Wound

Wound

Track Listings

1. Carved in Skin (Apt. 213)

2. Slice of God

3. Sucked Inside

4. Skin Me

5. Mind Grinder

6. In the Sewer of Dreams

7. Burning Power

8. Nails of Faith

9. Fat Hacker

10. Horde

11. Swollen Underground

12. Swallowing Scrap Metal, Pt. 2

13. Healing Time

Wound,Skin Chamber,Roadrunner Records,Alternative Metal,Heavy Metal,Industrial,Popular Music,Rock,Thrash

Let There Be Morning
Average customer rating:

Hypnotic

The best cd I've heard in a long time!!

Am I weird?

stunner

Best new music around

Let There Be Morning
The Perishers
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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From Nothing to One

Burning in the Sun

Loneliness Knows My Name

Out of Nothing

Trouble Is Real

ASIN: B0007X9UBK
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

Weekends
Sway
A Reminder
My Heart
Nothing Like You and I
Trouble Sleeping
Still Here
Going Out
Pills
Let There Be Morning

Amazon.com

What's this? A Swedish band that doesn't sound like it was born in a garage? In 2005, the only thing more rare would be a CD copy of Neil Young's Time Fades Away -- one that would certainly find a place in the hearts of the Perishers, not so much for its volume but its profound sense of darkness. On their debut album, the young Scandinavian band sounds like a cross between Keane and Athlete, offering somber songs punctuated with tumbling pianos, melodramatic lyrics and an unmistakable earnestness that only comes from either being a member of Coldplay or living somewhere that doesn't get enough sunshine. "I've always been dreamer," sings Ola Kluft, "I've had my head among the clouds." --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

Slow down. And get lost in the world of The Perishers. The Swedish band's American debut, "Let There Be Morning," is a blend of emotional wandering, poetic insight and stark, yet inspirational surroundings. Their new album is due out in April 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Hypnotic.......2006-08-21

The Perishers are amazing!! "Let There Be Morning" is a dreamy and beautiful album. Highly recommended!!

The best cd I've heard in a long time!!.......2006-04-23

I don't usually write a review, but when I bought this cd and listened to it for the first time, I absolutely fell in love!! There isn't one song that I don't like. The Perishers have a great way of combining smooth sound and wonderful lyrics in a perfect combination. This cd is perfect for a long car ride, working at the office or just hanging out with friends. Every song flows nicely into the next one. Even the last song on the cd is an appropriate way to end the whole collection. Very rarely do you ever come across a cd that not only do you love more then just two songs on it, but you can listen to it over and over again and never get tired of them. I can't wait for their next cd to come out. Once you buy this cd and listen to you, you will instintly become a Perisher fan for life!!

Am I weird?.......2006-04-21

I guess I'm the only one who knows of the Perishers through Sims 2. They're on the "College Rock" soundtrack. I kept listening to "Sway" in Simlish and wondering what the actual words were - eventually I had to look them up! I'm so pleased - I love off-beat bands. I recommend the Perishers (and other Sims 2 musics) to anyone.

stunner.......2005-10-31

Goodnes gravy I love this cd. Sweet melodic music the singer has a gorgeous voice. Every song is perfect.

Best new music around.......2005-08-31

I was trying to think of what I can say about this most excellent cd. At first, I thought "if you like music like that sung by Dido, Anna Nalick, Everything But The Girl Blue Nile, Simon and Garfunkel, or Peter, Paul and Mary, then you have to buy this cd". Rest assured this music collection is not for lovers of hard rock, hip-hop or the like. But if you are into mellow music that sounds great, you owe it to yourself to purchase this cd. I think this cd is one of the best I have ever purchased. Give it a try and I assure you, you won't be disapointed.

Omnipop (It's Only A Flesh Wound Lambchop)

Average customer rating:

wish she'd record some more
Light years ahead of its time...
Very Interesting Music...
Durn Good Record
Dreamy experimental cabaret pop

Omnipop (It's Only A Flesh Wound Lambchop)
Marc Ribot , Jon Brion , and Jim Keltner
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Martinis & Bikinis
Fan Dance
The Indescribable Wow
A Boot and a Shoe
Zero Zero Zero: The Best of Sam Phillips

ASIN: B000000WBT
Release Date: 1996-08-20

Tracks:

Entertainmen
Plastic Is Forever
Animals On Wheels
Zero Zero Zero!
Help Yourself
Your Hands
Power World
(Skeleton)
Where Are You Taking Me
Compulsive Gambler
Faster Pussycat To The Library
Slapstick Heart

Amazon.com

The dark, thudding opener "Entertainmen" is one of Phillips's most intriguing songs. Thereafter things get wonky as Phillips and her cohorts (Marc Ribot, husband T-Bone Burnett, Jerry Scheff, and others) let their experimental urges run free on songs that are a little too clever and complex for most listeners. A disappointment after 1991's near-perfect Cruel Inventions. --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews:

wish she'd record some more.......2007-01-04

oh Leslie, (Sam) - you have the MOST amazing voice I have ever heard! You could sing words from a phone book & people would be blessed! Wish you'd record some more soon...

Light years ahead of its time..........2004-06-12

Ignore all the blathering and hypothesizing about this disc -- simply put: it's brilliant. Like anything substantial within the world of "art," it doesn't offer immediate access -- one must develop a relationship with its many layers and levels and secret heart. After the masterwork of Cruel Inventions, the Beatles-drenched bardo of Martinis and Bikinis -- Omnipop follows like a beautiful love child. Sam Phillips is a queen.

Very Interesting Music..........2003-06-20

Sam Phillips remains a highly praised artist by critics, but woefully under-supported by the masses. She intentionally flips back and forth between 'commercial' releases and then 'experimental and artistic' releases. Her debut "Indescribable Wow" was a commercial release, which contained some of the best pop songs every written. Then, she took an experimental and artistic turn with the gem "Cruel Inventions". Then, she came back with the commercial "Martinis and Bikinis", so now we are back to the 'experimental and artistic' with Omnipop. This CD is way out in left field and themes mostly on sexuality and it really works. My favorite cuts are the first song, which to me, is one of her best. She took the word 'entertainment' and left off the 't' on the end and look what you got: "Entertain-men", which is the focus of this song - how life can sometimes revolve around what entertains men, especially where women are concerned. Is it just me or does Sam's voice sound so incredibly sexy when she sings "Watch me... Watch me... Ahhhhh.... Oh let me by your TV, AAHHHHH"!?!? I love the freshness and artsy-ness of "Plastic is Forever". I absolutely loved the sexy and jazzy "Help Yourself". Die-hard fans will find "Power World" a familiar Sam Phillip's trademark. You can always count on Sam to never sound the same, and this one is her most intriguing release to date.

Durn Good Record.......2002-12-09

Tell ya what I can't stand - people who can't take a little variety in their music, like the listeners who were confused by this record. Boo Hoo, ya big babies. Sure, it might not be a genuine, heartfelt album of deeply personal songs and maybe it takes some chances that don't work as well as they might have been intended to, but it is good, listenable, interesting music that beats the heck out of most other releases (on the relative scale, this record is better than 90 percent of the music that finds international release, at least!). This album might confuse listeners? Oh, well then maybe they should get a brain and think a little or finally accept that they're a lot more dull-minded, cloddish and stupid than they think they are. If all music went down easy it wouldn't be worth listening to, and if we "reigned in" singer songwriters they would never lead-off base, and if they never took chances then all the truly great music would never have happened (why can't these fools understand this fact, this little bit of physics? stop praising successful experiments because they go out of conventional bounds while you condemn less successful experiments that trip up a little - you are damning for the same reasons that you praise and that means you are hypocritcal and conflicted and your thinking is literally insane). So, maybe you SHOULD try other Sam Phillips records first, still doesn't mean you shouldn't get this one (frankly, I think it's way better than all of her Leslie era stuff). If the record's such a failure then why is the Best Of compilation named after a song from this album?

Dreamy experimental cabaret pop.......2002-08-05

Most longtime fans will agree Sam was always an artist before her time, and this is the album to prove it. Here you'll find cabaret pop predating the advent of Rufus Wainwright and the sort of experimental soundscapes that artists like Bjork would come to use many years later. " Too clever and complex for most listeners"? This is underestimating the sophistication of music fans. Less adventurous listeners may not have found this album as compelling as her more pop-oriented work on The Indescribable Wow or Martinis and Bikinis. But more's the pity. Lots of great stuff here, including "Your Hands" and "Faster Pussycat to the Library!", two of my favorite Sam tracks.

John Adams: Shaker Loops; The Wound-Dresser; Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Average customer rating:

Terrific performances, with a few quibbles
Four Revelations by Adams, Impressive Work by Alsop and Gunn
Exciting performances ruined in the mixing studio

John Adams: Shaker Loops; The Wound-Dresser; Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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DEBUT ~ Nathan Gunn - "American Anthem" from Ragtime to Art Song / Kevin Murphy
Samuel Barber: Capricorn Concerto; A Hand of Bridge; Intermezzo from Vanessa

ASIN: B00030B9F2
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

Short Ride In A Fast Machine
The Wound-Dresser
Berceuse Elegiaque
I. Shaking And Trembling
II. Hymning Slews
III. Loops And Verses
IV. A Final Shaking

Album Description

Raised in Massachusetts and trained as a composer at Harvard, at the age of 24 Adams headed west to San Francisco in order to distance himself from his neo-European upbringing. Shaker Loops, written in the heyday of American minimalism, helped to earn him a place as one of the most famous living composers. It borrows the technique of looping fragments of melody from Steve Reich's early tape experiments, and continues to be one of Adams' most frequently performed works. Also included on this disc is Short Ride in a Fast Machine, four minutes of pure aural adrenaline, and The Wound-Dresser, a pensive adaptation of Walt Whitman's poem about his experiences as a nurse during the civil war. Marin Alsop has been Principle Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra since 2002. She represents the highest level of artistry seen in American conductors, and has recorded several times for Naxos. In 2003, she was named the Gramophone Artist of the year and presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society's conducting award. Marin Alsop has several more recording projects in progress for Naxos, including works by Glass, Weill and Bartók, as well as the complete Brahms Symphony cycle.

Customer Reviews:

Terrific performances, with a few quibbles.......2005-01-14

As an owner of the John Adams Earbox, and a bunch of other stuff as well, I guess I qualify as an official junkie when it comes to his work. So only the low sticker price convinced me to sample this new CD. But it was money well spent. Marin Alsop's conducting on this disk is energetic and committed, and really gets to the heart of the pieces. The burning-rubber tempo on "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" is especially great. There are some balance issues, as noted by other reviewers, which is the only reason to give this 4 stars instead of 5. I really bought this for Nathan Gunn's performance of "The Wound-dresser," which is one of Adams most heartfelt and emotionally profound works. The version with Sanford Sylvan, conducted by the composer, is a truly great recording, and sets a very high standard indeed. Gunn's voice is more of a true baritone, a darker, more "masculine" sound, and it's very appealing in this score. Overall, his performance is really excellent, and though he's miked a little too closely (or mixed a little too prominently, it's hard to tell), he interprets the piece with distinction. There's a couple of spots (hate to quibble, Nathan, but...) where he does some vocal things that annoy me. At the line, "Soon to be filled with clotted rags and blood," he does enunciates the bl-sound before rising up to the pitch, turning it into "buh-lud" and the effect is too melodramatic. (Compare to Sylvan's performance, and you'll see what I mean.) But that's picking nit on what is overall a fine performance from a really outstanding singer. I also think Adams own version of this score has an emotional arc that slightly eludes Alsop. It's an episodic piece, and though Alsop gets all the moments right, it doesn't seem to have the cumulative shape of the composer's own version. But that's hardly surprising, considering what a good conductor Adams is; he's hard to surpass in his own work. As I said, I'm happy to add these new readings to my ridiculously comprehensive collection of Adams recordings. For people new to his work, it's a cheap thrill, with the emphasis on the thrill.

Four Revelations by Adams, Impressive Work by Alsop and Gunn.......2004-12-01

As a collection of John Adams' earlier works (1979-91), this is nothing sort of a revelation for me. Long associated with the American minimalism movement, Adams composes music which I tend to think of as alternately challenging and droning with unexpected flashes of brilliance. But what is truly unexpected here is the powerfully rich and communicative nature of all four works presented here.

Whirling dervish rhythms dominate the opener, "Short Ride in a Fast Machine", an apt title as it feels like an exhilarating sportscar careening on hairpin turns, yet with a lovely gravity that is almost Coplandesque. The second piece is the most impressive, truly a soliloquy for baritone and orchestra, "The Wound-Dresser" is a stunning twenty-minute piece set to a Walt Whitman poem describing in graphic detail the poet's experiences as a nurse during the Civil War. Propelled by baritone Nathan Gunn's astonishing vocals, it is deeply eloquent and moving, all the more impressive given the often brutal lyrics about tending to bloodied and maimed soldiers on the battlefield. I just saw Gunn's galvanizing performance in the title role of Benjamin Britten's "Billy Budd" at the San Francisco Opera, and it is gratifying to hear his commanding voice, letter-perfect diction and compassionate dramatic style take over this beautiful piece so fully. And Adams elevates the drama in such surprising ways, for example, the use of clarion bugles during the climax. The composer brings a fulsome gravity to "The Wound-Dresser" presaging his masterwork elegy to 9/11, "On the Transmigration of Souls" (also strongly recommended).

The third piece is Adams' somber, poignant arrangement for chamber orchestra of an orchestral work by Ferruccio Busoni. The original, his Opus 42, dates from 1909, and it is a lovely homage from one composer to another. Here, in a more subdued manner, Adams seems to be continuing his theme of surviving through suffering started by "The Wound-Dresser"; it makes for a powerful combination. The last piece is Adams' earliest work here, and his more familiar minimalist style is far more evident with the pure string orchestra arrangement of "Shaker Loops". The athletic, almost edgy "shaking" effect of the first section is powerfully performed but not ad nauseum, and it's followed by a more stylized dramatic setting in the second movement "Hymning Slews" and the even deeper sense of revelation pervading the third section, "Loops and Verses". The final section brings the work full circle with a reinterpretation of the opening "shaking" that leads to a haunting fade-out.

The conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and 2003 Gramophone Artist of the Year, Marin Alsop seems keenly aware of the drama and subtlety necessary to make this recording feel like one holistic work. She masterfully leads the Bournemouth orchestra, who respond by performing superbly. This is a remarkable recording, made all the more remarkable by the bargain basement price offered by Amazon, $6.98. My one quibble is incomplete documentation in the accompanying booklet. Strongly recommended.

Exciting performances ruined in the mixing studio.......2004-11-01

There's no doubt about it - the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra play brilliantly for the majority of the time in each of these pieces, and Alsop invests the music with great energy, due mostly to faster than usual tempos. Unfortunately, these tempo choices and some recording balance problems overshadow what otherwise would be a great addition to the John Adams discography.

While not usually something I advocate, a look at the timings indicates just what to expect in Short Ride in a Fast Machine. Alsop's clocks in at 4:05, SFSO/de Waart, the Netherland Wind Ensemble, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory Wind Symphony/Corporon and CBSO/Simon Rattle all take 4:20 or longer. This seemingly antiseptic comparison is actually pretty important in a piece with unchanging tempo, and Alsop's very fast direction produces some pretty hectic sounding areas in the piece. It is exciting when one hears the first three clicks of the woodblock at such a speed (amounting to about 20 clicks per minute faster on a metronome), and the opening trumpet rhythms are wonderfully articulated, but there are later areas where detail is lost and it just sounds mushy (not something that would be the aim of this work, I think). There are also several balance problems that pretty much ruin the recording for me. The wood block(s) are simply too loud - the only way you would hear them sound like this in concert is if they were amplified, and that's clearly not indicated in the score. Perhaps Alsop and/or the engineers decided that this would add "clarity" to the recording, but it really doesn't (in fact, it gets a bit irritating after a while). Likewise, the change of wood blocks midway through, from quite high and piercing to low and somewhat-less-piercing, draws unnecessary attention to itself. The problem with overmiking the wood block(s) is that it feels like we're being spoon-fed the interest of this piece, which lies in the conflict derived from Adams' brilliant working of different rhythmic patterns against a steady beat. Since the piece starts with the woodblock alone spelling this beat off, it should be internalized and the actual sound should be barely audible, only sneaking through when allowed by soft dymanics in the rest of the orchestra. Contrarily, several great details are lost: the horn glisses at the first "crisis point", the tam-tam strokes at the climax (beautifully rendered in de Waart's recording) and any hint of the synthesizer that's called for in the score (again, audible in de Waart's recording). It is nice to hear such zealous piccolo playing, however out of tune it is. The only recording of this I don't know is the Masur/NYPO in their box. I would love peoples' opinions on this rendition.

The Wound Dresser is similarly marred by balance problems - for his wonderful tone, diction and phrasing, Nathan Gunn is simply too closely recorded in relation to the orchestra. The result is that, even when you can tell he's singing softly, he still buries the orchestra. When he sings loudly, he's the only sound you can pay attention to. This is one of my favorite Adams pieces and I greatly enjoy Nathan Gunn's discography. In this account the piece completely loses any intimacy, which is abundant on the recording by Sanford Sylvan (Nonesuch), not a singer I'm typically fond of. I've listened to this recording on several sound systems just to make sure the close balances weren't a result of my equipment, and sadly they aren't.

The two pieces without soloist (Short Ride sounds essentially like it has a solo woodblock throughout) come off quite a bit better. The warm transparency of the Bournemouth players works wonderfully in Adams' sensitive, dark-hued orchestration of Busoni's Berceuse élégiaque.

This is my fifth recording of Shaker Loops (here performed in the string orchestra version), and it is quite good indeed. The energy is again produced mostly by tempos slightly faster than typical, and the string sections play wonderfully when given melodic bits. It is again slightly marred by the recorded sound, which, aside from the very opening of the work, never gets as soft as it does in other recordings. At many times, I prefer the original, rawer sounding version for seven solo players. Overall, the gutsy, exaggeratedly contrasted reading given by Christopher Warren-Green on an excellent collection of "minimalist" works on Virgin remains my favorite.

