Out of Hand

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Billy McLaughlin is another in a line of post-Michael Hedges, two-handed acoustic guitarists, whacking and thwacking their instruments with hammer-ons, pull-offs, and anything else to extend their range. On his latest album, Out of Hand, McLaughlin goes beyond the guitar, adding in drum machines for trip-hop grooves and global percussion from Steve Tibbetts's percussive partner, Marc Anderson. Toss in touches of electric guitar and keyboard, and McLaughlin's Out of Hand suddenly sets him apart from the Hedges wannabes. That works to his detriment on the overwrought workout of the Eagles' "Best of My Love" and the smooth-jazz bid of "Flying Dream." Those overproduced pieces are disappointing, given the way McLaughlin makes machine grooves sound rootsy with blues bends and country twangs on "Out of Hand" and "Midwatch." Yet the intricate movements of "Clockshop" and "Hold On to Forever" reveal a guitarist who is original in just picking his strings. --John Diliberto

From Jazziz
"This is what acoustic guitar will sound like in the next millennium," Billy McLaughlin boldly asserts in the liner notes to his second CD. Well, if that's the case, the next thousand years will be funky, bluesy, and full of vigor and adventure.

The opening track begins with a dramatic synth-orchestra overture that carries on as an undercurrent of the main melody set to a thick, shuffle beat by drummer Kirk Johnson (known for his stints with The Artist). From there, McLaughlin experiments effectively with his surroundings while keeping spry fingerstyling the focus of each tune. By using a subtle, synth-created pipes harmony, he turns the meditative "Candleman" into a spiritual Celtic journey. "Midwatch" is like a Shahin & Sepehr tune with its colorful mix of zesty flamenco stylings and thick retro-soul flavors.

The only drawbacks are the simple, slow solo ballads, which are nice but come across as a letdown next to more spirited offerings. But these are small detractors, especially in light of McLaughlin's wacky blues/folk/ funk take on the Eagles' "Best of My Love." On that tune, his strings do a cat-and-mouse dance with his brother Michael's muted trumpet above a stew of live drums and drum machines. Then Billy pulls out the electric and lets loose over a bed of synth orchestration.

Out of Hand,Billy McLaughlin,Narada,Contemporary Instrumental,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop

Out of Hand

Tracks:

Opening title
Beauty Song (Jia Ren Qu)
The Echo Game
The Peonyhouse
Battle in the Forest
Taking her hand
Leo's Eyes
Lovers - Flower Garden
No way out
Lovers
Farewell No. 1
Bamboo Forest
Ambush in 10 directions (Shi Mian Mai Fu)
Leo's Theme
Mei and Leo
The House of Flying Daggers
Lovers (Mei and Jin)
Farewell No. 2
Until the end
Lovers (Title Song)

Amazon.com

The films of director Zhang Yimou have a panoramic sweep to them that deftly creates a fantastical vision of ancient Chinese culture for the screen. Yimou's eye for color and sense of drama demands a score that conveys the emotion, tradition and action of his movies. Here Shigeru Umebayashi tells each part of the story with a mix of traditional flute, drums, string instruments and, to a lesser degree, orchestra and moody-sounding synthesizers. The lilting melody of "Lovers" is particularly effective, simmering with a passion that leaves no doubt about the tone of the scene; it comes back to dramatic effect at other times in the film as well--the soundtrack closes with a soaring version of it by soprano Kathleen Battle. Similar to but not as heavy as Tan Dun's occasionally overbearing work on Yimou's film Hero, Umebayashi leans toward the subtle for this love story, and the film is better for it. - Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful score.......2006-11-13

I truly enjoy this CD. The music is enchanting, emotion-evoking, and powerful. I love to listen to it in order to relax before going to bed. I recommend this CD to anyone.

A gorgeous film score.......2006-09-24

"House of Flying Daggers" is one of my favorite Asian films from the past five years. One of the main reasons I love the film is the sumptuous classical film score by Shigeru Umebayashi. The classical score reminded me a great deal of the score for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". The operatic ballad by Kathleen Battle is stunning. I don't normally like most opera music but I definitely enjoyed listening to Kathleen Battle. This is a lovely cd to relax to with a hot cup of tea and a good book.

GREAT MUSIC........2006-05-18

Not only was House of Flying Daggers a wonderful movie, but the music was breathtaking. If for no other reason purchase the CD and enjoy Kathleen Battle's rendition of Lovers.

Never Gets Boring.......2005-12-25

This album has everything good music needs. It's driving, subtle, powerful and soft. It is a truly amazing work of art. It gets the emotions of the characters and the events of the story out perfectly. A ballet could be performed to this score.

Great !!.......2005-07-19

The music is wonderful, the two songs are one of the best I've heard...

Average customer rating:

Uneven quality but great value
A superb collection of Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Octets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

ASIN: B00062FLJ2
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Uneven quality but great value.......2007-04-30

Brilliant Classics has found a niche with their extremely low-price multi-disc collections of the work of a single composer or performer. The Bach, Mozart and Chopin Complete Editions are legitimately considered to be artistic and economical triumphs. But the Masterworks series are more uneven. Currently available from Amazon France at about a buck per CD, they're still a bargain for those interested in quickly building a music library. But it's worth keeping a few things in mind. Unlike the Bach and Mozart Editions, these are not always historically informed performances. In this Mendelssohn set, the Hanover Band puts in a cameo (in Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage), but most of the ensembles use modern instruments, techniques and proportions. This doesn't always work out, as in the case of the ponderously heavy recordings of the String Symphonies by an apparently full complement of Gewandhausorchester Leipzig strings (Mendelssohn likely wrote these early works for a much smaller group). The caliber of the performances varies too, ranging from good to poor, and from marquis musicians such as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to a few Dutch who-dats. The chamber musicians generally acquit themselves well (though the Octet recording is marred by an engineering flaw in the last movement, distortion, at least on my copy). But the symphonies suffer from some substandard performances, such as the Italian Symphony's live recording with not only audience noise but also ensemble flaws such as a distracting clarinet squeak in the first movement's recapitulation. Another strike is the lack of program notes. Brilliant's Complete Editions provide a booklet or CD-ROM with program notes, but here you'll need to do your own research.

Despite these shortcomings, this set is still good value (at least at Amazon France's current price of 31 Euros). And it's a fine way to become acquainted with Mendelssohn's music.

A superb collection of Mendelssohn.......2007-03-24

Let me preface this by saying that most of these works were not new to me - I own many other Mendelssohn CDs and have enjoyed his compositions for some time now. Also, this set is available much cheaper elsewhere, particularly from European retailers.
The symphonies are well-performed. 'Reformation' is an inspired live recording. The 12 string symphonies, written in Mendelssohn's youth, are also included. The concertos are exceptional - the violin concerto is as good as you'll find anywhere. The oratorios Elijah and Paulus are included, as well as the complete chamber works and a diverse assortment of choral works. The last few discs include the Lied ohne worte, the epic organ sonatas, and excellent renditions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Fingal's Cave. While there are a few sketchy performances in the choral and chamber works, the performances and recordings are generally very solid, and the body of work couldn't be better.

Average customer rating:

Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

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ASIN: B00062FLI8
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Average customer rating:

Love Gary Stewart
Gone but His Legacy Still Lives

Out of Hand/Your Place or Mine
Gary Stewart
Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

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Best Of The Hightone Years
I'm a Texan
Live at Billy Bob's Texas
The Essential Gary Stewart
Honky Tonk Amnesia: The Hard Country Sound Of Moe Bandy

ASIN: B00005BGKF
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Tracks:

Drinkin' Thing - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
Honky-Tonkin' - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
I See the Want to Ain Your Eyes - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
This Old Heart Won't Let Go - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
Draggin' Shackles - The Nashville Edition, Gary Stewart
She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles) - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
Back Slider's Wine - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
Sweet Country Red - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
Out of Hand - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
Williamson County - The Jordanaires, Gary Stewart
Your Place or Mine - Gary Stewart
Rachel - Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Stewart
Leah - Nicolette Larson, Gary Stewart
Drinking Again - Gary Stewart, Jerry Wallace
Blue Ribbon Blues - Nicolette Larson, Gary Stewart
Pretend I Never Happened - Lea Jane Berinati, Gary Stewart
I Had to Get Drunk Last Night - Gary Stewart, Jerry Wallace
I Ain't Living Long Like This - Rodney Crowell, Nicolette Larson, Gary Stewart
Broken Hearted People (Take Me to a Barroom) - Gary Stewart, Jerry Wallace
Ten Years of This - Lea Jane Berinati, , Gary Stewart
Dancing Eyes - Gary Stewart, Jerry Wallace

Customer Reviews:

Love Gary Stewart.......2007-05-13

If you read the bio of Gary Stewart you will enjoy this CD even more. I have always been a fan and was missing the title song on this CD and bought it for that reason. I was not disappointed with any of the other songs on this CD. If you like Gary Stewart you will love this CD.

Gone but His Legacy Still Lives.......2004-01-08

Sadly Gary died last month before his time. These two albums were his finest and two of the finest country records ever.

Average customer rating:

One of the best motion picture soundtracks ever!
Atmosphere.
5 stars for the Score by Clouser
Clouser's score= 4 stars. Everything else= 1 star.
Sweeeeeeet

Saw

Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Saw 2
Saw 3
Saw - Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Saw II - Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Saw III (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B0002WZSNU
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Sturm Front Line
Hello, Adam
Bite The Hand That Bleeds
Last I Heard
Action
Reverse Beartrap
You Make Me Feel So Dead
X Marks The Spot
Wonderful World
Cigarette
We'Re Out Of Time
F**k This S**t
Hello Zepp
Zepp Overature

Customer Reviews:

One of the best motion picture soundtracks ever!.......2006-10-09

I loved the original SAW movie and enjoyed the music score and the atmosphere the music throughout the movie portrayed. This album release is a monumental record produced and mixed by Charlie Clouser (Ex N-I-N). There is not a song on this album that is bad or not worth being on this release.

'Sturm' is a song created by Front Line Assembly released specifically for this movie and the song is a perfect opener. The song is purely industrial and features the best of what FLA offers, the driving industrial beat with hard hitting nasal base lyrics.

'Bite The Hand that Bleeds' is a softer industraial/dark theme song by the kings of future metal - Fear Factory who I am a big fan of. In the DVD's special features, this song came with its own music video taking bits from the actual movie.

The other bands in this album I have not heard of but the songs were good, some more harder in sounding than others but worth the listen. What was the winning part to this album was the movie score by Charlie Clouser.

I have to agree with other prior reveiwers are say the best two songs of this album are 'Hello Zepp' and 'Zepp Overture'. Both songs are genious and great sounding. I have Hello Zepp on a website entry page song. It is one of the best songs I have ever listened to.

I assure anyone who is a fan of Saw, you will enjoy this album immensely and take alot out of it. I am simply in awe of this block-buster album.

Atmosphere........2005-12-14

What makes this album worth 5 stars? That may be one of the questions you find yourself asking. I'll tell you why. During the commentary for the Saw dvd Leigh Whannell (who played Adam and wrote the movie) said he felt the movie had a gritty, muddy and rusty feel to it. I agree. So, he wanted to find somebody to do a score and bands that would give off that feel. Charlie Clouser (ex-nin) does a wonderful job here. So, he brings in bands such as Fear Factory and Pitbull Daycare (I have spoken with their drummer, he is a really nice guy.) I prefer Black Metal and Death Metal over industrial. However, I love this soundtrack. I have not been able to take it out of my walkman since getting it. First, the atmosphere Charlie Clouser gives off, is right on the money and I am highly impressed. Also, I am not the biggest fan of Fear Factory but their song is quite good as well. However, my favorite song is "Hello Zepp" the epic song, in while the final few minutes (most shocking as well)of the movie are played out. That song is worth the money alone. So, even though you may not enjoy industrial, this is still worth giving a try. Enjoy

5 stars for the Score by Clouser.......2005-10-01

I bought this album for the score of the movie, not the bands featured on the album. Charlie Clouser did a great job, a chilling and awesome score. My favorite track is "hello zep" which was my main motivation of getting this album. Some of the band tracks here are actually pretty good, but when it comes to a soundtrack album, I prefer the score. Good album overall. Can't wait for the Saw 2 soundtrack.

Clouser's score= 4 stars. Everything else= 1 star. .......2005-09-19

I'm kinda divided with this disk-I really, really liked the score itself, that is the stuff performed by Charlie Clouser, especially the effectively bleak "Hello Adam" and the great "Hello Zepp" and "Zepp Overature". Unfortunately, the heavy metal/rock/whatever--*vomits*. I personally hate that type of music. The disk is definitely worth the price, but just be aware that there are some really awful metal tracks amongst the otherwise very good score.

Sweeeeeeet.......2005-05-18

OKay. I was shocked that only 8 other people had reviewed this great soundtrack. But that's besides the point. Charlie Clouser did a fine job with the original score, especially "Hello, Zepp" and "Zepp Overature". The tracks by the bands were good, some were definately better than others. "You Make Me Feel So Dead" by Pitbull Daycare is by far my favorite track and "Wonderful World" by the Psycho Pumps is equally awsome. "Bite the Hand That Bleeds" by Fear Factory SUCKS ASS!!!! I was extremely dissapointed when that was the only video on the DVD. Oh well, I'm also dissapointed that I can't for the life of me find anything else on the Psycho Pumps. It's as if they only did this one song for this album. That's kinda sad if it's true. Anyway, if you were a fan of the film, get this.

Average customer rating:

Love the Lemon Drops
20 tracks of deja vu
Superb album from 1986.
Very Jangly and Nifty

Happy Head/Out of Hand
The Mighty Lemon Drops
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Laughter
The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death
Zeitgeist
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

ASIN: B000005JAS
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

The Other Side Of You
By Biggest Thrill
All The Way
Hypnotised
Like An Angel
Behind Your Back
Happy Head
Pass You By
Take Me Up
On My Mind
Something Happens
Turn Me Around
Out Of Hand
Going Under
Count Me Out
Splash #One (Now I'm Home)
Rollercoaster
My Biggest Thrill (Live)
Hypnotised (Live)
The Other Side Of You (Live)

Customer Reviews:

Love the Lemon Drops.......2007-07-25

I gave this 4 stars on the merit of tracks 13-18. I would agree with the reviewer that said that the album can sound repetitive - if you listen to the whole thing straight through. My recommendation is to skip to track 13 and go from there - originally these tracks were the Out of Hand album. You will notice that a couple of these last tracks are live versions of songs that I am advising listeners to skip - the live versions are much better.

Now about tracks 13-18 - these are the 4-star material. I used to own the Out of Hand cassette and could listen to it over and over again (I would give that album by itself 5 stars). Certainly the Lemon Drops albums World Without End and Laughter were a bit better, but these tracks do show some variation and they all sound great.

I know I am in a minority, but I have always liked the the Mighty Lemon Drops more than Echo. They have to me the sound of British melancholy. Not depressing, not really dark, but rather doleful and sonorous. Good stuff.

20 tracks of deja vu.......2004-04-02

I got a copy of Happy Head at about the same time I got the Icicle Works' The Small Price of a Bicycle. Even though the Icicle Works had entered their sophomore slump, I was still amazed at how their music blew away the Mighty Lemon Drops, beating them at the post punk game in a pulvarizing fashion.

I checked this CD out... With comparisons to the Smiths, Midnight Oil, and Echo & the Bunnymen, how could I lose? The joke was on me. The frustrating thing about Happy Head/Out of Hand is that there is no variance from track to track. There is no difference in tempo, vocals, melodies, guitar, drums, or anything else that might apply. Each song, it seems, is just a direct copy of the one before it.

Since I'm a fan of Echo & the Bunnymen, one might think that I would not be bothered by these unique traits found in post punk. But it doesn't help that the Mighty Lemon Drops are such lifeless performers. The vocals all sound tired and non of the songs have any climaxes. And to top it all off, non of the vocal melodies aren't any good. They all hover around three or four notes, sounding like Jim Morrisson on his worst day.

In all honesty, nothing from this collection has stuck with me. Just listening to it straight through was discouraging enough. Although I rarely find myself complaining in this nature, it really sounds like this band wrote one song and copied it several times.

Superb album from 1986........2003-09-15

Smith, Cure, Midnight oil fans should give this album a try. The Lemons were part of this pre-Manchester scene called "C-86". Using punk ideals but making them more melodic but still powerful is the idea here... Simple, fun and emotional tunes. A great buy especially with the bonus tracks! get it.

Very Jangly and Nifty.......2000-03-06

I bought a set of all three of the Mighty Lemon Drops vinyl on the pure basis that they were cheap (two bucks each, with the other being 'The World Without End') and I'd heard them mentioned in Rhino's 'Postpunk Chronicles' along with the Chameleons. Automatically the whole record store went into the fit with all four clerks saying nearly simultaneously 'Finally!' I automatically knew I had something good, albeit obscure.

Comparisons to Echo and the Bunnymen briefly ignored (Yes, I know they're a huge influence, yes I know they're a lot alike) the Mighty Lemon Drops are very catchy, jangly, talented, melodic while still rocking and not drifting into Gin Blossoms style sugar-coated puke-pop-rock. The lyrics and the music seem to work to create a dark, yet perky atmosphere, as if you suddenly toned down the Jesus and Mary Chain. Very nice obscure purchase I do not regret at all.

The It Girl (2001 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating:

Can't Get Enough of "It"

This musical has IT!

Terrific!

This show is "How Do You Say...?" (Ah, yes) AMAZINGLY GREAT!

Wonderful show with great music and lyrics

The It Girl (2001 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Paul McKibbins , BT McNicholl , Jean Louisa Kelly , and Jessica Boevers
Manufacturer: Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00006HIAC
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

Black and White World
Why Not?
Stand Straight and Tall
It
Mama's Arms
What to Wear?
It Reprise
A Perfect Plan
Coney Island
Act One Finale
Entr'acte
Woman and Waif
Stay with Me / Left Hand Arrangement
Step into Their Shoes
Out at Sea
How Do You Say....?
Step into Their Shoes Reprise
You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
Act Two Finale

Amazon.com

If you think that musicals are only outsize, outlandish spectacles hatched on Broadway, The It Girl deftly shows that there are other options. This small show was created in 2001 at the York Theater--located in a church's basement, it's as close as you get to a barn in New York City. Loosely based on the 1927 Clara Bow vehicle It, the show gleefully runs through all the 1920s classic situations and characters: chases, flappers, mistaken identities, a boat cruise, a department-store heir, and fake French accents—it's all there. You can almost hear the ghost of P.G. Wodehouse, librettist for the Gershwins' Jazz Age classics, cheering. The It Girl breezes through thanks to its cast's game can-do energy and the strength of Paul McKibbins and B.T. McNicholl's perky tunes, which deploy nice melodic resources and make the most of a six-piece band. There's enough knowing pastiche here to keep the saccharine at bay, but the creative team also shows genuine resource and love for musicals as a genre. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Can't Get Enough of "It".......2006-02-11

I took my daughter to see a production of this at a theatre in Hopewell where I sometime perform. We really enjoyed the show, and my daughter asked me to buy her a copy if the CD. I can't stop listening to this show. Great score...great orchestrations and great performances. I'm going to buy myself a copy too.

This musical has IT!.......2005-04-14

Maybe I'm biased, because I'm friends with the composer... but I was not when I first saw this musical, and I fell in love with it. A truly toe-tapping score, and adorably witty lyrics. It's a charming gem of a show, and I recommend it to any music lover.

The characters are fun, the story is marvelously scandalous (in a family oriented way), and the performances are top-drawer!

Terrific!.......2003-05-18

Like another reviewer, was lucky enough to see this show at the York Theatre in Manhattan. A wonderful musical score and clever lyrics made this show an absolute delight. A must-have CD.

This show is "How Do You Say...?" (Ah, yes) AMAZINGLY GREAT!.......2003-03-17

This show has a STELLAR cast! The cast is relatively small, only consisting of three men and four women. The music is original and REALLY clever (and based in the 1920s...GREAT TIME)! I listen to this cast album MORE than any other (and I have A LOT of cast albums)! Some of the MOST appealing tracks are "A Perfect Plan," "Coney Island" and "Step Into Their Shoes"! This would be A GREAT show for small theatres or small companies of actors! You'll be glad you bought this cast album after you take the time to listen to it all the way through at least once. You'll find a few songs you like and listen to those OVER and OVER. Two weeks later you'll find a few more songs you like and do the same! ... This is an A+ show!

Wonderful show with great music and lyrics.......2002-10-05

My family loved this show. Our eight year old son kept singing the songs and humming the tunes. He even wanted to listen to it at bedtime. Very catchy lyrics with tunes that keep your feet tapping. The show is full of songs that continually creep into your mind during the day. I often found myself humming a tune or two over and over. Highly recommend.

Average customer rating:

Poems for Piano

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000A33E
Release Date: 1998-08-25

Tracks:

Pieces of China: The great wall
Pieces of China: Fable
Pieces of China: China blue
Pieces of China: Puppets
Pieces of China: Slow Dance - Lotus
Pieces of China: China chips
Poems for Piano, Vol. 1, Op. 4: Unroll the flicker's rousing drum
Poems for Piano, Vol. 1, Op. 4: Soft is the collied night
Poems for Piano, Vol. 1, Op. 4: Gather for festival bright weed and purple shell
Poems for Piano, Vol. 1, Op. 4: Wake subtler dreams, and touch me nigh to tears
Poems for Piano, Vol. 1, Op. 4: Ravished lute, sing to her virgin ears
Poems for Piano, Vol. 1, Op. 4: Whose thin fraud I wink at privily
Poems for Piano, Vol. 2, Op. 5: And warms winds spilled fragrance into her solitudes
Poems for Piano, Vol. 2, Op. 5: To whose more clear than crystal voice the frost had joined a crystal spell
Poems for Piano, Vol. 2, Op. 5: Sleep, weary mind; dream, heart's desire
Poems for Piano, Vol. 2, Op. 5: Dust in sunlight, and memory in corners
Poems for Piano, Vol. 2, Op. 5: Make me drunken with deep red torrents of joy
Poems for Piano, Vol. 3, Op 14: Rear its frondings sighing in aetherial folds
Poems for Piano, Vol. 3, Op 14: Listen! Can you hear the antic melody of fear those two anxious feet are playing?
Poems for Piano, Vol. 3, Op 14: Puffed out and marching upon a blue sky
Poems for Piano, Vol. 3, Op 14: And hunged like those top jewels of the night
Poems for Piano, Vol. 3, Op 14: Each gay dunce shall lend a hand
Sonatina No. 1: Largo assai
Sonatina No. 1: Allegretto
Sonatina No. 1: Allegro vivace
Sonatina No. 2: Andante quasi Allegretto
Sonatina No. 2: Allegro moderato
Poems of the Sea: Waves
Poems of the Sea: Chanty
Poems of the Sea: At sea

Average customer rating:

Happy Head/Out of Hand
The Mighty Lemon Drops
Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Average customer rating:

Another McLaughlin Hit
Killer Acoustic
Acoustic Symphony
Another example of great guitar work...
A great guitarist with a little too much production

Out of Hand
Billy McLaughlin
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

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Acoustic Original: The Best of Billy McLaughlin
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ASIN: B00000IP3L
Release Date: 1999-05-04

Tracks:

Out Of Hand
Clockshop
Candleman
Hold OnTo Forever
Midwatch
11
Flying Dream
William's Run
Soulmates
The Best Of My Love

Amazon.com

Billy McLaughlin is another in a line of post-Michael Hedges, two-handed acoustic guitarists, whacking and thwacking their instruments with hammer-ons, pull-offs, and anything else to extend their range. On his latest album, Out of Hand, McLaughlin goes beyond the guitar, adding in drum machines for trip-hop grooves and global percussion from Steve Tibbetts's percussive partner, Marc Anderson. Toss in touches of electric guitar and keyboard, and McLaughlin's Out of Hand suddenly sets him apart from the Hedges wannabes. That works to his detriment on the overwrought workout of the Eagles' "Best of My Love" and the smooth-jazz bid of "Flying Dream." Those overproduced pieces are disappointing, given the way McLaughlin makes machine grooves sound rootsy with blues bends and country twangs on "Out of Hand" and "Midwatch." Yet the intricate movements of "Clockshop" and "Hold On to Forever" reveal a guitarist who is original in just picking his strings. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Another McLaughlin Hit.......2006-03-24

Much of Billy's acoustic stuff is unique in some way, while maintaining consistent sounds. How he is able to generate such diverse yet harmonious notes time and again is beyond me.

Clockshop and Hold on To Forever are masterpieces. The pauses, just enough grit, personality, wow.

Killer Acoustic.......2002-12-09

This CD has become my favorite of acoustic works. Billy truly out did himslef. The recording is excellent and his skills are really demonstrated. Great CD

Acoustic Symphony.......2001-06-28

I first picked up this cd after seeing Billy McLaughlin live. He opened for another fingerstyle great, Adrian Legg. I was absolutely blown away by the style of his play. Most of his playing is done using the two-handed touch tap technique al la Stanley Jordan, but that's were the similarity ends. McLaughlin plays an entirely acoustic set with a bluesy, hip-hop feel. This isn't just all solo guitar though. On several tracks, McLaughlin adds drums, keyboards, some trumpet, and a touch of electric guitar to support him. It never detracts from McLaughlin's guitar as that remains firmly the main presence and force of this album.

The album opens with the title track and sets the mood of what is to occur over the next 47 minutes. It's an upbeat tune with guitar melody and rhythm playing at the same time with different hands. "Clockshop" is my favorite of the album, and it composed of a beautiful melody countered with a nice baseline all done on one guitar. The solo work doesn't stop there as can be heard on the passionate slow playing on "Hold On to Forever". McLaughlin doesn't lose anything by having musician's (organic or digital) backing him as on the funky "11", and the more laid back "Candleman".

McLaughlin is definitely someone to see live if you can get the chance. If you can't, pick up one of his albums. This one is quite a good representation of his ability and playing style. If you like fingerstyle guitar, or just good music you'll love this.

Another example of great guitar work..........2001-05-30

Yeah, I'm a guitar lover. I make no bones about that. Always have been and always will be. And nothing makes me smile more than hearing my favorite instrument played by a master, like Billy McLaughlin. I first heard his work about five years ago, on a guitar compilation disk from Narada, and was just blown away by his song Helms Place. Being new to guitar back then, I'd never heard anyone play like that, both hands just workin' the strings and frets. Well, after that I kept an eye out for more of his work, and when this came out I was very pleased. All of the songs are winners, but Hold On To Forever has to be my absolute favorite, with Soulmates close behind. The electronic sounds threw me off at first, and that's the only reason this is getting 4 stars instead of 5. I'm glad he is experimenting, but his solo guitar work is where his true brilliance lies.

Also, check out his CD Fingerdance and his new "best of" disk, Acoustic Original, on which is County Wicklow Mystic, one of my all-time favorite songs.

A great guitarist with a little too much production.......1999-09-04

Billy McLaughlin is an extremely talented fingerstyle guitarist who had a bit too much time in the studio for this album. When he lets his guitar do the work, the songs are excellent but this album tends to be overproduced. Especially cloying is the elevator music version of the Eagle's "Best of My Love."

Still, I enjoy most of the album. But if you haven't heard McLaughlin before, I would heartily recommend "Fingerdance" as a good first choice.

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