In the Raw

Track Listings

1. In the Raw

2. Sol Walk

3. Eji

4. Prowlin'

5. Weiya (Serengeti Beat)

6. Yakuba

7. Witch-Jam

8. Weiya

9. Thunderbird

In the Raw,Whitefield Brothers,Soul Fire Records,Deep Funk Revival,Funk,Instrumental Rock,Pop,Rock,Soul

In the Raw

Tracks:

Aniseed Robin
Cuckolds All A-Row
I Gave Her Cakes And I Gave Her Ale
Taking His Beer With Old Anacharsis
Fye, Nay, Prithee John
Cold And Raw
The Miller's Daughter
Will Said To His Mammy
The Old Fumbler
Walking In a Meadowe Greene
Celia Learning On The Spinnet
Tom the Taylor
My Lady's Coachman John
The Irish Jig Or The Night Ramble
Come Sirrah Jacke Hoe
Dainty Fine Aniseed Water
Most Men Do Love the Spanish Wine
Argreers
Gathering Peascods
My Lady And Her Maid
As Roger Last Night To Jenny Lay Close
Pox On You
Ladie Lie Near Me
'Tis Women Makes Us Love
Sir Walter Enjoying His Damsel
My Thing Is My Own
Here Dwells a Pretty Maid
My Man John Had a Thing That Was Long
When First Amyntas Sued For a Kiss
More Palatino
Poor Owen
Where They Drank Their Wine
Come, Come, Let Us Drink

Customer Reviews:

One of the best CD's out there!.......2007-05-10

All ages and musical backgrounds love this CD. The Baltimore Consort are amazing. One really feels one is in a smoky pub in the 14oo's getting plastered with England's best musicians! Don't miss "Pox on You;" my kids absolutely howl with glee at the "bass fartophone." I haven't heard laughter like that come out of my little boy since he was a toddler. "Sweet Sir Walter" features one of the guys singing in a falsetto that sweeps lustily down into a Tim Curry-esque (think Dr. Frank-n-furter)gutteral guffaw of delight. So outrageously fun one forgets one is listening to Renaissance madrigals.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-03-25

These bawdy catches and ballads take us on a journey to the taverns and other social gathering places of the the real 'Merry Old England'. Some of us may be mildly shocked by the directness and earthiness of the text, but everyday life in the 17th century was much more 'down-to'earth- and forward. These texts-some blatant and other euphemistic-fully explore the spectrum of humor from the sly smirk to the back-slapping guffaw.
The singing of both ballads and catches belongs to a long and venerable tradition in England. The natural habitat of the of the catch was the tavern, while the ballad was known in a wider variety of social settings as well as the stage. By the end of the 17th century, ballads were collected by connoisseurs of popular culture and published in anthologies. The main source for this recording, 'The Catch Club, or 'Merry Companions', was printed in 1762.
A quote from the catch-philosopher (of 'Come, come let us drink') is offered by the Baltimore Consort: "...wine and good cheer will in spite of our fear inspire our hearts with mirth..the time we live, to wine let us give, since we all must turn to earth...."
This is an excellent collection of songs; quite interesting and varied. The instruments are played skillfully, and the voices, for the most part, are good quality. However, as with all 'folk-like' songs, the diction is not always clear, and that is very true of several of these on this disc. The female voices were more difficult to comprehend much of the time. The text is printed out, so ultimately familiararity will make them easier to understand. I do like the disc, and think that it needed to be done.As to a previous criticism concerning the fact that it wasn't 'true' barroom singing. Of course, it's not!!!If it were, you would not understand any of it!!!!!Enough said.

Prelewd to Postlewd.......2005-09-28

The Baltimore Consort, an ensemble of six players, was founded in 1980 with the purpose of performing 'broken consort' pieces of Elizabethan origin. 'Broken' here refers to the instrumentation - treble viol/violin, flue/recorder, lute, cittern, bandore and bass viol. Their repertoire expanded beyond these beginnings to include broader British fare, as well as French and Italian music of the time. This is a happy expansion, as it made this disc of older, bawdy (for its time) music possible.

