Abbey Road
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Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Editorial Review

The Beatles' last days as a band were as productive as any major pop phenomenon that was about to split. After recording the ragged-but-right Let It Be, the group held on for this ambitious effort, an album that was to become their best-selling. Though all four contribute to the first side's writing, John Lennon's hard-rocking, "Come Together" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" make the strongest impression. A series of song fragments edited together in suite form dominates side two; its portentous, touching, official close ("Golden Slumbers"/"Carry That Weight"/"The End") is nicely undercut, in typical Beatles fashion, by Paul McCartney's cheeky "Her Majesty," which follows. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (846)

how old am I????
Reading some of the revues for this album make me think just how many people are there out there that have never heard the beatles ???? the first time I heard that I remember hearing the beatles I was in short pants at the tender age of 5 and was instantly hooked and have been ever since and yes this was their finest hour albeit there last hour. god what a band they where and how sorely I miss them they laid the foundations for all the rock bands to come and I still judge all others against them long live the beatles they last and last thank god for the memories I have of listening to their music as it came out. I feel so fortunate to have been there when it occured.

One of the greastest rock bands....
Without Buddy Holly and other legends in the 50s, we wouldnt have rock music, without The beatles we wouldnt have bristish invanison, without Led Zeppelin and AC/DC we wouldnt have metal. What I am trying to say is The Beatles are one of the greastest bands, there's really nothing to hate about them. John Lennon is one of the best vocalist,Paul and John could write very intersting lyrics. The Beatles changed rock n roll, and without them you wouldnt have most of the music you have these days.

Beautiful Album
I wont bore you with things that have been said before about this masterpiece. These guys knew it was the end, and boy did they deliver.

Best Beatles Album, hands-down. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UB3
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. British Psychedelia    3. England    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    8. Psychedelic    9. Rock    10. Rock & Roll    11. Sunshine Pop   

Electric Ladyland
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 April, 1997)
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Editorial Review

Bursting with ideas and energy, Jimi Hendrix's second album release of 1968 (following Axis: Bold as Love) was a double-LP set that showcased virtually everything the guitar genius had to offer: blistering blues ("Voodoo Chile"), galaxy-patrolling space jams ("1983... A Merman I Should Turn to Be"), psychedelic soul ("Crosstown Traffic"), and skyscraping rock ("Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"). In the midst of all this was even a hit song--Hendrix's remarkable reading of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," featuring a series of baton-passing guitar solos, all distinct and brilliant. Seemingly diffuse when first released; in hindsight, kaleidoscopically eclectic. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (199)

This is the masterpiece of masterpieces
Hendrix had few (if any) equals.This was his third official album, and it is quite simply one of the greatest works of art of the last 40 years.If you have little exposure to Hendrix and want to start with material that will dazzle you, move you, thrill you, etc. this is the place to start.

The most noteworthy tracks are in my opinion - Voodoo Chile, Rainy Day Dream Away, 1983 (A merman I should turn to be), Moon turn the tides ...gently gently away, All Along the Watchtower, Burning of the Midnight Lamp, Voodoo Child (slight return), and the title cut Electric Ladyland.

There was a period in my life (1991) where I basically listened to nothing but this album for about 6 months.I still go back to it often and experience the same sense of awe that I had when I first heard it.Despite the fact that I can anticipate every subtlety, I still gape at the beauty every time.May it be so for you as well...Jimi we miss you.

Highly Recommended Hendrix!
"Electric Ladyland", the last Jimi Hendrix Experience album, is usually regarded as the trio's definite masterpiece; and the record do contain some of the greatest and most influental music to come out of the late 1960's. I can't help feeling that Hendrix'use of harmony vocals must have influenced artists like T.Rex, David Bowie and Mott the Hoople. Hendrix' guitar-playing is innovative, and at the same time catchy and melodic. There are many highlights on the album; the best known track on the album is probably their terrific cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" - the ultimate version of that song, which also made it to the top 20 singles-charts. Songs like "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" and "Voodoo Chile" were also single-hits. The intro of "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" is simply great.

Released in 1968 as a double album, the record contains some tracks with extensive playing time. Some of these may appear somewhat too long-drawn-out.

For me the long version of "Voodoo Chile" and "1983" are examples of this.

On the original vinyl version I never really got into "Side C"; so here on the CD version it's nice to be able to hear the tracks in new playing orders. I can recommend to trythe shuffle/random feature. This made recognize the qualities of the more experimental tracks like "Rainy Day" and "1983".

Conclusion: This album is highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of rock music.
 
 

Flawed but great anyway: Hendrix's "Sgt. Pepper"
Much of this album was made on (the then-new technology) 8 track, 12 track and even 16 track machines for the first time..giving Jimi the space to do more with his artistic vision. He's able to layer phased echo effects over the music, overdub replacements for Noel Redding's bass parts when he didn't think they had enough fire, and make mini-"choirs" of his own vocals. It's the first time he acts as his own producer and it becomes at once an advantage (he'll keep going until he gets the sound he wants) and a liability (artists seldom have the discipline to realize when a "jam" runs too long..resulting in the 15 minute "Voodoo Chile". The song should ALWAYS come first, rather than "look at what I can do!" guitar pyrotechnics, economy is always better...put only the parts there that NEED to be there.)

This also was a double album and, as with most of them, there's plenty of filler material. Coming as it did in the wake of the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper", it's easy to view this as Hendrix's artistic reaction to that landmark album.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Kazoo and guitar propel the classic "Crosstown Traffic", a fluid funky bass riff keeps "Gypsy Eyes" on track, the "guitar as harpsichord" tone Hendrix gets on "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" makes it seem like something that slipped through a hole in time. "House Burning Down" is either Jimi's generic reaction to riots..or perhaps inspired by the ones that happened in Newark, NJ in July of 1967. ("Well someone stepped from the crowd/He was 19 miles high/He shouts 'We're tired and disgusted, so we paint red through the sky'/I say 'The truth is straight ahead, so don't burn yourself! Instead, try to learn instead of burn'")"All Along the Watchtower" is absolutely amazing and clearly one of the best rock songs ever performed. It travels from strength to strength culminating in the ecstasy of its bridge at 2:00 that incorporates doubletracking, wah-wah effects, panning, and finally some propulsive rhythm work to take it back to the verse. It's not difficult to see why Dylan began to model his own song on Hendrix's version in live performances after this rendition was unleashed upon the world. The shorter "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" distills its mythos into just over 5 minutes and is all the stronger for it.

LOWS:
"Voodoo Chile" continues on long past the point at which it's still interesting. While the seagull and boat bell effects of "1983..(A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" are startling, Hendrix seems bent on making this track merely to show how many effects he can create and use within the track and it sinks it. The repetitive echoed and slowing down vocal is cool once, but after about 5 usages it loses something.

BOTTOM LINE:
There's too many weak spots for me to consider this "5 star" material ["Are you Experienced?" gets that nod...clearly a better collection of songs..] but it's nonetheless a high water mark in rock music and as such should be owned by anyone with an interest in rock music and certainly any Hendrix fan. To get more out of the album, I'd suggest you read a companion book from John Perry along with it (ASIN 0826415717) to get a better gauge of where Jimi's head was at while this was being recorded. I will gripe a bit about noise on the CD..there's a TON of hiss on opener "....And the Gods made love" (probably from the extensive overdubbing that was done) but it's not as noticeable on most other tracks. ... Read more

Asin: B000002P5U
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 October, 1997)
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Editorial Review

There has never been a better showcase for improvisational rock than this 1971 concert recording, and few (if any) live rock albums are in its rank. With only two studio albums (and plenty of touring) under their belt, the Georgia sextet tore into the Fillmore East with road-tested buoyancy. Titanic guitarist Duane Allman was at the peak of his powers, pushing his foil, Dickey Betts, to unsurpassed peaks. Vocalist-keyboardist Gregg Allman would have been a star in any other setting; here he's merely one more component in a brilliant ensemble. Duane Allman died shortly after At Fillmore East shipped, and the Brothers haven't scaled such heights since. But, then, neither has anyone else. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered
• Live

Reviews (140)

5 stars - retort to Dork posting Fred Dursts Numba One Fann
I actually own this CD and can truthfully give 5 stars.This is a true classic -- probably their best.In response to Fred Dursts Numba One Fann posting, not that anyone would actually take a 17 year old, Hippity Hoppity loving, goober's review with any seriousness, this Allman Brothers classic has already stood the test of time and will be around long after Fred Dursts Numba One Fann hits puberty (in about 10 years +).Of course, if youv'e never even heard of the Allman Brothers, this may not be for you.And besides, "they've never even been on MTV".

one of the greatest live albums ever
the allman brothers band live at fillmore east is certainly one of the greatest live albums ever recorded.IT IS A MASTERPIECE.i own this cd since 10 years and still listen to it frequently.this brilliant southern rock group contained two of the greatest guitarists in Duane allman and Dickey betts. and featured blistering live renditions of classics like STATESBORO BLUES,WHIPPIN POST and more.very very highly recommended.get this with THE OUTLAWS'S BRING IT BACK ALIVE and LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S ONE MORE FROM THE ROAD and FOGHAT'S LIVE album.five stars.please avoid crap like 50 cent,ludacris,ja rule,nelly,usher,green day,linkin park and any band which features on MTV and TRL.

Badd Boring Long Songs With Dumm Solo's!!!
Yo my hip- hop lovers, whut is down this nite??By now, we all be in agreeance that hip-hop, nu-rock and rap rule the world, its all over MTV and gets the respect of journalists and fans alike!!For some reason though, some old dinosaur rock stations continue to play boring old bands that only seem to care about long dumm solo's in songs with no real hint of song writitng talent or any kind of trendy fashion sense!!Worst of all, none of these bands like the Allman Brother's have never been on MTV, TRL or any pop radio station that matters!!This Allman Brother's CD is apparently some old live show recorded ages ago, its not like anyone remembers this show or cares about it, so why in da hekk would they release this??Its just lots of long boring noise with toons that go nowhere!!You can't dance to this stuff and this music won't get you the respect of MTV DJ's either!!People, please, just stick with TRU talent, whether its great punk rawk like Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, Blink 182, My Chemical Romance and the funny Green Day, or talented rapperz like 50 Cent, The Game, Nelly, Ja Rule, U$her, Ludacris, and the very dark Will Smith....and of course the best is TRU medal bands such as Limp Bizzkit, KoRn, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Disturbed, Mudvayne, Endo, Breaking Benjamin, Kid Rokk, Staind and the very brutal Creed!!Let these stinky old bands that play too many boring notes fall by the wayside, we don't need their kind in our day 'n age!!Hekk, by now their probably assistant fry cooks at a truck stop in south central Mississippi!!Peace out greasy rock fans!! ... Read more

Asin: B000003CMB
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Are You Experienced
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 April, 1997)
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Editorial Review

As emblematic of its time as of its sorcerer-like creator, 1967's Are You Experienced unleashed Jimi Hendrix onto a world in the midst of such cultural and musical shakeups that it really didn't seem as "far out" as it actually was. It wasn't just Hendrix's virtuosic skill as a pure player that was so impressive; it was, even more, the range and scope of sheer sound that he coaxed, cajoled, and ripped out of his instrument. "Purple Haze," "Manic Depression," and "I Don't Live Today" filled ears with indelible sonic images, and songs like "Foxey Lady" and "Fire" pointed the way toward a new brand of rock-charged soul music. And how about a hand for drummer Mitch Mitchell? --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (250)

It's Jimi Hendrix! Duh!
The fact that I have to write a review to convince buyers is insulting. Jimi Hendrix is staple rock and people should know that this along with "Bold as Love" and "Electric Ladyland" are requiered in a good rock collection. Just buy the cd and the appreciation will follow.

Hendrix Masterpiece; Unveils Innovation To The World
A musician with sensational creativity, a fascinating feel for the guitar, and, above all, a marvelous songwriter. Are You Experienced? is maybe the greatest debut album of all time, as it immediately and thoroughly lets us into the mind of one of the greatest musicians of all time.

Alright, I won't put his songwriting above his guitar work, however many underestimate Hendrix's songwriting abilities, and, the fact of the matter is that they were exceptional. Possibly he branched them out even further after this album, nevertheless Are You Experienced? has ugly rockers, slow ballads, and guitar masterpieces all built around excellent lyrics.
To give my impressions on some of the songs, I found Hey Joe to be a classic the moment I discovered it. It carries a contagious melody, with some mind twisting lyrics and guitar riffs beyond imagination. There of course is the metal sensation, Purple Haze, and the guitar blaster, Foxy Lady, 2 immediate classics. Manic Depression is a vicious rocker, stabbing guitar power down your eardrums the second it comes on. Fire is equally as powerful. Stone Free is a nice, energetic rocker. Love Or Confusion is beautiful lyric wise. Lesser known tracks like I Don't Live Today and Highway Chile are rock numbers with a solid core. A great deal of consistency lies on this album, in a sense that you're getting a great balance of songs, as The Jimi Hendrix Experience change the style of songs. Remember is a smooth track with strong riffs. 51st Anniversary, said to be the only Hendrix song on the album without a guitar solo has a light moving quality to it. The longest song on the album, Third Stone From The Sun, incorporates the band playing very well as a whole (of course that's the case on the entire album)and offering sensational jamming innovation. The bluesy song, Red House, should be among a list of the greatest blues songs ever written. Hendrix lets his feel for blues fly loose, and the guitar soloing in this song is so well timed and kept within the base of the song. The self titled track is also a keeper, very low key and less energetic, but certainly not a step down from any other song lying amongst this collection of tracks.

AYE? will be rightfully considered a phenomenal debut and a Hendrix classic. Recommended to all listeners of music.

Groundbreaking Indeed
Many revere Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced? as the most influential debut recording by a rock n roll artist.At the very least itsa high energy recording that is loaded with big hits.

With six bonus tracks, now ten of the twelve songs from Smash Hits appear on Are You Experienced?Add to this sevven strong album cuts and you have a gem on your hands.

Much of the recording is indeed hard rock.However, there are so many softer touching melodies such as May This Be Love, The Wind Cries Mary, and the jazz flavored Third Stones From The Sun.

Its a true joy to listen to Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell weave their talents through these seventeen stunning tracks.Groundbreaking Indeed! ... Read more

Asin: B000002P5Y
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Editorial Review

Before Sgt. Pepper, no one seriously thought of rock music as actual art. That all changed in 1967, though, when John, Paul, George and Ringo (with "A Little Help" from their friend, producer George Martin) created an undeniable work of art which remains, after 30-plus years, one of the most influential albums of all time. From Lennon's evocative word/sound pictures (the trippy "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," the carnival-like "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite") and McCartney's music hall-styled "When I'm 64," to Harrison's Eastern-leaning "Within You Without You," and the avant-garde mini-suite, "A Day in the Life," Sgt.Pepper was a milestone for both '60s music and popular culture.--Billy Altman ... Read more

Features

• Deluxe Edition

Reviews (917)

Great Album by a great Band.
I love this album but...i think Abbey Road,White album and Revolver is even better.

The guitarr solo on the first song...is made by Mccartney. He are also doing the guitar solo on Good Morning Good Morning and Fixing a Hole.

A True Work Of Art
This album really does sound overrated. I thought that before I heard it. I am a 15 year old male that has discovered old music. It is WAY better. There are two bands that have stuck out for me as the best bands of all time. The first is Led Zeppelin. The second is.....

THE BEATLES!

This is their first concept album and MAYBE the first concept album. (I can't remember). Either way it's a true work of art. It's also the first Beatles album I got. (I got the compilation "1" first). I am going to "grade",if you may, each song out of ten. It will mainly be based of relativity to the rest of the album. Most of the songs would get tens otherwise.

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
7/10 This song is very cool. Especially the solo at the beginning. That George is a VERY careful, gentle soloer and it makes him amazing.

"With A Little Help From My Friends"
9/10 This song is very pretty. Ringo's voice makes it softer.

"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"
10/10 Very pretty and poetic. Then a rockin anthem....

"Getting Better"
8/10 Very pretty chorus. The rest isnt so pretty. Paul song. (Most of Paul's are pretty, like Blackbird)

"Fixing A Hole"
6/10 This song is very cool and fun to sing along with.

"She's Leaving Home"
8/10 This song is like a ballad. It is very pretty. It makes you feel out of this world. Quite distant. I think the harp causes that.

"Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite"
9/10 This is like a fun circus song. Very experimental.

"Within You Without You"
5/10 George's only song on the album. It's Indian. My only complaint is it's to long for only one chord (you heard me, one chord).

"When I'm Sixty-Four"
8/10 The sing-along song of the album.

"Lovely Rita"
9/10 It's a really cool song. I can't describe it. Your just gonna have to listen.

"Good Morning Good Morning"
4/10 The least memorable song on the album features Pet Sounds! (haha a rock music pun).

"Sgt. Pepper's... (Reprise)"
9/10 Better thanb the first version. More upbeat. Gets you singing.

"A Day In The Life"
10/10 Not only the best song on the album, possibly the Beatles' best song.

All in all, quite an amazing album. I think everyone should buy this, but not before RUBBER SOUL and REVOLVER, because they lead from beatlemania to this.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
This 1967 release is a monumental rock album. Prior to this release rock was considered low brow and not an art form.However all this changed when The Beatles released this amazing album. With songs like a day in the life, lucy in the sky with diamonds, and I could basically count numerous more. The cover art is a modern day classic and many copied it for several reasons, i.e., the simspons and it is one of the best covers ever created. The beatles also have an awesome collection of muisicians and vocalists. It is not all about Lenon and McCartney. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UAU
Subjects:  1. British Invasion    2. British Psychedelia    3. England    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Psychedelic    8. Rock    9. Rock & Roll    10. Rock/Pop   

Who's Next
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (07 November, 1995)
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Editorial Review

A mix of old favorites and buried treasures makes this edition of Who's Next a definite must. One of the defining albums of 70s hard rock from one of the 60s most successful bands, the original album includes some of The Who's best-known work, such as the anthemic "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again", the by turns sorrowful and angry "Behind Blue Eyes", and perennial favorite "My Wife". The new tracks on this album are equally worth hearing, including "Pure and Easy" (an alternate edition of which is available on Odds & Sods) and the original version of "Behind Blue Eyes". A hard rock classic, Who's Next is required listening for rock fans of all ages. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered
• Extra tracks

Reviews (349)

great
o man what a great album. baba oreily and we wont get fooled again are the best.i dont feel like typing anything else.


however ignor those one star reviewers like that one kid who has too much free time and listens to the Scissor Sisters, who by the way butchered Comfortably Numb by my other favorite band Pink Floyd.
Dont listen to that one guy who thinks celion dion and good charlot *snicker* are the best.

o well
anyway i love this album buy it



I command you

GET THIS CD!
The who along with led zeppelin and the rolling stones all created hard rock and set the bar for bands in the future(black sabbath?) This cd also showed how "progressive"(not the actual genrea) they were. Who could of thought that a whole cd filled with synths would do so good? Anyway the music,songwriting and the lyrics are all superb, moons drumming also seems to have hit it's peak, and even john entwistle seems to have advanced his playing...(of course daltry and townshend are great as ever)
Even if you don't like hard rock GET THIS CD!...and also to stevie B goode's post down here,there are four great british rock bands =the beatles,led zep,the who, aned pink floyd.....

Classic Albums of 1971:No. 1
Pete Townshend's unfinished LIFEHOUSE project resulted in the greatest Who album of their career--the phenomenal WHO'S NEXT.In fact, many of the songs ("Baba O'Riley," "Getting in Tune," "Going Mobile," "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Get Fooled Again") are from that aborted project. [In addition, one of the bonus tracks, "Pure and Easy," is also a LIFEHOUSE song.]

WHO'S NEXT kicks off with "Baba O'Riley" and its simple synthesizer riff, but a minute into the song, it shifts gears and becomes classic Who with its crashing drums and windmill guitars.It is followed by the electrifying "Bargain." "Love Ain't for Keeping" (by far the shortest song at 2:10) features some deftly played acoustic guitar."My Wife" is simply John Entwhistle's best song recorded by the band. Nicky Hopkins plays piano on the lovely ballad "The Song Is Over" and "Getting in Tune.""Going Mobile" could be considered a companion piece to Entwhistle's "My Wife," and is certainly the least serious of Townshend's songs on the album.

The original album closed with a solid one-two punch.The gorgeous "Behind Blue Eyes" and the majestic "Won't Get Fooled Again." The latter contains the best recorded scream in the history of rock 'n' roll. [I still get chills every time I hear it!] More than thirty years and countless reunion tours later, this album makes clear what a powerful band the Who could be when they were at the top of their game.ESSENTIAL ... Read more

Asin: B000002OX7
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Dark Side of the Moon
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Editorial Review

Dark Side of the Moon, originally released in 1973, is one of those albums that is discovered anew by each generation of rock listeners. This complex, often psychedelic music works very well because Pink Floyd doesn't rush anything; the songs are mainly slow to mid-tempo, with attention paid throughout to musical texture and mood. The sound effects on songs like "On the Run," "Time" and especially "Money" (with sampled sounds of clinking coins and cash registers turned into rhythmic accompaniment) are impressive, especially when we remember that 1973 was before the advent of digital recording techniques. This is probably Pink Floyd's best-known work, and it's an excellent place to start if you're new to the band. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (1096)

YOU DONT ALREADY OWN THIS????
The only reason you should not already own this......MASTERPIECE is because you're either really really young (like 12 or so) or you've been in a coma for last 30 some odd years. There is no other excuse. No matter WHAT type of music you like, whetever genre you prefer, this is a must have (MUST HAVE!!) album for any living human creature on this fine, often tumoltuous, planet of ours. This album transcends all differences people may have musically. I cannot reinforce that enough. This is not an album you simply LISTEN to, you EXPERIENCE this album. You live it for its (too short) running time. Pink Floyd were musical geniuses. Nothing else to say. And if you partake in the herb, then you're really in for a fine experience. Many a high school weekends were "wasted" away by experiencing "Dark Side of the Moon." All the low volume speaking, often nearly jibberish will all suddenly be clear as day. And it will be as if Waters et. al are speaking directly to....YOU!!!! It's strange and I'm not sure how they pulled that off, but WOW, this album is something else. This album is simply the finest piece of musical/sensory work I have ever heard. Please, if you dont alreasy own this....BUY IT NOW. Play it LOUD, live Pink Floyd. The songs on this album almost appear as a vapor, seeping from your speakers, engulfing the listener and absorbing into your pours. It takes on an almost human quality if listened to at exactly the right volume and under exactly the right settings. Lay back, crank it up, and fly away.

Deceptively deep
Well, my review would be true to its title if this album's depth had not already been lauded by several million fans.Still, I will persist in saying that the songs on this album are much more than just music.The lyrics attain a depth and meaning here that is seen frequently in Floyd, but much less frequently in other bands.

Frustratingly, several of the songs on the album are more mood pieces than anything else, "The Great Gig in the Sky", "Any Color You Like" and especially the infuriatingly dull "On The Run".

The good outweights the bad, however.Songs like "Breathe", "Time", "Us and Them" and "Brain Damage" are thoughtful, important pieces that deal with real issues beyond the realm of sex and drugs that most pop/rock is limited to.Most of this album is about everyday life, but it's delivered so convincingly that it becomes epic, in a manner similar to the Beatles' "Day in the Life".

"Dark Side"'s themes are important, but what's more important is that its music is both enjoyable and fitting with the lyrics, unlike the band's later work "The Wall".The dreamy pitch-bending of "Breathe"; the clanging of bells which slowly evolves into a psychedelic trip then breaks out into hard rock in "Time"; the way "Us and Them" begins quietly but crescendos into a Big Statement that is meaningful enough to deserve that title.

Overall, "Dark Side" is deservedly a classic album, and will continue to be for years to come.

Innovative, creative, and just amazing
Dark Side of the Moon is certainly not Pink Floyd's best album, yet every album is fabulous; I prefer Meddle, Piper At the Gates of Dawn, and Saucerful of Secrets over DSOTM.Still, I had to write a review to dispell some of the lower ratings this album has recieved.

First off, none of the four members did any drugs outside of alcohol and cigarettes.Syd Barrett was the only illicit drug addict in the band, and they dumped him years before this album was recorded.Also, it really shouldn't matter.Piper At the Gates of Dawn, as well as Barrett's solo work, is fabulous stuff.

Second, every song on this album is great.It is a concept album, as most of the Floyd albums are.Actually, Pink Floyd essentially created the concept album, with artists such as The Who and David Bowie following suit.The music and lyrics are true genius, the performance clean and emotional, and the timing impeccable.

Lastly, the experimentation with electronically produced sounds and music on this album is not only magnificent, but helped pave the way for electronic music of all types, from disco to funk to house to breakbeats etc etc.

Pink Floyd were innovators that are merely misunderstood by many.Any true music lover will at least recognize the contributions made by this band and their influence on countless bands and producers today.

... Read more

Asin: B000002U82
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Let It Bleed
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $17.98
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Editorial Review

One of the Stones' most beloved albums, 1969's Let It Bleed was a benchmark for several reasons. First, founding guitarist Brian Jones died during the recording process. Second, the Stones take their last significant look at pure blues (Robert Johnson's spooky "Love in Vain") and country ("Country Honk," the two-stepping alter ego of "Honky-Tonk Women") before folding both styles into a cohesive rock & roll vision. Third, it contains some of the band's most eerie hits, such as the flame-enveloped "Gimme Shelter," the drug-reality anthem "Monkey Man," the epic "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and Mick Jagger's menacing "Midnight Rambler." --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (129)

An Absolute Masterpiece
I am going through a period where I am very obsessed with everything The World's Greatest RockNRoll Band did, I checked out their albums like "Exile on the Main street" Which is thier best. But "Let it bleed" is not far behind. The album has Two of the greatest rock songs ever recorded, "Gimmie Shelter" and "You Can't always Get what want" are Unreal; two of rock's all-time greatest tunes. But those are only Two songs; "let it Bleed" has Seven more Equally great songs. The title track is one of my favorite Rolling stones songs and "You Got The Silver" is one of their best Love songs. Overall "Let it Bleed" is one the Stones Top Three Albums and one of Rock's all Time great albums.

Stones very, very best album.
This is really the first album I ever remember seeing. My German uncles' and cousins' had it when I was Army Brat growing up in Germany 35 years ago. I had a C2 fx in amotorcycle accident in 1980 and having these tunes running through my head made me realize how wonderful life is and truly strengthend my will to live after the emergency room docsgave me less than a 1 % chance to survive. I remember being pumped full of morphine in the hospital and having the tune "Monkey Man" going through my head. "You cant always get what you want" helped comfort me after my right arm was permanently paralyzed in that wreck. This truly is a very personal album for me and a personal review, but I'll go ahead and post it. Face it, if you love the Stones I'm not telling you anything you don't know already about the quality of these tunes. I'll never tire listening to this and "Sticky Fingers".

Classic stones
They were the best rock & roll band ever. And this is my favorite of all of their greats. Lay back and listen to truly great album. Gimme Shelter has the most haunting guitar intro ever. ... Read more

Asin: B000003BF1
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Physical Graffiti
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (16 August, 1994)
list price: $24.98 -- our price: $20.99
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Editorial Review

This 1975 release came smack in the middle of a long and nearly mythic career. Physical Graffiti is the last great Led Zeppelin title, recorded before the influences of the day (synthesizers, disco) ended Zeppelin's reign as the kings of loud and sexy blues-metal. Playfully experimenting with new sounds, the band blended Middle Eastern rhythms, folk-stylings, heavy blues, and deeply impassioned rock riffs into a two-disc set that sounded as if they were still enjoying their place in the rock pantheon. As sprawling and adventurous as this collection is, there are some tracks so tightly focused--so ultra-Zeppelinesque--that it's tempting to name this as a number one or number two must-have. "Trampled Underfoot" and "Custard Pie" alone are almost worth the double-disc price tag. --Lorry Fleming ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (287)

one of the best rock albums ever!
Physical Graffiti is so awesome, every song a classic!

The Pinnacle of Zeppelin's Run
Physical Graffiti is Zeppelin's greatest and, unfortunetly, last great album. While I and II might be famous for supersizing old Chicago blues classics, III for introducing British folk rhythms, IV for its Zeppeln standards like "Black Dog" and "Stairway to Heaven", and "Houses of the Holy" for its sweeping instrumental arrangements, "Graffiti" is the only album that is entirely symbolic of Zeppelin's sound alone. Out of all of their albums, this is the one I would choose to play for a non-Zeppelin fan to demonstrate what they were all about. Of course, there is the standard review of the album, which always requires a mention of the blending of their classic blues-rock hybrid with "Middle-eastern and folk rhythms." But any band can bog down an album with an eclectic gathering of different genres. What makes "Graffiti" so great is that the songs are musically amazing, but also incredibly listenable. Despite using orchestras, "Middle-eastern" instruments, and synthesizers, "Graffiti" never at any point comes across as pretentious or arrogant. Zeppelin used those instruments not just to look special, but because they knew it would result in great music. Side one is the greatest six song span in their entire career. "Custard Pie", to use layman's terms, is arguably the most kickass song in their entire repetoire. "The Rover" is a tour-de-force that is the forerunner to every early-eighties metal band from Priest to Maiden. "In My Time of Dying" never tires during its exhilerating 11 minutes, and "Houses of the Holy" stands out despite not being on the album that shares the same name. "Trampled Underfoot" is a classic, which, with its humorous lyrics and ultra-funky rhythm, displayed Zeppelin's incredible versatility. And, of course, side one ends with "Kashmir," for which words cannot do justice. Side two is slightly less remarkable, but that is similar to saying that Julius Erving was slightly less remarkable than Michael Jordan. It includes the hard-edged "The Wanton Song" and "Sick Again" and the epic "In the Light" and "Ten Years Gone", among other classics. Quite simply, it is their best album.

A DOUBLE DOSE OF ZEP..don't get trampled underfoot!
Great double-album, I never get tired of listening to this!My favorite songs are Houses of the Holy and Trampled Underfoot.Trampled underfoot is one of the most driving, hard rock songs I know of.Well that is just my opinion.Kashmir and Bron-Yr-Aur are 2 other classics you may have seen on a previous album.If you have not listened to much zep I suggest going and listening to albums 1-4 before getting this one, that way you'll be on the straight and narrow when taking the path that leads you on the journey through their music.One of the greatest bands of all time!Physical Graphitti is awesome!

1. Custard Pie
2. The Rover
3. In My Time Of Dying
4. Houses Of The Holy
5. Trampled Under Foot
6. Kashmir
7. In The Light
8. Bron-Yr-Aur
9. Down By The Seaside
10. Ten Years Gone
11. Night Flight
12. Wanton Song
13. Boogie With Stu
14. Black Country Woman
15. Sick Again
... Read more

Asin: B000002JSN
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Axis: Bold As Love
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 April, 1997)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Jimi Hendrix's second album doesn't resonate through rock history the way its gatecrashing predecessor, Are You Experienced?, does. In places, it almost seems as if Hendrix is cruising, albeit sublimely. Yet it's a vital album, containing some of rock's molten milestones. There's the fluid psychedelia of "Castles Made of Sand," the viciously funky "Little Miss Lover," and the so-beautiful-it-hurts "Little Wing." Hendrix really hits altitude with "If 6 Was 9," where he waves his "freak flag high" over a tidal wave of guitar and a cacophonous army of Moroccan flutes, and he ends with "Bold As Love," based around Hendrix's typically far-fetched hankering for the axis of the planet to be tilted, thereby transforming life on earth. It works up into a head-melting frenzy of distorted guitar, a precursor to the staggeringly expansive leap forward he would take with 1968's Electric Ladyland. Hendrix dreamed the impossible and achieved it on his guitar. --David Stubbs ... Read more

Reviews (128)

Great Hendrix Music
This has to be my favorite Hendrix album.The material is all fresh, all original, and is really all Jimi.Unlike the material on "Are You Experienced" and "Electric Ladyland," every song was written by Jimi Hendrix.The stuff is also very short, and I think that that makes it much more enjoyable.I don't care how much you praise "Voodoo Chile" for its awesome bluesy-whatever, it's still far too long for my tastes (although I do enjoy the riff at the very end).

Although this album was apparently rushed, it really doesn't leave the impression of having been composed or recorded in such a manner.Many of the tunes seem to be very laid-back, and there really aren't any really rockin' tunes like a "Purple Haze" or an "All Along the Watchtower" and that's what makes it one of those albums that you can really play anytime (if you like the Experience's music that much).I also think that that's why most people forget about "Axis" when they think of Jimi and the Experience -- there aren't any popular tunes on it, so it must have been really bad.It's actually a very good album that has a lot to say about Hendrix and his music if you give it a chance.

If you consider yourself to be any kind of Hendrix fan, there's really no excuse for not owning this.And if you've listened to a lot of Hendrix music before but really aren't sure you'll enjoy this one, buy it anyway.I was extremely unsure myself about this one and didn't think I'd enjoy it, but it quickly became my favorite.Take my word for it and purchase this album.

Beautiful, brilliant
Jimi Hendrix's sophomore album was very different from Are You Experienced? his debut. Axis:Bold as Love offers more depth in the songwriting and some calmer rifts than the acid fueled andscreechy, yet mind-blowing enjoyable solos on the Experience's debut. There are some beautiful songs on this album like Little Wing and Castles made of Sand. This is not suggested ofr a starter album for a beginner, and even less so is Electric Ladyland. But if you have at least A.Y.E., I suggest you get this album.

Pure Mastery
Jimi Hendrix shines like the diamond he is on this album. As compared to his first release (Are You Experienced?), this album is more eratic. But I like that. That is a sign of growth and a commitment to expanding as an artist. Feature tracks on this album include Little Wing, a beautifully short number that should be listened to by anyone interested in picking up a guitar; Castles Made Of Sand, which should be listened to by anyone in need of therapy; And Bold As Love which should just be listened to by everyone. I take that back, all this whole album should just be listened to by everyone. Pure mastery. ... Read more

Asin: B000002P5W
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Paul's Boutique
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 July, 1989)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Editorial Review

After the out-of-nowhere success of Licensed to Ill, the Beasties had to prove they were more than one-album wonders, and they hit it out of the park with this follow-up. The Boys' lyrics are a hysterical deluge of cultural allusion (Ponce De Leon, Sadaharu Oh, and Love Connection's Chuck Woolery all get name-dropped), compressed wordplay, and adenoidal snottiness, but the real stars are the Dust Brothers, whose production is a hip-hop landmark. Their music tracks sound like the history of rock and funk radio boiled down to a pure concentrate--monster jams built out of thousands of unexpected samples (Johnny Cash! The Sweet!). It's a killer party album, kinetic and dense, and it never slows down. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (180)

Still the best after all these years
This is my first Amazon review, but I felt that if I had to review one album, this would be it.My tastes of music have made many transitions over the years...rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, and now some samba and bossa nova...but this album can never stay on the shelf for too much time.It has been my favorite album now for over 10 years (I'm 25), and I'm really curious to know if it still will when I'm 65.

To be honest, it took two or three times listening to it to begin to really appreciate it, as its very different than all other Beastie Boys albums, but my appreciation has never died or even dimmed since then.

My only wish is that the Beastie Boys made a few more songs with this album that they're waiting to release some day??Either way, this is my personal favorite of all time, and I recommend it to everyone.

!!! I LOOKED DOWN THE BARREL OF THIS GUN !!!
IVE LOOKED DOWN THE BARREL OF THIS GUN, AND IT WAS FUN! THIS CD IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT AND INFLUENCIAL PIECE OF MUSIC IN THE RAP SCENE, AS WELL AS ENDTRODUCING OF COURSE. TO ANYONE WITHOUT THIS CD THAT LISTENS TO GOOD MUSIC, OR MUSIC FOR THAT MATTER, THIS CD SHOULD BE SITTING NEXT TO YOUR BIBLE AS JUST AS IMPORTANT PIECE OF HISTORY.

Underapreciated gem
This CD is full of interesting sounds and styles. It's something I can always go back and listen to and it never sounds stupid, dated or unoriginal. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UUN
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rap & Hip-Hop   

Led Zeppelin II
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (21 June, 1994)
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Editorial Review

Riff rock had been what Jimmy Page's former band, the Yardbirds, were all about, and on Led Zeppelin's second album, released, like its predecessor, in 1969, the inventive guitarist demonstrated that he'd indeed learned his lessons well. Witness "Whole Lotta Love," a woozy epic based on one simple, head-banging-friendly guitar riff. Or the mock-dramatic "Heartbreaker," propelled by far more intricate but similarly effective note squashing. Between Page's sonic wizardry, John Bonham beating his drums into submission ("Moby Dick"), and the juice running down Robert Plant's leg ("The Lemon Song"), Led Zeppelin here just about succeeded in raising rock & roll excess to an art form. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (308)

Stolen material!
Whole lotta love is a direct ripoff of an old Muddy Waters tune. The only difference in the song is Led Zep added the three words whole lotta love. The rest of the song is identical! I was told they had to pay off after the fact!

Sad to say, but after studying the blues for a few years, I have found almost all my favorite tunes from "back in the day" were ripped from old blues guys!

it's almost a greatest hits cd
ok lets be honest here led zeppelin is one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. the reason for that is because you have an awsome combo, you have jimmy page's amazing guitar work involving very catchy riff's and insaine solo's to top it all off. but this cd is one of their best, i mean if you have the songs "whole lotta love", "heartbreaker", "living loving maid", and the rest of the songs on that cd it's probably a greatest hits, but this one isn't. you should go out and buy it if you don't already have it. you'll love it.

undeniable
No one with an inkling of taste and knowledge can deny this is an essential part of any music lover's collection . This album covers so many basses. Heavy rock. Blues. Acoustic love songs. It is just perfect in every way, and is so far removedfrom all the really dumb heavy metal it evidently inspired. Strip these songs to their basics and they would still blow me away. But as they are, theyadd up to something that is genuinly more than the sum of its parts. The soulful singing of Robert Plant. The thunderous drumming of John Bonham. The deft bass playingcourtesy of John Paul Jones ( as underated a musician as there ever was) and the unbelievable guitar playing of Jimmy Page. Even though a few lyrical and musical motifs are borrowed from old blues records ( but doesn't every writer do that?) the Plant/Page songwriting team really hits its stride here.Rarely will you find a collection of songs like this on one album, something that can truly be called magical. A once in a lifetime thing. If you have yet to take the Zeppelin plunge, this is the place to start. ... Read more

Asin: B000002J03
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Blood on the Tracks
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

Inevitably, when critics praise a new Dylan album, they label it the "best since Blood on the Tracks," and with good reason. Inspired by a crumbled marriage, and recorded after a tour with The Band had apparently re-ignited his creativity, Blood is among Dylan's masterpieces. The album's epic songs are well known, but its real high points are the shorter numbers--"You're a Big Girl Now," the flawless blues "Meet Me in the Morning," and the sweetly devastating "Buckets of Rain." These are songs of "images and distorted facts," each expressed through tangled points of view, and all of them blue. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (214)

1 of 2
in my opinion, dylan managed to create the 2 greatest albums ever recorded - the first being HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED [released in 1965] and the second being BLOOD ON THE TRACKS [released in 1974]. i'd say that most dylan fans would point you to one of these two albums if you asked them for his best [some, but not as many, would point you to BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME or BLONDE ON BLONDE - which are both amazing albums]. i personally prefer HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED to BLOOD ON THE TRACKS, but i wouldn't say that it's necessarily better; i just like the style of writing and music more [usually].

why then do i believe that this is dylan's 1a album and one of the 2 best albums ever created? that takes a track by track break down.

'tangled up in blue' is arguably dylan's best song. it's certainly his greatest narrative. it's all at one time straight forward and swirling w/ complexities. the stripped production, which is apparent throughout the album, is completely fitting for the stories dylan tells - just like the revolutionary folk rock on HIGHWAY 61 was perfectly fitting for the surreal lyrics presented on that album.
'simple twist of fate' is probably dylan's second best narrative. the tempo slows here, and the listener starts to realize that dylan isn't goint to let him get out of this album w/out sharing some of dylan's pain. 'but i was born too late/ blame it on a simple twist of fate'.
'you're a big girl now' has some of the most beautiful guitar playing you'll hear. having said that, the brilliant writing and the pain just continues:

'Bird on the horizon, sittin' on a fence,
He's singin' his song for me at his own expense.
And I'm just like that bird, oh, oh,
Singin' just for you.'

