MUSE

Track Listings

1. Changes

2. Follow The Line

3. These Are The Times

4. Through The Years

5. I Put My Heart On The Line

6. Situation

7. It's Alright

8. Muse

9. The Storm

10. Burn Real Slow

11. Peace Sign

12. True To Yourself

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Solo artist and independent music advocate, Marvin Glover brings a range of influences and a flair for production to his second solo CD, Muse, released May of 2005. His songs reflect his personal, cultural and political musings. Born in San Antonio, TX and raised in Suffolk, England and Tacoma, Washington, Marvin was exposed to music at a young age by his mom, who sang gospel and encouraged his experimentation with a variety of instruments, from piano to drums to woodwinds and eventually guitar.

Marvin formed his first band in college, which hooked him on performing. After college he moved to Chicago and added an appreciation for blues to his interest in Motown, soul and pop. A career in the airline industry took him to Houston, where his music career also took off. He formed the synth pop band, The Attendants, and began writing and recording. Marvin was inspired by the production genius of Nile Rogers and the Australian and British music scenes of the 1980s. When his airline career landed him in Hawaii, an iteration of The Attendants continued playing internationally and gained celebrity on the island of Oahu. After relocating back to the mainland, he formed two other bands, Face the News and The Flight Club, which both released EPs.

Marvin then ventured on a solo career path, building on his singer-songwriter skills. He teamed up with producer Bruno Modolo Jr. to record his solo debut, One, in the summer of 2001. During this time Marvin also focused on his growing passion for fostering independent musicians, establishing Glover Communications and Production (GCP) in 2000 to serve as a consortium supporting the independent artist community. He formed Starving Dog Records in 2002 in partnership with his business manager Wayne Combs and released a holiday EP on his label that same year.

Marvin's ambition is to build a strong catalog of music for a variety of media, including film, and to foster the growth of other independent artists.

Product Description
"Muse" pairs Glover, and his innovative song arrangements, with the talents of Mark Clem and Bubba Jones production to produce a deeply grooved concept album. The Muse's are all represented as the goddess of song sings loud. The timekeeping of drummer Thane Mitchell, and bassist Derek Brown provide a solid foundation for this recording. Guitarist Ryan (Johnny Nails) Leyva and Andreas Stollar provide edge and texture, and Tommy Prigmore returns with his signature sax. Glover's extraordinary songs unify and assemble an intimate communion between the performers and the listener on this latest release.

MUSE,Marvin Glover,Starving Dog Records,A sonic landscape of funk and rock,R&B/Soul,Rock

MUSE

Tracks:

Incantation
The Gates Of Istanbul
Caravanserai
The English Ladye And The Knight
Kecharitomene
Penelope's Song
Sacred Shabbat
Beneath A Phrygian Sky
Never-Ending Road (Amhrán Duit)

Amazon.com

It's been nearly a decade since Loreena McKennitt's last studio album, The Book of Secrets, but An Ancient Muse picks up the caravan exactly where she left off on her mystical journey through the cultures of the Middle East and northern Sahara. The Canadian singer opens this album the same way as she did her last two recordings: with an incantation, calling out in a wordless voice across an echoing space, cleansing the air and the mind. What follows is a lot like those albums as well, a pan-global excursion centered on Middle Eastern themes and instruments cast into a dramatic exotica. Oud, dumbek, kanoun, hurdy-gurdy, duduk, nyckleharpe (a Swedish-keyed fiddle), and other ancient sounds from the region and beyond ornament her music, though "ornament" might no longer be accurate. With the exception of Hugh Marsh's gypsy violin solos and a handful of other players, it's the Western instruments that serve as ornaments on An Ancient Muse. McKennitt long ago evolved the Celtic sound that launched her career. She's virtually abandoned the harp, which hasn't appeared on her CDs since 1991's The Visit. The lone uillean pipe on "Beneath a Phrygian Sky" sounds like an echo calling from the McKennitt's past. Nevertheless, the Celtic ballad form remains central to her music, and she still draws inspiration from ye olde writers of the British Isles. Lyrics from Sir Walter Scott adorn "The English Ladye and the Knight," recalling "The Lady of Shalott." But despite McKennitt's soaring alto, the tale drags under the dirge-like meter and ponderous arrangement. The epic track of this album is the aforementioned "Beneath a Phrygian Sky," with distorted electric guitar accents and an acoustic guitar melody carrying McKennitt on another journey into her romanticized version of the ancient world. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

An Ancient Muse.......2007-08-01

Although Loreen McKinnet is one of my very favorite singers this is not one of my favorite albums.

Sounds A Bit Like M E H D I.......2007-07-26

Oh, Wow! This is a cd that will be liked by all who enjoy M E H D I, E N Y A or even Loreena Mckinnetts Previous works. It is the very essence of good new age. So tranquil, yet so spirited, this cd is a refreshing break from my well-worn collection, I just keep wanting to listen to it over and over again. I am amazed! It reminds me somewhat of Celtic Women, but still very unique. This is music to the soul. Absolutely relaxing, as well.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: M E H D I ~ Instrumental Paradise Volume 8..A True Gem.

Ancient Muse Review.......2007-07-25

This is classic, recognizable McKinnett. If you are a fan, you'll like it. If you are not, you will say, "What's new?"

Not my style...!.......2007-07-18

Sounds from the celtic music craze, zillions of years ago. We've heard it all before. And yes... they do call that music and have the nerve to label it under jazz...! Only one piece of advice keep your money or buy something else with it, unless you need a musical decor for cheap smooching.

Loreena is back in Style.......2007-07-13

Loreena McKennitt is one of my all time favorite recording artists...and she truly deserves the title of artist...she writes, arranges and performs her own music in her own studio, and her voice is gorgeous, her music lush, exotic, rich in complexity and arrangement, and just a delight for the soul. It is wonderful to have her in good tune, sharing her melodic and stirring "musings" not in an ancient way at all, but in a modern, satisfying and imaginitive manner that communicates the deepest aspects of her talents directly to our own hearts!

