Painted from Memory
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (29 September, 1998)
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Editorial Review

As promised, Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach's long-awaited full-length collaboration Painted from Memory bears the hallmarks of Bacharach's classic '60s work with the likes of Dionne Warwick--full-force melodies, traditional pop instrumentation, clever and occasionally pained lyrics. It finds the pair reveling in their gifts on a dozen tracks that range from concise under-three-minute gems to sprawling art songs. The result is a set of instant classics that stand head and shoulders above much of Costello's '90s recordings. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (185)

Bacharach in Classic Form With Costello a Fine Troubadour
I find this 1998 album irresistible. Burt Bacharach composed some of the best pop music in the sixties and early seventies, but when he broke up with longtime collaborator Hal David, he seemed to lose his way artistically, especially as he veered toward overproduced dreck with then-wife Carole Bayer Sager. Unfortunately his music still charted, so he had no motivation to come back to the type of pop musiche does best.In fact, I thought he was exiled into a permanent retro-deification state until I heard this disc. Paired most uncharacteristically with Elvis Costello, Bacharach the composer sounds rejuvenated on this recording as if the last thirty years did not even occur.The momentous orchestra swells, the piano key tinkling, the unmistakable flugelhorns, the gossamer female background vocals and above all, the sweeping, unapologetic romanticism - they are all back in stylish, timeless form with some fresh, intricate lyrics courtesy of Costello, who sings with surprising vigor without a hint of irony or unwarranted nostalgia.

Each song is a gem. "In the Darkest Place" starts things off in a dusky mood with an intoxicating piano dictating the cocktail lounge rhythm. "Toledo" is a bouncy though more melancholy cousin to "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" with its geography-driven lyrics. "Tears at the Birthday Party" has the silliest, double-entendre lyrics this side of Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park", but it has an infectious beat and a soaring chorus that its lightheartedness provides a welcome respite. The title track is a lovely ballad driven by a piano and guitar that reminds me fondly of "Alfie" with its escalating strings and swooning notes. "The Sweetest Punch" is pop music at its catchy best with a ringing bell response to Costello's crooning of "You knock me out/It was the sweetest punch/The bell goes...". Both "This House Is Empty Now" and "What's Her Name Today?" are powerful ballads that will remind you immediately of Bacharach classics like "A House Is Not a Home", "A Message to Michael" and "One Less Bell to Answer". Regardless, the closing track, "God Give Me Strength", is the artistic high point and the initial reason why Bacharach and Costello partnered for this recording. Written for Allison Anders' 1996 faux-Carole King biopic movie, "Grace of My Heart", it was a poignant moment when the Denise Waverly character sings this ballad with such uncertain yearning and romantic fervor that the faux-Brian Wilson character could not help but be impressed enough to sign her up for his label. While I still prefer the more plaintive Kristen Vigard version (to which Ileana Douglas lip synched in the film), Costello sings with a surprising emotional wallop wrapping his voice around a full orchestra led by a mournful trumpet that provides the appropriate crescendo to this masterful recording. Strongly recommended.

A Surperb Musicial Marriage
Elvis breaths a fresh vitality and sensitivity into Bacharach's lastest to date cache of new songs. Elvis matched the grace and attention to Bacharachs sofisticatedly smooth stylings. I think if Burt could sing the way he would have loved to it would be like this. There's also a nice duet here. Master of many pop hit's, even in the eighties pop bands would cover Bacharach's songs/lyrics. He wrote so many songs that pepper our culture like raindrops keep falling on my head from the movie "Butch Cassidy & the Sun Dance kid" because he has (still has) a style of writing that is both completely polished yet still remains feeling almost spontaneous or many lucuid. (at the time of this recording) I never had heard Elvis sing like this before. He comes across on this album, and makes these songs his own like a Frank Sinatra... However many of my friends that liked Elvis from his early years poo-pooed this album and the contrast of years between these two - let alone the divergance that Elvis seemed to take in the sound of this project. But I don't think they gave the album a chance. But I must say you have to have some sort of apreciation of 60's 70's stlye of comtempary music. With that said I don't listen to much of that genre either but this album I have played many times cause it keeps on sounding so good!BTW theres a good CD of the pop hits by Bacharach available, just look at the song titles on it and you'll be like "I didn't know he wrote that?" --all the while hearing the version you know in your head.

very nice
when I first got this CD, I played it for two weeks straight (I'm sure my wife was sick of that..).
The combination of Costello & Bacharach really works.
My only issue is that it can be a little melancholy at times.

other than that its a good addition to the collection.
... Read more

Asin: B00000AFFF
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Singer/Songwriter   

Girls Girls Girls
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 August, 1996)
list price: $31.99 -- our price: $31.99
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Editorial Review

Costello picks and chooses among his 1977-1986 work for a selection of cuts that, rather than tell a story, make implications and set moods. It's hardly vague, though, not with the likes of "Lipstick Vogue," "Watching the Detectives," and "Clubland" on board. The artist's liner notes are a must-read for die-hard fans. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Features

• Import

Reviews (10)

Amazing early work
This grand collection of Elvis Costello's early work includes some real dynamite. Reportedly selected by the man himself, it includes most of his early gems drawn from albums like My Aim Is True, This Year's Model, Armed Forces, Trust, his country excursion Almost Blue, and others.

There are plenty of classics like Watching The Detectives, Pump It Up, I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea, Accidents Will Happen, Black And White World and Green Shirt. Listening to this album, it is obvious that Armed Forces is my favorite Costello album for its wealth of catchy, melodic songs.

On Disc Two my favorites include the tortured ballad Alison, the pop classic Tiny Steps, the lilting ballad Oliver's Army and other masterpieces like Sunday's Best, Less Than Zero and Shipbuilding. I would have preferred the song Good Year For The Roses instead of the title track from Almost Blue, but that is a minor gripe.

There are at least two other Elvis Costello/Attractions compilations but Girls Girls Girls is my personal favorite by far, since I prefer his early period. It demonstrates just what a genius he is, a master of the intelligent lyric and the memorable tune. On these tracks he creates the perfect synthesis of clever pop, mature rock and memorable country.

One of the Best Costello Anthologies
These are the pearls of the Columbia era for Elvis, and it's a bargain. 47 songs on two discs and a collection of comments from the artist himself, this covers the albums from "My Aim Is True" to "Blood and Chocolate" with only a couple major omissions. (Where's "Radio Radio?") But they are more than made up for by Elvis' notes, which attempt to make a point of spotlighting particular moments and passages, as well as inspirations and mind states. It may be getting a little harder to find, but it's worth it. Given the brevity the liner notes in the Rhino "Best Of" set from 2001, this set gets the edge.