'idiot wind' is one of dylan's two angriest songs. i know that it gets compared to 'like a rolling stone', and for good reason, but dylan hasn't been this angry since 'masters of war', and he'd never get this angry, on record, again. stanzas 3 & 4 [which make up verse 2] are two of dylan's best crafted stanzas.
'you're going to make me lonesome when you go' is one of two songs on the album where dylan seems to be trying to crack a smile about the pain he's feeling. you can seriously hear himself forcing a smile out for the songs [the other being 'buckets of rain']. it sounds like dylan is trying to talk about the divorce as a hypothetical situation that hasn't happened yet. for this reason, it's a dark horse nominee for saddest song on the album.
'meet me in the morning' has dylan putting his blues to blues. easily one of his best blues songs.
'lily, rosemary, and the jack of hearts' is the only song that doesn't seem biographical in some form or another. the story is a trip - a brilliant trip. while this song is the most separate - it's one of the4 or 5 most indispensable.
'if you see her, say hello' would be the obvious choice for most depressing song on the album, which is quite an accomplishment. these lines say it all:

'Say for me that I'm all right though things get kind of slow
She might think that I've forgotten her, don't tell her it isn't so.'

'shelter from the storm' is one of only two songs on the album that i can listen to no matter what my mood is or how i feel. it's the most surreal song on the album. also one of the four most famous songs on the album ['tangled up in blue', simple twist of fate', 'idiot wind', and 'shelter from the storm'].
'buckets of rain' - dylan trying to smile at the end of the day. this is the other song that i can listen to no matte my mood. what's most impressive about this song is how dylan manages to sum up one of the two greatest album ever recorded in one last verse:

'Life is sad
Life is a bust
All ya can do is do what you must.
You do what you must do and ya do it well,
I'll do it for you, honey baby,
Can't you tell?'

i will exit on that note.

It's Like Bob Dylan Burst Upon the Scene All Over Again
It seems Bob Dylan's career has been studded with comebacks. "JWH" after the motorcycle accident. "Blood on the Tracks" after the lapse into country. "Infidels" after the lapse into religious territory. "Oh Mercy" after all those records with the girly backup singers (some of them were pretty good though). However, "Tracks" was so much more than a comeback. It's like Bob Dylan burst upon the scene all over again.

And now I'm going to say something that may or may not make any sense. I believe "Highway 61" to be the best rock & roll record ever made, but I think "Blood on the Tracks" is the best record Dylan has ever done. I know it doesn't make sense, kind of oxymoronic, but "Tracks" to me is more than just a rock record, more than poetry put to music, more than fine musicianship. It's chocked full of emotion, mostly tears. It's gritty and rough and it's got the best damned cowboy ballad ever sung on it to boot.

Jack Priest, Writer from the Darkside

Deserving of all the hype.A masterpiece.
Dylan's best work. Ever. One of the best albums by anyone. Ever. A mature work by an artist in pain. Has anyone ever conveyed feeling so deeply and uniquely on a "rock" album? Dylan made BOTT while breaking up with this wife, Sara. The beauty of this album is that the eloquence of the art transcends the pain and despite it, this album is not a downer.The lyrical talent presented here in and of itself is a celebration, regardless of the theme or mood.Unlike his mid-60's "psychadelic" material, the lyrics here are cogent and the metaphors brutally meaningful and personal.They are less ambiguous, less subject to interpretation.In that regard, this harkens back to pre-electric Dylan, particularly the albums "The Times, They Are A-Changin'" and "Another Side", both of which feature many songs based on the breakup of his relationship with Suze Rotolo.(Notice how "If You See Her, Say Hello" thematically and musically recalls "Girl From the North Country" from the "Freewheelin" album.)

The lyrics on this album will endure for ages. "I came in from the wilderness/a creature void of form/Come in she said, I'll give you/shelter from the storm". . . . . Powerful. "I'm going out of my mind/with a pain that stops and starts/like a corkscrew to my heart/ever since we've been apart". . . . Heartbreaking. "I know where I can find you/in somebody's room/It's a price I have to pay/you're a big girl all the way". . . . . Devastating.And the first line of the marvellous opening track says it all."Early one morning, the sun was shining, I was laying in bed, wondering if she'd changed at all, if her hair was still red."So much is conveyed in those lines.They draw you in.What's the story here, you want to know.And the album unfolds from there.An incredible opener.

The lyrics, however, are only one side of the equation. This is his best sounding album ever. Thankfully, for one of the few times in his career, Dylan takes a period of months, not days, to record an album.The result is simply spectacular. No song here sounds like it was recorded in a slap dash manner like last time out on the abysmal sounding "Planet Waves". The musicianship and production on BOTT are spot on. On the other hand, no song is overdone; no song is too slick sounding.Interesting and ingenious chord progressions and melodic lines.Beautifully layered guitar work, several tracks deep on some songs.Dylan's singing is emphatic and convincing.Probably the best of his career.His guitar work is outstanding.Simple but perfect.(Lovely fingerpicking in "Buckets of Rain".) His best move of all was to redo some of the tracks in Minnesota instead of releasing the album with only the New York tracks.All the NY tracks were recorded in open E guitar tuning.Keeping all the tracks like that would have made the album monotonous.Re-recording several of the songs in standard tuning was the finishing touch - a stroke of brilliance that added variety and punch to the sound and feel. (Although it is a shame and to Dylan's discredit that he never properly acknowledged the Minnesota musicians - who contribute greatly to the marvelous sound of this album).Get this. Listen to it. It's a brilliant album.
... Read more

Asin: B00000253N
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Folk-Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Singer/Songwriter    6. United States of America   

Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 July, 1994)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
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Editorial Review

Also known as the "rune" album or Zoso because of the medieval symbols adorning the inner sleeve, Led Zeppelin's fourth album, released in 1971, turned them from mere superstars into giant behemoths of the rock world. On tracks like "Black Dog," "Misty Mountain Hop," and "Rock and Roll," the combination of Robert Plant's banshee wails and Jimmy Page's frenetic guitar playing forever altered the stylistic bent of hard rock music. And the foreboding "When the Levee Breaks" demonstrated that Zeppelin could indeed play the blues fairly straight if they so desired. Still, everything here ultimately took a back seat to the album's (and, ultimately, the band's) magnum opus--the expertly constructed and deftly executed classic, "Stairway to Heaven." --Billy Altman ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (770)

Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin "IV" is absolutely amazing. Every single track on this album is breathtaking.While this isn't necessarily my favorite Zeppelin it is most certainly an epic thats not to be missed. The album starts off with the blazing "Black Dog," an interesting rocker and maintains the pace with the blistering "Rock and Roll." The album then takes a turn for the mellow with the folkish masterpiece "The Battle of Evermore." Next on the lineup is "Stairway to Heaven." I can't say anything about this track that hasn't already been said. The album maintains the mellow with "Four Sticks," which is probably my least favorite track on the album. It isn't bad, but it's a tad on the mediocre side in comparison to the rest of the album. The next track is completely underrated. "Going to California" is up there with my favorite Zeppelin accoustics. This epic ends with the ultra-heavy "When the Levee Breaks," a bluesy piece that wraps up the album nicely.

Bottom Line: You MUST get this album. You shouldn't be reading this...you should already own this masterpiece. Buy NOW.

Led Zeppelin = Greatest band ever
Ignore what that Lobster boy said below me..... If he thinks that all the new bands are the ones with the talent he has some serious problems.I mean seriously, Slipknot?? are you kidding me?

Anyway, this is one of the greatest albums ever by in my opinion, the greatest band of all time. Enough said.

the greatest heavy metal album ever
led zeppelin's superb fourth album was amongst the greatest heavy metal albums ever along with black sabbath's paranoid and debut albums.this brilliant album features terrific songs like rock and roll,black dog,when the leevee breaks and stairway to heaven.very highly recommended.get all their albums till presence. ... Read more

Asin: B000002J09
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Arena Rock    3. Blues-Rock    4. Britain    5. British Blues    6. British Metal    7. England    8. Guitar    9. Hard Rock    10. Heavy Metal    11. Pop    12. Rock   

The Doors
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

On their 1967 debut album, the Doors more than fulfilled the promise of their infamously challenging gigs around Los Angeles throughout the previous year. Whether belting out a standard like "Back Door Man" or talk-singing such originals as "The Crystal Ship" and "I Looked at You," leather-clad vocalist Jim Morrison exuded both sensuality and menace. The mixture, on the outsize album finale, "The End," helped rewrite the rules on rock song composition. None of this would have worked, though, were it not for the highly visual instrumental work of keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robbie Krieger, and drummer John Densmore, whose work on tracks such as "Take It As It Comes" and the lengthy hit "Light My Fire" virtually defined the rock-blues-jazz-classical amalgam that was acid-rock. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (234)

Opening The "Doors"
This is one of the first rock records I really got into and it has always stuck with me.In some sense this record doesn't stand up well against time, but still has some incredible songs and is a great sampler of the Doors.

The strengths of this record are some of the obvious picks, with "Break On Through" and "Light My Fire" standing out as giants in modern music."The Crystal Ship" has always been a lesser known gem, showing Jim Morrison's range has a vocalist.
The haunting organ of Ray Manzarek in "Back Door Man" proves the blues weren't dead in that time period.

By the end of the record, one leaves wanting more as some of the back end tracks start to sound the sound the same.I highly recommend "Strange Days" or "Morrison Hotel" after this record.Still this record rocks and shows the greatness of this band.

The Doors' first...and best.
This album, released in early 1967, is one of the most groundbreaking and innovative debuts ever released by a rock band, or anyone, for that matter. Opening with the classic "Break On Through (To the Other Side)," The Doors lead you through a set of incredibly impressive psychedelic rock. One of the greatest things about the Doors is their unique sound, heralded by Ray Manzarek's ever-present keyboards. The twisted riff that opens "Light My Fire" is timeless, and the hypnotic middle section is one of the finest things the band laid down. "Twentieth Century Fox" has always been one of my favorites as well, but the whole album comes to a magnificent and eerie close with "The End." An eleven and a half minute opus including some of the most disturbing lyrics Jim Morrison ever devised set against a languid, hazy, psychedelic backdrop. If you really want to get into the Doors, this is certainly a great place to start.

By the way, Heretic, your reviews are impressively boring. As I was reading them, I noticed that you often used the same joke over three or more reviews. The one about music arrests was about as trite and unimaginative as you can get; please try to do better in the future. Have you actually listened to the album? It's so much better than Britney Spears that the difference in your reviews nearly killed me.

Sucker punch the one star reviewer
This is a classic album from one of the most innovative bands in the history of music.Ray Manzarek was the real star here- imagine playing bass chords and keyboard melodies at the same time.

As for The Heretic, you wouldn't know good music if it bit you in the arse.5 stars for Britney and R-Kelly; PLEASE.Stick to your queenie teeny bop crap and leave the classics to true music aficionados. ... Read more

Asin: B000002I25
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Proto-Punk    6. Psychedelic    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll   

Beggars Banquet
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $17.98
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Editorial Review

Opening with "Sympathy for the Devil," the Stones' infamous we-are-evil poem, this all-original 1968 album began a quality streak almost unmatched in rock & roll. Mick Jagger begins writing from the working-class hero's perspective--especially on the anthem "Street Fighting Man" and "Salt of the Earth"--and Keith Richards buttresses his partner with rock-solid slide licks recently graduated from the School of Old Blues Records. "Jig-Saw Puzzle," which inexplicably never became a hit, is the only known instance of Jagger's describing the Stones' individual personalities in verse. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (89)

Not a hard Rocker but a great album
If your looking for an album with lots of fast paced rock songs this is not it. This album is great anyway and i strongly reccomend it.I think that it is one of the Stones best albums.

Primal
The Stones have never made a complete dud, but I just think the 60's albums were the most fun. "Beggar's Banquet" is sort of the "unplugged" concept (with the odd very electric exception), but it doesn't get soft in any way. There is some country, folk, blues, rock, and it is played so damn pure! "Sympathy for the Devil" is great, just as dark as any Black Sabbath tune, and likely the song you'll buy this for. "Stray Cat Blues" is not blues at all, but a great hard rock tune. After that, it's mostly acoustic numbers, but they hit you HARD. It's more mature than the earlier stuff, darker than what came later, and it's one of the best things ever made. Not particularly experimental, it falls through the cracks when critics make their "best of" lists, BUT, I would say this is the BEST non-metal hard rock album of all time. Also the best album of 1968, and that sais something.

balanced effect
when i bought the album, i was hoping for something that rocked harder than it did, kinda' like "Paint it Black" or the 80's rocker "Start me Up".I mean those where like the only songs i'd heard by them.i think this was my first stones cd.I bought it a few years ago when I was about 23.when i first bought it i liked the rockers "parachute woman" and "street fighting man" and the playful "dear doctor"."Sympathy for the Devil" was okay but i'd heard people say "it rocked".if i hear someone say a song rocks, I think of the band The White Stripes or Guns N' Roses.needless to say i was somewhat satisfied but more or less disappointed because i considered the rest of the album as filler.I thought to myself "this is what the legendary rock band the Rolling Stones sounded like at their peak?"I listned to it a few times hoping the rest of the cd would grow on me.I only discovered that the lyrics were good (I guess) but I definitely wouldn't call this a "rock" album.Calling the Rolling Stones a "rock" band is misleading.I learned later that the more accurate description is "blues rock".if i would have known this at the time, i wouldn't have been so critical of the album and would've been more prepared for their sound just as anyone else who like me is hoping to hear a "rock" album.I would've given this album about 3 stars after hearing it the first few times but after a few years of not listening to it, i "rediscovered it" in my cd tower and started listening to it again with a more mature and open-minded mentality.I like ALL types of music.For an album in general, I'd give it 4 stars, for "blues rock", i'd give it about 4.5 or 5 stars.for a "rock" album, I'd still give this 3 stars. ... Read more

Asin: B000003BEM
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 September, 1991)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

With valuable assistance from producer Rick Rubin, the Peppers find just the right blend of punk, funk, and hip-hop. Even with a running time of 74 minutes, this 1991 breakthrough has continuity and cohesion both within and across the 17 cuts. Riding Flea's surging bass, Anthony Kiedis delivers his explicit lyrics with a rapper's flair, extolling the virtues (and outlining the dangers) of sex and drugs. Plaintive ballads such as "Breaking the Girl," "I Could Have Lied," and the hit "Under the Bridge" give the album depth and provide contrast to the raw energy of "Mellowship Slinky in B Major," "Funky Monks," and "Give It Away." Rubin masterfully fuses John Frusciante's raunchy guitar with the irresistible grooves. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (295)

Jeremy Brackeen Is Correct - RHCP Rule!
I'm glad that Bozo faggot's account was deleted. The Red Hot Chili Peppers is one of the best funk rock bands to ever exist. This album suits as a fine example. "Give It Away" is the definite highlight to such a classic album, and you can never go wrong with Flea's unforgettable bass. "Under The Bridge" is my personal favorite, as it wants to make you cry. That song is so good that it will always be a favorite of mine, especially with Flea's bass. "Breaking The Girl" is another great song like "Under The Bridge", as it is less overrated and very touching as well, but not as memorable. "Suck My Kiss", "Sir Psycho Sexy" (a hilarious song) and "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" are also unforgettable classics on such a great album.

You may also know that this record is the only one to feature guitarist Erik, while John Fruscinate takes an absence after "Mother's Milk", which is also a classic. A staple to anyone's CD collection. This is rap rock done right. Screw Limp Bizkit, long live RHCP!

Get a life Bozo! RHCP rule!
How dare you insult this work of art. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the greatest rock bands ever, and Blood Sugar Sex Magik is a classic album. Every song on here is great especially Give It Away and Under The Bridge. Those are the two songs that got me into this album. Breaking The Girl is another great song. It brings tears to my eyes whenever I listen to it. Anthony Kiedis is a great singer, and he sure as hell can rap better than that whiny P.O.S Fred Durst. Flea is one of the best bassists in rock. He can do slaps, pops, I mean anything unlike that loser from Limp Bizkit who just reapeats the same lines all over and over. John Frusciante is a good guitarist who can lay down some cool funky riffs and rip some pretty good solos as well, and Chad Smith is a good drummer as well. Overall this is a great album and every rock fan should own it. RHCP rule!

One last word to Bozo: WE CAN LISTEN TO WHATEVER WE WANT, SO F*CK OFF LOSER!

From a former RHCP addict
I first got into the Chili Peppers when I heard Californication on my friends cd player when I was maybe 11 or 12. It was right when it came out. I thought, this is pretty cool.

About a year later, I owned all of their CDs, two shirts, and a sticker for my bass, which I had started after buying this album. My addiction to the Peppers flamed out about a year and a half ago, when I saw them live with three of my best friends, all of whom also loved these guys.

After I started listening to other types of music, I listened less and less to the Chili Peppers. I still have a giant amount of respect for them, and they are a great band, but from my standpoint, this albums a little long, and gets a little tiresome after the first 11 songs. You should definitely buy this album, it is true that it demonstrates the Chili Peppers at their most "unique" stage. I only wish it was a little shorter. ... Read more

Asin: B000002LQR
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative/Indie-Rock    3. Bass    4. Funk Metal    5. Pop    6. Rock   

Rubber Soul [UK]
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Rank 'em how you like, Rubber Soul is an undeniable pivot point in the Fab Four's varied discography no matter where, or how, you first heard it. The album was softened up in its original12-song American edition to jibe with the Dylan/Byrds folk-rock sound, as well as squeeze money from the Parlophone catalog. The 14-song U.K. edition--the version now available on compact disc--is a different, more dynamic, and ultimately more accomplished achievement. So many classics: "Drive My Car" and "Nowhere Man" (both omitted from the U.S. edition) merge the early combustible Beatifics to a burgeoning studio consciousness; "The Word" can be read as a pre-psych warning shot; the sitar-laden "Norwegian Wood" and the evocative "Girl" (the latter written on the last night of the sessions) stand as turning points in John Lennon's oeuvre. George finally emerges too, with the McGuinn-ish "If I Needed Someone." --Don Harrison ... Read more

Reviews (484)

The Four's Most Underrated
It's really hard to come up with something original in a review for a Beatles album. Hands down, they are the greatest band we've ever seen, and are responsible for the greatest albums we've ever seen. Their albums include the triology of "Rubber Soul", "Revolver" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", which all seem to be in the top 5 of Greatest Albums Lists. Although "Rubber Soul" doesn't really compete with the pure brilliance of "Revolver" and "Sgt.Pepper's", one must understand that "Rubber Soul" evolved into those albums.

I normally would review each song, but these are too similar to review. All in all, the album has one, organic sound to it (with the exception of the rocker "Drive My Car"). Standout tracks are "Norwegian Wood", "In My Life", and "I'm Looking Through You". My personal favorite is "Run For Your Life", but I seem to be in the minority. Anyway, just go get the album. You have no reason not to. And if your reading this to decide which Beatles album to get, get all of them.

the first Beatles masterpiece
RUBBER SOUL remains a milestone in The Beatles' recording careers.It ushered in their most celebrated and sophisticated musical phase that is unrivalled to this day.

In the 20 months since The Beatles landed in America to the time the band recorded this album, rock 'n' roll had undergone a revolution, sparked by The Beatles themselves.The British invasion inspired Bob Dylan to go electric, while The Beatles converted the L.A. folk quartet, The Byrds, to replace their acoustic guitars with electric music.Add to this the whiff of American grass and you get the influences which shaped the late-1965 Beatles.

Above all, the Beatle's songwriting takes a big leap forward with RUBBER SOUL.For the first time John, Paul and George avoid the cliched boy-meets-girl songs and address introspective themes.Though RUBBER SOUL was widely viewed as Just Another Beatles Album in late-1965, some listners took notice of the words with as much care as they did Dylan albums.Some started to use the word "poetry" to describe Beatles music.

The album opens superbly with the funky Drive My Car which features a sharp vocal by Paul and a gorgeous bass influenced by Motown.John's Norwegian Wood is one of the record's highlights and introduces the sitar to Western ears.It obliquely tells of an affair John once had.You Won't See Me could've easily been a single.Paul's song, it is simply structured but strong.Nowhere Man was actually pulled as a single in the U.S. and is the first Beatles song not to talk about love or girls.John looks in the mirror and finds himself lost in a lyric that was one of his best (Dylan covered it many years later).George's Think For Yourself also steers away from the love song and features Paul playing the distinctive fuzz bass.The Word preceeds All You Need Is Love and discusses love not in boy-girl terms but universally (at a time when the Anti-War Movement was growing).Michelle closes side 1 in style.Love it or hate it, it is a fine love song with another great bass line.

Side 2 opens and closes with two disposable songs, What Goes On? and Run For Your Life.RUBBER SOUL would have been far better with the double-sided single, We Can Work It Out and Day Tripper, taking their place.However, the rest of side 2 shines with Girl and I'm Looking Through You -- John and Paul's complex views about women which are light-years away from She Loves You -- and In My Life which the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation recently named as the best song of all time.In My Life is a milestone in Lennon's career, featuring a nostalgic but bittersweet lyric.Lennon has never been this candid with his audience.Word is merely a leftover from the Help! sessions, though George's If I Needed Someone features the chiming Rickenbacker put to good use.

Today, RUBBER SOUL remains fresh.Amazingly, it was rush-recorded in two weeks with most of the songs written in the studio.John and Paul are at the height of their powers, while George is keeping pace with two songs instead of his customary one (or none).The album's acoustic sound allow's the band's maturing lyrics to be heard, while the arrangements are simple, yet intelligent.Few Beatles albums can rival RUBBER SOUL insongwriting.The sound of the album sounds unified which will pave the way for their next two albums, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper.RUBBER SOUL is The Beatles' first masterpiece.

Another Brilliant Beatle CD
The problem with saying which is your favourite Beatle album,is that there is so many good ones to choose from.This is a definite master peice.
I wont bother going through the songs and saying which ones are good and which ones are bad.There is no bad songs here.This album is consistent from start to finish.
It often amazes me that with all the modern tech,they cant better what The Beatles did.
What you have here is realy good tunes,something alot of modern singers struggle to do.
If its value for money you are looking for,get this.
... Read more

Asin: B000002UAO
Subjects:  1. Bass    2. British Invasion    3. England    4. Folk-Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll    9. Singer/Songwriter   

Bringing It All Back Home
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

"You sound like you're having a good old time," a purist Dylan fan is spotted telling the artist in the documentary Don't Look Back just after the release of this, his first (half-) electric album. He certainly does. Updating Chicago blues forms with hilarious, tough lyrics--in fact, all but stealing the meter of Chuck Berry's "Too Much Monkey Business" for "Subterranean Homesick Blues"--on one side, dropping some of his most devastating solo acoustic science ("It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," "Mr. Tambourine Man") on the other, the first of Dylan's two 1965 long-players broke it right down with style, substance, and elegance. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (64)

A Stereophonic Masterpiece
My favorite Dylan reviewer has called the opening song on this album, "Subterranean Homesick Blues," the first rap song, and in a way it is like a rap song. There is a great Dylan video that was taken from, I believe, "Don't Look Back" where Dyaln is flipping cards with words from the song as it plays, very surrelistic. This album also that two of my favorite Dylan songs on it. "She Belongs to Me" and "Love Minus Zero/No Limit", haunting, moving portraits painted in words. "Baby Blue" is another of those, but the crowning Jewel of this Album is "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding). When he sang this on the '74 tour, when he got to the part where he screamed out, "Even the President of the United States, sometimes has to stand naked," the audience stood, applauding and cheering. Loud, real loud. Not good news for Mr. Nixon who had to resign soon after. This is also the first album where Dylan plugged it in. Ah yes, Dylan went electric, but then his words had always had the juice in 'em, the power of a lightning strike.

Jack Priest, Sailor Home from the Sea

This is a great one...
Dylan really must have had a blast writing the songs for this album because he seems to be beside himself with joy during all of the performances. In fact, on one track you get to hear him and the engineer laughing their heads off before beginning the tune properly. Anyway, "It's Alright Ma" is my favorite song, an