Who Is This America?

Amazon.com
As a hard-hitting Afro-beat orchestra that embellishes vintage Fela-style grooves with touches of gritty funk and fiery salsa, Antibalas quickly won over a sizable local audience in New York City with its sweaty live shows and relentlessly danceable rhythms. But while the band's past two efforts sounded fresh amidst a landscape of retro-rock cool, the discs never measured up to the band's galvanizing live show: Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1 was a piecemeal effort of live and studio material; Talkatif was woefully short. Now on Who Is This America, the band constructs a great-sounding 70-minute studio effort where the seven songs are skillfully woven together, not because they all sound like one long Afro-beat song, but because there is imaginative arrangements and tasty musicianship. Here multiple percussion players are the launch pad and the funky horn charts ignite liftoff whether it's the tightly wound "Indictment" or the slowly building "Sister." Undoubtedly the band's finest work to date. --Tad Hendrickson

Who Is This America?,Antibalas,Artemis Records,Afro-Beat,Funk,Int'l & World Music,Pop,World Beat

Average customer rating: If only more U.S. pop bands asked the same question.... Incredible long live antibalas Antibalas- is more than its music great recording but you've gotta see them live

Who Is This America? Antibalas Manufacturer: Artemis Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1 Security Talkatif The Best Best of Fela Kuti Open & Close/Afrodisiac ASIN: B00025ETIM Release Date: 2004-06-08

Tracks:

1. Who Is This America Dem Speak Of Today?
2. Pay Back Africa
3. Indictment
4. big Man
5. Obanla'e
6. Elephant
7. Sister

Amazon.com

As a hard-hitting Afro-beat orchestra that embellishes vintage Fela-style grooves with touches of gritty funk and fiery salsa, Antibalas quickly won over a sizable local audience in New York City with its sweaty live shows and relentlessly danceable rhythms. But while the band's past two efforts sounded fresh amidst a landscape of retro-rock cool, the discs never measured up to the band's galvanizing live show: Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1 was a piecemeal effort of live and studio material; Talkatif was woefully short. Now on Who Is This America, the band constructs a great-sounding 70-minute studio effort where the seven songs are skillfully woven together, not because they all sound like one long Afro-beat song, but because there is imaginative arrangements and tasty musicianship. Here multiple percussion players are the launch pad and the funky horn charts ignite liftoff whether it's the tightly wound "Indictment" or the slowly building "Sister." Undoubtedly the band's finest work to date. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

If only more U.S. pop bands asked the same question...........2007-05-07

Listening to this cd after watching TV for several hours was like a mind cleanser. Great rhythms and beats, very complex, and very funky. The band is absolutely enormous, but tight like a drum. The artwork on the cover and inside is beautiful and subtle. The lyrics are poetic and simple. I do find myself wishing the songs were a bit shorter at times, but other times I appreciate the endurance quality of their lengths. My two year old loves this stuff.

Incredible.......2005-07-13

You can't deny the incredible horn riffs put forth by this album, they're simply amazing. You'll get goosebumps listening to this album for the first time. Although at times some of the songs can become tedious, it is still one of the best jazz albums out there.

long live antibalas.......2004-08-21

let's face it, antibalas can do no wrong. all the way from "liberation..." and "talkatif" to "who is this america?" every album a must have. this album brings political awareness to the forefront along with tight percussion, pulsating horns and thought-provoking lyrics.
but i have to admit, to get the full antibalas experience, i highly recommend going to one of their shows where you can't help but dance until the very end. antibalas deserves respect, not just as musicians, but also as caring citizens of this world who strive to bring issues to the ears of many who are deaf and make this world a more aware and peaceful place to live. with everything going on in the world today, we need more bands like antibalas.

Antibalas- is more than its music.......2004-07-10

After many years of anticipation, I saw Antibalas in NYC. Being from LA- and somewhat distant-at least geogrphically- it was a blissful experience.
Antibalas, has become more entrenched in its political ideology. Unabashedly anti establishment, the album is provactively inducive. Despite the instrumental monotony throughout its albums, Antibalas delivers this time. From the graphics of the CD cover to its lyrics, it indeed questioning of our system. Political Economy, Globalization, Racism, philosophy, history; it is all here. Cant wait to see the Antibalas again in LA.

great recording but you've gotta see them live.......2004-07-08

This band truly dedicates themselves to the feel of the groove. Their live show is full of energy that defies you to remain still....truly something to behold.

Average customer rating: Great CD yes. A very fun pop-punk cd! Disappointing A Bit Uneven, but that changes with repeated listens

This Is Who We Are Run Kid Run Manufacturer: Tooth & Nail Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Christian Alternative | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Albatross This Too Shall Pass Step Outside Yourself The Best Worst-Case Scenario This Is Where You Belong ASIN: B000F9RM70 Release Date: 2006-05-16

Tracks:

1. We've Only Just Begun
2. Move On
3. Wake Up, Get Up
4. Sing To Me
5. The Modern March
6. The Call Out
7. This Day Of Change
8. Outline Of A Love
9. Miles And States
10. I'll Forever Sing

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-03-15

I really like the cd. I knew a few songs before I bought it and the others are catchy. "We've Only Just Begun" is amazing and the reason I purchased it in the first place.

yes........2006-10-15

relient k and anberlin got together, had a baby, and named it run kid run. fantastic use of the stop and go guitars. the chords they use aren't the standard power chords and most points and that's refreshing. super catchy, you'll want to bounce around when listening to it.

A very fun pop-punk cd!.......2006-08-06

Run Kid Run are not the most original band out there. OKAY!

Good, now that we've taken care of the haters, lets show some love!!

I first heard Run Kid Run on purevolume, a site I don't frequent, but end up on every now and then looking for new bands. Their song "sing to me" just caught my ear and I couldn't get enough! I ran out and bought the CD, and I must say I'm very pleased.

There are only 10 songs here, but 9 of them are really good, so "This Is Who We Are" is listenable the entire way through. The only song I don't like is "I'll forever sing". It's pretty weak. Other than that, "This Is Who We Are" is great!

If you like good pop-punk or pop-rock, you'll like Run Kid Run!

Lyrics 3/5
Music 4/5
Production 5/5
Staying Power 2.5/5
Orignality 2/5

Disappointing.......2006-08-01

When I picked this cd up at my local Christian bookstore, I had heard very few of Run Kid Run's songs. As I started to listen to the cd, I was expecting to be surprized by how good they were. As it was, I was slightly disappointed. This band is nothing new. They combine Relient K's music with vocals from Green Day, Hawk Nelson, Olivia the Band and Relient K. That's it. All of the songs sound the same, and nothing stands out. The one song I like Is Wake Up, Get Out. Over all, This Is Who We Are is not worth the 14 bucks I paid for it.

A Bit Uneven, but that changes with repeated listens.......2006-07-21

At first listen, I wasn't at all impressed with Run Kid Run, or their debut "This Is Who We Are". The only song I liked was "sing to me". After a couple more listens, I started to change my views. I still don't think Kid is the most original in the pop-punk bunch (I'd take Cartel or Relient K over Kid anyday), but they are fun to listen to. I've never been a fan of James Paul Wisner, mainly because I don't like most of the bands' he produces, but I'll admit that he did do right by Kid. The production, from a sonic point of view, is flawless. As per custom with any Wisner release, be perpared to hear the best material early on, and the b-side material late in the game. God knows why every record he does slows down towards the end, but they do.

Overall, I do recommend "This Is Who We Are" to pop-punk fans looking for 10 more songs to dance them into summer. Try it, and you'll probably like it.

Average customer rating:

Collection: Say It With Music (Dlx) Andr Kostelanetz Manufacturer: Collectables ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Easy Listening | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00007L8X4 Release Date: 2003-02-18

Tracks:

