The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1
by Warner Brothers
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (29 September, 1992)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $14.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Massive stars in England and top-tier alternative rockers in the U.S., the Smiths combined a '60s pop sensibility with '80s ennui. Though singer Morrissey is most notorious--his lyrics read like jottings from an overly sensitive teenager's diary while his narcissistic poses are pure Oscar Wilde--the band was rooted firmly in the crystalline, shimmering guitar work of Johnny Marr. For the most part, the Smiths were a singles band, often leaving key tracks off their studio albums. In which case, a number of collections serve to capture the errant wonder of "Panic" and "William, It Was Really Nothing." The two-LPs-condensed-onto-one-disc Louder than Bombs is more comprehensive, but the two-volume best-of collections--lead by this 14-song set--have much to commend. Either way, this is as definitive as '80s Brit pop gets. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (19)

This review is aimed toward...
...those who don't normally like 80s music.I fall into this category, even though I grew up in that soulless, vapid decade.I harbor none of the nostalgia that many of my peers seem to revel in... for me, most of the classic music was produced before I was toddling around in short britches, and the advent of music videos marked the decline of honest, gritty tunes that stimulated both heart and mind.It all nose-dived into flat, echoey drumming, bad synths, worse haircuts, and a glossy sheen which sucked the very lifeblood out of everything.That's what kept me from exploring the Smiths for so long.Even though recent artists I've admired have name-checked them, (e.g. Jeff Buckley and Ryan Adams,) I just couldn't get past my anti-80s stance, and a cursory listen to the Amazon clips only confirmed my doubts.Morrisey had that mopey, monotonous sound, indistinguishable from most British vocalists of that time.The production was shimmery and too "perfect."I passed, but a nagging feeling persisted-- maybe this band had something special that I was missing.So, after the purchaseof "Best Of's I & II" and frequent listening, I became a Smiths convert.What set them apart for me was the strength of songwriting and Johnny Marr's unique guitar style.Yes, certain hallmarks of the 80s sound still grate, but if you can affix new ears and delve deeper, you'll discover a brilliant band which carved out a niche for itself on the shoulders of giants... no mean feat.The Smiths require multiple listens to truly appreciate... their charms dig beneath you skin insidiously.Now they can fit neatly in my CD collection between the Rolling Stones and Television and not seem out of place.This is the real deal-- spend some time with the lads, you won't be disappointed.

very flawed collection, try "Singles"
The "Best Of The Smiths" volumes 1 & 2 are disappointing and should not be bought.They are not a good introduction to the music of the Smiths or a good overview of their career; the 'Best Of' albums leave out many of their seminal songs and contain bizarre choices.The CD entitled "Singles", which simply has all 18 of the Smiths' singles, is far better than the 'Best Of' CDs as far as showing what the Smiths were all about, or giving you much of their best material in one source."Singles" works very well as an album- it doesn't have the disjointed feel of many "greatest hits" collections, probably because the Smiths released all of their material in a period of only a couple years.That "Singles" is superior to "Best Of The Smiths" is not only my opinion, but the opinion of the majority of Smiths fans.

Music for G boys
The Smiths were that band that all the cool...boys listened to in the 80s.The boys who grew up to be totally adjusted men in the 90s, which is funny because the Smiths always moped about and sung about lost love and yearning.I think most of us...80s boys were inspired to grow up and not become like Morrissey, but still remember when we were that way. ... Read more

Asin: B000002MFS
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Indie Pop    4. Pop    5. Rock   

A Rush of Blood to the Head
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (27 August, 2002)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Coldplay required a lifetime to make their wonderfully assured debut,Parachutes. But it tookless than two years for the moody British quartet to deliver a masterful follow-up. As a band, Coldplay have advanced to a stage where they outshine nearly every oneof their rivals in terms of imagination and emotional pull. A Rush of Bloodto the Head is a soulful, exhilarating journey, moving from the catharticrock of "Politik" to the hushed tones of "Green Eyes" without once breaking itsmesmerizing spell. Singer Chris Martin takes his voice on soaring flights,reaching places only JeffBuckley previously dared to go. And the music is nearly flawless, apersuasive cross between PinkFloyd and the Verve.Even if they haven't come up with another "Yellow," you would be hard-pressed tocare. This is exquisite stuff. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (941)

Almost perfect
This CD is one of my all time favorite's! I wouldn't say it breaks new ground, but it certainly digs a little deeper into its genre. Chris Martin is an fantastic frontman for Coldplay and his vocals are amazing! The entire CD is filled with excellent songs, but here are a few highlights:

"Polotik". Mysecond favorite song on the CD.
It starts out loud with banging drums, but halfway through, it switches to a soft, two minute instumental with heartmoving piano playing by Martin.


"The Scientist". My favorite of the CD.
A haunting ballad of love, loss and forgiveness.
The piano is extraordinary!

Overall, the CD is never boring and I can listen to it all the way through without skipping any tracks.

At times its quiet and refelctive, or loud and incredible.

Chris Martin, Will Champion, John Buckland and Guy Berryman are truely geniuses of our time.

I cannot wait to get their new CD and I am definetly going to atten their concert in September.

Forget the Hype: They're Greater Than That
Hype makes it almost impossible to judge bands because the publicity seeps into one's judgment and becomes the story rather than the actual music. So I took a break from Coldplay for a year and went back to them and I must say their music transcends all the hype. Amsterdam, God Put a Smile on My Face, and my favorite, The Scientist, head the album's charge though you won't find one bad track. Why is Coldplay so successful? Of course, the voice. Of course, the universal themes. Of course, the melodies. But I can't explain why people of all ages love them. It's rare that such a cool band has such mainstream appeal. Many already know that the wonderful band Keane is being, rightly, compared to Coldplay. But for two lesser known bands that have similar melodic"emotional rock" qualities, check out the Swedish bands Ronderlin and Radio Dept.

Phenomenal... I look forward to X & Y
I'll make this short and sweet.This is what not only what rock and roll is about, but also music.In a recent interview I read about Coldplay in Blender Magazine, they acknowledged the fact that they weren't "flashy" in a sense where playing their instruments was concerned because "they couldn't" be.While they may have limitations (very few people don't), they used their attributes as musicians to the very best of their abilities, hence making better albums than some bands with more experienced musicians.I have no doubt that A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD will forever be a part of Rock and Roll History as one of its best albums.After more than 2 years, it is still a much hailed/ talked about album.No offense to Simple Plan (who'm I'm a fan of), but are we going to be talking about it 2 years after its initial release (...Still Not Getting Any).No, simply on the basis that Coldplay's material is more focused and filled with more depth compared to say a punk band like Simple Plan.

With that said, everyone will most likely say that "Clocks" is their very favorite track. My favorite happens to be the haunting opening track "Politik".It is just so well written with an opening crescendo of hard rocking guitars that then grow in dimunition to Chris Martin's solo piano line while he sings in his somber voice.It will give you chills, especially when Martin ascends into his falsetto.

I won't give an individual critique of the rest of the tracks.But I will summarize with this that this is an enjoyable listening and a stellar album.I am a person who listens to more urban stuff probably than say rock and roll, but as an open-eared listener, who could deny the incredible musicianship and sound that Coldplay posess on this rock masterpiece? Well so much for short and sweet!


Track Picks:"Politik", "In My Place", "God Put A Smile On Your Face", "The Scientist", "Clocks" ... Read more

Asin: B000069AUI
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Britpop    3. Dream Pop    4. Indie Rock    5. Pop    6. Post-Grunge    7. Rock   

How The West Was Won
by Atlantic
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (27 May, 2003)
list price: $26.98 -- our price: $24.49
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

For a band with such an overarching legacy, the official record of Led Zeppelin's legendary--and unpredictable--live act has heretofore been poorly represented by the disappointing, scattershot soundtrack to The Song Remains the Same. But this triple-disc live set (culled from 1972 Long Beach/LA shows in advance of Houses of the Holy) addresses history with a vengeance, if a few decades late. These shows have rightfully assumed cult status in the bootleg market, showcasing a band at the peak of its creative and performing powers. Zep faithful will welcome the belated release as evidence for enduring loyalty, but younger fans may find its diversity and dynamics even more enlightening--indeed, whole careers have since been built on the musical ideas Jimmy Page and company toss off here as decorative filler. Crucially rooted in the amped-and-hammered American blues of the guitarist's former band, the Yardbirds, the marathon workouts of"Dazed and Confused" and "Whole Lotta Love" (which consume nearly an hour all by themselves) somehow encompass Ricky Nelson, Morocco, James Brown, Holst,Elvis Presley, and Muddy Waters amidst their trademark sturm und drang, while the acoustic set that closes out disc one showcases the band's--and particularly Robert Plant's--good-natured, crypto-Celtic folk appeal with energetic aplomb. Bigger and brasher than just about any rock act that followed in its historic wake, yet ever fan-loyal to its myriad influences, Led Zeppelin's live juggernaut finally gets the monument it deserves. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (354)

one of the greatest live albums ever
how the west was won was one of the greatest live rock albums along with live at fillmore east from the allman brothers.this fantastic live album contains brilliant versions of classics like dazed and confused,whole lotta love,rock and roll,black dog and more.an absolute must have.very very highly recommended.five stars.

one of the greatest live albums ever
I cant get enough words to describe how good this superb album is.this awesome double live album contains all their hits like rock and roll,black dog,whole lotta love,dazed and confused and the classic.stairway to heaven.hugely recommended with black sabbath's reunion and blue oyster cult's extraterrestrial live.

THIS CD ROCKS!!
Whoever wrote this cd sucks and should listen to creed should get sucker punched in the balls. Creed SUCKS Zeppelin RULZ!!!!!!!!THis cd is amazing get it NOW!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00008OWZC
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Arena Rock    3. Blues-Rock    4. British Blues    5. British Folk-Rock    6. British Metal    7. Hard Rock    8. Heavy Metal    9. Pop    10. Rock    11. Rock & Roll   

Chant Down Babylon
by Island
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (16 November, 1999)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $14.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

On Chant Down Babylon, Bob Marley's master tapes meet the next generation. Marley hardly needs help selling records, so these studio-engineered duets may reflect an honest attempt at linking his musical legacy with contemporary artists. Even those sympathetic to the concept, though, should wonder if it's wise to substitute new backing tracks for the original sinuous grooves of "Concrete Jungle" and "Rebel Music." (To the disc's credit, the rhythms of "No More Trouble" and "Rastaman Chant" are left largely intact.) And as obvious as the connection between reggae and hip-hop is, Guru ("Johnny Was") and even Chuck D ("Survival a.k.a. Black Survivors") have nothing to add to Marley's perfectly chosen words. Finally, don't be surprised if your patience wears as several of Marley's sons help travesty "Kinky Reggae." --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Tribute
A lot people begin their review of this album by saying, "I've been listening to Bob Marley for a long time, and this album sucks...." Blah, Blah, Blah.I've been listening to Bob Marley for a long time too.And anyone who has a drop of sense in their heads and a splash of open-mindedness will embrace this album.Sure its not Bob Marley pure and spiritual.But its a tribute, and its done well.It employs musicians from different genres who probably have been influenced by the Great One.Saying this album sucks because Aerosmith rocks out to Bob Marley is like saying a Christian cannot read the Koran.Come on people, open up your minds.Do I hear fiiiiive stars????

DON"T BUY THIS
IF you want the true Bob Marley experience and the true vision of his message do not buy this album..if you are a beginner to the Bob Marley experience you should pick up his original albums..Albums such as Legend,Uprising,Survival,or the Songs of Freedom box set.Bob Marley fanatics beware you may get angry and break stuff as you painfully hear the destruction of the legend's works. Why can't they leave it alone? i'll give this album a zero if it had one. I hate it. it is sh*t

nice tribute album
It is nice to see modern musicians still paying homage to a great man.This is not really a reggae album, but it is unique to see how each modern artist puts their spin on each song and turns it into their own without taking it too far off from what Bob had intended.It would have been nice of the original Wailers in the band would have had a bigger part, but overall this cd has some pretty good work by some modern artists.Get this cd if you want a twist to the workings of a great man. ... Read more

Asin: B00003000M
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Reggae   

Sumday
by V2. / Bmg
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 June, 2003)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Sumday doesn't so much represent a stylistic change for Grandaddy as it does a change in attitude. The Sophtware Slump, its predecessor, superbly combined low-budget experimentalism and country-tinged American pop to evoke everyone from the Flaming Lips to Neil Young to ELO. Sumday finds the California band conducting business as usual, though exhibiting a noticeably brighter mood. "I got not reason to be weathered and withery / Like in the season of the old me," Jason Lytle sings on opener, "Now It's On," demonstrating a newfound optimism that rears its sunny head throughout the album. "The Group Who Couldn't Say" could have been a bitter tirade against the music industry, but it's not, saved by Lytle's fragile voice, which is sweet without being naïve. "Stray Dog and the Chocolate Shake," meanwhile, is carried along by a bouncy keyboard riff that's reminiscent of Under the Western Freeway's "A.M. 180," but with more playful lyrics. Even slower, more melancholy songs such as "Yeah Is What We Had," "The Warming Sun," and "Saddest Vacant Lot in All the World" retain the quality that Grandaddy's trademark sound: simple music played on a grand scale. --Robert Burrow ... Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (70)

Downhill from beginning to end
As i was in my local library looking for CDs to check out, i stumbled upon a pretty looking one with white swans, emcompassed by a blue scenery. I've never heard of the band before, so i thought i'd try it out. I listened and i enjoyed the first song, Now It's On, immensely. I found it to be very creative in tune and lyric. The next song I'm On Standby i found to be not as good as the first song, but still enjoyable. The third song The Go In Go-For-It was even worse than I'm On Standby. The cheesiest part was "Where my only company, is wind blowin' through the leaves."
I looked through the rest of the lyrics and i saw that some of the lyrics are very creative and poetic and some are just outright ridiculous. Such as the song O.K. With My Decay, "I have no choice, I have no voice, I have no say, On my decay, I have no choice, so I rejoice." You rejoice when you have no choice or are you just desparate for rhymes? Also i had issues with Saddest Vacant Lot In All Thr World that seemed it was supposed to be serious but was instead comical. "And he's so drunk he's passed out in a Datsun, that's parked out in the hot sun, in the saddest vacant lot in all the world." I found that this song didn't have much of a point except some drunk loser is in the hot sun in the saddest vacant lot in all the world and leaving his girl who's crying by the oven.
The rest of the lyrics i'm fine with. They're creative, but the music isn't as creative as the lyrics unfortunately. You begin to noticed that they don't carry that upbeat happiness and unique tune as Now It's On does. After the second song, you get tired of the electric keyboard and tune out the album. Most of the songs sound all the same. It seems they had a creative spark of genius for Now It's On and only Now It's On.

Again, people hate change
I can't count how many reviews I've read in various media of this album that lament its lack of "experimentalism" compared to Sophtware Slump. Sopthware is certainly a masterful disc, but is that all people want from thier bands: more of the same? What if the Beatles had made Sgt Pepper's four times over? It gets old. I also sense unease with the prospect of Jason Lytle writing "happy" songs. Is he not allowed to be happy? Just because it's not dark doesn't mean it's instantly blaze and mainstream. Your disconnect more likely means that you're depressed. I for one applaud this new effort from one of our best bands going. The songwriting is solid, and I would argue that the last two songs are the most grand and touching that they've ever made, and my favorites from their entire catalog.
For those who've never spun a Grandaddy CD, this is as good a disc as any to start with. I'd say you could best describe them as a rock band with a dash of country, low-fi synth, and one of the more unique, memorable vocalists nowadays. They remind me most of The Flaming Lips, and Pet Sounds-eque Brian Wilson. They're an indie rock band without the anger or self-importance. Find another band like that.

Cosmic wonderland of sound
Play this album loud and prepare to enter a world of robots, babbling brooks and software gliches, which combined, sounds like a glorious symphony of cosmic proportions. Especially good if driving though the American West, although it may be good for east-of-the-Mississippi driving, too. (I've never tried it, although I did listen to it as far east as Kansas City.) Also perfect for Manhattan's Avenue canyons on you iPod. Dreamy, superb indie rock like no other. Nature is re-defined by this record. ... Read more

Asin: B00009EIQB
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Neo-Psychedelia    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. United States of America   

Welcoming Home The Astronauts
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (06 November, 2001)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $18.98
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Chances are, most people who've heard of Flickerstick first caught themon VH1's Bands on the Run. After going on a national tour before all ofcable-ready America, the Dallas-based quintet beat the other unsigned acts onthe music channel's "reality show" contest, sitting pretty with $50,000 inwinnings and a deal with Epic Records. Welcoming Home the Astronauts isFlickerstick's double debut, coming out on an indie label in 2000 and gettingwider exposure once the major label signed the champions. The album is a prettygeneric package of power pop and power ballads (close your eyes on "You're SoHollywood" and you can almost picture some '80s hair-metal act singing the samesong, minus the handclaps), with a bit of Brit rock laced in the floaty guitareffects--nothing to give the current crop of mainstream rockers a run fortheir money. That said, though, the songs are well structured for bigguitar pop and well produced, with the help of Tom Lord Alge (Weezer, Blink-182,Marilyn Manson). Astronauts packs stadium-size anthems into every song,and the band's emotions run so high you'll be waving the lighter many timesbefore the slow jam on "Direct Line to the Telepathic" has even started.-- Jennifer Maerz ... Read more

Reviews (99)

Yes!
Once upon a time, I wrote a very thought out and spectacular review for this band/disc. Unfortunately, it seems to have been lost somewhere in cyberspace. Since I do not feel like trying to reproduce my once brilliant words (trust me) let me say only this: Flickerstick's WHTA is one of my "deserted island" CD's. (What 10 albums would you want with you if you were ever stranded on a....)

Flickerstick is great. This CD is great. But it. Don't make me re-write this again. My review gets worse each time!

Incredible
They just played at my college last night (April 23,2004) and they were phenomenal.These guys take rock and roll and combine it with a nice soothing sound of vocals from the lead singer Brandin Lea to give all listeners a sense of being welcome, accepted, and happy to just be living.Welcoming Home The Astronauts is one of those albums that you can listen to when driving, when you're feeling down, or when you have a bunch of your closest friends at your house for a party.It doesn't matter, all that matters is that Flickerstick is one of my new favorites out there and if you liked "Astronauts" you should definitely check out their EP/DVD "To Madagascar and Back"!Thanks to Brandin, Fletcher, Cory, Rex, and Todd for one of the best nights of my life! ROCK ON!

"I've got to say
You're so beautiful
You're beautiful today
Can we make it through
Together we got to fly"

Flickerstick Rock!!!
This is an amazing band!! They have wonderful songs and the lyrics are out of this world! Brandin Lea has an amazing voice and when you listen to the cd you can feel the emotion! I also saw them in concert last year and it was the best show I have seen in a long time! The live cd is also great, the cover of " Fade into You", is great! Buy the cd--you will not be disappointed!! ... Read more

Asin: B00005R5SN
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Get Born
by Elektra
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (07 October, 2003)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Sometimes having good, original ideas is the worst thing you can do in rock music. To paraphrase Jim Dickinson on the Beastie Boys, rock and roll is theft, and it's not so much about whether or not one steals but why, how much and how well (i.e. from whom). Riff-heavy in all the right ways, this is a very well-produced retro-rock record with handclaps, catchy choruses, and plenty of attitude. They freely cop from AC/DC, the Stones, the Verve, Oasis, Humble Pie, Aerosmith, Black Crowes, and Mooney Suzuki, and they do it very well. The only problems with the album lie in the words, and in the softer material. Most of the lyrics are so banal ("Now you don't need money with a face like that, do ya") they were seemingly written by some newfangled songwriting program set to "1973." And half the album consists of ballads that are just pretty good: the Oasis-y "Look What You've Done," the Pink Floyd -esque "Timothy" and the Small Faces-ish "Move On.". But it's the mid-to-uptempo stompers that this group excels at. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (446)

Better than you'd think
Get Born, (I still can't figure out what it's supposed to mean) is actually an exceptional CD from what seems to be another out-of-nowhere punk rock band.They are sort of steriotypical (I'm not sure if that's a word) of new rock boy bands but are better than most.Almost every track on the album is good-with the exception of "Timothy"-from their hit single "Are You Gonna Be My Girl," to the overplayed radio success "Look What You've Done," which are both about the best tracks on the album, along with "Cold Hard B****"-a hard guitar-driven song riminiscent (I don't know if I spelled that right) of '70's rock.The album as a whole is very satisfying.They're still not my favorite band or anything, but if you like rock then this disc is worth checking out.

"A little too ironic, and yeah I really do think..."
Why oh why must I constantly evoke Susan Powter, STOP THE INSANITY!While newer groups like Keane and Snow Patrol pillage from the '60s catalogs of groups such as The Zombies and The Smoke, Jet is blamed for being a rip-off group!Listen, take it from me - the former manager of a mid-level rock group - Jet is the real deal and not as derivitive as you might think.Basically, groups have been influenced and inspired by each other for ages.Jet is no different, except that their influences were more from the synth-pop '80s era.You don't really hear it in this album because they've substituted guitars and acoustic keys for the synths of yesteryear.I've done it myself, back in the day, more or less employing a kind of 'bait and switch' tactic so the audience never really knew they were getting recycled material.I didn't make enough off my group to retire, but I can proudly say I survived the male-dominated music industry with my neo-feminist instincts intact.

Oh, and my handsome boyfriend wanted me to say that this album is really effective when getting freaky in the bedroom.Oh, that devil.

great rock album
get born is a nice rock album along with permission to land from the darkness get both the albums and rock out.five stars. ... Read more

Asin: B0000AQVCL
Subjects:  1. American Trad Rock    2. Australia    3. Garage Punk    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock   

Deltron 3030
by Tommy Boy
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (17 October, 2000)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $13.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Hip-hop confabulations don't come much more forward-thinking than this. Working from solid atomic principles, Deltron 3030 takes one producer, one MC, and one DJ and throws them beyond Futurama. Dan the Automator (one of the founders of the Handsome Boy Modeling School and administrator of Dr. Octagon's porno hospital) reinvents himself as the Cantankerous Captain Aptos and teams up with Deltron Zero (a.k.a. Hieroglyphics crew member Del tha Funky Homosapien) and Skiznod the Boy Wonder (bucky turntablist Kid Koala). Between the radio ads for future-funked, rap jams, and camouflaged cameos (by the likes of Prince Paul, a castrato Damon Albarn, MC Paul Barman and his Upper West Side doppelgänger Sean Lennon), the Deltron crew advise you to upgrade your brain to avoid getting sucked into the time virus. ("Ugrade your gray matter," they chant, "'cause one day it may matter.") The thematic opener, "3030," sounds like a beat-driven David Lean movie that slipped into the DJ's fingers with 31st-century rhythm stutters and scratches. Automator ping-pongs loops as rousing choral parts swell with space pride. "Things You Can Do" riffs off mod rock while a harpsichord hack and Sean Lennon drops feature on the sickly sweet mental apocalypse of "Memory Loss." Over its 21 tracks, Deltron 3030 erases the errors of this rap era in favor of hip-hop's future fathers. --Chris Campion ... Read more

Reviews (176)

the funkiest homosapien
this is the best rap album to hit the shelves since the beginning of rap. unfortunately i missed this album when it was first released, but thanks to the gorillaz, i discovered this rare gem and hunted around for a month before copping it. i cant put it down. the beats and lyrics are amamzing. most say that del is too abstract, but that is because there is so much low-level rappers that people arent used to really listening and thinking about what they are hearing. this record is old-school as well as too ahead of its time. ultimately its artistry can only be appreiciated by those who still long for some substance and not nursery rhymes. this is a must have album for all music lovers, so go get it!

Best Hip-Hop Album of All Time...Top Ten Album of All Time
I don't write many reviews, but I had to say a few words about this album.This album is simply a masterpiece from start to finish.This is easily both Del and Dan's best work.The music and the lyrics truly put us, the listeners, a thousand years into the future.The opening track, 3030, pulls us through the "looking glass" and we are put into another time and place for the next hour.There are few albums that have this affect on listeners (Off the top of my head; Abbey Road, Srg. Peppers, Pet Sounds, Dark Side of the Moon, Billy Breaths) and there are certainly no rap or hip-hop albums that have this affect.This is a must have for anyone's music collection, even those who don't like hip-hop.If your not into rap, you will still be amazed by this album.This is absolutely the best hip-hop album of all time, with only Paul's Boutique coming close to it,and it goes right up there on my list of best albums of all time with Paul's Boutique, a hand full of Beatles albums, Exile on Main Street, London Calling, American Beauty/Workingman's Dead, Songs in the Key of Life, Pet Sounds, and Dark Side of the Moon.If you don't have this album yet, get it as ASAP.

I'd like you all to meet Deltron Zero...
Deltron 3030 is something of a hip hop supergroup, and one with a concept at that. With the very capable Kid Koala on turntables, the brilliant Del Tha Funkee Homosapien on vocals and Dan the Automator, arguably one of the world's most accomplished producers, handling the samples and editing, this is an album that looks very promising.

Del has always been the black sheep of the rap scene, prefering oddball humour and absurdity over the gangsta rap of his peers (suprising, for someone with Ice Cube as a cousin). Album after album, he could never really say anything relevant about the world, because it seemed as though he didn't even live in it, always prefering to sing about the strangest subject matter that could enter his head.

With Deltron 3030, it finally seems as though Del has found his place in the scheme of things, with it's futuristic setting allowing his immagination to roam free, and to speculate on any non-existant matter it wishes. The fact that he's a big science geek only increases the potential of such a premise.

This gives way to some great, truly immaginative lyrics, on topics both obvious (the increasing part played by computers, interplanetary travel), and a little more off-kilter (intergalactic rap battles and all manner of general futuristic weirdness). With a concept so easy to turn into an ongoing story in song, the album unwinds as what many have called a hip-hopera, with the centrepiece of the story being Del's participation in the afore mentioned rap battles. This competetive theme even allows him to indulge in every rapper's favourite topic - how much better he is than you or anyone else in the universe - without it sounding altogether unjustified.

Del's vocals are accompanied nicely by Kid Koala's turntable work, but the big highlight is the first rate production of Dan the Automater. The album is bursting with character, full of samples, effects and interludes (both musical and dialogue driven). The production was so good, it even warranted a separate release of an instrumental version of the album (entitled Tron "3030: The Instrumentals").

This is quite possibly the most breathtakingly original hip hop album to be released in decades, and definately a solid contender for the best album of 2000. Even if you don't like hip hop, this is an album everyone should hear.
... Read more

Asin: B00004YYXL
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rap & Hip-Hop   

Hit & Run (Greatest Hits)
by Phantom
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (26 August, 2003)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Import

Reviews (2)

Would you look at these hits?
If there's one thing about Big Sugar, it's that they sure knew how to write hits.If you're a fan of classic rock, rock, alternative rock, or any kind of rock, you'd like these songs.In fact, you've probably heard them on a radio and not known who they were by.Now you know: Big Sugar.

The last CD from Big Sugar
Sadly this is going to be the last CD from Big Sugar (which is going their separate ways after their tour this summer) but they have gone out on a high with a great CD and live album.The live disc (run) is a little better than their best of disc (run) but it is a must buy for all Big Sugar fans. ... Read more

Asin: B0000BV1TK
Sales Rank: 107083
Subjects:  1. Rock/Pop   

Fashion Nugget
by Volcano
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (17 September, 1996)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The twisted cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" is a statement of intent, while the cool jazz riffs from the band's trumpet player are part of what makes tracks like "Daria," "It's Coming Down," and "Frank Sinatra" so original. "The Distance" is a funked-up jam with a Chili Peppers chorus.--Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (181)

Quantum songwriting leap for quirky alt-rockers
The template musically was in place on their debut MOTORCADE OF GENEROUSITY. What John McCrea and co. do on this one is beef up the arrangements to make them more complex and spend more time on the songwriting. As a result, this one plays better as a whole and offers up more moments that stick than the first disc did.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"The Distance" is one of 2 big alt rock hits here. It's a zippy pastiche of 50s sci-fi TV show synth and muscular guitar and easy to tell why it was a hit. "Friend is a Four Letter Word" is a tricky lyric that suggests the 4 letter word might be "OVER" though he wants it to be "LOVE". (When I go fishing for the words I am wishing you would say to me/I'm really only praying/That the words you'll soon be saying/Might betray the way you feel about me"). "Daria" paints the picture of a man who doesn't love himself and won't allow anyone else to either. A burbling bass line from Victor Damiani anchors an irrestible cover of Gloria Gaynor's 70s disco smash "I Will Survive". [NOTE: The band loses points for tossing in a suerpfluous "F-bomb" that wasn't in the original. The song makes its point on its own without throwing in a swear word to make it more "angsty".] It goes into near-orbit when a stinging guitar part comes in near the fadeout. "Stickshifts and Safetybelts" is a country shuffle that plays like a 90s update of old 50s rockabilly tune "Hot Rod Lincoln". Doris Day chestnut "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" is redone with Latin tinges intact courtesy of Vince di Fiore's mariachi trumpet. Yuppie holdovers are the mainstays of "Italian Leather Sofa" ("She doesn't care/Whether or not he's an island/She doesn't care,/Just as long as his ship's coming in...") The gloom is left intact on a worthy cover of Willie Nelson's classic "Sad Songs and Waltzes".

LOWS:
"Frank Sinatra" unfortunately was chosen to introduce the album and it's rather lackluster. People sampling it in music stores may give up after this one and if they do, it's a shame. The horrid off-key clanging harmony vocals on "Open Book" are probably intended to be "loose and relaxed" but they end up jarring. Worst track here for sure is "Race Car Ya-Yas" which just feels like a throwaway track written at the last second to pad out the CD. Most of the lyric consists of the phrase "land of race car ya-yas" repeated again and again and uses genitalia as part of a simile comparison with hanging fuzzy dice. (y'know..the ones people dangle off their rear view mirrors). It's every bit as bad as the description would suggest.

BOTTOM LINE:
This is a big step forward for the band from MOTORCADE. More actual songs rather than just exercises in quirkiness. Even the "filler" tracks are mediocre rather than bad for the most part. Recommended for all fans of alternative rock and more open minded pop fans (McCrea is very accessible when he puts his mind to it).

"Perhaps" you should ask Doris Day
RE:review from P.Lima (Sera, sera, sera ... Fernando?)
"Perhaps" is a remake of the Doris Day song "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" from her 1963 album LATIN FOR LOVERS.If there was any "creative collages" with that song, take it up with Miss Day, not the guys from CAKE!

album cuts like sharponed knives through chicken mcnuggets.
cake will tear you apart with sarcasm and then rebuild you with the beauty of truth. ... Read more

Asin: B000003CKH
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Have a Ball
by Fat Wreck Chords
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (27 May, 1997)
list price: $13.99 -- our price: $13.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (40)

A Step Above
There was a time when covers of out of date or obscure songs were pretty much a staple on every single punk album. You can almost see the bands discussing this amidst a game of hacky sack: "Ok, what we'll do is have 10 songs about how hard it is to be in high school, a catchy tune for our single and a slow song so we can get chicks. And you know what the last song should be? A cover of that 80's new wave song we always play as a joke in our buddy's basement." Listen to enough records and even the most nostalgic of 80's fans would get tired of a sped up version of "I Melt With You".

This however is where Me First differ. First off, all come from established punk bands. Second, instead of taking the easy road and covering "Take On Me", they delve into the 70's and transform 70's folk classics into hard hitting punk anthems. And while they do this all with tongue planted firmly in cheek, they also manage to pull off an album that stands very well on its own. While they're subsequent records are also worth more than one listen, this album here is they're best. Bands like New Found Glory and Good CHarlotte can try to pull something like this off, but they simply don't have the musical chops.

shazam.
this is the best gimmes album to date. the recording isn't as clean sounding and spike's singing isn't as versatile apart from on a few stand-out songs. great album. the covers are more JUST covers instead of jokey covers. excellent album.

...Will Bring You Great Happiness...
Where do I start with an album that has so revolutionized my music listening? Or at least made it all so much better? OK, so what is this album? This is about five guys who spruced up and sped up twelve '60s and '70s...hits...in a none-too-serious but really GOOD punk-ish album. Yes, they're actually really GOOD musicians.
Let's talk about specifics. I love the beginning of "Leaving on a Jet Plane," and throughout the entire song we have a totally doofy song in its original that has been just blasted through--with the perfect results. "Me and Julio..."? Listen: I am a huge (yes, really really obsessive) Paul Simon fan, but I love this new version of his song; it makes my day every time I hear it in the Me First version. (Though the original isn't as lame-o as a lot of the others on here)This version is positively kick-butt and kinda hilarious too...
"One Tin Soldier:" Kewl. My mom almost had a heart atttack when she heard this, but you know, it's not really just a big joke. To be sure, this music isn't terrible serious and reverent, but I honestly love these reworkings of some BAD songs with...surprising potential. "Uptown Girl?" This is just what Billy Joel songs need. "I am a Rock"...old S&G are getting it pretty rough here, but it's GREAT! There's a great driving undercurrent rammed into this ultra-angsty-folksy song, and there's just something here that works PERfectLY. (Maybe it's when they yell: "I have my books/and my poetry to protect me"...not that I'm making any judgements...but come on it was a little bit of a hilarious lin to begin with.) "sweet Caroline"? Precisely what Neil Diamond had coming to him. This RULES. I really like "Seasons in the Sun," I think this might be one of my favorites on the album--great at such a speed. "Fire and Rain:" I mean, I already liked James Taylor, but this song was crying out for a punk version. And here, at 1 min 23 sec it has arrived, and it's fun and fast and it ends up making quite a rock song.
And of "Mandy," all I have to say is: how much do these guys RULE? Oh yeah, and "Rocket Man's" another catchy and rough splendid barrel o' monkeys.
Ok, so this is GREAT, understand? Like some quality punk-style music? Like the '70s? Like Bowling? Like HAPPINESS? Entertainment? Really great screams at the ends of songs? Well buy it! OOh and I especially appreciate this album because it was orginally released on LP!! Yow! So if you can, get that version, I think it would enhance the whole experience. ... Read more

Asin: B0000007RL
Sales Rank: 16662
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk Revival    5. Punk-Pop    6. Rock   

Have You Fed the Fish
by Artist Direct Bmg
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (05 November, 2002)
list price: $17.98
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The second full-length album (not counting his superb soundtrack to About a Boy) by Damon Gough, a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy, reveals the true depths of his songwriting and arranging talents. While his debut, The Hour of the Bewilderbeast, knocked us dead with his fey, indie-folk-rock sensibilities, Have You Fed the Fish shows a musician striving for top-shelf greatness in the pantheon of British pop, à la the Beatles, Oasis, and Radiohead. Lush arrangements with strings, horns, a very grand piano, and guitars abound, with a richness rarely found in pop and rock music these days. Gough's songwriting is topnotch and by turns catchy and clever, stinging and personal. But you've been warned: this album gives us less of the indie-pop hero you may want to love, and more of a classic rock idol in the making. Beck/Elliott Smith producer Tom Rothrock is at the helm, and the glossy sheen that results may offend some lo-fi "slacker pop" aficionados. --Lorry Fleming ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Very Good.
Badly Drawn Boy's second CD was fantastic. It's upbeat rythmes, catchy melodies, and orchestrations are addicting. Having said that it is not so much the same style as Hour of the BewilderBeast. Unlike his other albums it's missing it's tear-jerking masterpiece. However, I am a big BDB fan, and although it's not the same style as the first, I love it. Here's a list of my favorite songs on the CD.

1. Have you fed the Fish?: 4/5 Starts out kind of boring, then turns really friggin' great. The two second stages of this song are fantastic. This song will get stuck in your head, I garentee it.

2. 40 Days 40 Fights: 5/5 Really great song, this song is one of the reasons why I bought the CD. It has a interesting feel to it, and it's certainly a good one.

3. All Possibilities: 5/5 Best song on the CD. Awesome horn part, with a trippy string section, and an awesome bass. Has almost a disco feel.

4. How?: 3/5 This song is kind of boring, but there's a section in the middle that is probably my favorite moment in modern musical history.

5. Imaginary Lines: 3/5 Fun little song, but too short. I wish it was longer.

6. Tickets To What you need: 4/5 Good song.

Badly Drawn Boy makes great music and has awesome lyrics. He's a poet and that really comes out in his music. He also has a little thing called talent.

BDB ROCKS!
Ok, I read a couple of bad reviews.Give me a break.Compared to all the worthless crap that is shoved down our throats today, this is musically sound, fun to listen to, and comes from a man of pure talent.Even Beck is a BDB fan!

I loved this album 100%.My favorite song is "You Were Right."I have a version of him singing it live on KCRW as well, which is incredible.What an awesome song!

If you like GOOD music, you'll love this album.One of the best things about BDB is his versatility, shown when you compare the About A Boy soundtrack with this.Both are beautiful and amazing in completely different ways.

Have you fed them?
After his brilliant debut, "Hour of Bewilderbeast," Badly Drawn Boy (real name: Damon Gough) had a lot to live up to in his second (non-soundtrack) album. And he comes close to delivering in "Have You Fed the Fish?", a sparkling folky-pop album that displays his musical depth and complexity.

It opens with an announcer (like on a plane) informing us that outside the window is a cloud that looks just like Badly Drawn Boy. It's a pretentious moment that isn't too annoying -- especially when it dissolves into sparkling, layered pop. Gough relies on piano pop in songs like "40 Days 40 Fights," and the passionate ballad "How." It's his best area; he can really wring feeling from those keys.

But he also dips into the more acoustic sound, with the danceable "Born Again" and the low-key "I Was Wrong." And "Tickets To What You Need" is more acoustic than any other song -- stripped down, with Gough's vocals in the forefront, he sounds like he's standing on a table and joyously singing to the crowds. After a few more chillingly panoramic pop melodies and piano-led laments, he bows out in the soaring fuzz-guitar "Bedside Story."

It's all too easy to alienate someone you love, perhaps forever. Gough seems to be speaking through his songs to someone else, saying "I Was Wrong," "You Were Right" (two songs from the middle of this album). He retains the experimental edge, giving extra layers and sonic flourishes to what could have been an ordinary indie-folk-pop album.

If there's any flaw in "Have You Fed The Fish?", it's that it seems sometimes that Gough is trying a little too hard. Relax, mate. His acoustic guitar and exquisite piano playing are the middle of the album's sound, but he backs it up with horns, strings, sometimes thunderous percussion, and cymbals. Not to mention the smooth synthy sweeps in songs like "Centre Peace."

Gough's mellow voice is a bit like an instrument in itself -- he seems kind of timid about being in the forefront musically. He only breaks out in "Tickets To What You Need," sounding playful and charming. There are some lyrical stumbles ("And woman, I'll make you a girl"?), but most of the time he manages to wrap strangely sensitive words around the songs. "And you/were right to bide your time and not buy into my misery/Well the good things are never free..."

Gough doesn't reach the heights of his debut album, but taken alone "Have You Fed The Fish" is a beautiful little pop classic overshadowed by the bigger classic, "Bewilderbeast." ... Read more

Asin: B00006LHW4
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

We Were Born In a Flame
by Universal
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (17 June, 2003)
list price: $12.98
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

A Montreal native and former hockey player, Sam Roberts gave up dreams of becoming a star Canadien [stet] to embark on a musical career. Given the track record of most jocks behind the mic, this doesn’t exactly portend great results, but Roberts's full-length debut is pretty good. Roberts writes tuneful folk-rock and power-pop tunes, many of them built around a percussively strummed acoustic guitar. Musically, he covers some of the same musical territory as Travis, but overall the effect is more extroverted and aggressive, less wispy and melancholic. Three of this CD's best songs are lifted by an earlier EP, Inhuman Condition, but there’s not a bum track among the 13 included here (although an unnecessary '70s rock-star guitar solo comes close to ruining the otherwise gorgeous and seductive orchestral pop of "Taj Mahal"). Canada seems full of musical artists who don't quite translate outside that country’s national borders, but the bright, confident appeal of Roberts’s full-length bow is far more universal. --Keith Moerer ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Montrealrock
As a fellow Montrealer to Sam Roberts and parts of his band, maybe I'm slightly biased - but this is just an incredible piece of music. Sure, there's nothing really all that new being done here - but who cares when the product is such smart, passionate and driven rock music.

There is not a single weak point in this album, which combines rock & roll fundamentals with folk influences. Many have heard the string of singles (...Good People Gone, Brother Down, Don't Walk Away Eileen, Hard Road) which just get stronger and stronger after repeated listenings. However, this album really shines in the range of all the other songs. Favorites of mine are "No Sleep" and the truly excellent "Paranoia" - a song which took a while to grow on me, but finishes off this album with a long, driving instrumental that builds to a pretty rockin' finish. The whole thing leaves you wanting more, which hopefully Sam and Co. will finish soon as they record the new one in Australia.

Admittedly, the album may be a little soft for some rock fans who'll be left wondering how to really classify this album. All I can say is that there are two Sam Roberts Bands, the first is the mellow and groovy material presented here on the album, the other is the intense live performances which pump up the rock factor several notches. Between beers and swigs of whiskey, the band is relentless in delivering awesome concerts. Rock cliche? Yes - but I don't care.

Right... and a Juno is like a Canadian Grammy except sometimes they are actually awarded for talent instead of publicity.(Which unfortunately was not the case when Nickleback won one - I'd like to apologize on Canada's behalf for those posers)

We were all born...to own this cd
This is a great great record and should be on any critics short list for best alternative record of 2004 (or 2003. Essentially the same album was released by Universal - Canada in 03 and it sold 50,000 copies winning Mr. Roberts a Juno award for the song Brother Down.) This cd is extremely well-conceived and is a finely executed work that deserves more attention than it is getting. There are some other bands that have the same type of groove (Jet, Powderfinger, Paris Texas - maybe) but Sam Roberts is probably the best of all of these.

He is an amazing songwriter and his tunecrafting skills stand up well next to early Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney (of course realizing that he is just a beginner.) His hooks are instantly catchy and you will find yourself tapping your feet within the first 30 seconds of "Hard Road" - the opening track. Along with Brother Down, Taj Mahal, and Every Part of Me, Hard Road is a stand-out track and contains some gripping and intelligent lyrics (something of a rarety in today's reductionistic and formulaic music world!) He is young but writes with eloquence about the ubiquitous human efforts at finding the easy life and avoiding the bumps of the real world. He opines, "There's no road that ain't a hard road to travel on." Like Pierce Pettis (another overlooked genius) he is able to chronicle the travails of life in this fallen world without offering therapeutic platitudes like "believing in yourself" or something similar.While true hope and significant answers are missing, art does not by nature have to be redemptive.On this record, Roberts chooses to narrate the problems of humanity and creation rather than offer solutions, but in doing so he manages to escape falling into the Disneyesque moralism so prevalent in popular media and music.

Along with compelling and inquiring lyrics, and great songcraft, Sam Roberts is also an interesting musician and decides here to play all the instruments except for percussion. This rarely works (Lenny Kravitz' "Let Love Rule" is the only other recent success that I can think of) but Sam Roberts pulls it off and the record ends up sounding like it was recorded with a talented studio band. Production and mixing efforts are handled by Brenndan McGuire, but to discover this you have to search; his name is buried in minute font in the credits of the Universal release. To my knowledge, he is a newcomer, but he is talented and should get some more work after this excellent outing at the helm.

Enjoy this record, Sam will be around for a while.

a lasting, relaxed rock band
i bought this cd back in 2003, and now it's 2005.i still listen to this cd about once a month.now if that doesn't say something about the quality of the cd, i dunno what does.now, sam roberts has a beautiful simple voice, perfect for for rock.now, if you ever have the chance to see the boys live, do it!they have a great, hard rocking sound at shows."brother down" is a catchy single, "taj mahal" is the most beautiful love song, delicate but still solid."no sleep" is haunting and amazing, with two french verses talking about a beautiful girl.the music is happy, but listen to the words, and the cd will blow you away. ... Read more

Asin: B00009PJPR
Subjects:  1. American Trad Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Singer/Songwriter   

Everybody Got Their Something
by Virgin Records
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 May, 2001)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Nikka Costa's fiercely bootylicious first single, "Like aFeather"--that song with the thick, clapped 16th notes--has alreadygarnered the 28-year-old singer one hell of a buzz, and for the mostpart, she's got the goods to back it up. Already a platinum-sellingartist in Europe and South America, the Tokyo-born, L.A.-bred singer'sstateside debut bulges with ambition. It's a mixed bag of musicaltricks that's equal parts '70s-style funk, hazy LedZeppelin-inspired psychedelia, and angst-ridden alternachick yowling, withhealthy dollops of soul, hip-hop, and thrash thrown in for goodmeasure. Produced by Costa, Australian rocker Justin Stanley (who'salso the singer's husband), and high-profile New York City DJ MarkRonson, the album works best when it piles on the noise--like on thestandout "Tug of War," which features the unmistakable rim-shot work ofRoots drummer?uestlove. On that track, a flurry of scratched samples, layers ofsoundboard-smeared noise, and a few luscious string sweeps break intogospel-choir harmonies that swirl gorgeously beneath Costa's reedymezzo-soprano wails. It's a shame that she can't match this intensityon sparser down-tempo ballads like "Nothing" and "Just Because," whereshe sounds like Fiona Apple'sslightly less annoying older sis. As the album's title says, everybodygot their something, and Costa sounds best when she sticks to hers.--Sylvia W. Chan ... Read more

Reviews (128)

Great
This isn't one of my normally long reviews, but I'm just posting to say go buy this album. If you're a fan of soul, funk, rock, R&B, you'll love her. She becomes the female Prince/Lenny Kravitz on this album in more ways than one. She is an all-around soul singer, and girl throws down on many occasions. Buy the album!

why oh why don't more people know about her music?
This is one of the few CDs that I can play all the way through.

I prefer Nikka's upbeat songs, but her slowies 'Nothing', 'Push and Pull' and 'Corners Of My Mind' keep me listening too. It really sounds like she's put her all into each and every song.

If you like pop/funk with good lyrics then buy this!

She's Hot
After hearing "Like A Feather" in a trendy clothing store, I searched high and low to find out who this girl was.Her CD was better than I expected and proved to be a wonderful companion on road trips from Chicago to Detroit.Her vocals are outstanding and her lyrics are poetic."Tug of War" has to be my favorite track, it combines a bluesy sound with my favorite lyric ("there's nothin' I don't know, just hasn't come to me yet") rivaling what lyricists today come up with.I have yet to come across a CD that I can listen to in it's entirety, but this one comes close. ... Read more

Asin: B00005B0S6
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Contemporary R&B    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Urban   

Live: Roseland NYC
by London / Pgd
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 November, 1998)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Usually, groups wait until they've released at least three or four records before putting out a live album, but PNYC was too good an idea for Portishead to turn down. Recorded with a full orchestra on a cold, rainy day shortly after the release of their second record, Portishead, the project doubled as a live album and the soundtrack for a BBC documentary. In addition to being economical and perhaps lucrative, the disc demonstrates how sampled and sequenced music can be re-created in concert without losing any of the charm or dynamics of the original recordings. All it takes is a 22-piece string section, some horns, and a band whose tightness is exceeded only by its creativity. At times the performances on PNYC sound even more breathtaking and cinematic than Portishead's original recordings, as humming theremin, skittery scratching, and gliding strings mingle with stealthy guitar lines and sultry vocals. For Portishead, sour times seem like a distant memory. --Jon Wiederhorn ... Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (81)

As close to "Live"
Most live albums pretty much lose the feel of the original studio albums -- sometimes they sound tinny and distant. No such sound here. "Live: Roseland NYC" has not only an orchestra, but the jazzy trip-hop of Portishead's two albums, and the beautiful voice of Beth Gibbons. No wonder it was so good.

Portishead hit the big time with their sophomore album "Dummy," an exquisite blend of smoky jazz and subtle trip-hop. Which, admittedly, sounds like the wrong kind of music to play live, but it works wonderfully here. Portishead includes an almost equal mix of songs from their two albums -- six from "Portishead," five from "Dummy."

And surprisingly, the songs sound like simple redos of the mysterious, melancholy songs from Portishead's too-short career, not stage banter and stripped-down versions of lush songs. It's more than a little unusual to have a band's third album be a live one, but in this case it seems perfectly acceptable.

Backed by an entire orchestra, horns and some wicked turntables, the band plays remarkable versions of their songs. "All Mine" is even more beautiful and haunting than in the album, and "Sour Times" is even more breathtaking than it was originally. Most of the others are faithful renditions, given a powerful new twist with the strings and horns -- only a couple feel less cohesive in a live setting.

Frontwoman Beth Gibbons is known as having a lovely pop voice, and she is in excellent form here. A lot of singers are exposed in live performances as having less-than-stellar vocals, but Gibbons' performance demonstrates what a beautiful voice she has.

"Live: Roseland NYC" is a demonstration of what a good live album should be, showcasing one of trip-hop's best bands. Definitely worth checking out, both as as an accompaniment to Portishead's studio albums, and as a good listen itself.

In Lieu of Their Self-Titled
After falling in love with "Dummy", Portishead's debut, I hated to admit that I wasn't so enamored of their follow-up self-titled CD released three years later.As much as I tried to let it grow on me, I couldn't get through the entire CD with it grating on me by the end.

PNYC was the cure for what ailed me: an outstanding live album (one of the best I've heard), with classics from "Dummy" and the best songs from their self-titled (i.e. you must hear "Over" to believe it--fantastic).

This CD is truly amazing, brilliant, and is perfect for just about any mood you could wish to frame.My only complaint is that I wasn't at Roseland myself.

A lot of people love Portishead's self-titled, but if you're like me and found it wanting, try PNYC on--you can't be disappointed.

Best live album ever
Often live albums aren't very good, especially if you're not a fan of the songs already.Often these live albums are just a different take on the original song but I can say without a doubt these live versions are better and more impressive than the originally producted songs.

The real orchestra is very impressive and I was surprised how well they pulled off the dark sound.The only thing I don't like is the guy scratching records is really annoying on the first track.He does pointless playing with the vinyl like extremely fine scratching that will almost wake you wonder if it's the sound of a damanged tape.Fortunetly the DJ doesn't scratch too much but when he does, he often distracts from the awesomeness of these songs.

1. Humming - 3 stars (it's a 4 star song but the annoying DJ scratching nearly ruins it)
2. Cowboys - 4 stars
3. All Mine - 4.5 stars
4. Mysterons - 5 stars
5. Only You - 5 stars
6. Half Day Closing - 5 stars (awesome!!!)
7. Over - 3.75 stars
8. Glory Box - 4 stars
9. Sour Times - 4.25 stars
10. Roads - 4.5 stars
11. Strangers - 3.5 stars ... Read more

Asin: B00000DLV1
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Heavier Things
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (09 September, 2003)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

John Mayer's big-label debut was a multiplatinum breakthrough success whose sensual anthem "Your Body Is a Wonderland" scored him an unlikely Grammy for Best Pop Vocal. That out-of-the-box succes--and more than a few critics grousing that Mayer's muse was cloned from Dave Matthews--primed him for the typical sophomore slump. Instead, Mayer delivers an album whose tone and title suggests a gentle, tongue-in-cheek rebuke to his naysayers. Propelled by the subtle ambitions of an expanded pop-jazz framework (largely courtesy of Sheryl Crow/No Doubt/Jellyfish producer Jack Joseph Puig), Mayer's breathy vocal tack now suggests a detached, conflicted, and significantly less precious incarnation of Michael Franks. But, the way he weds fluid pop hooks to lyrical concerns whose self-obsessions are undercut by telling dollops of self-deprecation from the my-spirit's-too-big/smart-for-my-body laments of "Clarity," the upbeat single "Bigger Than My Body," and the bluesy plea "Come Back to Bed" to the cautionary, melodically-rich "Daughters" and even the antimaterialist agitprop of "Something's Missing should clearly draw in listeners." --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (587)

john mayer is getting closer to being john tesh
Simply put: it only deserves one star, if that.

Anything else I could write would be fodder for diehard fans to whine about and declare "how insensitive that reviewer is" or "he just doesn't understand the feeling of the emotional and pure talent of John" or "blah blah blah Dave Matthews is great too!".

I can only understand why this is available, if people keep buying this ______ (insert your own expletive here), corporate music marketers will keep pushing this on our bleeding ears.

Bye bye.

despite what you say
this album wasn't quite as strong as "room for squares" but i've been a john fanatic for a long time now and can never quite be dissappointed in him. my absolute favourite song is from this album is "duaghters" which i liked waaaayyyyy before it's radio release. all the songs are beautiful and bring out the sravastic side of John. Check it out.

ATTENTION JOHN MAYER FANS...
Let me introduce you to the next John Mayer: www.TeddyGeigerMusic.com

This cd is great.John Mayer has the artistic talent and charisma to be a star.Teddy shares the qualities, check him out. ... Read more

Asin: B0000ALSDR
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock   

Al Green - Greatest Hits
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 August, 1995)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

One of the must-own soul albums, Greatest Hits is fattened with five extra tracks in this reissue. Al Green brought the Memphis Sound into the '70s by slightly softening it, melding smooth funkiness with his miraculous voice and innate sensitivity: his love songs, while perfect for the bedroom, are as conversational as they are blatantly seductive. By adding the likes of "Belle," a 1977 single that's a near-goodbye to the pop life, to the original lineup of "Let's Stay Together," "Look What You Done for Me," "Call Me," and the others, this edition of Greatest Hits also intriguingly fills out the story. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (98)

high water mark of R&B music
Al Green is so good its not even funny.i recently got this cd and was really impressed by the extremely good arrangements in songs that only mr. Green could have dreamed up.I wish "take me to the river" was on here, but its on volume two, which you should also get.I don't even want to talk about it anymore, you just need to go get this cd.You'll think its the best.

Beautilful Music
Upon its original release in 1975, Al Green's Greatest Hits pretty much summed up everything about Green, containing his ten biggest hits up to that point. A few years later, it was followed by a second volume, which contained hit singles that had charted since the release of the first collection. In 1995, the Right Stuff reissued Al Green's Greatest Hits, adding five of the highlights from the second volume of greatest hits as bonus tracks. The result was a definitive single-disc compilation, featuring 15 of Green's absolute best songs, including "Tired of Being Alone," "Let's Stay Together," "I'm Still in Love With You," "Call Me," "Here I Am," "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)," and "L-O-V-E (Love)." The original version of Greatest Hits was great, but the revision made it nearly perfect.

overpriced classic
Great music and worth any price you can afford.Too bad I can't afford this price and can't order it from amazon.com where it's only $9.99 US.C'mon amazon canada; why does it cost so much here? ... Read more

Asin: B000002TTP
Subjects:  1. Contemporary Gospel    2. Memphis Soul    3. Pop    4. Pop-Soul    5. R&B    6. Rock    7. Smooth Soul    8. Soul    9. United States of America