Average customer rating:

One of the best albums that I have ever heard.
Put This In A Black Hole
filling the gap
Stripes of Grandeur
Simply Astounding

Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Absolution
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ASIN: B000FVQYYK
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Tracks:

Take A Bow
Starlight
Supermassive Black Hole
Map Of The Problematique
Soldier's Poem
Invincible
Assassin
Exo-Politics
City Of Delusion
Hoodoo
Knights Of Cydonia

Amazon.com

Sounding like the confident, ambitious superstars they already are in their native UK, Muse follows up their breakthrough Absolution with an album that tempers the trio's unabashed grandiosity and apocalyptic obsessions with a smart pop groove. The minimalist angst of the opening "Take A Bow" may bridge the goth-pop conceits of the collection's successful predecessor, but those expectations are quickly kicked aside by "Starlight"'s synth-pop bliss, the falsettoed, space-disco thump of "Supermassive Black Hole" and the chilly, New Wave redux sheen of "Map of the Problematic"; so much for being held hostage to those early Radiohead comparisons. Indeed, on the lilting "Soldier's Poem" vocalist Matthew Bellamy cannily channels Freddie Mercury while "Assassin" pulses with the familiar metallic nerve and lyrical dread of Muse past. But by the time "Knights of Cydonia" erupts in a wrenching, melodramatic climax that somehow fuses ELP, Davie Allan, Procul Harum and Chris Isaak with enough giddy abandon to suspend disbelief, Muse have long since proved their case as genre-be-damned rock world-beaters. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

In 2004, U.K. favorite Muse broke through in the U.S. with Absolution and major performances across America that won legions of new fans. In 2006, Muse takes a bold new step with Black Holes And Revelations, a powerful, upbeat epic album that takes the band's music to a whole dimension. Once again co-produced by Rich Costey (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave), Muse incorporates influences from electronica and Prince to pure pop. The album is sure to be a revelation to those still unfamiliar with the 2005 Brit award winner for Best Live Act who headlines this summer's Reading and Leeds festivals.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best albums that I have ever heard........2007-08-02

Amazing, I put this guys in the same ranking of Led Zeppelin, U2 and Queen. What is happening with the US bands that can not achieve this quality? (with the exception of The Killers and maybe Snow Patrol).

Put This In A Black Hole.......2007-07-17

I bought this album because I went to a lyric site and their lyrics for a song on Absolution were insightful. Once I received the album I was consumed with disappointment. This world is suffering from the disease of delusion, religion is the opiate of the masses, and it is more destructive than heroin. The ignorance of musicians spouting their idiotic rhetoric, which perpetuates the myths that god exists and we have souls is sickening. Lyrics are a main component of music and musicians have to write lyrics that people can relate to in order to provide catharsis. Hopefully this band will cease to exist so intelligent artists will thrive in our culture and challenge the ignorance that infects everything.

filling the gap.......2007-07-16

a powerful, sonic stimulant that breathes fresh life into the current rock world. At their best, they capture the excitement of a band like Depeche Mode, delivering rhythmic surprises at every turn while being accessible and addictive. Muse demonstrates a deft combination of guitars with synths and manages to fill the gap left between the purists on either side. They are melodic and soothing while rocking.

The Killers are coming to town (for which I already have tickets) but Muse is showing up a few days later...think I'm gonna have to try to swing this one, as well.

Stripes of Grandeur.......2007-07-16

Absoltuion in my opinion is the most perfect album ever made. Not because it's my favorite, but the songs shift perfectly as if to form a soundtrack to an dramatically epic movie.

Black Holes unfortunately has too many lacking songs. The majority of the album is mediocre and not really catchy, however its key tracks are the best muse has ever made. First of all, "Starlight" is their first attempt at an uplifting track the end result is honestly the best song i have ever heard. I swear i've been trying for a year and i can't get sick of it.

"Map of the Problematique" is also better than any other song muse has recorded. It's fast yet haunting in the most sinister way. This song grips me in a way i cant ignore. It continues to get more and more eerie as the song goes on, without letting the beat get stale. I just can never stop raving about this song, i think it's gorgeous and one of the best songs ever written. The only reason i like starlight more is because i'm just not depressed enough for this song 24/7.

"City of Delusion" and "Knights of Cydonnia" are also very catchy tracks that i listen to regularly. They allow muse to tap into a downing rock that isnt dark enough to enter a state of overdramatic. This is how they broke away from Absolution. Other than that the rest of the album is kind of a wash. It wont bore you, but you wont be placing them on repeat.

If nothing else, download "starlgiht" and "Map of the Problematique." These 2 tracks are arguably muse's finest and must be admired.

Simply Astounding.......2007-07-06

Much like thier earlier works and but still a brand new sound.

Take a Bow is reminicent of thier older Radioheadeaque sound while Black Holes and Revelations contains more of a funk sound to it.

And if anyone is interested in the upcoming Guitar Here. Knights of Cydonia, which is also on this albulm, will be on it.

Average customer rating:

Top album of 2004
Completely amazing
Get Black Holes and Revelations first
Sonic assualt on your senses...
a lot of ppl don't get muse

Absolution
Muse
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001LJC2K
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Tracks:

Intro
Apocalypse Please
Time Is Running Out
Sing For Absolution
Stockholm Syndrome
Falling Away With You
Interlude
Hysteria
Blackout
Butterflies & Hurricanes
The Small Print
Endlessly
Thougts Of A Dying Atheist
Ruled By Secrecy

Amazon.com

One can't listen to Muse without hearing Bends-era Radiohead, so it's necessary to start there. But for all the familiar grandeur and gloom, Muse's other catharsis-rock influences, like Queen, Slade, and even Black Sabbath, provide the band with a dazzling, heart-on-their-sleeves theatricality. Always threatening to layer on another falsetto from singer Matt Bellamy, or conjure more guitar crunch from the ether, Absolution is downright Baroque in parts, like a Rufus Wainwright-penned rock opera fantasy. Yes, the record is completely unoriginal. But when these guys let it rip, there's no doubt they have the fever. "Stockholm Syndrome," for one, could only be produced by True Believers with a lust for power chord drama, full of angst, envy, and the bitter end of it all. If you wish a certain Thom Yorke-led outfit from Oxford had made another record or two before evolving into minor-key art rockers, Muse carry the torch for another few miles, gloriously and tragically unaware that they're running in circles. --Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews:

Top album of 2004.......2007-07-09

Bought this album just for the heck of it a few years ago. Never heard Muse before. What an amazing album.. Every song has it's own groove and feel to it. It's like riding a rollercoaster of greatness.

Completely amazing.......2007-07-03

Every single song on this cd is amazing! They are all deep, emotionally charged, and beautiful. You can feel the emotion as you listen to them. Completely breathtaking. Muse is one of the best bands ever created. This cd only adds to that.

Get Black Holes and Revelations first.......2007-06-27

This is the album that put Muse on the map, but Black Holes and Revelations is the album that made them the biggest act in Europe and possibly the US someday. Long live Muse!

Sonic assualt on your senses..........2007-06-14

Like some people, I discovered Muse partly on accident. About two years ago I was listening to my usual radio station, Live 105 here in the SF Bay Area, when a song came on 'Time Is Running Out', one of the many good selections on this cd. After I heard that track, throughout the next few days more tracks of this CD played on the radio. I ended up buying this CD only two years ago, after I fell in love with their latest release, 'Black Holes And Revelations'.

But I will say this about Muse, yes, the lead singer sounds a little like Thom Yorke, but the overall sonic sound of Muse is nothing like Radiohead. Radiohead stuck to a narrow sound of BritPop. Muse on the other hand have really expanded the sound of what rock should sound like. Experimental, environmental, grand and symphonic. But if you really would like to get the full sound of Muse, I suggest you try and catch a Muse live show. I recently caught these guys when they came around to San Francisco. I was blown away at how great these guys are live. I hold the firm belief that Muse is one of best current live bands(aside from maybe The Arcade Fire) that not everyone has heard of.

In closing do yourself a favor, if you love rock music, get this CD(along with their other CDs), and go catch these guys live(if the show isn't sold out...)

a lot of ppl don't get muse.......2007-04-19

for a while i didn't get this band... because their singer sounds similar to thom yorke, i was expecting to get what you get from a radiohead song, which makes them sound boring... it took pulling an allnighter of work listening to muse and something hit me... this group sounds a lot more like philip glass than it does like radiohead or queen. they have the texture of a dramatic prog-rock band, but their songs are very minimalist: with drawn-out and carefully building ups and downs that leave you with the feeling that you're just floating along as you listen. the songs aren't very exciting, but that's not the point. absolution as an album blends together well as one full piece, and all the smaller pieces within it lock together so sweetly :)

Average customer rating:

Muse is Amazing
a good rock album
Their big sound now upon the US
Mesmerizing
Not Muse's best work

Origin of Symmetry
Muse
Manufacturer: Maverick
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AMPZF8
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Tracks:

New Born
Bliss
Space Dementia
Hyper Music
Plug in Baby
Citizen Erased
Micro Cuts
Screenager
Dark Shines
Feeling Good
Megalomania

Amazon.com

Pomposity, bombast, pretension and prog-rock: they're four crimes that blight the landscape of modern music and Origin Of Symmetry--the second record by Teignmouth, U.K. angst-rockers Muse--is guilty of every single one. But the truly astonishing thing about this record is the way it twists every one of these cardinal musical sins into spectacularly silly and starkly individual strengths. Where their debut album Showbiz was rightly dismissed as little more than Radiohead-lite, here Muse sound defiantly like their own band: on "New Born", they're torn somewhere between the purity of front man Matt Bellamy's angelic vocal tones and the corruption of a huge, dirty, distorted bass riff that electrifies the sound into crackling life; on the fraught, operatic "Bliss", they sound like an unholy--but very welcome--cross between synth-heavy Krautrock legends Tangerine Dream and youthful choirboy angst-peddlers JJ72; and even a wonderfully dippy take on the Nina Simone-popularised jazz standard "Feeling Good" is carried off with the requisite deadpan countenance. Bellamy's impassioned voice, in particular, is on spectacular form, soaring skywards until it cracks into a beautiful falsetto reminiscent of Jeff Buckley's greatest vocal moments. So gloriously overblown, it deserves to be huge--Origin Of Symmetry is a fascinating, flamboyant and satisfyingly individual album. --Louis Pattison

Album Description

After 2004's U.S. breakthrough success for U.K. favorite Muse, the band's second album, 2001's Origin of Symmetry, finally earns its stateside release. Last yeasr's Absolution and major performances across the country won legions of American fans for the band that was the prestigious closing act at London's V2004 Festival. Now these new fans can experience an earlier Muse with Origin of Symmetry.

Customer Reviews:

Muse is Amazing.......2007-06-27

If you're unfamiliar with Muse, pick up their most recent album, Black Holes and Revelations. If you already own that one, then this is a great album to continue your collection with.

a good rock album.......2007-06-06

this cd is good all the way through. if you think you like muse at all THIS IS THE ALBUM TO OWN! rocks the whole time. other albums of theirs can become, slow, monotonous and even boring at times, but this one keeps right on moving. A good mix of their early basic rock sound, and the digital side they were getting ready to bloom into.

Their big sound now upon the US.......2007-05-27

This record will never get old. I think that the best of their musical catalog is right here. Bliss, Hyper Music, Plug-in Baby, Citizen Erased, Micro-Cuts...Ahh, never fails to please. Im sure you die hard fans already have, but check out Hullabaloo if only for Hypochondriac Music. It is a chillingly good track.

Mesmerizing.......2007-05-22

Muse's second album is an adventure in style and sound, from the tinkling piano introduction of "Bliss," to the rocking and rollicking "Plug In Baby," to the jazzy, lilting "Feeling Good." Joining Freddie Mercury, Matthew Bellamy has quickly become one of my favorite musical geniuses.

I have experienced Muse's four albums in a somewhat reverse order (3,4,2,1), which makes me curious how my perceptions might have been different had I gotten to know them chronologically. I highly recommend all of their albums.

Not Muse's best work.......2007-04-10

This CD is an obvious beginner for Muse. A few songs are ok, but overall, get their newer stuff. Especially if you are new to Muse. Took a risk on this one and it didn't pay off. Some may like it, but again, personal preferrence.

