churners which slow down the record's pace significantly. You'll probably grow more and more uncertain as you make your way through surprising tracks like the ultra-melodic "Another Hero Lost," which will instinctively be thought of as a blatant stab at getting radio play. However, after dreamy, ambient acoustic strums, two cool guitar solos (one melodic, the other blazing), and Brian Fair's mindblowing singing voice and touching lyrics (inspired by Fair's cousin, who died while stationed in Iraq), are added to the mix, then "Another Hero Lost" turns out to be a great power ballad which any Eighties thrash band would be glad to call their own. Then comes "The Great Collapse," a gorgeous, piano-based interlude.

Two final songs round out the set, the first of which is one of the biggest highpoints on hand here. In addition to a guitar solo which will induce vertigo in some listeners, "Just Another Nightmare" boasts an awesome chorus composed of irresistibly sweet, sometimes almost even (dare I say it?) emo-ish crooning that stays in the listener's head for several days. Finally back on familiar ground, "Threads Of Life" ends the same way it began, with "Forevermore," which is an all-out onslaught of scorching riffage.

"Threads of Life" will surely be too mainstream for some fans (especially longtime followers), but fair-minded listeners will find absolutely nothing to dislike here. This is an epic, unquestionably excellent and completely satisfying album which is a frontrunning candidate for album of the year, and is one of the top thrash releases of the new millennium. It even has the potential to go down as of the genre's all time classics, and to say that Shadows Fall are now firing on all cylinders would be a gross understatement. Some would argue that The Shads came close to but did not quite fully achieve true greatness with their first six full-length releases, but there should be little debate over that now, because "TOL" is the kind of stuff that legends are made of.

Shadows Fall - Threads of Life .......2007-07-17

After hearing some buzz about Shadows Fall, I decided to check them out. Their most recent album "Threads of Life" is the latest release from the band, so my review will lack the critical analysis that could be used to compare any progression or change they have had from albums in their past discography.

Songs I liked: Redemption is the opening track and is heavy and powerful, with a mix of thrash and repetitive style rock riffs in places. The songwriting is good and I liked the vocal efforts on this song, as well as most songs on the album. The track "Failure of the Devout" has some good changeups within the overall structure of the guitar parts. The track "Another Hero Lost" is one of my favorites and has some catchy riffs as well as definitive melodic guitars throughout. The drifting ballad "Final Call" is a nice change to throw into the mix of hard edged thrash and rock based tunes. The fact they do this shows a little bit of diversity and showcases the bands ability to at least do something different than spit out repeated riffs and angst style vocals, which is a habit many bands of this genre fall into. The track "Forevermore" is fast and furious with high speed guitars and vocals that hit home. The percussion on this song is a little more prevalent and does not take a back seat to any of the other instruments used.

Bottom Line: Normally I don't like to use other bands when comparing music or writing a review, however at times it can be very necessary because it is a better way of conveying a sound or style of music than trying to describe the sounds I hear and feel on the album. If you are looking for a more progressive or math metal style of music, these guys are probably not for you. If you like some of the thrash metal bands from the 1980s then you may find these guys to your liking. They are not Pantera or old Metallica, but the album itself is pretty tight, and although at times I felt there was a lot of repetition within the songs as a collective whole, there is enough strength here to grow, with room to improve. If you like to listen to anything from Disturbed to Dragonforce, you may find room for this album in your collection. This genre of music is heavily saturated right now with bands trying to make their mark, and I think Shadows Fall may have enough shredding and decent songwriting within them to carry on into the next decade. I realize they formed over ten years ago, and do have a strong overall fan base. Vocalist Brian Fair is particularly impressive here and with that said; I look forward to going back and listening to more music by this band.

LOVE IT.......2007-07-06

This Album is just awesome! Plain and simple. Riffs are awesome, solos are insane, and Brian Fair's vocals keep getting better. It's nice to hear a band that grows and stays true to themselves too.

Thrash and terror!.......2007-07-05

I am so glad to see that there are stil thrash bands in circulation. I like all of that norweigian black/deathy stuff...but thrash is my idea of great metal music. And here they are, a modern band doing an old thing with all of the much needed ingreidients to keep it original and personal. Shadows Fall is further proof that thrash is not just another metal trend, it's the timeless form of metal that will always come back to bite you just when you thought it was dead. I recommend this fine album to fans of Slayer, Exodus, and Burst.

Shadows Fall = Metallica lite.......2007-06-22

These guys try so hard, but they are oh so average
3 for effort and i still liked them live

Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Deluxe Edition

Average customer rating:

Unsung heros of the Motown era
The Funk Brothers Accompaniment Tracks
Get this!!
Can't stop dancing
Classic Motown

Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Deluxe Edition
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Hip-O Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Standing In The Shadows of Motown
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How Sweet It Is
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Breakfast in Bed

ASIN: B00021LPLA
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

Heat Wave
You've Really Got A Hold On Me
Do You Love Me
Bernadette
Reach Out I'll Be There
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Shotgun
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
You Keep Me Hanging On
Cool Jerk
Cloud Nine
What's Going On
Band Introduction / Ain't No Mountain High Enough
The Flick
Boom Boom
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher
Scorpio

Tracks:

Funk Brothers In The House
Standing In The Shadows Of Love
Dialogue: Joe Hunter
The One Who Really Loves You
Pride And Joy
Dialogue: Robert White
My Girl
Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart
Don't Mess With Bill
The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
Dialogue: Eddie Willis, Uriel Jones & Jack Ashford
I Second That Emotion
I Was Made To Love Her
Dialogue: Richard "Pistol" Allen
Heard It Through The Grapevine
Home Cookin'
For Once In My Life
Dialogue: Jack Ashford
I Can't Get Next To You
It's A Shame
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Dialogue: Eddie WIllis
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Dialogue: Lamont Dozier
You're My Everything

Customer Reviews:

Unsung heros of the Motown era.......2007-07-14

If you liked "the Motown Sound" you will be pleased to listen to the great studio musicians who were the creators of this unique, magical music. It was a surprise at first to learn that all the great Motown singers were backed up in the studio by the same incredible musicians. These CDs contain the original band of musical brothers backing up our finest young contemporary singer-artists. Much of the music was recorded live, in concert for a very lucky audience. I wish I had been there. This collection puts you there for awhile.
You could do like I have done and purchase the documentary film on dvd for your television and the CDs for your ipod.

The Funk Brothers Accompaniment Tracks.......2007-07-08

I was familiar with the movie and soundtrack, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown", and thoroughly enjoyed them both. The second disc of this set with naked instrumental remixes of the original Motown hits was a welcome suprise. In particular, hearing the bass work of James Jamerson was like a master lesson in bass playing.

Get this!!.......2007-07-05

This is great. The Funk Brothers can still cook. Liner notes are a great read. Backing tracks on disc 2 are very interesting and fun to listen to. The performances on disc 1 from the Standing in the Shadows movie are all very good. You can tell however that the voice of the late David Ruffin is sorely missed in Aint to Proud to Beg.
Get it.....it will have you dancin'.

Can't stop dancing.......2007-04-13

I purchased this CD after watching the movie. I was not disappointed! My 7 year old daughter claims that she doesn't like Mom's music and there was no way she'd be dancing when I played it. Well, she couldn't sit down! I love to dance and I love upbeat music. This is highly recommended to anyone who likes something funky to move to. Get it!

Classic Motown.......2007-03-08

I bought this CD after previously buying the DVD and watching the documentary of the Funk Brothers. Joan Osborne (whom I never heard of before this album or DVD was released) is astounding. Her rendition of "What becomes of the broken hearted" is unmatched by anyone ever. The CD sounds excellent and could not be improved in any way. Instrumental's like "Bernadette" are very well crafted with different instruments coming in as the song requires. I would buy this one again or for gifts as it is one you won't put in your CD file and not play again. I keep my copy in my car and play it several times a week. It's great fun and professionally packaged..one of the best packaged CD's I have seen so far. They did a good job on this one and it shows...in every way.

Average customer rating:

Some songs cant be redone, I'm open-minded but this is sad.
I love this disk!
best of all motown CD ever!
The Deluxe Edition is the version to go for....but this is still mighty fine!!!
standing in the shadows of motown

Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Hip-O Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Standing In The Shadows of Motown
How Sweet It Is
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Funk Brothers
Relish
Breakfast in Bed

ASIN: B00006JCGI
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave - Joan Osborne
You've Really Got A Hold On Me - Meshell Ndegeocello
Do You Love Me - Bootsy Collins
Bernadette (instrumental) - The Funk Brothers
Reach Out I'll Be There - Gerald Levert
Ain't Too Proud To Beg - Ben Harper
Shotgun - Gerald Levert featuring Tom Scott
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Joan Osborne
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Ben Harper
You Keep Me Hanging On (instrumental) - The Funk Brothers
Cool Jerk - Bootsy Collins
Cloud Nine - Meshell Ndegeocello
What's Going On - Chaka Kahn
Band Introduction / Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Chaka Kahn & Montell Jordan
The Flick - Earl Van Dyke

Amazon.com

The phenomenal story of Motown has been told many times--so many in fact, that the notion of an untold part of its legacy seems far-fetched. But as the documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown demonstrates, there was more to the success of the Detroit-based label than singing babes in gowns and founder Berry Gordy's business acumen. There was also the self-named Funk Brothers: the session players putting the unforgettable guitar sounds into "You Keep Me Hangin' On" and the creeping bass line behind "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." These guys were a crucial piece of the puzzle but have remained largely anonymous. While the Standing documentary tells the Funk Brothers' story via interviews, stock footage, and still photos, the accompanying soundtrack takes liberties, pairing the surviving musicians with contemporary pop, R&B, and funk artists. Together, they faithfully recast Motown hits. What could have been a disaster--would you want to muck with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"?--works beautifully, thanks both to the Brothers' chops and the thoughtful artist selection. While enlisting a soul brother like Ben Harper was a no-brainer, the inclusion of Joan Osborne was especially astute. After all, Osborne's deep connection to R&B is why her production of the Holmes Brothers' Speaking in Tongues disc was genius, and she acquits herself beautifully on "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" and "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted." Similarly, bass boss Meshell Ndegeocello gives Chaka Khan competition in the gospel diva department. Bootsy Collins, Gerald Levert, and Montell Jordan also contribute. Motown purists may balk at this concept, but they'd have to agree these readings are smart, respectful, and very, very soulful. --Kim Hughes

Customer Reviews:

Some songs cant be redone, I'm open-minded but this is sad........2007-06-16

Junior Walker and the Allstars "Shotgun". Why would you listen to this when you can download the real thing. Sorry I like my Temptations and to record such classics although done again and again like "I heard it thru the Grapevine" poorly is a sin. This is definately in the Shawdows of Mowtown. Probably cant dance either.

I love this disk!.......2007-05-25

Unlike most reviewers, I didn't much care for most of what came out of Motown during its heyday. In particular, I found the vocal styles overbearing and self-indulgent.

The covers of these classic tunes are, with two exceptions, far superior to the originals in my opinion, not least because the musicianship of the Funk Brothers is a stronger part of the mix and the vocals are much more to my taste. In particular, Joan Osborne and Chaka Kahn blew me away with the raw power and emotion of their interpretations of songs whose original versions didn't do much for me.

In my mind, this is the Motown album for those who think they don't like Motown!!!

best of all motown CD ever!.......2007-04-06

arrive on time, perfect conditions, great music on top of it...

The Deluxe Edition is the version to go for....but this is still mighty fine!!!.......2007-01-22

The saying goes that the funk Brothers performances were so good that "Once The Funk Brothers had recorded the instrumental part of a song, it didn't matter who sang over it". Now there's a lot of truth in this statement, because the Funk Brothers layed down some of the most recognisable instrumentals over the last 30 years (although you won't realise it was their work at first). This disk features the performances by the Funk Brothers, with various artists's vocals completing the songs. "Me'Shell NdegeOcello" gives a typically impassioned live performance on "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", that truly is deserving of her position as one of the most accomplished female vocalists of recent years. The instrumental "Bernadette" is exactly the reason, why you'd buy this album, beautifully composed, impeccably performance, and completely reflective of the motown sound, at its creative peak.