1. Say It With Music Remember Blue Skies
2. Top Hat White Tie And Tails How Deep Is The Ocean (How High
3. This Is The Army Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning Soft
4. Whatll I Do Always The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers
5. The Piccolino Cheek To Cheek
6. White Christmas
7. The Girl That I Marry Say It Isnt So Mandy
8. Give Me Your Tired Your Poor God Bless America
9. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Yesterdays
10. Ive Told Every Little Star The Song Is You
11. The Night Was Made For Love She Didnt Say Yes All The Things
12. Look For The Silver Lining They Didnt Believe Me Long Ago (A
13. I Dream Too Much The Jockey On The Carrousel
14. Why Was I Born The Way You Look Tonight Who
15. Make Believe Bill
16. Why Do I Love You You Are Love Ol Man River
17. Fascinatin Rhythm
18. Mine
19. The Man I Love
20. Embraceable You Soon
21. I Got Rhythm
22. Bess Oh Wheres My Bess
23. S Wonderful
24. Maybe
25. Someone To Watch Over Me Oh Lady Be Good
26. Embraceable You
27. Strike Up The Band
28. Begin The Beguine
29. All Through The Night
30. I Concentrate On You
31. I Love You
32. Night And Day
33. In The Still Of The Night
34. Ive Got You Under My Skin
35. Blow Gabriel Blow
36. Just One Of Those Things (Bonus Track)
37. Hallelujah Time On My Hands
38. Tea For Two
39. Carioca
40. Without A Song
41. More Than You Know
42. Orchids In The Moonlight
43. Sometimes Im Happy I Know That You Know
44. Through The Years Drums In My Heart
45. Malaguena
46. La Cumparsita
47. Mexicana Medley
48. Yours (Quiereme Mucho)
49. Siboney
50. Caminito
51. Adios
52. No Taboleiro De Bahiana
53. The Moon Of Manakoora
54. Lotus Land
55. Kashmiri Song
56. Jamaican Rhumba
57. Flamingo
58. Poinciana (Song Of The Tree)
59. Andalucia
60. Sweet Leilani (Bonus Track)
61. Frenesi (Cancion Tropical) (Bonus Track)
62. Show Boat
63. South Pacific
64. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
65. An American In Paris
66. Porgy And Bess

Album Description

The multi-faceted Andre Kostelanetz left his mark on the music world as an acclaimed conductor/arranger/accompanist. His most notable contribution is the creation of the Easy Listening genre, done by bridging the gap between Classical and Pop music. Highlights on this 6 CD box set include Irving Berlin's 'Cheek To Cheek', George Gershwin's 'The Man I Love' and Jerome Kern's 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. Includes 3 bonus tracks 'Just One Of Those Things' (Cole Porter), 'Sweet Leilani' (from Waikiki Wedding) & 'Frenesi' (Cancion Tropical). Standard jewel cases housed in a deluxe wooden box w/hinged lid (approx. 6 x 5''). Collectables. 2003.

Average customer rating: almost the perfect James Bond collection Good Collection Not excatly what I expected The James Bond CD for the John Barry purist? Very enjoyable with most of the BOND music you'd want.

James Bond Collection Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music All Works by Kamen | Kamen, Michael | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Best of Bond James Bond The Best of James Bond 30th Anniversary You Only Live Twice The Essential James Bond (Film Score Re-recording Anthology) 40 Years of James Bond: 20 Themes ASIN: B00006JTGH Release Date: 2002-10-22

Tracks:

1. Dr. No: The James Bond Theme (Original Version)
2. Dr. No: Suite
3. From Russia With Love: From Russia With Love (Film Version)
4. From Russia With Love: The Zagreb Express
5. From Russia With Love: The Golden Horn
6. From Russia With Love: Girl Trouble
7. From Russia With Love: 007 Takes The Lektor
8. From Russia With Love: From Russia With Love (Symphonic Version)
9. Goldfinger: Into Miami/Alpine Drive
10. Goldfinger: Dawn Raid At Fort Knox
11. Goldfinger: Goldfinger
12. Thunderball: Thunderball
13. Thunderball: The Bomb/Cafe Martinique
14. Thunderball: Fight On The Disco Volante/Death Of Largo

Tracks:

1. You Only Live Twice: Bond's Funeral/Mountains And Sunsets
2. You Only Live Twice: The Wedding/Capsule In Space
3. You Only Live Twice: You Only Live Twice
4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service: This Never Happened To The Other Fella'
5. On Her Majesty's Secret Service: We Have All The Time In The World
6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service: Bond Meets The Girls
7. On Her Majesty's Secret Service: The Ski Chase
8. Diamonds Are Forever: Mr. Wint And Mr. Kidd
9. Diamonds Are Forever: Circus, Circus
10. Diamonds Are Forever: Blofeld's Laser
11. Diamonds Are Forever: Diamonds Are Forever
12. Live And Let Die: Live And Let Die

Tracks:

1. The Man With The Golden Gun: The Man With The Golden Gun
2. The Man With The Golden Gun: Kung Fu Fight/Let's Go Get 'Em
3. The Man With The Golden Gun: Chew Me In Grisly Land/Return To Scaramanga's Fun House
4. The Man With The Golden Gun: Slow Boat From China/Nick Nack
5. The Spy Who Loved Me: Nobody Does It Better
6. The Spy Who Loved Me: The Tanker
7. The Spy Who Loved Me: Ride To Atlantis
8. Moonraker: Arrival At Chateau Drax/Freefall
9. Moonraker: Miss Goodhead Meets Bond
10. Moonraker: Flight Into Space
11. Moonraker: Moonraker
12. For Your Eyes Only: For Your Eyes Only
13. Octopussy: Suite: Bond Meets Octopussy/The Palace Fight
14. Octopussy: All Time High

Tracks:

1. A View To A Kill: Wine With Stacy/Fanfare/Snow Job
2. The Living Daylights: Koskov Escapes/Hercules Take Off
3. The Living Daylights: Mujahadin/Afghanistan Plan
4. The Living Daylights: Air Bond/Necros Attack
5. The Living Daylights: End Title
6. Licence To Kill: Suite
7. Goldeneye: Goldeneye
8. Goldeneye: Tank Drive Around St. Petersburg
9. Tomorrow Never Dies: Tomorrow Never Dies
10. Tomorrow Never Dies: Surrender
11. The World Is Not Enough: Ice Bandits
12. The World Is Not Enough: Access Denied
13. The World Is Not Enough: The World Is Not Enough
14. The James Bond Theme (Symphonic Version)

Amazon.com

The exploits of Ian Fleming's British super-agent James Bond have long since become the longest running film series in history, spanning 40 years and counting. Not the least of the cycle's charm has been its music, a body of work that encompasses pop clichés (the twangy guitar of Monty Norman's original "James Bond Theme") and elegant underscores alike. While this collection spans music from Dr. No to The World Is Not Enough, decades of various legal entanglements prevented it from becoming the ultimate Bond music anthology. This is more a credible simulation, a newly recorded collection of cues and suites (including music previously unreleased on the original soundtracks) performed by Nic Raine and the City of Prague Symphony Orchestra. With John Barry's lush, ever-evocative scores both forming the core and setting the tone (but also featuring the work of George Martin, David Arnold, Michael Kamen, Bill Conti, and Eric Serra), it's the most comprehensive--if not exactly authentic--collection of Bond music yet attempted. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

almost the perfect James Bond collection.......2005-07-20

this 4 CD box has most of the familiar James Bond compositions.

Still,some tunes are missing(from for instance Thunderball and For Your Eyes Only)and most of the time the attention is on the instrumental version of the title track which is a bit of a shame.And yet,there are too many great pieces on this collection to make it a failure.Alpine Drive,Dawn Raid at Fort Knox,On Her Majesty's Secret Service(every track),Miss Goodhead and so on.All great pieces that not only show the great talent of John Barry but also the great power of James Bond films.Cause when you hear the music,you see the scenes in front of you.

Very much a recommendation to all Bond and Barry fans although sometimes it focusses too much on title songs.The only solution is to buy all separate soundtracks.

Good Collection.......2005-02-24

Very nice packaging and good tracks from the Bond music library make this an anoutstanding item. "From Russia With Love" and "Diamonds Are Forever" contain beautiful and energetic renditions. The John Barry music is handled quite well. I didn't real care for the David Arnold selections. "The World Is Not Enough" was weak. Overall it is a good collection just the same.

Not excatly what I expected.......2003-04-10

I when I read some of the reviews of this I thought that this was a complete collection of all the originals of the Theme songs of every James Bond movie and remakes done by the Prague Philharmonic of some of the other songs in the various movies. After recieveing this ... I started to listen to it and found out that it was all done by the orchestra. The are very good, but to a point it is not the same thing as owning a disc will all the orignal songs on it. Overall, this good if all the you want is the orchestral versions of most of the songs in the movies or the suites out of some of the movies. To a point these don't compare to the orignals. Keep looking if you want a set with all the orignals songs in it.

The James Bond CD for the John Barry purist?.......2003-01-28

Let's cut to the chase. Nic Raine and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra do John Barry's work justice. 90% of this collection is as close as you can get to the original James Bond soundtracks. The other 10% lends itself to some artistic license with respect to the arrangements. Most notable is the main theme to Goldfinger. Also Nic slips in a few previously unreleased tracks. You will find these on the On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Golden Eye tracks. This CD boxed set is definitely made for the Bond soundtrack fan. The die hard John Barry "purist"/ traditionalist may find some of these tracks questionable at first, but after a few times Nic Raine's artistic license gives a fresh perspective to the familiar Bond/ Barry themes. The only reservation I have with this CD set is with some of selections that are performed. For instance, from Goldfinger, "Dawn Raid At Fort Knox" was a poor selection considering the selection available on that particular soundtrack. The most famous 007 soundtrack of all I dare say. Overall Nic hits the mark, and this CD set is a tribute to Barry's (as well as, George Martin's, Marvin Hamlish's, and Bill Conti's and David Arnold's) work. It's all here in one collection. I am a die-hard Bond soundtrack fan, and to the casual soundtrack fan I say this CD is set all you need to experience the Bond music legacy. To those who are hard core 007 soundtrack fans ...this is a FANTASTIC "addition" to your collection. This has to be the BEST (and probably the only) 007 "soundtrack" compilation. Whereas all the others feature the "main themes" from the Bond films as originally recorded, this one truly gives you the Bond experience.

Very enjoyable with most of the BOND music you'd want........2002-12-08

This is similar but more comprehensive than another BOND collection on one CD by the City of Prague Philharmonic. These are good renditions but clearly not the orginals. I must ask if the Prague Philharmonic does not own a harp? It is glaringly missing in the Goldfinger themes and i am sure on others. That harp is an exciting and beautiful touch to the wonderful GOLDFINGER theme and its absents is unfortuneatly very noticeable. Also some of the other themes can even sound muzaky if thats a word(elevator music)
It gets 3 solid stars good collection yet defineatly something is lacking.

Average customer rating:

Songs for the American Family Manufacturer: Nashville Record Barn ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CA7VO6 Release Date: 2005-04-19

Average customer rating:

No News from America The Skid Baxter Project Manufacturer: Urban Beef Market Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CA9VAI Release Date: 2002-09-17

Tracks:

1. No News from America
2. Gas Snack
3. Sign of Things to Come
4. Raw Deal in Furniture
5. Eggrolls/Great Wall
6. Liquid Punk
7. Pete's Backstreet Exposition
8. Donut Shop People
9. Cigarette Holders Put to the Test
10. Movie
11. Fish Can't Even Read
12. Streamlined Cattle Rustling
13. Cola Feet

Average customer rating: Laura Sullivan - Pianoscapes for the Trails of North America from Solo Piano Publications

Pianoscapes for the Trails of North America Laura Sullivan Manufacturer: Delvian Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mystical America Feast of Joy and Love The Music of the Great Smoky Mountains ASIN: B00011CZYC Release Date: 2003-12-02

Tracks:

1. Mountain Magic
2. Sunrise on Cloud Palace
3. Jumping Fish
4. Pachelbel for the Potomac
5. Voice from Sacred Wilderness
6. The Kettle Moraine
7. From Sea to Sapphire Sea
8. Sunset on Cloud Palace
9. Hope for the Trees
10. Witches Slow Dance

Album Description

AS A CHILD GROWING UP, SULLIVAN HAD A CONSTANT COMPANION IN A PIANO HANDED DOWN THROUGH THE FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS. SHE FIRST INVENTED MELODIES TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE NATURAL BEAUTY AROUND HER, THEN SHE BEGAN TO INVENT MAGICAL COMPOSITIONS TO SHARE WITH OTHERS ABOUT THAT SAME NATURAL BEAUTY AND WONDER.

Customer Reviews:

Laura Sullivan - Pianoscapes for the Trails of North America.......2004-05-25

Down off the snowy slopes a falling stream
Is rushing with a silver song
To the depth of forest
Where among a gentle murmur of a brook
And warbling of the birds
The silence lurks...
And nothing is in power to banish silence ...

This music is a thanksgiving to the Nature that is surrounding us. This is a permission to take a stroll along woodland paths and realize the greatness and generous beauty of the woods. Without them our life here is like a farfetched role in an unkind tale. This music is an appeal going from the bottom of the heart, an appeal not merely to admire the beauty of the world around us but to preserve its existing state. Not to interfere and not to make a try for altering this world to your own liking, but just to live in it, in harmony with it. This is a perfect bliss. This world is so wonderful, it is here, and it is in the heart of everyone. And it is in Laura Sullivan's heart from which this divine music is venting. Back to the world that granted the life...

The music of the «Pianoscapes for the Trails of North America» album is dedicated to paths that wind through various nooks of North American woods. Following Laura Sullivan we may walk along serpentine paths, inhale salubrious air, just lapse into day-dreaming in a green kingdom of Nature. There is a morning freshness and clarity in Laura Sullivan's tunes as if morning dew drops are sparkling on a green leafage in bright rays of a rising sun. This is the music of Summer and a rage of life when you want so much to leave a stuffy and dusty town for a couple of days and to walk along forest paths to your heart's content, having sensed a serenity of a renewed incessantly and forever young Nature.

Laura Sullivan's piano is very expressive. You feel as if you are not a mere spectator, you become a member of a magical movie who is travelling through wonderful sights of America. Laura Sullivan's music fascinates you from the first moment till the last one. The performer is backed up by Chris Camozzi (guitar), Richard Kuhns and Scott Fuller (keyboards), Kristina Forester (cello), Mary Pitchford (violin). They create a very gentle, harmonious atmosphere. A new album by Laura Sullivan represents a most beautiful example of the best works belonging to the new age music. Not by chance a portion of proceeds of every disk put up for sale will be donated to the National Arbor Day Foundation with the purpose of protecting and expanding forests. Inside the packing of every album a small but very pleasant surprise - seed of trees in a stylish paper sticker - is waiting for a listener. An album cover contains the details of a correct planting of these seed so that afterwards new trees could grow out of them.

Laura Sullivan's music is the generosity of spirit, the sincerity going from the very bottom of the heart.

Where the forests stretch from end to end
Amongst the twisted twigs and mighty trunks
Our trails will disappear ...

Serge Kozlovsky
Independent musical critic
web site: http://mkmk.com/kozlovsky

P.S. Translated by Tatyana L. Permyakova.

from Solo Piano Publications.......2004-04-10

"Pianoscapes For the Trails of North America" is a mostly upbeat follow-up to Laura Sullivan's 2003 indie-release, "Piano Solos." Accompanied by guitar, violin, cello, and keyboards, Sullivan takes us on a musical tour of several of the scenic trails of North America. PIanist Zola Van has released two albums to date that chronicle backpacking trips on two specific trails, but this CD takes us all across the US and Canada. Along with the CD, the album comes with a paper tree that has blue spruce seeds embedded in it, inviting us to "Buy a CD and plant a tree." Planting instructions are included. Fifty cents from the sale of each CD will be donated to The National Arbor Day Foundation.

The piano is the star on the ten tracks, with the accompanying instruments adding color and nuance. All of the tracks are original with the exception of Sullivan's arrangement of Pachelbel's "Canon in D" ("Pachelbel For the Potomac"). Much of Sullivan's previous album was very dark and moody, but, in general, "Pianoscapes" is much more optimistic and paints a beautiful portrait of "the great outdoors." "Mountain Magic" was composed for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and has a swirling, joyful feeling even though the melody is bittersweet; Chris Camozzi adds some tasty guitar work. Two pieces were dedicated to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail: "Sunrise on Cloud Palace" and "Sunset on Cloud Palace." The first is very light and "sparkly" and the second is much darker - both are beautiful. "From the Sea to Sapphire Sea" is another favorite - serene and flowing piano with string washes. I also really like "Witches Slow Dance," a dark, baroque-ish piece that is dedicated to the Natches Trace Trail. Much of the history of the area is mysterious and melancholy, and that is very effectively reflected in the music. Laura Sullivan has assembled a very impressive package with "Pianoscapes." It is both classical and contemporary, sometimes complex, but always accessible. Laura Sullivan has a flowing playing style, and most of her pieces are quite melodic. A very enjoyable choice!

Average customer rating:

America and Me Quickdraw Manufacturer: Quickdraw ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B0007SMMXI Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

1. Bigger
2. What Good Is a Heart?
3. You Are
4. Runnin' from the Law
5. Round and Round
6. Gonna Fly
7. What Would I Do?
8. Back Home
9. America and Me
10. She
11. Invisible Man
12. Livin' for Today
13. You're the One
14. Say Goodbye, I'm Gone

Product Description

Steve - Tom - Jamey - Bill - Kevin 14 Songs

Rock Music:

1. Yoshida Brothers, Vol. 2 [Enhanced]
2. Zorba's Dance: Memories of Greece
3. A Jewish Odyssey
4. Ainda: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack From The Film "Lisbon Story" [Soundtrack]
5. Appuntamento Con O Vanoni [Import]
6. Axiom Of Choice - Beyond Denial
7. Band of Gypsies
8. Between Heaven and Earth
9. Bossa Carioca [Import]
10. Bread & Barrels of Water

Rock Music

rock music

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