The Baltimore Consort play with life and vigour, with a good deal of improvisational flair, not being bound to texts and going through the production of notes as if mechanically. This is true to the spirit and nature of the early music, in which performers often had to 'play by ear', neither being able to read music nor having printed music even if they could. This is particularly true of the songs on this disc, where many are derivative of anonymous jokes and stories, and much of the music is likewise folk-tune and anonymously composed.

Some of the songs can be rather shocking. As Mary Anne Ballard writes in the accompanying notes, 'We must remember that in the days before indoor plumbing and pooper-scooper laws, everyday life was of an earthier flavour than it is today.... The men of the singing clubs and the ladies of stage poked fun at themselves and their companions with wit, pleasantry and contrivance.'

The names of many of the composers of these pieces have been lost to history, particularly the more folk-song oriented ones. However, some well-known composers are represented among the pieces here - Purcell, D'Urfey, Aldridge, and others.

The regular players include Mary Anne Ballard (viols), Mark Cudek (cittern, guitar, recorder and bass viol), Custer LaRue (vocalist/soprano), Larry Lipkis (recorder, viols), Ronn McFarlane (lute), Chris Norman (flutes), Webb Wiggins (tambourine and 'virginals'). Some artists are known from other Dorian productions, such as Ronn McFarlane on the lute in the collection 'Greensleeves'.

Added to the regular consort players are the Merry Companions, including Peter Becker (baritone), Alexander Blachly (baritone), Paul Shipper (bass, belch-canto), and James Weaver (baritone).

One more addition includes a guest artist, Lorenzo Labbrobacio, playing of all things, the 'fartophone', a rather mysterious instrument indeed. Labbrobacio defies identification on the internet other than references to this disc, and so the mystery deepens.

This is music that is interesting, truly fun to listen to, entertaining and has a quality about it that makes it a joy both in musical and humourous tones.

Sounds like they're singing Christmas carols.......2004-11-09

This recording is professionally produced - perhaps too much so. I've been in a few taverns and heard my share of bawdy songs. I am used to hearing them sung with gusto, with a wink and a naughty smile, to the raucous and enthusiastic appreciation of the audience. The songs on this CD are performed entirely straight. The results are technically competent but fail utterly in conveying the spirit and fun that make this genre worth listening to.

A sly and rollicksome good time!.......2002-11-29

On this recording, the Baltimore Consort and the Merry Companions are full of fun, both blatant and tongue-in-cheek. Soprano Custer La Rue and the instrumentalists of the Consort are joined by a quartet of classical male singers (Peter Becker, Alexander Blachly, Paul Shipper and James Weaver) with quite a theatrical sense of humor. The two groups take turns presenting ribald tavern songs of merry old England, interspersed by light, catchy instrumentals listed in the credits as the "Prelewd", the "Interlewd" and a "Fresh Ayre". Drinking, sex and other bodily functions are both celebrated and ridiculed in songs that are cleverly worded and enthusiastically sung, and in at least one case, accompanied by a mysterious instrument (reminiscent of P.D.Q. Bach) called a "fartophone". Especially amusing are the "catches" or rounds, and the new meanings that result from the staggering of words when several different verses are all sung together. It sounds silly, and is silly, but that's the point of it all--celebrating the "earthier flavor" of life 17th and 18th century England. My copy came with a parental advisory sticker stuck fast to the case, but my mother didn't seem overly concerned, and in fact enjoyed it too when I played it for her! For more fun Renaissance vocals, both salacious and serious, try "All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals" by the King's Singers, and "The King's Singers' Madrigal History Tour: Italy, England, France, Spain, Germany" by the King's Singers and the Consort of Musicke.

Average customer rating:

great live rock CD
O.K.
The Ultimate WASP CD.

Live...In the Raw
W.A.S.P.
Manufacturer: Snapper Classics UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Inside Electric Circus: The Headless Children
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Still Not Black Enough

ASIN: B0000AKXFL
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Tracks:

Inside the Electric Circus
I Don't Need No Doctor
L.O.V.E. Machine
Wild Child
9.5.-N.A.S.T.Y.
Sleeping (In the Fire)
Manimal
I Wanna Be Somebody
Harder Faster
Blind in Texas
Scream Until You Like It
Shoot From the Hip [Live][*]
Widowmaker [Live][*]
Sex Drive [Live][*]
Sleeping (In the Fire) [Acoustic][*]

Album Description

2003 reissue of 1987 live album, that's unavailable domestically, features 15 tracks including 4 bonus tracks that were originally included in the 1998 reissue, 'Shoot From The Hip' (Live), 'Widowmaker' (Live), 'Sex Drive' (Live) & an acoustic take of 'Sleeping In The Fire'. Digipak. Snapper.

Customer Reviews:

great live rock CD.......2006-04-14

I love listening to this CD - the sound quality is great for all the live tracks except for the bonus tracks. On Widowmaker and Sex Drive, it sounds like someone sneaked in a tape recorder to the concert....the sound quality is *horrible* and the band can't stay in tune with each other. That's the only reason I'm giving the review four stars.

I can't say there is a bad song from Tracks 1-10...I love them all. The band plays really tight and they sound great! The sound quality is some of the finest I've ever heard. Hard to believe they sound so good while being so messed up, but they do play well on these tracks. My favorites are "Blind in Texas" and "9.5.-N.A.S.T.Y". Lawless' voice is great. My only nit-picky complaint is that you have this awesome, hard-rockin', ear-splitting power behind the guitars and bass, and then you have a wimpy snare drum that doesn't fit....sounds like someone tapping on a tin can.

I highly recommend this CD, at least for the first ten tracks. Rock -n- roll at its finest...

O.K........2005-09-29

Sound quality is great for every song but, "Widowmaker" sounds like microphones and additional dubbing took the night off.

The Ultimate WASP CD........2004-08-20

Blackie Lawless and his co-horts in WASP sprung out of the early eighties L.A. metal scene with the impact of a small hurricane. This was largely due to their over the top live shows and raunchy, explicit lyrics. In hindsight, what WASP offered was nothing new-mix in an Alice Cooper/KISS influenced stage show with some of metal's true big, dumb rock songs and you have WASP at its primal best.
That being said, WASP-Live...In The Raw is a pretty entertaning 'live' album, though those who actually attended the shows may dispute the album's 'live' credibilty, as many of the songs here were never actually performed at those shows. What we have is a very energetic sounding recording that was probably more than a little doctored in the studio. The best evidence for this is in the bonus tracks included in this release-Shoot From The Hip, Sex Drive and Widowmaker sound much more 'live' than the rest of the cd.
As for the actual songs, WASP penned quite a few memorable numbers in their career and the best of them are here-Inside The Electric Circus, Wild Child, Sleeping (In The Fire), The Manimal, I Wanna Be Somebody, Blind In Texas-these are all fine songs that stand up to repeated listenings. Curious, that their controversial debut single was not included-Animal(F**K like a Beast), this song is responsible more than any other for garnering the band attention and is actually a very cool tune. The CD also includes an awesome cover of Scream Until You Like It, an old chestnut redone by WASP for one of the Ghoulies horror film soundtracks.
The large majority of the remaining material suffers from truly inane and insipid lyrics and in some cases music that borders on tedium. Shoot From The Hip and Sex Drive will have to go down in history as two of the most misogynistic and idiotic songs of all time, 9.5. Nasty and Harder Faster aren't much better either. Also, the Sleeping In The Fire(acoustic) is anything but, featuring a very electric solo.
The digipack is nothing to write home about either, featuring some superficial and fluffy liner notes by a WASP 'expert' named Dom Lawson and the same photos initially featured in the 1987 vinyl and cassette release.
For those looking for WASP at their best, this is the only place to start. Ultimately, the only release by the band that stands the test of time in a eighties hair metal sort of way.

Average customer rating:

Sitting An' Thinking This is Fabulous

Raw Sienna/Looking In
Savoy Brown
Manufacturer: Beat Goes On
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Street Corner Talking

ASIN: B0007SM922
Release Date: 2005-04-18

Tracks:

Hard Way to Go
That Same Feelin'
Master Hare
Needle and Spoon
Little More Wine
I'm Crying
Stay While the Night Is Young
Is That So
When I Was a Young Boy
Gypsy
Poor Girl
Money Can't Save Your Soul
Sunday Night
Looking In
Take It Easy
Sitting an' Thinking
Leavin' Again
Romanoff

Album Description

First time on CD for these 70's albums from Savoy Brown. UK pressing reissue, remastered & packaged in a slip case. BGO Records. 2005.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Edition of Two Classic LPs on a Single CD of These Two 1970's Albums from the Well Respected British Blues Rockers, Led by Guitarist Kim Simmonds.

Customer Reviews:

Sitting An' Thinking This is Fabulous.......2007-01-24

Arguably Savoy Brown's 2 best albums packaged together in 77 fabulous minutes and 18 songs. I always liked the more rocking sound of "Looking In" over the more intimate blues bar sound of "Raw Sienna", but both albums really kick. The best songs for me are are "Stay While the Night Is Young" and "Needle and Spoon" on Sienna and "Leavin Again", "Money Can't Save Your Soul" and "Sunday Night" on Looking In. But, believe me, ALL the songs are great on Looking In if you like rock with a little blues thrown in and some great guitar solos that aren't overblown like Skynyrd's "Freebird". The music is similar to Wishbone Ash and pre-Stevie Fleetwood Mac. Both Chris Youlden on "Raw Sienna" and Lonesome Dave on "Lookin In" provide excellent soulful vocals and to me sound more similar than different.

Liner notes are OK but author Alan Robinson much favors Raw Sienna over Looking In - I disagree. Also, there is a major mistake on the back page of the booklet - the credits for each album are switched. My only other complaint is they don't list the times of the songs anywhere.

I never cared much for Foghat, except their first hit, "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" but you can definitely hear pre-Foghat in Looking In. Lonesome Dave doesn't scream as much as he did with Foghat. It's a shame everybody except Kim Simmonds left for Foghat after this, but Simmonds landed on his feet and later editions of Savoy Brown produced a few fine albums after this, like Street Corner Talking.

One final note: anybody hear the similarity of Sienna's "Stay While the Night Is Young" to the recent hit by Jack Johnson called, "Sitting, Wishing, Waiting"? "Stay While.." is a little slower pace but the acoustic guitar strumming, laid-back snare drums and vocals sound very, very similar like these could be 2 songs on the same album. Wonder if Johnson ever listened to "Lookin In" or if this is just music evolution circling back on itself.

Fine, fine collection. Buy it!! I hardly ever hear Savoy Brown played on classic rock radios, yet I remember they were BIG in the early 70's! And that was in Nebraska! I think this kind of music is going to come back after people tire of nu metal.

Penny Merriments: Street Songs of 17th Century England

Average customer rating:

Penny Merriments: Street Songs of 17th Century England

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bawdy Ballads of Old England: The City Waites
Thomas D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy: Lewd Songs and Low Ballads from the 18th Century
The King's Noyse, dir. David Douglass: Royal Delight: 17th Century Ballads & Dances
The Art of the Bawdy Song
The English Tradition: 400 Years of Music & Song

ASIN: B0009JMEKQ
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

The Courtiers Health, Or The Merry Boys Of The Times
The Country Lass
The Crost People, Or A Good Misfortune
The Courtryman's Joy
Seldom Cleanly
A Merry Jest Of John Thompson And Jakaman His Wife
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Come, Gentle Night: Music of Shakespeare's World

Average customer rating:

Ensemble Galilei's music is lilting, elegant and unexpected!
beautiful
Excellent!
It will bring about many gentle nights
Visualizing Beauty

Come, Gentle Night: Music of Shakespeare's World

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Shakespeare Songs
Music In The Great Hall: Instrumental Music From The Ancient Celtic Lands
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Songs and Dances from Shakespeare

ASIN: B0000478S3
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Tracks:

Mister Issac's Maggot, Chestnut (Dove's Vagary)
Woodycock
Death's Second Self
Jack's Health, Vale Of Years, Jack's Health Reel
Come, Gentile Night
Departe, Departe, The Cobbler's Hornpipe, Third Act Tune
But Let Them Go, Ladies, Sight No More
In A Garden So Green, Childgrove
Fire, Burn, and Cauldron Bubble
The Asp
Rumble Thy Bellyful
Pastime With Good Company, O Lusty May
Irish Lament
Joy To THe Person Of My Love
The Winter's Tale Set: Love's Winter Light, Apples In Winter, Drive The Cold Winter Away, Jenny Pluck Pears
Lilli Burleo
The Scottich Play Set: Life Is But A Walking Shadow, Mill, Mill O', Pawky Adam Glen
Heart's Ease, Now That The Spring, Gathering Peascods
No Longer Mourn For Me

Customer Reviews:

Ensemble Galilei's music is lilting, elegant and unexpected!.......2002-11-29

With their soulful playing and artful, sometimes even ephemeral arrangements, the six women of Ensemble Galilei convey a rare depth of emotion. In the insert notes, gamba player Carolyn Ann Surrick describes their creative process: "[In making this recording, we engaged in]...a kind of work that is so focused and intense that years can go by in one afternoon... Extraordinary music-making requires trust... [We] live for the times when the only thing that exists right then is the music--when the instruments are speaking as if we don't exist, and they are having their own conversation." Thank you, Ensemble Galilei, for allowing the rest of us the privilege of coming along for the ride! It's simply delectable. This chamber ensemble, featuring fiddle, harp, gamba, oboe, pipes and percussion, can also be heard on their other Telarc release, "From the Isles to the Courts", and "The Mystic and the Muse: Celebrating 600 Years of Women in Music", on the Dorian label.

beautiful.......2001-01-22

Sheer beauty, as a lover of English music I found this to be one of the most beautiful of all Shakespearean albums. Such harmony, such subtlety, one wishes that the gentle night will never stop.

Excellent!.......2001-01-04

Ensemble Galilei provide some excellent arrangements of English renaissance compositions. I believe that John Playford (English Dancing Master) fans will be particularly satisfied with the renditions presented here. It is very unfortunate that E.G. did not provide more arrangements from such early music sources. Some of E.G.'s own compositions seem very weak and not in the renaissance spirit of the rest of the CD. Nonetheless, this CD is highly recommmended.

It will bring about many gentle nights.......2000-11-22

I found this album to be solid. Very sweet, but not afraid to use percussion which makes it livelier and more fun. I adore the quiet, peacefulness of the music and the flawless execution of these renaissance songs.

Visualizing Beauty.......2000-08-20

I recently had the good fortune to direct a performance of King Lear--the ENTIRE five acts, in a community theatre, non-profit setting. I used twenty-four fully committed non-actors, who for the love of the ideas, participated in this performance. The first and main challenge that I faced was, how do I go "behind" the words, and invoke the right emotions, etc., to give these actors the range and tools needed for an effective, powerful performance? Critical to this performance was the beauty and brilliance of this recording, which I used throughout the various scenes of the play. This helped the performers tremendously, creating the different tapestries in the mind of the Bard. In short, this work is real genius, that I was so happy that I stumbled across. I am now putting in our performance programs, along with our most heart-felt thanks to E.G., the name of the recording and I have copies from Telarc to sell at each performance!

The Beggar's Opera: Original Songs & Airs

Average customer rating:

music and musicology
Spare and bitter origins of British opera

The Beggar's Opera: Original Songs & Airs

Manufacturer: Hmf Musique D'abord
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00009IC6P
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Customer Reviews:

music and musicology.......2006-05-26

i've had the original release for more years than i will admit. it's as enjoyable today as it was the first time i listened to it.

in addition to the john gay versions are the earliest known versions of the songs and some that came afterwards. for example, the tune of what most people know as 'greensleeves' is played from the first known italian setting (15th century as i recall) to one done in the irish folk style from the 19th century, with gay's version in the middle.

gay borrowed many of his tunes from other songs that were familiar to his audience. where the original might be sentimental or even religious in content, gay would write a bawdy or satiric version, which would have had added interest and humor for his audience.

but don't think that all this impressive scholarship makes for a dull time. the musicians are first rate and the disc can be enjoyed simply as wonderfully played and sung 18th music.

Spare and bitter origins of British opera.......2003-11-19

This is a splendid performance of astringent pieces from the original Beggar's Opera performed in opposition to importation of the lush continental style.

Elvis Raw- Early Live Recording - March 19, 1955 at Eagles Hall In Houston

Average customer rating:

Elvis Raw- Early Live Recording - March 19, 1955 at Eagles Hall In Houston
Elvis Presley
Manufacturer: Peter Pan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001TUE
Release Date: 1997-06-24

Tracks:

Interview With Bill Collie
Baby, Let's Play House
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
I Got A Woman
Good Rockin' Tonight
That's All Right
Interview With Scottie Moore

Average customer rating:

As Seen On TV
The Pulltops
Manufacturer: Independent Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0006SU5T2
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Tracks:

...
Falling Down
Save Me
I (Moments)
Diggin' A Hole
Summer Sunrise
Into You
One Way To Go
Promised Land
The Battle Goes On
Gotta Go

Album Description

The Pulltops 2004 release, As Seen On TV, is an excellent follow-up to their debut album, 8-Track. They still manage to keep their 60's and 70's influence while sounding fresh and new. This album, however, has more of a focus on the 70's side of rock. The songs are slightly darker than the polished pop of their first release. This album sounds more mature and more developed. Have no fear, The Pulltops don't stray too far from the well crafted 3 minute pop song. The songs on this CD have a distinct pop feel on the surface, but put forth more attitude and feel than their first release. As Seen On TV has the makings of an excellent sophomore album.

Average customer rating:

Miles from the Lightning

Manufacturer: Rock River Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000CAFX7I
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Average customer rating:

review from the Synthesis
New Kicks
Truly Horrible

Black Comet
Heavenly States
Manufacturer: Baria Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Heavenly States
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

ASIN: B0009RQRWY
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Tracks:

Look and Listen
Pretty Life
Black Comet
Borderline
Song in F
Elastic Days
Racetrack
Light Dressed Storm
Vacant
The Pale
A Revolution Away
The Witness

Album Description

Black Comet is dense, economical rock presenting full, raw performances in a chamber rock setting. From the classic rock style of "Look and Listen" and "Pretty Life" in the vein of Neil Young, Van Morrison and VU, to the southern rock gothic of "Elastic Days" that pauses for a Palestrinian lullaby right in middle of the song, this record is handling heavy equipment and handling it well. Horns join in for the "The Pale", a The Who-wants-to-party track, and they appear again on "Black Comet," a song that blends traditional "Cotton-eyed Joe" with Creedence's "Fortunate Son" into a manic coping song -- or is it a fighting song? Like the gas-powered rockabilly spirit of "Racetrack," most tracks on the record hit hard right out of the box, but for this very reason, don't miss the four songs that stray from the ring. Slow dance "Song in F" asks the dance partner to "Stand in, if you must, for the bones on the ground," before the music runs right into regret. "A Revolution Away" is a breathless waltz, a wordless giggle that puts innocence, mischief and hope in very close proximity to the cynical dragon. Funereal anthem "The Witness" might best be filmed at an English football match with the stands singing its Verdi-style chorus, except this is a song about what it feels like when defeat and victory can no longer be distinguished. Gypsy violins replace swooping synthesizers in "Light Dressed Storm," a dance track about the ground getting its revenge on the sky. (Baria Records on The Heavenly States album Black Comet)

Now that Bruce Baby (Springsteen) has taken it down a notch or a dozen, where has all the gusto, that larger-than-humdrum-life rock, gone? It sounds like it's safe in the hands of the Heavenly States. The Oakland band's Black Comet (Baria) dares to grab at that huge honking sound and scope, so rare and out of favor these days - thanks to the always energetic singing by Ted Nesseth, the up-front fiddling of Genevieve Gagon, and the band's tendency to sound as urgent as a 15-alarm fire and generally kick heinie whenever they play. When words fail Nesseth, and the sweet waltz of "A Revolution Away" fades into the poignant flute folk of "The Witness," you're prepared to hand over the keys to Brother Brucie's kingdom of inspirational rock. (Kimberly Chun, San Francisco Bay Guardian, May 2005)

Customer Reviews:

review from the Synthesis.......2005-09-01

The Heavenly States churn out rambunctious rock, like the spawn of The Replacements and The Wonder Stuff. The spirit of a rollicking bar band drives much of Black Comet, but what really makes the album click is the addition of Genevieve Gagon's violin and viola. These smokin' strings combine with occasional sax, trumpet and keys to expand the band's sound, enabling The Heavenly States to rock in a more unique way, which is always good. On songs like "Elastic Days" and "Look And Listen," Gagon's violin adds an extra emotional element and an urgent texture to the tunes. While Ted Nesseth's vocal range does not appear to be that broad, he compensates by having something just as important: a true tone of sincerity.

- Connell Burton McDaniel
Synthesis.net

New Kicks.......2005-07-17

In the past five or so years there has been an obvious trend in popular music. I have heard people refer to it as a "revival". There has been something missing from most of the albums that have been released in this new-old genre. Interpretation. A band of moderately versed musicians can mimic just about any riff or nostalgic mood that rock and roll has to offer, but that is not what makes something relevant. The Heavenly States are relevant because they lace up their musical shoes with their own soles, pockets, tongue and gription. The songs are all different and full of invention. They use their own particular illusions and fears and angst and love, and wrap it up in riffs that we've `almost' heard before. I swear there's a Van Morrison song in the vein of "Look and Listen" but the chorus takes it somewhere else completely. The title track is much like the comet Ted Nesseth sings about. It rushes by, beginning with a huge tribal drum beat that becomes a country ho-down. In the middle eight, the sax solo (yes - a sax solo) is like Clarence Clemons on speed with the rest of the E Street Band. I'm able to hear a multitude of influences and at the same time have a feeling I haven't had before. The album rolls seamlessly in and out of emotions and genres and that makes it stand out like the sore thumb home in the neighborhood -- the home you have to wonder about. This year, it's being subletted by The Heavenly States.

Truly Horrible.......2005-07-16

This is the Heavenly's second release and, like the first, it's a huge disappointment.

As a live band these guys are a visceral, raw, scream-your-head-off band that can live with any other band around.

As a studio band they seemingly have no idea. The drums sound as though they were recorded through a 30 foot steel door from six hundred miles away and the overall sound of the album suffers the same fate.

Songs like Racetrack and Pretty Life (so vital in concert) are limp wristed and lard assed.

How songs that sound so good when you see these people live can die such a horrific studio death is beyond me.

I think THS should really think about changing producers or do something positive for the next release, because this is 12 tracks of bad news.

Soul Music:

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Hamburger Concerto [Original recording remastered] [Import] [Live]

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link-web.net Music Review: 50 Classical Highlights: Romantic Piano