For The Fan Or Even The Uninitiated
Normally I would give this CD for stars, but seeing that Elvis compiled it himself with liner notes to justify his reasoning, I've got to go with five.My biggest complaint about this CD is the exclusion of two songs, "Radio Radio" and "Everyday I Write The Book", which should be included.But as Elvis explains, this is not a "Greatest Hits" or "Best Of" collection, and he makes his choices accordingly.By the way, the tighter Rykodisc collection covers the same period (1976-86) on one CD with these two songs, and is historically sequenced ("Girls,Girls,Girls" is not).However, the appealing thing about "Girls,Girls,Girls" is the inclusion of many lesser-known songs.The collection also emphasizes his early recordings (pre-1980) which most people should agree was Elvis' prime.Except for the "Everyday I Write The Book" omission, there is a good selection of 1980's material such as "I Hope Your Happy Now"; "Lovable"; "Brilliant Mistake"; and "I Want You", one of his best ever.Good for someone wanting to get more familiar with some great music. ... Read more

Asin: B00000117J
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. British Punk    3. College Rock    4. New Wave    5. Pop    6. Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll    9. Rock/Pop    10. Singer/Songwriter   

More Than This: The Best Of Bryan Ferry And Roxy Music
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (05 October, 1999)
list price: $17.98
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Editorial Review

The selection of tracks for this single-disc retrospective works on the premise that Roxy Music group records and frontman Bryan Ferry's solo efforts were pretty much of a whole. As the distance grew from the time founding member Brian Eno left the fold, that was more and more the case. (Eno quit Roxy with the release of the band's second album, 1973's For Your Pleasure; about the same time, Ferry put out his first spin-off collection, These Foolish Things .) Commonly dubbed art-rockers (in large part because their flirtations with glam, prog, and something approximating mood music for moderns made them tough to categorize more specifically), Roxy's music has aged far better than that of most of their '70s contemporaries, thanks to inventive playing and Ferry's elegant persona and graceful vocals. Granted, this isn't the thorough retelling of the Roxy/Ferry chronicles that devotees long for, but it's a fine primer for more casual Rox fans. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (13)

There's More Than This CD can offer
This CD is a 19 tracks taken from both Bryan Ferrys solo career and the ten year career of Roxy Music.

The track selection as another user said is quite predictable especially when it comes to the Roxy Music selections but where as the Streetlife CD still is a good sampler of Roxys songs, it at the same time is somewhat outdated when it comes to the best of Ferrys solo works.

More Than This does some work on that by including a track grabbed from Bete Noire and Taxi but even then the 'best of' title isn't always true. The 'best of' title is more of an individuals opinion than a fact because while it may be called 'The Best of Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music' too much of Ferrys strongest solo songs are left off particularly the enigmatic New Town, the shimmering The Right Stuff & the danceable classic Limbo. There is an import version of this CD that does include the beautiful Your Painted Smile that is not included on the US version and it's a pity because the US has been deprived of so much great music. Another thing about this CD that makes it so flawed is that it doesn't include anything from In Your Mind or Bride Stripped Bare.

On the other hand it does include a track from the 30s oriented As Time Goes By which I found dissapointing but have now come to gradually appreciate.

Veteran fans may not see much point in getting this CD because a good share of them might own most or all of these songs on their parent albums. For those who've never heard of either Roxy Music or Bryan Ferry, this CD is a great collection for the newbie fanbase. Still though it doesn't do either Ferry or Roxy a lot of justice.

I give this CD a five anyway because it's jam packed with just plain great music.

A nice Ferry/Roxy collection
This CD is a great selection of singles from both Roxy Music & Bryan Ferry packed onto one incredible CD. My favorite songs are Avalon, I Put A Spell On You, Slave To Love, Windswept, & Oh Yeah.

Only one problem with this CD is that it doesn't include any songs off the 1994 masterpiece Mamouna. It would have been great if they could have squeezed Your Painted Smile onto here. This CD would,ve been perfect if that had been included.

Apart from the lack of any songs off that album I still would recommend this collection but ultimately getting all of Roxys and Ferrys albums are the best bet.

Good, but strangely lacking
I really do like this recording as a reminder of just how trancedentally cool Roxy Music was and how really beautiful the songs were. I am incredibly disappointed that Do The Strand was left off- that strange danceable chaos is one of my favorite early 70's songs. On the good side, Oh Yeah and More Than This are just too cool. Great lyrics and great performances by Ferry. ... Read more

Asin: B00001QGQA
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Discography: The Complete Singles Collection
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (05 November, 1991)
list price: $19.98 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Where would the '80s have been without the Pet Shop Boys? Discography makes a compelling case for the notion of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe as pioneers, if not geniuses. Mixing the cold feel of Euro-techno beats with the Boys' quest for something warm between the sheets, "What Have I Done to Deserve This" and "Suburbia" sound almost soulful.Although they seemed to be suffering from a terminal case of boredom, they managed to alchemize their ennui into touching sentimentality in "Love Comes Quickly," "Rent," and, especially, the AIDS-oriented "Being Boring." Discography begins with the Pet Shop Boys' beginning, "West End Girls," traveling past "Domino Dancing" and including their covers "Always on My Mind," and the medley "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You.)" --Steve Gdula ... Read more

Reviews (93)

u2 cover
i made a bet with someone who didn't believe me that the pet shop boys did a cover of "where the streets have no name."i won, of course, and now the guy owes me a beer.i give this album five stars for the free beer it won me.

WHAT A GREAT COLLECTION OF SONGS FROM A GREAT BAND!
First of all i love the pet shop boys they take me back to the decade of the 80's with this collection!!!! Each song has a untique flavor to them and they are so much fun to listen to again and again!!!!! With the beginning of the album which would be "West End Girls" to " Jealously"!!!!!! If you love the pet shop boys then go buy this album not because of the band,but for the great 80 songs that take us back in the day!!!!

Pop wizards!
Actually I have to thank Kylie..I bought her greatest hits package "Ultimate" because I mildly like some of her songs...At the cash register, the cashgirl recommended that if I liked Kylie, I would definitely like this band and offered me Discography. I wouldn't buy- I vaguely remember them with their stomping disco number "New York City Boy" but it was nothing to write home about and this package seemed too old- 1991 c'mon...Just for the sake of not hurting the over-excited girl, I check the insert and saw Dusty Springfield's name..Dusty Springfield? With a synth-pop band from other side of Atlantic? What was she thinking? But enough is enough I eventually paid and drove home.

I first listened Kylie but it got thin after a couple of songs- same melodies, same ussh hissshh, same number over and over- very good for jumping on the disco floor but not so exciting to make you go on a dreamland and the lyrics are simply stupid.

Then I put Discography on the stereo...listened two first songs with amusing curiousity-lyrics and structure of the songs were quite interesting- but then the real stomper arrived knocking on all doors of my life: Opportunities...and the rest is just a story, as they say, and I simply fell in love with them.

There is not a single bad or insipid song in the album. Can you believe it?. From the first tunes of West End Girls until the end of Was it Worth it, it almost flows like a magic walk through clouds, through heaven, you laugh, you cry, you dance, you sing, you tap your feet, you think, you are depressed...God, you make everything that music should make you.

But what's more important is the band's striking intelligence...lyrics, structures, compositions, backvocals, production, small touches...are all very well calculated and sincere, just for the sake of making things more fun. Melodies are incredibly catchy and also very complex...miles better than anything Erasure (whom I listened afterwards upon Amazon recommendaton but not impressed) can achieve in their lifetime.

Particular highlights of highlights: Opportunities...Suburbia...What have I done (not surprised Dusty agreed to duet), It's A Sin, Always On My Mind (oh a tepid Elvis song becomes an unbelievably disco stomping piece but what an underlying sadness my friends), Heart, Left To My Own Devices, It's Alright, So Hard,DJ Culture...See, almost the entire album..