Average customer rating:

Where the greatness began
Excellent, well worth my wait
Showbiz is amazing. Muse are gods amongst men.
good early effort
fantastic album

Showbiz
Muse
Manufacturer: Maverick
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00001SIES
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

Sunburn
Muscle Museum
Fillip
Falling Down
Cave
Showbiz
Unintended
Uno
Sober
Escape
Overdue
Hate This & I'll Love You

Amazon.com

Often compared to Radiohead, the youngsters in Muse make no bones about their love of Thom Yorke and company. Like Radiohead and their other favorite band, Nirvana, the tracks on Muse's debut go straight for the quiet verses and windstorm choruses associated with those acts. Unfortunately, Muse don't have that crackling aura their idols possess, and that's something that no amount of production can fix. Still, it's hard to write them off completely after hearing the single "Muscle Museum," which hints at brighter days on the horizon. Radiohead's Pablo Honey wasn't that great an album either, and look at them post-OK Computer. If they're going to crash American radio, they'll have to wait until the next release. --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews:

Where the greatness began.......2007-06-27

Muse is easily one of the best bands of the last 10 years and this is where they got their start. I would check out their other albums first as this is more for the already seasoned fan, but it's still a great album.

Excellent, well worth my wait.......2007-05-22

This, Muse's first album, turned out to be the very last one I got the opportunity to listen to. The sound is definitely younger and less polished and complex, but the clear signs of genius are already present.

"Unintended" struck a strong, poignant chord with me, being perhaps the closest Muse comes to a balladic love song. It's also a good one for singing in the shower! :) "Muscle Museum" is also a strong track, and the rest of the album rounds out nicely. Solid Muse.

Showbiz is amazing. Muse are gods amongst men........2007-01-26

It's fantastic. Every second of these songs are well thought out, and even though to many people, this isn't their best album, it is definately worth buying and listening to.

It has a unique, ear-catching style of music that makes you want to listen to it over again.

Their themes and their music are also pretty original, and originality isn't something easily achieved.

To sum it up, this is AMAZING. Sorry, no better adjective.

good early effort.......2006-11-26

muse had not completely perfected their sound yet but you can hear the good things to come on songs like muscle museum and sunburn, i also reccomend absolution and black holes, havent heard symmetry yet

fantastic album.......2006-09-10

amazing musicians. I dont see how someone could see flaws. Every note is perfect. Every muse album is amazing. They are the most talented band today.

Average customer rating:

Mysteria - draws me into the temple of tempation
Great Album
Another Offspring
Could have been better without the copying off other artists
An enchanting ethereal experience

Tempting the Muse
Mysteria
Manufacturer: Intentcity
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000F48CKG
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Tracks:

Closer To Heaven
Elysian Fields
Sky Chill
Tempting The Muse
Elixer For Sunset
Lift
In My Sould
The Loveliest Sin
Awake Inside A Dream
Lovers Embrace
Star Gazer

Product Description

Discover the Heavens Embrace the Divine Enter an age of mythology when legends, mystery and magical lore opened the heavens for star gazing travelers. Mysteria creates a celestial bridge, seamless and otherworldly revealing universal truths for mystics, poets and fabled heroes as they journey across treasured shores into far away lands and inspiring muses. Textured and timeless, seamless and dreamlike, Gregorian Chants, ethereal female vocals and angelic voices float upon the imagination of the dreamer. Embrace the sacred and the sensual as you awaken to the beauty of Tempting the Muse

Customer Reviews:

Mysteria - draws me into the temple of tempation.......2007-02-27

thanks amazon, for recommendations and listen to samples, or I would never
have found and bought MYSTERIA. I enjoy Delerium & Enigma, and now Mysteria.
The Chants and Angelic Voices are very "moody". I espeically
get "tempted" by track #8. ALSO recommend - BLUE STONE.

Great Album.......2007-02-17

I just want to point out to the reviewer James Liakos "James L" about how this album is a rip off of Phobos; this is the same artist who created Phobos; Mark Adams Allison is his name. He also has an album called Of Earth & Sky but goes by the name Spirit Level which is the same style of music.

Another Offspring.......2007-02-15

For those of you who know what it's all about, this cd is actually good, even though there are "samples" from other musicians work, the music on this release is amusing.
Having been a Delerium fan since 1989, I have enjoyed the opportunity in listening to other musicians grow from Deleriums lead.
Once Enigma came along it has pretty much been this way. Even Delerium switched it up a bit when Enigma hit the circuit.
If you are debating on purchasing 'Mysteria', I say buy it, it is worth it and it will grow on you.

Could have been better without the copying off other artists.......2007-02-15

I agree with another reviewer here.

There are several good songs on this album for those into the more new agey, ethereal type (meditative, relaxing, floating) music.

Unfortunately it's surprisingly disappointing and suspect as to why this artist ripped off Phobos and especially world-wide known Moby (and Enigma?) on several songs here. I own Phobos, Moby, and Enigma (several Moby and Enigma albums) and was surprised and unhappy to hear songs so close to copying effect to great, original ones I already have. There's something unattractive and annoying in hearing an artist do good music and then a song comes on which clearly reminds you of Enigma, Moby, or Phobos to the point where an actual leading melody or sound has been taken, sometimes cut up but too taken overall from the original hit source. Several tracks on this otherwise pretty good album sound like blatant rip-offs and whether that was the artists attempt here or not is beyond me but it doesn't look good. I don't care if he is friends with these guys. Be original. Focus on new ideas. For for heavens sake, create your own work!!

For teaching Yoga class this album has some very floating songs on it, but I'm afraid the students who are generally more aware of new age artists and music like myself will instantly recognize the several unoriginal songs. Either way, it isn't worth chancing in my opinion.

This artist got too inspired maybe but the overall effect is good mixed with disappointing. It's better to be and stay as far away from sounding similar to others even if you're inspired. As an artist you develop more praise and smiles that way. People spead your name around more if they're pleased and impressed with your work. I feel mixed with this album overall but there is some fresh, good work on it for those into New Age.

For those into this type of music and want some of the best , check out:

Phobos - Phobos ... (Great New Age albums)

Amethystium ... (several albums by this artist, they're all very good)

Nicola Hitchcock - Passive Aggressive ... (I just heard this the other day, very relaxing, beautiful female vioce, new agey)

An enchanting ethereal experience.......2006-12-11

I heard this CD for the first time at a listening station at Borders and immediately picked it up. Tempting the Muse is a beautiful CD, reminding me of early Enigma - still one of my favorite albums - and Delerium from the Karma/Poems era. Unlike the more recent Enigma productions Mysteria keeps to the smooth mix of Gregorian chants, sexy female vocals, and deep grooves. Check out especially track 9, Awake Inside A Dream. I highly recommend this CD to anyone who loved the first and second Enigma records.

Average customer rating:

Allure of Sanctuary
Allure of Sanctuary
A Brilliant Piano Album (reviewed by Stephen Cairns at [...])
Allure of Sanctuary
from Solo Piano Publications

Allure of Sanctuary
Karen Marie Garrett
Manufacturer: Karen Marie Garrett Publishing, Waterstreet Records and Publishing Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000BGQXKE
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Tracks:

Tip Toe Dancer (Kathryn's Song)
Lake EWOK Muse (Piano & Cello)
Simple Things
Allure of Sanctuary
Welcome B.
The Green Hills
Gnossienne No 1
Gnossienne No 2
Gnossienne No 3
Will's Song
Toll of War
Lake EWOK Muse Reprise (Piano Solo)

Album Description

A STUNNING CD RELEASE BY KAREN MARIE GARRETT AND LEGENDARY PRODUCER WILL ACKERMAN, creator of Windham Hill Records, gold and platinum record producer, and Grammy Award-Winning recording artist.

Recorded between George Lucas' Skywalker Sound Studios in Marin County, California and Mr. Ackerman's Imaginary Road Studio in Windham County, Vermont.

VICTORY REVIEW; ACOUSTIC MUSIC RESOURCE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST; TOM PETERSEN
"Karen Marie Garrett is a top-drawer pianist headed for bigger things. Allure of Sanctuary is the Olympia artist's third release, following a straight classical disc and another in this New Age vein. This new release is as soothing as it's intended, but it's also energizing. Where a lot of New Age is so light it begins to drift and grow unidentifiable, Garrett's compositions are distinct, with melodies for the listener to hook into. It's billed as New Age, but several cuts qualify as Light Jazz - very mellow Vince Guaraldi, perhaps. Thus, Garrett is a distinctive new artist in this field and could, with the right promotion, see herself at the top of the New Age charts (Allure is already getting significant airplay on Easy Listening stations). It won't hurt a bit that she is a pupil of the founder of the New Age genre, Will Ackerman; nor do dead-enders get invited to record their albums at Skywalker ranch, using Lucas's Bluthner grand! Get this album, neighbors - you can say you "knew her when."

Reaches #8 on Top 100 New Age Radio Charts in just FIVE weeks!

TOP 20 ALBUM LIST OF THE YEAR FOR 2005
Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications, New York

Recipient of ENGLAND'S PIANO HEAVEN "GOLD AWARD"
Stephen Cairns, Piano Heaven, England

Customer Reviews:

Allure of Sanctuary.......2007-06-13

Allure of Sanctuary is an outstanding album. The music seems to draw you in and want to play it over again

Allure of Sanctuary.......2007-05-13

I received this as an Easter present and it is one of the best CD's I have heard in a long time. The music is wonderful.

A Brilliant Piano Album (reviewed by Stephen Cairns at [...]).......2006-12-09

What an amazing album! This is Karen Marie Garrett's third album, and it is a real find. I am immensely impressed with the delightful melodies which run consistently throughout this album. Tip-Toe Dancer has to be heard to be believed. It is such a beautiful piece of music, and makes the listener want to stand up and start dancing. This track is just one of an album full of highlights. Welcome B and Simple Things are so delicate. This album is produced by Windham Hill founder Will Ackerman. Consequently, the production is first-class. A joy from beginning to end. Bravo!!

Allure of Sanctuary.......2006-07-19

Soothing, relaxing music to release tension and smooth out those tight muscles.

from Solo Piano Publications.......2005-11-14

"Allure of Sanctuary" is the second CD released by Karen Marie Garrett. It is astounding how much this artist has grown since her 2002 debut, "Pensare Piano." Will Ackerman's gifts as producer certainly helped to make this CD as breathtaking as it is, but if the quality of music isn't there, no producer in the world can give it soul and depth - and this CD has mega-doses of both. A classically-trained pianist from the age of five, Ms. Garrett plays with the strength and emotional clarity that come from years of expressing oneself at the piano, sharing the joys and sorrows of life with the beloved 88's. The twelve pieces include eight original compositions, a lovely arrangement of "The Green Hills" by Brian Gibson, and Erik Satie's "Trois Gnossiennes," performed as originally composed. Most of the pieces are piano solo, but Garrett is joined on two by award-winning cellist Eugene Friesen (I LOVE cello and piano together!). Some of the other tracks have English horn, light percussion, and wordless vocals, but this is truly an incredible piano album.

The CD begins with "Tip-Toe Dancer (Kathryn's Song)," one of the lighter pieces in this collection. It was inspired by a story told by a close friend about a childhood dance performed for friends and family. Graceful yet playful, it is easy to imagine the seriousness of the young dancer and the warm reception of the adults. "Lake EWOK Muse" is an improvisational duet for piano and cello that followed a sunrise meditation beside Lake EWOK at Skywalker Ranch, where the album was recorded. The feeling of serenity envelops you as you listen to the two artists interact seamlessly, creating a perfect sense of peace. "Simple Things" is a celebration that begins in a classical style reminiscent of a children's piano study and evolves, retaining the sweet melody and simplicity of the message but becoming a full and graceful solo. The title track is fascinating. It begins with a mournful piano prelude and becomes a rhythmic dance with a seductive Spanish flavor. Susan Whittle's vocals and percussion provided by Will Ackerman and Derrick Jordan add to the enchantment. "Will's Song" is an improvisational piece that is so deeply felt that it almost sends a chill - what a beauty! "Toll of War (Adagio)" is a wrenching duet for piano and cello. A profound statement of humanity rather than of politics, the sense of loss and pain reach to the depths of the soul. This is a piece that needs to be heard. The gentle, pensive closing track is a solo piano reprise of "Lake EWOK Muse."

"Allure of Sanctuary" is a must-have CD!

Average customer rating:

What's all the "Hullabaloo" about?

Hullabaloo Soundtrack
Muse
Manufacturer: Taste Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00020PO8Q
Release Date: 2006-06-08

Tracks:

Forced In
Shrinking Universe
Recess
Yes Please
Map of Your Head
Nature_1
Shine
Ashamed
Gallery
Hyper Chondriac Music

Tracks:

Dead Star [Live]
Micro Cuts [Live]
Citizen Erased [Live]
Showbiz [Live]
Megalomania [Live]
Dark Shines [Live]
Screenager [Live]
Space Dementia [Live]
In Your World [Live]
Muscle Museum [Live]
Agitated [Live]

Album Description

The first CD, a collection of B-sides (recorded between March 1999 & October 2001) proves that Muse have much more material under their belt than they're letting on.The second CD (a live concert recorded on October 28/29 2001 at Le Zenith in Paris) is the

Album Details

Double CD Collection featuring B-sides and Rarities on Cd1, While Cd2 features Live Tracks Recorded at Le Zenith in Paris on October 28-29, 2001.

Customer Reviews:

What's all the "Hullabaloo" about?.......2005-05-01

British band Muse broke out in the US with their third album "Absolution," and establishing them as a remarkable new rock band. They're epic, intensedark, and majestic in a proggy-Pink-Floyd-meets-Led-Zeppelin kind of way, and so it's hardly a surprise that "Hullabaloo" is a remarkably strong collection.

No, it's not a new album. Rather, it's a collection of B-sides, rarities, and a 2001 live concert. Most bands don't sound too great in either case, but Muse does. The first disc is made up of their B-sides and rarities, which tend to be quite good actually.

It doesn't start off promising, with the schizophrenic prog-rocker "Forced In," which would be fine if it weren't for the endlessly cycling synth that obscures everything else. But things get stronger after that, with the explosive downward spiral that is "Shrinking Universe" ("There's nothing left to die for!"), the softer poppy "Recess," and the surprisingly gentle acoustic ballad "Map Of your Head."

Most of the other songs follow those examples, either being epic and bombastic or quieter and more intimate. With, of course, some eerier songs thrown in, like the rippling sweetness of "Shine Acoustic." Are they as good as Muse's proper albums, especially since a few B-sides sound like the lost soundtrack of the X-Files? Not really, but they are remarkably good, and still better than average.

Which brings us to the live performance, which took place in October of 2001, in Paris's "Le Zenith." Well, to put it simply, these guys rock. It opens with a cheering crowd, right before they kick off into a tornado of bass, drums and guitar. Unlike many rock bands, these guys lose none of their power or musical richness in live performances.

The inevitable flaw? Well, that would probably be Matt Bellamy -- he doesn't sound too different from in the albums, but it's sometimes hard to hear him above the drums, explosive synth and spiralling bass. However, the guys lose none of their intensity musically, and it's hard to find a single flaw in their playing. If Muse are known for their prowess in live performances, then it's easy to see why.

The B-sides are a minor treasure trove, while the live album is a gem in itself, bringing their concert to life as nothing -- except a DVD -- could. A must-have for Muse fans.

Average customer rating:

A great introduction to the art of Placido Domingo
This is really the best.
If you like Placido at all, you must have this CD.
Rare And Great Domingo Classics
A real Bobby Dazzler

Very Best of
Placido Domingo
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Placido Domingo: A Love Until The End Of Time
Bravo Domingo
Perhaps Love
The Domingo Songbook
The Best of the Three Tenors

ASIN: B000083GOJ
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Ill Mio Tesoro
Un'aura Amorosa
Dies Bildnis Ist Bezaubernd Schon
La Ci Darem La Mano
Vani Sono I Lamenti...Svegliatevi Nel Core
Pays Merveilleux...O Paradis
Quel Trouble Inconnu Me Penetre...Salut ! Demeure Chaste Et Pure (Faust, Act III)
Ah! Tout Est Bien Fini... O Souverain, O Juge, O Pere (Le Cid, Act III)
None But The Lonley Heart
Lensky's Aria
Donna, Non Vidi Mai (Manon Lescauy Act, II)
Ah, Manon, Mi Tradisce
Dammi I Colori...Recondita Armonia
E Lucevan Le Stelle (Tosca, Act III)
Ch'ella Mi Creda (La Fanciulla Del West, Act III)
Dai Campi, Dai Prati (Mefistofele, Act I)
Virgini Muse...Quando Al Soave Anelito
O Sink Hernieder, Nacht Der Liebe
Was Am Besten Er Kann...Hoho! Hohei!

Tracks:

Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossi!...Celeste Aida
Su, Profetessa...Di Tu Se Fedele
Forse La Soglia Attinse...Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti
O Tu Che In Seno Agli Angeli
Su, Cacciator...Fontainebleau!...
Niun Mi Tema
Ach, Wie So Herrlich Zu Schau'n
Sckenkt Man Sich Rosen In Tirol
Gern Hab'ich Die Frau'n Gekusst
O Vaterland...Da Geh'ich Zu Maxim
Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Herz
Mi Aldea
Cancion Del Sembrador
No Puede Ser
Serenata
Copillas De Belen
Coplas Del Pastor Enamorado
En Aranjues Con Tu Amor
Jealousy Tango
La Golondina

Amazon.com

Placido Domingo is a phenomenon, and every aspect of his artistry is on display in this 2-CD compilation, which includes arias from his signature roles in Italian, French, German, and Russian operas, and songs from Viennese and Spanish operettas. The original recordings range from the early 1970s to the present and show that though over the years his bright golden voice has taken on a darker, more burnished glow, it has retained the melting lyricism, the heroic ring, the thrilling top notes, and the focused intensity that make it instantly recognizable. (Comparing the Verdi arias included here with their counterparts of later vintage in the all-Verdi set The Tenor Arias bears this out.) The program demonstrates his stylistic and expressive versatility and his ability to instantly establish character and mood, from Lenski's sorrow (in Eugene Onegin), Cavaradossi's heart-rending despair (in Tosca), Otello's shattering agony, to Tristan's passion, Siegfried's exuberance, Faust's ardor (first in French by Gounod, then in Italian by Boito). In three Mozart arias, Domingo spins endless, perfectly shaped phrases with incredible breath control, then adds an oddity: the famous duet between Zerlina and Don Giovanni, a role he has not performed. Five Viennese operetta songs, one of which he also conducts, are delightful; there is a smile of pleasure in his voice, but not a hint of kitsch. By contrast, Tchaikovsky's "None but the Lonely Heart" is spoiled by an orchestration that is pure Hollywood. In the final Spanish group, he is on home ground and incomparable. This is a glorious record, a must for all lovers of great singing. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

A great introduction to the art of Placido Domingo.......2007-07-04

Placido Domingo, of course, is one of the finest tenors of the latter part of the 20th century. This 2 CD set well captures his talent, showing the range of his singing. We hear cuts from Puccini and Verdi to Tchaikovsky and Wagner to Strauss and Handel. And even a traditional Spanish sung and some operetta thrown in for good measure!

This is a wonderful introduction to his artistry, and shows that he can sing well across a variety of styles and eras. Let's sample some cuts:

"Il mio Tesoro" (from Mozart's Don Giovanni) is a difficult aria to sing well. And Domingo is up to the challenge. He displays a smooth and rich voice. His is one of those distinctive tenor voices, like Tucker's or Pavarotti's, that is quickly recognizable. This is, as noted, a challenging piece and Domingo handles it well, showing off considerable vocal agility in the process.

From the same opera, "La ci darem la mano," a sweet duet with, in this instance, soprano Susan Graham. This seductive work is sung well by both parties and is a ravishing version.

From Puccini's "Tosca," "Recondita armonia." At the close, his voice rises above orchestra and chorus. Overall, well and richly sung.

And now for something very different. . . The "Forging Scene" from Siegfried. One may not think of Domingo as a heldentenor, but he does a serviceable job here. His voice sometimes appears a bit light, but, overall, he does estimable work. He catches Siegfried's spirit as he forges the shattered remains of his father's sword, "Nothung." When he sings the name of his sword at the close, with the leitmotif ringing out from the orchestra, it is an affecting moment.

Then, "Celeste Aida" (from Verdi's opera). A stentorian voice well deployed to meet the challenges of this wonderful aria. Some tenors scoop as they move from those lower to the higher notes; Domingo's voice is well controlled here. The final high note is well hit.

Strauss (Junior's) "Ach, wie so herrlich zu schau'n" is a romp! A fun piece and well sung by Domingo. He demonstrates, as before, excellent vocal agility.

Lehar's "O Vaterland" is also fun. It is a sprightly tune sprightly sung.

Finally, he ends the second CD with a traditional Spanish tune--"La Golondrina." He does not overpower this work with operatic technique. He sings it well and affectingly.

So, all in all, if one wants a good introduction to Placido Domingo's vocal oeuvre, this is a very strong starting point.

This is really the best........2007-05-16

I have many of Mr. Domingo's recordings but I really love this one. He seems to get better with age. Some of the songs are on some of my other recordings but they seem new and fresh on this CD. I really think this is the best of Placido Domingo.

If you like Placido at all, you must have this CD........2005-04-06

Placido Domingo has been around for so long, it is easy to take this great artist for granted. I totally agree with the previous reviews of this album; I can also say that I had the opportunity to hear him live in concert on April 2, 2005 in Biloxi, Mississippi, and his voice is still stunning. His opening aria that night was the prayer from El Cid, "O Souverain," which he dedicated to the memory of Pope John Paul II. This piece is the 8th selection on CD 1, and is from a 1997 live recording. His thrilling finish blew me away when I listened to it the first time, and and the crowd on the recording reacts the same way the Mississippi audience did when we heard him. That aria alone is worth the price of this CD set.

Rare And Great Domingo Classics.......2005-03-08

EMI's "The Very Best Of" series is a wonderful way for the opera lover/novice or even connoisseur in training to get acquainted with the great singers of opera in the 20th century. It is possible that in a few years, the great singers of today (from the 90's up to now and further into the future) will grace the album covers of The Very Best Of...The Very Best Of Renee Fleming, The Very Best Of Salvatore Licitra, etc. This is not exactly the best of Domingo. It is more of a collection of rare and wonderfully expressive arias from operas that range all over the map- Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Meyerbeer, Gounod, Massenet. Now, here's the reason why so many people adore Domingo, myself included - Domingo is a Renaissance Opera Tenor. He has sung almost every tenor role in the opera universe. Even if he is, to some, the "tenor who sang with Pavoratti in the three tenors" he proves he's the strongest of the bunch, the most dedicated, the most prolific and most artistic. Domingo has a beautiful voice, with secure high register and dark, masculine middle chest voice and exciting dramatic electricity! He's sung more than 50 operas, in addition operetta and Spanish Zarzuela (the Spanish equivalent to musicals or operetta which is where he got started and his parents sung in Zarzuela) and he has also recorded Spanish mainstream love songs for Latin audiences. A winner of Grammies, an actor in movies about operas that he starred in (Tosca, La Traviata, Otello) and the most active tenor on tv broadcasts, he is just incredible and powerful.
He is a great force in opera.

Even in his old age, he does'nt seem to be slowing down or call it quits. Recent performances (2000-2005) include Eugene Onegin, the lead in Queen of Spades, Rasputin in Debra Dratell's Nicolas and Alexandra, Idomeneo and his next role Parsifal. He is the singular tenor who mastered every repertoire- Mozart (Don Ottavio, Tamino...unfortunately Domingo as Don Giovanni is a miscast because he is too noble and romantic and GOOD to be a bad guy)..to Puccini heros (Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca, Dick Johnson in Fanciualla Del West, Rodolfo in Boheme, Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, Calaf in Turandot) Verdi heroes (Radames in Aida, Don Carlos, Stiffelio, etc) to the French repertoire...Gounod (Faust, Romeo) Meyerbeer heroes, Massenet hero (Des Grieux, Le Cid) and Saint Saens (Samson) the list goes on and on. When this man dies, an era will die with him. His legend will live on because he will leave behind dozens of albums, movies and memories......

