Critical Mass [Enhanced] [Limited Edition]

Critical Mass [Enhanced] [Limited Edition]

Critical Mass [Enhanced] [Limited Edition]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Limited edition of the English progressive metal act's 2002 album includes a three track CD single featuring, 'Phenomenon' (Edit), 'Do Unto Them', 'New Beginning' & a multimedia section. Slipcase.

Critical Mass,Threshold,Inside Out U.S.,Heavy Metal,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop
Critical Mass
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Beautiful
  • Great, but getting predictable
  • Superb album
  • I give it my critical acclaim
  • Out of the ordinary
Critical Mass
Dave Holland Quintet
Manufacturer: Sunny Side
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free JazzAvant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Metheny / Mehldau
  2. Beyond the Wall
  3. Saudades
  4. Sound Grammar
  5. Braggtown

ASIN: B000GNOSEU
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

  1. The Eyes Have It
  2. Easy Did It
  3. Vicissitudes
  4. The Leak
  5. Secret Garden
  6. Lucky Seven
  7. Full Circle
  8. Amator Silenti

Amazon.com

For years now, there has been no more proficient working band in jazz than the Dave Holland Quintet. Like such precursors as the Jazztet and the Jazz Messengers, it balances songcraft and improvisation with consummate ease. And the seasoned frontline of saxophonist Chris Potter, trombonist Robin Eubanks and vibraphonist Steve Nelson goes beyond the usual tag-team solos in engaging in complex time schemes and coloristic shifts, extending themes and partaking of overlapping lines. Critical Mass boasts some of the band's catchiest tunes while showcasing its fondness for mussing up their clean foundations with free-spirited exchanges before restoring civility. The material ranges from bassist Holland's Middle Eastern-tinged "Secret Garden" to drummer Nate Smith's hip-hoppy "The Leak." Powerfully contained on tenor, Potter sounds like he's been listening to the great, departed Steve Lacy on soprano while Nelson plays up his percussive skills on marimba. If the album doesn't have the excitement of past efforts, that's partly because Smith, as strong as he is, doesn't have the sudden explosiveness of his precedessor, Billy Kilson. Perhaps, too, the band has settled a bit into familiar patterns. Still, this is a class act. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful.......2007-07-19

Again a beautifully recorded piece by Dave Holland. Also it does not really follow the typical ECM sound as we know it while still sounding perfect. Indeed, this music is more alive than their regular pieces.

4 out of 5 stars Great, but getting predictable.......2007-06-11

This recording is wonderful in every respect, except that we are used to Holland's bands being superb. What is missing are risks and fresh ideas. The band is, naturally, fantastic. Each solo is a marvel. But having been knocked out by these guys for ten years or so, someday I would hope they would surprise us.

5 out of 5 stars Superb album.......2007-03-09

Dave Holland's Critical Mass should be on every jazz lover' s critical must list.

4 out of 5 stars I give it my critical acclaim.......2006-12-10

Dave Holland's Quintet apparently doesn't subscribe to the notion that a CD's music should be as spontaneous and unrehearsed as possible. Instead, he works with the same people and, I'm presuming, songs for a while before recording. Rather than suffocating any sparks, this group is unafraid to let go, knowing that the band will be backing them up. The songs on this CD are well-written, they show great interplay (when someone solos, the rest of the band will play supporting lines more than simply dropping out), and the musicianship is topnotch. Chris Potter is excellent, Robin Eubanks on trombone can sound like a trumpet at times, and Steve Nelson is exemplary. The overall mood of the CD is funky -- which is achieved not through repetitious grooves but through having the band stop and turn on a dime. Nate Smith's drumming is a big part of it - listen to the similar work he does on Chris Potter's Underground CD. This is the best CD of 2006, and 2006 was a strong year, with good stuff by Dave Douglas, SF Jazz Collective, Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, Ben Allison, Mehldau/Metheny, and the Chicago Undergroud Duo.

4 out of 5 stars Out of the ordinary .......2006-11-21

It takes extraordinary musicians to make a jazz group without piano sound full, but it's no problem for the Dave Holland quintet. Steve Nelson's chordal vibe work fills in the harmonies and I don't even notice the absence of keys. In fact, it's details like this, and the feeling that this is a live recording, that makes this disc stand out. The complementary interplay of Chris Potter (sax), and Robin Eubanks (trombone) is tight; a sort of telepathic bond signals them when to back off, step up, or play in unison. Nate Smith has some vast rock influenced drum chops that remind me at times of Manu Katche, and Dave Holland's bass playing, as usual, is spot on, and tastefully anchors the rhythm. The songwriting on "Critical Mass" includes compositions from all band members, that range from upbeat - "The Eyes Have It", "Vicissitudes" and "Lucky Seven", the blues tinged "Easy Did It", or "Amator Silenti" that begins mellow but blasts unexpectedly into a spurt of free jazz.
Cicada
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Cic80's
  • cicada...
  • Cicada shows they are not just remixers but artists as well
 Cicada
Cicada
Manufacturer: Critical Mass UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Dance & DJDance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Discoteka
  2. Put Your Hands Up for Detroit, Pt. 2
  3. Idealism
  4. Out of the Woods
  5. Aquarian Angel

ASIN: B000GFLHPG
Release Date: 2006-09-04

Tracks:

  1. Edge
  2. You Got Me Feeling
  3. Thing You Say
  4. All About You
  5. Cicada
  6. Electric Blue
  7. Tricks
  8. Cut Right Through
  9. Reprise
  10. I'm Waiting
  11. Harmonic
  12. Can't Be Doing with Love - Cicada, Ben Onono
  13. Elle et Moi

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Cic80's.......2007-03-21

This CD is amazing. Total 80's with an updated feel. The entire thing is great from start to finish! Very dancey with great lyrics. Check out their singles too because there are some great remixes. I love working out to this cd. Definitely top-notch! Can't wait for more.

5 out of 5 stars cicada..........2007-03-05

If I had to describe it, I'd say it's like goldfrapp crossed with blondie. of course others will dissagree but thats how I see it.
I saw them live at the good vibes festival in melbourne. it seemed like no one else even cared that they where playing. I was loving it though.

5 out of 5 stars Cicada shows they are not just remixers but artists as well.......2007-01-20

It's 1986 all over again with Cicada. Originally providing remix services to some of the best and varied new music out there, including; The Editors, Lorraine, Jakatta and Mish Mash, their first original effort is flawless from beginning to end. Combining that amazing alt/dance sound lost in at the end of the 80's, it's the perfect blend for those of us who love to dance but don't want to hear some diva sing to non-stop pianos. This is a must for any alt. music dj's out there (it will fill your dance floor). Standout tracks include "The Things You Say" and "Cut Right Through It". This is a jem that American audiences will find and be into in 5 years....buy it now and get a jump on things.
Critical Mass
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Lacking a bit of everything.
  • Consistency in the line-up shows
  • Non-Critical Listening
  • Not a critical purchase, but still entertaining
  • toward the top of rock
 Critical Mass
Threshold
Manufacturer: Inside Out U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
MetalMetal | Hard Rock & Metal | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ProgressiveProgressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Subsurface
  2. Hypothetical
  3. Extinct Instinct
  4. Psychedelicatessen
  5. Wounded Land

ASIN: B00006HI7C
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

  1. Phenomenon
  2. Choices
  3. Falling Away
  4. Fragmentation
  5. Echoes Of Life
  6. Round And Round
  7. Avalon
  8. Critical Mass (Part 1-3)

Album Description

Limited edition of the English progressive metal act's 2002 album includes a three track CD single featuring, 'Phenomenon' (Edit), 'Do Unto Them', 'New Beginning' & a multimedia section. Slipcase.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Lacking a bit of everything........2004-03-30

This is the second album from Threshold that i sample and i was surprised. This album is actually trying to move to a more progressive rock sound, which is somewhat different from the more metallic Hypothetical.

The problem with this album is that after listening to it a dozen times, i still can't remember any of the tracks, with the exception of "Fragmentation", which is the best track of the album and also my favorite track from Threshold. The musicality is almost uniform which makes the re-listening value very low. The band is creative but not enough; Some arrangements seem to have been recycled from other tracks and the originality of the record suffers from a lack of musical freedom. Every instruments and vocals are tightly coupled and lack a bit of breathing space, even though nothing on this album seem to prevent further experimentation or improvisation. Overall the album is less attractive due to lack of strong instrumental flavours.

On the good side of things, the vocals almost fit perfectly on every track. The band tries to stay as far as possible from the popular verse-chorus-verse and it works arguably well. There is still room for improvement for Threshold. If they truly want a more progressive rock sound, they need more freedom of expression in most of their songs and need to experiment a tad more outside of their metallic mold.

5 out of 5 stars Consistency in the line-up shows.......2003-09-28

Critical Mass, the sixth studio album of British prog metallers Threshold, is the first album ever that features the same line-up with its predecessor, and that is a big plus. Threshold has gone through many changes in their line-up, especially with their vocalists and drummers. They've had three different singers (Damian Wilson, Glynn Morgan and the current Mac), and five different drummers (Tony Grinham, Nick Harradence, Jay Micciche, Mark Heaney, and the current drummer Johanne James). While all of these musicians are very talented in their own way, these changes have affected the band's style to a certain extent and made it somewhat difficult for Karl Groom and Richard West to define the real Threshold sound.

So, Critical Mass is the first album that features the same line-up with the previous album Hypothetical, which to many Threshold fans is considered the peak of the band. Hypothetical was an amazing disc in many respects, and Critical Mass is a very good follow-up. However there are slight differences in the approach to songwriting mainly because of Nick Midson's contributions. The last Threshold album where he had input to the compositions was 1994's Psychedelicatessen. And although that is a great album, I feel Critical Mass, compared to its amazing predecessor, somewhat suffers from lack of focused songwriting. While the Karl Groom and Richard West tracks on this CD have the Hypothetical vibe all over them, the other songs with Mac and Midson have a different feel. Not that they're bad, it's just they sound like they're all parts of one big song all arranged into several tracks. I could be wrong though, just my opinion.

Guitarist and main songwriter Karl Groom said that Mac's voice was getting better with every release and he's just come to such a position where he actually 'defines' the style of Threshold a great deal now. I quite agree with Groom's assessment. Mac has a very powerful voice, nothing wrong with his performances on Clone and Hypo, but he really seems to know what he's doing on Critical. The double guitar work is once again mindblowing, not in the technical virtuosity sense but in the way that Groom and Midson once again prove that they have breathed new life into this very Dream Theater-driven prog metal genre. The rhythm section provided by Jeary (he's like the Jon Paul Jones of Threshold) and Johanne James is once again stunning. James is definitely the best drummer Threshold has ever had. His playing is tasteful and very well arranged in the mix--not too high and not too low. As for Richard West, the other brainchild of the band, he is once again proving that he is simply put one of the greatest keyboard players in the genre. What makes all of these guys so special is that they know when to stop and when to let themselves loose. It's not like you'll hear a 12-minute instrumental section with lots of guitar and keyboard trade-offs on a Threshold CD. Not that they can't do it, it's just that their songs don't need it.

My respect for this band is growing day by day, for having developed and matured their own style throughout the years. They're like UK's answer to Dream Theater. I love both bands. It's just that DT has been cloned over and over again that the genre has been overflooding with unoriginal prog bands lately. Threshold on the other hand knows what they're doing. They're exploring new territory and covering new ground, trying to find what suits them best, rather than copycating other big acts out there. As far as prog metal goes, I consider Critical Mass to be one of the best releases of 2002 along with Pain of Salvation's godly album Remedy Lane and Vanden Plas' Beyond Daylight.

2 out of 5 stars Non-Critical Listening.......2003-01-23

I was anxious to get my hands on this CD after buying the very good Hypothetical last year. Hoping Threshold would deliver something as good or maybe even better. Needless to say I am very disappointed in this new offering. First of all these songs lack serious energy heard in songs like Light & Space, Oceanbound, and Long Way Home. All of the songs on Critical Mass just seem to plug along at sort of a programed mid to slow tempo that completely bore the listener. These songs simply drag and go on too long. Secondly, this album can't be considered metal just progressive rock. The heaviness was seriously scaled down from Hypothetical, which was not super heavy or anything but was at least in the metal category. That is what I thought I liked about Threshold, being slightly heavier than most prog bands but it's not happening here. Lastly the hooks are way too predictable and manufactured sounding. I am sorry to rip this album but I spent my hard earned money on it and it didn't deliver nearly the quality heard on the Hypothetical album. Also to note the bonus CD is just 3 more songs of the same boredom. Maybe on the next album Threshold can garner some inspiration and write good songs again. Add some aggression and heaviness to the mix! They are certianly talented musicians no doubt.

4 out of 5 stars Not a critical purchase, but still entertaining.......2002-12-30

Threshold released their definitive masterpiece, "Hypothetical", in 2001. 2002's "Critical Mass" is also an enjoyable release, but falls short of the lofty heights of "Hypothetical". The high points are sky high, some of the best prog music I have ever heard. But there are some glaring weaknesses. Essentially, you could split this album into two: the 4 Richard West (keyboardist) compositions and the 4 Karl Groom (guitarist)/Jon Jeary (bassist) compositions. The 4 West songs ("Phenomenon", "Falling Away", "Echoes of Life", "Avalon") are lively, fresh, unpredictable, beautiful and take the Threshold sound to the next level. You can definately tell these songs were composed on keyboard. The Groom/Jeary songs ("Choices", "Fragmentation", "Round and Round", "Critical Mass") sound weary, tired, predictable, uninventive and boring. The riffs often have a "been there, done that, hey wasn't that on the last album?" feeling and the choruses are usually annoying. The exception is the epic "Critical Mass" which works well. Despite the shortfalls of this album, the Richard West songs are so good to warrant this a 4 star release. Vocalist Mac puts in his best performance. He has a great, mature British voice with can be cutting at one point and gentle later on. Johanne James also deserves accolades for his powerful and technical drumming throughout. Richard West may be the star of this release, with not only his great songwriting but his gorgeous synths and piano. The production on this album is great on the keyboards and drums, which sound fresh, warm and alive. But the guitars lack bite. Also, there are too many mid-tempo songs. A few faster numbers would have definately helped with the pace of this album. Generally, I think Richard West is now the most potent songwriting force in this band. Karl Groom seems to have run out of ideas.

Despite the shortfalls of this release, I still recommend it. And I recommend you get the Limited Edition which has 2 more great songs and some very enjoyable multimedia elements and liner notes.

"Phenomenon" is an excellent way to start off the album and a great introduction to the Threshold sound. It's punchy, somewhat fast and extremely melodic. Vocalist Mac sounds quite fierce and at other times very gentle. Keyboardist Richard West makes use of samples to enhance the song and lush backing keyboards during the chorus. The mid-section of this song is amazing. Mac sings very gently, "I don't want many things. Just a chance to spread my wings. Don't know what the future brings, but I want to be there". He then repeats these lyrics at the top of his lungs. A nice dynamic.

"Choices" is an 8 minute tune with tons of changing parts and the most solos I have ever heard in a song, it's ridiculous! This song ends up sounding very choppy and disjointed, and really doesn't have many memorable parts. Even the solos get annoying after awhile. The guitar riffs are very boring and the chorus is very weak.

"Falling Away" is arguably the best song on this album. It is a 7 minute epic power ballad. It opens with piano, before moving into an extremely lush synth part. The verses are very sparse with some tasty cymbal shuffling by Johanne. Mac puts in a gorgeous, restrained performance. Mac then explodes into the AWESOME chorus! Words cannot describe how amazing this chorus is. "We're powerless. We're paranoid. We'll never know what we destroyed. We're falling... falling away!" The vocal melody is just sublime. This is then followed by a brief passionate guitar solo before entering another lush verse. This song has such a great atmosphere, the perfect night music.

"Fragmentation" is a long, slow song. It has boring guitar riffs and an uninteresting chorus. The most annoying thing about this song is the "breathing" that Mac does throughout. This song is a lyrical nadir for Threshold as well, especially the embarrassing fragmented sentences in the middle.

"Echoes of Life" is the other best song on this disc. It is a 9 minute excursion into prog-metal bliss. Like "Falling Away", this song starts off with gorgeous piano. Mac provides some more beautiful gentle vocals: "Everything's gone out of control, silently sliding away. Destiny's end is calling again, the future was yesterday". The song then builds up to a powerful verse with lots of excellent piano. Great chorus, memorable melodies and technical chops galore! There's a lot of transitions and time signature changes. There's also some 70's sounding Hammond organ.

"Round and Round" starts off with a beautifully morose verse, but it ultimately ruined by the "round and round" curse. It is my theory that any sound with a chorus that relies on the phrase "round and round" is doomed to failure, and this song is no exception. Repitition of "round and round and round and round" is exceedingly annoying.

"Avalon" is a Richard West composition with the piano as the primary instrument. It is a ballad with a very 80's neo-prog sound to it. Mac puts in a very calm vocal performance. The chorus is rather beautiful. "And you laughed and you cried. And that made it all worthwhile. And you hoped and you prayed. That your world would never change. But all that it's become... is Avalon". This song isn't very deep musically, but is rather pretty and calm. This song has a very intimate sound to it.

"Critical Mass" is the 3 part 13 minute epic closer to the album. The first part is called "Fission" and it starts off very softly with nice vocals by Mac. It builds into a rather rousing chorus. The second part is called "Fusion". This part is instrumental. It features a lot of crazy technical musicianship and transitions. The third part is "Lucky". This is a very soft acoustic ending. Mac provides one of his most gentle and gorgeous vocal performances. "I don't pray so I'll have to stay lucky".

5 out of 5 stars toward the top of rock.......2002-11-15

I first came across Threshold while reading a review for Dream Theater's 6 Degrees of Inner Turbulance. While their are great moments on that CD, I fortuntaley followed the advice of a reviewer to check out Threshold's "Hypothetical" as a similar, and maybe now better, band. I got "Time and Space " off the internet and then quickly got the entire CD.

In a few ways, this last release is stonger than Hypothetical, however the styles are similar. Rather than review the highlights of this soaring album (Phenomena, Falling Away, among others), I'd like to point out minor problems.

First, in the liner notes, it is mentioned that CDs put out in the 70s and 80s where usually only 40-45 minutes long. Yet this CD hits 60 minutes plus two extra songs (worth getting) on this version. The acoustic instrumental is too long for a powerful closing song (Critical Mass), and they could have left off the power ballad -- although still very well done.

The song Fragmentation is flawed in two parts. The middle section with faily unclever "fragmented sentences" and the drawn out breathing at the end. Glad I could "fix" an otherwise good song. This is also a case where Theshold sometimes lowers its high standard forr lyics. Just not very original.

A song like Falling Away at 7:00 minutes seems like a perfect length. But sometimes a long song is just --long. Parts can be trimmed for a bigger impact.

It took a few listens, but I think this generally surpasses Hypothetical. It will be interesting to see where this outstanding band heads musically in the next couple of years.
While I doubt we'll hear a complete break, the next CD needs a few new sounds. Check out Rush's "Freeze" off of a modern sounding Vapor Trails for a hint.

I suspect most Dream Theater fans would love this latest work, as well as Hypothical (both original sounding), and it should attract any fan of dynamic and powerful rock.
Critical Mass, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • More Sensations Than a Bag of Synthesized Skittles
 Critical Mass, Vol. 2
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Metropolis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GothGoth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Alt IndustrialAlt Industrial | Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Industrial DanceIndustrial Dance | Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Critical Mass
  2. Critical Mass 3
  3. Electropolis, Vol. 2
  4. Critical Mass, Vol. 4
  5. Electropolis

ASIN: B00005MKFU
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

  1. Der Schrei (Laboratory X Mix) - Das Ich
  2. Comatose Delusion (Velvet Acid Christ Mix) - Suicide Commando
  3. We Are One (Mirror Split Up Into Pieces) - Project Pitchfork
  4. Radiomorphism - Die Form
  5. Under Deck (Beborn Beton Mix) - Funker Vogt
  6. Asphixia (Wasted) - Velvet Acid Christ
  7. Nitrogen Part 2 - Juno Reactor
  8. Subsonic - Haujobb
  9. Oblivion - Informatik
  10. Formerself - Icon Of Coil
  11. Blue Lights - Fictional
  12. Read The Lines - Wolfsheim
  13. It Scares Me - Mesh

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars More Sensations Than a Bag of Synthesized Skittles.......2003-03-21

After picking up an armada of sounds to listen to from Metropolis, I decided I needed more bands to dive into and more sounds to sample. Accordingly, I began tracking down the samplers that Metropolis puts out at least once a year (but normally twice a year, under one name or another) and listening to the things that they arranged on them. Something I discovered through this was that (1) I really like the place they've taken electronic/EBM/industrial/dancefloor music to and (2) that I really enjoy the way they construct their listening vices into such wondrous packages. A little of everything is always included in those portions of listening pleasure, from the heavier worlds of electronic disdain (although these are more noticeable on the Electropolis releases that on Critical Mass) to the more somber EBM ballads that make the mind dance, and this actually does what a sampler should do. it provides a person of an overview of the label and the types of sounds it carries.

On this release, I found myself actually fond of the Dos Ich release (not normally a band for me) and the Suicide Commando sounds (again, not normally in my EBM fields of play). Both are a tad on the side of rudimentary vocals, not really to my liking most of the time, but these two songs were actually pretty good this time around. Funker Vogt's Under Deck is good here, but I like the album song better because the remix rends the beat a little while playing with it. Still, a song about being aboard a vessel in the midst of warfare is fine, and better still when its set to sounds that capture the event in a strangely understandable way. Velvet Acid Christ's contribution was also really good, showcasing the band when it was still in the dark forms of drug-related recording and not yet outside of this box, giving the listener something to enjoy as well. Haujobb's Subsonic is less experimental than most of their normal work and more electronic, keeping a high BPM count and actually constructing a masterful combination of beats and lyrics, Informatik's Oblivion is one of the turns in the road that took the band away from the voxed lyrics it was so well known for in the past while keeping a more growling sound to their EBM sounds that are a bit more dancefloor oriented than before, and Icon of Coil's release is good, but their first album actually produced a more thought-provoking look at anger and all its many formations in the mind. Wolfsheim, sometimes compared to Peter Murphy in vocals but unjustly so, is always at the top of their game and anything they provide will have qualities in it that are commendable (although a bit slower paced for some people and the opera mixtures in some songs a bit too over the EBM top), Fictional is a Funker Vogt sideproject that lets them play a little more with sounds outside of warfare and is more electronic than harsh in this song Blue Lights, and Mesh's Because it Scares Me is one that is slowly paced but that is worthy of a listen as well.

In the realm of samplers, I'd have to give this Critical Mass release a hefty approval rating because it has some many songs that can be listened to over and over again. While not exactly introducing me to many bands I hadn't heard of, it worked as a preview at the time and still finds itself thrown into my player when I need to capture elements of some bands but don't want to bring 14 discs along for the ride. For people that enjoy Metropolis and their brand of entertainment, it is a worthy by and one I would recommend checking out.
Critical Mass
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Exploration of the Unreleased Horizons
  • nice but not quite what i was looking for...
  • A good intro to EBM and Industrial
 Critical Mass
Critical Mass
Manufacturer: Metropolis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Third Wave SkaThird Wave Ska | Ska | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Alt IndustrialAlt Industrial | Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Critical Mass, Vol. 2
  2. Critical Mass 3
  3. Electropolis, Vol. 2
  4. Critical Mass, Vol. 4
  5. Electropolis

ASIN: B00004YR4W
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

  1. Horizon - Funker Vogt
  2. The Voice (And One Mix) - Cleaner
  3. Hang Him Higher - Wumpscut
  4. Through The Looking Glass - Din_fiv
  5. Between Earth And Sky (Maximum Tabla Mix) - Rheas Obsession
  6. Retribution - Front Line Assembly
  7. Afterhours - Covenant
  8. Rubicon - VNV Nation
  9. Butterfly: Dance! - Diary Of Dreams
  10. Soultaker (Edit) - Apoptygma Berzerk
  11. Endless Light - Decoded Feedback
  12. The Dark Inside Me - Velvet Acid Christ
  13. Order & Joy (Dessau Remix) - Crocodile Shop

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Exploration of the Unreleased Horizons.......2003-03-22

When looking for EBM music and the different flavorful coatings that it could come in, I found myself bumbling around and trying out everything I could get my hands on. Sometimes this proved to be a great way of finding things and other times it proved to be a disaster, but it left me longing for an easier way to Discern whether something was worthwhile or not. That's when I first bumbled into samplers left by Metropolis in the forms of Electropolis and then, later on, in the form of Critical Mass. These compilations were something of an impressive outing in many rights, because they managed to string together many a band that was worth listening to on albums that I would have thought to be less of an impact, knowing that most compilations are filled to the brim with disposable tracks by disposable bands. Still, when it comes to the things that this label puts out, or has put out thusfar, this is far from the case. Instead, they were using their samplers as a pedestal from which to preach and I, a needy apostate, listened on.

Amongst many of the releases that come in this form, most of the tracks aren't new or are simply remixes. That's why I like this one because it does actually have a new song amidst the experimental mixes as well. Yes, First and foremost amongst the listings on the albums is the release from Funker Vogt, Horizon, that isn't available in any other forum. Its a good piece, with the standard lean into technotronic aggression that they were taking at the time, making it a worthy track to own and one to listen to over and over again. For fans of the band and simple listeners alike, it makes this album, at its low price, worth picking up. Still, there's quite a bit more. Next, Cleaner, a soft version of the Metropolis family and one I enjoy quite a bit, adds its own EBM specialties with vocals that stand with melody and not distortion, giving them a purer, more techno sound. It seems odd to be mixed in-between Funker Vogt and then, then Wumpscut, but that also gives it something interesting to note as well. Wumpscut's Hang Him Higher is something you'd expect from the band, with dark melodies mixing in shadowy tones that seem to be the staple that the band is known for. Its something that is somewhat hard to find, too, so its a good piece to find added to this album. Din Fiv, Informatik's softer side, is showcased with Through the Looking Glass, something that is high in beat classification but that is different for people only accustomed to Informatik because the darkness has been lost and the exploratory nature of lyrics have been adopted in a more techno-oriented form. The notables go on and on (with no disrespect to any of them for listing them this way because I love them all), with Front Line Assembly's Retribution mixing with Covenant's Afterhours, one of VNV Nation's most expressive releases Rubicon, Apoptygma Beszerk's Soultaker, Decoded Feedback's Darkness Inside of Me, and Velvet Acid Christ doing their thing before the fear of exploration overtook their need to press forward. In many a sense, it was probably one of the best samplers I've ever laid my hands on.

For anyone looking to see the softer side of the EBM rainbow without sacrificing beats or skill, this might be a good place to look. While it does have pieces that are a bit dark within it and a few that are driven, it isn't as heavy as the outing provided in the Electropolis releases and is a good introduction to what Metropolis has to offer. Besides, this disk is filled with bands that I would consider worthy of anyone's attention, so much so that it was hard for me to actually list them without providing in-depth expressions on each and every flavor. Regardless of objections I've seen, this comes HIGHLY recommended.

4 out of 5 stars nice but not quite what i was looking for..........2001-10-02

i bought this when i went into a store to ask this one guy who was into industrial/gothic type music, if there's any kind of music that combines the elements of trance and industrial. origionally i was looking for something that would be the perfect combination between paul oakenfold's tranceport, and the really noisy nin songs like heresy, reptile, and the big come down. you know, the noisy grating kind of stuff, with lots of pounding metallic drums.

he recommended this compilation because it featured many artists, some of which i'd heard of(velevet acid christ, front line assembly), some not(funker vogt, vnv nation), and was pretty cheap. so i picked it up and while it is enjoyable, it is easily a lot more trance than industrial. it's got the nice soothing string synthesizers, mixed together with really fat bass synths and distorted skinny puppy-style vocals/chicks with strong voices(think kmfdm).

for the most part, this is pretty danceable, the music hops along at a nice pace, and while it can sound pretty, the distorted vocals add a welcome edge. think of a slightly underproduced skinny puppy album remixed by paul oakenfold on a so-so day. no question, though, there are some great tunes on here that i'm liking the more i hear(tracks 1,3,4,8,9, especially), but in the end this isn't quite what i had in mind.

if anyone knows of some good noisy trance/industrial like i'm looking for. please email me. preferably something along the lines of a really distorted drum and bass album, or like meatier versions of 'only good christian is a dead christian', and 'superkalafrajilisticsadomasochism', both by foetus. industrial beats with meat. someone has to know what i'm talking about.. please contact me! i need music!

4 out of 5 stars A good intro to EBM and Industrial.......2000-10-21

Not a lot to say about individual tracks because, save one, they have been heard before. Yet that is part of what makes this album a good choice to the fan, casual listener, or curious. The selection of tracks is suitably mild and danceable. Even the Wumpscut selection is one of the more mellow songs they do. As an addition to a collection, this grouping makes for good listening or dancing. For the un-initiated, think of NIN, but not as guitar heavy. Stand out tracks - Wumpscut - "Hang Him Higher", DIN_FIV - "Through the Looking Glass", VNV Nation -"Rubicon", and Apoptygma Berzerk "Soultaker".
Critical Mass 3
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Audibly Making New Friends
 Critical Mass 3
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Metropolis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Alt IndustrialAlt Industrial | Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
MetalMetal | Hard Rock & Metal | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Critical Mass, Vol. 2
  2. Critical Mass
  3. Electropolis, Vol. 2
  4. Critical Mass, Vol. 4

ASIN: B00006ALT0
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Tracks:

  1. This World - Funker Vogt
  2. Human - Dismantled
  3. Never Tomorrow - Imperative Reaction
  4. Genesis C92 - VNV Nation
  5. Insolence - Front Line Assembly
  6. Unicorn - Apoptygma Berzerk
  7. Urban Monkey Warfare - KMFDM
  8. Penetration (Floor Mix) Edit - Haujobb
  9. Deliverance - Wumpscut
  10. Thrill Capsule - Icon Of Coil
  11. Kreig Im Paradies - Das Ich
  12. Innocent (Defiled Mix By A23) - Clan Of Xymox
  13. Things To Remember - Peter Murphy

Album Description

KMFDM, Peter Murphy, Icon of Coil, VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, Front Line Assembly and many others grace this 13 track compilation. 2002 release.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Audibly Making New Friends.......2003-03-29

The well-accented, collective material saga continues, this time with the induction of Critical Mass Volume 3. Within it are many of the namesakes that keep my thoughts grouping at the EBM gateways of Metropolis, awaiting a time that will, at one time or another, lead to mass consumption and the opening of my arms to new material from bands I know/newer acquisitions. Out of all the things Metroplois does, this is what I find the most enlightening about the techno/industrial/electronica/EBM selections that are placed on the lists of these collections, because they are always adding in bands ranging in the motions of the electronic rainbow and are not coating albums with "filler" material. The majority of the songs, at least to a person that enjoys this genre of music, are appealing in many a right - and that is what I find important when buying something to sample new tastes.

Within the tracks listed here, there are quite a few notables that I've found myself particularly fond of. First and foremost, the Funker Vogt track "This World" reflects what someone would normally expect from Funker Vogt, with its message leaning onto the antiwar side of the spectrum that FV is known to haunt. VNV Nation's Genesis is also something that is well worth mentioning, with its dancefloor friendly beat mixing with the aspects of questioning and beauty, fulfilling the expectations listeners have of VNV while introducing newer audiences to one of the better tracks off of Future Perfect. Apoptygma Beszerk's Unicorn is also something of a beautiful song, filled with the ballad-like sounds that make their music notable while still managing to keep a beat that expresses the "I will always love you until the end of the world" message flowing through the track. KMFDM's Urban Monkey Warfare, debatably one of the best songs off their debut release on the Metropolis label (besides anything Raymond Watts is involved in), is also a nice piece that exhibits the talents of the band, the industrialized beat they are known for, and some of the disdain that they, a Rip The System navigator, are known for. Then there is the Wumpscut track that is what one would anticipate from a drifter of the dark sides of the EBM spectrum, Icon of Coil's song that I found enjoyable, and the Peter Murphy track that also settled well with my listening ears.

If you are a person seeking new experiences under the electronic rainbow, then these Critical Mass samplers (a 4th is coming soon) would be something that I would recommend for consumption, along with the Electropolis samplers that are available. Within both you will find an eclectic array of sounds that are suitable for anyone's listening pleasures, and they harbor within them many and many a tasty treat that could otherwise be overlooked when exploring the medium known as Metropolis records. Even for fans of the bands that are listed, many of the newer bands are also worth looking into, so it comes as an experience that is suitable for your ears as well.
Critical Mass
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Best for Threshold
  • Reminds me a lot of Enchant...
  • I expected it to be good- but not quite this astounding!
  • Better than Subsurface... so far
  • Getting better with each release!
 Critical Mass
Threshold
Manufacturer: Inside Out U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
MetalMetal | Hard Rock & Metal | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ProgressiveProgressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Hypothetical
  2. Subsurface
  3. Dead Reckoning
  4. Extinct Instinct
  5. Wounded Land

ASIN: B00006HI7B
Release Date: 2004-09-13

Tracks:

  1. Phenomenon
  2. Choices
  3. Falling Away
  4. Fragmentation
  5. Echoes Of Life
  6. Round And Round
  7. Avalon
  8. Critical Mass (Part 1-3)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Best for Threshold.......2007-07-27

I own 4 Threshold CDs, this one is far and above the rest and an excellent progressive metal band. They have been through 3 lead vocalists and I even have another by the same singer, but Critical Mass is a true gem. Has the hard jams and mellower intricate works (Avalon). Critical Mass Parts 1-3 is divine.
If you had to pick one Threshold CD, this is the one.

4 out of 5 stars Reminds me a lot of Enchant..........2007-03-24

Good rock with some prog tinges that reminds me of the band Enchant. And, that's a good thing. The vocalist is powerful but at times delivers some weak performances. The first song is a good rocker but the vocals sound too Scorpionish. After that it gets much better ending on a great note with Critical Mass (Part 1-3). Definitely worth checking out and makes me interested in hearing their other CDs.

5 out of 5 stars I expected it to be good- but not quite this astounding!.......2005-03-22

'And when the stars come crashing down, it's a phenomenon...'

These are the last lines of the chorus of the first song, phenomenon- and this, I feel, is representative of Threshold as a band. When The stars (threshold) come crashing down (stop playing excellent music), it will be a phenomenon.

All the songs get 5* off me.

The best track, in my view, is 'Critical Mass, pts 1-3'- the title track- the 13 minute 34 second epic. This song is separated into three excellently contrasting sections, with an acoustic, and frankly incomparable end to an album.

Threshold, in this album, use aspects from bands such as Linkin Park, in one song, all the way to Pink floyd, in the second section of 'Critical Mass'.

The greatest songs, I feel on this, are 'Phenomenon', 'Falling Away', 'Fragmentation', 'Echoes of Life', and 'Critical Mass'.

Similarly, The songs contrast amazingly, all the way from the peircing hardness of Phenomenon to the sweet, relaxed laid back and melodic chorus of 'Avalon'


What an amazing album! I bought it about six weeks ago, and it is still my favourite album.

For all you prog metal fans, and even heavy metal and hard Rock fans out there- Not to be missed!

4 out of 5 stars Better than Subsurface... so far.......2004-10-14

I like Threshold a lot. They're all great musicians that know how to create beautiful progressive music without adopting any existing ''recipe'' -- in other words, without cloning other successful bands. That said, I think Critical Mass is one of their better efforts; they couldn't top Hypothetical yet, but they've done an excellent job: the lyrics are meaningful and well composed; the singing and the instruments blend perfectly to create awesome songs and the production is very, very clear.

I've recently bought their last album - Subsurface -, and have listened to it many times since then, but I can't agree some people that say Subsurface is better than Critical Mass and Clone... maybe I haven't had time to get into it.

If you are new to this band, I recommend you to start with Clone, then Critical Mass and Hypothetical. There is also their older stuff, but I don't have any of those albums so far.

5 out of 5 stars Getting better with each release!.......2002-11-04

Threshold is one of the bands that get better with each new album release. That's probably because the main songwriters - Richard West, Karl Groom, and Jon Jeary - continually improve their shills. Meanwhile, the writing team seems to have split sharply into two fractions: Out of the eight tracks, the odd-numbered titles ara written by Richard West, and the even-numbered by Groom/Jeary. All tracks are great, there's no garbage or filler material on this CD. The style is similar to the previous "Hypothetical" album: Powerful "Metal" with catchy melodies and rich "progressive" arrangements. Great ProgMetal for people who like Arena, Dream Theater, and the likes.
Mass
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Good "mood CD"
 Mass
Amanda Thorpe
Manufacturer: Redeye Distribution
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Trip-HopTrip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Alternative PopAlternative Pop | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005ATWG
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

  1. This Dear City
  2. Eyes Of An Angel
  3. Always
  4. Toy Guitar
  5. Better Left
  6. By You
  7. Them There Eyes
  8. High & Dry
  9. Splinters
  10. Hymn

Album Description

From artful storytelling to the pulsing rhythms and languid beauty of trip-hop, the music of Amanda Thorpe is never easy to pigeonhole (though it tends to lodge snugly in the subconscious). While staying true to her strong sense of melody, Amanda's smart, often intensely personal songs with roots in folk and jazz subtly challenge our expectations of familiar forms. Her influences are as diverse as haunted British pop-poet, Nick Drake, and the sultry Francois Hardy, to guitar-god and wordsmith Richard Thompson, the Velvet Underground and Blondie.

Amanda's EP, “Too Many Spirits,” is a collection of deceptively simple folk-pop tunes that highlight her poetic and harmonic sensibility. Spirits' songs range in mood from romantic exuberance to jazzy melancholy. A unique voice in the crowded cosmos of downtown performers, Amanda's entrancing new CD, “Mass,” again displays her powerful and haunting vocals over a sonic landscape laced with trip-hop and dreamy textures. As was recently noted in Variety.com, Amanda's vocals "balance brassiness and vulnerability with panache." While the song “Always” resembles an ultra-hip interpretation of a 1940s nightclub standard, the sing-along guitar pop of “Splinters” and coffeehouse intimacy of “Toy Guitar” reveal an artist who moves confidently between the traditional and the modern.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Good "mood CD".......2002-01-25

My first impression upon listening to "Mass" was that these are pretty and sexy songs. Good for background music. But then I realized that I was actually humming the songs to myself when I wasn't listening to it. I pulled it out again and really paid attention to it. The style of songs can range from smoky jazz ("This Dear City") to soft-core trip hop ("Always").

Amanda has a great sultry voice and a gift for writing songs that are interesting and different from other stuff out there.
Beniamino Gigli: A Life in Words and Music
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Beniamino Gigli: A Life in Words and Music

    Manufacturer: Naxos
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by DonizettiAll Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by FlotowAll Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by GounodAll Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Lalo, EdouardLalo, Edouard | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by MascagniAll Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by MassenetAll Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by MeyerbeerAll Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by PonchielliAll Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by PucciniAll Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by SullivanAll Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by VerdiAll Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    RequiemsRequiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    General ContemporaryGeneral Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Gigli, BeniaminoGigli, Beniamino | ( G ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
    RomancesRomances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Boito, ArrigoBoito, Arrigo | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Catalani, AlfredoCatalani, Alfredo | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Donizetti, GaetanoDonizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Giordano, UmbertoGiordano, Umberto | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Gounod, CharlesGounod, Charles | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Cottrau, TeodoroCottrau, Teodoro | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Flotow, Friedrich vonFlotow, Friedrich von | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Curtis, Ernesto deCurtis, Ernesto de | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Mascagni, PietroMascagni, Pietro | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Massenet, JulesMassenet, Jules | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Meyerbeer, GiacomoMeyerbeer, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Ponchielli, AmilcarePonchielli, Amilcare | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Puccini, GiacomoPuccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Lalo, EdwardLalo, Edward | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    FrenchFrench | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    RequiemsRequiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B0001N9ZES
    Release Date: 2004-05-18

    Tracks:

    1. 'I Was Born With A Voice And Very Little Else...'
    2. Family Background
    3. Gigli's Stage Debut And Poverty-Stricken Start
    4. Puccini: 'O Soave Fanciulla' From La Boheme - Maria Zamboni
    5. Service In The Household Of Countess Spannocchi
    6. Donizetti: 'Spirto Gentil' From La Favoria
    7. Colonel Delfino, And Giovanno Zerri's Legal Agreement
    8. Cannio: O Surdato 'Nnammurato
    9. A Hospital Visit And Scholarship
    10. Mascabni: 'Ah! Ritrovarla Nella Sua Capanna' From Lodoletta
    11. Gigli Graduates And Makes His Debut; He Goes For The High B Flat
    12. Puccini: 'E Lucevan Le Stelle' From Tosca
    13. Marriage, Rome And A Tuor To Spain
    14. Mascagni: 'Apri La Tua Finestra! From Iris
    15. A Letter From Fred Gaisberg Of HMV
    16. Mascagni: 'Mamma, Quel Vino E Generoso' From Cavalleria Rusticana
    17. Gigli Conquers South America, And Recieves An Offer From The Met
    18. Metropolitan Opera Debut In Mefistofele
    19. BoitoL 'Giunto Sul Passo Estremo' From Mefistofele

    Tracks:

    1. The Critics' Verdict, And More Performances
    2. Donizetti: 'Tombe Degl'avi Miei' From Lacuia Di Lammermoor
    3. Gigli's Fate Becomes Entwined With Caruso's
    4. Giordano: 'Un Di All'azzurri Spazio' From Andrea Chenier
    5. Who Will Be Caruso's Sucessor
    6. Verdi: 'De'miei Bollenti Spiriti' From La Travita
    7. Life Forms A Regular Pattern, And Gigli Learns To Sing In Foreign Languages
    8. Lalo: 'Vainement, Ma Bien Aimee' From Le Roi d'Ys
    9. Manon At The Met
    10. Massenet: 'O Dolce Incanto' From Manon
    11. Catalani's Loreley
    12. Catalani: 'Nel Verde Maggio' From Loreley
    13. Summer In Italy, Then Back To New York And Some Physical Training
    14. Gounod: 'Ah! Ne Furis Pas Encore!' From Romeo Et Juliette
    15. Honorary Captain Of The NYPD
    16. Meyerbeer: 'O Paradiso' From L'Africaine
    17. Flourishing Finances And Professional Rivalries
    18. Crushin Remarks; The Attraction Of Radio
    19. Sullivan: The Lost Chord
    20. A New Decade, And The Honour Of Playing Nemorino At The Met
    21. Donizetti: 'Quanto E Bella' From L'elisir D'amore

    Tracks:

    1. Debuts In Paris And London, And London's Critical Reception
    2. Flotow: 'M'Appari' (Ach! So Fromm) From Marta (Martha)
    3. Crisis: The Death Of Gigli's Mother, And Tension At The Met
    4. Departure From The Met
    5. America's Loss Is Europe's Gain
    6. Speech: Gigli In An Interview At The Savoy Hotel, London
    7. Cherished London Reviews
    8. Leoncavallo: 'No. Pagliaccio Non Son!' From Pagliacci
    9. Recording Reflects The Drama
    10. Leoncavallo: 'Suvvia, Cosi Terrible' From Pagliacci
    11. Touring, Gigli's Working Relationships, And A New Turn Of Events
    12. De Curtis: Non Ti Scordar Di Me
    13. Film Popularity, Hitler And Goebbels, And The Caracalla Tradition
    14. Puccini: 'Che Gelida Manina' From La Boheme
    15. Voice Expert John Steane's Recommendation
    16. Puccini: 'O Soave Fanciulla' From La Boheme
    17. A New Recording Of Tosca
    18. Puccini: 'Recondita Armonia' From Tosca
    19. Patience And Hard Work Produce A Perfect Set Of Master Recordings
    20. Puccini: 'E Lucevan Le Stelle' From Tosca
    21. Verdi: 'Ingemisco' From The Requiem
    22. Verdi: 'Ingemisco' From The Requiem
    23. The Recording Of Madama Butterfly
    24. Puccini: Closing Moments Of Act I, Madama Butterfly

    Tracks:

    1. War Keeps Gigli In Italy
    2. Introductory Speech To Cavalleria Rusticana By Mascagni
    3. Translation Of The Speech
    4. Mascani: 'Mamma, Quel Vino E Generoso' From Cavalleria Rusticana
    5. More Role Debuts, Gigli's Wartime Films, And Andrea Chenier
    6. Giordano: 'Un Di All'azzurro Spazio' From Andrea Chenier
    7. John Steane's Verdict
    8. Giordano: 'Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio' From Andrea Chenier
    9. Rome Opera House Ralies Wartime Spirits
    10. Verdi: 'Teco Is Sto - Gran Dio' From Un Ballo In Maschera
    11. Verdi: 'Non Sai Tu Che Se L'anima Mia' From Un Ballo In Maschera
    12. Verdi: 'Oh, Qual Soave Brivido' From Un Ballo In Maschera
    13. Gigli's Political Affliations
    14. Verdi: 'Celeste Aida' From Aida
    15. Postwar Italy: An HMV Manager's Report
    16. Verdi: 'Pur Ti Riveggo, Mia Dolce Aida' From Aida
    17. Covent Garden With Rina, Then A Tour Of Britain And Ireland
    18. Speech Given By Gigli After A Concert At The Royal Albert Hall
    19. The Final Phase - And No Thoughts Of Retirement
    20. Di Veroli: Ritorna Amore
    21. A Last Visit To The USA
    22. Cottrau: Santa Lucia
    23. Gigli's Death, His Obituaries, And His Place In The Tenor Lineage
    24. Meyerbeer: 'O Paradiso' From L'Africaine
    Critical Mass, Vol. 4
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Reasons to Buy Sampler - Raymond Watts and Prime Evil
    		 Critical Mass, Vol. 4
    Various Artists
    Manufacturer: Metropolis Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    ElectronicaElectronica | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Electropolis, Vol. 2
    2. Critical Mass 3
    3. Critical Mass
    4. Critical Mass, Vol. 2
    5. Electropolis

    ASIN: B00008BLA1
    Release Date: 2003-03-18

    Tracks:

    1. Bullet - Covenant
    2. Forgotten Tears - Hocico
    3. Drive - Assemblage 23
    4. Phoenix - Decoded Feedback
    5. Prisoners Of War - Funker Vogt
    6. World (Global Mix By Assemblage23) - Croc Shop
    7. Shift (Inside The Clouds) - Dismantled
    8. Prime Evil - Pig
    9. Logic - Bella Morte
    10. Severed (System Syn Mix) - Imperative Reaction
    11. A Cell - Porject Pitchfork

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Reasons to Buy Sampler - Raymond Watts and Prime Evil.......2004-01-20

    When Metropolis-Records puts out a sampler, they normally have a problem on their hands. With all the music they release within a year, it would actually take four or five samplers to give you a taste of most of what they off. So, what you have are some of their stellar acts mixing with a couple of the up-and-coming ones, letting you see the arrangement of EBM/electronic music that will lord over the now and that will perhaps speak on futures to come.

    This Critical Mass album actually had one it one gem I want to talk about first, and mostly because of the problem its been to find before Metropolis labels did me the service of releasing it here. The Pig track, Prime Evil, was actually a Japanese release because Pig/KMFDM vocalist Raymond Watts hit his stride there. It's a shame that he hasn't been met with more acclaim in the US, too, because the stuff he does is well worth purchasing (and beyond). The sadism and the sultry mixing on one platform always make him a treat, and Prime Evil is no exception to the rule. So, when Metropolis Records released Genuine American Monster stateside for the first time, I was happy. And when they brought this to me, offering it on a sampler costing little to nothing, I loved them for it.

    Besides that, there is quite a range of music touted on this album. Here's a few of those:
    (1)Assemblage 23 have been a mainstay on the EBM circuit, with Tom Shears delighting audiences with what he can do and with the mastery he puts into his lyrics. And here, on this single touting the third album, its no different. I personally love this song, thinking it a work because it captures a lot of what I feel on random days, but I've never had the ability to capture it in music. So, here's to Assemblage 23 and to a correct choice to hype the release.
    (2)Then there's Hocico, a relatively new act to many stateside listeners but a band that has an impressive body of work outside the states, as they bring their heavy voxing and aggression to a place that will hopefully embrace them. Coming out of Mexico City, they're done quite a bit more than I expected and, going back, I've been delighted in what they've managed as a band. To note on this, a lot of this album's titles seem to indicate that its a foreign sound, but almost everything is in English.
    And then there's the bands that have undergone transformations, like (3) Decoded Feedback, (4) Covenant, and (5) Funker Vogt. All of them have done things a little differently than before, and all of them have made albums that are worth picking up. Personally, I found Covenant's new album to be a masterpiece when I listened to it, thinking the style they've taken on allows them to showcase what their lead singer can do. Funker Vogt is also good, but this album isn't as good as what I expected from them. The lyrical translation is a little sloppy, and the album seems like it was thrown together a little too fast. Normally a FV album lasts and last with me, but I put this one aside after a few weeks and haven't picked it up since. And, lastly, there's Decoded Feedback, a taste I can't give up, that has taken on a new style of vocals, a little experimenting in their beats, and that still puts out quality.

    There are a lot of other acts on this album as well, but I have to say that Prime Evil alone makes it worth the buy. Its something that doesn't appear anywhere else (unless you like import prices), so grab it up. And, while you're at it, see if you like some of the stuff that Metropolis has dropped lately.

    Music Track:

    1. Crucified Lovers in Woman Hell [EP]
    2. Damned in Black [Import]
    3. Dark Assault
    4. Dark Moor [Import]
    5. Deadly Fairytales
    6. Deliver Us from Evil [Import]
    7. Dem Bones
    8. Devil Pigs
    9. Devil Soldier [Import] [Original recording remastered]
    10. Dreamspace [Extra tracks] [Import]

    Music Track

    music track

    Recommended Music:

    Local Angel [Import]

    PARABLES - John Graham, viola

    Neighborhoods

    Music: St. Hubertus-Messe: Songs for Male Chorus

    Nobody Listens to Techno [CD-single]

    Neo: Tango

    Mitchell [Import]

    Parking Lot Pimpin' [Explicit Lyrics]

    Salvation Street

    Raise Your Fist & Yell [Import]

    Shine Like It Does - The Anthology (1979-1997)

    Merengue Dance Box [Box set] [Import]

    Mum

    Shostakovich: String Quartets 3, 7 & 8

    Detour Ahead