Reality

Track Listings

1. Times Like This

2. Storyteller

3. Let It Be Me

4. I Messed Up

5. This Bed

6. Let Me Put You up (For the Night) Pt. 2

7. Taxi '95

8. Always and Forever

9. How Could You

10. I Stood on the Sidewalk

11. Sweat

Reality,Jay Blackfoot,Basix Records,Pop,R&B,Soul

Reality

Tracks:

Sweet Leaf
After Forever
Embryo
Children Of The Grave
Orchid
Lord Of This World
Solitude
Into The Void

Amazon.com essential recording

Black Sabbath's first two releases, Black Sabbath and Paranoid, were more than groundbreaking, they were earth-shattering, exposing the public to a brutal new form of noise pollution termed heavy metal. But it was the band's third album, Master of Reality, that cemented the group as blackened wizards of doom and gloom. Just listen to the echoing cough and sludgy guitar riff of the opening track "Sweet Leaf" and compare it to anything that existed at the time. Not only were Black Sabbath heavier than Deep Purple or Vanilla Fudge, they were also more experimental and controversial, exploring themes of darkness, drugs, and depravity that others dared not address. The heaviest and most influential disc of Black Sabbath's career, Master of Reality featured proto-metal sludge like "Children of the Grave" and "After Forever," which served as a blueprint for a legion of musicians including '90s Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Smashing Pumpkins. --Jon Wiederhorn

Album Description

Japanese digitally remastered reissue of 1971 album packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Customer Reviews:

The Best Black Sabbath Album.......2007-07-25

I am a huge fan of the Ozzy, Dio, Gillan, and Hughes eras of Black Sabbath. But I don't think that this particular album was ever surpassed in their repetoire. Master of Reality is not only the best Sabbath album, but the most representive of their innovations.

On Master of Reality, the band showcased how much their originally blues-based sound was being transformed. As opposed to the first two albums (which, though Classic in their own way, were often heavier-than-thou incarnations of Cream, Hendrix, Zeppelin, and Deep Purple), Master of Reality sets the blueprint for sludge-based Doom Metal...there's no album which compares to it at the time...there may NEVER be an album to match it in the heavy metal genre, period. Its revolutionary quality was unmatched even by such trend setters as Master of Puppets, Reign in Blood, Under the Sign of the Black Mark, or Under a Funeral Moon.

The song "Solitude" has been cited as the weak link here, but I only partly agree. "Solitude" isn't a Classic track, but serves its purpose far better than its cousin-tracks "Planet Caravan" from Paranoid, or "Sleeping Village" from the eponymous album. "Solitude" sets a standard of dynamic on this album which proves devastatingly effective. After the apocalyptic masterpiece that is "Lord of this World", "Solitude" is definitely a bit perplexing upon first listen. But there is no denying how much MORE effective the brilliant "Into the Void" is following such a mellow, flute-coloured song. You HAVE to hear it between "Lord of This World" and "Into the Void" to get the full effect of the incomparably effecting work.
Another fascinating variable on this album is the last solo section of "Lord of This World"; which seems to take a proto-Romantic era String Quartet form with its layered guitars...you have to HEAR this piece to fully understand how authentically progressive it is on a "strictly musical" level. Those men in Black Sabbath (well, at least Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler) were tremendous musicians; at times shackled by both the expectations of their public and record label.
Get this album before any other by Black Sabbath.

Sabbath's heaviest and most influential album.......2007-06-07

Black Sabbath are without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest and most influentual heavy metal bands of all time, and they're also one of my all time favorite heavy metal bands as well. Man I just can't praise this band enough. 1971 was no doubt a big year for Sabbath. They released their second album "Paranoid" which was a true masterpiece and one of the greatest metal albums ever, and in the same year they released what is considered the band's heaviest, most influential, and best album of their career, "Master of Reality". This album gave birth to the doom/gloom, sludge, and stoner metal subgenres, and it's also cited as an influence by many stoner and sludge metal bands as well. This album would also be the third and final Black Sabbath album to be produced by Rodger Bain. The lyrical themes on "Master of Reality" included: drugs (mostly marijuana), solitude, war, and theology. Every song on here is just fantastic. Ozzy Osbourne's vocals are just awesome on here. Guitarist Tony Iommi does some of his most heaviest riffs on this album, and his solos are really cool too. This guy is truly one of metal's greatest and most legendary guitarists. Bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward's rhythm section is really solid, nice solid bass lines from Geezer and great drumwork courtesy of Bill as well.

The opening track "Sweet Leaf" starts off with an echo of coughs, and then breaks with a slow heavy sludgy riff and hard heavy drums. That riff on the song is just extremely catchy, and a great solo by Tony is included as well. This is truly one of the best songs on here. Lyrically this song of course deals with you guessed it: marijuana. Track two "After Forever" features some really cool bass work from Geezer, some nice catchy riffs and another cool solo from Tony. Another one of my favorites. "Embryo" is a 28 second guitar interlude which leads into to track four "Children of the Grave" This is my favorite song on the entire album, and it features some more catchy and heavy riffs throughout, a groovy drum beat, and of course another great solo, killer bass, and great vocals by Ozzy. I've been learning the riffs to this song on my guitar recently. "Orchid" is antoher short, but nice instrumental with some nice accoustic chords. "Lord of This World" has a slow sinister drum beat, as well as some groovy bass lines, more heavy sludgy riffs, and cool solos from Tony. Track seven "Solitude" is a nice soft accoustic ballad with some nice singing vocals from Ozzy, nice slow bass from Geezer, and of course Tony plays a flute solo which I found tearjerking yet very cool. The lyrics on this song deal with yeah, you guessed it: solitude. The closing track "Into the Void" starts off with some slow heavy doom like riffs. During the 3 minutes mark, the songs breaks into a faster pace with faster riffs, hard hitting drums, but then shifts back to the slow heavy riffs at the 3:36 mark. Another cool guitar solo from Tony near the end is also included too.

The song list and the ratings:

1. Sweet Leaf (5:04) - 5/5
2. After Forever (5:25) - 5/5
3. Embryo (0:28) - 5/5
4. Children of the Grave (5:17) - 5/5 My favorite song
5. Orchid (1:31) - 5/5
6. Lord of This World (5:26) - 5/5
7. Solitude (5:02) - 5/5
8. Into the Void (6:11) - 5/5

See every song on here gets a 5 out of 5.

The bottom line is this: If it weren't for Black Sabbath and this album, we wouldn't have the doom/gloom, stoner and sludge metal subgenres. This album my friends, is a true heavy metal masterpiece, and it makes a great addition to your metal collection. So anyways if you're a fan of Black Sabbath, heavy metal, hard rock, or just good music in general like I'am, Master of Reality is an absolute must have in your collection. Enjoy!!

LONG LIVE BLACK SABBATH!!
LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL!!

So, you thought Paranoid was depressing? . . ........2007-05-24

If anyone was under the illusion that Black Sabbath could get no blacker than they did on Paranoid, a shivery album with titles like War Pigs, Electric Funeral, and Hand of Doom... well, Master of Reality quickly dispatched such a notion. Songs like Children of the Grave and Lord of This World live up to their names both lyrically and musically. Except for Solitude, a very mellow but no less depressing interlude featuring Bill Ward on vocals, and Tony Iommi's inclusion of two go-nowhere-but-thankfully-short instrumentals, Master of Reality is the near perfect storm of metal with all the thunder and lightning you can take. Beginning with Sweet Leaf, an insidiously memorable tribute to Ozzy's love affair with the unholy weed, and ending with Into the Void, an indictment of everything wrong with the world (but which includes a hopeful, if somewhat improbable escape plan), it's all a metalhead could want. If not Sabbath's finest hour (I would bestow that honor on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath), it's definitely a close second.

The Bible Of Heavy Metal Music........2007-05-23

This Album is such a MasterPiece, the writing & doomy riffs of Tony Iommi, to the odd timing of Bill Wards classic Heavy Metal drum style.
This album will go down in history as the Bible of Heavy Metal.
Ozzy sings excellent & Geezer Butlers uncanny ability to wrap his bass lines around Tonys Crushing chords. Every Song rocks.
Many dont know this album features Bill Wards 1st song he sang on.
Today with remastered technology the production is excellent.
This album taught me how to play guitar.

The trio comes to an end.......2007-05-19

Believe it or not, Black Sabbath with the later days of zOzzy, started using synthesizers, lame names, and had some ____________ reviews. I don't care about critics, but I can't believe that someone like Black Sabbath would make a cover such as Technical Esctasy. At least they started out great.

This one has no singles, but it's still a 10 in my book. IT's not as good as Paranoid (I wouldn't ________ count on it), but it's got the same stuff that you want from Black Sabbath:Sludgy riffs, vocals, thick as _____ basslines, and everything else. The lyrics are cool, I like the lyrics because it's not satanic. Even though there are plenty of refrences to satan, Ozzy just uses satan to sybolize evil, not say anything good about him. ____, even Ozzy himself said that Black Sabbath was a hippy band, and they were into peace and love. They even started as a blues rock band, and they got the idea to make scary music after preforming next to a horror movie theater.

Every song is good, and Orchard, Embryo, and Solitude make sure the album dosen't get monotonus (and I still don't __________ think that it would). Sweet Leaf is a well known song, not as much as Iron Man. yeah, the riffs aren't as catchy, but it still has some more good riffs. I think if you are into heavy metal, you need this anyway. DOn't stop with one BS album!

Let me just say this: I hate Dio. He along Bruce Dickinson, King Diamond, and every other ________ falsetto singer (I don't think Rob Halford is one, that's why I like Priest) makes me wanna gouge my ears out. Therefore, I won't get their other albums, because I don't want to hear a _______. Iron Maiden are bad without Dickinson.

Whiny ________ voices aside, that's just my _________ ranting. yeah, I know, save it for the one star review of Holy Diver. But seriously, I reccomend getting this.

Average customer rating:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
Beginner or Expert
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Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
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Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
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The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
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Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
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Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
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Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
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Elegy No.1 In D Major
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Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
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Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
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Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
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Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
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The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
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The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

Average customer rating:

Teaching Peace

Wonderful, Wonderful!

Grandchildren Love It

Kids Rock! A must have for the whole family!

why isnt there a best of Red Grammer CD???

Teaching Peace
Red Grammer
Manufacturer: Red Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hello World!

BeBop Your Best

Down the Do-Re-Mi

Teaching Peace Songbook & Teacher's Guide

Family Tree

ASIN: B000009NGF
Release Date: 1986-01-01

Tracks:

Teaching Peace
Places In The World
Say Hi!
I Think You're Wonderful
Rapp Song
Barnyard Boogie
Hooray For The World
With Two Wings
Use A Word
See Me Beautiful
Shake Your Brains
Listen

Album Description

Teaching Peace has been called "one of the top five children's recordings of all time" by the All Music Guide and has been given a rare Parent's Choice Classic Children's Audio Award.

Customer Reviews:

Teaching Peace.......2007-05-07

Excellent for use at home. Outstanding for classroom climate in younger grades.

Wonderful, Wonderful!.......2007-01-13

I've been giving this(first a cassette, now a cd) as a gift to children since it first appeared in the mid-80's. It's as fresh and wonderful today as it was then. I know many children who grew up knowing the words to all the songs and internalizing the wonderful messages they impart.Check out other cd's by Red.

Grandchildren Love It.......2007-01-05

This CD provides lively songs that offer kids a positive approach to life and problem solving and are also great fun to dance to. My grandchildren really enjoy it!

Kids Rock! A must have for the whole family!.......2005-02-12

I was so touched by the voices of these children on this CD. What an inspiration for kids of all ages. Childrens Music with CLASS~ Buy it..You'll Love it.
DMC

why isnt there a best of Red Grammer CD???.......2003-12-08

"Listen" - now THAT IS the song that should have been on
his "Freefalling" Album...

Very powerfull stuff-- although powerfull
does not do justice for Red....

Tracks:

Intro (Light It Up)/Jazzalude I/New Reality Style
Lifesaver
Living In This World
Looking Through Darkness
Skit A (Interview)/Watch What You Say
Jazzalude II./Defining Purpose
For You
Insert A (Mental Relaxation)/Medicine
Lost Souls
Insert B (The Real Deal)/Nobody Knows
Jazzalude III./Hip Hop As A Way Of Life
Respect The Architect
Feel The Music
Young Ladies
The Traveler
Jazzalude IV./Maintaining Focus
Count Your Blessings
Choice Of Weapons
Something In The Past
Skit B (Alot On My Mind)/Revelation

Amazon.com

By the time Gang Starr's rapper Guru created the "experimental fusion of hip-hop and jazz" he called Jazzmatazz back in 1993, the idea of blending the two African-American styles had been fairly well explored. But as the first wholly self-conscious genremixing, Jazzmatazz Volume I was at least a decent novelty record. In the two Years that followed, however, jazz rap--from Digable Planets to Buckshot Lefonque to the Roots--grew into a dominant strain of alternative hip-hop.

The good news is that 1995's Jazzmatazz II acknowledges the changing times. Guru ups the ante by collecting artists from R&B (Chaka Khan, Mica Paris) and reggae (Ini Kamoze, Patra) in addition to jazz (Ramsey Lewis, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard) and rap (Kool Keith, Big Shug). The concept broadens to bring together makers of all black music. At best, the songs reflect this more robust brew: "Watch What You Say," for instance, blends Khan's dynamic blue improvisational singing and Branford Marsalis's subdued saxophone phrases with Guru's rap and DJ Premier's unorthodox track of video game sound effects.

The bad news, though, is that Volume II fails in precisely the same places Volume I did. First, Guru still raps with fine tone but little gift for either rhythm or rhyme. In a monotone he self- righteously calls himself "The Lifesaver" but offers only vague solutions like "deal with reality and try to keep focus" to innercity turmoil. Second, except for Khan's vocals and perhaps Lewis' piano solo on "Respect the Architect," the style meshes never get a chance to rise out of the same tried hip-hop form. --Roni Sarig

Customer Reviews:

Rap + Jazz x 2= Jazmatazz Volume 2 (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 stars).......2006-12-23

I don't know what the editorial reviewer was listening to. Guru's second series of Jazzmatazz was great to listen to. I heard the first one earlier this year and felt to cop the second volume. Guru wanted to create the same thing he did back in 1993, with a blend of hip hop and jazz. On the first album, it was only twelve tracks deep. Here on the second, it's a total of twenty tracks. Also there are more featured artists on this one than it was on the first.

A lot of these tracks you can easily catch a vibe to. "Lifesaver" is a easy listening track with the singing of Baybe in the background. Or with the reggae mix "Medicine" featuring Ini Kimoze, True Masters, and Donald Byrd. Hip hop plays a mix in this album also, like on the good song "Respect The Architect" with Bahamadia. Or "Young Ladies", a tracks cut out for young ladies, that features Big Shug, Kool Keith, and Patra. True, Guru has that monotone voice, but that never stopped him in Gang Starr, and it sure doesn't stop him here, he can still cut a flow. And on most tracks, his vocals blend in with the music, so it doesn't make a big deal. A lot of these songs have a positive message, like on "Count Your Blessings", Guru sees what he really had during his hard times.

As for things I didn't like. Theres a lot of Jazzaludes and skits that wern't really necessary. Also there were quite a few tracks I didn't have a taste for. Also there are some tracks that Guru has a hard staying on beat, like the song "Looking Through The Darkness". I like that track though, so I'll name that my honorable mention track.

This is a good album. If you heard the first "Jazzmatazz" and haven't heard this one, give it a try. I heard the third one wasn't good at all though. Or if you're just curious or want to hear more of Guru, you might enjoy this here. Back in '95, Guru proved that he can carry himself with or without Primo. Speaking of Primo, he would produce the track "Watch What You Say" so he had a part in this project also.

Lyrics: B
Production: B+
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: B+
Overall: B+

Favorite Tracks: Lifesaver, Watch What You Say, Medicine, Lost Souls, Respect The Architect, Young Ladies, Count Your Blessings, Choice Of Weapons

Honorable Mention Track: Looking Through The Darkness

Peace!

Good stuff to drive too.......2005-03-22

I love it, good stuff to ride too! Very laid back and cool. I like "Something In The Past".

Peace, K

The second, and second-best, of the series.......2004-03-18

This was Guru's second Jazzmatazz project. I purchased this one back in the day solely on having loved the first one.

Jazzmatazz II is solid; not spectacular like the first one. It still has some jazz feel to it but not as much. It's more hip hop but it's still very chill and laidback.

I like the Jamiroquai song; funny to think that they were no-names back then before blowing up a few years later.

Very soulful, mellow, good late-nite listening.

Simply.......Awesome.......2002-12-18

The best of the 3 jazzmatazzes. It is not nearly as jazz influenced as the 1st but absolutely the most complete of the 3. i love guru and Gangstarr. he is lyrically on point and every song is great. its deep and arranged well. This is one of my top 10 and top 5 hip hop albums in my mind. it takes a few listens to understand the complexity and integrity of this album. Completely original and very trippy when you get down to it. be patient and it will grow on you.

The Fusion Continues.......2001-01-25

This album continues the fusion of jazz and hip-hop that GURU pushed in his previous release of Jazzmatazz. He stays away and ventures out from the conventional representation of hip-hop in the form of beat samples and often misguided beats. This is one of the most bold musical moves in hip-hop since Kool Herc did dj parties in the Bronx

Average customer rating:

A must have!!
A Hidden Treasure
A perfect fit among his best recordings
Oneness - Santana at his best
ONENESS: One of Two

Oneness: Silver Dreams Golden Reality
Santana
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Illuminations
The Swing of Delight
Borboletta
Lotus
Love Devotion Surrender

ASIN: B000007VCO
Release Date: 1997-06-16

Tracks:

Chosen Hour
Arise Awake
Light Versus Darkness
Jim-Jeannie
Transformation Day
Victory
Silver Dreams Golden Smiles
Cry of the Wilderness
Guru's Song
Oneness
Life Is Just a Passing Parade
Golden Dawn
Free as the Morning Sun
I Am Free - Sri Chinmoy
Song for Devadip

Album Description

1997 reissue of his 1979 instrumental solo album. Contains 15 tracks, half studio cuts and half live recordings from Osaka, Japan. Includes 'The Chosen Hour', 'Arise Awake' and 'Light Versus Darkness'. The full title is 'Oneness/ Silver Dreams - Golden Reality'. Columbia release.

Album Details

Carlos Santana's February, 1979 release is technically his fourth solo effort. An instrumental album comprised of roughly half studio-recorded tracks & half live cuts (recorded in Osaka, Japan), this item is home to many great tracks & speaks largely of the artist's spiritual awakening. Includes 'Silver Dreams, Golden Smiles', 'Life is Just a Passing Parade', 'Free as the Morning Sun', 'I Am Free' & eleven more.

Customer Reviews:

A must have!!.......2007-07-15

If you are a Santana fan, a music fan or a guitar enthusiast Oneness is a must have for your collection! It is truly Carlos unleashed. Enjoy!

A Hidden Treasure.......2007-03-21

I had come across this album on lp in the Bargin Bin back around 1981 and, taking a chance, found it to be a pleasant surprise. I had not known of its release a few years earlier and found the music to be a bit different from earlier Santana releases. But it was a music which would grow upon a listener with each spin on the turn table. Although credited to Devaip Carlos Santana, it features many of his regular band musicians at the time. The cuts don't seem to have as much percussion as earlier Santana albums, but Carlos Santana's guitar, Tom Coster's keyboards and Greg Walker's vocals provide audio verification that it is a Santana endeavor. As mentioned by other reviewers, it is an excursion into jazz, but it is pure Santana nonetheless and it doesn't disappoint. Even Sri Chinmoy's short spoken poems are a good fit into the overall experience and appear to aid in the flow of the music without causing disruption.

I don't think you'll find any of the songs from Oneness on any of the Santana compilation albums and, this fact, coupled with lasting memories of this album finally convinced me to seek out the cd and acquire a new copy.

A perfect fit among his best recordings.......2007-02-26

Released in 1979, Onesess is Carlos Santana's first solo album.
Although CS was not sure which musical style to follow; Fusion Jazz which he really loved, heavily inspired by John McLaughlin; His great basic Latin Rock sound; or the new Pop Rock trend. Onesess came up as a combination of all three styles reflecting the puzzled period; this artist was living in; yet a great album, perfectly picturing what a great musician and guitarist Carlos Santana was.
This album fits perfectly among his best recordings, making it highly recommended to any old Santana fan, or to any Fusion Latin Rock music lover.
Some Other highly recommended CD titles for this great artist:
1. Santana
2. Abraxas
3. Santana III
4. Love Devotion and Surrender
5. Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles
6. Caravanserai
7. Welcome
8. The swing of Delight

Oneness - Santana at his best.......2006-08-26

Released in Australia on vinyl, but never on CD, this has to be one of the best Santana Albums ever. I think that this album was a special project for Calos and he put his heart and soul into the performance. A collection of eclectic tracks culminating in the Oneness track itsself. The way the guitar work ebs and flows is a special delight, especially when listening through high quality headphones. A must for any Santana fan!

ONENESS: One of Two.......2006-08-01

Thought it might be fun to mention: this CD contains one of the two (in my opinion) greatest vocal-free guitar solos by Carlos Santana. It is the title track, #10: ONENESS. This, along with EUROPA from the first "Moonflower" CD...are the two greatest vocal-free Santana guitar solos, in my opinion. Moonflower CD #2, by the way, has (in my opinion) the best performance of SOUL SACRIFICE as well. Overall, my favorite "live" Santana collection is (selected tracks from) LOTUS; and coming in an extremely close second is the live CD from the legacy edition of Santana III: the final Filmore West concert.

Average customer rating:

The Soundtrack to my Generation
Not owning this "Bites".
This is so awesome!!!
This soundtrack is HOT
worth the money!

Reality Bites: 10th Anniversary Edition
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00025D9X8
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Tracks:

My Sharona - The Knack
Spin The Bottle - The Juliana Hatfield 3
Bed Of Roses - The Indians
When You Come Back To Me - World Party
Going, Going, Gone - The Posies
Stay (I Missed You) - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
All I Want Is You - U2
Locked Out - Crowded House
Spinning Around Over You - Lenny Kravitz
I'm Nuthiin' - Ethan Hawke
Turnip Farm - Dinosaur Jr.
Revival - Me Phi Me
Tempted (94) - Squeeze
Baby, I Love Your Way - Big Mountain
Stay (I Missed You) (Living Room Mix) - Lisa Loeb
Ass It Up - Ethan Hawke
Confusion - New Order
Disco Inferno - The Trammps
Give A Man A Fish - Arrested Development
Fools Like Me - Lisa Loeb

Customer Reviews:

The Soundtrack to my Generation.......2007-05-25

First of all I am 30 years old, and if you're my age, you were probably 16-17 years old when this soundtrack first released. I can't count the number of times I put this cassette on my player and went to sleep to the killer tunes. I had one of these players that played both sides without you having to manually turn the cassette over, so I could just let it do its' thing and lay back and enjoy.

I would say that for most of us born in the late 1970s, this 1994 soundtrack was pretty much the soundtrack to our lives - and for good reason. This is one of those rare albums where every track is a winner, there is no filler, and it also introduced (at the time) some pretty groundbreaking new artists.

The best things on this CD are :

1. Lisa Loeb : Her original "Stay" (a masterpiece after all these years) is still here, alongwith a new track called "Fools Like Me".

2. The Juliana Hatfield 3 : "Spin the Bottle" was my favorite song off this album for over a year, and it holds up well even today. I love this group.

3. Lenny Kravitz : Which boy would not relate to the glory that was "Spinnin' Around Over You"? This was a seminal track on the CD.

4. Squeeze : As I grew older, the track I most wanted to play from this was "Tempted" by Squeeze. Its very memorable with a killer chorus. It made this CD.

Ethan Hawke's interludes are fine, and "Bed of Roses" still rocks all these years later. You know, for a film thats close to fifteen years old, this soundtrack pretty much nails present day sentiments and angst as well. I remember the classic line that Winona gets to say - "I thought I would BE something at 23!", to which Hawke responds "The only thing you have to be at 23 - is yourself". It resonated quite well when I was 16, but I suppose young people watching the movie and listening to the soundtrack would gain some wisdom from that too.

Always interesting and never boring, this new edition of the CD deserves a place in your collection. Get it now!

Not owning this "Bites"........2005-04-26

I have to admit I'm one of the people who bought this again even though I own the original version also. Maybe that's because I'm a slacker at heart and I'm still looking for my "Winona", but I'd say it's more for the great music. This soundtrack isn't as consistent as "The Crow" or "Singles" was, but it's a great snapshot of 1994, and fit the movie well. Of course the bonus here, besides the extra pictures and history, is the added six songs. I have to say I didn't really miss any of them before, and three of the six tracks are from Lisa Loeb or Ethan Hawke, but it's nice to have 79 minutes of mostly great tunes. If you have the original copy of this, I'd say you could pass on the 10th Anniversary Edition, since the best of what's here, was here before.

This is so awesome!!!.......2004-07-06

This is one of the best soundtracks ever!!! There's just something about the music in Reality Bites, especially "Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb. I remember when that movie came out, you would hear "Baby, I Love Your Way" and "Stay" all over the place. I just love Big Mountain's cover of Peter Frampton's song "Baby I Love Your Way." I swear, when I hear a song from that movie, I have no problem picturing the scene it came from; the song/scene relationships of the movie were so perfect!!! This movie and soundtrack are definite must-haves for everyone!!!

This soundtrack is HOT.......2004-07-03

Reality Bites is one of my favorite movies, and I love the soundtrack for it. At first I didn't really recognize the songs just by looking at their titles, but I was familiar with all of them when I heard them in the movie; so if you're not sure if you know a song or not, try listening to a clip of it. I had the original on cassette and had been meaning to get it on CD, so I was excited to hear that there's a new edition out that has ALL the songs from the movie. The music is awesome, and it's one of the few CD's I have that all my friends will agree on listening to in my car.

worth the money!.......2004-06-14

I graduated college the year this film was released and we bought it on VHS (hey, it was 10 years ago!) as a celebration and kind of a spin on what I'd be facing as a theatre major. I never could find the soundtrack and besides being an ultimate Winona fan, would recommend this to anyone in the mood for a flashback entering their 30s and feel like listening to the genre of the 1990s. "Reality Bites" is "The Big Chill" of our generation and so is the music. The best song is definitely U2 "All I Want is You". It was the most moving in the film and a good long song with true lyrics. "Stay" ("I Missed You") is a classic and so is "My Sharona". I wish the soundtrack crew had opted for Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way", but Big Mountain does an honest job. The point of the soundtrack is to relive the film and it succeeds. "When You Come Back To Me" by World Party is also integral to the opening of the movie. Ethan Hawke delivers the same powerhouse performance with "I'm Nuthin'" and on this 10th anniversary CD version "Add it Up" is awesome since it is the explosion between Hawke and Ryder. We also have "Disco Inferno", a song I would have missed on the original track - remember when Ryder is fired and Vickie offers her a job at the Gap, is turned down and slams the door - well she plays this! I really identified with her because she seemed older than the other graduates. "Tempted" is a classic no matter who sings it.

Tracks:

New Killer Star
Pablo Picasso
Never Get Old
The Loneliest Guy
Looking for Water
She'll Drive the Big Car
Days
Fall Dog Bombs the Moon
Try Some, Buy Some
Reality
Bring Me the Disco King

Amazon.com

Expectations have long been the mixed blessing of David Bowie's illustrious, if at times frustrating career. Whether he addresses the inherent paradoxes of his own chameleonic past on this loose concept album (or, given his statements arguing that there's "not any ultimate reality," is it anti concept?) is almost beside the point: The real glue that holds it together is the renewed strength of Bowie's songwriting. If his success at reinvention arguably went off the rails sometime between the dance-club affectations of Let's Dance and Tin Machine's noisy, overweening art-rock, he continues the renewed embrace of basics heralded by Heathen here. Not surprisingly that album's producer, Tony Visconti, has returned, framing Bowie's muscular efforts in ever more ambitious and far-ranging productions that paradoxically echo both Bowie's modern Manhattan roots and his 60's-70's musical prime (an era during which Visconti was often a key collaborator). Be they oblique, if cutting commentaries on current geo-politics (the Low/Heroes-era evoking "New Killer Star," "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" and "Looking For Water"), surprising cover choices (Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso" all dizzy and beefed-up; a suitably grand, Wall-of-Sound recreation of Ronnie Spector's obscure, George Harrison-penned "Try Some, Buy Some") or more personal concerns (the vaguely Incan "Days"; the rhythmic Low-isms of "Never Get Old"), Bowie's work here is powered by a renewed sense of dramatic focus and musical purpose that's refreshingly free of the shackles of fashion and self-imposed reinvention. It's true you can't go home again; but damned if Bowie hasn't found his most compelling music in decades trying. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

It's Great, I'm Soooo Happy He's Not Old.......2007-01-26

Picked this up, looking for new music I said "What has Bowie done since Earthling?" I missed a lot and I'm glad I did and just found out about it now. As far as I can see (not looking too hard), he's put out Heathen and Reality, both excellent CD's to get. I played this while with my wife and the beat kept going on and on and on if you know what I mean, doin Pablo Picasso and all, GET IT!

REALITY - His Best Album in a Looong While!.......2007-01-10

More than a few people, including me, have been somewhat disappointed in Bowie's last few albums (HOURS, HEATHEN), so it took me a while to get around to picking this one up (as a dedicated fan since hearing "Space Oddity" as a small child on my tiny radio in the middle of the night I was bound to get it eventually). Oh man, am I glad I did! REALITY turns out to be a classic, easily ranking among his best albums of all time.

The band playing on REALITY boasts an all-star ensemble of Bowie veterans including uber-pianist Mike Garson and guitarist Earl Slick. The effort and dedication Bowie invested in this record is evident in the high quality songs and the fact that he plays guitar, keyboards, stylophone, synths, percussion and baritone sax! Anyone paying attention knows that Bowie's stellar musicianship has continually evolved over the years, especially in the past decade.

Breakdown! (my impressions of REALITY) -

"New Killer Star" - slinky guitar splashes mingle with futuristic propulsion and a driving rythm; a very strong opening track that announces Bowie's songwriting ability is in full effect. Overflows with an intoxicating optimism. *****+

"Pablo Picasso" - a lush, surrealistic take on Jonathan Richmond's proto-punk classic, and it totally rocks! *****

"Never Get Old" - one of REALITY's best songs, it magnificently addresses one of Bowie's major preoccupations - (never) getting old. A true "rage against the dying of the light" though Bowie's clearly got a lot of life left in him. *****+

"The Loneliest Guy" - hauntingly beautiful, this is prime Bowie at his most atmospheric and mellow. He sounds like he's trying to convince himself everything is going great even though the song's tone is melancholy. *****

"Looking for Water" - a desperate-sounding rocker with Bowie's voice, still in top form, writhing in turmoil. The song seems to evoke an anarchic future in which drinkable water is scarce. ****1/2

"She'll Drive the Big Car" - very cool mid-tempo rocker loaded with overdubbed Bowie harmonies. ****

"Days" - absolutely gorgeous track and most likely a love song to his wife Iman. Exquisite. *****

"Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" - an interesting song with intruguing lyrics which I find to be ultimately inscrutable. The weakest track here, it still isn't bad. ***

"Try Some, Buy Some" - an absolutely soaring, magical George Harrison cover. It's a fantastic love - and life - song. *****+

"Reality" - the hardest rocker in the bunch and another song that struggles with the artist's inevitable death. ****

"Bring Me the Disco King" - don't get turned off by the campy title - this may be the best cut on the album. The jazzy, meditative shuffle is stark and sensuous. Bowie reminds us why he's recorded with the likes of Bing Crosby and ______ (insert favorite kickass collaboration here). This fantastic modern lounge track gives Frank Sinatra some post-mortum competition - but it's much more than that and way better in my view. *****+

He Does it Again..........2006-11-22

After the brilliant come-back of 2002s 'Heathen', fans expected big things of Bowie - and he did not fail to deliver with 2003s 'Reality'.

Where 'Heathen' was a dark and moody affair, 'Reality' is a more uptempo, more rock sound than any album from Bowie in 20 or so years. Songs like "New Killer Star" and "Days" are quirky, yet made for radio. "Never Get Old" is an amazing song, with one of the coolest Bowie guitar riffs ever, and the closer "Bring Me the Disco King" is about as mystical Bowie as you can get. The title track, "Reality" is the best track on this album, with its pulsating guitar and stylish sound - it is one of the best tracks from Bowie from his 35+ year career.

This album, along with 'Heathen', is highly recommended for fans of prog. rock, art rock and pop rock alike. Although, the double-disc edition is preffered, because you get the amazing 'Reality' outtake, "Fly", which should never have been cut from the album in the first place.

I'll make this brief.......2006-11-12

Since the mid-90's, David Bowie he has been making the best music of his career. I've been a fan since the early 70's, and believe he is at his creative best now. "Reality" is off the charts.

The True Successor to SCARY MONSTERS.......2006-10-04

I first started to listening to Bowie back in the 70s through his HEROES album. A masterpiece of song writing and producing, it was, to me, one of the best albums of the 70s, and the peak of Bowies powers (I had heard other Bowie material on the radio).

LOW was added to my Bowie library, albeit reluctantly at the time. For decades, my exposure to Bowie consisted solely these two albums.

Recently, however, I have expanded my Bowie experience, and have learned to appreciate his genius throughout his career. There are periods which appeal to me more than others - pre-STATION TO STATION is a bit too silly, and the 80s period is too techno.

However, his return to work with Eno on OUTSIDE (continue the series, please!) saw Bowie re-embracing a style I could appreciate - it was daring and unpredictable.

As good as HEATHENS is, REALITY is the true successor to SCARY MONSTERS, Bowie's last Great Album before he fell into populism excess. The production values are astounding (even the detractors here admit that), and the songs are adventurous, compelling, and confident. Bowie has surely arrived at that point in his career where he is free to let the music speak, rather than being concerned if he is going to fit into media molds.

I am now solidly a Bowie fan. Sure, there are albums - heck, whole periods - that don't appeal to me. But, his willingnes to take risks, to change, and to push his own limitations will always be inspiring, and will surely garner him new legions of fans for years to come.

Bravo, David.

Thank you.

-

Average customer rating:

Juvenile has grown musically, is back, and is better
One of the best Juvenile Albums
Sloppy
Good album from Juve!
just kill me already this album sucks reality ck what?

Reality Check
Juvenile
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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King
The Heart Of Tha Streetz Vol. 2
Tha Carter, Vol. 2
My Ghetto Report Card
King

ASIN: B0009XFIZK
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Tracks:

Intro
Got Ya Hustle On
Around the Way
Sets Go Up -- feat. Wacko
Rodeo
What's Happenin'
Loose Booty -- feat. Eightball and Skip
Way I Be Leanin' -- feat. Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Skip, and Wacko
Break A Brick Down
Who's Ya Daddy
I Know You Know -- feat. Trey Songz
Keep Talkin' -- feat. Skip and Redd Eyezz
Rock Like That -- feat. Bun B
Why Not -- feat. Skip
Animal
Addicted -- feat. Brian McKnight
Holla Back
Pop U -- feat. Fat Joe and Ludacris
Say It To Me Now -- feat. Kango of Partners-N-Crime

Amazon.com

Early hints seemed to suggest that Reality Check could be a turning point for Juvenile. Fueled by the destruction of his native New Orleans, Juve seemed ready to let the world feel his wrath. Instead, Reality Check hardly breaks much new ground; even "Get Ya Hustle On," with its stark video filmed in the ravaged 5th Ward, is little more than another "cook crack" anthem even if he takes time to lash out at FEMA. It's not like Reality Check will disappoint old fans--the cocky swagger and brazen sexuality is still in full effect, especially on stripper pole anthems like "Rodeo," and "Loose Booty" or any of the electro-groovy tunes such as "Why Not" or the explosive "Pop U." Still, compared to former Hot Boy partner Lil Wayne, whose recent Tha Carter II found Weezy pushing to a new level of artistry, Juve seems content to coast. --Oliver Wang

Album Description

Featuring guest artists Ludacris, Trey Songz, Bun B, 8Ball, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Brian McKnight and others, Reality Check is Juvenile's most well-rounded album to date. As for the album tile, Juvenile explains, "That's where I'm at right now in my life. I feel like everybody needs a reality check. I have em' all the time. Nobody's perfect." Then, smiling wide enough to show all his diamond-encrusted teeth, he finishes: "But I feel like I got the perfect album."

Customer Reviews:

Juvenile has grown musically, is back, and is better.......2007-08-01

Even though I think "400 degreez" has more solid hits in the form of 3 songs (Back that a** up, Ha (and the Jay-z remix), Follow me now), I still like this album. Juve seems to have grown in his lyrics and musical style. He explores more music themes instead of that hot-southern sound from Mannie Fresh. He also sounds angrier- actually like his voice sounds like he's growling most of the time.lol. My fave songs: What's happenin, Pop U, Rodeo. I think the album is very listenable and has at least one or more songs anyone would like.

One of the best Juvenile Albums.......2007-01-10

Get ya hustle on, get ya hustle on! This is the Juvenile album I liked the best out of all of them.

Sloppy.......2006-08-09

The songs on this c.d. are just plain wack. I loved the old Juvenile so i thought i may as well go ahead and buy this album. But I was wrong to do that. Juvenile's last album was hot and this album was nowhere near that. No creativity and the hooks sucked. Production was also awful. Sorry Juve but this album was not your best. Could have done a lot better.

Good album from Juve!.......2006-07-17

Pretty good album. Only a few songs I didn't like but the rest were hot. Another great effort from Juve!

TOP TRACKS:
Get Ya Hustle On
Sets Go Up
Way I Be Leanin'
Rodeo
What's Happaning

just kill me already this album sucks reality ck what?.......2006-07-01

you no i thought he didnt need cash money or the hotboys till i heard this album bg my favorite anyway this album sucks if will ripe your guts out and feed them to you it was so bad i went into a depression cause i like the hot boys if they were still together gunit would be in alot of trouble and everbody else in the rap game

Average customer rating:

An Overlooked Masterpiece
amazing journey with some really talented people
Fishbone at their best
The Reality of My Surroundings(1991)
One of the greatest bands

The Reality of My Surroundings
Fishbone
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Give A Monkey A Brain And He'll Swear He's The Center Of The Universe
Truth and Soul
Fishbone
Chim Chim's Badass Revenge
The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx

ASIN: B00000273W
Release Date: 1991-04-23

Tracks:

Fight The Youth
If I Were A...I'd
So Many Millions
Asswhippin'
Housework
Deathmarch
Behavior Control Technician
If I Were A...I'd
Pressure
Junkies Prayer
Pray To The Junkiemaker
Everyday Sunshine
If I Were A...I'd
Naz-Tee May'en
Babyhead
If I Were A...I'd
Those Days Are Gone
Sunless Saturday

Customer Reviews:

An Overlooked Masterpiece.......2007-04-14

I bought this album when it came out after hearing "Behavior Control Technician" and being floored by it. I wasn't sure when I bought it if the rest of the album could be that good and original. It was, and more. A brilliant piece of work that stands strongly amongst other great albums of it's time such as, "Check Your Head" by the Beastie Boys, "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and "Ritual de lo Habitual" by Jane's Addiction. A must listen for everyone who wants to hear mind expanding music that will move your soul. A true classic.

amazing journey with some really talented people.......2006-10-16

From the first time I heard this back in 1991 I was hooked on this band - an amazing amalgam of different musical styles something between a ska, punk, rock, rap, funk, progressive jazz etc... position, with an intelligent attitude, brilliant musicianship and showmanship (they are amazing live) and a true creativity in their music - able to explore a lot of boundaries while making very listenable songs.

This album is a freak - all the tracks on in flow reasonably well but they are all supurb. Best examples of it's variety:
'everyday sunshine': a great song which successfully uses a brass section in its build up in pace and noise - very inspirational song and greatly enthusiastic lyrics.

'pressure': a wild something like a punk track but where it sounds all over the place it has these surgically precise swtiches and timing among it with the different segments and instruments. This is a really great song but it takes a few listens to pick up on it's brilliance I feel. Is worth it.

'naztee mayen': the guys having a lot of fun with an unorthadox type of casio sound but it's great as a funk style track - again it's precision in the timing is exciting.

'those days are gone': a million things going on musically but a brilliant song from them, great lyrics and a really nicely played track.

'sunless saturday': rock track that shows their diversity - really nicely done, heartfelt, but fast and again extremely tight.

An incredible album from an incredible band who genuinely offer something really different.

Fishbone at their best.......2005-09-20

This is my favorite Fishbone recording. Their energy and passion come across beautifully, but are balanced by tight production that is missing from some of their later recordings. This album also features a wonderful variety of styles and moods. "Everyday Sunshine" is going to be my funeral elegy, if my wife has anything do to with it (selecting the elegy, not the timing of my funeral!). She has seen how that song moves me, makes me dance, sing, and feel good about life. It is a beautiful pairing with the hard-rocking and nihilistic "Sunless Saturday." The two songs exemplify what makes this a special album.

The Reality of My Surroundings(1991).......2005-03-05

For anyone who walked in on Fishbone at the Truth & Soul party of 1988, the shock and disturbing qualities that now enter the landscape of The Reality of My Surroundings (TROMS) is most certainly a party let down. It's like your parents coming home earlier than expected, and reality sets in. Truth and Soul is certainly their most accessible work, and often hailed as their masterpiece. But that is only in terms of how approachable it is by the general consumer. The suburbanite and middle class citizen. The record buying public. In my opinion, with TROMS, one of the most important black bands in America's recording history set about writing their manifesto. And anyone who had heard Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet, and the pronouncement by Chuck D. in Thin Line Between Law & Rape, `' You can't take whatcha want, Dont cha know We aint got nuttin left? Cause you took the rest, We aint got jazz, rock & roll , Rappin the lose. Wit a few fat ladies left singin da blues.''

Fishbone set about taking it all back when they released their first E.P. in 1985. By TROMS, reggae, ska, funk, rock, punk, jazz, hip hop, and folk music had all been rescued from what Chuck D. saw as a detainment cell for black culture. Rescued by Team Fishbone in a daring plan. TROMS is an album that does have to be taken song by song, track by track, because it is worthy of any description of its contents. Fishbone albums are celebrations of Black History Month, in a perpetual state. The history and influence of Black society on American culture is so undeniable, but gracefully brushed under history's rug. Without Black society, there would be no rock and roll. No jazz. No soul. No rhythm and blues. America would be a virtual, cultural, wasteland. With no SPIN magazines.

At the time of TROMS, Fishbone was comprised of Angelo Moore (Vocals / Sax), Chris Dowd (Vocals / Trombone / Keyboards), Walter Kibby II (Vocals / Trumpet), Kendall Jones (Guitar / Vocals), John Bigham (Guitar - before Fishbone he was with Miles Davis), and brothers Phil Fisher `'Fish'' (Drums), and Norwood Fisher (Bass / Vocals). Whether this is their quintessential line-up is up to the listener.

Fight the Youth (K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'And now another story of stolen faith and tragic glory'' - Heavy Metal with a Funk edge, the opening song sets the tone for the album and its topics to be explored. It states that a generation fed with anger, will make a future where nightmares come true. This chooses to fight against that, and to inform those whose minds have been poisoned by these corruptions, that they will soon find themselves at war.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I believed everything I saw on television'' opens up the segmented `If I Were A ... I'd', which is scattered throughout the album. This first part questions the life believed `reality' as told by media and commercial advertisers. The final solution is to be a Cop, or succinctly put here, a Power Trippin' Robot. So far this album would make those who thought Truth & Soul was a friendly bunch of people throwing a party, realise something quite quickly. Party's over. Sped up James Brown.

So Many Millions (J.N.Fisher / A. Moore)
`'Your education will do me no good, in my neighbourhood'' - Musically like Parliament / Funkadelic on a Bad Trip, So Many Millions illustrates with no holds barred, the problems of growing up Black in America. How can education be of any service, when the only thing it teaches about Black people is about their enslavement, and then their emancipation. They are like a footnote to someone else's history. Meanwhile, Dizzy Gillespie can't get into a club to play Be Bop because of its rules, and Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers are refused entry into Studio 54, where their songs are in heavy rotation. So little changes over too long a time.

Asswhippin' (Fishbone)
Relentless Jungle drums underscore the public whipping of the screaming.

Housework (W.Kibby / A.Moore / K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'Pops is gone and Mom's workin' 5 and 6 days a week'' - No options outside of what your friends and you can get up to while you're not at school, doing chores at home, having to start working because life isn't being good to you and yours,where you is. Everything explored in So Many Millions is summed up here, in the Ska mode. With bits of Gospel, Ragtime and Rock thrown in. This song might remind buyers of Truth & Soul of what they were expecting to find.

Deathmarch (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
A visit to New Orleans along the way. (Instrumental)

Behavior Control Technician (J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'Sheltering will restrict your baby's mind'' - Heavy Metal Funk with a good nod to George Clinton. Question Authority or remain a Little Zombie. Ordered Chaos music.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I were a Kernel(sic) in the United States Marine Corps `' - namedrops Vietnam, Nicaragua, lying, cheating, the trading of hostages for missiles, corporate wars.

Pressure (A.Moore / K.Jones)
`'Fear is the curse and today's word is pressure'' - Frenetic Ska Punk Chaos. Fishbone caught `pressure' musically for all to hear.

Junkies Prayer (A.Moore / C.Dowd / K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / B.West)
`'My pusher who art in the Krack House'' - truly one of the most disturbing pieces on TROMS, a loop of a laughing man, a lone tambourine, bongos, all underscore the twin readings (Left speaker / Right speaker) of the junkies prayer. ``Yea though I walk through the valleys of Harlem, Bronx, Manhattan . . . `' . Nightmare vision.

Pray To The Junkiemaker (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'You're on the road to the Tombstone Commode'' - The happy go lucky Reggae / Ska signified by the music harkens back to Truth & Soul Fishbone, but this is merely an extension of Junkies Prayer. An anti-drug statement accented with brutal honesty, it might be one of Angelo Moore's best vocals on the album.

Everyday Sunshine (Chris Dowd)
`'And no one wants or needs, nor sign of greed, could rule our soul'' - One of the songs that was released as a single from TROMS, Chris Dowd's `Sunshine' steps back to `Truth & Soul' accessibility, and is paralleled later by Kendall Jones's `Sunless Saturday'. The music is pure Soul / Gospel, with leanings toward Sly & The Family Stone. It almost becomes a Baptist Revival by its end.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I were a society'' - attacks the whole condition in which human beings are ignored for the sake of the ruling majority, and the powers that be. `Majority society just ain't right for me'.

Naz-tee May'en (J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher / A.Moore / K.Jones)
`'Aint nuthin' I'd rather be doin', than sweatin', chewin' and spewin'.'' - An ode to heterosexual fornication. The music can be described as `Fun Funk', very up and jolly. It's almost Bubblegum Funk.

Babyhead (Walter Kibby II)
`''Givin' up the goo to the bones groove'' - If the previous song approached the subject with a sense of humour, this song is an altogether different story. This is not Barry White's bedroom of romantic seduction. It's somewhere in his basement, or some part of the house you didn't know he had. Quite a few Fishbone fans don't rate this song highly. I personally think it's great. Descends from Light Cosmic Syrup into Heavy Metal Molasses.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I had a choice'' - concludes the If I Were A . . . I'd series. Switches the power back to the person, who ends up doing the same things everyone else is doing, but at least knows it.

Those Days Are Gone (C.Dowd / J.N.Fisher)
`I had a dream once. There was a wall inside my head. You all had put it there.'' - Psychedelic Hard Rock that swirls around your head if one's wearing headphones. Another accessible track for those who enjoyed Truth & Soul, totally disturbed by what they had heard on TROMS so far.

Sunless Saturday (Kendall Jones)
`Perhaps the charcoal grey and brown around me, is just the mirror image of my tainted soul?' - Jones's `Sunless Saturday' was the other single released from TROMS. An acoustic opening makes its way into heavy metal thrash. It is giving up hope personified, where the person doesn't see any chance of sunlight returning to his world. It's a prayer amongst pestilence.

This album stands as a document and diary of one of America's most important bands, who mixed almost 100 years of African-American musical culture into one form, called Fishbone. Purchase the album just to say `I own a Fishbone album'.

One of the greatest bands.......2005-01-13

Fishbone is an absolutely amazing band. They are the complete package- awesome albums, legendary live shows, and a one-of-a-kind and charismatic frontman (frontmen depending on what Fishbone era we're talking about). "The Reality of My Surroundings" is probably my favorite album from Fishbone- it is the bridge from the old-skool, more 80s sounding pop/ska/alternative rock (remember when alternative rock really was alternative) to the darker, heavier, more abrasive albums that they released after this. If you're looking for a funky, catchy yet musically impressive Fishbone album I recommend "Truth and Soul". If you're looking for a more aggressive Fishbone album, I recommend "Give a Monkey a Brian and He'll Swear He's The Center of The Universe". If you're looking for a Fishbone album that has all of these elements, buy this album! Seriously, Fishbone is one of the most original, impressive, and most-underrated bands of modern music. They appeal to all different types of musical tastes. They Rock.

Average customer rating:

Not the Fugees you now know, but still alright. (3.5)
bLunTeD oN rEaLITy
Another Phat Album From '94 {4 Stars}
Not at all like "The Score"
Theres a big difference...

Blunted on Reality
Fugees (Tranzlator Crew)
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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The Score
Fugees (Refugee Camp) Bootleg Version
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee Allstars
The Preacher's Son

ASIN: B0000029CI
Release Date: 1994-02-01

Tracks:

Introduction
Nappy Heads
Blunted Interlude
Recharge
Freestyle Interlude
Vocab
Special News Bulletin Interlude
Boof Baf
Temple
How Hard Is It?
Harlem Chit Chat Interlude
Some Seek Stardom
Giggles
Da Kid From Haiti Interlude
Refugees On The Mic
Living Like There Ain't No Tomorrow
Shouts Outs From The Block
Nappy Heads (Remix)

Customer Reviews:

Not the Fugees you now know, but still alright. (3.5).......2007-04-06

When you listen to this album, it's just so hard to believe this is the same group who gave us The Score. That record was brilliant and is still one of my top five hip-hop albums that I own. Where that one had them showing a bigger range of songs and had social commentary-style lyrics, this is them making a totally different record, like it's another group maybe. Almost everything here is strictly hip-hop influenced, and of the early-'90's variety.

I would argue that this is not really that classic though, unlike aforementioned album. It's just hard to believe that this group is trying to pose as thugs here, although they hadn't yet gotten to where they later went, so maybe that's forgiveable. At 18 tracks, there's quite a bit of "interludes," although "Blunted Interlude" works more as a full song than an actual interlude. And it's one of the better tracks on here. There are hints of what to come, but it's not THAT obvious. "Vocab" has some acoustic guitar that we'd later hear from Wyclef, especially solo. "Some Seek Stardom" which is mostly Lauryn Hill, was the closest thing to a taste of what was to come. It's about the only song we get to hear her SING on. That one is one of the few with a message, one about knowing where you come from.

Overall, it's actually good, but just don't expect it to be overall AMAZING like what you had come to know. It's pretty cheap though, and I got mine for a nice used price. It's worth hearing at least a few times; just don't expect it to be quite as varied and groundbreaking.

bLunTeD oN rEaLITy.......2006-12-17

Wyclef, Pras, & Lauren delivered my favorite record from the camp to date! This was them at their rawest & grimiest. They always came through with solid records but Blunted On Reality stands out because they're hungry. Really hungry... You can hear it on every track! For all that enjoy Artifacts, Lords of the Underground, Onyx, Hoodratz, etc. cop this today. peace!

Another Phat Album From '94 {4 Stars}.......2006-07-05

Most know my position on hip hop releases from 1994. No need to write that paragraph. The Fugees dropped Blunted On Reality to almost no fanfare. Joints like "Boof Baf" and "Vocab [Remix]" were dope enough for most underground heads, but MTV, BET, and radio wouldn't catch on until they dropped the classic "Nappy Heads" remix. Those looking for the same sound from The Score will be in for a bit of a disappointment. Lauryn doesn't sing on this album. As a matter of fact, her and Wyclef rhyme with a passion that you'll probably never hear from them again. Man, to hear dope emcees when they're truly hungry is such a privledge in my mind. Anyway, there are plenty of dope cuts on this LP. Alo