The Unseen

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The high-pitched alter-ego of the Lootpack's Madlib, Quasimoto concocts one of the most creative hip-hop albums in recent times. Sounding like a lost demo tape from 1992, and made under the influence of some serious mind-altering substances, The Unseen finds Quasi indulging in scattered, stream-of-consciousness rhymes and a collection of dusty jazz breaks and loops. Not only does the album sample the frantic vocals of '70s playwright Melvin Van Peebles, it also shares an affinity with Peebles's spoken-word albums, such as Serious as a Heart Attack. Both artists are most interesting when they take chances, risking alienation and/or ridicule. --Oliver Wang

The Unseen,Quasimoto,Stones Throw,Alternative Rap,Hip-Hop,Jazz-Rap,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Underground Rap,West Coast Rap

The Unseen

Tracks:

Brutal Truth, The (Intro)
Such Tragedy
At Point Break
Right Before Your Eyes
Torn And Shattered (Nothing Left)
Break Away
Let It Go
No Direction
In Your Place
Left For Dead
Step Inside... Take Your Life
Act the Part
Talking Bombs

Album Description

Over the past two years, this Boston band has toured non-stop around the world, headlining and also supporting such heavyweights as Tiger Army, Rancid, Hatebreed, Dropkick Murphys, and Sick Of It All. This, their second album, finds them staying true to their punk roots, with classic anthemic choruses and head-cracking beats. "The Unseen are punks, pirates, pioneers, and Peter Pan, all rolled into one band" - Alternative Press.

Customer Reviews:

If you want street punk, look somewhere else.......2007-07-30

this record sounds like state of discontent (which i hated) if your a fan of "lower class crucifixtion" you'll hate this.

all the songs are annoying. it sounds like hes singing in a nasal tone with glass in his throat.

save your money. get some good stuff.

career soldiers new record is better.

It's alright.......2007-07-29

Yeah it's pretty good I kinda wanted more out of it i'm not sayin it's bad it's alright State of discontent was the one that blew me away, but yeah check it out.

Hell yeah!!!.......2007-07-20

This band rocks!!! Hard hitting thrash/punk angst. Male vocals, killer punk album. This makes not only one of the best albums of 2007, but speaking for myself, this is one of the best punk records ever made. I love the hell out of it. For fans of Dwarves, Suicidal Tendencies, The Casualties, and Slayer.

As Dark and Pissed Off as Ever.......2007-07-10

Those familiar with these boys' combination of Boston streetpunk and hardcore aren't in for many surprises with this album. The same themes prevail in this album as in their previous albums: disgust with the government, society, and life in general. If anything this album is darker and more raw than "State of Discontent," the band's previous Hellcat release.

Average customer rating:

AN EXCURSION INTO AN INTERESTING WORLD OF ARTICULATENESS
amazing
A creative album that never stops growing on you - Dont listen to individual tracks
Dope
Madlib's most impressive work...

The Unseen
Quasimoto
Manufacturer: Stones Throw
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

West Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Madvillainy
Beat Konducta, Vols. 1-2
Vaudeville Villain
Take Me to Your Leader

ASIN: B000A2H79A
Release Date: 2005-08-09

Tracks:

Welcome to Violence
Bad Character
Microphone Mathematics
Basic Instinct
Goodmorning Sunshine
Disciple 99 Pt. 0
Low Class Conspiracy
Return of the Loop Digga
Real Eyes
Come On Feet
Bluffin
Boom Music
MHBs
Put a Curse on You
Astro Black
Green Power
Jazz Cats Pt. 1
24-7
The Unseen
Phony Game
Astro Travelin
Blitz
Axe Puzzles
Disciple 99 Pt. 1

Tracks:

Welcome To Violence
Bad Character
Microphone Mathematics
Basic Instinct
Goodmorning Sunshine
Discipline 99 Pt. 0
Real Eyes
Low Class Conspiracy
Come On Feet
Bluffin
Boom Music
MHBs
Put A Curse On You
Astro Black
Green Power
Jazz Cats Pt. 1
24-7
The Unseen
Phony Game
Astro Travellin
Axe Puzzles
Blitz

Album Description

Reissue of the first Quasimoto record PLUS the instrumentals in a 2CD set. Upon its release in 2000, The Unseen was heralded an indie hip-hop masterpiece, further establishing MADLIB as a conceptual genius, & influencing the likes of MF Doom, De La Soul, and a generation of blunt smokers.

Absolutely essential for any fan of Madlib or Stones Throw.

Customer Reviews:

AN EXCURSION INTO AN INTERESTING WORLD OF ARTICULATENESS.......2007-02-15

man.....................words cannot describe the feeling that i got when i heard this cd. there is no other hip hop album like it in my opinion, and i have heard some clever ones. it's like he took what MF DOOM was doing and just did something else with it. my joint on here is BOOM MUSIC and oh, part 1 of DISCIPLINE 99. i am a sucka for that helium-filled sound. it goes against the grain, and i love artists who do that, maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!! get it, close your doggone eyes, use headphones for better effect, and enjoy!!!!

amazing.......2007-02-01

This is easily one of Madlib's best projects. not only do you get the full length album but you get a bonus instrumental cd with a remix of "come on feet" which i think is a much better listen. if youre an instrumental fiend like i am this will be a very wise purchase. its an amazing cd.

A creative album that never stops growing on you - Dont listen to individual tracks.......2005-12-29

A friend of mine advised me to purchase this album after I expressed my interest in "underground" hip-hop, which I really do not have but expressed in order to make conversation. To make a long story short, I bought the album on a whim and was initially un-impressed. From the first listen, it just sounds like a black guy getting his teeth pulled. The voice was kind of unnerving and the beats were a little trippy. The samples seemed out of place or out of touch and the melodies seemed almost random and at times incoherent. I was, in short, not impressed.

After giving it about two or three more listens, however, this album grew on me in a way that few albums ever do. I am not a fan of hip-hop in any way or form; in fact, I barely can keep up with the latest mainstream releases, and I despise most of them. Yet, this album's quirky beats, melodies, and samples actually form together when you take the album as a whole. Give it a listen from the satirical first track to the tripped-out final track and enjoy. It is one of the most relaxing hip-hop albums you can experience and yet one of the most intriguing. The lyrics leave much to be desired at times, but you must realize how unimportant they are to this album, which is all about the beats and the melodies.

If this album is to be enjoyed, it is to be enjoyed as a whole. However, I can't help but name some exceptional and rather creative tracks. The album starts out as a confessional of the Madlib alter-ego Quasimoto but descends into madness, which makes it rather humorous at times. So, I have grouped notable tracks into two categories "Traditional" and "Experimental."

Traditional - Return of the Loop Digga, Real Eyes, Green Power, Astro Travellin

Experimental - Goodmorning Sunshine, Come On Feet, Astro Black, Put A Curse On You (*I would say this is probably the best of the experimental tracks and among the best on the album)

This album deserves your attention, regardless of whether or not you have ever enjoyed a hip-hop album before. Give it a try!

Dope.......2005-09-24

This is not mainstream hip hop. First, Quasimoto is like a made-up cartoon character of a rapper. He sounds like he's been sucking on a helium filled balloon. Some people will hate this. Others will think it fits the music brilliantly (I'm in that camp). Still others will think that Quasimoto sounds oddly like Eminem.

The second thing that's different about "The Unseen" is that there are few proper songs. There probably isn't a radio friendly single anywhere in the 24 songs. Instead, the album progresses through snippets and songs are constantly changing direction. Those who sometimes find hip hop records too long and repetitive probably won't have that problem here. Again, though, those who like traditional song structures might not like this.

The one thing about "The Unseen" that I think just about anyone would agree on is that the production is brilliant. Jazz, funk, weird samples-- it's all here. Madlib may be the best hip hop producer alive today. Which is why the instrumental disk included here is so key. The beats totally stand alone and are worth listening to apart from Lord Quas's strange delivery.

I can't see anyone who likes hip hop not liking at least one of these disks. Just get it.

Madlib's most impressive work..........2005-09-06

Groundbreaking. Ethereal. One-of-a-kind. Slick. All these things describe the essence of what has become an essential classic. Madlib's alter ego, Quasimoto, coasts through this album seemingly high, partly focused and somewhat angry, but it all works to complete the character. I would have to say that although Madlib and Quas are one and the same, he definitely makes it appear as though there are two people on this album going back and forth. An amazing feat in itself, it does not detract from the music. I hesitate to even call it just music, because it's more like a music adventure, or the soundtrack to to "Straight Chillin': Cold Maxin', The Movie".

Since this is the reissue, 'The Unseen' comes with a second disc of instrumentals. Score!

Beats:
Madlib holds it down since his efforts with Lootpack. He honed his skills with them, but he shows how masterful he is with this album. Magician and beatsmith all rolled into one, the guy makes you nod your head whether it's crazy samples ("Put a Curse on You") or atmospheric loops ("Green Power"). It's all good stuff, really, and Madlib does it with such finesse. This album plays like one long, trippy song. You will feel like you're "Astro Travellin'"

Lyrics:
Ok, so Madlib ain't a lyricist. That's okay, cause he doesn't need to be. You get the message that Quasimoto is a bit crazy and high most of the time, so he spits a little off. But Madlib is versatile as the appearance of rhyme on time and tag-teaming go off without a hitch, if people didn't know the history of the man, they'd think there were two people. The thing is it that the lyrics fit so well into the music, it's like lock and key.

Lasting appeal:
The album was a classic without this release, but it just got better with the addition of the instrumentals. And at a mere $13.99 or less, it's well worth it. This is of course providing that you don't have the original.

Get that yo! ~Ward Prefect

"Come on feet, cruise for me." ~Quasimoto

Average customer rating:

WOW!!!
It grows on you, quite like how
Excellent debut effort from this eclectic duo

Out There
The Unseen Guest
Manufacturer: Intuition
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Checkpoint
Putumayo Presents: Blues Around the World
Fisherman's Woman
Putumayo Presents: Women of the World - Acoustic
Diamond Days

ASIN: B0007ZIYN8
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

Let Me In
In the Black
Anywhere Somewhere
Listen My Son
Mangla Express
Sandalista
Out There
Circle In the Dirt
One Down
Never Enough

Customer Reviews:

WOW!!!.......2006-09-10

Wow! This CD is amazing; real soul music. I got the CD because I loved the song that was showcased on Putamayo's World Blues CD. I listen to a lot of world music and The Unseen Guest is the best of East meets West that I have seen around in a long time. The combination of blues guitar and Indian instruments fits so nicely that it brings you to a place that you haven't had the pleasure to visit before. The lyrics are mysterious and haunting at times. There is a true sense of other worldiness in this music. It is refreshing and new and we are lucky to have such talented and innovative artists out there to bring us this truly unique sound. A vey special CD!

It grows on you, quite like how .......2005-11-17

The afore mentioned affable 4-headed andavan 'Brahma' recommended the band and music.
For once someone has pulled of the 'East meets West' credo! Declan's voice rocks. Kinda like Eddie Vedder after some 'Californian Purple haze'.(which is a good thing). Amith's acoustics sound 'rich'. "Let me in" is a rendition of a genre that would have toasted Dave Mathews chilling with Dr. Balasubramanian.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a tangent to their otherwise boring lifestyles involving nothing but routine S&M (oh wait that might just be me..)

My personal rating is a 4.9 out of 5. Only because you didnt have Miles Davis on.

Excellent debut effort from this eclectic duo.......2005-11-15

Amith and Declan have just embarked on putting their music out for people to hear, albeit they've been musicians for long. I could go really verbose talking about their music, but that exercise would seem a little pointless considering [...] This is the kind of music that grows on you. Excellent piece of work!! Higly recommended!!!

Average customer rating:

Stunning re-release of a minimalist classic

Kmh
Lubomyr Melnyk
Manufacturer: Unseen Worlds
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000PY4X40
Release Date: 2007-05-14

Tracks:

KMH (50:14)

Product Description

Lubomyr Melnyk's debut album from 1978, KMH, is an unheralded touchstone of minimalism. Performing solo on piano with a speed that suggests multiple pianos playing together in harmony, Melnyk nearly brings out the full sound of the instrument all at once. His music is lush and maximal yet it possesses the restrained, slowly evolving nature found in music by artists like Steve Reich and Terry Riley. Melnyk developed his unique approach to minimalism while working with dancer/choreographer Carolyn Carlson (who also worked with Igor Wakhevitch) in Paris during the 1970's. Carlson's influence led Melnyk to create music that is dramatic enough for the stage yet meditative enough for deep listening, a version of minimalism with the engimatic traces of Satie. Remastered from the privately produced master tapes with new artwork and an 8-page photo booklet.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning re-release of a minimalist classic.......2007-07-23

A couple weeks ago a very good friend of mine told me about an album that he had purchased on a whim. It was a re-release of the debut album of a semi-obscure minimal composer by the name of Lubomyr Melnyk, and he mentioned it to me because he thought it sounded like something I would enjoy. After going to the label website and listening to only a short soundclip, I ordered the release, and since it's been in my position it has been making near-daily (and sometimes more) spins in my CD player.

After hearing it for the first time, I was excitedly explaining it to my wife when I said, "it sounds like music that I wish someone had created, but I hadn't yet heard." While that statement may seem a bit hyperbolic (because there are certain references to his work, musically), it's true for the most part. Honestly, you have never heard anyone play the piano quite like Lubomyr Melnyk. He invented a style that he calls "continuous music," and it relies on deft, super-fast two-handed playing that at times sounds like the work of two people or more. Melnyk has actually set two world records for piano playing, with an astounding sustained rate of 19.5 notes per second (per hand, simultaneously!) and an unbelievable 93,650 notes in a single hour, averaging thirteen notes per hand per second for sixty minutes.

The speed records themselves are sort of an odd side note, but they do provide a bit of a background to his actual playing technique, which seems a bit frantic and even dizzying on first listen. As mentioned above, KMH is his debut album, and was originally released in 1978, but has fortunately now been reissued by the up-and-coming Austin, Texas label Unseen Worlds with nice packaging and remastering. A single, fifty minute piece, KMH has been split into five tracks here for easier access, but honestly this is the sort of thing you'll want to let play over and over again in its entirety.

It's hard to pick out favorite spots in the undulating piece, but one of only many places that melts me every time arrives about sixteen minutes in, when an almost water-like lyrical section gives way to lower-register ascending melodies that are in turn accented by higher and quieter cascades. The middle section of the piece is almost unrelenting, with places that are near-dissonant, while other moments are achingly melodic. About forty minutes in, it reaches an absolute fever-pitch, with a truly mind-bending passage that sounds far too lush to be the work of one person.

Even though it went unheard by most for a very long time, I can honestly say that KMH is one of the more affecting pieces of minimal (if you want to call it that) music that I've ever heard. It has things in common with everyone from Steve Reich to Terry Riley and Charlemagne Palestine, and stands up next to any of them in terms of quality. It's the kind of seriously stunning music that's suitable for either detailed thinking or flat-out meditation. I'm just happy that it has been re-released to the world and I can't recommend it enough.

(from almost cool music reviews)

Average customer rating:

The climb to the top
a great jazz combo
Not thrilling, but nice
The Charlie Hunter Trio
Smooth, tasty, and chunky...

Friends Seen and Unseen
Charlie Hunter Trio
Manufacturer: Artemis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Acid Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Copperopolis
Songs from the Analog Playground
Bing, Bing, Bing!
Steady Groovin'
Ready...Set...Shango!

ASIN: B0002ABT4Y
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

One for the Keepers
Freedom Tickler
Lulu's Crawl
Darkly
Sowero's Where It's At
Shuffle
Slow Blues
Bonus Round
My Son The Hurricane
Moore's Alphabet

Amazon.com

Hunter has scaled down from the 2003 quintet of Right Now Move, returning to the guitar-drums-saxophone format that he launched in 1993. Retaining Derrek Phillips on drums and John Ellis on tenor, flute, and bass clarinet, Hunter continues to find fresh approaches to the groove, using his 8-string guitar to create bass lines and organ-style riffs in support of his minimalist leads. He's a master of musical inference: witness "Soweto's Where It's At," a serene invocation of the South African township, drenched in American gospel and roots blues. "Shuffle" builds its electric intensity from Hunter's wah-wah pedal, while "Bonus Round" is a kind of high-speed bop with subtle harmonic dimension. It's often the slow tunes here that show Hunter's finest qualities. "Slow Blues" is just that, testimony to how much the guitarist has grown. It's perfect, soulful playing, anchored by Phillips's time-keeping and amplified by Ellis's tenor. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

The climb to the top.......2006-02-21

In this album they have an orginal layered sound and are working to reach a more rock/funk feel. Each of the three bring an awesome talent and style. They are unlike any jazz trio you've heard before or will again.

There is not a bad track and it can be listened to over and over. You may want to buy this album with Cooperopolis. You'll hear the the sound that they start to develop in this album and take to an even higher level.

a great jazz combo.......2006-01-09

I smile every time I listen to this album.

Charlie Hunter really has it together in the 10 tracks of Friends Seen and Unseen. If you've heard some of his older material, you'll notice how tight his bass + guitar sounds relative to his [already good] earlier work.

This album was the first time I'd heard John Ellis. He has a great sound, and I especially like his bass clarinet work. My favorite moment in the entire album is the bass clarinet solo about 1:15 in on My Son the Hurricane. If you liked John Ellis' One Foot in the Swamp, then you should really like this album.

Derrek Phillips lays down a solid beat--very jazz.

Altogether, the three make for a great combo.

Relative to Charlie Hunter's other work: this album is more conventional than Garage à Trois, but slightly more innovative than Steady Groovin'. It's good music to play when hanging out with friends.

Not thrilling, but nice.......2005-10-04

On Amazon an album with 3 stars seems to be not good enough to buy. That's not really the case here. When you like guitar, funk, Scofield and a touch of blues you might like this one. But it's the same as with some powerblues, funk, straight ahead big band or soul: the music gets boring too quick. There doesn't happen enough for me and a minimalistic approach only works when the notes that aren't played build up tension. In funky music that simply is never the case, except when there's a really great musical personality at work.
Muddy Waters played great blues and it didn't matter that you exactly knew what to expect. The music was just so intens that it got (and still gets) to you. Scofield has such a unique way of playing that he can make albums like this sound much more interesting. There just has to be something extra in the music (and it really doesn't matter what)to give an album 4 stars.

And still, when I've got company it's a nice album to put on. The solo's never get in the way of good (or bad) conversation and the music will not even irritate your mother-in-law.

The reason I bought the album, was because of the combination guitar and reeds that play some of the themes in the beginning of the songs. You can hear it when you play the amazon-fragments. Due to these fragments I thought the album had something more to offer, but it didn't.

But it's still a nice album.

The Charlie Hunter Trio.......2005-07-31

I bought this not knowing who Charlie Hunter was, who the musicians on this album was, what kind of jazz it was, and what year this was produced. The only reason I really got it was because of the cover.

Anyway, I brought this home, while reading the cd book, seeing the lineup was Charlie Hunter on guitar, Jon Ellis on reeds, and Derek Phillips. My first question was obviously, where's the bass player? Not being familiar with the 8 string guitar, but thinking it had something to do with playing the guitar and the bass at the same time.

Putting the cd on, I listened to the groove of the first track. It was cool. Now as I learned more about Charlie Hunter and what he does, I've come to love this album, and I can safely say it is one of the best jazz albums I've heard in years. The only problem I'm having with this, is that there's no indication of the year this was released.

Charlie Hunter is one of jazz's finest guitar players. Although he didn't invent the style of guitar in which he plays, he's an excellent song writer, and his fellow musicians can play!

There's only about one song that is in 4/4 time! This album hosts magnificent musicianship all around. This is a wonderful album, and the playing is some of the best playing I have ever heard. Most the musicians here are relatively unkown, but I find this puzzling, because they play so well.

I am really looking foward to buying some more Charlie Hunter records. If they are as good as this one, Charlie Hunter will continue to be one of my favorite artists for years to come.

Smooth, tasty, and chunky..........2005-02-02

From the first time one hears Charlie Hunter, one has an odd sense you're listening to the "Dynamic Duo" days of Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery...except that the crazy 8-string guitarist is playing both Jimmy AND Wes' parts at the same time. Over the past decade, Hunter's proven that his 8-strings-and-the-truth routine is no gimmick, but an original and spicey approach to making jazz your posterior can groove to. While his "Right Now Move" quintet was intriguing and eclectic--how many jazz bands have a harmonica soloist?--here he pares down the layers for some deep-dish trio interaction with Ellis & Phillips, both of whom have considerably more space to stretch out and indulge in expressionistic and colorful explorations of their own. As always, the funk quotient is quite high, but some of the blues and gospel influences allow for more leisurely, molasses-thick vamps straight out of 'Nawlins. Instrumentally this is especially a showcase for Ellis--playing bass clarinet and flute in addition to sax expands his tonal pallete considerably, and to wonderful effect. Mosey, sidle, or slide over to your local music establishment to get ahold of what Hunter peddles, as it might soon be 'unseen'...

Average customer rating:

Right!
Very well done
musically, it is ace!..vocally it is wretched...
Didn't Care for the Cover
REAL Punk

State of Discontent
Unseen
Manufacturer: Hellcat Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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So This Is Freedom
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...And Out Come The Wolves

ASIN: B0008ENJ1A
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

On The Other Side
Scream Out
The End Is Near
Weapons of Mass Destruction
You Can Never Go Home
Dead Weight
Force Fed
Social Damage
Waste Of Time
Hit And Run
We Are All That We Have
Flames Have Destroyed
Final Execution (Armageddon)
Paint It Black

Album Description

The Unseen play punk rock, mix in hardcore, scream their asses off, and write great hooks. Their music and lyrics are filled with pent up fear, confusion, lust, guilt, dread, hate, and resentment, but they're neither a political band nor a street punk band, because those terms are too one-dimensional. Their songs deal with every thoughtful aspect in life. Produced by the Dropkick Murphy's Ken Casey and mixed by Jim Siegel and Bad Religion's Brett Gurewitz. Look for them on this summer's Warped Tour.

Customer Reviews:

Right!.......2007-07-27

Like it or not it's some pretty good music soooooo I have five words
Buy it
or
try it!

Very well done.......2007-06-04

If you love bands like anti-flag then you will really dig this album. awesome sound, intelligent lyrics, all put together really well

musically, it is ace!..vocally it is wretched..........2007-02-16

nails on a chalkboard. that is exactly how i would describe the voice of Mark Unseen. I think his voice is even more grating than that of Justin Sane...mainly because AF's music fits Justin's voice.

now i know Mark shared vocals in the previous releases with Paul and sounded superb, but on here, it surfaces as the annoyance it actually is. i saw these guys in concert and i must say, when they played the brooding "other side" i was highly pumped. it leads then onto "scream out" which has some of the best modern "punk" sounds i have heard in the past two years. it could have been a 5 star song...save for the fact that it sounds like Buggs Bunny is singing it.

all in all, yeah, i probally will be enticed to check out a new album when they release one, the band is great. if they get themselves a vocalist that sounds like Lemmy or at least a less annoying high pitched voice(in the vein of Keith morris and HR and such)..or if mark just changes his singing a little, i feel this band could be top of the punk scene.

Didn't Care for the Cover.......2006-09-01

I'm sorry but never cover a great song by a great band, you will never make a song as good as theirs. Other than that the album was okay, one of the songs had a part where they shout "Why, why, why, why, why, why" ... I hate that song. The guy who said they beat a dead horse the best was right. They beat the hell out of that horse.

REAL Punk.......2006-02-27

Why this band isn't more popular is beyond me... they are incredible. This cd is strong from the opening track to the final note of Paint It Black. I can't reccommend this band enough they are the best. The whole album is practically perfect and they even managed to do a great job covering a Rolling Stones song... Paint It Black

Average customer rating:

Pretty Good Album, Just Not Their Best
One of their best
preach it brotha!!!!!!!!!
Smokey Robinson would be halted in his tracks
Incredible work

Unseen Power
Petra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Christian Rock | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

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Beyond Belief
Wake-Up Call
No Doubt
On Fire!
This Means War

ASIN: B00000286T
Release Date: 1992-01-28

Tracks:

Destiny
Who's On The Lord's Side
Ready, Willing And Able
Hand On My Heart
I Need To Hear From You
Dance
Secret Weapon
Sight Unseen
Hey World
In The Likeness Of You

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good Album, Just Not Their Best.......2006-10-20

Petra was coming off the sensational "Beyond Belief", an album that had moved them back to the forefront of Christian rock; this album seemed to be a bit less ambitious but was still filled with quality songs. Petra's ability to weave new and unique songs about faith were in clear evidence here. My personal favorites are the mature "I Need To Hear From You" and the quirky, dance rock styled "Dance", a song with a message of faith that doesn't sound unlike The Killers. While its predecessor and "Praise 2" are better places to look for a first impression of Petra, you wouldn't go wrong by giving this album a thorough listen.

One of their best.......2006-09-08

I actually prefer this album over 'Beyond Belief'. It's more experimental, a little more personal in focus (look at songs like 'I need to hear from You', 'Dance' and 'Hey World' for instance). There are a few missteps however -- "Sight Unseen" and "Secret Weapon" sound far too similiar and their pace is a little slow. Also, 'In THe Likeness of You" used to bore me to tears, though now I appreciate the sentiment behind it.

There are other really good solid songs, however. Opener 'Destiny' is a fun rocker. Indeed, the two opening songs (on the cassette version) 'Dance' on side two and 'Destiny' on side one are the two best songs on the album. "Who's on the Lord's Side" is fun, albeit different for the band. "Hand on My heart" sounds like it could be a Motown lovesong (but it's really about God) and "Ready willing and able" is just a fun, driving song.

Indeed, the good songs on this album are good enough that they propel this album to a 5-star status. Too bad this album was a little too rushed, because otherwise the two missteps could have become two really good songs instead.

Oh well, this album still rocks and has my favourite song 'Dance' off it. This is the song that originally got me hooked on Petra's music.

preach it brotha!!!!!!!!!.......2006-01-21

i agree there best ever ive checked it out at the library a zillion times. destiny, who is on the lords side, secret weapon, in the likeness of you ,everything on here is grrrrrrrreat!if your a petra fan look up amazon on your pc and GET IT a must have!amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smokey Robinson would be halted in his tracks.......2004-05-29

First I am weary of trying to identify which of the John Schlitt era Petra albums (CD) are my favorite. They all are! They capture the Arean Rock era sound with unmasked praise of the almighty God. No veiled lyrics here. Second there seems to be no confining this group, just when you settle in to the Arena Rock groove they let you have it with a song that I think would even halt Smokey Robinson in his tracks. I'm sure even He would have to be impressed with "Hand On My Heart" If it says Petra and John Schlitt somewhere on the jacket - buy it! Unseen Power is another killer work from these guys.

Incredible work.......2004-03-11

Petra has been a Christian rock standard for a long, long time now, and I believe that their peak was reached with the release of their "Beyond Belief" album. This should not overshadow the work put out on the two albums before "Beyond Belief" or the two albums which followed "Beyond Belief", this one being the fitst to follow that album.

"Unseen Power" cranks it up a little more on some of the songs, and a little less on the others, but the overall power is there. The band has always had a very beautifully polished sound, and this album is a perfect example of that. Great solo work by Bob Hartman, killer drums by Louis Weaver, slap your face bass by one of the most under-rated bass players of our time, Mr. Ronnie Cates, sweet keys by another monster musician, John Lawry, and finally, the voice that sets the standard for rock artists, John Schlitt are all present and accounted for on this album.

The wierdest part of this album is the inclusion of the psuedo-doo-wap song "Hand on my Heart", though if you listen closely, Schlitt's voice starts to really get cranking around the bridge.

All of the other tunes rock big time, especially "Destiny", "Ready, Willing and Able", and "Dance".

Tracks:

Birthday Ode For Queen Mary: Soun The Trumpet
The Indian Queen: Let Us Wander, Not Unseen
King Arthur: Shepherd, Shepherd, Cease Decoying
Ottone: Spring Is Coming
Ottone: Come To Me, Soothing Sleep
Orfeo ed Euridice: Chiamo il mio ben cosi (Act 1)
Orfeo ed Euridice: Deh! placatevi con me (Act 2)
Orfeo ed Euridice: Che puro ciel! (Act 2)
Orfeo ed Euridice: Che feci mai?...Che faro senza Euridice? (Act 3)
O Praise the Lord
I will lay me down in peace
I would that my love, Op. 63 No. 1 - Felix Mendelssohn
Greeting, Op. 63 No. 2 - Felix Mendelssohn
Kindertotenlieder: Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgeh'n
Kindertotenlieder: Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen
Kindertotenlieder: Wenn dein Mein tritt zur Tein
Kindertotenlieder: Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen!
Kindertotenlieder: In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus

Amazon.com essential recording

Even before her tragic death at 41 (in 1953), Kathleen Ferrier became a legend for her incomparable voice, her simplicity and sincerity of expression, and her indomitable courage. This compilation of recordings originally made in the 1940s includes four arias from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice recorded live in Holland, which show why Euridice was one of her signature roles. Two beautifully sung Handel arias, two sacred songs by Maurice Greene, and delightful duets by Purcell and Mendelssohn (sung in English with another beloved English singer, Isobel Baillie) are greatly enhanced by the inimitable pianist Gerald Moore. But the core of this recording is the Mahler cycle. Here, Ferrier's voice takes on a new warmth and intensity; her deeply inward, direct expressiveness gives the bereaved parent's grief and anguish a devastating impact. Her reading of the last song could be a bit more spooky, but the end is heartbreaking in its submissive resignation. The Vienna Philharmonic and Bruno Walter are in their native element. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Buen documento para conocer y disfrutar a Kathleen Ferrier.......2004-03-27

Este disco realiza un repaso bastante acertado a la carrera de la mitica contralto Kathleen Ferrier, una de esas voces que hicieron historia y que pasaron a la historia, y con razon.
Junto a unos duetos de Purcell y Mendelshon, y otras canciones, asi como unas arias de Haendel, en las que Ferrier ya va mostrando su gran talento, lo mejor de este disco esta indudablemente en la seleccion del 'Orfeo ed Euridice' de Gluck, tomada de unas funciones en directo a principios de los 50. La Ferrier sienta catedra en la interpretacion del personaje: lo lleva dentro, y lo canta de una forma admirable. Sin duda esta es una de las mejores encarnaciones de 'Orfeo' jamas escuchadas.
El otro pilar del disco son los 'Kindertotenlieder' de Mahler, otra de las maximas especialidades de Ferrier, de los que realiza una version antologica, por voz, diccion y expresion, magistralmente dirigida por Bruno Walter. Un lujazo, vamos.
El disco se consigue actualmente a precio medio, y las remasterizaciones son de calidades variadas (puesto que las grabaciones son de años diferentes) pero el nivel general de las mismas es bastante bueno.
Indudablemente este es un disco que hay que poseer, ya que quizas se trate de uno de los mejores documentos existentes para apreciar el tremendo talento de la gran Kathleen Ferrier.

The incredible Kathleen Ferrier recordings!.......2003-05-20

Voice fans, rejoice -- EMI has finally remastered these recordings and released them as one CD at budget price!
While Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder" would be the chief reason for purchasing this CD right away, it also contains several morsels, equally fascinating. Purcell and Mendelsohn's duets, Handel's arias, Greene's spirituals, and 3 live arias from Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice". In general, particularly Mahler, the sound is nothing short of phenomenal. BUT why could not these engineers do the same for "Orfeo" selections? There's a lot of noise on these. On all the selection Ferrier's exceptionally dark mezzo (or contralto with a huge upper register) shines brilliantly. Of course, Mahler's songs bemoaning the death of children are not an easy listen by any means. But the melodies are amazingly harmonious and Bruno Walter's superb orchestra provides ideal background for them, with Ferrier's voice blending gorgeously with strings. Only Mussorgsky could take a subject such as this and make it so breathtakingly captivating. It's actually frightening in by itself. Gerald Moore (well-known for his collaboration with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau) accompanies expertly on Purcell and Mendelsohn's selections.
It would be a treat to hear Ferrier in more alto repertoire; I am just not sure how many were commercially available at the time. Right now, Vivica Genaux is the leading artist in this area, but it would be fascinating to compare these two.
For the sheer vocal marvel experience, do not delay in getting this CD.

A Terrible Beauty.......2002-11-14

Nothing will change my opinion that Mahler should be approached with caution. Like Wagner, the scale and power of his work means that it is simply not for everyone, but inspite of that, this recording is an indespensible part of any serious music lover's collection. Music like this simply is not made any more, but rather this is a glimpse into a past where artists and not accountants ran the music industry.

Mahler's wife Alma bitterly opposed his setting of Ruckert's Kindertotenlieder to music and considering the death of their daughter soon after, it's doubtful if she ever forgave him for it. But the finished work has an indescribable beauty that Kathleen Ferrier and Mahler's protégé Bruno Walter give full expression to in away that no other interpreter's have even approached. More than 50 years on this is both a lasting tribute to the artists involved and an indictment of the decline in standards since.

What is to say - It's Ferrier..........2002-03-31

I bought the CD for the Kindertotenlieder and that's what I am going to write about (though the rest of the program is equally impressive). Ferrier's Mahler interpretations are always in the 5+ star area. When Walter is accompanying her the results are even better (unlike the case of Klemperer). The first song - Nun Will Die Sonn'... the darkness of the music is so prominent, it's breathtaking. All the rest Kindertotenlieder come in the same fashion. If interested in a release with better sound but not these Olympian contritutors, Janet Baker and Christa Ludwig have made some very good discs

How can you go wrong?.......2001-10-22

I said it before, in my review of the Ferrier/Walter performance of Das Lied von der Erde, recently rereleased by Decca; Ferrier is the authoritative interpreter of Mahler songs--and I have never heard anything to equal this performance of Kindertotenlieder.

Average customer rating:

Checkpoint
The Unseen Guest
Manufacturer: Tuition, a division of Schott Music & Media GmbH
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Out There

ASIN: B000M7XRYW
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

Miracle Life
Place Your Bets
Don't Let It Show
Ancient Greek
Love Song No.10
Reduce It To a Kiss
Black Hole
Snowstorm
The Whitest Lie
Conga Line
Everybody Knows

Album Description

"It's the group's culturally neutral melodic strength, rather than its Eastern vibe, that carries Out There... [a] universally appealing group." -- Splendid

A solid collection of eleven songs, Checkpoint combines the best of two (or more) worlds. Yet another beautiful snapshot of life on the road!

Conversations With the Unseen
Average customer rating:

A man to look out for in the 21st century!

Incredible Soul

Longboard Jazzer is an idiot

High Expectations...

Brilliant, but please, PLEASE, Soweto, lose the hip-hop

Conversations With the Unseen
Soweto Kinch
Manufacturer: Dune (Synergy)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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Sangam

III

Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD)

Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall

ASIN: B0002VEQWA
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

Intro
Doxology
Conversatioins With the Unseen
Elision
Spokes and Pedals
Intermission/Split Decision
Snake Hips
Mungo's Adventure
The Flame-Thrower
Equiano's Tears
Good Nyooz
Outro

Amazon.com

In the '50s and '60s, Jamaican-born Joe Harriott was the face of Black jazz in Britain, followed by Courtney Pine in the '80s. In 2004, alto saxophonist/rapper Soweto Kinch is the man at the helm. A member of the trailblazing ensemble Jazz Jamaica All Stars, the award-winning Kinch leads a supple and swinging combo through a pleasing and propulsive program that combines straight-ahead jazz with hip-hop, spoken word, and Caribbean elements. Tunes like the Latin-tinged "Doxology," "Snakehips," and the Trane-ish "Equiano's Tears"--dedicated to the 18th century British ex-slave Olaudah Equiano--show that Kinch knows the tradition, from Charlie Parker to Greg Osby. But he also kicks it as a lyricist, as evidenced on the Roots-like jams "Intro," "Outro," "Intermission - Split Decision," and "Good Nyooz," where Eska Mtungwazi's boppish vocals steal the show. God save the swing! --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews:

A man to look out for in the 21st century!.......2007-05-18

Alto saxophonist Soweto Kinch is definitely a man to look out for in the 21st century. I bought 2006's "A Life In The Day of B19: Tales of the Tower Block", his second and most recent album first. It's not available here for some strange reason, not even on import; I had to go to Amazon's UK site for it but I knew after just one listen that I would eventually come back and seek out this one too.

I was very sceptical about Kinch's blend of rap and jazz in the beginning but I've warmed to it now. Of course rap and jazz have been happy bedfellows for a while but having them both performed by the same artiste and on the same record, is definitely new to me. Kinch could very well set off a trend but I doubt there are many out there who will be able to carry it off with the same competent equanimity. This is a niche he will be occupying on his own for some time to come, I think.

I also saw him perform live here in Leeds recently. He's a man of presence, of great personality and charm. His band was one of the tightest I've seen in some time and they are all on this CD: Femi Temowo on guitar, Michael Olatuja on double bass, Abram Wilson on trumpet (and vocals) and the absolutely incredible Troy Miller on drums.

As far as the rapper side of Kinch is concerned, I find his lyrics intelligent and deep, while maintaining a certain humour. He doesn't seem to be rapping for the sake of being a rapper; he raps because he has something to say. You'll find none of the usual commercial bandwagon rubbish on here. He's also anti-capitalism, anti-profanity and anti-bling. My kind of hip-hop artiste. And this is 'real' hip-hop with a British accent, not that 250 words per minute 'Grime' thing that's currently very popular among teenagers and young adults here in the UK.

As for the jazz, well, these young men play 'real' jazz too. Not jazz fusion or smooth jazz. Real jazz. Kinch plays the saxophone with great feeling - heart, soul and warmth on the ballads and great gusto and precision on the fast grooves. He also has an interesting and unique approach to composition. There's not the usual theme, theme, couple of solos, theme and then fade or end here, and this makes his songs particularly intriguing and captivating to listen to. There are times when the interplay between Kinch and Temowo reminds me of John Scofield's well-established working partnership with Joe Lovano and that's saying something for such new talent. Onwards and upwards, it seems to me there's no limit to where these guys could go.

I also have to profess mad love and respect for Kinch, for being a member of a breed that's so rare in today's world of commercial homogeny: the modern musical artiste who dares to be different, who dares to be himself.

Favourite tracks: "Intro", "Doxology", the dreamy "Conversations With The Unseen", "Spokes and Pedals", "Snakehips" and the intriguing "The Flame-Thrower". Also worth looking out for is the brilliant Eska Mtungwazi on vocals, on "Intro", "Good Nyooz" and "Outro". Trumpeter Abram Wilson's vocals on the excellent and humorous storyteller "Intermission - Split Decision" were a revelation. He's a very good singer indeed.

But once again, I'm reviewing a CD that is brilliant in its entirety. Produced by Jason Yarde, this is fantastic stuff with jazz, hip-hop, social commentary and even a touch of comedy. Highly recommended.

Incredible Soul.......2006-09-24

This man has literally, the most incredible feeling for his music that I have heard since I first heard Giant Steps. Not an understatement. Buy this album, don't pirate it. Amazing. Outstanding. Carrying the torch for the future of jazz.

Longboard Jazzer is an idiot.......2005-11-04

Soweto Kinch is the future of modern jazz. Deal with it! unless you've had your head buried in your arse over the last 20yrs you would realize that hip-hop has basically redefined every form of music in the entire world. ESPECIALLY JAZZ!. Educate and Know Yourself FOOL!

High Expectations..........2005-09-18

I had an opportunity to see them live in NYC during the Charlie Parker festival. Unfortunately, the saxophone player was unable to play. Yet, I was impressed with their music. I personally like the mixture of Hip-Hop and traditional jazz rhythms. Most people believe that only good Jazz can be found in the US but, there are several good talented artists all over the world. I am looking forward to more good things from them in the future.

Brilliant, but please, PLEASE, Soweto, lose the hip-hop.......2005-07-03

Here's a brilliant young altoist, with a hot--albeit unknown--band (Femi Temowo, guitar; Michael Olatuja, double bass; Tony Miller, drums) who for some reason beyond comprehension feels the need to purvey idiotic hip-hop drivel, thankfully, for only three out of the 11 cuts, totaling only about 13 out of more than 70 total minutes. But that raises the question, Why include this inferior material at all? There's plenty of music to fill a respectably long disc without it. Maybe this blather solidifies his bona fides with the brothers in the hood. I don't know. And I don't care. What it really does, is reduce a spectacular disc from five stars to four. This is really, really stupid, as bad as the idiocy with which Mike Ladd lured V. J. Iyer into cooperating on that woeful disc, In What Language. Really, the hip-hop drek contained on this otherwise fine disc is too stupid to dignify with critique. So I won't.

Nevertheless, memo to Soweto Kinch: ditch the hip-hop idiocy and stick to your main thing, which is smart, sophisticated, edgy post-bop, world-beatish jazz. Indeed Kinch shows such maturity, fluidity, and flair as an altoist and composer, one wonders why he ever felt the need to indulge his hip-hop inclinations. With a tone and approach reminiscent of Greg Osby, although with an even greater command of his instrument than Osby displayed at a similar stage in his development, Soweto Kinch seems to have an assured future as an important and original jazzman.

His band is pretty killer as well. I'm especially taken by guitarist Temowo, who demonstrates a thorough familiarity with a sophisticated post-bop jazz vocabulary while at the same time carving out a distinctive voice of his own, ripping off fluid solos or brilliantly comping. The rhythm section of Olatuja and Miller play their butts off, locking in or going out as necessary. This sounds like a band that's played together for years (and probably has).

This spectacular jazz, among the most accomplished I've ever heard from an initial release, even though sadly compromised by the ill-advised inclusion of the hip-hop inanity, deserves the widest possible hearing. My advice: ignore, skip over, or program out the hip-hop stupidity, and you will have a genuine five-star recording.

Soul Music:

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