A real Bobby Dazzler.......2004-02-19

Fans of Mr. Domingo would be lucky to find a selection of music that more profoundly explores and exhibits the diversity of his vocal ability and interpretation than is offered on these two discs. Delicious displays of Mozart, ringing renditions of the most challenging high Italian roles, powerfully rounded accounts of some of the heavy German/Russian repetoir, and some noticably nostalgic songs from the light Spannish tradition provide an impressive catalogue of the great man's rich, focussed, technically impecable and singularly beguiling vocal talent. Those who are yet to form an opinion on any particular genre of the operatic spectrum would do well to start here, so eclectic is this album. Also, you might be reassured to know that, should you become an admirer of P.D.'s talent as a result of listening to this compilation, (it is difficult to resist), you will have no trouble finding other recordings by him. A record-breaker with more than 110 roles to his repetoir (40 is a respected total for an opera singer), he is the most recorded tenor in history, leaving more than 80 complete accounts to date of operas in the Italian, French, German and Russian traditions.

Average customer rating:

Musique de la Grece Antique: Sherri's Opinion
Beauty can survive destructive time
Interesting.
A collector's item for any music lover
Unique Find

Musique de la Grece Antique

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004TVG7
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Anakrousis
Orestas Stasimo
Premier Hymne Delphique A Apollon
Plainte De Tecmessa
Papyrus Wien 29825/G 13763/1494
Hymne Au Soleil
Hymne A La Muse
Hymne A Nemesis
Papyrus Michigan
Aenaoi Nefalai
Epitaphe De Seikilos
Pean. Papyrus Berlin 6870
Kolon Exasimon/Allos Exasimon/Tetrasimos/Allos Exasimos/Dodekasimos/Allos Dodekasimos...
Premiere Ode Pythique
Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 2436
Hymne Chretienne D'Oxyrhynchus
Homero Hymnus
Papyrus Zenon. Cairo Fragment
Terencio. Hecyra 861
Poem. Mor 1, 11f. Migne 37, 523
Second Hymne Delphique A Apollon
Papyrus Oslo A/B. Epilogos-Katastrophe

Customer Reviews:

Musique de la Grece Antique: Sherri's Opinion.......2007-04-11

This music is almost like hearing ghosts. In a way the listener does hear ghosts, for the music has been saved from oblivion, and experts do not know everything about it. As much as possible, traditional instruments have been reconstructed based on pictures found on documents like vases and paintings. Sometimes you hear only a little fragment of something, about a minute. It's intriguing to think about who may have sung/played this music. The notes explain some of the technical details; musicologists will find that interesting. Because I know little about music, I wish for better notes about other things. For example, I would like more information in English about provenance, titles, and lyrics--as far as they are known. I wanted to know the words I heard sung. Other than the shortage of helpful notes, this is very interesting music.

Beauty can survive destructive time.......2006-04-27

The first remark concerns the instruments of this music, instruments that have been reconstituted on the model of the ancient ones. We will consider them as germanely faithful, and they create sounds, a sound environment or ambience that is particularly original. The second remark is that this music is based on the pythagorian five-note scale that corresponds to the first five degrees of our modern major scale. Then a second group of these five degrees and intervals are added to the first five in a second identical group constituting a ten-note scale that will be the basis of all western music up to the Renaissance, and thus the basis of all Christian sacred music of the Middle Ages, a music known as gregorian. So, in this surprising sound ambience we also recognize some elements we have already heard and enjoyed in our heritage. Just take track # 3, ? Premier hymne delphique ? Apollon ?. Some of the chords are so close to gregorian music, and yet the instruments are so different, that we may think we are at the crossroads between some extraterrestrial music and gregorian chanting. In fact we are here at the very source of gregorian music that was to borrow everything from ancient Greek music. And then put this track # 3 in parallel with track # 16, ? Hymne chr?tienne (sic) d'Oxyrhynchus ? and you will hear the direct filiation. Track # 8 will provide you with the model of the traditional musics we find in the mountainous areas of the Mediterranean, Sicilia, Sardinia, Corsicca and Provence, among others, the music of shepherds and fishermen when coming back to land, a music that will become religious and christian later on and that still exists, mainly in the form of a polyphony. But the worst part - and also the best in a way - is that we only have fragments, tidbits, and that it is the concrete realization of the tremendous waste history has willed us and yet also the concrete evidence that history is never able to destroy something completely and that we have the means to reconstruct what has been destroyed with a specific procedure of genetic musical archaeology. To conclude we must take into account this recording is from 1978, i.e. a long time ago. To get a more complete vision we have to look for more recent recordings.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Universit? Paris Dauphine, Universit? Paris I Panth?on Sorbonne

Interesting........2003-12-29

I was expecting something a little more vigorous. But it is still fun. In a sober way.

A collector's item for any music lover.......2003-12-26

Pretty much everything that I can think of to say about this CD has already been said here.

I agree that it is a bit weird. I don't listen to it very often either.

But having said that my tastes in music are not so much driven by intellect, so it doesn't bother me that liner notes might not be as complete as they could be.

I bought this CD in Japan back in the mid-1980's when compact discs were still an upcoming trend and LP's dominated. It's believable but still somehow amazing that I paid the equivalent of more than thirty U.S. bucks for what is now practically a steal.

I also am wondering why the quality of this old disc is deterioriating. Yes! There are scratchy sounds abounding where studied silence was once 'heard.' Consequently, I listen even less than I would otherwise. (I had considered putting it on an MD with the soundtrack to 'Gladiator' and then listening to both on the 'shuffle' mode.)

Unique Find.......2002-09-11

I loved this cd. It has a professional feel to the music. It evokes images from the period that are distinct, useful, and complimentary to examination of the time. There seems to have been a real effort at authentication of the sounds of the era without over stepping the claims of its ultimate veracity. I was delighted and surprised at its very existence.

My only complaint would be that I was left wanting more. Knowledge of the exact origins and history of each piece would be useful.

R&B Music: