Rock the Nation [CD-single]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
"Rock The Nation" is the first single from Stay Human, the incendiary new album on Six Degrees from Michael Franti & Spearhead, blending old school soul, hip hop and dance beats as a funky vehicle for Franti's impassioned vocals and conscious lyrics.

Remixes by: DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid Michael Franti Bassnectar

Rock the Nation,Spearhead,Six Degrees,5"CD Singles,Alternative Rap,Hip-Hop,Jazz-Rap,Political Rap,Pop,Rap & Hip-Hop,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues

Tracks:

Teen Age Riot
Silver Rocket
The Sprawl
'Cross the Breeze
Eric's Trip
Total Trash
Hey Joni
Providence
Candle
Rain King
KissabilityTrilogy:
a) The Wonder
b) Hyperstation
z) Eliminator Jr.
Eric's Trip (home demo- bonus demo track)

Tracks:

The Sprawl
'Cross the Breeze
Hey Joni
Silver Rocket
Kissability
Eric's Trip
Candle
The Wonder
Hyperstation
Eliminator Jr.
Providence
Teen Age Riot
Rain King
Totally Trashed
Total Trash
Within You, Without You (Cover Song)
Touch Me, I'm Sick (Cover Song)
Computer Age (Cover Song)
Electricity (Cover Song)

Album Description

"100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s" (Rolling Stone, 1989)
"100 Alternative Albums" (Spin, 1995)
"Top 99 Albums of `85 to `95" (Alternative Press, 1995)
"The Essential 200 Rock Records" (Rolling Stone, 1997)
"Top 100 Albums of All Time" (New Musical Express, 2003)

Customer Reviews:

Extraordinary........2007-07-28

When daydream nation came out it was a revolution...sort of. Indeed, SonicYouth had been on the radar of anyone interested in alternative music for a few years. Indeed, while all their early records had moments of greatness, sonically it did not allways gel. The sound was allways murky and the songs somewhat sloppily structured. Here, they manage to come over completely focused in a way that remains refreshing. While some of their previous work has strangely improved over time (quite rare) this remains their definitive recors. It is the one that has the most traditional song structures while till being recognizable as classic Sonic Youth. While more melodic than previously the dissonant guitar sounds are still present. All this makes Daydream Nation such a special work. Overall it has not aged. Also to some degree it is the one record that does also not completely sound as any other SY record since it has a more traditional approach at the same time. Indeed one personal criticism against SY is that , especially recently, all thier records sound the same in some way: this is not the case here. Here you get the original record as well as a second CD with live recordings. While these deluxe editins are sometimes a bore, this is an exceptional package. Apparently there is also a beautiful vinyl version of it available.

beautiful daydream.......2007-07-23

to hear the live daydreaming on record is true beauty. the demo of eric's trip shows just how far the songs travel from idea to finished work.
if i had to recommend one sonic youth album to be part of every true music lover's record-collection this would be it. every aspect of their music comes together perfectly on this one.

still on of the greatest records of all times even 19 years after it's original release. hats of ...

a deluxe edition done right.......2007-07-13

Disc One is the reissued definitive recording of the 1980's.
Disc Two is chocked full of noisey Daydream Nation goodness performed live.

So often reissues are a ripoff. This set delivers the goods and then some.

The best album of 1988...and 2007!.......2007-06-22

The fifth album (more or less) by The Best Rock Band of the Last 25 Years should need no introduction, and indeed if you're interested in buying the deluxe edition of Sonic Youth's "Daydream Nation," I can presume you're probably already a fan. You already know how the album summed up and then changed the course of the underground rock movement of the 80s, how the ample attention of critics, then music fans, then record labels set the stage for the alternative rock revolution of the 90s--oh well whatever Nevermind and yada yada yada. If, however, you haven't already drank the Kool-Aid (and you should!), some brief notes about the "basic" edition...

"Daydream Nation" is still hailed as Sonic Youth's grand masterpiece, and yeah, it still holds up as such (confession: it's my second favorite SY album after Sister), even if it doesn't seem as radical today as it did when it came out. Sure, there are swirling whirlwinds of oddly-(de)tuned guitars and feedback fading in, out and sometimes interrupting the songs, but make no mistake, there are definitely songs to be found here. The openening "Teenage Riot" is, for its galloping drums and lyrical cheekiness (imagining Dinosaur Jr's J. Mascis as president, or so Thurston Moore has said) basically a melodic and even hummable pop song. Even a more "experimental" song like "The Sprawl" has a certain immediacy, with bassist/vocalist Kim Gordon saying straigt out "does f**k you sound simple enough?" Heck, the closing "trilogy" of the album has all the power and intensity familiar to any classic rock fans, only with a live-wire buzzing and skree that comes from playing in one of Glenn Branca's guitar-army ensembles. Really, it's not so radical after all (for a taste of something far weirder, check out Twin Infinitives, which was released around the same time as DN by Royal Trux, a New York band friendly with Sonic Youth).

For us fan(atic)s, the real treat here is the second disc of this set, which features live versions of all the album's tracks, culled from the band's original tour supporting the album, albeit in a different order (SY has recently announced it will play "Daydream Nation" as part of a special show, presumably in the album's running order). These tracks, mostly of excellent sound quality, are shorter but sharper than the album versions. "Total Trash" is done as an instrumental (I could be wrong, but they seem to be quoting the early Pink Floyd's instrumental "Interstellar Overdrive" in one spot), preceded by another instrumental, "Totally Trashed," which toys around with electronics a bit. Mostly these are no-holds-barred performances that clearly draw on the band's love of hardcore punk and NYC No Wave (DNA, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks). I don't know how a non-fan would react, but for yours truly it's pure Sonic bliss.

Another great bonus on disc two is the inclusion of four cover songs, three of which were taken from now hard-to-find tribute albums (this was before that concept got beaten to death): "Within You Without You" (The Beatles), "Computer Age" (Neil Young) and "Electricity" (Captain Beefheart). There's also a version of Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick," with demented vocals from Kim, taken from a split 7" (as in vinyl, kids) that had the other band doing SY's "Halloween" on the reverse (alas, that version isn't included here). The Beatles cover in particular shows how the band could translate their sound into completely different realms--the original, of course, was played mostly with sitars.

Add all that to a package that includes ultra-Kool, and rare, pictures and an extensive essay by longtime SY friend Byron Coley, and you have a true Sonic feast. Like they did with the Goo Deluxe Edition and the Dirty (Deluxe Edition), Sonic Youth rewards fans and newcomers alike almost to the bursting point. Now let's hope they burn down the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame before too long...

HOLD UP. Daydream Nation Got Better?.......2007-06-13

Q: Sonic Youth is amazingness wrapped in pita bread?
A: Yes.

Q: Daydream Nation defined an entire generation of amazingness?
A: Yes.

Q: The new re-issue of Daydream Nation preserves the original amazingness while adding just enough ancillary material to make it that much more perfect?
A: Yes.

Q; Everyone should buy this new disc, regardless of whether they like Sonic Youth or not?
A: Yes.

Sweet.

Average customer rating:

Takes time but worth the wait
very good for the avant garde accepting folks
Excellent mais moins que les précédents
Loved It
Sonic Youth's Masterpiece: Daydream Nation

Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Sister
Goo
Dirty
Loveless
EVOL

ASIN: B000003TAL
Release Date: 1993-11-23

Tracks:

Teen Age Riot
Silver Rocket
The Sprawl
'Cross The Breeze
Eric's Trip
Total Trash
Hey Joni
Providence
Candle
Rain King
Kissability
Trilogy: A) The Wonder/B) Hyperstation/Z) Eliminator Jr.
Trilogy: b) Hyperstation
Trilogy: z) Eliminator Jr.

Amazon.com essential recording

The essential New York rock band of the post-punk era, Sonic Youth care as much about the quasi-symphonic, microtonal art-guitar music of composers like Rhys Chatham and Glenn Branca as they do about the rock-song form, and with Daydream Nation, they struck their greatest balance between the two. The songs hover gorgeously for extended lengths, letting guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo intertwine fragile tonalities as carefully as it's possible to do at wall-shaking volume, while Moore and bassist Kim Gordon's untutored voices disaffectedly intone words that flirt with pop stupidity, high-art eloquence, and urban cool. When they bear down and rock, they do it with a blurry intensity that finds gorgeousness at the heart of discord. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Takes time but worth the wait.......2007-07-05

Yeh this album may take a while to get into for some but stick with it, it is well worth the wait. For me though I have to say teenage riot just hooked me from the off great track with a beautiful slow build up. This album doesnt realy hit you straight off but rather gets you by supprise. Realy dont know how I can describe this album as you can hear so many influences coming through from Black Flag to the Velvet Underground.

Buy this and give it a listen, then listen again. It will grow on you.

very good for the avant garde accepting folks.......2007-06-14

sonic youth is not for everyone.they have a raw style which is anything but pretty and radio-freindly.with that said they're also one of the most inventive bands to come along in quite some time because of the risks they've taken and how they approach song composition.if you can stand a little noise from a band who are trying to sound beautiful in a much different way than most,give em a try and you shouldn't be dissapointed!

Excellent mais moins que les précédents.......2007-05-30

Avec Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth se réinventent, ils adoptent un nouveau son... plus commercial. Bien sûr l'album est truffé de passage rappelant la sonorité organique et grafignée du trop bon vieux matériel (Confusion is Sex / Kill yr. idol, Evol, Bad moon Rising, Sister...) mélange d'humus automnal d'une forêt mixte et d'effluves pubères de crasse de plancher d'un squat frisquet où l'on se réchauffe en se blotissant entre amis sincères. Mais pour le reste, Sonic Youth nous amène dans des territoires beaucoup moins riches (c'est ce que mes trippes me disent...)Dans le matériel subséquent, j'aime bien Dirty, A Thousand Leaves et NYC Ghost & Flowers, si ça peut vous aider à savoir si vous devez considérer mon opinion ou pas. Je donne quand même 4 étoiles parce que c'est un album très excellent, seulement, c'est la fin du meilleur et le début du plus ordinaire. En ce sens, on peut le considérer comme un condensé de l'oeuvre de Sonic Youth.

Loved It.......2007-04-17

I bought Daydream Nation after hearing the opening track (Teenage Riot) on the radio, I oynly really bought the album for that song, but as I soon found out the album is packed to the rim with songs that are just as good if not better then Teenage Riot. As many grunge albums are this is a grower, and I can see how many people would not like this album, but for me I loved this. It easily enters my Top 10 albums.

I believe that Sonic Youth are one of the most underated bands in the history of music and had they continued with this form (ie actually having a song structure) they could have been credited with starting Grunge instead of Nirvana who are incorrectly described as inventing grunge.

However f you enjoy Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Replacements or anything grunge I advise you give this album a go.

Sonic Youth's Masterpiece: Daydream Nation.......2007-04-02

This is INCREDIBLE work to say the least. An '80s Alterna-"indie"-Rock staple. Sonic Youth is MUCH MORE than your average experimental noise underground (at the time) Rock 'n' Roll band. Daydream Nation VAULTED Sonic Youth: Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo, & Steve Shelley to a NEW level of recognition as pioneers of Rock n Roll past and original trailblazers in a dawn of a new beginning. Basically the album that made Sonic Youth famous, while still being in N.Y.s indie music scene.
Originally released in 1988, Daydream Nation is Sonic Youth's sixth studio release, containing an album's worth of their coolest breezy, energetic songs and stretching Rock to far unreachable heights.
S.Y. brought their sound into the mainstream, influencing hundreds of bands including Nirvana. My Favorite songs on Daydream Nation: Opener "Teen Age Riot" - "Silver Rocket" - "The Sprawl" - 'Cross the Breeze" - "Hey Joni" - "Candle" -contains a reference to "Tonight's The Night"(1975) by Neil Young w/ line: "It's safe to say, Candle, TONIGHT'S the DAY -Candle, It's alright now candle, the wind's away-Candle. Never thought I'd see a dark sky falling....."
I sometimes wonder in what state "Alternative" music would be in without Sonic Youth. They changed and shifted the landscape's sound into a more radical, apocalyptic state. And who would of thought they would go on so many years, as of now 25+ & 18(+)-(there are a lot of side projects); albums or so, some are better than others and I own all studio albums.
In 1990 Sonic Youth released Goo (their 7th) their first for major-label DGC, to reach a wider more appreciative audience. And in 1991 Nirvana followed going to major label DGC and igniting the "grunge" movement in the mainstream. But, believe me Daydream Nation (NOT Goo) has GAINED my attention as well as thousands(+) more! One SERIOUS Record.
Another one of my ALL TIME favorites. It is also cited as making a vast array of "greatest albums of all time" lists(quoted from double album re-issue including live 2nd disc).
To me, this is the best 80s album I have ever heard and Sonic Youth's absolute Best.

Average customer rating:

Soul brains human rights disco
A disappointment
methodical relentless SKILL!
Rocks your socks
Give Thanks and Praises

Build a Nation
Bad Brains
Manufacturer: Megaforce
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Mix-Up
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ASIN: B000PTYNJ0
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Give Thanks and Praises
Jah People
Pure Love
Natty Dreadlocks 'Pon the Mountain Top
Build a Nation
Expand Your Soul
Jah Love
Universal Peace
Roll On
Until Kingdom Comes
In The Beginning
Send You No More Flowers
Peace Be Unto Thee

Amazon.com

These African-American Rastafarians didn't just originate DC hardcore in the late 1970s with their incredibly fast and brilliant "Pay to Cum" single; they set the bar impossibly high. That the group is not hugely millionaires-with-jets popular is one of the music industry's travesties. But they've always had as much a penchant for pissing off the shaven headed moshers at their shows (playing lengthy dub songs) as for giving them what they want (supersonic riffage). Much of the album employs the metal-tinged sound the group's been flirting with since they were on SST in the late '80s. A third of the tracks are reggae numbers, and while you're not going to sell off all your Culture LPs after hearing those, they are definitely serviceable. Build a Nation is not as great as the ROIR cassette, but it's the best album they've made in years, and shows the band in awesome form. This is thanks in no small part to the production efforts of the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch. As this is their second best-sounding proper album--the first being 1983's Ric Ocasek-produced Rock for Light--it's clear that the band should work only with their celebrity musician-fans at the helm from now on. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Soul brains human rights disco.......2007-08-03

Rubba dub soul jah soul rock soul reggae hip-hop

Bad Brains getting together--with H.R.--and putting out a studio recording of new music is momentous! It's tectonic!

It would be pretty cool if a new CD was good. So what is it that "Build A Nation" is one of their best?! I like it better than anything since "Rock For Light".

There's the amazing speed and syncopation. Daring harmonics from H.R. Plenty of the plodding minor key metal--but not too much.

The songs pull together. They succeed in the styles of "I Against I", "Quickness", and even "Rise" (and plenty of new ones) where on those records, they were amazing sometimes and not quite at other times. My opinion.

This is raw for studio, and it's got some of the attitude from the early period when they set the standard for hardcore.

Some writers need strong editors; some bands, Bad Brains among them, do especially well with really good producers. I'll have to check out this Adam Yauch`s band.

Not all the best moments on BAN are loud and fast. "Natty Dreadlocks `pon the Mountain Top" is my new favorite song of all time. MY NEW FAVORITE SONG. That is a big deal because I like a lot of really good songs. If you're looking for the hip-est thing, the grooviest song in the last five years, or the coolest album, here are strong candidates. But then you might pick from among the others too.

Some of the "reggae" songs are dubbier. When they are, they are smoother and richer than on "I and I Survived". But they are in a few different reggae styles. I love other early reggae from the band. The reggae on BAN is just as good or better.

I'm really proud to be up on this right when it's coming out. I'll be recommending it to friends, looking for the tour and the t-shirt.

A disappointment.......2007-07-22

I was a huge Bad Brains fan - I against I was one of my favorites albums way back when.
This album, in contrast, seems lifeless. Even on the harder, faster songs, it just
sounds like they are going through the motions, and have lost any fire or passion in their
music.

Maybe I just didn't get what they were trying to do, but it's hard to believe that this is the
same band that recorded their classic albums.

methodical relentless SKILL!.......2007-07-17

this album is BRILLIANT. straight up. my favorite parts are when the music is mad chaos and h.r. is singing (yes singing) over them using lots of delay and reverb. many people are complaining about the vocals, but i have to disagree, i think it adds a layer of (for lack of a better word) mysticism to the tracks. i'm giving this 4 instead of 5 because honestly, i hate reggae music. ALTHOUGH, for some reason, on Build a Nation, it doesn't bother me at all, and i find myself actually getting into some of the tracks. So, even though i could really do without the reggae elements and would rather have more hardcore, i still love this album. great job guys, i look forward to seeing you on tour!!!!!!

Rocks your socks.......2007-07-15

While I was a huge fan of Bad Brains in the 80's, I sadly lost touch with the band for most of the last decade and a half. When I found out they were putting out a new album after 10 years or so, I decided I owed it to the scene to put in some cash and buy it.

I fully expected to hear some mediocre, mostly soft and mellow reggae tunes with their hardcore past far behind them. I was especially nervous when I saw the track listing with titles such as "Give Thanks and Praises" and "Let There Be Angels". Was I pleasantly wrong! This is slam dancing hardcore at its finest.

In my opinion, the tracks on this album stand up to or above anything they're put out before. My only beef with it at all is I wish HR's vocals were a bit more prominent and clear. I've always been a huge fan of his voice and it's somewhat hidden behind the music and electronic filters. But that really doesn't take away from the overall impact of this CD. I can not stop listening to it over and over and I can't wait to see them on the road again!

Give Thanks and Praises.......2007-07-12

I can't believe this album. Bad Brains haven't missed a beat, they are the best band ever and this album proves it. Buy this album and listen to it religiously, you will thank me later.

Average customer rating:

Pavement + Sergio Leone + early Beck = Blitzen

Wild Mountain Nation
Blitzen Trapper
Manufacturer: Lidkercow Ltd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000QUCPL6
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

Devil's A-Go-Go
Wild Mountain Nation
Futures & Folly
Miss Spiritual Tramp
Woof & Warp Of the Quiet Giant's Hem
Sci-Fi Kid
Wild Mtn. Jam
Hot Tip/Tough Cub
The Green King Sings
Summer Town
Murder Babe
Country Caravan
Badger's Black Brigade

Album Description

"Remember Beck before his career devolved into magazine-pleasing genre exercises? These guys have the same bent, rustic perspective on popcraft, and a heap of ambition." -- Pitchfork "A chewy mash-up of groovy, Syd Barrett-y quirkiness and Elephant Six-style songsmithing ... strangely, lucidly polished." -- CMJ "A dense but playful collage of indie rock, folk, and junkyard aesthetic electronic music. It's messy and loose and joyful and full of shouts and lo-fi drums." -- Skyscraper

Teeming Portland-based musical clan Blitzen Trapper is pleased to announce the arrival of its third brood of offspring--songs, that is--in the shape of an album called Wild Mountain Nation. Brought forth in a spasm of creative mania, Nation is rough-hewn but lush, crackling (sometimes audibly) with a weird and lucid energy. From outer space to down on the farm, campfire sing-along to atonal dystopia, the new album is a raucous constellation of favorite souvenirs from the Trapper's gamut-running musical adventures. As usual, the group's trusty fourtrack was used to capture the "souls" of the songs, which were then buried in a rich soil of sweat and love so that in due time a delicious, varied harvest of fresh music was drooping from the vine. Taste it--it's good! A sextet of old friends whose youths were spent wandering the hoary forests and high desert plateau of the Pacific Northwest, Blitzen Trapper has long been a stalwart of the Portland music community, rocking audiences of all ages, socioeconomic groups, and species with its unique sonic blend of Zane Grey, Darjeeling tea, candy wrappers, and Choose Your Own Adventure. Though you may mistake the members for can collectors or immigrant day laborers, the group loves you very much and promises to slave away at the office to keep Wild Mountain Nation and the other kids well fed and tastefully attired.

Customer Reviews:

Pavement + Sergio Leone + early Beck = Blitzen.......2007-07-01

This record is a fun mixing of styles. There is hard rock, dance, alt-country, dance, and more. This mixed bag works on almost every track, each being engaging and unpredictable. If you like unpredictable indie-rock then this record is for you. Kudos to the band.

A note on the mastering: Like virtually all new rock records, this one is mastered way too loud. It is still listenable however. The damage done by the audio engineer is not excessive, it's tolerable. I wish bands would insist on proper mastering. it would benefit them as a properly mastered record is more likely to produce an emotional reaction in the listener. And thats how you get loyal fans, by touching people on an emotional level.

Average customer rating:

Definitely a good listen.
3 stars is actually VERY good...
The ride continues
Finally!
A Very Good CD

My Private Nation
Train
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Drops of Jupiter
For Me, It's You
Train
Alive At Last
America Town

ASIN: B0000945JB
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

Calling All Angels
All American Girl
When I Look To The Sky
Save The Day
My Private Nation
Get To Me
Counting Airplanes
Following Rita
Your Every Color
Lincoln Avenue
I'm About To Come Alive

Amazon.com

Train is building a reputation as one of rock's tightest outfits one single at a time. The clever and sweet "Meet Virginia" was eclipsed by the gorgeous "Drops of Jupiter." My Private Nation may well prove these guys can squeeze more than one hit out of the album--although none are as enchanting as their breakthrough single. They continue to gravitate toward Elton John-inspired keys-and-guitar arrangements that are marked by studied rhythms and stellar production. While there's inventiveness to be found in these songs, there's a sameness to the tracks that makes the album as a whole fall a little flat. While attempting to recapture the grandeur of "Drops of Jupiter" on the opening song, "Calling All Angels," they overreach, and the pop-culture references scattered throughout date almost instantly. My Private Nation is a clean, intelligent disc, but it's also safe and middle of the road. Train's fans would be richly rewarded if the band took a few more risks. --Beth Massa

Customer Reviews:

Definitely a good listen........2007-02-26

Starting out with the one two punch of "Calling All Angels" and "All American Girl" was interesting. I was waiting to see if the band could match the energy and sheer tuneful nature of these two cuts. I found myself impressed because the band maintains the quality throughout. I think the band was finding their footing after the uneven nature of DROPS OF JUPITER. There are a number of good cuts here from the edgy title cut to the plaintive "Lincoln Avenue" there is a maturity here and it is appreciated. I still think the lyrics are still a bit simplistic, there is no mystery everything is spelled out a bit too clearly, but this is definitely a good listen.

3 stars is actually VERY good..........2006-10-19

Personally I like to compare music on a larger scale, from band to band and generation to generation...it makes no sense to me to rate a band against itself within it's own catalog. That being said, if an album like Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven" gets 5 stars, you should be able to appreciate the 3 star rating here.

Train is a very unique band with a southern flair that sports respectable talent and enjoyable creative/energy. The commercial stuff on this album will appeal to most and (that alone) can justify purchasing this CD. For some of us, like myself, however, there's much more enjoyment to be had. For instance, my favorite song on this CD is "Save the Day" - it's fun/upbeat, it's very clever in using analogies (the lyrics are great if you "get it"), and it's a very different and unique sound that shows "personality". "Calling All Angels" on the other hand, in my ears, is a very boring song that I usually skip past. Go figure.

In short, if you like what you heard on the radio from Train, you will really enjoy this CD - one song or another.

The ride continues.......2006-03-18

My Private Nation is without doubt the strongest of Trains albums to date. From the opening bars of Calling all Angels thru to the closing I'm about to come alive, the band alternatively rocks, croons, harmonises and generally pleases this punter. OK I know its a different genre, but I think Train is to the 2000's as the Eagles were to the 70's. Sorry Train! What I mean by that comment is Train's ability to bring together many influences and deliver great rock music. There melodies and harmonies are right up there and they above all are having fun. I digress, the point is Save the Day, Get to Me and the title track are classics. Am patiently waiting for the 4th album to be released in NZ, the single "Cab" is here and fantastic so I can continue my Train ride.

Finally!.......2006-02-19

Let me preface this review with some demographics. I'm a classic rocker that grew up in the late 70's and early 80's. Led Zeppelin, Styx, The Eagles and Journey, and the like, will always be what "real" rock is. Unfortunately I have spent the better part of two decades wondering what the hell happened to rock music. While following the careers and products of those from my past, I also listened to all the new stuff and just didn't get it I guess. But as I kept trying, the newbies all pretty much seemed like flash in the pan artists seeking their 15 minutes of fame.

Train has what I've been missing and this album (CD) brought it all together. They got it right, and are right on. This CD is easily one of the ten I have to take to my deserted island. Yes right up there with Led Zeppelin (4) and The White Album, Boston, And Etc. To be honest I've always struggled with who else would fill out that list. But this one will be there.

Many of the feelings and issues dealt with here just seem to speak to me personally and maybe that's my connection. But At my age I was losing my faith in rock and roll its future and wondering if I'd wasted my life as rooted to music as it has been. Train and this album have saved me.

Calling all Angels will be a classic in the annals of Rock and Roll, mark my words, and wait and see. But When I Look to the Sky, has touched my soul, and will be one of those songs I sing to myself when no one else is around and I need to reset my bearings.

The artistry in this CD seems to show the maturation of the band and its members. I'm sure some of these were very personal to these artists. My greatest fear is that they will decide or worse be persuaded by others or society to move away from what they have used to get where they are. But the integrity of there music so far seems to suggest they can be here for the long haul. Hopefully they will shut out the noise and just play, while we all reap the benefits. I was getting worried that I hadn't heard of anything new from Train, but as of the day I wrote this I saw they just released For Me It's You. Thus my hope is building.

While Keith Richards might live forever, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, and Steve Tyler won't. Finally I have some hope for the future.

A Very Good CD.......2005-09-30

Very enjoyable to listen to. Get to Me is my favorite song.

Average customer rating:

Laughable for VNV
They have been consistently better.
I like it.
Excellent!
Another great VnV Nation album!!

Judgement
VNV Nation
Manufacturer: Metropolis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Year Zero
Praise the Fallen
Mythmaker
Dreamcypher
Eat Me, Drink Me

ASIN: B000NQR860
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Tracks:

Prelude
The Farthest Star
Testament
Descent
Momentum
Nemesis
Secluded Spaces
Illusion
Carry You
As It Fades

Album Description

VNV Nation's last album, Matter and Form (2005), was hailed by critics for its high-impact array of tone and sound, from hard hitting anthems to euphoric symphonies. In April 2007, the band is poised to release its next album, Judgement, which promises to be their most powerful and unique release to date. Having already broken the boundaries between industrial and other alternative music styles on Matter and Form, VNV Nation take this idea to new heights by creating a sound that is a collision of ever present insight, energy, emotion, past and future. From its fast pace, pounding bass-line and melody to its electric-guitar like synth sounds and Ronan Harris's thought provoking vocals, "Nemesis" rings through as one of VNV's most aggressive anthems to date. "Testament," which could be described as an electronic-indie anthem, "The Farthest Star" and "Carry You" provide a bright, hopeful outlook, while "Movement" presents a dark trance flavor to the band's ever expanding repertoire of song possibilities. The omniscient "Descent" sweeps in with dark electronic rhythms and lyrics that describe complete devastation, giving the yin to the yang of the ethereal ballad "Secluded Spaces" that makes you feel like nothing in the world could be more beautiful. With every album, VNV Nation manages to tear down more and more musical boundaries. Judgement will be their greatest achievement thus far.

Customer Reviews:

Laughable for VNV.......2007-08-02

So this is what goes for VNV these days? there are a few good songs on this album, but it just doesnt go THERE. I'm not just against this album because its not "old" VNV, i am a fan of Matter and Form, which after a couple of listenings gets to you. This album however is lyrically depressing, and not 'good' depressing, but dissapointingly depressing. Ronan seems to have run out of inspiration on this one, almost like he knows what will work and just pounds it out of a cookie cutter. musically it doesnt really push hard, but face it, not too many people would listen to VNV if there were no lyrics. Without inspired lyrics, which is what draws most people to them, there really isnt much there to drive the music. sorry, but you should skip this one and put your money into somthing truly inspired like Coded Message: 12 from [:SITD:], which is probably the least known classic of the newer electro-industrial music.
sorry Ronan, better luck next time....

They have been consistently better........2007-07-10

If you are a fan of VNV Nation from the days of Praise the Fallen and Empires then about half of the tracks on this album are for you. However the other tracks are experiments in a trend that they have been following since Futureperfect. I am still not sure how I feel about this. I enjoy electronic music, but I feel that there is something amiss with Futureperfect and Matter + Form. All the same, I would have to say that for the die-hard VNV fan this will definitely be a good addition to your collection.

For more reviews and information please see [...]

I like it........2007-06-26

I don't think this album is nearly as good as Empires, but certainly don't think it's crap. I have grown to love VnV Nation. I will admit that sometimes I wish that I had a clearer understanding of what the lyrics are about, but I think I get it. I have my interpretation and I guess that's the only interpretaion that matters. VnV Nation make excelent Future pop music that is great music to drive to, dance to, or play around your house while your cleaning. High energy trance beats with pasionate singing and dark atmosphere. Great production by Ronan Harris, and another good album. I'm not dissapointed, but there are quite a few people who are.

Excellent!.......2007-06-14

This CD is wonderful for any VNV Nation fan. I've listened to this album time and time again and truly a great album.

I highly suggest purchasing this album!

Another great VnV Nation album!!.......2007-06-13

This is one of those bands that pisses people off because they have become populur in the "underground" scene. The truth be, VnV Nation have never released a radio hit in the States, never a top 40 video, never a Rolling Stone cover, never, never, never...nada! This band keeps pumping out solid electro/synth pop albums that pack out every dance floor in the goth/industrial club scene accross the map. This album is no exception to thier greatness. All of the songs are deep, emotionally charged, introspective, metaphoric, and classic future pop anthems that you want to play over and over again in your CD player. This is the most important band in the entire future pop genre!!!!!! (Just in case you didn't allreday know).

Average customer rating:

TRACK LIST
Really Terrific
1989 was a great year for music. "Rhythm Nation" was no exception!
JJ's Best Album
One of the Best Albums of 1989!

Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Control
janet.
The Velvet Rope
Design of a Decade 1986/1996
All for You [Extra Track]

ASIN: B000002GFN
Release Date: 1989-08-24

Tracks:

Interlude: Pledge
Rhythm Nation
Interlude: T.V.
State Of The World
Interlude: Race
The Knowledge
Interlude: Let's Dance
Miss You Much
Interlude: Come Back Interlude
Love Will Never Do (Without You)
Livin' in a World (They Didn't Make )
Alright
Interlude: Hey Baby
Escapade
Interlude: No Acid
Black Cat
Lonely
Come Back to Me
Someday is Tonight
Livin'... In Complete Darkness

Amazon.com essential recording

Picking up where the breakthrough funk-pop of Control left off, Janet Jackson and her production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis laced Rhythm Nation with high-minded references to societal ills--seldom the favored province of dance music, but a daring attempt nonetheless. Songs like "State of the World" and "The Knowledge" follow in the tradition of "free your mind and your ass will follow." Still, aside from the title track, it was the pure pop fare and dance music that stormed the charts: "Escapade," "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," "Alright," and "Come Back to Me" concentrate on the politics of personal relationships, not public policy, while "Black Cat" burns the place down with a fierce burst of hard rock. Rhythm Nation 1814 doesn't necessarily hang together thematically, but it's so chock full of hits, you scarcely notice. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

TRACK LIST.......2007-05-22

Janet Jackson / Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814
Label: A&M
Year: 1989
Track Title
1. Interlude: Pledge
2. Rhythm Nation
3. Interlude: T.V.
4. State Of The World
5. Interlude: Race
6. The Knowledge
7. Interlude: Let's Dance
8. Miss You Much
9. Interlude: Come Back Interlude
10. Love Will Never Do (Without You)
11. Livin' In A World (They Didn't Make)
12. Alright
13. Interlude: Hey Baby
14. Escapade
15. Interlude: No Acid
16. Black Cat
17. Lonely
18. Come Back To Me
19. Someday Is Tonight
20. Interlude: Livin'...In Complete Darkness

Really Terrific .......2007-02-16

This is really terrific. I listened to this album a lot in 1989-90 while all its hit singles were spinning into the charts and playing from the radio.
Janet Jackson was 23 when she made this excellent album, and it remains her best work. She had really good producers on her team, wrote strong social-comment lyrics, and made stylish videos , usually with squads of well-drilled dancers performing funk workouts in formation . The mission statement on Track 1 of Rhythm Nation is the dream of a "nation with no geographic boundaries... free from colour lines" and this admirable ideal is promoted on funky title tune. The lead single Miss You Much also funked out with a staccato beat and hit US #1 in October 1989. Further hits were also squarely in the dance/pop tradition , such as the upbeat Escapade, the happy-sounding Love Will Never Do ( Without You ) and the groovy Alright . Social injustice is highlighted on the rather-good ballad Livin' In A World ( They Didn't Make ) and the uptempo State Of The World , while the rocking number Black Cat really works very well, with its heavy rock guitar sound precisely capturing the song's raunchy sentiments. The Knowledge is an angular funk groove all about getting a good education. Janet's albums always balanced funky and smooth elements, so here we had the nice, stately love ballad Come Back To Me and the seductive bedroom tune Someday Is Tonight to represent the softer side of her music. Interspersed throughout the running order of the disc are sound snippets and fragments of commentary that help to link the songs together rather like a sound collage. A very good idea !

Every song here succeeds - that's why Rhythm Nation 1814 deserves a 5 star rating.
Highly Recommended to all music fans.

1989 was a great year for music. "Rhythm Nation" was no exception!.......2007-02-15

It takes alot for an artist to create a hit single or two, but it's quite another to create an album chock-full of hits that have endured for nearly 20 years (mind-boggling to think that much time has elapsed since this album's release!).

Just looking at the song titles, I knew just about every song without having to listen to a single note. When I played the CD, it brought me back to a time when originality was celebrated and encouraged in pop music. It also reminded me of a time when pop radio used to play these songs over and over again, yet I never seemed to mind because they just sounded better each time.

That all seems like another world today - to put it mildly!

One of the worst decades in human history was coming to a close and pop music legends were making the most of the moment by releasing great albums in 1989, alot of which had a common theme - social injustices and being on the threshold of something new (which we were): Phil Collins released "...But Seriously" that year along with Don Henley's "The End of the Innocence," Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever," Billy Joel's "Storm Front," and The B-52's "Cosmic Thing." The Fine Young Cannibals and De La Soul, among many others, also contributed to an end-of-the-decade blitz of great music. Janet Jackson added her own dynamic contribution with "Rhythm Nation 1814."

This album deserved all the hype it got (which, along with the original "Batman," got quite alot!). I remember the futuristic video for the title track on MTV (back when the channel did something revolutionary - they actually played music videos all day). I also vividly recall the intense radio airplay the majority of this album got over time (which is how I got to know this, minus the Interludes): "State of the World," "Miss You Much," "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," "Escapade," "Black Cat," and "Come Back To Me."

Reading the reviews here on Amazon, it clicked that Janet accomplished something that's rare for dance music: She was able to include serious messages regarding social injustices (among other topics) alongside danceable tunes and the standard slow songs.

This is definitely Janet's masterpiece. It's a pleasure to finally have this in my collection. Her voice is soothing and the overall message is quite powerful. - Donna Di Giacomo

JJ's Best Album.......2007-01-24

This Album has got a bit of Every style of music on it...Rock, Dance, R'n'B, Funk and Pop. It is an awaesome album and spawned 7 Top 10 hits. It has a lot of Interludes 8 in fact, and 12 Original Tracks.
All of the songs are good, and even though I had never been a big fan of Janet Jackson, I am a fan of this Album. "Escapade" and "Love Will Never Do" were instantly reconizable once I heard them, and are Excellent Pop songs, and I remember them getting a lot of Radio play back in 89 when this album was released and also the following year. This album definetly has some of the best songs of her career.
Besides being A great Pop Mainstream Album, it is also a Concept album, that deals with the Problems of the World and Society. Many of the albums tracks deal with this. Songs such as "State Of The World" and "Livin' In A World They Didn't Make", whilst other tracks such as "Lonely" and "Come Back to Me" deal with lost love. Most of the Album deals with Poverty,Violence, Racism and the Ignorance and Perceptions that Society has.
My favourite songs on the album are "State Of The World" which deals with the homeless problem, Drugs and Violence in Society. Even though it has a dark message it is Very upbeat and a good song. "The Knowlege" preaches for you to find out about the things you don't know about and find the Truth in life so you can protect yourself and understand the world better, and is a nice little piece of Upbeat Funk.
"Love Will Never Do" was another Favourite of mine, and a big hit from this album. I love the way this Song starts with the Chimes and thumping and then it explodes into a Bombastic Pop song, with a great chorus that you'll be singing along to instantly once U recognise it. "Livin' In a World [They Didn't make]" is a Beautiful song about the Innocence of Children and how it hurts for them growing up in a Society that is corrupted by violence, and Hate, and how they could get sucked in to that and make the situation worse. It has some beautiful heartfelt and true lyrics. The song ends with a news clipping of an incident where a Gun man open fires in a California school playground killing himself and 5 children.This really makes you think about the way people act and the senseless violence that destroys lives, and how there is no need for it.
"Escapade" is another song I reconised right from the start with it's chiming bells and Pop feeling. Once again the Chorus will have you singing along with it. A totally Fun Track.
The Hard Rock of "Black Cat" is addictive and is a great reconisable song. One of the Album's Hilights. The Spanish tinged Ballads "Lonely" and "Come Back To Me" are Beautiful and Heartfelt, and some of my favourite tracks on the album. "Lonely" has a beautiful message to it and sounds very relaxing and the spanish guitars make it the perfect R'n'B Love Song. "Come Back To Me" is equally as good.
Overall I Enjoyed this Album, and Feel it is JJ'S best work. Any fan of Rock, Pop, Funk or R'n'B should have this in their music collection.

One of the Best Albums of 1989!.......2007-01-14

After the breakthrough album "Control" three years prior, Janet was back with another album with simular structure, "Rhythm Nation 1814", a concept album that partly deals with social injusticies (In particular State of the World, Living in a World, The Knowledge and most of the interludes) But many other songs are just strong contemporary R&B without being political in any way. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis once again produce the majority of songs and make it just as well as on "Control". Perhaps this album is even more mixed, with ballads, uptempo's and even some rock. Out of 7 single releases all made the top 5! and 3 would also top the bilboard charts. 7 songs from the same album reaching the top 5 became a new record. This album got as many as 20 songs, but removing the interludes there are only 12 actual singles. This is as far as I know one of the first if not the first album with interludes, something that would be commonly used in R&B and Hip Hop later on. But on this album the interludes actually does make sense and they are not just about Janet's ego like on latter albums. Before I'll go to the songs, this is obviously Janet's best album with "Control" and there are plenty of worthwile songs to enjoy here.

The first song a dance number "Rhythm Nation" where we'll find Janet dressed in a black military uniform in the video (just like on the album cover) preaches world unity among races and nations. Although Janet's singing here is below average it's a catchy rhythmic dance anthem nonetheless and a good opener that gives a clear message on what's coming. "State of the World" is simular and deals with very disturbing issues, but this song was only released for radio airplay and not as a single, too bad. "The Knowledge" continues with simular issues until the number 1 smash "Miss You Much" arrives and deals with more lightweight issues compared to the first three songs, basically Love. Next song is a ballad and it's called "Love Will Never Do", In the video we'll see a new sexy janet dance with a guy, simular to what her brother did on "In the Closet", Janet wanted to show other sides of herself on this album and prove she was no fluke. This song also reached the top of the charts even if it's hardly one of her more famous songs.

"Livin' In A World" is yet another slow paced social conscious song but it wasn't released a single. Next single "Alright" is typical for it's time with new jack swing and it also got a memorable video in 30's style. "Escapade" another number #1 is perhaps the most pop oriented song and in my oppinion best song of this album. This portay Janet at her peak where everything she did became a hit. "Black Cat" is pop/rock and also quite unique. Janet wrote it all by herself. "Lonely" a great ballad, not to be mistaken with "I Get Lonely" from a later album is just great and should have been a single. "Come Back to Me" (#2) is very simular and so is "Someday Is Tonight". All ballads.

Overall, What more can I say, this is Janet Jackson at her best. "Rhythm Nation" is one of her best albums at the peak of her career. Critics thought she was a fluke but instead she (with help from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis) would record an album that was perhaps even better then "Control". The concept doesn't really work since only half of the songs are part of it, but the hits!. 7 big hits in one album is alot, and for them this is a great purchase and a classic album aswell.

Average customer rating:

Yet Another Funkadelic Best
One Nation Under a Groove
good for your mind... good for the dance floor
So many great records
Pledge Allegiance to the Funk!

One Nation Under a Groove
Funkadelic
Manufacturer: Priority Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Maggot Brain

ASIN: B000069CLB
Release Date: 2002-07-16

Tracks:

One Nation Under a Groove
Groovallegiance
Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!
Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)
Into You
Cholly (Funk Gettin' Ready to Roll)
Lunchmeataphobia (Think, It Ain't Illegal Yet!)
P.E. Squad/Doo Doo Chasers ["Going All-The-Way-Off" Instrumental Version]
Maggot Brain

Amazon.com essential recording

George Clinton's post-bicentennial message to those in the "chocolate cities" was that America could be theirs, too, without any loss of their own black, regional identities. One Nation Under a Groove remains Funkadelic's most provocative release, as well as one of the funkiest long-players released in the disco era. The band vamps on a world where people of different color play each other's songs ("Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"), lose their inhibitions (the classic title track), and bond together with the glue of shared secrets (the wonderful "Groovallegiance"). Standout: the slow-grooved "Into You," in which a lover vows to stay true or a patriot pledges devotion to a new flag--take your pick. You might think that a complex and moving ode to commitment is out of place on an album with such political overtones, but it's not. It's really the quiet-storm centerpiece. --Don Harrison --This text refers to an out-of-print edition of this title.

Album Description

Great price for this 5 star album originally released in 1978. Digitally remastered. Priority Records. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Yet Another Funkadelic Best.......2006-09-15

This was too hot to handle if you were not into funk but the ever danceable "One Nation" made you get up. It was a National anthem for "us folks" and gave us some pride in knowing that we are "One Nation Under A Groove" and we had a voice. We had "Lift Every Voice " and now we got "One Nation" what more can you ask for. You have a wonderfully written dance song with the team of george Clinton, Gary Shider and the multi-talented Walter "Junie" Morrisson. "Grooveallegience" is another well done song withe the bass of Rodney "Skeet" Curtis..Another revamp of the funk mob but not noticeable only great music. The are puffing out their chests and saying "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?"--The "Promental............enemasquad" was a hilarious treat and I am glad that they put the instumental on the album as it is a good music track--They just lacked the backing vocal tracks that was on "Promental". "Maggot Brain' the live version was very good Eddie or Mike I don't remember but excellent all of the same. This was the year for the Parliament/Funkadelic as they put a flag on the earth and then went underwater---I said it before, and I'll say it again, what a funk mob!!!

One Nation Under a Groove.......2006-07-20

This is one of the most important albums for this group. Though many are aware of the title track,( One Nation Under a Groove" THE Funk Anthem) much of the rest of the album has been over looked. The strong blues background, mixed with bits of reggage and soul make this not only a funky dance album, but also a great album to relax to. It it not to be missed.

good for your mind... good for the dance floor.......2006-05-23

there's plenty of stuff to groove to on this album. it's an awesome blend of funk, disco, rock, reggae, jazz, and messages about unity. if you can get past the outer space stuff, poo humor, and the "bonus EP", you're in for a real treat. get the album Maggot Brain, too. it'll blow your mind.

So many great records.......2006-05-22

There are some many good funkadelic records I happen to own this on vinyl and is an essential in any record/cd collection. If you are thinking about buying this get it on vinyl instead. If you don't have a record player then invest sucka.

Pledge Allegiance to the Funk!.......2005-12-20

Each and every member of Funkadelic HAD to have been high as a kite to come up with the songs on this album. Aside from that, this album showcases some really great musicians. I enjoy listening to it every time.

Average customer rating:

Best of VNV Nation
Classic VNV Nation
Musical Mass Culture Introspective
MUSICAL PHENOMONA
Awesome.

Empires
VNV Nation
Manufacturer: Metropolis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Praise the Fallen
Dark Angel
Honour 2003
Gelb
Standing

ASIN: B00004T0LI
Release Date: 2000-05-16

Tracks:

Firstlight
Kingdom
Rubicon
Saviour
Fragments
Distant (Rubicon II)
Standing
Legion
Darkangel
Arclight

Customer Reviews:

Best of VNV Nation.......2007-05-07

I've bought several VNV Nation albums recently, and this is definitely my favorite. Ronan Harris's songs become technically more complex starting with this CD, and music is very smooth (as opposed to the harsher beats in "Praise the Fallen" and "Advance and Follow"). If you're looking for a great vocalist, this isn't the CD for you. Ronan lets the music do most of the work, but the lyrics are very evocative.

The first track is pretty dull, but right after the songs pick up. "Kingdom" starts off the CD with a decent trance-like sound. "Rubicon" is one of my favorite tracks, as it combines moving lyrics (taken in context with the song title) with great music that fits it surprisingly well. "Fragments" is a quick song, with a beat reminiscent of songs on "Praise the Fallen." The rest of the songs are excellent as well. The album has a lot of fast, upbeat sounding tracks; only three are dull, in my opinion (though "Distant" should sound that way, given its context).

Overall, it's a great CD with good lyrics and good music. If you like smooth sounding electronic music, this is for you.

Classic VNV Nation.......2007-05-06

VNV Nation is easily one of my all time favorite bands. I discovered VNV Nation about four years ago and have been hooked since then. What has always appealed to me is the combination of heartfelt lyrics and epic dance beats. I consider the band's third album "Empires" to be classic VNV Nation. After seven years since its release, "Empires" still sounds remarkably fresh with its crisp, infectious synth melodies. My favorite song has to be the lush ballad "Standing" with its haunting melodies and emotionally moving lyrics. The combination of the melodies and lyrics always moves me to the very core of my soul every time I listen to the song. I think this song is one of the best songs Ronan Harris has ever written. The lyrics to "Kingdom" are also great in an epic and grandeur sense. My favorite instrumental track is "Saviour". I will say that I prefer the vox version of "Saviour" (found on the rare "Burning Empires" EP). The instrumental track has a good dance beat. I like the build up in the song but the song is a lot better with Ronan's vocals. I am not really too big on the other instrumental tracks on the album like "Firstlight". They didn't have the same catchy pop hooks that "Saviour" has. Another minor flaw is that Ronan's vocals tends to be monotonous. Most of the time I am not bother by his vocals but if I am not in a good mood, I will tend to find his vocals rather annoying but that is rare. Another great song on the album is "Fragments" which is a bit more harsh and abrasive than "Standing" and "Kingdom". The high level of energy in the song shines through and will make the listener want to jump and down. "Distant (Rubicon II)" turns down a few notches. It is another wonderful ballad. It is a nice segueway into "Standing". If there was one album by VNV Nation I would recommend to anyone curious about the band, I strongly recommend getting "Empires" first.

Musical Mass Culture Introspective.......2007-02-21

There are very few people out there, let alone bands, who are willing to broach the concepts that VNV thrusts into its songs - nevermind the fact that the result sounds absolutely superb.

This album is a marker for the band, engaging EBM and Industrial sounds and rythms with unadulterated vocals rather uncommon to the scene: self-labeled "futurepop" that runs the emotional gamut from slow and subtle to the heart-pounding, foot-stomping adrenaline rush. The album is a favorite with diehard, longstanding VNV fans as well as those new to the sound altogether; the lyrics are painfully insistant, to the point of easily being interpreted a call to action. The vocals are also a crowning gem, and are organic - generally an unsynthesized breath of fresh air - and feel more like active poetry or the oral traditions of ages long gone. The sounds are better executed than armfulls of other bands, and the combination is unforgettable and irreplacable.

VMV deserves a place with the music greats, and thus far have never been matched in depth or skill in their field.

MUSICAL PHENOMONA.......2006-07-25

This is probably among the most best band of today, or at LEAST lyrically, they are miles ahead of many musicians today, Standing is extremely emotive, beautiful, the lyrics are great throughout this whole CD, heck all the melody on this cd, along with his voice, is all outstanding, it's sad that this cd or Futureperfect isn't on the Rolling Stones 500 greatest cd's of all time, especailly considering some of the cd's they have on it that don't even compare with VNV

Awesome........2006-05-31

At some point in 2005, someone recommended that I give VNV Nation a listen and suggested that I find "Matter + Form" first. I agreed and was satisfactorily impressed, but I had the nagging feeling that there was something more to this group than what that album had let onto. I dug a little deeper and discovered "Empires," and rather than being mildly content with my find, I was blown away. "Empires" was everything I had wanted from an electronic music album but had previously been unable to find.

Basically, there are two types of songs on "Empires": one type is slow, soft, introspective, and comparatively rare; the other type is fast, hard, (still) introspective, and thankfully abundant. The interesting thing about "Empires" (and VNV Nation in general) is that while much of the music possesses obvious electronic pop sensibilities (familiar chord-progression patterns and common rhythms, for example) the music never becomes accessible enough to qualify as "pop." The song "Rubicon" is perhaps the perfect example of this; the song moves along at a galloping speed, has a catchy chorus, irresistable arpeggiated chords that bring to mind Tangerine Dream sped up to 180 BPM, and a set of lyrics that any songwriter should be jealous of. And despite all of these factors, the song, the album, the band are all too cerebral, too Apollonian, simply too above it all to appeal to most of the plebs who dance the night away to derivative electro in darkened rooms under chemical enhancement. The pulsating instrumental "Saviour" is the song that comes closest to being a rave hit, but still manages to impress upon the listener that there is more going on here than music designed to get one's body moving. Harsher tracks populate the second half of the album, reaching their climax with the angry, determined "Darkangel" and then falling into the abyss with the calm, contemplative "Arclight," which completes the circle of the album by lengthening and adding a vocal line to the instrumental "Firstlight" that began the album. This structuring is significant because the album is meant to portray the lifespan of a generic empire (although arguably one based almost entirely on Caesar's Rome). In this, the album suceeds admirably, as the excellent lyrics prove.

The only negative about "Empires" is the fifth track, "Fragments." It is atonal and dissonant, lacking any but the most superficial similarity to the far more sophisticated tracks on the album. It sounds not unlike several tracks on the band's follow-up "Futureperfect," but given the greatness of the other 9 tracks, a single misstep is easily forgivable. Being one of my top 5 favorite albums from any genre, "Empires" is highly recommended to anyone who appreciates electronic music that is more than a catchy beat.

Average customer rating:

Digitally Remastered From The Original Master Tapes!
this is the party mix
Great series of rare 12" versions on CD

Old School Nation, Vol. 2
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Hi-Bias Canada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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Old School Nation
Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 1
Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 2
Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 3
Old School Jams, Vol. 3

ASIN: B0007MAKL0
Release Date: 2005-02-21

Tracks:

Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Please Don't Go [Extended Mix] - K.W.S.
Point of No Return [Vocal Long Version] - Nu Shooz
Looking for a New Love [Club Edit] - Jody Watley
Move Out [12" Mix] - Nancy Martinez
Walking on Sunshine - Donnie Calvin, Rockers Revenge
Love Child [Extended Version] - Sweet Sensation
Dreamer [Original Club Mix] - Livin' Joy
I Beg Your Pardon [Club Mix]
Candy Girl [Long Version] - New Edition
We Are Family [Long Version] - Sister Sledge
I Wanna Be the One [Original Version] - Stevie B

Tracks:

Let It Whip [12" Mix] - Dazz Band
Ain't Nobody [Long Play Version] - Chaka Khan, Rufus & Chaka Khan
Sending All My Love [Club Mix] - Linear
Crush on You [Extended Version] - The Jets
I'm Alive [12" Original] - Stretch & Vern
Return of the Mack [C&J Street Mix] - Mark Morrison
Oh Shelia [Extended Version] - Ready for the World
I Thought It Was You [12" Mix] - Sex-O-Sonique
Bass (How Low Can You Go) [Extended Version] - Simon Harris
Fantasy Girl [Club Mix] - Johnny O.
Venus [Extended Version] - Bananarama
Smalltown Boy [12" Mix] - Bronski Beat

Customer Reviews:

Digitally Remastered From The Original Master Tapes!.......2007-01-09

Like all other Hi-Bias releases this one shines when it comes to the mastering! Just like the 'Retro:Active' releases from Hi-Bias the liner notes state that the music has been "mastered using the 'Aural Submission' process. Any audio imperfections are due to original source masters". The results? Stunning!!! I can't believe how incredible some of these recordings sound, namely the early 80's tracks: "Let It Whip" by The Dazz Band (1982) sounds incredible with it's heavy bass line and full dynamic range. Of course, this track is only one example.

Soft Cell's 12" of "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go" has never sounded better than on this release. This 12" is readily available on numerous compilations all over the world. I have never heard it sound better than on here! It's incredibly rich, crisp, and heavy sounding for a 1981 recording! It really puts the 2002 Mercury/Universal 'Non-Stop Erotic Caberet' so-called "remaster" to shame! Sorry, but that master sounded flat and thin! It's a real treat finally having an older recording like this in my collection with it's best sound ever.

As one reviewer pointed out the 2-CD set does have it's faults. While the majority of the tracks are the original 12" versions a few LP tracks have found their way here. For example, Bronski Beat's 1984 smash "Smalltown Boy" features in it's original LP version, not the official 12" mix that's listed. The original 12" clocks in over 9 minutes. It clocks in at it's standard 5:01 LP version here. It's really a shame that this was overlooked because I was looking forward to finally having the real 12" version in stunning audio. Nonetheless, this does not disappoint! This is easily the best-sounding version I've heard of the track.

Many of these tracks really don't show their age in terms of sound quality due to the brilliant mastering. I have never heard any of these tracks sound better on any previous releases I own. I highly recommend this release in addition to the other 'Old School Nation' volumes for fans looking for the best-sounding 12" versions out there!

this is the party mix.......2006-07-12

What can i say this is the perfect old school dance cd with hard to find remix's this is a must have for anyone you enjoys a good dance songs from the past order it today and enjoy ooh and be sure to pick up vol 1 as well the 1st is just as good...dance dance dance

Great series of rare 12" versions on CD.......2005-08-15

Mostly 80s focused, but with an occasional 90s track too, these are some classic tracks you've been wanting on CD. Get both volumes, and let's hope for a third!!! Track times:

CD1:

1. tainted love (8:56)
2. please don't go (6:08)
3. point of no return (5:51)
4. looking for a new love (5:05) (edited!!!)
5. move out (6:04)
6. walking on sunshine (4:43)
7. love child (5:25)
8. dreamer (5:38)
9. I beg your pardon (6:32)
10. candy girl (7:18)
11. we are family (8:20)
12. I wanna be the one (4:33)

CD2:

1. let it whip (6:07)
2. ain't nobody (4:40)
3. sending all my love (4:47) (this is not the 12" version)
4. crush on you (6:17)
5. I'm alive (7:13)
6. return of the mack (4:33)
7. oh Sheila (6:48)
8. I thought it was you (6:43)
9. bass (5:47)
10. fantasy girl (7:51)
11. venus (8:24) (not the original 12" mix, which is the best mix)
12. smalltown boy (5:01) (album version, not 12")

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