Karma In Black

Karma In Black

Track Listings

1. Fumes From the Swamp

2. Once in Between

3. 10 vs 9

4. Exit Body on Mass

5. Beneath My Swirl

6. A Moment of Clarity

7. The Fading Suns

8. Soulsides

9. Forever Winding

10. Karma in Black

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
2003 album on Nuclear Blast, featuring members of Soilwork and Darkane, combine gut-wrenching brutality with dynamic melody to create quality Swedish metal that remains fresh and original. 10 tracks with lyrics included in the sleevenotes.

Tracks:

Everything In Its Right Place
Knives Out
Black Star
Karma Police
Let Down
Airbag
Subterranean Homesick Alien
Thinking About You
Exit Music (For A Film)
You
Bulletproof
Fake Plastic Trees
I Can't
True Love Waits
Motion Picture Soundtrack

Amazon.com

Rock bastardizations of classical music are as old as Kim Fowley's--and ELP's--Tchaikovsky tweaking "Nutrocker." But classical interpretations of rock music have generally been something of a high-wire act. While most pop fare has strong melodic foundations for the soloist to build from, Christopher O'Riley has challenged himself here with the catalog of Radiohead, one of modern rock's most acclaimed--and texturally complex--bands. O'Riley's insightful gifts for interpretation (which have previously enlightened everything from Stravinsky to P.D.Q. Bach) produce a hypnotic, emotionally compelling listening experience here; O'Riley is a huge Radiohead fan, and that love courses through everything from the dreamy, bittersweet title track through the brooding loveliness of "Let Down." Radiohead's stock in trade is dense, multi-layered music that leans heavily on electronic processing for its moody sonic atmospherics; O'Riley's evokes those complex textures with but a judicious use of the sustain peddles, a deft use of dissonance (as on "Knives Out"), and a rhythmically anxious left hand. Call them etudes for the post-modern age if you will, but O'Riley's performances here largely achieve what all great interpretations strive for: New insight and enlightenment. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Looking Forward, Looking Back.......2007-03-02

Ove the last decade or so, Radiohead has created some of the most complex and futuristic rock music out there, and I wondered if a solo pianist could really capture their essence on a single instrument. However, O'Riley does a marvelous job, and brilliantly conveys the melancholy, mysterious, and introspective qualities of Radiohead's music. His renditions of "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Let Down" are particularly powerful. What I really loved about this cd is while I could follow all of the songs he played, at times I felt like I was listening to an breathtaking piano sonata by Mozart or Beethoven, and even a Nocturne by Chopin. Overall, this is a faithful interpretation by an excellent musician who honors one of the greatest bands in recent times, while also paying hommage to his musical heritage. This cd is a must for even the casual Radiohead fan or anyone who enjoys the piano.

Music Lovers.......2007-02-17

i love almost all kinds of music. piano and radiohead really works for me, i liked the whole thing. if you can get into some piano, you can get into this cd. if you dig radiohead, get into it purely because someone took the time to put some awesome songs into yet another form for more audiences to get into. its beautiful. thats all there is to say.

a transcription worthy of Franz Liszt.......2006-12-08

This is a beautiful recording. Try playing it for music loving frends who would never listen to a band like Radiohead. They won't believe it when you tell them the source of this richly textured heartbreakingly melodic tour de force. I'm in my late 50's and love Mahler, Sibelius,and Beethoven. I also love Radiohead, Sufjan Stevens, John Fahey and Wilco. Good music can come along in any time and I'm glad that Christopher O'Riley loves Radiohead and transcribed it for solo piano; he's missed nothing in the process. If your not choked-up by the end of this CD, music must not be your thing.

Sleepytime music.......2006-03-27

Being the total Radiohead fanatic that I am, I decided to pick this up when it came out... perhaps a fresh take on their music would breath some life back into the songs I've been listening into the ground, I thought. So I took it up into the mountains with me and listened to it for a bit. My reaction to it now is similar to then: it's a dreamy if somewhat insubstantial collection of vaguely familiar tunes.

All of the playing on this disc is superb on the technical level... obviously O'riley is a top notch classical performer. The arrangements are a mixed bag, though. There are some amazing renditions on here - see the impressionistic 'Everything In Its Right Place' and the melancholy coffee house arrangement of 'Knives Out'. Some others are also quite listenable, including 'Subterranean Homesick Alien', 'Exit Music', 'Bulletproof', and 'Motion Picture Soundtrack'. However, the upbeat pop tunes have difficult translating to solo piano. the Pablo Honey tunes suffer the worst here, and feel slightly unnatural; perhaps like a classical pianist paying tribute to a favorite band, rather than the more personal adaptations that make the 'Knives Out' arrangement so effective.

Overall, a nice cd to put on in the background when you're reading or settling in to bed, but Radiohead fanatics beware - don't expect anything that lives up to the band's immense standards.

Nice sound.......2006-02-17

I didn't even know Radiohead songs...but now I've listened to the originals and can hear how O'Riley captures the songs on the piano. This is a great album.

Average customer rating:

Not what I expected
Great Swedish Thrash Metal

Karma In Black
The Defaced
Manufacturer: Nuclear Blast Americ
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
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Domination Commence
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ASIN: B00008J2N5
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Tracks:

Fumes From the Swamp
Once in Between
10 vs 9
Exit Body on Mass
Beneath My Swirl
A Moment of Clarity
The Fading Suns
Soulsides
Forever Winding
Karma in Black

Album Description

2003 album on Nuclear Blast, featuring members of Soilwork and Darkane, combine gut-wrenching brutality with dynamic melody to create quality Swedish metal that remains fresh and original. 10 tracks with lyrics included in the sleevenotes.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I expected.......2003-08-15

Maybe I need to listen to this album a few more times to appreciate this band. Being a fan of old Soilwork and Darkane, especially " Chainheart Machine" and " Rusted Angel ", I thought this album would be more speed oriented. Unfortunately there are no fast songs on the entire album. I guess I will give it a few more listens before I come to a final conclusion. To be continued...

If you want to hear some great death/thrash bands pick up new releases by The Forsaken and Dimension Zero.

Great Swedish Thrash Metal.......2003-08-15

Soilwork's new album 'Figure Number Five' was a major dissapointment, but where they failed, The Defaced shall shine. Theses Swedish metal masterminds (boasting members from Darkane and the aforementioned Soilwork) have crafted some brilliantly heavy thrash metal. With their catchy and heavy metal licks and Swedish roots, this band really stands out when listening to the record. By chosing not to follow the rest of the crowd and rehashing every Swedish metal cliche known to man, it makes 'Karma in Black' a solid metal release. The whole album gets more enjoyable with every listen, often digging up more death inspired roots in the tracks. Highlights include "Once in Between', 'Exit Body on Mass', and 'The Fading Suns'. If Soilwork has gotten a bit stale for your taste and the likes of Omnium Gathering seem a tad too extreme, then satisfy your thirst for Swedish thrash with this great release from a great and promising band.

Average customer rating:

Karma in Black
Defaced
Manufacturer: Soundholic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00008CH8D
Release Date: 2003-04-14

Tracks:

Fumes From The Swamp
Once In Between
10 Vs 9
Exit Body On Mass
Beneath My Swirl
A Moment Of Clarity
The Fading Suns
Soulsides
Forever Winding
Karma In Black
World Wide Hysteria 5.1 (Bonus)

Album Description

Japanese edition of the Swedish metal act's 2003 album includes one bonus track, 'World Wide Hysteria 5.1'. 11 tracks in all. Soundholic.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track: 'world Wide Hysteria
5. 1'

Average customer rating:

Karma In Black
The Defaced
Manufacturer: Scarlet
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000094PY7
Release Date: 2006-03-31

Tracks:

Fumes from the Swamp
Once in Between
10 vs 9
Exit Body on Mass
Beneath My Swirl
Moment of Clarity
Fading Suns
Soulsides
Forever Winding
Karma in Black

In Your Multitude [Japan Import] +1 Bonus Track

Average customer rating:

In Your Multitude [Japan Import] +1 Bonus Track
Conception
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000NZRUAA

Product Description

1995, Victor records Japan. VICP-5553. Out of print Japan import edition of their third studio album, featuring one exclusive Japan only bonus track (Gravity (3:22)) for a total of 11.

Average customer rating:

Karma In Black
Defaced , and The
Manufacturer: Nuclear Blast
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000LWYDQE

Music Track: