The Final [CD-single] [Import]

Product Description
Japan exclusive single for the flamboyant Japanese rock act features four tracks, 'The Final', 'Increase Blue' (Live), 'Red...(em)' (Live), & 'The Third Empire' (Live). Sony. 2004.

The Final,Dir En Grey,Sony,5"CD Singles,World Music

Average customer rating: Start your Snow Patrol Collection here Canciones para escuchar y disfrutar Solace through song Another superb effort from Snow Patrol It's Okay

Final Straw Snow Patrol Manufacturer: A&M ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Twee Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music $7.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Eyes Open Hopes and Fears When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up Songs for Polar Bears Under the Iron Sea ASIN: B0001MZ7ZK Release Date: 2004-03-30

Tracks:

1. How To Be Dead
2. Wow
3. Glaming Auction
4. Whatever's Left
5. Spitting Games
6. Chocolate
7. Run
8. Grazed Knees
9. Ways & Means
10. Tiny Little Fractures
11. Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking
12. Same
13. Bonus Track 1
14. Bonus Track 2

Amazon.com

The warm melancholy of Gary Lightbody's voice makes for a versatile instrument on Snow Patrol's Final Straw, artfully balancing bright, anthemic rock with disparate reference points like Belle and Sebastian and My Bloody Valentine. Aching with loves both lost and leaving, it's a voice that producer Garrett Lee uses as a jumping-off point, dropping fat guitars, electronic noise, and eclectic instrumentation in with Lightbody's breathy, moody depth. The band plays around with wild shifts of texture: "Gleaming Auction" veers in seconds from a relaxed shuffle to a shoegazing crunch, while a blanket of fuzzbox swagger calls forth the ghost of T. Rex on "Tiny Little Fractures." But just when you're ready to throw the record on random shuffle with Electric Warrior or maybe Heaven Tonight, the band lays down a pastoral ballad like "Same." Somehow it holds together beautifully, stuffed with songs that reward repeat listens and ear candy that keeps you full for days. --Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews:

Start your Snow Patrol Collection here.......2007-06-27

Don't bother with anything earlier than this album with Snow Patrol. This is really where they finally got their act together. Get this one and Eyes Open and you'll be set.

Canciones para escuchar y disfrutar.......2007-05-16

Final Straw recoge una colección de canciones bien escritas, con una excelente música y cargadas de sentimiento. Por ello han sido seleccionadas para hacer parte de bandas sonoras reconocidas a nivel mundial.

Solace through song.......2007-05-10

I can't put my finger exactly on why, but there's something about these songs that I could envision appealing to teenagers and kids in college. "Final Straw" has its share of sensitive-artist tunes that Snow Patrol released in spades on their succeeding album, Eyes Open, but overall this one has a harder edge to it and a more down-to-earth feel. For instance, the workmanlike line "If it looks like it works and it feels like it works, then it works" on the edgy song "Wow" is priceless in its simplicity and effectiveness. That sort of musical magic continues during the first half of "Final Straw" on songs like "Glaming Auction," "Whatever's Left" and "Spitting Games," all of which are crisp, tuneful, rocking and honestly sung by Gary Lightbody.

As it happens, Lightbody's voice takes on an accented, desperate, despondent and poetic tone on the more mellow tunes, while his vocals have a more direct, tough vibe on the rockers (my preference). Said mellow tunes include the uplifting radio hit "Run" and "Grazed Knees," the latter of which comes complete with sweetly moribund strings for nice effect. One of the more unique songs on the CD is "Ways and Means," a swanky number that contains piano, synth, some formidable electric guitar work, actively hit cymbals and breathy vocals. The spark plug of a song "Tiny Little Fractures" also contains some get-up to it, while the beautiful closing tune (if you don't count the bonus tracks), "Same," with its piano and heartfelt tone, is the perfect way to end.

Snow Patrol seem to possess a bit of everything in their musical arsenal -- from airy, sensitively written ballads of the '00 era to harder-core rockers that the Goo Goo Dolls and Def Leppard would be proud of. If they can keep the originality, open mind and versatility going, perhaps Snow Patrol's career will extend as long as those great bands.

Another superb effort from Snow Patrol.......2007-04-24

Okay, these guys are even more amazing live than on CD, but that is no reason not to check out this album. Every song on here is great, and the production/recording is first rate. Highly recommended. I think Snow Patrol is the best modern rock band -- period.

It's Okay.......2007-03-13

I was a little dissapointed with this album. I had ordered "Eyes Open" in a previous order and was captivated by the sound. There wasn't a song I disliked. However, this album was not like "Eyes Open" and I found that I only prefered 2 or 3 songs out of the whole album. The price was cheap (less than $7.00), so I wasn't too upset. The songs I really liked were "Run", "chocolate", and "Grazed Knees". But the rest of the songs were so-so, in my opinion.

Average customer rating: Excellent Musical, But Product Quality - Eh MODERNIZE your music collection!!! A must to add to your collection Delightful YOU WILL LOVE IT

Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Original Broadway Cast) Jeanine Tesori , Dick Scanlan , and Sutton Foster Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Thoroughly Modern Millie Thoroughly Modern Millie: Vocal Selections Little Women The Musical (2005 Original Broadway Cast) Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast) The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000066B4Y Release Date: 2002-06-11

Tracks:

1. Overture (Orchestra)
2. Not for the Life of Me (Sutton Foster)
3. Thoroughly Modern Millie (Sutton Foster and Ensemble)
4. Not for the Life of Me (Sutton Foster, JoAnn M. Hunter, Alisa Klein, Jessica Grove, Megan Sikora, Catherine Brunell and Kate Baldwin)
5. How the Other Half Lives (Angela Christian and Sutton Foster)
6. Not for the Life of Me (reprise) (Ken Leung and Francis Jue)
7. The Speed Test (Marc Kudisch, Sutton Foster, Anne L. Nathan and Ensemble)
8. They Don't Know (Harriet Harris)
9. The Nuttycracker Suite (Orchestra)
10. What Do I Need with Love? (Gavin Creel)
11. Only in New York (Sheryl Lee Ralph)
12. Jimmy (Sutton Foster)
13. Back at Work (Orchestra with Sutton Foster, Anne L. Nathan and Ensemble)
14. Forget About the Boy (Sutton Foster, Anne L. Nathan and Ensemble)
15. Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life/I'm Falling in Love with Someone (Marc Kudisch and Angela Christian)
16. I Turned the Corner/I'm Falling in Love with Someone (quartet/reprise) (Gavin Creel and Sutton Foster, Marc Kudisch and Angela Christian)
17. Muqin (Harriet Harris, Francis Jue and Ken Leung)
18. Long as I'm Here with You (Sheryl Lee Ralph and Male Ensemble)
19. Gimme Gimme (Sutton Foster)
20. Finale (Thoroughly Modern Millie) (Gavin Creel, Angela Christian and Ensemble with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Sutton Foster)
21. Final Bows (Entire Company)

Amazon.com

Although it's based on the 1967 movie of the same name, Thoroughly Modern Millie is almost thoroughly new. Composer Jeanine Tesori (Violet) and lyricist Dick Scanlan wrote a whole batch of songs, while retaining a couple from the movie--including the Jimmy van Heusen-Sammy Cahn title tune--and recycling even older material (look for Victor Herbert's "I'm Falling in Love with Someone" and the inventively arranged "Nuttycracker Suite"). Miraculously, the show, set during the jazz age, doesn't feel stitched together, and Tesori does a great job cranking out swinging melodies. Sutton Foster is appropriately brassy as Millie, but she can also tone it down, as in the beginning of "Gimme Gimme" (of course, she then proceeds to project up to the last rafters as the song builds to its climax). Harriet Harris, as nasty Mrs. Meers, steals the show with "They Don't Know." Close your eyes, listen to her, and you'll be back in Broadway's golden age. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Musical, But Product Quality - Eh.......2007-07-15

I absolutely love the musical so I'm thrilled with the cd.

My problem was not with the quality of the cd, but with the plastic case. The cd cases always come cracked. Although it doesn't affect the quality of the cd itself, it's rather disheartening that Amazon charges customers for its poor shipping.

MODERNIZE your music collection!!!.......2007-07-13

This is an AMAZING musical and great album. It is sure to jazz-up any music collection! BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!

A must to add to your collection.......2007-05-18

I was very fortunate enough to see this on Broadway. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen! The music has just enough jazz and contemporary vive that any musical lover would enjoy! It's also got tapping in it! Sutton is simply awesome in this role and all of the cast can really belt out their songs. Harriet Harris is phenominal in her role as Mrs. Meers. I highly recommend this to all broadway lovers! It's one to add to your collection!

Delightful.......2006-06-12

The music takes a little bit to grow on you, but boy, does it! It's wonderful, charming, romantic, funny--just like the play itself. I loved almost every song and I was really impressed with "Long As I'm Here With You"-- I thought it was an old song written back in the twenties, because it so sounded like one. The cast is absolutely energetic and endearing, and Sutton Foster just *rocks*. Definitely worth the money.

YOU WILL LOVE IT.......2006-02-17

If you like musicals, you will NOT REGRET purchasing this musical soundtrack. JUST DO IT. It's so great, you will be listening to it forever. I also saw the show at the Kennedy Center in D.C. and it's one of the best I've ever seen. (And I've seen A LOT.)

Have Fun!

Average customer rating: A fitting swan song for a hard-country icon Thank you, Legacy!

Never Say Die: The Complete Final Concert Waylon Jennings & the Waymore Blues Band Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Essential Waylon Jennings The Great Lost Performance Under the Influence of Buck The Horseshoe Curve Red Hot & Live! ASIN: B000S6LSXE Release Date: 2007-07-24

Tracks:

1. Never Say Die
2. Medley: Good Hearted Woman/Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys
3. Trouble Man
4. Meldey: Amanda/A Couple More Years
5. Waymore's Blues
6. It's the World's Gone Crazy (Cotillion)
7. Love's the Only Chain
8. I'm Not Lisa
9. Storms Never Last
10. Suspicious Minds
11. Closing In On the Fire

Tracks:

1. I'm a Ramblin' Man
2. Help Me Make It Through the Night
3. Havin' a Good Time
4. Shakin' the Blues
5. Nothing Catches Jesus By Surprise
6. Never Been To Spain
7. Drift Away
8. I've Always Been Crazy
9. Goin' Down Rockin'
10. The Weight
11. Can't You See

Amazon.com

Journeyman country outlaw Waylon Jennings might have been nearing the end of his road on this performance, but he had a full tank of gas when he hit the Ryman stage for two nights in January 2000. Although too ill to stand, Jennings is in fine--even exceptional--voice, as he and his Waymore Blues Band, augmented with horns for the first time, cruise through a tight and tough two-hour gig. This 2007 expanded edition of Jennings's final album not only adds eight tracks and a second audio disc, but also throws in a professionally shot DVD remixed in crystal-clear 5.1 surround sound. Guests Travis Tritt, Montgomery Gentry, and John Anderson add cameos, along with Waylon's wife Jessi Colter, who appears on four tracks. But this is Jennings's show, and although the country legend's health was on a downslide from which he would never recover, he sounds inspired and vital throughout this set of hits (and some obscurities). Extra tracks such as Tony Joe White's "Trouble Man" and the Band's "The Weight" are terrific additions, and the disc has now been reconfigured to follow the original sequence. Fans might lament the omission of signature Waylon fare such as "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" and "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" and the inclusion of fluffier pop like "Never Been to Spain," but this remains a moving and exciting live recording. The DVD is an indispensable bonus. It shows Jennings's obvious delight playing with this exceptional 11-piece outfit and their enthusiasm working with a country legend. The package is a fitting final document to one of roots music's most edgy trailblazers and essential listening/viewing for any country fan. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews:

A fitting swan song for a hard-country icon.......2007-08-05

Few performers, in any genre, have had as much sheer charisma as Waylon Jennings, and that comes through loud an clear on this poignant set, recorded live at the Ryman auditorium in January, 2000, when Waylon's health was starting to fade. He's backed by his hand-picked Waymore Blues Band, who put as much heart and soul into the performance as ol' Waylon himself. Waylon, who had to stay in a chair during the show, knew he was on the way out, but he had a great attitude about it, cracking jokes about being "a cripple" and even singing his on gentle epitaph on "Might Be A Good Time." He threw himself fully into each and every song, and graciously shared the limelight with buddies like John Anderson, Travis Tritt and Montgomery Gentry, as well as with his wife, Jessi Colter, who leads on a few tunes and sings some heart-rending duets with Waylon.