$6.98 is certainly not too much to ask for a good recording of Shaker Loops, and the other performances on this Naxos release are certainly serviceable. It would have been nice, however, to have a recording of Adams' works that don't already exist in multiple versions - where is a second recording of one of his early masterpieces, Harmonielehre, for instance? I've always viewed Naxos as an excellent source of recordings of pieces not readily available on other labels, and they've been excellent in doing so with other releases in their American Classics series (such as the Bolcom set that is next in my "to listen to" pile). Is this disc a missed opportunity? I would unfortunately have to lean towards "yes" as an answer - undeniably wonderful pieces and probably wonderful performances ruined by poor choices in the mixing studio.

Average customer rating:

Their Best
Fun for Everyone
Don't take my word for it---listen to the song samples!
Delightful!
Quality kid's music you'll enjoy, too!

All Wound Up! A Family Music Party
Cathy Fink , Marcy Marxer , and Brave Combo
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

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Scat Like That: A Musical Word Odyssey
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Pillow Full of Wishes
Blanket Full of Dreams
Pocket Full of Stardust

ASIN: B000056KWT
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Tracks:

Mockingbird Polka
On The Day You Were Born
Funiculi, Funicula
I Will Never Clean Up My Room
Swing It, Baby, Swing!
Turn The World Around
Chopsticks
De Colores
Paddy On The Railroad/Dance Your Way To Texas
Mayim, Mayim (Water, Water)
Spaghetti (Twist And Twirl)
Home

Amazon.com

Parents and their kids may know Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer as the award-winning, prolific songwriting duo for kids. But who are these Brave Combo guys that Fink and Marxer are hanging out with on All Wound Up: A Family Music Party? The Denton, Texas, band, who make some of the most danceable party music around, specialize in polkas, a host of Mexican and Latin dance styles, plus an occasional Middle Eastern flavor or three. They're well traveled, musically speaking, with a host of critically praised albums and a legion of fans. Throw the Combo together with Fink and Marxer, and you get the whole enchilada: essential traditional and freshly original party tunes (plus the new and incendiary calypso number, "I Will Never Clean Up My Room"). Your junior constituents will repeat "The Mockingbird Polka," penned by Fink and Marxer, and the old Harry Belafonte tune "Turn the World Around" so often that you'll dream them in your sleep. As if that weren't enough reason to join the party, who could resist a disc that highlights a salsa version of "Chopsticks" and "Funiculi Funicula," the classic ode to joy that belongs in the world view of every girl and boy? A delight, through and through. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Their Best.......2006-11-18

Cathy and Marcy are great in concert and I love their albums pitched at grown ups. Their childrens albums can be hit or miss, however. Some are really good, but others come off as preachy or just plain dull. However, this is a great album. Brave combo adds an extra bit of energy and the signing and lyrics are entertaining or sweet, without being too sweet or sanctimonious. My little nieces never tire of this one, bopping around the room or singing along when it is on. I even find myself slipping it on to the CD player when there are no kids around, which is high praise for an album designed for kids.

Fun for Everyone.......2006-11-04

This is great stuff! The colaboration of musicians makes for a very entertaining CD. We have given this CD to many friend's and family's children for all sorts of occasions. Of all the music our little girl listens to (and if you're a parent, you can probably name the usual suspects) this is the only one my husband and I have never tired of. Highly recommended.

Don't take my word for it---listen to the song samples!.......2006-05-31

As previous reviewers have said, this is a GREAT CD. First, it's lively enough to get everybody dancing--and "De Colores" and "Home" help settle things down by the end. And again, the variety of styles is amazing: polka, waltz, western swing, calypso, Mexican folk, Israeli folk, 50s rock-n-roll and more, on the SAME disc?? Put that together with the quality of the musicianship, and I cannot imagine a better all-ages CD.

But the other reviewers have already said the same things. What I'm here to add is this: First, call me a sentimental fool, but I find the lyrics to "On the Day You Were Born" very touching. As the verses accumulate, the point that we are all children of God (or wonders of the universe, if you prefer) comes through very concretely and beautifully.

And second, you don't need to read these reviews--just take six minutes and play Amazon's Music Sampler! The excerpts give a very good sense for what the entire disc is like. If somehow you don't like what you hear, then I guess this CD is not for you. But I think it's much more likely that you'll fall in love with it, as our family has. Enjoy!

Delightful!.......2003-06-16

No matter your age, you'll be grooving to this sweet, bouncy, toe-tapping music. Brave Combo + Cathy + Marcy = Genius!
It's an instant, drug-free mood elevator. Dance your way to Texas!

Quality kid's music you'll enjoy, too!.......2002-11-15

This is a diverse, toe-tapping assortment of songs you can play with other adults in the car. I was hooked from the first time I played it. I really enjoy the booklet that tells about the various styles of music on the recording. You'll never think of polka in the same way again!

Average customer rating:

Early and Powerful Adams Compositions
Adams Sets Whitman
John Adams music
Fearful Symmetries - Wow!
Sublime

Fearful Symmetries/The Wound-Dresser

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Minimal Techno | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

John Adams: The Dharma at Big Sur/My Father Knew Charles Ives
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On the Transmigration of Souls
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Adams: Harmonium

ASIN: B000005IZQ
Release Date: 1989-10-20

Tracks:

The Wound-Dresser
Fearful Symmetries

Amazon.com essential recording

This 1989 release became an unexpected surprise hit, primarily because of the extraordinary tone poem The Wound Dresser. Written to Walt Whitman's poem of the same name, it deals with Whitman's musings on the Civil War. There is hardly a hint of Adams's traditional (and usually blithe) minimalistic impulses here. This is the "dark" side of the composer that is to surface later in his opera The Death of Klinghoffer. Fearful Symmetries, the companion piece here, is more typical of Adams; it's a junkyard rattle of catchy rhythms and clever orchestral textures--a work made almost trivial by The Wound Dresser. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Early and Powerful Adams Compositions.......2006-04-10

As John Adams becomes an ever-increasing important presence in contemporary classical music it is a true pleasure to wander back through some of his early compositions at the moment when his genius was molding. This superb CD may have been recorded in 1988 but remains one of particular beauty in the growing pantheon of Adams recordings.

The CD opens with THE WOUND-DRESSER, Adams intensely poignant setting of Walt Whitman's poetry from the Civil War, a war during which the pacifist directed his participation to caring for the wounded soldiers both in the field and in the elementary, sadly inept field hospitals. Intoning the gorgeous poetry is baritone Sanford Sylvan who premiered the piece. Sylvan's beauty of voice is matched by his intelligence of phrasing and his completely understandable diction. Adams admits that this composition for baritone and orchestra was influenced by the death of his father from Alzheimer's Disease and the patient love and caring of that 'wound' by his mother. It is also from the time when AIDS was so very much in the public eye, another factor that makes Whitman's poetry very contemporary in dramatic poignancy. Yet whatever the influencing factors the piece is one of deeply felt compassion and is some of the most beautiful vocal music Adams has written to date.

FEARFUL SYMMETRIES is paired with WOUND-DRESSER for a good reason: Adams has always felt that his works 'alternate between two opposing polarities: along with every dark, introspective, 'serious' piece there must come the Trickster, the garish, ironic wild card...'. FEARFUL SYMMETRIES is all about jazz and puns and generous good humor. The already large orchestra is supplemented with saxophones, synthesizer and piano and rollicks in boogie-woogie riffs, syncopation, and all manner of dance hall rhythms. It is fun, it is crazy, it is an amazing compositional achievement. Adams conducts the Orchestra of St. Lukes in this fascinating and rewarding CD. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, April 06

Adams Sets Whitman.......2001-01-18

John Adams' setting of Walt Whitman's poem, The Wound-Dresser, which Whitman derrived from his visits to wounded soldiers during the Civil War, is a masterful composition. The poem takes you right into the bleak hospital facilities, which you can almost smell and taste. Adams' setting of it infuses the music with the same emotion that Whitman conveys with the words. While this is somewhat different than Adams' usual fare, it is a significant work, most worthy of consideration.

John Adams music.......2000-02-27

John Adams "Wound-Dresser" and "Fearful Symmetries" is just another in the long line of his much-ado-about-nothing works that have been foisted upon the listening public in recent years. To say that these works have little to say and say it with less is an understatement. It is another example, like his Death of K., and "Harmonie" pieces, which hide the fact of no-musical-content behind flashy surface rhythms and tonal diatonic wheel-turning melodic bits. If you want minimalism with substance, best go to hear Steve Reich's "Music for 18". Adams is our most over-rated composer. He is only heard because he dared write something using the major scale as raison d'etre.

Fearful Symmetries - Wow!.......1999-12-19

This was my introduction to John Adams. When I first heard it I pulled over to the side of the road to listen and called the station to find out the title. Fearful Symmetries is sort of a big-band piece, but with a mass of saxaphones that not even the biggest big band would have had. It's composed of a simple pattern that is shaped and reshaped. I find it utterly hypnotic - one of the best 28 minutes of music in my library. It is also perhaps one of the loudest. ;-)

Sublime.......1999-06-10

The Wound dresser is one of Adams most brooding pieces. The pace of the music conveys the tension of the ward, the pain of the sufferers. Adams is a mixture of intense Romanticism and ultra modern rhythmic canvasses. This disc is a fantastic starter for any one wishing to explore the many faces of this brilliant composer.

The John Adams Earbox: A 10-CD Retrospective

Average customer rating:

Moved to tears
Nonesuch delivers.Again
harmonia in excelsis
Our greatest living composer
Wonderful CD

The John Adams Earbox: A 10-CD Retrospective

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Steve Reich 1965-1995
John Adams: The Dharma at Big Sur/My Father Knew Charles Ives
Naive & Sentimental Music
25 Years: Retrospective
Century Rolls

ASIN: B00001SID1
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

Lollapalooza
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Judah To Ocean
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Toot Nipple
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Dogjam
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Pavane: She's So Fine
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Rag The Bone
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Habanera
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Stubble Crotchet
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Hammer & Chisel
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Alligator Escalator
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Standchen: The Little Serenade
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Judah To Ocean (Reprise)
Slonimsky's Earbox

Tracks:

Two Fanfares For Orchestra - Tromba Lontana
Two Fanfares For Orchestra - Short Ride In A Fast Machine
Common Tones In Simple Time
El Dorado - Part I. A Dream Of Gold
El Dorado - Part II. Soledades

Tracks:

Harmonielehre - Part I
Harmonielehre - Part II The Anfortas Wound
Harmonielehre - Part III Meister Eckhardt And Quackie
Violin Concerto - Part I
Violin Concerto - Part II Chaconne:
Violin Concerto - Part III Toccare

Tracks:

Chamber Sympony - Mongel Airs
Chamber Sympony - Aria With Walking Bass
Chamber Sympony
Hoodo Zephyr - Tundra
Hoodo Zephyr - Dissappointment Lake
Hoodo Zephyr - Hoodo Zephyr
Gnarly Buttons - The Perilous Shore
Gnarly Buttons - Hoe-Down (Mad Cow)
Gnarly Buttons - Put Your Loving Arms Around Me

Tracks:

Ensemble - I Was Looking At The Ceiling And Then I Saw The Sky
A Sermon On Romance
Consuelo's Dream
Mike's Song About Arresting A Particular Individual
Tiffany's Solo
Song About The On-Site Altercation
Song About The Bad Boys And The News
Your Honor My Client He's A Young Black Man
Leila's Song; Alone (Again Or At Last)
Three Weeks And Still I'm Outta My Mind
Crushed By The Rock I Been Standing On
Dewain's Song Of Liberation And Surprise
!Este Pais! / This Country
One Last Look At The Angel In Your Eyes
Finale

Tracks:

Lollapalooza
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Judah To Ocean
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Toot Nipple
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Dogjam
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Pavane: She's So Fine
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Rag The Bone
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Habenera
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Stubble Crotchet
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Hammer & Chisel
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Alligator Escalator
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Standchen: The Little Serenade
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Judah To Ocean (Reprise)
Slonimsky's Earbox