Some Criticism's have been made regarding "Ben Harper's" contributions here, and I don't feel it's completely justified, just look at the songs that he's tackling ("Marvin Gaye's, legendary "I heard it through the Grapevine"), most artists would baulk at the idea of what is considered one of the greatest songs ever made. And Ben Harpers effort is by any means of fantastic effort, and worthy of praise. Is it comparable to Marvin's effort??.....Of course not!!, It'd be nearly impossible to match (or indeed improve) on the original, and Ben Harper in no way embarrasses himself here. Sure, he can't quite match the depth or emotion of Marvin's version.....but I ask you this "Who can???". Moving on this disk provides many highlights and all the contributions here (especially "Chaka Khan", "Bootsy Collins") are more than worthy of inclusion on this release, with many tracks providing interesting Covers/Spins on the original tracks.

Ultimately what you get here is a superior funk album, that is not only a tremendous document of the Funk Brothers work, but also a fantastic sounding album in it's own right. But as much as I wholeheartedly want to recommend this album (and it is superb), but I beg and implore anyone thinking of purchasing this, to shell out the extra dollars and pick up the `Deluxe' 2-cd edition of this release, for the instrumental disk, with features the tracks stripped of their vocals, and just featuring the instrumental work of the band. As it truly highlights just how sublime this group of musicians were....and just how much you lose by not having that second disk, and seeing how this release was fully intended. but for those that aren't prepared to pick up the deluxe edition, you'll still have a mighty fine edition of what is undoubtedly a great release.

standing in the shadows of motown.......2006-11-11

This Cd is the sound track from a PBS programme of the same name. Excellent!
After hearing Joan Osborne on the one track - What becomes of the broken hearted, I bought 2 of her CDs.

Average customer rating:

Deeply disappointing
Jazz-oriented rock (or rock-oriented jazz?)
Fun for your brain!
A Great Live Album
Jazz or Rock?

Shadows and Light
Joni Mitchell
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mingus
Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
Hejira
Miles of Aisles
Joni Mitchell - Shadows and Light

ASIN: B000002GXI
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Introduction
In France They Kiss On Main Street
Edith And The Kingpin
Coyote
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines
Amelia
Pat's Solo
Hejira

Tracks:

Black Crow
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Dreamland
Free Man In Paris
Band Introduction
Furry Sings The Blues
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Shadows And Light
God Must Be A Boogie Man
Woodstock

Customer Reviews:

Deeply disappointing.......2007-05-22

I've been a fan of Joni Mitchell since the early seventies, but this is a concert performance free from any evidence of joy, unstudied spontaneity or audience interaction. A self-gratifying performance from Miss Mitchell, massively inferior to her Miles of Aisles concert album. Adding insult to injury, the quality of the recording on this CD is inferior: Muddy and indistinct. For compulsive collectors only.

Jazz-oriented rock (or rock-oriented jazz?).......2007-05-18

I've always wondered how the Pat Metheny Group would sound if they played with a popular or rock singer and now, thanks to this CD, I finally have an idea. Recorded live at the Santa Barbara County Bowl in September 1979, Joni Mitchell performs with Metheny on guitar, Jaco Pastorius on bass and Lyle Mays on piano. Don Alias plays the drums, Michael Brecker's on the saxophone. Background vocals are provided by the Persuasions.

Fans of Pat Metheny's early work will know that Jaco played on his 1976 album Bright Size Life and that Mays joined forces with him on the follow up, Watercolors in 1977 and then on PMG's self-titled Jaco-influenced album in 1978. If, like me, you enjoy the music from any of these CDs or indeed, any of Pat's earlier work, you will probably enjoy this. Fans of Michael Brecker's music will also enjoy the tracks he features on. I'm reminded in places, of Metheny's 80/81, actually, which Brecker also played on.

It goes without saying that Jaco fans will also love this. His bass is right upfront all the way though and it's almost like his sound is the basis of this album.

But most of all, of course, this is about Joni Mitchell. She also plays guitar ("Electric" as opposed to Metheny's "Lead") and her voice is as warm, playful and creative as ever. I simply love it. I'm reluctant to pick out any particular tracks on this CD but her handling of the Mingus classic, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" left me in awe. ("Pat's Solo" was another obvious highlight but really, this is a CD I'm enjoying in its entirety.

First, Both Sides Now and now this. I've probably left it much later than most but I'm slowly becoming a Joni Mitchell fan!

Better late then never, I suppose, eh?

Fun for your brain!.......2007-04-20

Joni Michell, well-travelled lady, singing & composing at the top of her career, wears red heels onstage and leads her "backup" band with Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny. What's not to love?

Well ... er. Even this expanded CD excises the Pastorius solo.

And, of course, contractual exegencies prevented Wayne Shorter, JM's natural 1st choice for sax, from participating. "The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines" suffers accordingly.

I'll also quibble about the set. There's an inexplicable shortage of material from Don Juan's Reckless Daughter. ("Dreamland" doesn't even have JP's bass on it.) Those tunes were the dopest!

OK - what's heavenly? Metheny's solo on "In France They Kiss on Main Street" is a stunner! Also, his slide on "Furry Sings The Blues." Wow! Most versions transcend the originals.

JM, with the band or alone, is singing like a Post-beat Goddess throughout. Totally in control.

So, grumblings aside - here's something very, very healthy for the cranium. "They [really] don't make 'em like they used to."

A Great Live Album.......2006-06-30

Joni had a dream band backing her on this live recording: Jaco Pastorius (killer bass through and through), Pat Metheny (guitar), Michael Breacker (alto sax) and Don Alias (percussion). I own all of Joni's recordings and this one is one of the very best.

Jazz or Rock?.......2006-03-16

It doesn't matter. A great live recording featuring lot's of
inventive re-takes, mostly in a jazz vein, of many of Joni's
more popular songs and some rare ones thrown in for the mix.

Average customer rating:

loved it!
Truely a wonderful body of music
One of the Best Recrods I Have Come Across in a Long Time
WYLDE'S MAGNUM OPUS AND A GENUINE FIVE STAR ALBUM
A COMPLETE ROCK MASTERPIECE !!!

Book of Shadows
Zakk Wylde
Manufacturer: Spitfire
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pride & Glory (With Bonus CD)
Stronger Than Death
Sonic Brew
1919 Eternal
Hangover Music, Vol. 6

ASIN: B00000JCDD
Release Date: 1999-07-20

Tracks:

Between Heaven And Hell
Sold My Soul
Road Back Home
Way Beyond Empty
Throwin' It All Away
What You're Look'n For
Dead As Yesterday
Too Numb To Cry
The Things You Do
1,000,000 Miles Away
I Thank You Child

Tracks:

Evil Ways
The Color Green
Peddlers Of Death

Album Description

Reissue of Wylde's 1996 & first solo album after leaving Ozzy's band and fronting Pride & Glory. Contains all 11 of the original cuts, plus a three track bonus CD comprised of new & unreleased tunes, 'Evil Ways', 'The Color Green' and 'Peddlers Of Death'. Double slimline jewel case. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews:

loved it!.......2007-07-16

I personally enjoyed this album, I have been a fan for awhile, so I must say that I am somewhat biased....

Truely a wonderful body of music.......2007-06-15

Oh man, where to begin? I bought this disc the week it came out and here it is 10 yrs later, and I STILL listen to it regularly. As has been mentioned here, no it's not heavy. That doesn't mean it's not good. Matter of fact, it's great. This disc meant so much to me when I first bought it, that I actually bought a few copies and gave them to friends just so they could hear this. It wasn't everyones cup o' tea but they knew how much it meant to me.

One of the Best Recrods I Have Come Across in a Long Time.......2007-04-10

From the moment I started listening to this I couldn't stop. This quickly became on of my favorite albums. If you thought it was cool when Alice in Chains release SAP and Jar of Flies, then you WILL enjoy this record. It is an amazing melange of songs that are mellow but still quite heavy. I am genuinely shocked that songs like "Way Beyond Empty" and "Road Back Home" never got air play. While "Hangover Music" comes close, I only hope that Zakk Wylde will decide to make another record of similar style and caliber.

WYLDE'S MAGNUM OPUS AND A GENUINE FIVE STAR ALBUM.......2007-01-26

There are no bad Zakk Wylde/Black Label Society albums, period, and in fact most are really good. However, this album is something very-very special, and in my opinion Zakk's best work by a large margin, which is very unusual for me to be saying because this is not Zakk's hardest/heaviest work, which is always what I gravitate towards. Every aspect of this album is wonderful and beautiful, and even though this is not even close to Zakk's hardest/heaviest work, it is also in no way a rock ballad *ank-fest, you likely already know that is not Zakk's style, as he has spent the better part of his career telling us what a bad*** he is. Everyone knows what a talented and diverse guitarist Zakk is, but I think he also has a voice that is tailor made for Rock/Metal, and on some of these tracks his vocal performance is truly phenomenal. Now, if you read my many other CD reviews you will see that I have never used the word masterpiece to describe a CD, and in the big picture of Rock/Metal as a whole I don't know if I would consider this CD at that level, maybe I would, but at any rate this is without question Zakk's masterwork. If you don't own this CD you are missing out on something truly special. This just may be a perfect album. I can not recommend this CD more highly.

A COMPLETE ROCK MASTERPIECE !!!.......2006-09-07

GREAT SONGS, GREAT PERFORMANCE, GREAT PRODUCTION, A PERFECT ALBUM. THIS ALBUM IS ZAKK'S SWAN SONG. A MUST HAVE FOR ANY ROCK FAN. NOTHING MORE TO SAY. A+++

Average customer rating:

An Amazing HIM CD
It all went downhill from this one on.
Loved it!
It was not their best!
Deep Shadows & Brilliant Highlights

Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights
H.I.M.
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Razorblade Romance
Love Metal
Dark Light
Greatest Lovesongs, Vol. 666
Single Collection

ASIN: B0002ZMIY4
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Tracks:

Salt In Your Wounds
Heartache Every Moment
Lose You Tonight
In Joy And Sorrow
Pretending
Close To The Flame
Please Don't Let It Go
Beautiful
Don't Close Your Heart
Love You Like I Do

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing HIM CD.......2007-05-29

Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights has got to be one of the best HIM CD's.Everything from the lyrics to the amazing vocals to the music, HIM have out done themselves. This is definately a CD that you can put on and listen to over and over again. It is a must have!!!!

It all went downhill from this one on........2007-03-18

Ah yes, HIM started to go downhill after and with this one. This one I acquired after getting Razorblade Romance, Love Metal and Greatest Lovesongs, and I was quite surprised that I hadn't ever heard of this one. I got it, rushed home to listen to it, and I did, and I have been revisiting that horrid memory every time I listen to those few songs I liked in this one.

"Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights" marks the beginning of HIM's descent into mellower, less moody, wasted-potential music, which they later described as "love metal" when it had lost all connection with what it used to be. This album also marks the start of "Ten Songs Per Album" rule of HIM, guaranteeing what will most likely be a short and catastrophic listen.

"Heartache Every Moment", "Pretending", "Love You Like I Do". That's it. The rest of the album sounds like it has been taken out of some dreamy pop album with electric guitar and overall too much acoustic and cheery melodies, complete with all songs regarding love or loss thereof, as usual, however, without the edge they delivered in Greatest Lovesongs and Razorblade Romance.

This album takes a lot of getting used to, simply because it takes for you to get used to the idea HIM could have gotten this dreamy and cheerful. Like I said, after this, the band went downhill, with the brief interruption of "Love Metal".

Loved it!.......2006-11-11

I loved every song, especially 'Dont Close You Heart' which was a breath of fresh air, 'Beautiful', 'Prentending' and 'Close to the Flame'. It was an amazing album and i adore it no doubt!!

It was not their best!.......2006-07-08

I was not one of their best, but I loved it anyways. To any HIM fan buy it and enjoy it. Its worth the buy!!!

Deep Shadows & Brilliant Highlights.......2006-06-20

Have you been properly introduced to H.I.M. yet? What are you waiting for?! This album, IMO, is the best album to get acquainted with their music. This album is kick a** from the door...not one bad song on it. This album solidified my commitment as now being forever a fan. You don't have to be GOTH to like this music. It is straight up melodic rock with catchy choruses and harmonies. The lyrics this guy writes will blow you mind. It captures you like nothing else could in music today. The sound of this band is what has been missing with the rock world for many years now. BUY IT PEOPLE!!

Average customer rating:

nice
genuinely surprised
Sorry guy but this isn't that great
Amazing
To Drew

Shadows Collide with People
John Frusciante
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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To Record Only Water for Ten Days
Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt
Mother's Milk
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live at Slane Castle
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Off the Map

ASIN: B00018TI5E
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

Carvel
Omission
Regret
Ricky
Second Walk
Everyperson
- 00 Ghost 27
Wednesday's Song
This Cold
Failure 33 Object
Song To Sing When I'm Lonely
Time Goes Back
In Relief
Water
Cut Out
Chances
23 Go Into End
The Slaughter

Amazon.com

It takes a lot to be known as the weird one out of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but for guitarist John Frusciante the title comes easy. He abruptly quit the band at the height of its popularity in 1992 to become a full-time drug addict, claimed to communicate with the fourth dimension, and released a couple of predictably loopy solo albums before returning in time to record the group's brilliant comeback discs, 1999's Californication and 2001's By The Way. The odd and esoteric music on Shadows Collide With People, his fourth release outside the day job, proves that even drug-free he remains touched. Only now, Frusciante is better able to draw life out of his lo-fi experiments, twisting the shiftless strums and electronic fizzes of songs like "Regret" and "Song to Sing When I'm Lonely" into beautiful explorations reminiscent of Radiohead and the Mars Volta. It's no wonder the Chili Peppers make their best records whenever he's around. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

nice.......2007-07-03

his voice and style requires an acquired taste, but i love it. i never realized how few of lyrics each song has. for how long and moving they are, it seems like a huge long story. good job johnny.

genuinely surprised.......2007-04-28

I was a fairly self-proclaimed RHCP fan around the time I picked this album up. I kicked myself repeatedly for not realizing that John does work separate from the peppers earlier than I did (around summer of 2004 that is). Anyway, I found out he did solo work and I found this album in my local record store one day and decided to pick it up. I popped it in my car on the way back, and was literally blown away.

It's not the sheer fact that John makes music this interesting to me. It's the whole story behind his music, where he's come from, how dedicated to his work he is and his ongoing ability to output, maybe not perfect, but truly amazing work consistently. I was very fortunate to pick this album up when I did, it just so happened that The Will to Death came out only two weeks later and I basically was bombarded with John Frusciante for the next six to eight months.

However, out of all the albums that he's made, Shadows Collide with People has always seemed to me to be the most genuine John. Combine the earlier self-depreciating, drug-ridden works of Smile from the Streets you Hold and Niandra Lades and Usually just a T-shirt, the original vision and creativity of to Record Only Water for Ten Days, the output quantity and variety of his six albums in six months campaign and polish it up just a little, and that's Shadows Collide With People. It's really the sum of all the parts coming together.

There are some very clever depictions of John's past in this album as well. "Wednesday's Song", which depicts his favoring of one specific prostitue once a week around the time of BSSM, is a great example of this. I would certainly classify this album as the one to introduce others to his solo works, it's certainly his most accessible but doesn't sacrifice too much to that fact either. The electronic influence of other of his works is evident too in tracks such as "Double-0Ghost27", "Failure 33 Object", and "23 Go In To End". For some reason, "Chances" throws me back to the Beatles in some aspects and is always a nice fun, quick listen. And "The Slaughter" is just a song I could listen to over and over again, the absolute perfect way to end the album.

In short, Shadows Collide with People currently is and likely will be my favorite John Frusciante album. It does truly have "something for all his fans." Tracking John's growth as a musician both solo and with the chili peppers is something I continue to enjoy day after day and this is certainly, in my opinion, the best place to start.

Sorry guy but this isn't that great.......2007-03-15

I Love John Frusciante, but i hate people who use their love for J.F. as an excuse to love all his music. this CD is disapointing, i really did think that it would be good. there are many problem with it:
1)the drums sound like a metronome
2)everything has been so overly produced and digitalized that for most of the songs you can barely hear the music

this sound like something John Frusciante threw together late at night on his computer and decided to produce it

there are however 3 very good songs (but ONLY 3!) and they are
1)Carvel
2)Song To Sing When Im Lonly
3)The Slaughter

Amazing.......2007-02-09

This album is totally amazing. I'm not one for electronic parts of music, so that's probably the downfall of the album, but all of the actual songs are really solid. I'd love to use this album as part of a movie someday. It's one of my top ten albums of all time.

To Drew.......2007-02-09

Shadows is great and I think that John has a required taste type thing, I guess. I think DC EP is amazing, so is the Will to Death. They are very creative and not the norm, if you don't like other John just stop trying because I don't think you will grow into his music, it is different, I am pretty suprised that so many people like it too. I am not suprised that you don't like that much. Save your money dude, go the red hot route if you want the best of john frusciante.

Average customer rating:

Just right!
best album I have
A Wonderful CD of a Very Personal Nature
Lake of Shadowa
it's very beautiful.

Lake of Shadows
Phil Coulter
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Highland Cathedral
Country Serenity
Winter's Crossing
Sea of Tranquility
Legends

ASIN: B00005O6HN
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Lake Of Shadows
Sunlight On The Water
Farewell To Inishowen
The Flight Of The Earls
The Star Of The Sea
The Lough Swilly Railway
For Those In Peril On The Sea
The Lonesome Boatman
The Year Of The French
The Shores Of The Swilly
Vive La Hoche
Back To The Island
Prayer For The Fisherman
Take Me Home

Customer Reviews:

Just right!.......2006-06-20

I received this album from my English teacher as a graduation present. I was in an overseas boarding school then which involved many emotions since I was away from home. This album always calm me down no matter how I was feeling, whether I was sad or angry or even lonely. Even my brother who hardly touched my CDs secretly listened to it and even got himself a copy. I'm glad I had the chance to listen to it. It's definitely worth it to get this CD!

best album I have.......2005-01-27

One great album. I sent "Lake Of Shadows" to our son while in Iraq and he said this album was the one he listened to at the end of a day that was particularly unpleasant and it calmed him like nothing else. I have had a copy for at least three years and have never tired of it.

A Wonderful CD of a Very Personal Nature.......2004-01-06

This is an immensely impressive CD. It is one of the finest discs that I own from a collection of over 500.

"Lake of Shadows" is the local name given to a stretch of water called Lough Swilly in Ireland. This is an area close to the composer's heart- a scene of both happiness and absolute tragedy.On this CD, Phil Coulter uses music to capture some of these memories, and what an outstandingly good job he makes of it.

The music here is beautiful, reflecting the natural wonder of the country I have been fortunate enough to visit on many occasions. Coulter plays the piano, but he is joined by a whole host of guest musicians, each of whom contributes wonderfully to the success of this disc in their own unique way. From Frank Gallagher's fiddle, viola and whistle, to Ivan Gilliland's guitars, to Catherine Mary Clancy's Harp, right through to The Ballyclare Male Choir and the Coolea Choir, this is a real team effort.

A special mention must call to the gorgeous voices of Sinead O'Connor, Liam Neelson and Roma Downey. What a display of talent.

It is the very personal nature of this CD that makes it such a success. Each composition comes from the heart, and this comes through very clearly to the listener.

The compositions themselves are exquisite. They are a delight to listen to and are wonderfully melodic and memorable. Be prepared to be whistling the tunes for days on end.

This is the sort of CD which will get many listens in your CD player. It really is that good. The notes from the composer are comprehensive and track the history of each piece.

Full marks to Phil Coulter here. A superb CD from start to finish, and one that I recommend very highly.

Lake of Shadowa.......2003-03-01

Magnificent..........Splendid........

All of the reviews I read were right on. Buy this CD!!

it's very beautiful........2003-01-06

I just buy this album.It become one of my best favorite cd. Every song in it is very beautiful.

Average customer rating:

this album returned me to metal
IMO
Shadows Fall's Most Complete Album
Good
Incredible CD

War Within
Shadows Fall
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Art of Balance
Fallout from the War
Ashes of the Wake
Threads of Life
The Fall of Ideals

ASIN: B0002VAKK2
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

The Light That Blinds
Enlightened By The Cold
Act Of Contrition
What Drives The Weak
Stillness
Inspiration On Demand
The Power Of I and I
Ghosts Of Past Failures
Eternity Is Within
Those Who Cannot Speak

Customer Reviews:

this album returned me to metal.......2007-07-06

I had stayed out of the metal scene for a while cause I thought it sucked with slow bands without solos. This album, along with some others, is what brought me back into metal. This album blew my mind away. Every song on it is awesome. NOT just mindless screaming or riffs that don't go anywhere or solos that sound like the guitarist didn't even listen to the song before playing it. It's melodic, heavy, fast, it will melt your face off.

IMO.......2007-05-01

Please read my title before immediatly disagreeing with my ideas please. thank you. Now on to my review.

When i first got this album i was a little nervous because of all the negative comments on amazon. But i figured that i've liked other shadows fall songs so i gave it a try. I gave this one play and i was bored out of my mind. The second time i was a little impressed with some intricate melodies. The third time i was pretty much singing along on some of the choruses and head banging for the most part. And by the fourth time i realized that i was TOTTALLY into this band. I mean whats not to like? (don't answer that question). I've read the other reviews and it says that the main problem is that there isn't alot of diversity between the songs. I can agree with you on some parts of that statement. But it'd be very misleading to others if i say that that was a completely true statement. The last 2 songs and 'the light that blinds' were pretty similar to me and i didn't find it very interesting when i wasn't listening to it. But i realized that when i'm listening to this album i'm head banging and singing along. Its hard to explain but when you are not listening to the song you don't really know what kind of song it is and you completely forget but when you are listening to it you get that feeling in your heart thats ready to pounce out. Its really hard to explain but you gotta get this off itunes or something where its cheap cuz this is one killer album thats pretty damn good.

Tracks:

Light that Blinds ***
Enlightened by the cold ****
Act of Contriction ***
What Drives The Weak ****
Stillness ***
Inspiration on demand ****
The Power of I and I ****
Ghost of Past Failures ***
Eternity is within ***
Those who cannot speak ***

So overall this album is very strong. With some stronger melodies over others, this album is jam packed with awesome riffs, pounding drums and freakishly awesome basslines that just never give up. Great album that i think every metal head will enjoy.

Shadows Fall's Most Complete Album.......2007-04-20

I have been and always will be grateful for Of One Blood. That album gave me hope in metal again, and includes some of the most well thought out lyrics and music of the decade. After being a bit disappointed with The Art of Balance, Shad slaps my face again with The War Within. From beginning to end this album puts a smile on my face. The bookends of the album are really the highlights. The Light That Blinds and Those Who Cannot Speak are masterpieces only exceeded by a chunk of Of One Blood. There are some weak spots (What Drives the Weak, Stillness), but even those are still thrash-worthy. Highly recommended.

Good.......2007-04-03

I bought this cd a few years back because of all the hype surrounding it. Well I finally listened to it two years later, and I was very impressed. Great cd and looking foward to there newest cd. A bit of a side note to; When I attended the Unholy Alliance tour last summer in Lowell Mass, Lamb of God was performing a song. Randy said ladies and gentlemen, Brain from Shadows Fall! The crowd went completely crazy. He growled something out for about two seconds and ran off the stage. It was cool, although it only lasted not even five seconds.

Incredible CD.......2007-02-10

I was lucky enough to catch these guys two nights, two shows, opening for MuDvAnYe in 2005. Now I will admit, I wasn't the hugest fan until I was able to see them live, so much f***ing energy, it was incredible. Am now a very devoted fan. Also check out anything that Trivium puts out, they played the same two shows, awesome time!!!

Average customer rating:

ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS....EVER
I bow down to Brother Ali....
WOW
VICTORY
4 stars.....

Shadows On The Sun
Brother Ali
Manufacturer: Rhymesayers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Champion
The Undisputed Truth
A Tribute to Lisa Bonet
God Loves Ugly
Lucy Ford

ASIN: B00009W2IX
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Tracks:

Room With A View
Champion
Star Quality
Prince Charming
Win Some Lose Some
Pay Them Back
Blah Blah Blah feat. Slug
Shadows On The Sun
Prelude
Forest Whitiker
Bitchslap!
Back Stage Pacin'
When The Beat Comes In
Missing Teeth
Dorian
Soul Whisper
Picket Fence
Victory! (Come Forward)

Product Description

1. Room With A View
2. Champion
3. Star Quality
4. Prince Charming
5. Win Some Lose Some
6. Pay Them Back
7. Blah Blah Blah - (featuring Slug)
8. Shadows On The Sun
9. Prelude
10. Forest Whitiker
11. Bitchslap!
12. Back Stage Pacin'
13. When The Beat Comes In
14. Missing Teeth
15. Dorian
16. Soul Whisper
17. Picket Fence
18. Victory! (Come Forward)

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS....EVER.......2007-03-13

Minneapolis is a hip hop hotbed of Talent and iam proud to say iam born and raised, SOUTHSIDE!!!!

We have the best rappers in the nation and its easy to see that with this CLASSIC release from "BIG..BAD" Brother Ali. This is one of the best debut albums ever. Every song on this album is full of feeling and emotion and pure skill.

Ali can spit with ferociousness and he can come soft on a serious tip. Its early to put him up there with Rakim and L but the man is on track to become one of the best rappers of all time. Ive actually met the man a few times now and all i can say is the man is humble as hell. I talked with him about his new album and he told me the "UNDISPUTED TRUTH" is completely done by ANT once again and it would come out soon( I gave him some crap about the long break in between LP's)

I could say a million words about this album but ill only say a few

BUY THIS ALBUM, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN

I bow down to Brother Ali...........2006-12-13

This guy is phenominal. I first heard him on "Champion", the track "Rain
Water" to be exact. I was floored. I could'nt get "Rain Water" out of my
head. I was like a crack fiend. I purchased "Shadows on the Sun" and my
respect for Ali only grew. He has crazy flow and some deep lyrics. If you
want to hear about spinners and bling you'll be dissappointed. Brother Ali is like nothing you've ever heard before. Buy the damn cd and give
props to the one and only, BROTHER ALI

WOW.......2006-09-14

I've been sleepin on him for a minute now. I copped this awhile back and never really listened to much of it. I was missin out. I went to his show last night, he opened up for the GOD (RAKIM) and he killed it. So ever since then I've been playin his record and it takes me right back to his ill performance I witnessed a night before. Heads should really check him out I really think you'll enjoy it.

VICTORY.......2006-08-09

Brother Ali is victourious in dropping one the best debuts since Illmatic. Yes I said it Illmatic. From start to finish this album has it all sick rhymes and the beats..ohh dont get me started on these gems that are produced by a genius who goes by the name of ANT. "I can handle this, if my man Ant would just,give me a chance to splatter some antics across his canvass: "Star Quality" track 12. Indeed Ali does splatter his antics across these Gems. Ants soulful production mixed with the wise words of Ali seem to be overwhelming at first. In this day in age its hard to comprehend great music when your not used to hearing it often. Rhymesayers is definetly in the house. Tracks like "Forrest Whitaker" and "Picket Fence" really help you understand where Alis coming from. These tracks all have heart and character and these songs stick with you days after listening to them. Ali holds it down for most of the album with some help from fellow Rhymesayer Slug on the hilarious "Missing Teeth" and "Blah Blah Blah" When these two get together with Ant on the boards, ladies and gentlemen you have yourself some hip-hop magic. I was fortunate to see these two live in Ali's first ever LA performance and they were able to recreate that magic on stage,now those are true emcees. To sum it up this album is definitely on the Top 10 list of my all time favorite albums. Please bless your ears with this album and look out for the new Ali album dropping August 2006 produced by non other than ANT.

4 stars............2006-05-07

As ive spoken in the past, Minnesota's underground hip-hop scene is just as dominant as the New York scene. Emcees rip each other apart in vicious rap battles and dominate the underground. Of course, the most famous record label from Minnesota has to be Rhymesayers. Atmosphere, Eyedea, and the entire cadre of superstars on their roster have released excellent albums, and have yet to displease us from what ive heard.

In 2003, a new star arose from the Rhymesayers, white-emcee Brother Ali. After releasing a variety of EPs and appearing on other albums by Rhymesayers emcees, he finally released his long-awaited debut album Shadows on the Sun. The real question is, would this album be yet another LP in the string of hits given to us by the Rhymesayers? Or would this be their first flop? Patience, the answers are coming...

Track List & Rating

1. Room With A View (5 Stars)
2. Champion (4 Stars)
3. Star Quality (4 Stars)
4. Prince Charming (5 Stars)
5. Win Some Lose Some (3 1/2 Stars)
6. Pay Them Back (5 Stars)
7. Blah Blah Blah f/ Slug (3 Stars)
8. Shadows On The Sun (5 Stars)
9. Prelude (NOT RATED)
10. Forest Whitiker (5 Stars)
11. B*tchslap! (3 Stars)
12. Back Stage Pacin' (4 Stars)
13. When The Beat Comes In (5 Stars)
14. Missing Teeth (5 Stars)
15. Dorian (5 Stars)
16. Soul Whisper (4 Stars)
17. Picket Fence (5 Stars)
18. Victory! (Come Forward) (5 Stars)

Shadows on the Sun is kicked off properly with the debut track "Room with a View", and excellent opening album. The production is a hammering and thumping beat, giving the song an epic feel, thus giving the album an epic beginning. Featuring some soul background vocals, thumping bass, and slamming trumpets are perfect for the lyrics of Brother Ali. Brother Ali begins by telling us about his childhood, his father's abandonment, his neighborhood, and his former friends, and growing up. Brother Ali speaks in an angry tone of voice, loudly stating that he sees all of this from the desk where he writes his rhymes, spitting lines like "I try to block it out with a bed sheet the moonlight's as a curtain, 'Cause I'm not comforted by red and blue lights when I'm hurtin', Mommy loves you yeah I knew but I wasn't certain, 'Cause the lenses through which she views life wasn't workin'". This is an epic, and excellent way to start out Shadows of the Sun.

Skipping past the venomous battle raps "Champion" and "Star Quality", we get to the one of the most unique tracks from this album: "Prince Charming".

On this track, Brother Ali switches his flow a bit, taking a more pimp-ed style of lyricism, rapping to a female the variety of reasons why she should go out with him. He gives us a successful attempt at a love song, but sort of switches it up on the third verse, talking about the girl leaving him. His lyrics are tight, but nothing groundbreaking. Then again, his lines are what makes the song interesting. The chorus is catchy, and the beat is nice, featuring a variety of memorable guitar licks. Brother Ali's voice goes to a more southern tone, i guess to match with the country-styled instrumental supplied for the song. Still, its a great track.

Skipping ahead we get to "Pay Them Back".

This track is an introspective view into the mind of Brother Ali as he gives us his opinion on coming up in hip-hop music, sort of laying down some disses towards rookie rappers who immediately decide to sell-out to commercialism, then rips them down, telling them to respect the past and the underground. The track, though short, is excellent. Besides the excellent, complex lyricism that Brother Ali injects into the fold, the production is a unique melancholy beat with violins, R&B samples, and a completely slamming bassline, pretty much stripped down and simplistic, but very nice to listen to.

"Blah Blah Blah" with Slug has a lot of potential, due to Slug and Ali's lyrical skills, but over-done, over-produced and unlistenable production takes down the track heavily. Not to mention the fact that the track is completely out of order. This is one of those songs youd have to listen to yourself to see if you like it. I just think its average.

The title track "Shadows of the Sun", is next, and a great improvement. Brother Ali spits very well-written punchline-driven rhymes about a variety of subjects, including introspective street poetry, some classic old-school braggadiocio, and some opinions on hip-hop music and the direction that its heading to. Brother Ali's lyrics are very well-written on here, loaded with a good vocabulary. The production is equally good, featuring a keyboard / piano medley, drums, and some synthesized steel drums, giving it a speedy sort of feel to it, with some jazz influences.

"Forest Whitiker" is a unique view from Brother Ali about himself. Brother Ali describes the fact that he is overweight and his albinism. He somewhat disses himself, sort of taking himself and comparing himself to what commercial rap sees to sell, which is some muscular idiot who can only rhyme "cat" and "bat" on his lines. Brother Ali speaks deeply with amazing lyrics, as he raps about looking deep within yourself and not letting anybody call you ugly, and that he doesn't care what people think because he is a beautiful person. Brother Ali's intelligent and choice of topic is excellent on here, and it makes me smile proudly. Check out these lines: "You might think I'm depressed as can be, But when I look in the mirror I see sexy-a** me, And if that's somethin that you cant respect then that's peace, My life's better without you actually, To everyone out there, who's a little different
I say damn a magazine, these are gods fingerprints, You can call me ugly but cant take nothing from me, I am what I am doctor you ain't gotta love me". The production is also excellent, with a very gospel feel, giving us drums, bass, and some synthesized church organ music.

The next track, "B*tchslap" has unlistenable production, so loud that its impossible to hear the lyrics at times, which is a shame cause the lyrics are tight. Therefore i usually skip it.

"Back Stage Pacin", though an excellent battle rap, is only a preview of the even better "When the Beat Comes In". The lyrics are venomous on this track, as Brother Ali gives us highly advanced and complex braggadiocio, mixed with some well-timed disses towards weak emcees. Brother Ali's delivery is angrier and more forward on this track, as he perfecty adapts a multi-syllable flow, and hits us with heavy punchlines after punchlines of witty and clever rhymes, in which he plays with his voice a lot more and gives us a more Eminem-esque track, with comedy and vocal trickery. The production is a banging synthesized track with some keyboard, drums, and bass. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album and makes it very good. "Missing Teeth" continues this idea with harsh, hardcore lyricism. Definetely two bangers, back-to-back.

Brother Ali gives us a patented storyteling track with "Dorian", as he raps about a young kid who abuses women, fights people, and is completely out of control. He tells the tale of the kid being abused all his life, until he reaches to Brother Ali when he takes him off face-to-face, leading into a fist-fight which is described by Brother Ali in a tight narrative. The saxophone-driven track is perfect for the introspective, sort of light-hearted encounter with the twist ending. It teaches a lesson about doing the right things, at the wrong time, which is a genius idea.

Retrospection and Intelligent are the key-words for "Picket Fence".

Brother Ali gives us a trip back in memory lane as he describes his troubling childhood, including verbal and physical abuse, touching on the fact that he was abandoned by his natural father and how his father abused his childhood, including his sadness. Brother Ali's well-written, retrospective lyrics give sympathy, warning parents about this problem that is occuring constantly, with the lack of love in a person's childhood and the lack of a loving family. Brother Ali's metaphors are as clever and passionate as his delivery, which is on-point. The production is sad and fitting for the track, giving us a mix of high-key and low-key pianos, with bass, drums, and some background R&B vocals.

"Victory (Come Forward)" is an awesome way to end Shadows on the Sun, with a display of Brother Ali's skill.

Shadows on the Sun is a tad-bit overrated. Ive heard from many hip-hop fans and assiosiates that this is the best album of 2003 thus-far, however id have to doubt that due to the fact that it has some bad production on more than one song. However, the album is still an excellent release from Rhymesayers this year. Brother Ali has impacted hip-hop, or at least, me, with his great potential, giving us a great debut. I look forward to seeing much more music from this artist, as well as the rest of the Rhymesayers crew, but until then, ill enjoy Shadows on the Sun, and suggest you do too.

4 Stars...

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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