This edition expands the original Y2K release into the full concert length -- two CDs worth, plus a concert DVD that covers the same material. The concert film is a mixed blessing: on one hand, in technical terms, it's pretty poorly produced -- great sound quality but the cinematography and editing are both pretty rough. But as a document of Waylon's waning years, it's simply invaluable. You see what his road band was like, how they mixed showmanship and honest emotion, and of course you see Waylon, vigorous and vital, though also clearly wounded and with a real weight on his shoulders. Musically, it's all very solid -- most of the songs are oldies, but none of them are played by rote, and the sincere feeling these folks put into their performances comes through loud and clear. If you're a Waylon fan, you'll wanna check it out. (DJ Joe Sixpack)

Thank you, Legacy!.......2007-07-24

First off, the technical side of things. I have a widescreen 30" Philips HDTV with a Trutech surround sound DVD player and was very impressed with the audio and visual qualities of the DVD. I started listening to the first CD in the car as soon as I bought this release today and it sounded great, too.

As for the content, it is truly amazing how a nearly two hour concert video can be so thoroughly engaging when the main artist never even so much as stands up on stage. For those not in the know, by the time of this concert, Waylon's health confined him to a specially designed chair on-stage. Unlike Johnny Cash, though, Waylon's vocals never diminished and so he still sounds as vibrant as he does in the "Waylon Live" recordings from a quarter century earlier. Sure, there are nitpicks with the set list; being the final concert recording from a music icon, everyone has at least one song they wish he'd included. But then, the funny thing is, the "Waylon Live" recordings occurred before he'd even had most of the hits that came to define him for most listeners.

Finally, for those who bought the original 14-track singular CD release and are wondering if this is worth the upgrade...hell, yes, it is! First off, the packaging is far superior, full of clear photos, unlike the original release's few blurry ones. Secondly, the original release sequencing is far off from the full concert and the previously unreleased material is not fluff; it's great stuff that should have been included earlier. The only gripe I have is that on the original release, Waylon has a conversation with Travis Tritt about making movies with Willie that was pretty entertaining, and that's not included on this release. Still, it's a trade-off I think any fan would make. Unless, like me, you plan on keeping your earlier release, too. ;)

Average customer rating: right group, wrong album Floyd at their best!!! Taking the band down with him... Under Your Skin Not terrible, but not deserving of the band's name

The Final Cut Pink Floyd Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Animals Obscured By Clouds A Momentary Lapse of Reason Atom Heart Mother Meddle ASIN: B0001KZM3O Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

1. The Post War Dream
2. Your Possible Pasts
3. One Of The Few
4. When The Tigers Broke Free
5. The Hero's Return
6. The Gunner's Dream
7. Paranoid Eyes
8. Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert
9. The Fletcher Memorial Home
10. Southampton Dock
11. The Final Cut
12. Not Now John
13. Two Suns In The Sunset

Customer Reviews:

right group, wrong album.......2007-07-09

The CD came quickly and looked like new all wrapped up, but instead of "The Final Cut" it was "Amused to Death", which would not have been so bad if I didn't already have that CD. I will not deal with them again.

Floyd at their best!!!.......2007-07-05

1983's follow up to "The Wall" was as we all know right after Rick Wright left the band, but did that affect the music? Absolutley not. "The Final Cut" was written entirely by Roger Waters and in my opinion, was Pink Floyd's last REAL album. Roger Waters was the sole songwriter in the band. He wrote all the lyrics for every album and almost all the music. Sure Pink Floyd did a great job performing his songs after he left the band, but "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason' doesn't have the same feel. "The Final Cut" and all of Roger's solo work does!!! If you are a fan of Floyd from anywhere between "A Saucerful of Secrets" to "The Wall" then you would probably like "The Final Cut" and all of Roger's following solo work more than any Floyd from "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" on.

Taking the band down with him..........2007-06-28

Upon listening to some of these samples, I realize now how embarassingly introverted and unrewarding this album always was. While The Wall ultimately succeeded in projecting the narcissism of the jaded rock and roller into a phantasmagoria of paranoid self-delusion, here the listener is forced to identify with Roger Waters' intimate and outlandish self pity and absurd free association of ideas (Jesus was crucified, and guilty me, I watched too much TV...) whispered in carefully phrased pseudo-ironic fashion over dull funereal orchestral moanings... While the title cut recalls Comfortably Numb musically, its dramatic recollection (invention?) of a near-suicide by Waters comes accross less as an inspired moment than as a cynical attempt to force the listener once and for all to identify wholly the classic Pink Floyd sound with his navel-gazing or else...

Under Your Skin.......2007-06-22

Some Pink Floyd albums grab you immediately, because the hooks are right and the melody catchy, but then get boring after too many listens. A little too safe, simple. The Final Cut is just the opposite. You don't think you'll like it, because no "hit" stands out the first time around. The closest you'll get, the punchy "Not Now John," only appears when the album is almost over. But the sounds on the slower pieces are just too interesting to ignore, especially the way Waters' vocals grate harmonically against the melodies. Try a clip from "Possible Pasts," for example: It starts with Waters singing over a sweet organ sound, then switches to a more muscular riff, but both times his voice strains against the music enough to make a complex tone that remains interesting after many listens. "Hero's Return" and "Fletcher Memorial Home" are also great vehicles for Waters' bitterness. The album gets under your skin. This remastered version includes a song from the movie THE WALL as well: "When the Tigers Broke Free." It fits with the overall theme of the CD.

Not terrible, but not deserving of the band's name.......2007-06-21

I bought this when it came out and was very disappointed. Maybe he should have slept on it for a few years. The right people playing the wrong thing. There are better ways to put across this emotion and this was ill conceived.

Average customer rating: Shines like the noon day sun Soundtrack, FF VII Advent Children FF:Advent Children DVD FFVII - Nobuo Uematsu THE BEST amazing music!!

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Original Game Soundtrack Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Anime & Video Game Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Two-Disc Special Edition) Kingdom Hearts, Vol. 2 Kingdom Hearts Final Fantasy VII The Black Mages: Final Fantasy ASIN: B000AO8CH4 Release Date: 2005-10-10

Tracks:

1. Opening
2. Promised Land
3. Beyond The Wasteland
4. Sign
5. Japanese Title (Piano Version)
6. For The Reunion
7. Japanese Title (Piano Version)
8. Water
9. Materia
10. Black Water
11. Japanese Title (Piano Version)
12. Battle In The Forgotten City
13. Violator
14. Japanese Title (Ffvh Ac Version)
15. Divinity I
16. Japanese Title (Ffvh Ac Version)
17. Japanese Title (Ffvh Ac Version)
18. Divinity Ii
19. Encounter
20. Chase Of Highway
21. Savior
22. J-E-N-O-V-A (Ffvh Ac Version)
23. Japanese Title Advent: One-Winged Angel
24. Cloud Smiles
25. End Credits
26. Calling

Album Details

Includes a booklet.

Customer Reviews:

Shines like the noon day sun.......2007-03-08

Wow with glory this cd shines, The music is ever so awesome :)

Soundtrack, FF VII Advent Children.......2007-02-20

Exactly like in the movie. I do like how they re-do the One Winged Angel.

FF:Advent Children DVD.......2007-01-03

Awesome movie! A must see for any FF fan!
::WARNING-POSSIBLE SPOILER::
But as a particular Aeris/Aerith lover, don't hope for any truth to those ressurection rumours floating around. Just like the game itself (which has been proved to be incomplete and had originally been programed to accomodate the resurrection), its bogus. But she still gets some interesting screen time. Evidently, Tifa's CGI character looks almost exactly like her English voice actress, Rachel Leigh Cook!

FFVII - Nobuo Uematsu THE BEST.......2006-12-17

Nobuo Uematsu is a composer I wish everyone could listen to. FFVII AC soundtrack is just incredible as everyones posted. Fans of FFVII will be taken back in time, to both the game and movie. Nonfans too can appreciate the music!

Nobuo just is a talented composer who can create any type of music fantastically, this track ranges from classical, gospel, hard rock, techno, operatic, just... he does any genre with ease.

This music and FFVII itself has a special place for me, and the music was at the forefront to make the story, characters and experience be unforgettable. Of course playing the game itself I am more emotionally attached to the music and even movie... All the characters themes, everything is here. Mostly from the game, there are original stuff here tho.

WORTH MENTIONG personally... (ending in my favorite on 2nd CD, "Cloud Smiles"

FIRST CD -

2. Promised Land - just great, gospel like, always inspiring and solemn at the same time.

3. Beyond the Wasteland - watch your house rumble! The bass beats during the first half are great. Then it turns into a great action set, gypsie like driving song, always fun to listen to!

4. (piano themes) Aerith's, Tifas... because beautifully done on piano, always takes me back to game. Just wonderful pieces by themselves, I mean Aerith, come on! =)

5.) Battle in Forgotten City - such a percussive, bass driven piece with rock and choir and Herman like violins. I can play this one over and over so fun and great.

2nd CD -

Divinity I - alwyas gives me shivers. Classic Nobuo deep choirical, operatic cinematic classical orchestral action!

Divinity II - Like I. But inpsiring as cloud flies high to save the day... and then Aerith's theme at the peak, just always gets me.

MY FAVORITE - CLOUD SMILES - This purely because it effects me emotionally everytime, takes me back to game, and then end of AC... Aerith such a big thing, just seeing how it ends now, makes you happy, and you feel exactly what Cloud does as she leaves to the music.

ANYWAYS... Long rant but just one of those things, as a fan of anything, the music makes it all come alive for ya! Anything that sends you back in time, effects you on an emotional level is worth raving about!

Nobuo Uematsu - as Barret would say, "You are the man!"

amazing music!!.......2006-08-06

i LOVE this cd very very much. the piano is amazing and the "rockish songs" are awsome...!!!! the piano songs are very peaceful. If u love the movie, then i know u will love this. oh my gosh !!! get this cd now! (i am listening to it now!!!!!!!!!)

Average customer rating: Yikes! An enjoyable piece of work Still Kickin Remastered Classic Sorry, but....

The Final Countdown Europe Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: Out of This World Europe Prisoners in Paradise Metal Health Whitesnake ASIN: B00005NNMK Release Date: 2001-08-28

Tracks:

1. The Final Countdown
2. Rock The Night
3. Carrie
4. Danger On The Track
5. Ninja
6. Cherokee
7. Time Has Come
8. Heart Of Stone
9. On The Loose
10. Love Chaser
11. The Final Countdown (Live)
12. Danger On The Track (Live)
13. Carrie (Live)

Customer Reviews:

Yikes!.......2007-05-28

My husband and I come from musical backgrounds and listen ALL types of music. When we first played this (and it will be the LAST time) we couldn't stop laughing at the overblown, derivative 'big hair' sound of this band. This band sounds like they were attempting to copy Queen, the Scorpions, etc. The drumming is boring and basic, the guitar sounds like every band from the 80's: carpal tunnel inducing generic shred. The lyrics sound like they were written using "Formulaic Lyrics That Sound Like They Mean Something 101". And if the singer sang 'WhoaOHOHOHOHOHOaaaaaaa' once, he must have sang it a zillion times. Maybe he was in pain. I know we were after listening to this...

An enjoyable piece of work.......2007-04-17

In general, The Final Countdown--from the Swedish band Europe--is one of my favorite albums. Back in early 1987, I was captured after being exposed to the impressive video for "The Final Countdown." Later, I was given the cassette, then got the CD, and finally procured this remastered CD edition (which was put out in 2001). Originally, The Final Countdown--Europe's third full-length album--was released in 1986. It displays regal-sounding, finessed qualities. It is obvious that the group put a lot of time into the creation of this piece of work, with its catchy hard rock. Pleasing songwriting, solid musicianship, and polished sound quality are in evidence. In addition to the original ten tracks, this remastered CD version sports three extra bonus live cuts which come from a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England during 1987: "The Final Countdown," "Danger on the Track," and "Carrie." One of the things that I like about this album is how well the guitar and keyboard playing work in combination. John Norum's guitar work is skilled, and his guitar solos are nicely tailored, melodic, and memorable. Keyboardist Mic Michaeli lays down some nice sounds on the proceedings, too; also, he provides keyboard solos on "Danger on the Track" and "Cherokee." A notable singer, Joey Tempest provides tenor vocals that are not only soaring and engaging, but also industrious. The songs that I favor are "The Final Countdown" and "Carrie." Endowed in stateliness, "The Final Countdown" is a special composition because of its majestically great keyboard line, supplied by Michaeli, and Norum's sprightly, never-to-be-forgotten guitar solo (one of my favorite guitar solos, in general). "Carrie" is a pretty power ballad exhibiting expressively smooth vocals from Tempest and Norum's passionate-sounding, indelible guitar solo. "On the Loose" is an example of another track that I enjoy; it is a rousing hard rocker that contains a meticulous, fleet-fingered guitar solo from Norum. When it comes to the CD packaging, the CD booklet includes various photos of the group--except for a color one, the rest are black and white--an informative essay, and the song lyrics. The back of the CD jewel case displays a color photo of the band in concert and a snippet of the essay that is featured in the CD booklet. The run time of the CD is just over 54 minutes. The original material makes up just over 40 minutes of this, and the bonus live songs amount to almost 14 minutes. The Final Countdown is a recommendable album.

Still Kickin.......2007-01-17

This album still holds up today because a lot of millenium culture was so similar to the 1980s. It's supposed to be the future, so no 50s teen idols. No teen idols. No Britney Spears. They're queer. These guys are high class. I recognized it was all in Swedish- Swedish lyrics, made in Sweden, recorded in Sweden. Not really the bad taste of the 80s, that was more like the 3 wheeler or Twisted Sister. Cool without being geeky. Cocaine culture was glam and exotic. This album is kind of exotic. On the first side, the first three tracks still hold up and the rest of the album is just as good. Carrie was a big hit. The title track was used in a Pepsi commercial. I know, guys there's a bit of an age differance you should be middle aged now, but this album is still pretty cool.

Remastered Classic.......2006-11-28

Released in 1986, the Final Countdown is the third album from Swedish rockers Europe. To call it a breakthrough album would be a major understatement. The Final Countdown sold millions of copies worldwide and made Europe one of the era's biggest bands. To this day you can't attend a major sporting event without hearing the song "the Final Countdown" in the closing minutes. This is the song and album that made me a Europe fan for life.

It's may also be the band's weakest album.

Hear me out. 20 years after its release it is possible to look at the Final Countdown objectively in comparisons to Europe's other albums. Sales figures aside, the Final Countdown followed what is arguably the band's best album - 1984's Wings of Tomorrow (I say arguably because I sometimes think 1991's Prisoners in Paradise may be the best thing the band has ever released). Instead of a natural progression, the Final Countdown took a sharp turn into hair metal/arena rock territory, amping up the keyboards, power ballads, and of course the hairspray. There's no denying that the move paid off, but musically it resulted in a weaker overall album.

That's not to say it's a bad album. It still has plenty of great songs, like Rock the Night, Time Has Come, Heart of Stone, and of course the Final Countdown, which to this day has to be considered THE Europe song. It also has some weaker, if not downright silly moments, like Ninja, Danger on the Track, and the weepy ballad Carrie. I should probably add Cherokee to that list, but it's so darned catchy I can't bring myself to do it.

The Final Countdown will always hold a special place in my heart, but looking back it's plain to see that the albums released just prior and soon after it are better efforts. It still deserves a 4-star rating for what the album did for the band, and what it meant to me as a kid.

A remastered version of the Final Countdown was released in 2001. In addition to the much appreciated digital remastering, the CD includes three live tracks - The Final Countdown, Danger on the Track, and Carrie. I'm certainly glad there is a remastered version of the Final Countdown available, but I can't help wishing they would give the rest of Europe's back catalog the same treatment.

Sorry, but...........2006-08-22

Europe is just boring, commercial glam rock drivel. They are a very poor representative of the Euro-metal sceen. (I use the term "metal" loosely). The band are OK musicians, while the songwriting is pure, radio-targeted greed.

If you want to listen to some good metal from Europe (the continent, that is) check out King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Children of Bodom or Meshuggah. Final Countdown is just the worst of 80's excess.

Average customer rating: About Time! Some Of Loudon Wainwright's Best Work Ever !

T Shirt/Final Exam Loudon Wainwright III Manufacturer: Acadia Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Strange Weirdos: Music from and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up Album I Album II Standard Songs for Average People At My Age ASIN: B000O77UHA Release Date: 2007-05-14

Tracks:

1. Bicentennial
2. Summer's Almost Over
3. Hollywood Hopeful
4. Reciprocity
5. At Both Ends
6. Wine with Dinner
7. Hey Packy
8. California Prison Blues
9. Talking Big Apple '75
10. Prince Hal's Dirge
11. Just Like President Thieu
12. Wine with Dinner (Night Cap)

Tracks:

1. Final Exam
2. Mr. Guilty
3. Pen Pal Blues
4. Golfin' Blues
5. Heckler
6. Natural Disaster
7. Fear with Flying
8. Heaven and Mud
9. Two Song Set
10. Pretty Little Martha
11. Watch Me Rock I'm Over Thirty

Album Description

2007 coupling of Louden's two albums, originally recorded for Arista in the '70s, on one disc. T-Shirt was originally released in 1976, followed two years later by Final Exam. Both album are appearing here for the first time on CD. And yes, Louden is Rufus and Martha's dad! Arcadia.

Album Details

2007 Digitally Remastered Issue of Two Original Albums in a Two Disc Package. Both were Recorded During Wainwright's Tenure on the Arista Records Label in the Mid 1970's. This is the First Issue on CD for Both Albums and the Artist Himself Personally Supervised the Production which Utilized the Original Master Tapes.

Customer Reviews:

About Time!.......2007-06-04

T Shirt is new to me but I started this search a few years ago looking for FINAL EXAM and was so frustrated Loudon's earlier work was NOT released to CD yet.

Final Exam is everything you'd come to expect from an original songwriter with keen insight, a sense or irony, talent and the ability to laugh at himself and take those very faults and exploit them for all they're worth.

I hope he made a few bucks on this album and I hope he makes even more with this rerelease.
Although it didn't get me sober, it such as heck helped both before and after.

Yeah, his kids are talented but check out the original gene pool and take a dip - it's quite refreshing.

I rarely 5 star anything but out of gratitude this one deserves it - I was ready to buy the album, get the software and replace the needle on my turntable for this one. My original copy is DOGGED to death.

I hope I like T Shirt half as much as I like Final Exam - at any price, it's a steal of a deal.

Some Of Loudon Wainwright's Best Work Ever !.......2007-06-03

Finally on CD in a nicely packaged 2 CD set. If you know Loudon from his 'Dead Skunk' or maybe his more current work you need to buy this. If you owned these on vinyl you need to buy this. If you never heard anything from LW III you should start here. I was unaware of the critical bashing that T Shirt took back in 1976. I bought it back then and I loved it, so who knew. Anyway he is in great form, his band and guests are in great form. Wonderful, wonderful stuff ! (not many artists can rhyme nembutal and alcohol and make it seem natural, LOL).

Average customer rating: reviving an old memory So BAD she's GOOD my ears and belly hurt A must for all music lovers Florence's voice caused my dog to shake in fear.

The Glory (????) of the Human Voice Florence Foster Jenkins Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Muse Surmounted: Florence Foster Jenkins and Eleven of Her Rivals Florence Foster Jenkins & Friends: Murder on the High Cs The Anna Russell Album Encore? Nightingale - Der Holle Rache [Germany] ASIN: B000003F97 Release Date: 1992-04-14

Tracks:

1. Die zauberflote: der holle rache
2. die musikdose
3. Like A Bird
4. lakme: ou va la jeune hindoue?
5. Serenata Mexicano
6. la perle du bresil: charmant oiseau
7. pavlovich biassy
8. die fledermaus - la chauve-souris: Adele's Laughing Son - Air d'adele - 'mein herr marquis'
9. Valentine's Aria (Ere I leave my native land)
10. Jewel Song (O Heavenly Jewels)
11. salut, demeure chaste et pure (Emotions Strange)
12. Final Trio (My Heart Is Overcome With Terror)

Customer Reviews:

reviving an old memory.......2007-06-08

This is a recording of an old vinyl which was in my collection. It was good to see that it was available, on CD, just as I remembered it sounding
Thanks.

So BAD she's GOOD .......2007-04-21

This is the most remarkable singing in all of recorded history. So BAD she's GOOD, Florence Foster Jenkins bankrolled herself into mini-stardom selling out her invitation-only once-a-year recitals until she became so legendary, she sold out Carnegie Hall to an audience snickering into their handkerchiefs. These recordings showcase that as BAD as Jenkins is, she gets WORSE . . . brilliantly so! With sensitive and serious accompaniment, Jenkins' voice is like a cross between a clucking chicken and a squeak toy played by Rusty Hinge. Each tune reveals a new vocal weakness (at best) or a deeper absurdity (at very best); these selections are a Punk miracle of self-delusion. I am grateful to all the brave reviewers who gave 5 stars 'cause they're right in its essential laughter factor; if you have a funny bone you cannot NOT laugh while listening to this lady sing!

my ears and belly hurt.......2007-04-11

My ears hurt from this absolutely abominable performance, and my belly from laughing.

A must for all music lovers.......2007-01-05

I first heard this album (LP) about 20 years ago on the radio. I recently recalled it and did a search on Amazon and to my amazement it and other titles were available. I purchased this disc for my wife's Christmas present 2006. We both cannot stop laughing every time we listen to it. I highly recommend this disc to anyone who loves the classics and has a hidden desire/dream that one day they too will be discovered and perform in large concert halls to utter amazement of the audience. Buy it, you won't regret it.

Florence's voice caused my dog to shake in fear........2007-01-02

This woman's voice was so bad that my dog started to shake in fear...then he ran and hid in my parent's room. I gave my friend the cd as a Christmas present and she said it ruined her Christmas. I, on the other hand, have never laughed so hard at someone's lack of musical ability! I've never heard anyone sound so horrible! Now, I don't want to give her all the credit..because when I heard Thomas Burns sing I FELL TO THE GROUND AND LAUGHED UNTIL I CRIED! I guess that's why I am giving it 5 stars. Anything that can make me laugh until I cry is worth its weight in gold!!!

Average customer rating: A good value The Sound Track Since Bernard Hermann Good mix of film music A mixed collection of movie music Uplifts your soul, takes your mind into the heavens

Varese Sarabande 25th Anniversary Celebration Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Elfman, Danny | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Herrmann | Herrmann, Bernard | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Korngold, Erich Wolfgang | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Kamen | Kamen, Michael | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schifrin | Schifrin, Lalo | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Waxman | Waxman, Franz | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mancini | Mancini, Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Korngold, Erich Wolfgang | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Star Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Bargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores In Session: Film Music Celebration The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection Jerry Goldsmith: 40 Years of Film Music The Incredible Film Music Box ASIN: B00008WI90 Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

1. The Man from Snowy River (Bruce Rowland)
2. The Winds of War (Bob Cobert)
3. Blue Velvet (Angelo Badalamenti)
4. Witness (Maurice Jarre)
5. Raising Arizona (Carter Burwell)
6. Pee Wees Big Adventure (Danny Elfman)
7. Halloween (John Carpenter)
8. A Nightmare On Elm Street (Charles Bernstein)
9. The Fly (Howard Shore)
10. RoboCop (Basil Poledouris)
11. The Empire Strikes Back (John Williams)
12. The Right Stuff (Bill Conti)
13. The Final Conflict (Jerry Goldsmith)
14. The Abyss (Alan Silvestri)
15. Brainstorm (James Horner)
16. Peggy Sue Got Married (John Barry)
17. My Left Foot (Elmer Bernstein)
18. The Dead (Alex North)
19. Stanley & Iris (John Williams)
20. The Milagro Beanfield War (Dave Grusin)
21. Driving Miss Daisy (Hans Zimmer)

Tracks:

1. Steel Magnolias (Georges Delerue)
2. Unforgiven (Lennie Niehaus and Clint Eastwood)
3. Raggedy Man (Jerry Goldsmith)
4. The Grifters (Elmer Bernstein)
5. Green Card (Hans Zimmer)
6. City Slickers (Marc Shaiman)
7. Father Of The Bride (Alan Silvestri)
8. While You Were Sleeping (Randy Edelman)
9. Babe (Nigel Westlake)
10. The Adventures Of The Great Mouse Detective (Henry Mancini)
11. The Adventures of Robin Hood (Erich Wolfgang Korngold)
12. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (Laurence Rosenthal)
13. The Secret Garden (Zbigniew Preisner)
14. A Little Princess (Patrick Doyle)
15. Rudy (Jerry Goldsmith)
16. Iron Will (Joel McNeely)
17. Memphis Belle (George Fenton)
18. Eye Of The Needle (Mikl)
19. Total Recall (Jerry Goldsmith)
20. Back To The Future Part III (Alan Silvestri)

Tracks:

1. To Die For (Danny Elfman)
2. The Player (Thomas Newman)
3. Black Robe (Georges Delerue)
4. Medicine Man (Jerry Goldsmith)
5. 2001 (Alex North)
6. Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire (Joel McNeely)
7. The Crow (Graeme Revell)
8. Blade (Mark Isham)
9. The Omen (Jerry Goldsmith)
10. Vertigo (Bernard Herrmann)
11. Scream (Marco Beltrami)
12. The Sixth Sense (James Newton Howard)
13. Xena: Warrior Princess (Joseph LoDuca)
14. Air Force One (Jerry Goldsmith)
15. Starship Troopers (Basil Poledouris)
16. The Matrix (Don Davis)
17. The Iron Giant (Michael Kamen)
18. Youve Got Mail (George Fenton)
19. A Little Romance (Georges Delerue)
20. Pleasantville (Randy Newman)

Tracks:

1. Sunset Boulevard (Franz Waxman)
2. L.A. Confidential (Jerry Goldsmith)
3. Rounders (Christopher Young)
4. The Score (Howard Shore)
5. The Replacements (John Debney)
6. Gone In 60 Seconds (Trevor Rabin)
7. The Bourne Identity (John Powell)
8. Rush Hour 2 (Lalo Schifrin)
9. XXX (Randy Edelman)
10. Die Hard (Michael Kamen)
11. The Last of the Mohicans (Trevor Jones)
12. Moby Dick (Christopher Gordon)
13. The Mists Of Avalon (Lee Holdridge)
14. Cleopatra (Alex North)
15. Life As A House (Mark Isham)
16. Emma (Rachel Portman)
17. In The Bedroom (Thomas Newman)
18. Cast Away (Alan Silvestri)
19. One True Thing (Cliff Eidelman)
20. Unfaithful (Jan A.P. Kaczmarek)
21. Far From Heaven (Elmer Bernstein)
22. Ice Age (David Newman)
23. Shrek (Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell)

Customer Reviews:

A good value.......2007-05-17

I wasn't expecting to have 4 discs for this price, and the music is a quality selection of film music, giving a good scope of the genre, and a very listenable transfer.

The Sound Track Since Bernard Hermann.......2006-07-25

This collection is bound to capture your heart and evoke a tin ear on successive tracks. I found much to like and some duds - easy to skip over.
Very good value.

Good mix of film music.......2006-07-02

Good mix of films!
I'm a big fan of this soundtrack music and will be looking for more CD's like this.

A mixed collection of movie music.......2006-02-23

For the price, this CD is a great bargain. The musical selections, as you might expect, are mixed in quality ranging from extraordinary to so so, the balance being worthwhile and interesting. Sonically the CD is excellent.

Uplifts your soul, takes your mind into the heavens.......2006-01-06

I have been listening to great scores for many years and this collection is truly inspirational in so far as the choice of different scores takes you on a journey of listening pleasure matched by only a few collections.The price is incredibly reasonable for hours of listening pleasure. Don't pass this one up

Average customer rating: Ring introduction critique FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE Welcome back to a classic analysis Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle Very Functional

An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen Deryck Cooke , Georg Solti , Wiener Philharmoniker , Anita Valkki , Berit Lindholm , Birgit Nilsson , Brigitte Fassbaender , Christa Ludwig , Claire Watson , Claudia Hellmann , Dame Gwyneth Jones , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Eberhard Wächter , George London , Gerhard Stolze , Gottlob Frick , Grace Hoffmann , Gustav Neidlinger , Hans Hotter , Helen Watts , Helga Dernesch , Hetty Plumacher , Ira Malaniuk , James King , Jean Madeira , Joan Sutherland , Kirsten Flagstad , Kurt Böhme , Lucia Popp , Marga Höffgen , Marilyn Tyler , Maureen Guy , Oda Balsborg , Paul Kuen , Régine Crespin , Set Svanholm , Vera Little , Vera Schlosser , Waldemar Kmentt , Walter Kreppel , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baritones | Voices | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Wagner's Ring: Turning the Sky Round Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sir Georg Solti Decoding Wagner: An Invitation to His World of Music Drama (includes 2 CDs) Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen / Levine, Metropolitan Opera (Complete Ring Cycle) Ring of the Nibelung ASIN: B00000424H Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. Of All Great Musical Compositions... (Examples 1-4)
2. The Fundamental Symbol... (Examples 5-11)
3. Returning Now To The Nature Motive... (Examples 6, 12-16)
4. A Number Of Further Motives... (Examples 5, 17-21)
5. A Second, Much Smaller Family... (Examples 22-25)
6. So Much For Nature. (Examples 26-38)
7. The Cause Of The Deterioration... (Examples 39-44)
8. The Other Transformation... (Examples 45-48)
9. Several Other Motives... (Examples 49-52)
10. Two Further Motives... (Examples 41, 53-61)
11. The Basic Motive Associated With The Spear... (Examples 62-68)
12. Along Another, More Complex Line... (Examples 69-72)
13. In Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 69, 73-75)
14. Returning Now To Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 76-79)
15. Love Is Another Of The Central Symbols... (Examples 80-83)
16. Later In The Same Scene... (Examples 84-87)
17. Freia's Motive Has Two Independent Segments... (Examples 88-91)
18. The Label 'Flight'... (Example 92)
19. When Fasolt, In Scene Two Of Rhinegold... (Examples 93-98)
20. A Little Later In The Interlude... (Examples 99-103)

Tracks:

1. The Other New Motive... (Examples 104-109)
2. There Are Several Independent Love-Motives... (Examples 110-114)
3. The Characters In Whose Lives... (Examples 115-120)
4. One Further Motive Belongs... (Example 121)
5. The Sword Motive Recurs... (Examples 122-130)
6. Ironically, This Phrase... (Examples 131-135)
7. Closely Associated With Gutrune's Motive... (Examples 136-140)
8. Here We Come To The End... (Examples 141-146)
9. Complemtary To This Symbol... (Examples 147-149)
10. One Last Central Symbol... (Examples 150-157)
11. One Further Motive Connected... (Examples 158-161)
12. There Are One Or Two Motives... (Examples 162-168)
13. These Motives Of Alberich And Mime... (Examples 169-171)
14. Quite A Number Of The Subsidiary Motives... (Examples 172-176)
15. Besides This Family Of Motives... (Examples 177-180)
16. Our Final Example... (Examples 10, 181, 182)
17. In The Final Scene Of Gotterdammerung... (Examples 181-183)
18. Even More Masterly... (Examples 184-188)
19. Now If We Return... (Examples 189-191)
20. This Masterly Way... (Examples 192, 193)

Amazon.com

When Wagner set the Ring to music, he intended the orchestra to act in the fashion of a chorus from a classic Greek tragedy--setting the mood and commenting on the action. In order to allow a nonverbal musical line to reflect on the plot, Wagner developed a psychologically and musically complex symbology to communicate his thoughts to the listener. From the beginning the Ring has spawned numerous written commentaries on the relationships of the motif structure, but by using examples from the Decca Ring recording, Deryck Cooke's thoughtful spoken commentary is by far the most accessible guide for either the fledgling Ring enthusiast or the seasoned veteran. --Christian C. Rix

Customer Reviews:

Ring introduction critique.......2006-11-04

This is very worthwhile, at the same time it requires time, patience and attention, but it does provide some keys to better enjoyment of a sensational piece of music.

FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE.......2006-08-16

This may look an intimidating, daunting and dull prospect - a 2+ hour lecture on the motifs in the Ring. Don't be put off. Whether you're a relative novice to the Ring and want to find out what it's all about, more experienced with a desire to understand the composer's methods better or an afficionado who thinks he knows it all inside out, there is great pleasure as well as elucidation to be had from this set. Originally made to accompany the Decca Solti Ring, it contains a multitude of musical illustrations taken from those recordings as well as some specially recorded by Solti just for this Introduction.

It wasn't the first time this has been tried. The famous HMV sets from the late 20's also included recorded examples of over 100 motifs. (These, by the way, are available as part of the Pearl reissue of those wonderful HMV recordings). What that set lacked was the wonderful insights as well as the approachability of the talk by Deryck Cooke. Cooke was a great and much missed musicologist - a Mahler expert responsible for the performing edition of the Tenth Symphony still most played today, a fascinating explorer into the nature of music's basic building-blocks in his excellent book, The Language of Music, and an inspiring and elucidating critic of Wagner's work as shown by the fascinating book he left unfinished at his death, I Saw the World End.

On these CDs he does much more than list the leitmotifs and identify them as calling-cards. He shows the amazingly integrated and organic growth of the musical material that Wagner uses throughout his vast work. He demonstrates how motifs can change their sense and meaning as they evolve through the drama. And he shows how the complex combinations of motifs can radically advance both the musical and the dramatic narrative of the piece. There are even places where he corrects the misinterpretation of some of the motifs that had become ingrained from early commentators' false labels.

This set should engage and enlighten anyone with an interest in Wagner's huge and inexhaustible tetralogy. Do give it a try - no matter how far down the road to Wagnerianism you are.

Welcome back to a classic analysis.......2006-05-28

Deryck Cooke's lecture series upon THE RING is almost as much a classic by now as the Solti RING cycle, with which it was originally issued on LP, and from which it derives its musical examples. The difference is that whereas the Solti RING has been continuously in print ever since it was completed, and was among the first opera sets to benefit from the CD revolution, the Cooke analysis was for long almost totally unobtainable. Now we have it back. It should be welcomed: it is a classic. Cooke's mellow, deep voice with the hint of a Celtic burr - which made him ideal on BBC radio - patiently explains Wagner's melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic metamorphoses to such good effect that if you own this recording, you really require no other RING analysis. (A pity about the abrupt beginnings and endings of too many vocal and orchestral illustrations, though.) Musicology lost a fine, sensitive thinker with Cooke's premature death in 1976.

If all you want is dilettantish baby food, there are plenty of dumbed-down Wagner commentaries on the market, stretching from Anna Russell's famous monologue (which doesn't pretend to be anything other than a parody aimed at morons) to the latest standard-issue "Wagner-was-a-Nazi-boo-hiss" feuilleton (which, unfortunately, does). Without reasonable score-reading skill you will find Cooke useless, however diligently you have ploughed through Marx, Jung, Freud, or other gurus purportedly relevant to THE RING. Cooke expects you to use your brains and your musical sense. Quelle horreur. At today's BBC his "elitism" would render him unemployable.

Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle.......2006-05-15

I originally bought this set on vinyl in the early 70s when I discovered the Ring in college. I studied the records and booklet assiduously, and after about three run-throughs I finally started getting it. Wow! Thirty-five years later, I still remember Mr. Cooke's analyses of various motive families, and I don't know how I could have mastered and loved the Ring without him. I now own this set on CD and listen again on the rare occasion of attending a Ring performance. My wife calls me a "Ring nut," but of course I'm nuts about many other things as well.

Bottom line, buy this set and study it if the Ring has captivated you as it has countless others. The presentation is dry, but sticking with it brings measureless and longlasting rewards.

Very Functional.......2006-03-19

This CD set is excellent for what it sets out to do: present the leitmotives of the Ring according to their relationship to one another and their role in developing both characters and plotlines. Deryck Cooke's lectures on each motive are very insightful, very helpful at cueing the listener into the semantic aspect of Wagner's orchestral writing. The one drawback is that the musical examples are a bit jarring. Without fade-ins or -outs, the engineering is quite barbaric. And though the orchestra was, I believe, conducted by Solti, and is beautifully done, the vocal performances can be quite unpleasant. Point being: this is not background music, but in accomplishing what it sets out to do, it is very successful, and I don't know of anything else like it.

World Music:

1. The Mirrors of My Soul
2. The Rainbow Journey
3. The Year of China: Traditional Chinese Music
4. Uch Sumer
5. Uno
6. Vampyria [Import]
7. Vinnie Smokin' in the Big Room
8. Vive L'accordeon [Import]
9. X Japan on Piano [Import]
10. Y'A des Cigales Dans la Fourmiliere [Import]

World Music

world music

World Music

Feel So Fine: the Anthology [Import]

Pomp & Circumstance: Organ Favorites

Piano Trio / Stna for Oboe & Piano / Etc

Birk's Works: Verve Big Band Sessions

Resistor

Sincerely Yours, Amy

MILLENNIUM

Seattle...The Dark Side [Explicit Lyrics]

Remember Me

Music for Accordion

Premium Best [Import]

Sahara

Poison

Peace in the Valley

Legend of Vernon McAlister