Tracks:

Harmonium - Negative Love
Harmonium - Becuase I Could Not Stop For Death
Harmonium - Wild Nights
Shaker Loops - Shaking and Trambling
Shaker Loops - Hymning Slews
Shaker Loops - Loops and Verses
Shaker Loops - A Final Shaking

Tracks:

The Chairman Dances - Foxtrot For Orchestra
Grand Pianola Music - First Movement
Grand Pianola Music - Second Movement
Grand Pianola Music - Third Movement: On The Dominant Divide
Fearful Symmetries

Tracks:

Nixon In China - Opening
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China - Landing Of The Spirit Of '76
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China - Cheers
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China - Opening
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -

Tracks:

The Wound-Dresser
Christian Zeal And Activity
Five Songs - Thoreau
Five Songs - Down East
Five Songs - Cradle Song
Five Songs - At The River
Five Songs - Serenity
Eros Piano

Amazon.com

Having earned his composing stripes after the 1960s, John Adams had the pioneering work of Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley close at hand as he ventured into his trade. And, while minimalism's historical continuum helps place Adams, he used Reich, Glass, and Riley (among others) only as a starting point. And here's proof: a 10-CD retrospective of nearly all Adams's recorded compositions on Nonesuch Records, the label that also issued Steve Reich 1965-1995 and Kronos Quartet: 25 Years. Adams's Harmonium, a choral work of startling energy and effervescence, appears here in a new recording, as do distillations of both The Death of Klinghoffer and Nixon in China, two path-clearing operas. Over the span of a career covered by Earbox, Adams has returned minimalism to traditional instrumental ensembles as well as to projects that at once advanced a political commentary and took that commentary back to orchestral audiences. And so, in far less time than his predecessors, Adams created works that now play like standard repertoire pieces: The Wound Dresser and Shaker Loops and the Violin Concerto--all of them are here. What these works demonstrate is a fierce creativity on the one hand and perhaps a hunger for commercial advances on the other. Adams may at times be a bustling free thinker, but he sounds ever conscious of what audiences are listening to. As for the works themselves, they remain every bit as daunting as when written.

Some may object to particular selections. I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky, for example, hardly ranks with Adams's best work. But this box isn't a mere best-of; it's an almost-all-of. At times terrifically American--especially in the news-aware operas and their narrative pragmatism--Adams well deserves a major box set, and its coverage is appropriate to his varied, stylistically diverse output. As with any large-scale retrospective, Earbox--which fairly bristles with Adams's new composition, Slonimsky's Earbox--has spots where fans might balk at the quality of the composer's writing. But it's got a fantastic accompanying booklet along with its many hours of inarguably modern and thoroughly listener-friendly music. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Moved to tears.......2004-03-18

Never before in my life was i moved so intensely and directly by classical music. I put the first cd in my player and a few minutes later tears are flowing. I find myself dancing and moving to a rythm i already seem to know. Wow, i just have to share that.

Nonesuch delivers.Again.......2002-11-27

John adams is one of the most popular living composers of"modern" classical music[I believe the cutoff point, though arbitrary is usually WWII}.I came to him late, through my husband. Modersn classical music , I said? What the hell is that?My husband kept playing bits and pieces of adams for me, and more and more i found myself amazed. and swayed. His operas have been groundbreaking{Nixon in China} controversial{Death Of klinghoffer},his compostions sublimely beautiful{shaker Loops or harmonium].HIS STATURE IS WORTHY THEN OF SUCH A MONUMENTAL CAREER SPANNING BOX SET.This 10 disc set[great value, again from NONESUCH}encompasses Adams' entire career,and though there are some misses here{I was looking at the ceiling and then i saw the sky doesnt quite fit},it is still magnificent. the Highlights are ,{for me} the Wound Dresser, Chamber symphony,Violin Concerto, of course, Shaker Loops and Harmonuim are wonderful. The true jewels here are Nixon in China,the Chairman dances and the Death of Klinghoffer,which is simply a masterpiece. The set comes with a wonderful book, which contains essay's by Robert Hurwitz {An Uncommon Man}renaud Machart[John adams as seen from europe} and Essays before an earbox by Adams himself.A Chronology and dicography are included. A wonderful study of an American original,worth the investment, Highly highly recommended

harmonia in excelsis.......2001-11-12

I must agree with Mr. Bartlett, particularly with regard to "Ceiling." It may well be because his Violin Concerto and Harmonielehre are so powerful. 4.5 stars.
Interesting, and likely intentional, is that two names in the extensive liner book fail to mention two great and glaringly obvious precursors: Carl Orff and Raymond Scott. Without "Carmina Burana," there would be no "Harmonium." Orff has his mark all over Adams's gifted and epic compositions. Similarly, though there are glib references to "cartoon music," the polymath engineer/musician Scott is a seminal figure in American music, and casts a large shadow over the witty juxtapositions and sense of play one loves in Adams's work. In all, an excellent career overview.

Our greatest living composer.......2001-07-22

As a composer, I'm staggered that anyone could fail to be gripped by this music.

That anyone can use the words "spoiled, overrated" amazes me. I emphatically disagree with "A music fan"'s review.

I don't think it's "mind-numbing"; I think it's spiritual and exciting. To me it's the most substantial music being created in our times.

I'm really sorry that anyone could fail to enjoy it, and really recommend others to listen for themselves.

Wonderful CD.......2000-04-02

This compilation should turn even the most curmudgeonly listerner into a fan. Beautifully recorded, great notes -- and it's a heck of a bargain!

Average customer rating:

"Lets Spill Some Blood"

Blood Spills Not Far From the Wound
Necessary Response
Manufacturer: Out Of Line
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000NDJJGU
Release Date: 2007-03-19

Customer Reviews:

"Lets Spill Some Blood".......2007-06-01

Daniel Graves, of Aesthetic Perfection, has created quite an intriguing listening experience for fans of the electronic/industrial music genre with his debut album Blood Spills Not Far from the Wound. While the melodies are relatively simple, they are rather infectious. One simply can't help but move to the beats and get sucked into a trance by Graves' hypnotic vocals and dark lyrics. In contrast to so many of the aggressive vocals of several industrial bands today, Graves sings in an almost spoken-word, subdued, matter-of-fact tone that is reminiscent of several bands from the 80's. Graves keeps things from getting monotonous, however, by mixing it up with synth lines and vox that deliver an aggressive electronic feel without being overdone.

The introduction pulls the listener in with haunting piano blended with synth strings. Following this is the thumping "Spilling Blood," which is screaming to become an instant dance-floor classic. "Dying in the Worst Way" tones it down a bit, but still manages to be addictive, melodic, and memorable. "For All the Lost" is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt out of place, which also seems to be a running theme throughout the course of the album.

This is not to say, however, that the album is without flaws. Some songs are just a tad too repetitive for my liking, and some of the melancholic lyrics could use a bit of improvement, hence the four stars instead of five. Nonetheless, I anxiously await a second album from Graves and Necessary Response. Very highly recommended for fans of Skinny Puppy, VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, and Assemblage 23.

Average customer rating:

Deeper the Wound
Converge , and Hellchild
Manufacturer: Deathwish Inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005K9RQ
Release Date: 2001-04-23

Tracks:

Thaw - Converge
Clean
Conduit [Live] - Converge
Shallow Breathing [Live] - Converge
Locust Reign [Live] - Converge
1 (New Song) - Hellchild
Insurrection of the Living Damned - Hellchild
In This Freezing Night [Live] - Hellchild
Without Any Answers - Hellchild

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
Handling Handel With Unparalleled Skill and Power
Very beautifully intoned
Handel: Oratorio Arias
A beautiful recital

Handel: Oratorio Arias

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Handel: Opera Arias; David Daniels
Sento Amor; David Daniels;
David Daniels - Serenade
Vivaldi: Stabat Mater, Nisi Dominus, Longe Mala
Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Été

ASIN: B000066I62
Release Date: 2002-09-17

Tracks:

"Destructive War" (Belshazzar)
" O Sacred Oracles Of Truth" (Belshazzar)
"Despair No More Shall Wound Me" (Semele)
"Your Tuneful Voice" (Semele)
" The Raptured Soul" (Theodora)
"Deeds Of Kindness" (Theodora)
" Kind Heaven" (Theodora)
"Sweet Rose And Lily" (Theodora)
"Brave Jonathan" (Saul)
"O Lord, Whose Mercies Numberless" (Saul)
"Up The Dreadful Steep Steps Ascending" (Jephtha)
"Dull Delay" (Jephtha)
"He Was Despised" (Messiah)

Amazon.com

This is a splendid recording. The music is beautiful, though of the 13 arias, only the one from Messiah is well-known. The rest come from relatively obscure oratorios (or operas--the distinction is often blurred). Artfully arranged for maximum diversity of tempo, length, tonality, mood, and character, they add up to a consistently engrossing program. The performances could hardly be better. David Daniels is an extraordinary artist. His voice, effortlessly produced and impeccably focused, has an incredibly pure, even quality over an enormous range. He can give it an infinite variety of nuance, inflection, and expression, from exquisite sweetness in the lyrical arias to assertiveness and defiance in the dramatic ones; it even matches the color of the instruments in answering phrases. His coloratura, delivered in smooth legato but clear and flawless like a string of pearls, is stunning. He gives every note vibrant life and brings out the character of each aria without fuss or exaggeration. In the da capo arias, he embellishes the repeats with imaginative but never excessive ornamentation that sounds genuinely improvised. The period orchestra is excellent. Using normal tuning but baroque style, the players can step forward as soloists or set and underline mood and atmosphere. Listeners will choose their own favorite gems from this treasure-trove, but listening to the concluding aria, "He was despised," one understands why Messiah is Handel's most enduringly popular oratorio. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-10-07

Handel's oratorio style was the product of many mingled elements. Germany, Italy and England all had a hand in its formation. But the work that Handel did in the development of the oratorio alone gives him the right to rank among the greatest of those to whom we owe the modern forms of music. David Daniels to my mind has chosen six of the greatest of Handel's oratorios. 'Belshazzar' was written to a text based on the book of Daniel, by the rich and eccentric land-owner Charles Jennens with whom he collaborated many times. 'O Sacred Oracle of Truth' is sung by the imprisoned prophet Daniel, while 'Destructive War' is sung by the haughty and magnamimous Cyrus, King of Persia, who frees the Hebrews from their slavery under the Babylonian king Belshazzar."Semele" is a secular story taken from Greek mythology put into verse by William Congreve. Jupiter lusts after a mortal woman snatching her from her family in the form of an eagle. The young woman, Semele,arouses the jealous anger of Juno, who takes her revenge. As a result of a plot that the goddess hatches,Semele is destroyed by fire. The 2 arias heard here are for Athamas who is betrothed to Semele. He finally gains consolation by marrying Semele's sister. The heroine of 'Theodora' is a Christian martyr whose life is recounted by St. Ambrose in his 'De virginibus of AD377. When Theodora is punished for refusing to worship the Roman gods, Didymus(a Roman soldier who has secretly converted to Christianity) rescues her from imprisonment; is then condemned to death, Theodora joins him in martyrdom. The oratorio 'Saul' centres on the celebrated trio of Saul,David and Jonathan. Based on the first book of Samuel, it dealt with a familiar story to most of the public at that time. 'Brave Jonathan' and 'O Lord, whose mercies Numberless' are both sung by David being pursued by a jealous Saul, but is sustained by the staunch friendship of Jonathan. 'Jeptha' is based on Chapter 11 of the book of Judges. The theme; Jeptha's promise to sacrifice to God ,in exchange for a victory over the enemy ,the first person to come out of his house to greet him after the battle; and it is his daughter Iphis. But what the Christian God really demands is that his daughter consecrate herself to Him and thus retain her virginity. And Hamor (countertenor) although very unhappy indeed sighs for her 'Up the Dreadful Steep Ascending' and 'Dull Delay'. The libretto of the "Messiah" is based on extracts from the Bible and The Book of Common Prayer, arranged by Charles Jennens. Unlike the other oratorios,it does not tell a story. 'He Was Despised' invites the listener to meditate on the horrendous suffering imposed by mankind on Jesus before his crucifixion.

Handling Handel With Unparalleled Skill and Power.......2004-08-08

If you need evidence on why David Daniels has been rising so fast as the leading countertenor voice today, you need only listen to this wonderfully recorded disc of Handel's oratorio arias, which captures him at full vocal power with amazing coloratura. Although the countertenor voice is generally described as androgynous and often effeminate because of the high range, Daniels has an intensely passionate style that actually sounds warmer and more masculine than one would think possible for such a voice type. Consequently, he is playing a pivotal role in broadening the audience significantly for not only countertenors but also Handel's wondrous music.

Daniels' first solo recording for Virgin Classics in 1998 (strongly recommended) focused on Handel's Italian operas, while this one focuses on his English oratorios composed specifically for the concert stage. Except for the language difference, the distinction is not all that meaningful since both fully use Daniels' amazing interpretative powers to their maximum. On "The raptured soul" from "Theodora", for example, it's amazing how through his sheer virtuosity and deeply textured tessitura, he can make the repetition of six simple lines sound so compelling over an air that lasts nearly nine minutes. Speaking of which, it's quite satisfying to have four airs from "Theodora" recorded here for posterity, as an aural reminder of his stunning performance as Didymus in Peter Sellars' legendary 1996 Glyndebourne staging of this oratorio (now available on DVD and also strongly recommended).

Starting with a scale-swooping "Destructive war" from "Belshazzar", the entire program is mesmerizing with special mention going to "O Lord, whose mercies numberless" from "Saul" and "He was despised" from "Messiah". Conductor John Nelson and the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris accompany Daniels beautifully and unobtrusively with modern (versus period) instruments, a smart decision giving the pieces a more contemporary feel. The end result is a recital to play again and again...at least until you have the opportunity to hear him live.

Very beautifully intoned.......2004-04-04

I was greatly impressed with this CD. I have always appreciated Daniel's voice over most other countertenors (and there are many wonderful ones that are simply incredible), and mostly for its warmth and lack of "hootiness." The coloratura is well executed, and his legato line is breathtaking. Then why a four star rating? All of these arias are sung in English, and it seems these days NO ONE, not male, female, soprano, alto, countertenor, seem to know how to sing it so you can understand a word. That is why I say this recording is beautifully intoned, for it is beautifully sung. What is missing is actual communication of something, no meaning exists behind the non-existent words. It would have been so much more meaningful if we could have figured out what he was telling us. I have old recordings of Dame Clara Butt, a huge voiced contralto of the past century. She sings much of this type of music, and in spite of the horrible quality of the recordings, her words come blazing forth effortless to understand. Even Ernestine Schumann-Heink sings credibly in English giving meaning to the words. Singing is WORDS, not just music. Sadly, we are all forgetting this now days, and most of our well known singers are simply horrible when it comes to singing in English (I have bought many Chaldas recording of opera in English, well they may as well have sung in the original language for we at least can figure out the words when singers sing thusly). Countertenors have the world's worst pronunciation of their words out there, but Daniels is usually much better because of the darker quality of his voice. This time, however, I have to say, I was not impressed. The voice is beautiful, the singing ravishing, but there is no meaning because the words are not clear.

Handel: Oratorio Arias.......2003-08-08

In this beautiful collection of music, one would be, as usual, hardpressed to find some aspect about which to complain in the beautiful, mellifluous tones of David Daniels. That is not the reason for this brief review. I am, on the other hand, dissatisfied with the choice of using the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris as the accompaniment. With many fine baroque ensembles out there from which to choose and enhance--including ones utilized in previous recordings--it seems a shame to pick such an average group, who saw away with very little phrasing or soul. Leave it to the French to abandon all traces of soulfulness--even in their music.

A beautiful recital.......2002-09-23

For once, I'll be brief. Beautiful singing and playing. Daniels performance of "Oh, Lord whose mercies numberless" is alone worth the price of the CD. Mr. Daniels is a consummate musician and this release further gives proof of that. Lovers of Handel and baroque music in general and English oratorios in particular will be more than delighted with this CD. Sit back and enjoy.

Average customer rating:

Great Introduction To NWW

Livin' Fear of James Last
Nurse with Wound
Manufacturer: Castle Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000BH4YLS
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

Six Buttons of Sex Appeal [Edit]
Dirty Fingernails [Edit]
Stick That Chick and Feel My Steel Through Your Last Meal
Subterranean Zappa Blues
Ag Canadh Thuas Sa Sp
Die, Flip or Go to India
Cold [Edit]
Strange Play of the Mouth [Edit]
Swansong [Edit]

Tracks:

Optical Illusion Pad
Sea Armchair
Piece of the Sky Is Missing
Home Is Where the Heart Is/Monument for Perez Prado
Intravenous [Edit]
New Dress
Yagga Blues
Two Shaves and a Shine [Edit]
Rock 'N Roll Station [Edit]
I Was No Longer His Dominant [Remix]

Customer Reviews:

Great Introduction To NWW.......2007-05-18

For those new to Nurse With Wound "Livin' Fear Of James Last or... Joy in the House of Dada!!!" is a great way to get to know the NWW sound.
This compilation gives you a nice over view of their work from 79' to 05'. What I feel is best about this compilation is not only do you get 19 great NWW tracks most of them are over 7 minutes long. Although that isn't uncommon with NWW.

The comp also has a nice variety of tracks.
Such tracks as "Die, Flip or go to India" and "Home is where the heart is/Monument for Perez Prado" are some nice chill-out ambient. "Optical Illusion Pad" and "Intravenous(edit)" have a psychedelic edge and of course there are some great noise tracks like "Cold(edit)" and "The six buttons of sex appeal" and there is even "Subterranean Zappa Blues" which stands out as the most structured track on the comp that seems to scream "Industrial".
Last of all there is the track "I was no longer his dominant(remix)" which I believe is the only unique track on the album. It's a ambient like track with spoken word throughout and last over 11 minutes.

The price is right for the album but I believe new fans will benefit from it more than collectors unless you absolutely gotta have everything NWW.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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