Well I have been missing a very important thing in my life and I am sure millions of Americans are still missing it. If only I had the chance to promote them through the Promised Land.

All in all, Discography is a must and Pet Shop Boys are true and clever wizards of Pop. Now back to backcatalogue- my first click on purchase items in Amazon: Please, the first album that started the ball to roll on.

Feverishly recommended! ... Read more

Asin: B000002UZ4
Subjects:  1. Alternative Dance    2. Club/Dance    3. Dance Music    4. Dance-Pop    5. England    6. House    7. Pop    8. Rock   

Dream
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (12 July, 1994)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Editorial Review

Jimmy Scott is 69, but he still possesses one of the most unusual vocal instruments in pop music. Due to a hormonal abnormality called Kallmann's Syndrome, Scott never lost his boy soprano, which has mellowed with the years into something resembling Lena Horne's alto but not exactly like anything else in the world. Combined with that peculiar timbre is a style of phrasing which is forever holding back the beat but never quite losing it. Scott has lost some of the bell-like purity of his voice, but his grainier singing on Dream still sounds sensational. --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Water and Sugar!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a continuation of my collection.I am so delighted to have the priviledge of listening to the "Voice" once more in this lifetime.Jimmy Scott is the epitimy of the 'good times' when women wore high heels, flirty skirts and had manners!

Simply Beautiful!
This is one of the best recordings I own and I play it constantly.It`s very uplifting and a good wayto start the day or night. I couldn`t say enough about this artist. He is in the catagorie that I place Billie Holiday. This, like any other cd of his is very good to listen to. I don`t think I like the one called Heaven much.

One of the best jazz CD's of all time.
If I were going to be stranded on a desert island and could only take 2 CD's, this would be one.(The other would be Kind of Blue).This is quintessential late nite jazz.A classic. ... Read more

Asin: B000002MRN
Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop    3. R&B    4. Standards    5. Traditional Pop    6. Vocal Jazz   

Maxinquaye
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (18 April, 1995)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
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Editorial Review

Less experimentally brash than his more recent release, Tricky's debut CD Maxinquaye is actually a better introduction to the British hip-hopper turned international trip-hopper than his later work. The dozen smoldering, moonlit tracks are less concerned with loopy aural exaggeration than they are with showcasing Tricky's slow-mo rap and singer Martine's sexy soprano. With the exception of the stellar "Pumpkin," (featuring vox from Alison Goldfrapp), the duo mix a colorful palate of rhythmic vocals, throbbing backbeats and gravelly electronic textures. Toss in large doses of sexual innuendo and Maxinquaye becomes a libidinous foray into languor and lust. --Nick Heil ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (93)

A definite break from the NORM!!!!!
This is definitately a break from all the mainstream music out right now. It may not be understandable for those who thrive on the radio mayhem. I became a Tricky fanatic ever since i was looking on the internet for a Bjork song featuring Kelis the Oceania Remix.Then i noticed an artist named Tricky among all the downloads. Out of curiousity i downloaded some songs from him, and ever since then i have bought all of his cds. I bought all except JUXTAPOSE,AND PRE MILLENIUM TENSION.This is some of the best songs ive heard because they are so different, and they are not as easy to understand. This makes the listener sit there and brainstorm. And buy a couple of listenings you start to enjoy this. I can also identify with Tricky, someone who doesnt fit into a certain group because of different musical ideas.

SO anway for those people who like adventurous,somewhat dark but not to me,mind boggling music you should definately buy Tricky cds.

tried &tried
had this album for a long time but could never get into it.dunno why!!

Maxinquaye's influence on Waterlog's Brained Off Drugs
I just recently purchased this ablum after hearing it was a major influence in the recordings of Waterlog's album Brained Off Drugs. I immediately got a hold of this album and was absolutley blown away to say the least!!! Maxinquaye's influence over the world of trip hop has been amazing. This album is boundless and full colors. I recommend to anyone! ... Read more

Asin: B000001E7V
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Electronica    3. England    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Trip-Hop    7. Underground Rap   

The Hits/The B-Sides
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 September, 1993)
list price: $39.98 -- our price: $35.99
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Editorial Review

Assignment: To write 100 words on 56 songs by the greatest artist the '80s produced. Even with single edits substituting for full-length versions in a handful of cases, The Hits/The B-Sides is a mighty testament to the man we once called Prince. (For that matter, we still do.) In addition to most of his singles, from "I Wanna Be Your Lover" to "Thieves in the Temple," from "When Doves Cry" to "7," this triple-CD set throws in some worthwhile new music and a full disc of the fantastic flips that made buying 7- and 12-inches a must even when you already owned the A-side. "You can be the side effect," he mutters herein. "I'd rather be the dope." Witness some of the funkiest pharmaceuticals around. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (55)

Wonderful Overview of a Wonderful Career
In retrospect, the release of this compilation signalled the end of an era for Prince which led into a decade of mostly eccentric music that despite some highlights, was generally quite poor until the release of "Musicology" last year.

"Hits/B Sides" avoids some of the pitfalls of other "best of" collections. Firstly, it's thankfully not arranged in chronological order. Disc one opens with "When Doves Cry (5/5)" and "Pop Life (4/5)" before going all the way back to Prince's very first single "Soft And Wet (4/5)". "When You Were Mine (3.5/5)" is the first of 4 cuts from the album "Dirty Mind".

Some of Prince's more thought provoking music comes towards the end of Disc 1 (including the wondeful "Sign 'O' The Times (4/5), which is a good set up for the sleazier disc two. It opens aptly with "Controversy (4/5)". "Head (4.5/5)", "Sexy MF (5/5)" and "Cream (4/5)" are among the controversial joints. The middle section of Disc 2 is enormously impressive. "Raspberry Beret (5/5)", "If I Was Your Girlfriend (4/5)" and "Kiss (4.5/5) come back to back.

There are a handful of new songs. "Nothing Compares 2 U (4/5)" and "Pink Cashmere (4/5)" are highlights. Less impressive is "Pope (3/5)", which is an average New Jack Swing tune that could have easily slid onto "The Symbol Album".

The B Sides contain many treasures that many would never of heard of before. "Scarlet Pussy (3.5/5)" is a sleazy slice of Prince's darker side, while in contrast "I Love U In Me (4/5)" is a slower, sexier song. "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore (4/5)" is so good Alicia Keys covered it. There are plenty of great songs on The B-Sides disc ("Hello", "Irrisistable Bitch", "Shockadelic") but everything is overshadowed by "Erotic City (5/5)". One of Prince's most enduring songs, and one of the greatest floor fillers ever!

There is always arguments when "Best of" CD's are released as to what songs should have been included. Personally i think "Darling Nikki" and "Sometimes it Snows in April" should be on any Prince compilation, but as this is a "Hits" collection only singles are eligible. Still, i would have found room for "Batdance", "Paisley Park" and "I Wish U Heaven" (all of which were singles).

But these are minor grumbles. This is still a collection that shows Prince at the height at his powers. A must have.

Scarlet Artist
It's been widely circulated the eccentric ways of Prince Rogers Nelson. It's a shame that the brotha hasn't gotten the overexposure from his music in recent times as his rumors have. At 26 I will always (unless otherwise shown) believe Prince is one of the most consistent Entertainers of all time. I've yet to see the brotha live but growing up I always felt right there with his music. I mean Adore, Let's go Crazy, When Doves cry shoot all those alone are enough to give a look at the album but he has more such as diamonds and pearls, 1999 etc. A tremendous and artistic brotha who deserves to be examined by the people in the younger generation who want to know what true artistry is and how to draw from it. Give this album a listen and I'm sure that if you don't fully agree you'll be hard pressed to argue it's not worth buying. Hey 3 cds are incentive enough. I have given it 4 stars because of the B sides but hey creativity is......what it is. One luv to all true music fans I believe you'll enjoy this one!

EROTICCITTTAYYY!!!!
All U needknow about this cd is that it has Erotic City on it.U cant get this song NEwhere and it is the best song ever. also all the big hits, its a great cd set ... Read more

Asin: B000002MNF
Subjects:  1. Club/Dance    2. Dance-Pop    3. Funk    4. Neo-Psychedelia    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. R&B    8. Soul    9. Urban   

Add It Up (1981-1993)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 September, 1993)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Aside from the Milwaukee trio's 1981 debut, the Violent Femmes have made a career of tacking one or two great songs onto otherwise mediocre albums--so this 1993 best-of is perfect for consumers. It has all the good stuff, from the retro radio hour staples "Blister in the Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone," plus the creepy murder-suicide story "Country Death Song," the should've-been-a-hit "American Music" and ephemera like live versions of "Add It Up" and "Kiss Off." With Gordon Gano's never-aging teen whine and a crack rhythm section, the Femmes have had brief moments as America's best rock & roll band. This collection captures some of them. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (35)

What a great CD
From a great, underappreciated and certainly influencial artist. A summary of their career so far, featuring all their hit singles including "Blister in the Sun", "Kiss Off", "Add It Up", (two of those are live versions, which, IMO, is even better than the studio versions. Nothing like pertending you're rocking out to the Femmes wearing headphones...), as well as gems off their full length albums, many of which makes me laugh and smile. From political songs like "I Hate the TV" and "America is" to fun, fun catchy dance tunes. The lyrics are simple, to the point, yet so original and wonderful. You don't get tired of this CD, really. What a classic. If you don't own it already, go get a copy.

Eat it up
Like many others, the only reason I was aware of the Violent Femmes was because of their classic "Blister in the Sun."I had heard "Country Death Song" on the local college station once and had never forgotten it, but I did not know who the artist was.When a friend was winnowing down his CD collection, "Add It Up" was one that didn't make the cut and I ended up taking it home.What a treat!I can understand why some might find Gordan Gano's nasal whine and the band's eclectic instrumentation a difficult taste to acquire and it's no surprise that they have never gained more than a cult following, but...well, sign me up for the cult.Other than the abovementioned tracks, other standout tunes include "Jesus Walking on the Water," "Dance, M.F., Dance," and "Waiting for the Bus."

Who knew songs from the 80's could be THIS good?
During a decade flooded with synth-pop and bad haircuts, the simple yet brilliant music the Violent Femmes (three guys) managed to create will live on forever within the under belly of mainstream music and pop culture.

I have owned this record for more than a decade and once every few months I will throw it in my car and listen to it again and again. The Femmes are a rare breed of talent. So many bands tried to emulate their sound throughout the years, but so many have failed. This "compilation" always seems to remind me of summer breaks during my high school years, which were good times. You will find tracks so good, you can listen to them 20 times in a row and never tire of them. I was an infant when their first album was released, but thankfully someone turned me on to them when I was a teenager.

I cannot even begin to tell you what I think the best tracks are because I love them all. This is something every man, woman, and child should have a copy of. The Femmes' quirky sense of humor and bizarre outlook on life in general will blow your mind. The simple, yet genius riffs and hooks found here could only be written by madmen. I have heard other bands try to cover their music but nobody ever does their music justice.

If like this album, you owe it to yourself to check out the Talking Heads as well. ... Read more

Asin: B000002MML
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Ok Computer
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 July, 1997)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.49
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Editorial Review

Radiohead's third album got compared to Pink Floyd a lot when it came out, and its slow drama and conceptual sweep certainly put it in that category. OK Computer, though, is a complicated and difficult record: an album about the way machines dehumanize people that's almost entirely un-electronic; an album by a British "new wave of new wave" band that rejects speed and hooks in favor of languorous texture and morose details; a sad and humanist record whose central moment is Thom Yorke crooning "We hope that you choke." Sluggish, understated, and hard to get a grip on, OK Computer takes a few listens to appreciate, but its entirety means more than any one song. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (1660)

In Next World War.......
Theres 1659 reviews on this album,and Thom, I want u to know that I'm above the rest of them to be your no. 1 fan (even to the guy who claim that Radiohead is his religion ha..ha...nice try,bro)Yes, Yes Mozart is great, Beethoven is genius, Pink Floyd is bla-bla, Beatles is yada-yada, but every generations have their own hero. This is mine. Who wants to be the best on earth if u can aim to the whole universe.

Magic does not just happen in Hogwarth,mind you. it could come from Oxford too. Yes, this is magic.... cause I doubt that Radiohead can make something as beautiful as this anymore. But who cares. Who needs another Ok Computer? One is enough and stick to this album for the rest of your life.

I love every second of this album and yes, even Fitter Happier and yes The Tourist is the best song here and not just Paranoid Android!

If Neil Amstrong made an album right after his trip to the moon, it should sound like this.Glimmering!

And please dont compare Radiohead with Pink Floyd. I dont know why, just dont.....ok :-)

And if u dont like this, I respect that. We're all different people.

I'm an avid fan, yes, and I've done my duty to give it 5 stars tho i know it needs no support anymore. If u dont like this album, call me, I'll give you your money back. Seriously!

Flawless
This album is one of the best, if not the best album have ever bought. Packed full of emotion and originality it is definately an essential album of the 90's, and an essential album to brit pop. Highlights include: Paranoid Android, Exit Music, Let Down, Karma Police, Climbing up the walls and No Surprises. In my opinion it is the best Radiohead album in existence, and probably nothing they release in the future will live up to it.

Ahh, the paradox.
OK Computer: An album that seems to either earn five stars or one star when reviewed by the laiety. So which is it?

Q: Is OK Computer a deep, complex, ponderous, subtle, unintelligible-yet-prophetic tour-de-force, or is it simplistic, obvious, straightforward, vanilla-flavored, a recycling bin full of yesterday's newspapers and 24-pack beer boxes?

A: Both, as is so often the case. There is a kind of genius (always has been) in being able to state what should have been obvious to everyone all along, but was only obvious to those who didn't ever think to mention it because it was so obvious to them. Think William Carlos Williams:

"so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens"

OK Computer is precisely the same color:

"God loves his children, yeah."

The undeniably deadpan-yet-sardonic line is an encapsulation of the work. It's cynical and would be adolescently so if only for the fact that you never first thought to say it yourself. It's dark but but in its indignation is also as hopeful as anything else yet said. It's banal, but perish the thought that nobody should be inclined to continue to re-visit it. It's simplistic to a fault, unless you don't understand it, in which case the text required to explain it in every nuance is voluminous indeed.

Five stars. Even if you think it's obvious and simple, you can't deny that it's right or believably suggest that it's not sincere. And for that reason, those who give it only one star are not themselves reviewing in good faith. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UJQ
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Anthology
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 September, 1997)
list price: $49.98
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Editorial Review

Dusty Springfield is a pop singer in the sense that she's sung anything she wanted to, or that the market could grasp, over a 35-year-plus career. Unlike the often unconvincing genre hopping of a Cher, however, Springfield's shifts in style have always been of a piece: the apocalyptic balladry of "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," the wistful Goffin-King "Goin' Back," the sultry soul of "Son of a Preacher Man," or the drama of her duet with the Pet Shop Boys, "What Have I Done to Deserve This?"--these are all Springfield's songs. This three-CD box set surveys all her changes, with promises of more to come that were sadly never fulfilled. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (23)

Some of Dusty's best!
This set is really great.I love it for all the songs,but the rarities on this set are really great,too.I would recommend it to any serious Dusty fan.

A treasure trove for the Dusty fanatic
These three CDs have provided me hours and hours of enjoyment since I first got them in '97.This is a truly comprehensive overview of Dusty's career in all its phases.Disc One covers her pop and soul material of the early and mid-60's.The best- known hits are here, as are selections that affirm Springfield's status as a definitive interpreter of Bacharach-David and Goffin-King.(Carole King is said to have been moved to tears upon hearing her exquisite rendition of "Goin' Back" -- which was played at Dusty's funeral in 1999.) The highlights of Disc Two showcase Dusty's sultry mature style of the late 60's.While Disc Three has a number of overlooked gems from later years, it also chronicles artistic aimlessness (forgettable film music, for example) and declining vocal prowess as Dusty struggled with addictions and emotional troubles in the '70s and '80s.Yet the final track, "Where Is A Woman To Go" from 1995, powerfully demonstrates that even towards the end of her life, she could work wonders with the right material.
From beginning to end of her long career, Dusty was most in her element when navigating the dark waters of despair, desire, yearning, and heartbreak.Even her innocuous upbeat hits ("Wishin' and Hopin'," "I Only Want To Be With You") have strange undertones of panic and hysteria.Nobody did this like Dusty, although others (Annie Lennox!) seemed to be getting close at times.
Yet this anthology is probably a bit overwhelming for the non-hardcore.Dusty was prolific (maybe too prolific) and versatile (maybe too versatile) and the novitiate Dusty cultist will have his/her head spinning after listening to all this.But for the true aficionado, it's an Aladdin's Cave of classics and rarities.Rob Hoerburger's substantial essay in the liner notes is witty as well as informative, a small masterpiece in its own right.However, newcomers who want to understand why Dusty's reputation is flying so high three years after her death would do better to pick up "Dusty In Memphis" and/or "The Ultimate Collection."

That Voice!!
Oh boy. Where to begin?. I love this woman and her voice. She was definitley one of a kind. A british woman with a beehive and raccoon eye shadow singing soul and pop songs. What is not to love?. This is a 3 disc collection that has pretty much everything a fan, or a new fan, could possibly need. In fact, it probably has more than you need. Best to have it all huh?. Dusty came to fame in the early 60's with her smokey, huskey voice that was unavoidable. It pulled you in and you had to listen no matter what. She shot to fame with such early hits as "I Only Want To Be With You", "Wishin' And Hopin'" and "Stay Awhile". They were huge hits on both sides of the pond. Dusty went thru several more great songs like "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "Anyone Who Had A Heart", and the magnificent Carole King penned "Goin' Back". These were songs that were successful in the U.K., but barely hit the radar in the U.S. More great ones include traditional 60's pop ditties like "Do Re Mi", "Needle In A Haystack", and the great "Live It Up". This disc also includes one of Dusty's most important and immaculate recordings. I'm talking about the perfect, epic ballad "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me". Tremendous. A full throttle vocal performance from Dusty that brings chills.Sadly, and frustratingly, Dusty never had the amount of huge icon status and success in the U.S. like she did in the U.K. It doesn't make sense. Disc 2 is full of more treasures. "The Look Of Love", a Burt Bacharach song, is memorable, but a tad...,well, a bit maudlin. There are some cover tunes here like "How Can I Be Sure?" and "Spooky". I have to say that they are both better with Dusty behind the mike. "Am I The Same Girl" is included here. It was a hit again in the 80's by Swing Out Sister. The crown jewel of disc 2, and maybe of Dusty's career, is the classic "Son Of A Preacher Man". A perfect song for Dusty. This was included on the 'Pulp Fiction' soundtrack in 1994. It brought new life to the song and a new generation of fans to Dusty. Disc 3 is mixed. There are some great songs here like "Mama's Little Girl" and "You Set My Dreams To Music", but the rest is questionable. Not bad, but not up to the usual Dusty standards. There are some catchy early 80's stuff like "A Love Like Yours", "Don't Call It Love", and a cover version of the old Smokey Robinson classic "You Really Got A Hold Of Me". The voice was different too. The late 70's and early 80's weren't a good time for her voice. It seemed used. Tired. As if she didn't have the life to breath into these routine numbers. Things changed by the late 80's when in 1987 The Pet Shop Boys called on Dusty to come out of retirement to do a duet with them on a song called "What Have I Done To Deserve This?". It was a typical 80's synth pop dance number, but it was fun and pretty catchy. Dusty's warm vocals were back in shape and, naturally, buried the robotic like voice of lead singer Neil Tennant. The song was a top 5 smash in the U.S. and U.K. The disc ends with her 1995 song "Where Is A Woman To Go". It's a bluesy barroom type song written by country singer K.T. Oslin, who sings back up on it along with Mary Chapin Carpenter. It's fast becoming a Dusty classic. Her voice was back. She also did the theme song for 'Growing Pains' with B.J. Thomas called "As Long As We Got Each Other". Okay okay, so it's not essential and isn't on here, but I just thought I'd point it out. Dusty is easily one of the best singers ever. No question about it. That voice and style is unmistakeable. Sadly, Dusty died from breast cancer in March of 1999. She was 59 years old. What a tragedy. We and the music biz lost a true treasure. May her music live on. ... Read more

Asin: B000001F0C
Subjects:  1. Blue-Eyed Soul    2. Box Sets (Audio Only)    3. British Invasion    4. England    5. Girl Group    6. Pop    7. Pop-Soul    8. Smooth Soul    9. Soul    10. V/a Compilations   

Drag
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 June, 1997)
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Editorial Review

Sensual, seductive, and above all smoky, the latest from k.d. lang is a collection of a dozen tunes that all have some connection to smoking--usually in the romantic, post-coital sense--done up in a lush, orchestrated fashion. Some of these tunes are standards, such as "Smoke Dreams" and "My Last Cigarette," while others are just plain strange selections given some of the oddest readings imaginable. Case in point: the cover of Steve Miller's "The Joker." lang's voice is an incredible instrument, and it's a treat to hear her vamping. But you have to wonder what she's up to, especially because she seems to just say no to tobacco herself, --Jim Derogatis ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Magical
K.D.Lang is to date, the single most talented female vocalist I've ever heard.Her music is unlike any other female artist who is known for there style or singing ability. trust me, I've listened to the greats over the years to the likes of :Ella F. Sara V. Rosemary C. Anita B. All are good, but you could cluster them together and get the same sound. K.D.Lang's uniqueness sets her apart from the rest, she's the embodyment of the so called "songstress" and makes her own sound, her own!

hypnotic intense poetic
Addiction, love, desire, pain, danger. The songs are about life becoming eclipsed by the unconscious. Images of the sky are abundant. "the other side of day", "night would bring no dawn", "sometimes your drug chooses you". "My old addiction is a flood upon the land", "sleep, silent angel, go to sleep", "some people call me the space cowboy", "watching the rain turn to snow", "what's in back of the sky?","like the flowers toward the sun i will follow", "then we chased the light", "but even the bright stars can fade out sometimes." This is my favorite piece of recorded music of all-time. It grows more stange and wondrous, shimmering and gorgeous with repeated listening.

Absolutely Seductive
Sultry vocal through deceptively simply melodies to standard ballads to love songs of loss and absurdity - a wonderful voice wooing the listeners through great production and selection of songs - a real keeper. ... Read more

Asin: B000002NG2
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country    3. Pop    4. Pop Vocals   

If You're Feeling Sinister
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 June, 1999)
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Editorial Review

There are several schools of thought about Syd Barrett, the early leader of Pink Floyd. Some think he was a genius songwriter, even when he was utterly whacked out. Others think he was just a druggie tosspot (those people are wrong).If you subscribe to the former school, you need to hear Belle and Sebastian, who seem to inhabit a musical universe close to Syd's. Songs seem to fly off the cuff, as attractive as a summer day when you were 16. We're not talking self-conscious strangeness here, but just natural, organic weirdness with melodies that make these songs work. --Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (159)

I'm Feeling Sinister
This is truly one of the great albums of recent years.One of the reviews said that they "disagreed that this is a rainy day album, but that rather it was a sunny road trip record."Personally, I believe that it is both.It is a beautifully done record that can be scene as a sunny road trip record, or as a record to reflect to while sitting inside watching the rain spatter against the windows.With a single listen you don't realize all the nuances of this CD and just how great it is.

This was the soundtrack to my spring break in New York City and will forever bring me back to NYC whenever I here any of these songs.Belle and Sebastian incorporate a number of sounds to make their own distinct sound.If you like the Shins or Tegan and Sara, I believe that you will enjoy this CD.

Ratings of songs (Every song got an A, simply one of my all time favorite CDs):
1. The Stars of Track and Field - "A" This moody song has a number of different levels to it and is simply beautifully done.

2. Seeing Other People - "A" This is a light hearted song, a nice pick-me-up after the previous track.Once again beautifully done.

3. Me and the Major - "A" Yet another great song.Combination of the harmonica and piano sound great in the fast paced song.Nice lyrics.

4. Like Dylan in the Movies - "A" Continues the fast pace of the previous track but turns its that fast pace into a whole different song.Becomes wistful (rainy day song perhaps)

5. The Fox in the Snow - "A" Another "rainy day" song.Beautiful and fragile.Piano and guitar are great together.

6. Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying - "A" Great song.Picks up from The Fox in the Snow.

7.If You're Feeling Sinister - "A" Fast guitar with a nice piano part.Kids playing in the background is a nice touch.Makes you reminisce about childhood.

8. Mayfly - "A" Different sound to the guitar as with the previous tracks.Awesome organ in the background.Female vocal backing up main male vocal is great.

9.The Boy Done Wrong Again - "A" Sad song.Rainy day song.Beautiful.

10.Judy and the Dream of Horses - "A"Nice cheery song that starts off sounding sad.Great closing track.

EVERY SONG IS GREAT!

They've done good albums...this isn't one of them
Belle and Sebastian (on this album) are very, very, very melancholy. It's as if they're trapped inside "Eleanor Rigby"...not the song...actually BEING "Eleanor". I say this because they never step back and become detached from the sadness...they just allow it to swallow them whole and this continual focus on the downside of life tends to be wearing over the course of a whole album. Couple this with the limited range of the lead singer and influences (Smiths,Donovan) worn clearly on their sleeve and it becomes apparent that this is one of those albums people listen to so they can assure themselves of the superiority of "indie" music rather than out of any basis in the music itself.

BOTTOM LINE:
This one is extremely overrated. If you want a better B&S album, try BOY WITH THE ARAB STRAP or DEAR CATASTROPHE WAITRESS first. Those are more musically accessible and don't fall prey as often

takes a bit of getting used to
When I first bought and then listened to this album only one thought went through my mind "i wish his voice was different" and what I am talking about there is his times where he is off key but aside from that (and the sometimes repetitiveness at the end of some of the songs" this is a great album. For some people it may just take some getting used to. ... Read more

Asin: B00000JHAU
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 April, 1997)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Editorial Review

We always suspected they had it in them, but who knew Yo La Tengo would finally craft a record as wholeheartedly terrific as this? Fourteen years into their career as indie rock's low-key mainstays, the Hoboken, New Jersey, trio have arrived--and it's about time. It's as though simply by sticking around long enough and doing the same thing over and over while constantly refining and focusing Yo La have evolved from scattered, record-collecting eccentrics into the true classicists of '90s indie rock. Blending elements of what has illuminated Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Pavement, and My Bloody Valentine, they've long had a clear voice but never sounded so comfortable using it. Willfully eclectic husband-and-wife multi-instrumentalists Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley--with third member James McNew never sounding more permanent--have previously tended to alternate between their instincts to be a pop rock band and to serve as artsy noisemakers. On I Can Hear..., the group doesn't have to choose between songs and sounds. There's noise leaking out everywhere, but it's always under control. Even the most layered soundscapes--songs like "Autumn Sweater," "Sugarcube," or "Moby Octopad"--have unforgettable melodies, with fragile harmonies to boot. "We're an American Band" (not a Grand Funk cover) could be Simon and Garfunkel singing along to the Jesus and Mary Chain. And on tracks like "Shadows" or "My Little Corner of the World," where the melody consumes everything else, deceptively simple backdrops provide a less-is-more atmosphere. Just in time for indie rock to catch up with Yo La Tengo, Yo La Tengo has caught up with itself. --Roni Sarig ... Read more

Reviews (84)

An Unknown Classic
Listening to I Can Hear the Heat Beating as One is like reliving a dream.It's something so good you can't believe they captured it on record.Every layer, every little sound creates a buzz that is a joy to listen to, and gives the album depth that will keep you impressed the next listen.

The album is soft and nice but with its darker moments like "Damage" and "Shadows".As well as including the covers of "Little Honda" and "My Little Corner of the World", both seem right at home with the other tracks and flow nicely.Being the groups ninth release they still have innovation left to offer and songs that break away from the norm.Every song serves its purpose and transforms your mood, taking away your problems for the 65 minute period it fills.

The band has made an album for the music lover.Its perfection is raw and uncut.The songs play their role in the overall feel of the record, and upon finishing it you get the deep feeling of satisfaction.

Yo La Tengo's I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One pretty much defines bliss.So how could it get anything but...
A Bliss of 10

Enjoyable, but not without its dead spots...
This record comes highly recommended by many, many, MANY indie-rock enthusiasts.This is an album with many highlights, but ultimately it is not the quintessential indie rock album that many claim it to be.

I must admit upfront that I am the sort of indie rock fan who salivates over the latest Robert Pollard release but finds Pavement and My Bloody Valentine to be bland and useless.So indie fans, take this under advisement.I do not give credit to noise without substance.

Yo La Tengo have given us, with this album, many very enjoyable tracks worth the purchase price."Center of Gravity" and "My Little Corner of the World" are pleasant harmonies in the vein of "Girl from Ipanema"."Moby Octopad" is a 60's-ish track that almost feels more at home with an Elephant 6 record from a band like Olivia Tremor Control, except that Yo La Tengo deliver much better vocal talents."Stockholm Syndrome" is also a standout track.

This is not a lo-fi masterpiece.This album contains mostly conventional tracks with a few interesting subplots, and is not what I would wish to remember Matador Records by, not when they released Guided by Voices "Under the Bushes..." just a year before.But Yo La Tengo's most famous album does deserve some of the reputation it has earned, and provides enough brilliant enjoyable moments to make it easily worth a $10 purchase on the secondary market.

Why didn't I discover this sooner?
For a while I heard the name of Yo La Tengo come up in the occasional conversation, or article, but I never really checked them out. I'm glad that I finally did. "I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One" is one of the best albums of ever. The band is constantly spinning into different directions, and different genres but they manage to succeed at no matter what they try. They even go for a shoegazer remake of a Beach Boys song ("Little Honda") and it turns out to be one of the best sounding songs on the album. But the highlight of the album is the outstanding "Autumn Sweater" and it is followed closely by "Sugarcube", "Stockholm Syndrome" and the demi-salsa song "Center of Gravity". This album just has so many great songs that you're bound to find something that you like. ... Read more

Asin: B0000036X3
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Noise Pop    4. Pop    5. Rock   

Want One
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 September, 2003)
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Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (158)

GENIUS
Finally, the boy Wainwright delivers a masterpiece. Whilst his previous albums, the self-titled debut and Poses, hinted at greatness, and possessed some classic tunes, they never quite managed to deliver. However, with this release Rufus delivers an absolute, bona-a-fide 100% classic. The vocal arrangements, orchestration and sheer scope of the music are truly breathtaking - there really is no one else making such epic music. And the opening track, which samples Bolero and starts with the fantastic line 'Men reading fashion magazines / Oh what a world my parents gave me', is true genius at work. Rufus is often compared to the late, great Jeff Buckley, but their styles of music are very different - Rufus' music is more 'theatrical' and in some cases very camp (think Jacques Brel) - a couple of songs here wouldn't sound out of place in a Broadway musical.

In summary, a 'must have' album. And you really should go and see him in concert - in addition to the music his between songs patter is very, very funny. Also, a limited edition of Want Two is available - it comes with a bonus DVD featuring 90 minutes of Rufus in concert...!

Exquisite
Want One and Want Two are provocative and ethereal masterpieces.A day doesn't go by that I don't tap a vein and inject a large dose of this beautiful music.

Incredibly great voice, but sadly ruined by overproduction
Rufus Wainwright has one of the most instantly recognizable, beautiful, and passionate voices of just about anyone around today.It's a real shame that this album is mired in overproduction.I gave it several tries, but after the first 3 or 4 songs, it's just more than I could take.The closest reference points are Elton John and Queen at their most lavish, and if you're into that sort of thing, then you'll like this.I'm not giving up on him, though; surely there's a Rufus Wainwright album out there with a pared down 5 piece band sound.That's the one I'll keep looking for. ... Read more

Asin: B0000C7PSW
Sales Rank: 1876
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Chamber Pop    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Singer/Songwriter   

I'm So Confused
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 October, 1998)
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Editorial Review

No doubt that playing the minstrel in There's Something About Mary gave Jonathan Richman the greatest exposure of his career.But don't expect success to spoil him: I'm So Confused--which includes that movie's "True Love Is Not Nice," if not the title song--finds the charming if offbeat pop-folkie singing the same simple-minded odes he's been doing since disbanding the Modern Lovers way back when. Produced with negligible effect by Ric Ocasek, Confused is mostly of a romantic nature, although with the occasional surprise. "The Lonely Little Thrift Store," for one, digs deep with arresting lines like "The avocado-green appliances with the smell of domestic violences." Perpetually quirky, Richman is nearly the definition of cult artist. No role in any blockbuster film's going to change that. --Neal Weiss ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The Divorce Album
Often people who try to interview Jonathan wil only mention how hard it is to get him to talk about his personal life. I find this highly unusual since there is no need for him to reveal anything, everything about Jonathan's personal life is on his records.This record is a testemant to that.

This finds him singing about a failed relationship (If she don't love me, I can't find my best friend) and then trying to console himself (True love is not nice). It also has some of Jonathan's more distubingly poetic imagery (the lonely little thirt store).

Yes, I am one of those [nasty] people who thinks this one is a little too slick (but it's been noted that us diehard jojo fans think that any production at all is too slick, I mean come on Jonathan once recorded an album in a bathroom) but the songs are good enough to look over that. I was glad that he went back to a smaller sound on "Her Mystery.."....

Slick production can't disguise Jonathan's pain
Richman's second Vapor album, I'm So Confused (1998), starts out on a lighthearted note with the jaunty "Nineteen in Naples" and a re-recording of 1986's "When I Dance." But then it quickly turns heavy as Jonathan, picking up where Surrender to Jonathan (1996) left off, continues to to address the end of his marriage in songs like "I'm So Confused," "Love Me Like I Love," "Hello From Cupid," "If She Don't Love Me," "I Can Hear Her Fighting With Herself," "The Night is Still Young," and "I Can't Find My Best Friend" (a song I cannot listen to without crying). Like the best songwriters (Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, etc.), Richman relies upon concrete images ("the night is still young, and the bed is still cold") and plain-spoken phrases ("I can't find my best friend, and my life's just not the same") to tell his stories and infuse them with genuine feeling.

Much has been made of Ric Ocasek's glossy production and cheesy synthesizers. However intrusive these things may seem, though, they can't disguise the sadness in Jonathan's voice, which lends these songs extra weight. The disc only drags during a re-recording of 1979's "Affection," one of Jonathan's most emotional songs; here, he drains all emotion from it by smoothing out all wavers and breaks in his voice, fixing up some of the lyrics, and adding a goofy spoken bit toward the end. (These changes may make for easier listening, but the results are much less -- pardon the pun -- affecting.)I can see why he would want to resurrect this song, though:He may have lost the love of his life, but he wants to show us that it hasn't made him bitter and cynical; he still stands by his old word that love and affection are still worth seeking out.On a lighter note, the mid-tempo ballad "True Love is Not Nice" (a sort of precursor to 2001's "Couples Must Fight") and the rockin' "Lonely Little Thrift Store" rank among his finest recordings. (I love the cover image, too -- the gloomy color scheme, and Richman standing off-center as his handsome face looks deep in thought. Sad but pretty, like many of his tunes.)

Speak what we feel
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. Jonathan grows older and has let go nothing of the true self that he first showed the world so long ago. For Gods sake, listeners, is sincerity so devalued these days, that a man with his own voice, armed with gorgeous lyrical and musical imagery to be mocked?Jonathan continues to sing of the spaces between the everyday patterns. He is out on a darkling plain, calling to those who would fight ignorance and shammery. And that is why he languishes in cultdom. America, you don't know what you have. ... Read more

Asin: B00000DD1X
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    4. Guitar    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Proto-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock & Roll    10. United States of America    11. Vocals   

Exile in Guyville
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (21 December, 1999)
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Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (83)

Very good but not as some people make it out
There is some very good songs on the CD but its not as great as many people make it out if you like Liz Phairs newer more pop oriented cds you will hate this cd.
If you like allot of what many more edgy alternative related groups were doing in the early to mid 90s you will like it

Before she sold out
Liz Phair started out with a collection of edgy songs with steel lyrics and inventive melodies. The words that she expresses in this album are so tortured and true in many respects. This is a classic cd that works its way back into circulation often. She does not sound like the same artist who put out the more recent junk.

A Classic
I just bought this cd 4 days ago and I can't stop listening to it! It's incredible how good this sounds 10 years after it was made. Liz Phair is really an intersting person and it's really great how provacative she made this record, with the cover and the music itself. Still the record is filled with many calm mellow songs that are very mature for a debut effort. I highly recommed this to PJ Harvey fans, and for those who enjoy this album I highly recommend PJ Harvey's "Rid Of Me." Get them both today! ... Read more

Asin: B000040JF0
Sales Rank: 14778
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative/Indie-Rock    3. Indie Rock    4. Lo-Fi    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Singer/Songwriter   

Mahler - Symphony 10 / Berliner Philharmoniker · Rattle
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (06 June, 2000)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $16.98
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Editorial Review

Just as the Payne/Elgar Symphony No. 3 is not Edward Elgar's definitive statement, Mahler did not complete a Symphony No. 10. He did, however, leave "a work fully prepared in the sketch," the complete unorchestrated musical material. Had he lived, Mahler would almost certainly have shaped the material further. This means that the performance edition prepared by Deryck Cooke in the early 1960s is not a completion, it's an orchestration of the short score left at Mahler's death in 1911. It nevertheless sounds very "complete," both in itself and as a summation of the romantic-epic 19th century German musical tradition. Hereafter, the France of Debussy and Ravel would lead the musical world, and Stravinsky's 1913 Parisian premiere of The Rite of Spring would turn it upside-down.

Simon Rattle has recorded a fine version with the CBSO. In 1980, Rattle conducted the Symphony No. 10 in a highly acclaimed performance with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and this later version with the Berlin Philharmonic offers even greater expressive control and power. The tempos are slightly slower and, inevitably, the performances more musically eloquent. The excellent live sound omits all but the faintest background noise, and the grave beauty of the Finale becomes a deeply moving testament to a world long-since gone. --Gary S. Dalkin ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A fine performance
The Berlin Philharmonic has a tradition as a great Mahler orchestra, and they give their best for Sir Simon. The Cooke version seems to have become the standard edition of the unfinished 10th, and it does contain important differences from the much more adventurous Clinton Carpenter version, or the more recent Remo Mazzetti version. Crisp, buoyand playing make for a very satisfying reading of this most enigmatic of Mahler works.

a must have for any Mahlerians
This is one of the best recordings of Mahler's 10th ever made. Really red blooded performance, generally slow tempi (but not boring of course because very controlled), very good sound quality. As you know, this is the best completion of this "sketched" symphony. I impressed especially with 1st Adagio and 5th Finale movement. In the last minutes of Adagio, there are very dissonance (but they're very amazing) chords, nearly atonal, and they're spine-chilling (this passages comes again in Finale). There are 2 scherzos, which the first is unregulared rhytms, the second is the ghostly, devilish fast waltz. And the finale is terrific (starts with the bass drum strokes which "death blows") and then really Mahlerian tempestous Allegro and as like the first mov. again Adagio and heavenly and calm conclusion. Simon Rattle (who may be conducted this symphony over 100 times) is clearly one of the best performer of this work, comparable with Eugene Ormandy and Mark Wigglesworh's (on a BBC broadcast) versions.

It is an essential recording and highly recommended for any classical music lovers.

Vintage Rattle
Rattle had recorded this symphony over 20 yrs ago with the City of Birmingham Symphony orchestra and produced a classic recording. Now older, more experienced and with the stately BPO he has surpassed his earlier masterpiece. The electricity of the first performance may be less but the sound, playing of the orchestra and overall tour de force makes this version oen to sell your shirt for. A neglected symphony due to the controversy over which completed version is best but Rattle brings it forward and under the BPO it is a true masterpiece. ... Read more

Asin: B00004RITP
Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Orchestral & Symphonic    3. Symphonic   

Stephen Malkmus
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (13 February, 2001)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $16.98
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Editorial Review

"In a funny way, the shaving of my head has been a liberation," announces a voice on "Jo Jo's Jacket." "It has simplified everything for me, and it has opened a lot of doors." It doesn't take a detective to crack this thinly veiled statement of intent; when Steve Malkmus, boyish frontman of lo-fi trailblazers Pavement finally jumped ship from his mother-band in 2000, reasons were thin on the ground. Perhaps, then, this is the spirit of Stephen Malkmus: the king of the cryptic couplet freed from his 11-year yoke and embarking on an ultimate loosening-up exercise--the eponymous debut solo album. Odd, though, that it should sound exactly like Pavement. Stephen Malkmus is a close relative of Terror Twilight--a neatly polished showcase of shambolic art-pop, with a grinning, brotherly Malkmus dropping wisecracks every inch of the way. It sure sounds like he is having fun, indulging in vicious pirate fantasies on "The Hook," claiming to be "the king of Siam" on "Jo Jo's Jacket"--and isn't that him yodelling in the background on "Phantasies"? The only problem is, there is precious little of the disarming tenderness that once made Pavement's quirkier rough edges so endearing. If this is the sound of a man liberated, it's a shame he sounds so reluctant to be straight with us, just this once. --Louis Pattison ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Steven, Steven
Has ther ever been a greater band than Pavement? No. Has ther ever been a greater frontman than Steven Malkmus? No. Has ther ever been a better CD than this? Certainly. But how can you compare anything Steven does to the crap surrounding him in the music world?

HIt and Miss.
With only a few catchy Pavement-esque songs, and the rest sounding like sup-par throwaways (not even worthy for B-sides). This first outing by Steven malkmus doesn't do much to distinguish him.

Basically it just sounds like a pavement record, and worse it sounds like the last few pave records, not the first two.
Where's the weirdness from S&E, CR, and Wowee Zowee?

Malkmus hardly solos here, and there's very little of his clever wordplay execept on the hook, jenny and jo jo's jacket.

The days are pavement are long gone, this just reminds me of how great they -used- to be.

Bound To Be Overlooked
Maybe I really can't give an objective review of this record since I'm a huge fan of Malkmus. Pavement is one of my all-time personal favorite bands, and although I could easily trash Malkmus' first solo record for not being as strong as Pavement's work, it would be foolish. This self-titled effort sort-of picks up where Terror Twilight left off, but with a more whimsical vibe. It's bouncy and goofy, but still intelligent and engaging. "Church On White," "Discretion Grove," "Phantasies," "Trojan Curfew," and "Jenny & The Ess-Dog" are all some of Malkmus' strongest work. It's no Pavement record, but for a solo record following the break-up of a legendary band, it's pretty great. Don't be miffed that Malkmus is on his own; he's doing rather well. ... Read more

Asin: B000056NZV
Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock