G N R Lies
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Reviews (95)

Do you love them-or do you hate them?
The question that I just filled in for the headline for this review was pretty much the truth back in 1988(the year this album was released)and it is the same today-do you like Guns 'n Roses, or do you hate them? After hearing an album like "Appetite For Destruction",G&R fans wanted more of what they had gotten with that album- and you could say that they did- but this was their album that was panned by critics and turned some people against them. It had it's good parts, but it also had it's bad parts. The famous original songs off of this album(original because of the fact that a cover of Aerosmith's "Mama Kin" is to be found here)are "Patience", "Used To Love Her", and "One In A Million", let me comment on them:

"Patience" is not as good as "Sweet Child Of Mine" or "Paradise City", but it is a very pretty ballad that is only performed on accoustic guitar and is also sung.

In a different way,"Used To Love Her"(one of the two controversial and popular songs)is a step down from "My Michelle" off of "Appetite For Destruction", but in a way it is a step up. The way it is a step down is because it is a little bit of both a rock song and a country song, and it has maybe a little bit of black comedy to it. The reason why it is a step up is because when this song was written, instead of writing a song about dating a girl who's daddy worked in porno(refer to My Michelle)they(G&R)wrote a song about killing your wife and burying her in your backyard because she complained to much. Mediocre.

"One In A Million" is another ballad, and it is kind of a step up from "Think About You", another song off of AFD. The music to this song is really good and pretty(a piano appears on this track, which kind of makes it sound like both a blues song and a rock song)and the reason why this song turned some people against G&R is because one verse of this song attacks immigrants, and some of the lyrics are pretty deep. Leaving out that one verse that I just mentioned and some of the lyrics that were responsible for turning some people against G&R,this is a great song.

Not as good as "Appetite For Destruction", but a pretty good sophomore album, and really-do you like Guns 'n Roses, or do you hate them and their music?

underrated!!!!!
this album is so underrated. It only had 1 hit but if people actually listened to the other songs they would think its great.
The best song would probably be patience.

NICE BOYS DONT PLAY ROCK N ROLL
when i bought the cd appetite for destruction 1 of my favorite song was youre crazy.Then i found out that guns n roses are comming out with a new cd i had to buy it.when i bought it the cover was like a news paper article.i liked it!! it was clever.
the first day i bought it i listend to every song 3 times.
reckless life8/10
nice boys10/10great song
move to the city9/10
mama kin 8/10
patience 10/10
used to love her9/10
youre crazy 10/10 love this song
one in a million9/10
buy this cd
... Read more

Asin: B000000OQY
Sales Rank: 3735
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

...And Justice For All
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

This record has so much good material that it's a shame the production is so shoddy. Songwise, this is probably Metallica's most sophisticated album, exploring the theme of justice and perversions thereof with a vengeance. "One" is one of their best songs ever, building from a slow, edgy beginning into effortless overdrive. The title track is excellent and never boring, despite clocking in at more than nine minutes. It's the epic of the album, but all of the songs are long, displaying impressive chops and songwriting. Metallica took a commercial turn after ...And Justice for All, and it's interesting to speculate on what would have happened to their music had they continued in the direction suggested by this album. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (679)

...and justice for all
first off let me say this is a great cd. this is some really heavy stuff that we're dealing with. its got one of the best metallica songs on it (one). they played this song when i saw them live and the intro was amazing. there were big explosions on stage and they played the battle sounds. it was sooo cool. blinding and deafining but cool. there are no bad songs on this cd. the production is a little weird though so it doesnt sound as smooth as usual but that really doesnt make any difference. this is also the first cd the band made without cliff burton and it is the last cd before metallica went through their big change. (which really isnt wasnt that bad... in my opinion)

My review for .... ...And Justice For All
This album came out in 1988.Megadeth's So Far, So Good...So What! came out the same year.I'm gonna review that but for now gonna do .. And Justice For All.This is the first album without cliff.Although the death of cliff is very depressing because he had such potential,he was sorta the Jimmy Page of Basses, I'm not sure this album would of been so successful without the death.This album holds one of the greatest songs of all time.It makes you wanna cry but when you listen to the music.. you dont wanna cry.. you wanna suck it up and have a good time and bang ya head.Thats what metal is all about....And Justice For All proved that sad songs can make you headbang.The best song on this album and also the main highlight is One.This is my all-time favorite Metallica song.Its sorta like Megadeth's In My Darkest Hour as far as music structure goes.. but One is written better.As you may know.. its based on a movie about a landmine taking everything away from a man.I never saw the movie.. but according to the lyrics. he lived.. he had to face living with no arms, no legs, and worst of all no soul.Metallica proved that they could make a song out of nothing.Other highlights would be Dyers Eve.. This is about neglection.This is the 2nd best song on the album.Really good stuff.The rest of the songs are ok.I really wouldn't know what to say if i had to review the songs.. but i can tell you that they are awesome.. and make the album a lil better than Ride The Lightning, and you gotta know that that's pretty hard to accomplish.I highly recommend this album.The same for Ride The Lightning.

A Timeless Metal Masterpiece
These days many teens like myself criticize Metallica. Why? Becauseafter 1988's releasing of ...And Justice For All, Metallica took a leap into commercialized garbage. This is proven especially with St. Anger, the latest release and a mix of random, unrelated songs.These days teens like myself aren't exposed to Metallica's four greatest works. Kill Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice For All were all milestones in metal history.

...And Justice For All is, though poorly recorded compared to Master of Puppets, my favorite Metallica album, and perhaps my favorite album of all time behind Megadeth's Rust in Peace and Peace Sells But Who's Buying albums. From start to finish this album blows your mind, leaving you wide-eyed completely by the time you reach the end of Dyers Eve (the final track). ... Read more

Asin: B000002H6C
Subjects:  1. Hard Rock    2. Heavy Metal    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Speed Metal    6. Thrash    7. United States of America   

Tracy Chapman
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Editorial Review

One of the most striking debut albums ever released, this disc instantlyestablished Chapman as a musical force, and with good reason. Immediacy, integrity ofpurpose, and unqualified artistry are apparent in nearly every song. And while "Fast Cars"remains Chapman's best-known work, "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" is that rarest breed: asong which is both topical and timeless. Any exploration into Chapman's work shouldbegin with this at times stunning effort; it's a disc of remarkable uniformity and claritythat Chapman has yet to improve on. --Wayne Pernu ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Is this a man or a woman?????
Can someone please enlighten me with this subject.I really can't see how anyone finds this thing music.

one of her best
Tracy - OMG you are good! this is her first CD, i believe. i have them all, dam, i like this girl!revolution, fast car, ticket, for my lover... sigh... so much talent - why is she NOT given more airtime and more kudos? she is so stinkin' good. bluesy and deep, gotta listen to the words, and dance with your baby to Tracy. she's wonderful.

Very good, solid album
Tracy Chapman really amazes here. She does some great work and she is a talented singer as well as songwriter. There is nothing pretentious or boring about her; she simply sings the songs she wants other to hear and they are wonderful. It is easy listening with a bit of a light tempo pop background,but she manages to keep one's interest the whole way through. My favorite songs are fast car, talkin about a revolution, and for my lover. It is not perfect, but it is definetly a great album to give a chance and listen to. It is certainly better than anything out there today, there is no manufactured music, just simple and light. Bravo! ... Read more

Asin: B000002H5I
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Folk    3. College Rock    4. Contemporary Folk    5. Folk & Traditional    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Melissa Etheridge
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (15 June, 1990)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
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Editorial Review

Exploding onto the late 1980s rock scene with this energetic, sensual, and shamelessly personal debut, Melissa Etheridge instantly proved herself a skilled singer-songwriter and thunderstorm of a performer. This radio-friendly rock collection lays out the Etheridge fundamentals. "Bring Me Some Water," the driven, bluesy plea of an abandoned lover, is easily the strongest cut here. Its infectious rhythmic backdrop perfectly supports Etheridge's rowdy, passionate vocals to make this sexually charged lament unforgettable. This album also launched the radio favorite "Similar Features" and "Like the Way I Do," another uptempo, jealousy-laden rocker. Actually, the album is almost overripe with scathing indictments of former lovers, but it also makes it clear that Etheridge is a growing musician. These early efforts are so power-packed that it's easy to overlook redundancy and focus on all that raw emotion. --Sally Weinbach ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Might as well start off with a bang
Upon hearing Melissa Etheridge's debut album for the first time I was struck by two things; how real her songs sounded and how righteously she rocked.She obviously lived these songs, and the somewhat harrowing emotions that the songs stirred up weren't changed at all by the talk of her sexual orientation.If anything the revelation lent a new edge to the music.Our local rock station had several songs from this album in heavy rotation, which caused me to pick up the cd.I was happy to find out that she wasn't just a two song wonder as this disc was great from start to finish."Occasionally" was by far my favorite, but the radio hits "Like The Way I Do" and "Similar Features" would make any late 80's compilation I might throw together.I liked this album so much that I bought the next two without hearing a cut from them, something that's rare for me, but neither came close to the debut.

SOMEBODY BRING ME SOME WATER!
Unmistakeablely La-Etheridge is one of the top female rockers ever.Her debut album has her more harsh and raw songs.A personal favorite is the "Bring Me Some Water" what a better athem for jealousy and dispear of the impotence of wanting your lover back with you, this is a fine moment for rock music, but overall the album dellivers what you want in a rock.anthem.arena concert, pure stomper joints that rock your house head like crazy, this is a perfect debut and a fine predescesor for "Yes I Am" and "Your Little Secret" the best albums of Melissa, including this, a most have to any rocker.

The year is 1988...
I'm a sophomore in college.I hear the end of 'Bring Me Some Water' and am absolutely blown away.Who is this?There are very few songs and very few artists who captivate me with one listen, not even a whole song at that.Melissa Etheridge became one of them.

Never had I heard such passion, such emotion, such brooding and gutteral emotional reflections on an album.It tapped right into the darkness I was feeling and provided therapy to a wounded soul.It just sounded real.

After finding out who this artist was, I ran out and bought the album.I loved every single moment of it and played it and played it and played it.'Precious Pain' is perhaps the greatest song every laid down that taps into the rawness of our human emotions.

Every song is just as intense. She jams, she gets intensely quiet and she can play that guitar like nobody's business.

This is the real Melissa Etheridge, as far as I'm concerned.She strayed a bit as she became popular (seems to happen, no?) but it is here, close to her roots, where we discover the passion and power of her singing.

I sort of fell away from listening to her new stuff when her personal business got more attention (both from the media and from her) than her music.This is the one to which I always return when I need to reflect and really feel. ... Read more

Asin: B000001FSC
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Blues-Rock    3. Heartland Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock & Roll    7. Singer/Songwriter   

New Jersey
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (09 February, 1999)
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Editorial Review

Thanks to Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi procured the sort of world domination dreamt of by demented European dictators and Bond villains--at which point the band decided that they didn't really want to rule the planet. Though New Jersey contains several Jovi stadium anthems, including the single "Bad Medicine," and though the album's videos showed that the intricately layered and feathered coiffures were intact, this is where Bon Jovi began changing. The title offers a broad hint as to what Jon Bon Jovi in particular was trying to change into: short of renaming the album I Come from the Same Place as Bruce Springsteen, he could scarcely have been more obvious about his intentions. "Living in Sin," indeed, takes Bon Jovi's increasing obsession with Springsteen to the verge of pastiche. --Andrew Mueller ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (48)

Jovi, Bon Jovi.
Overall a good album. I remember riding my bike to the record store to get this mostly because a girl I liked had it. Anyway, though not as strong as the previous album, "New Jersey" still has some gems. I always break this album into thirds in my head. The first third is the strongest, with the 3 big rockers plus "Living In Sin". The second third to me is just blah, not bad, but not good, and the last 4 tracks are a good combo of rockers and ballads too. In short I'd say a must for the real fan, but otherwise "Slippery When Wet" or the "Cross Road" collection should be enough for casual fans.

It's All How You Look At It
Bon Jovi was at a point in their career where they could put out anything and have it spawn at least three top ten singles. The success of "Slippery When Wet" turned them into worldwide superstars. When I listen to this album, I get the feeling that I have heard it all before. That does not make this a bad album, though. There are very few filler songs compared to some of their earlier and later albums. It just seems so calculated. Of course, if you give this to someone who is new to music, this would probably be their favorite album ever, because they have never heard it before. There are several good songs on here, especially the surprisingly heavy "Lay Your Hands On Me," (did anyone notice that Def Leppard had nearly the exact same song with "Pour Some Sugar on Me"?) which has a great riff and sounds similar to how it would in a live stadium. In fact, that's what most of the songs sound like. That's not a bad thing, but Jon goes too far sometimes, I feel nausiated when I hear the ending to the terrible "Bad Medicine" where he goes "Wait, I'm not done yet" and then they repeat the chorus again. So if you don't take this too seriuosly, you can really enjoy it, especially because it's so low-priced. But if you consider yourself a hardcore music fan, there will be very little on here for you to enjoy.

Still a superb album to follow Slippery When Wet!
This was the first Bon Jovi I got to hear when I bought it in Feb. of 1989.It still is a solid rock album all throughout, rockers and their familiar power ballads.I didn't think that they would top Slippery When Wet, but this album is just as entertaining as well as rocking.Blood on Blood is very Springsteen-ish, kind of like Born To Run, but very well done. The opening song makes you feel like you're in a concert, in a stadium of over 50,000 people screaming, with Lay Your Hands on Me!I still love Bad Medicine and Tico Torres' incredible drum playing on it.Especially on the last two lines before the last chorus where he hits those drums hard 8 times, then the bottom part where he hits the snare 5 times!!!! I turn up the volume or bang on the table every time that part comes up in that song.On several cuts, Jon Bon Jovi in a rare move was hitting some very high notes, which come out so very impressive! I don't know of any other male singer who can hit those notes so high like that!And this was two years before Mariah Carey's first album came out that Jon Bon Jovi was doing this high note approach. It's the high point of this album every time I hear I'll Be There For You and Living in Sin. Other songs I like, Born to Be My Baby and its familiar sing along chorus, Stick To Your Guns, Wild Is The Wind, the rocking final song with 99 in the title and others.Jon as well as Richie Sambora wrote some very solid songs this time, perhaps the best in their band's music career.And David Bryan's keyboard playing still blends well with Sambora and Alec Jon Such's lead guitars and Tico's drumming!Jon sounds so versatile vocally in all the songs here. One of my favorite albums and it justifies in that album title that they're proud to be from New Jersey! They really prove why that state can produce such very multitalented music artists from Springsteen to Sinatra to Whitney to Dionne to even them too and many others! ... Read more

Asin: B00000I07Q
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Open Up and Say...Ahh!
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

The second song on this album from the premier pop-metal band of the '80s sums up perfectly what Poison was all about: "Nothin' But a Good Time" isn't exactly deep, but it's a fun song. There's other good stuff on what is unquestionably Poison's best album; "Love on the Rocks" and "Look But You Can't Touch" show that this band is at its best when it's not taking itself seriously, though the wistful "Fallen Angel" remains one of Poison's best songs. "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," on the other hand, has nothing to distinguish it from the flood of power ballads of the late 80s. The cover of "Your Mama Don't Dance," however, more than makes up for this, with the sense of fun and humor that made Poison so entertaining. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Party on Wayne, Party on Garth
This is not brain surgery! They were looking for "nothing but a good time" and they wanted you to have fun with them. Once you go past the makeup and silly clothing, you get a party record. Is that not what rock n roll music was to be? You have two camps of rockers "I want a woman, so lets go party!" and "I want to change the world with my music." We all know which one of these are Poison! I think it is time to bring back the original album cover guys.

Very Bad Pop Metal......
Hairspray,Spandex,makeup and a goofy guitar player. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.Take the worst parts of Alice Cooper,The Worst parts of Kiss add some average muscicians and trite song writing and you get Poison. God how I wish the 80's would just go away.......

Not Your Average Hair Band
Yes, at one time, Poison was my favorite music act.While my tastes have expanded somewhat as I've gotten older (I can't see myself liking this same type of music if it were released today), I still fondly look back on the music I listened to as a pre-teen/teenager (for the most part anyway).

Poison is one of those bands that has managed to keep my interest.I may not listen to their music as frequently as I once did; but, it still gets a hum or two out of me when I pop one of their cds in.

"Open up and Say... Ahh!" was Poison's second release.The album was released in 1988 at the height of the pop metal craze.Perhaps no band epitomized that musical style better than Poison.To the trained ear though, Poison's music was different from their pop metal brethren.

Poison always had a bit of a power punk sound underneath the music that gave it a bit of a schoolyard feel.While other bands could creep you out singing about young girls and having fun, as if they were middle-aged weirdos trying to hang on to their youths, Poison always came off as authentic in that regard.The slightly different sound they had was just enough to make that happen.

While this release is a little more straight rock than their debut album, "Look What the Cat Dragged In", "Open up and Say... Ahh!" still has a bit of that sound on tracks like "Your Mama Don't Dance" and "Look but You Can't Touch".

"Open up and Say... Ahh!" was the apex (or nadir, depending upon you viewpoint) of the pop metal scene.Like disco, it's likely a musical genre that's time will not return.For those who remember it fondly, Poison will always be the exemplar. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UE9
Subjects:  1. Hair Metal    2. Hard Rock    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Pop-Metal    6. Rock   

Long Cold Winter
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Editorial Review

From the very first track ("Bad Seamstress Blues"), it was obvious that Cinderella was moving in a different direction with this album, toward a mix of the pop metal that was their forte with a bluesy inflection reminiscent of Aerosmith. Songs like "Fallin' Apart at the Seams" and "Gypsy Road" showed this influence clearly while making the album more musically interesting than its contemporaries, although the anthemic "The Last Mile" and the hit single "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" were definite highlights. Added to the mix were ballads like the title track, as well as less grandiose tunes such as "Coming Home." Not exactly a classic album, but a likeable listen overall. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (25)

if you dont like Cinderella your not listening
great Cinderella album, i hope they tour this fall!

LONG COLD WINTER...
IS A CD I NEVER GET TIRED OF LISTENING TO !! IT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME AND TOM KEIFER HAS AN AMAZING VOICE..THIS IS , BY FAR, THEIR BEST !!

So so damn good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this cd!!!...til it was stolen out of my car. (...)I'ved loved their songs since forever!!I only wish they were still around and making music like they were before.It sucks that music today is not even music.It's a black guy making simple words rhyme with pre-made sounds following his voice....yeah, now that's real music. (...) Bring back the hair bands America. (...) ... Read more

Asin: B000001FO4
Subjects:  1. Hair Metal    2. Hard Rock    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Pop-Metal    6. Rock   

Naked to the World
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Reviews (14)

A Fantastic Soulful Experience
This is one of my fave Teena Marie albums. It moves, seduces, entices and entrances. From the slick groove of Trick Bag to the seductive call of Ooo La La La to the urban dance funk of Surrealistic Pillow to the emotional wallop of Naked To The World, Teena does not miss a step on this full digital recording. This cd is a Masterpiece even by contemporary standards-especially by contemporary standards!!

lady T from a Dee Jay's point of view.
My father was a DJ when I was growing up in Arkansas, I learned about Lady T at an early age. I did twenty years in the Navy I have been a DJ for 18 yrs. The song Naked to the world is my favorite of all. Check this out during my travels in the US Navy
I was able to buy a Teena Marie CD titled Passion Play. So for you Lady T fans that don't have this one when you find it and here the trax WILD HORSES, please e-mail me and let me know what you think. kendrickse@yahoo.com Peace.

Super
I have this Cd on tape, and it's wearing out, this is Teena at her best."Naked to the World" is an AWESOMEcut, and it's one of my favorites. I'll put La Dona, right up there with this. Both are must have music!

Iris ... Read more

Asin: B0000026CK
Sales Rank: 91791
Subjects:  1. Dance-Pop    2. Pop    3. Pop/Rock    4. Quiet Storm    5. R&B    6. Urban   

Daydream Nation
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 November, 1993)
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Editorial Review

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

Reviews (113)

#1
I tried to think of what rekid could be in the same class as daydream nation, and i really couldn't come up with one.If there is such a thing as perfection, this is it...To go on about how this changed the face of music blah blah blah is really not even what matters the most -- if you have an ear for rock and roll, put this rekid on, and just see what it does to you.

.
i never really could hear this as a masterpiece as seems to be the general consensus.there's plenty of interesting stuff on it, some quite nice to listen to, but it's a little long and some of the vocals are really annoying.in general the lyrics aren't really my thing, but they probably appeal to people with different tastes.this and murray street are the only sy albums i own, and i prefer the latter.

A mysterious Master piece
well... after listening to this album 50 times atleast it hit me 1 time in study hall what i was listening to, this is one of the most influencial albums ive ever listened to, i have evol and goo, but i still think this is their best. I didnt like it the first 30 times i listened to it, but it kept me coming back, then after awhile.... it hit me, this is AMAZING. im into jazz, fusion, and a little bit of rock. i think this is really an album any music fan could benifit from. You might not like it the first time u hear it, but to truely appreciate it you need to give it alot of tries. Sonic Youth not really a talented guitar band (i play guitar so usually it matters) but instead of having guitar talent they add in things that arent plesent to the ear, or something totally melodic, You can call it a "Noise" rock revolution. Buy this album, its worth it...I used to listen to Teenage Riot which i thought was a great song, and when i listened to the rest, i was liek what is this crap.... But key truely enjoying this album is to listen to it alot before you just think u bought a horrible album. :) ... Read more

Asin: B000003TAL
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

OU812
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Editorial Review

Having proven its Sammy Hagar-led lineup a success with 5150, Van Halen followed that effort with OU812, an album that, despite its cheesy title, is every bit its predecessor's equal, burning with balls-to-the-walls hard rock that never leaves its pop sensibility far behind. From the sweeping power ballad "When It's Love" and the full-on rocker "Finish What Ya Started," to the stringbending showcases "A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)" and "Cabo Wabo" and even an uncharacteristic cover (of Little Feat's "A Apolitical Blues"), Eddie, Alex, Michael, and Sammy play with abandon and a palpable sense of fun. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Some Darker tunes, Guitar Madness, and pop hits..again!
With OU812 (a smudge at former frontman David Lee Roth's debut solo album "Eat 'em and Smile") Van Halen embarked on their 8th studio release and their 2nd album with Sammy Hagar at the helm.

This album takes most of the synthesizer out that we were basking in from the past 2 albums (1984, 5150) and got back to some of their roots with some darker sounding songs that are extremely strong in guitar technics (from yours truly, Eddie Van Halen!)"Mine all Mine", "A.F.U. Naturally Wired" (all fired up), "Source of Infection", and "Sucker in a three piece" are hard rock tunes with lightning speed guitar, these hook laden gems should not go unnoticed.

On the flipside, Van Halen was again able to produce "pop" gems that's musical direction started becoming evident with thier 1984 release. These are somewhat slower, catchy, tap-your-foot tunes that are commercial hits like "Cabo Wabo", "Feels so Good", "When it's love", "Finish what ya started", and "Black and Blue".

So far I've had to give all of thier albums up to this point 5 stars.You'll see there are albums I will rate and rank in the future that will not be slated as high.Overall one of my favorite albums from them in terms of diverse song writing and superb guitar tracks.A must for any Van Halen or Hagar Fan.

1. Mine All Mine
2. When It's Love
3. A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)
4. Cabo Wabo
5. Source of Infection
6. Feels So Good
7. Finish What Ya Started
8. Black and Blue
9. Sucker in a 3 Piece
10. Apolitical Blues

Sammy Hagar trapped in adolescent's mind
I think this is really the last good Van Halen album.There's one crappy track, the awful A Apolitical Blues (what a surprise to learn that Van Halen is 'apolitical') but aside from that this album balances real rockers with slower, dreamier (and indeed cheesier Van songs) though nothing is particularly offensive.

Van Halen basically made the same album over and over, using the same producer (Ted Templeton) who mastered the sound of the band.The instruments sound the same on every album, with only a little flourish here and there of extra production (keyboards, sequencers).But it was always the classic Van Halen guitar and the fat, top-heavy drums.The vocals required a guy who could party and scream a lot but not get too serious, because that would betray the unmistakable party feeling of the band.And this is probably Haggar's finest hour with Van Halen.Growing into the role of professional party-man-singer, Sammy screams about more of the same, one of the few singers (along with Roth, of course) to use "Yeah!" or "Oooooooooooooh!" as an entire verse.The man's libido is dripping off the CD, as he discusses his intention to perform intimate acts until injury (Black and Blue), for instance.The band keeps a real jewel for last.'Sucker in a 3-Piece' is nothing short of a masterpiece.From the opening guitar riff, to the drum buildup, to the loud scream that marks Sammy's entrance on the track, it has it all.You can't deny a song with the line 'He got a big 'ol belly...stone-bald head', referring to the titular 'sucker' in a 3-piece suit, no doubt a serious affront to Sammy.

Van Halen was a good one-trick pony, providing brainless, loud guitar rock with fat hooks.I think after this outing it started to get a little embarassing as the health problems of Eddie combined with the rotating singer (it never really mattered, as they all screamed the same inane lyrics) caused the band to slip off the charts and into AA.But OU812 (real brilliant title there) is a very good outing.

What's up with no remastered version of this album?They remastered all of them up to 5150, what about the rest?The album needs it.The remastering brings everything out, widening that flat, middle-range sound of most AAD discs.I wanna hear those fat, sloppy high-hats better, and Eddie's big, fat guitar riffs.

Van Hagar's Second Effort Pays Off...A Little Bit
I love Van Halen, but I much prefer David Lee Roth to Sammy Hagar. It's the complete opposite with their solo careers however. I think Hagar is better than Roth solo. See, when Roth was in the band their lyrics were really fun and cool and when Hagar joined it got a little more mature. There are some Van Hagar songs that are juvenile, but overall the lyrics got more mature. When Roth left, his style changed. His voice sounded different and his lyrics sucked. Hagar had cheesy lyrics before he joined Van Halen, but they did get better once he joined. This is the 3rd Hagar album i've listened too (right after
"5150" and "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge) and it is the worst of those two. It has silly sounding pop songs and a blues song at the end that is borderline stupid. It also has "When It's Love" which is a terrific song. Here are the tracks & my thoughts:
Mine All Mine: Good lyrics, music is good. It's catchy and a good album opener.
When It's Love: One of my favorite Van Hagar songs. It's a terrific song. Great backup vocals by Eddie.
AFU (Naturally Wired):Good song. There's a great guitar solo in the middle of it and the end.
Cabo Wabo:This is a good song, but at 7+ minutes. It eventually becomes annoying.
Soure of Infection: This is an allright song. Eddie's guitar drives it.
Feels So Good: This is kind of a weak song. It feels like the band put this song together in a hurry.
Finish What Ya Started: I like this song. It's rather infectious. Good song.
Black & Blue: A good song, that confronts a great issue.
Sucker in a 3 Piece: It's not enought that the song has dumb lyrics but it's 5 seconds shy of 6 minutes.
A Apolitical Blues: Thank God they never did something like this again. White people are supposed to give the blues not to get them. And ESPECIALLY not to sing about them.

Overall I guess it's a pretty good album, but some of the songs are so long they just get annoying. B-.

By the way. Who do u like more? Roth or Hagar? E-Mail me ur vote at moviefreak144@hotmail.com ... Read more

Asin: B000002LEM
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Pop-Metal    6. Pop/Rock    7. Rock   

Skyscraper
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Reviews (25)

DLR+Steve Vai=FUN MUSIC and Traditional Rock!
Let's not look at the past with Van Halen, or the future of his solo career.Let's just take a look at this album!

I spoke to a friend of mine who was in college when this album came out.He summed up David Lee Roth's music in 2 words:FUN MUSIC!This is music that pulls you into themes of partying, sunny days with friends, being happy to be alive.Of course the 90's killed that very notion with the dark, depressing, sorrowful songs that were of that noire of music.Oh sorry I got off subject again...

Skyscraper is best known for it's hit "Just like Paradise" which peaked at no. 3 the year it came out.A simply great song and one of Dave's best."Hot Dog and a shake" and the pop-ready "Stand up" are 2 other gems on this album.Overall another great piece of work from Dave.The album again features Steve Vai on guitar and is diverse in theme, tempo, harmony, and structure.

Still an album that I think is fun to listen to today, though it may not have stood it's test of time back then in the saturated market of guitar rock (late 80's), I think with VH fans of the Roth Era, or Roth fans in general, it's stood it's test with us, and gets a passing grade.

1. Knucklebones
2. Just Like Paradise
3. Bottom Line
4. Skyscraper
5. Damn Good
6. Hot Dog and a Shake
7. Stand Up
8. Hina
9. Perfect Timing
10. Two Fools a Minute

Great stuff to practice your guitar techniques on
I liked David Lee Roth in Van Halen, actually without David, Van Halen just ain't Van Halen. This CD i like espescially for the great guitarlicks Steve Vai put in. Listen to 'Knucklebones' where he puts several styles in one song and where there is an ocean of subtle notes played. It took me several days to tab it and still i don't get all slides, push, pulls and harmonics.
There is a lot of energy in all the songs. Just one warning : don't listen to it in your car: it will surely get you a speeding ticket !

1988 A Damn Good Time !!!
1988 Fondly remembered for The Diamond's best release of his less than lack-luster solo career. Steve Vai starts the disc out with a chicken pickin guitar opening that is least expected but he remains intune to where Roth is headed and explains why Vai was easily meant to support Roth instead of you know who. Vai and Roth sink deep into Pop territory for Just like Paradise while flexing their metal muscle on Knucklebones.Vai's fifth grade composition Damn Good comes off with some Damn good results and the title track ---- contrary to other reviewers finds Vai's backward masking and recording quite adventurous for its time and if listened to with the proper surround sound equiptment will leave the listener in Awe.Perfect Timing is an excellent song that stands well on its own and should have been a single.Its competition OU812 flounders in comparrision to this Pop Metal Masterpiece. ... Read more

Asin: B000002LDG
Sales Rank: 10434
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Pop-Metal    6. Pop/Rock    7. Rock   

Sur La Mer
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Reviews (26)

Relaxing Album from The Moody of Moodies
If you want to relax and listen to the Moodies I recommend this superb album...I wanna go Deep...Deep...sure is a surreal underwater experience...the bass notes and the faint sound of blurping bubbles give it a sound track feel it is so visionary in its musical composit...delete Here Comes the Weekend though as this is a wake up track and feels as if it doesnt belong here.
I know You're out There Somewhere tells a story and there was a video to that originally showing the band when they were young with look alike actors in B/W..and the present Justin and Bandat the time in colour searching for his lost love, released in the late 80's/early 90's this album was my first CD I had the 12 inch of the single taken from the album of the afore mentioned track.
I love John Lodge's River of Endless Love this is a romantic and relaxing number..Vintage Wine and the nostalgic feel is good gives you goosebumbs...Breaking Point is some what eerie dont listen to that track on your own oooh! No More lies a lovers promise with conviction that had a video of Justin and his wife around surreal cartoonish art work on video...I loved that.A very musical and variedalbum I could listen to it all day.

Pop Moodies
"Sur La Mer" was the fourth and final original Moodies album released in the 80s.The album was an improvement over "The Other Side of Life," which tried too hard to fit with the commercial music of 1986 and which succeeded with "Your Wildest Dreams."However, the music in that album tried to make The Moody Blues 80s hip, and historically their music has been their own, not their interpretation of current pop.Unfortunately, that tendency lingers on a few songs in this album.

On the positive, Patrick Moraz' overpowering keyboards were toned down significantly from the previous album; a much needed improvement.Also, there are several very good songs.Some of the better songs sound similar to the Justin Hayward and John Lodge solo effort "Blue Jays," but that is to be expected since both wrote or co-wrote every song on this CD.

There are several negative aspects to this album.Probably the most significant is the absence of flautist and vocalist Ray Thomas.Ray has always helped expand the breadth of the Moodies' music, and his absence is noticeable.Another negative is that some of the music tries too hard, again, to be current with musical trends of the late 80s.This characteristic is attributable to the creative leadership of Justin Hayward and John Lodge, who appeared to be looking for a more commercial sound.Another disturbing aspect of this album is the heavy reliance on synthesizers.Both Justin Hayward and John Lodge are credited with drum sequencing, which seems to me to be synthesized drums.Tony Visconti is also credited with programming, which I take to mean synthesizers of some type.While I applaud the lesser role of Patrick Moraz on this CD, I also wonder what he was doing when three others were doing synthesizer work.

The CD kicks off with "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," a lengthy combination of music and vocals that is considered the follow up to "Your Wildest Dreams" from "The Other Side of Life."This romantic ballad about seeking a lost love was a syrupy sweet video, and yet it worked for me.This song is also one of the few that inherited a flavor of the progressive rock for which the Moodies were once known, though this song is solidly pop.While fans of the classic 7 may bemoan the light lyrics and pop beat, the song is well written and performed.This song is one of the best on this CD.

Another excellent love ballad, "Want to Be with You," follows.Portions of the song have a wonderfully bombastic nature that reminds me of some of the most challenging of early Moodies music, though the song is pop.The harmonies on this song are also well done.This song is another of the better songs on this CD.

The third song, "River of Endless Love," is a throw back to "The Other Side of Life."The song is fast and tries too hard to show how current the Moodies can be.The cutesy synthesizer introduction turns me off as does the synthesizer in several other places.The vocals are acceptable, but this song just feels like commercial filler.

"No More Lies" is a sincere and wonderful Justin Hayward ballad, which means, of course, that it really is not a Moody Blues ballad.However, it is a wonderfully mellow ballad.There are moments in this song that anticipate "The View from the Hill," a 1996 Justin Hayward release that could easily have included this song.This song is an indication of the reason Justin Hayward has been given awards for his song writing ability.

Another relatively weak song is "Here Comes the Weekend."The vocals and music are played well, but the song seems like a low point on this CD.

"Vintage Wine" has Moody Blues lyrics with pop music.The lyrics are generally excellent, and had this song been influenced by the entire team, including Mike Pinder, it could have been a phenomenal Moodies song with airy synthesizers and a haunting flute.

"Breaking Point" at first seems a bit too pop, but read the lyrics and you realize the person in this song is incredibly haunted, perhaps by a lost love or loved one.The song could have been more heavily orchestrated and the lack of creative synthesizers again leaves the song wanting for more power, but is still reasonably good.

The disco-sounding "Miracle" would be fine for a group that specializes in dance music, but not the Moodies.

John Lodge redeems himself on "Love Is on the Run," easily his best contribution on this CD, ranking with "Want to Be with You" that he co-wrote with Justin Hayward.The soaring vocals and keyboards come together to create one of the more powerful songs on this CD.

The CD ends with "Deep," the fourth Justin Hayward written song.At last is a flavor of the depth the Moodies once had.Admittedly the song brings a flavor only, but it is there.The lyrics have a little spiritual new age flavor and Justin's vocals climb in places to emphasis portions appropriately.While there are some things about the music that I find slightly annoying, particularly some of the electronic percussion, this song also features some of the more intricate music on this CD.

Moody Blues CDs of the 80s suffered from a lack of concept and too much variety in musical styles; this CD suffers from both.However, there are some moments on this CD that make this CD quite worthwhile.Indeed, had a mere three songs been replaced by other songs the CD would have been much stronger.Had the remaining songs had more influence by Ray Thomas, and, in my dreams, Mike Pinder, this CD could have been absolutely phenomenal.However, in spite of the flaws, this CD is one of the better CDs of the post "Long Distance Voyager" era and well worth having in any Moody Blues fan's CD collection.

The Moody Blues in the 1980s...
I think Sur La Mer is as good an album for the Moody Blues as any other 1980s release.The album loses a little steam beyond the first six tracks.My least favorite songs are Breaking Point and Deep.I don't know what Justin Hayward was thinking when he wrote Deep.It is totally uncharacteristic of any earlier Moody Blues material.I suppose it's a stab at writing a song subtly or not so subtly about sex.But, it doesn't work for them.Also, the lack of any material from Ray Thomas or Graeme Edge is apparent here as well.Ray is listed in the credits, but is nowhere to be found on Sur La Mer.Mr. Thomas makes a return on the 1991 release Keys Of The Kingdom, but that album ranks even lower in my opinion, perhaps because of the production.Tony Visconti did a superb job producing The Other Side Of Life as well as Sur La Mer.Sur La Mer is also the last album with Patrick Moraz on keyboards.Anyway, if you want to hear the Moody Blues at their best in the '80s, Sur La Mer might be a good place to start.Frankly, I don't think anyone could go wrong with any 1980s Moody Blues album, although I am partial to the "classic 7" of the late '60s and early '70s. ... Read more

Asin: B000001FOX
Sales Rank: 32230
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Pop    3. Pop/Rock    4. Rock   

Idlewild
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Editorial Review

Everything but the Girl have always taken a languid approach to their music, but they were at their most sublime on Idlewild. Produced by the duo's own Ben Watt, the music is stripped down to the bare minimum--a rhythm, a melody, and Tracy Thorn's divine voice--yet somehow they make it feel lush. Some of EBTG's most affecting songs are on Idlewild: Thorn's adolescent reminiscence in "Oxford Street"; "The Night I Heard Caruso Sing," Watt's ode to father and (someday) son in which he explains that the great tenor is "almost as good as Presley"; the tale of friendship in "Blue Moon Rose"; and "Apron Strings," a song of love and loss. EBTG are just as touching on Amplified Heart and Acoustic, but Idlewild is a classic in its own right. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Good without being exceptional...
"Idlewild" is a late and recent addition to my EBTG collection, since I really became a fan of the band with 1990's "The Language of Life" and a devoted fan with 1994's "Amplified Heart". It is safe to say that I'm a particular fan of their 90s music; everything before that just seems like a skilled exercise until they hit their groove about ten years into their career. I know there are those that would disagree with me, but "Idlewild" is a good example of why I feel that way.

The songs on this album are all good without being exceptional. Tracey Thorn is a uniquely gifted vocalist; at times on this CD her delivery reminds me of Joan Baez in the 1970s. (Compare her vocal on "Shadow on A Harvest Moon" with JB's "Speaking of Dreams" or "Diamonds and Rust".) The lyrics are atmospheric - I particularly like "The Night I Heard Caruso Sing" in which the narrator decides "If I only do one thing I'll sings songs to my father, I'll sings song to my child; it's time to hold your loved ones while the chains are loosed and the world runs wild." And I enjoyed the lyrics of "Oxford Street" in which Thorn pre-dates John Mayor's "No Such Thing" with the thought "But there is no real world -- we live side by side, and sometimes collide."

What the album lacks for me is one of those stop-everything-I-could-cry-it's-so-good songs, like "Rollercoaster" and "Two Star" from Amplified Heart, "Mirrorball" and "Heart Remains a Child" from Walking Wounded and "Lullaby of Clubland" and "No Difference" from Temperamental. All of the songs on Idlewild are good, none is terrible, but none is exceptional. Not surprisingly (to me) none of these songs made it onto EBTG's recent retrospective "Like the Deserts Miss the Rain".

Music for a girl to live her life to...
As each of the girls in our family leave home, I give them three things to take with them:1-A small compass, so they can always find their way home.2-A copy of R. Munsch's "Paper Bag Princess", so that they understand the Ronalds they will meet on their way to happy-ever-after, and 3-This album, because of the song "Apron Strings".Together, it is a survival manual that every woman should have.I like to tell my family and friends that there are actually only two types of music...good and bad, and I prefer good.I don't like to try and categorize music, because frankly the good stuff transcends labels.How do you define Cowboy Junkies? Or Ella Fitzgerald?And, thank goodness, Everything But the Girl?The songs on this album are complex but effortless, and ultimately, classic.A must for any music lover.

A Favorite For Years
Granted, it's not macho music, but this album is one of the best for when you want unwind. My favorite EBTG song is "Twin Cities" on "Worldwide," but this is a better CD. The music may be quiet, but the lyrics are strong. It's pop music at it's best: it connects a large audience with a message or story or image. ... Read more

Asin: B000002LE7
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Sophisti-Pop   

Amnesia
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (30 July, 1991)
list price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

By the time Amnesia was recorded in 1988, it seemed Richard Thompson had recovered from the break-up of his marriage to long-time musical partner Linda Thompson--or maybe, as the title implies, he simply buried and forgot the pain. Rather than creating an album of love-gone-bad tunes (as on 1983's lovely Hand of Kindness), Thompson broke out of the gloom and wrote songs with fresh energy and strength. An aggressive voice takes over where once a weaker man may have spoken ("Turning of the Tide," "Waltzing's for Dreamers"). Moving from personal relationships to the state of the world, Thompson targets TV evangelism and American imperialism with caustic wit and guitars that sting. Produced by Mitchell Froom, this collection is one of the best of their many collaborative efforts. --Lorry Fleming ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Apt title for a long out of print and almost forgotten album
Sadly, most of Richard Thompson's amazing catalogue lies smouldering in the out of print bin. Since the 1970s he has consistently put out great material, but a mass audience never wafted up from the general populace. When Capitol signed Thompson they probably saw mass appeal, hits, and the next big critical and commercial success. In the mid late 1980s music rags announced Capitol's huge marketing campaign designed to haul Thompson from obscurity to stardom. Almost instantaneoulsy, Thompson's face appeared plastered in record stores, in music magazines, and the occasional television appearance. "Amnesia" belongs to this era, and Capitol pulled out plenty, if not all, of the stops to market it. Somehow the album stalled despite the strength of its contents. The 1991 follow-up "Rumor and Sigh" found Capitol getting what it wanted out of Thompson, but some ten years later the label dropped him. Thompson survives on Indie labels, but hopefully some label will put Thompson's considerable Capitol output back into print (calling Rhino!! Rhino!! Are you there!?!?!).

"Amnesia" is in no way Thompson's best album, but it contains some amazing material. "Turning of the Tide" should have been a hit. No good reason exists for its obscurity on the radio waves in 1988. The song holds up as a pop bulwark even today. "Waltzing's For Dreamers" could arguably be placed alongside some of Thompson's best material. A mellow bittersweet song about lost love, one of Thompson's perennial subjects, it almost sounds out of place amongst the pop rock songs that fill most of the album. Thompson waxes controversial on "Yankee, Go Home", including such lines as "Overpaid, oversexed and over here/Get smart, gringo, disappear/The Hun's at the gates of Rome/Yankee Go Home". Subtle it is not. One wonders if Capitol and Thompson exchanged blows over its inclusion on "Amnesia". "Don't Tempt Me" is a humorous (or not so humorous depending on one's point of view) take on bar room machismo. "I Still Dream" and "Reckless Kind" are Thompson staples burgeoning with bad bitter lost love. "Gypsy Love Songs", though a bit overlong, contains some great guitar work.

"Amnesia" doesn't deserve to wallow in never never land. Only two cuts made it onto Capitol's "Action Packed: Best of the Capitol Years" compression of five albums. Fans and the curious must resort to used bins or online auctions to get a copy. This album deserves better.

MOMENTS OF BRILLIANCE
Although it has its moments, this not Thompson's best work by far. That's because it's musically uneven, with uninspiring arrangements as on Gypsy Love Songs, Can't Win and some really silly numbers like the cliched Yankee, Go Home. Turning Of The Tide is fast with an appealing melody and a theme that mirrors Tom Waits' Saving All My Love For You, whilst Reckless Kind and I Still Dream are slow ballads about lost love, and Jerusalem On The Jukebox kicks ... at a driving pace while delivering social comment. The major saving grace is of course Waltzing's For Dreamers, a sparkling piece of poetry set to a sad, lilting melody that evokes the same feel as another of his classics, How Will I Ever Be Simple Again, with its melancholy lyrics:
"Oh play me a blue song and fade down the light
I'm sad as a proud man can be sad tonight
Just let me dream on, oh just let me sway
While the sweet violins and the saxophones play
And Miss, you don't know me, but can't we pretend
That we care for each other, till the band reach the end."
So Amnesia is worth getting, if only for this one song. But his album Rumor and Sigh is more varied and a much more rewarding listening experience.

why can't I add half-stars?
because this is an amazing three-and-a-half star album, but i'mnot sure it's a four-star.there are a few cuts- "Yankee, GoHome" (which i love musically and find humorous as hell but which has potential to alienate more than a few listeners), "Jerusalem on the Jukebox", which i still get stuck in my head occasionally but which might not have the same stamina four years down the road, "Pharaoh" which is just midtempo drudgery, for the most part... but, having said that, "Turning of the Tide" and "Waltzing's" are worth the price of this disc threefold, especially "Waltzing's".i defy you to find me a finer lost love song written in the last forty years.perhaps "nightswimming".but "waltzing's" in the same closet. ... Read more

Asin: B000008TWQ
Subjects:  1. British Folk    2. British Folk-Rock    3. Folk & Traditional    4. Folk-Rock    5. Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Slow Turning
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Editorial Review

John Hiatt was feeling strong after the success of 1987's masterstroke Bring the Family, so he rocked out a little more on the joyful, confident Slow Turning. His Louisiana quartet, the Goners, spearheaded by slide guitar innovator Sonny Landreth, made each hot tune ("Drive South," "Tennessee Plates") crack like a whip. Hiatt's rubbery soul singing, in turn, made each ballad ("Icy Blue Heart," "Is Anybody There?") tug at every available heartstring. The album became a bit of a hit factory for others, too--with Emmylou Harris, Suzy Bogguss, and Aaron Neville among the many who made Slow Turning's songs their own. This gold version of the title offers superior sound quality for a higher price than the standard-issue CD. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A good follow-up to Hiatt's best-ever release
"Slow Turning" is Hiatt's first collaboration with Louisiana trio The Goners, which includes slide guitarist Sonny Landreth.
The arrangements are variously acoustic and electric, and several guest stars pop up: Former Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon plays his National resonator guitar, then-session vocalist Ashley Cleveland and Dennis Locorriere of Dr Hook contributes backing vocals, and the Amazing Rhythm Aces' James Hooker sits in on organ.

Highlights include the tough rockers "Paper Thin" and "Tennessee Plates", the resigned, unsentimental ballad "Icy Blue Heart", the country-rock shuffle "Sometime Other Than Now", the tender love song "Feels Like Rain", and the excellent title track.

John Hiatt's 1987 album "Bring The Family" is without question his best ever, not least because he was able to work with his dream band (Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner and Nick Lowe).
But "Slow Turning" is no throwaway either. Not everything is equally memorable, sure, but it is still among Hiatt's better albums.
3½ stars.

Rock and Roll For Grownups
If you want to explore John Hiatt -- and you should -- start here. If you're a fan without this CD, what in the world are you waiting for? It just doesn't get a whole lot better than this.

John Hiatt writes about real life. There are no sappy teenage love songs, but there is a great song, "Drive South," about two lovers with "heads in the clouds, just a little off-course" and one more chance to make it work.

"Trudy and Dave" aren't your average couple, but their descriptions (and the baby's) are laugh-out-loud funny. "Tennessee Plates" has a great, catchy guitar riff and an even better storyline: a lonely, desperate man; a female Elvis fan who's "been living in-between" and a car theft in Memphis.

"Georgia Rae" is a song about Hiatt's daughter and fits in well with everything else here. The title song is Hiatt's view of the world: unbowed, but realistic. "Is Anybody There?" will put chills down your spine with its mass choir effect and deep lyrics. "Feels Like Rain" paints a beautiful, languid picture of lovers in the Deep South and the music fits as perfectly as the lovers do.

If you like meaningful lyrics, melodies that linger in your head and you still don't have this CD, then you need to do something about it right now. You won't believe how great this is.

One you can wear out
John Hyatt as a songwriter/musician/performer is at the top of his profession. If you are a fan, or certainly if you are new to his music, Slow Turning is a must. It has been 10 plus years since I discovered this album, and I have had it on cassette, and more than 1 CD. It is wear-it-out good. From the title track to "Georgia Rae", you won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Asin: B000002GI0
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

The Living Years
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Reviews (14)

Don't Let Another Day Go By
without telling your loved ones how you feel.

This song always reminds me of my pet goldfish Cleo. Though I only knew her for a few short hours, we had a lifetime worth of memories. I never got to tell her how I really felt.

As I was flushing her bloated and slightly decomposed body down the toilet, this great song by Mike and the Mechanics came on the radio. It really struck me how short life can be. I always think of Cleo when I hear it. Don't let this happen to you. Tell everyone how you feel, and do it now, for God's sake !!

criterio
Antes de comprar un disco, suelo leer las reseñas que se hacen al mismo. Lo que ocurre es que me gusta mirar, igualmente, que tipo de discos han comentado los que hacen las reseñas para ver, un poco, por donde van sus gustos y ver si, de ese modo, su criterio coincide con el mio.
Viendo los perfiles de las personas que comentan los discos de Mike and the Meccanics, se aprecia que, masivamente, sus gustos se decantan por el pop de los 80: Synx, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Phil Collins, Sting, etc.

Si esos son tus gustos, no tengo nada que objetar, pero si eres un seguidor de Genesis (y del progresivo, en general) y pretendes ver en estos discos algo, no ya solo de los viejos Genesis, sino de complejidad compositiva, lo llevas claro.
Se trata de uno de esos miles de discos insustanciales que, a duras penas, logras escuchar en su integridad. Un tema de gancho, el single, para las radiofórmulas, y un montón de temas que parecen sacados de una factoría. Todos son igual. La única diferencia es que unos son baladas y otros temás más enérgicos que, curiosamente, se van alternando, digo yo que para que las neuronas de los no avezados, no se quemen tras la exposición de unos temas simples y machacones.
Rutherford, tras su primer, y bastante bueno, primer disco en solitario, prefirió seguir la estela de su compinche, Collins y decidió embarcarse en una empresa con más dividendos que calidad musical. Lo que ocurre es que, por poco que me guste aquel, Mike tiene aún menos gracia que Collins y ni siquiera surgen "bonitas tonadas".

Macho Memories
The album is worth the price even with only the lyrics of one song "The Living Years."The cycle of machizmo gets past on from man to boy, forever and ever. We are prisoners of ourselves.Someday I'll move on to the other songs on this album. Right now I'm caught up in tears in my living years.
Wonderful Song. ... Read more

Asin: B000002INC
Sales Rank: 9320
Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Pop    3. Pop/Rock    4. Rock   

Big Thing
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (12 September, 2000)
list price: $12.97
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Reviews (12)

Banging On A Big Thing
Coming off the horn heavy funk of "Notorious," Duran Duran the trio stripped the sound down to some heavy beats for "Big Thing." The first single, "I Don't Want Your Love," sounded like a re-invention. Incorporating the current house and new-jack dance trends at the time, it was a major leap away from the candy-floss of "Rio." "All She Wants Is" carried the same sort of dance-floor urgency, and the title track was an arena ready thumper.

But the trademark lushness wasn't ever too far off. "Too Late Marlene" and "Land" are everything you'd expect from Duran Duran, rich arrangements, Simon's grandiose lyrics and Nick Rhodes' atmospheric keyboards. But perhaps "Big Thing's" best moment is the tribute to the band's late friend Alex Sadkin, "Do You Believe In Shame." Slowing down the swamp groove of "Suzie Q" and laying in an emotional vocal, "Shame" connects on a level that only a few songs in the DD library have ever done before.

Equally as good as "Notorious," and in my opinion, better than the "Wedding Album."

Range of styles and topics
The traditional political, sexual and social commentary are part of every song in this collection.Yet the music itself varies from straight pop to almost industrial sounding to ballads. I only wish the lyrics were included for all the songs and not merely parts of different songs because it is often the lyrics which challenge you the most.

Duran Duran's own 'White Album'
'Big Thing'is Duran Duran's third masterpiece('Rio' being the first and 'Notorious' being the second). This album is as versitile and arty as Duran Duran has ever gotten in the 80's. Such strange interludes as "Polimino" remind me of the kind of things the Beatles did with the 'White Album'(a la "Wild Honey Pie"). 'The Big Thing' serves as a pecursor to thier fourth masterpiece-'The Wedding Album'. And yes, I do think that "Drug(It's just a state of mind)" is one of the best songs on the record. ... Read more

Asin: B00004X0IR
Sales Rank: 271377
Subjects:  1. Dance-Pop    2. Synth Pop   

Small World
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 April, 2001)
list price: $18.98
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Features

• Import
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (14)

A rare gem
This album, together with Fore!, are the best Huey Lewis albums ever.The melodies and instrumentals are very solid, and I never grow tired of them."World To Me" and "Old Antone's" really stand out.

Sounds great!
I bought "Small World" when it was first released, and I was a bit disappointed.Of course, their prior two albums (Sports, Fore!) where jammed packed with hits."Small World" had fewer obvious hits, and indeed only "Perfect World" hit the Top 10.However, in retrospect, the CD sounds great and has much more diversity than their other CDs.Several songs have a terrific zydeco/Louisiana flavor, such as "Old Antwone's" and "Bobo Tempo."They also have a couple of instrumentals that sound great and highlight their growth as musicians, such as "Small World (Part Two)."

Sadly, "Small World" was the group's last major hit CD.If they had continued on this trajectory, they may have ended up making music pretty similar to Hootie and the Blowfish and other early 90's hitmakers.However, much of their later music took on the sound of 50s and 60s rock (their "Four Chords..." CD featured remakes of old rock songs).Don't let the lack of success of these later CDs scare you away.Huey Lewis and the news are a great, under-appreciated rock band.

Under Exposed Classic
I am a HLN fan...be forewarned

It's a great album that even as a fan I didn't really appreciate until many years later. It's rich, solid sound with a real emphasis on the bands talent. They never sounded better. There are quite a few gems on this disc that never saw the light of day...an absolute shame. ... Read more

Asin: B00004Y58G
Sales Rank: 45130
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Bar Band    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Faith
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

"Well I guess it would be nice, if I could touch your body...." Given George Michael's restroom hi-jinks in early 1998, those words from "Faith" sound pretty funny, but they sounded fresh and exciting blasting out of car radios all over America in 1987. Michael's stunning solo debut (after four years in the lightweight British duo Wham!) sold seven million copies and yielded six Top 10 hits. Some of those were among the decade's best pop, including the hiccuping title track, the heartfelt ballad "Father Figure" and the wicked R&B groove of "I Want Your Sex." Unlike so much 1980s treacle, this disc hold ups surprisingly well--even if Michael hasn't always done so himself. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (60)

A brother like no other!
When listening to this CD you come to realize that there is no one to compare this guy to. He is in a league all by himself! All of GM's CD's are as strong today as when they were originally released. I think it's because his heart is in every written line. He sings pages from his life. The voice quality is like no other as well. He is blessed with such a beautiful tone. It is a pleasure to listen to. You simply do not get tired of it. If one listens to what's currently out there that calls itself music, and then listens to a GM CD, it's like night, and day. The songs of Faith are brilliant in composition, and phrasing. "Father Figure" what female wouldn't love to hear these words? "One more Try" I really would like to who the teacher is? "Kissing a Fool" is just beautiful. "Monkey" has the Most hard hitting sound. It pounds you down in a good way. "I Want Your Sex", I really wanted to have a smoke after listening to this. All the songs on this CD are worth the price of admission so to speak. By the way, for those die hard GM fans, he is letting you inside just pay attention.

Out of the Loo
This is pre-bathroom escapades GM at his finest - the first in an endless string of one word album titles, that are sure to bring a tear to the eye and smile to the lips - of nobody!

You've Got To Have Faith!
It's tough breaking away from a cheery pop outfit and becoming a serious solo artist. Will people take you seriously? Will you still dwell on your group? Not in the case of George Michael, who to this day, has made one of the finest breakout debuts. I have to hand it to him, he did a killer job, writing all if not most of the material and singing the hell out of it. The "Choose Life" T-shirts and "Wake Me Up (Before You Go-Go)" seem but only a distant and embrassing moment in George Michael's life. "Faith" brought bigger and better things for him, such as spawning a numerous crop of hits ("Faith", "I Want Your Sex", "Kissin A Fool", "One More Try", "Father Figure", "Hard Day" and "Monkey"). I like the fact that "Faith" isn't your ordinary run-of-the-mill pop album. There are twists and turns in music, such as going from the rockabilly hit "Faith" to the soulful, gospel tinged "Father Figure" (my favorite) then jetting straight into the controversial and oh-so-sexy funk/pop fest of "I Want Your Sex". The ballads even contrast from the soft, suttle and blusey "One More Try" to the jazzy, smoky nightclub-ish "Kissing A Fool". The only very basic pop song featured here is "Hard Day", still it's a grooving piece that will be sure to please. "Faith" also touches on some heavy topics, like the beautiful piano driven, "Hand To Mouth" which hints at the Reagan-era America, another rockabilly/pop tune "Look At Your Hands" focuses on domestic violence as the funky bass-line of "Monkey" tells of a relationship revovling around the use of drugs. Also the second (Brass In Love-funky, funky, funky!) and third (A Last Request-cool and calming and verry seductive) parts of "I Want Your Sex" are featured here which kind of gives an ongoing theme to the album.
Admist the socially concious, soul searching and romantic/heartbreaking cuts and the numerous jumps into pop, funk, soul, jazz and rock, this album remains consistant and a very enjoyable listen. At times it doesn't even feel like it was released in 1987, it sounds fresh and sharp. George Michael has a heavenly voice and he has such immense talent, I'm amazed that he hasn't done anything today that America (I don't know about the Brits) has taken notice. This is a classic, tried and true, and it will be on heavy roatation on my CD player. You have got to have "Faith"!

StarSprinkles05 Top 5
1. Father Figure
2. Kissing A Fool
3. I Want Your Sex (1,2,3)
4. Hard Day
5. Hand To Mouth ... Read more

Asin: B0000026CH
Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Dance-Pop    3. England    4. Pop    5. Pop Vocals    6. Pop/Rock    7. Rock    8. Urban   

Stronger Than Pride
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 November, 2000)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (42)

Don't overlook this album!
This album took a lot of listening before I decided it is still one of Sade's best effort. "Diamond Life" swept my feet off for its originality and cool compositions, while "Promise" offered so much in one album it left me exasperated and thirsting for more.

However, "Stronger than pride" was at first dissapointing to me due to its laidback feel and the lack of that (what I can only describe as) "cool energy" that was so evident in her first two albums. Although her following albums were even more laidback, I guess "Stronger" was the point where Sade transformed herself from mass appeal to personal appeal. You can't help but feel that the singer has somehow bared her soul you after a few songs.

"Love is stronger than pride" opens the album with that typical Sade's vocals and you can immediately sense that this album is going to be different from the rest. "Paradise" picked up the pace a bit with a strong baseline, but just so much as if she was trying hard not to rock the album. "Nothing can come between us" then reveals the Sade we can all identify with but that is about all you are going to get which sounds like the previous albums.

The following songs are very laidback and I must admit I only realise the genius in her compositions after many listenings. "I never though I'd see the day" is one song which will mesmerize you with its simple and haunting melody. There are only 2 chords in this song and yet she can make your head spin in a trance as her vocals coil around you, around and around.

The other numbers are somewhat dissapointing except for "Clean heart" which is yet another superb composition. The album closes with an excellent Spanish instrumental as she once again shows us her roots and showcases her band members' undisputed talents.

A very laidback album but still you should not give this a miss!

Stronger than most other CDs
Reading over many of the other reviews on this page, there seems to be a consensus, even among many fans, that this is not Sade's strongest album.I'm not in a position to compare, since I don't own any others.I've had this one for several years, though, and it always captivates me whenever it finds its way back into my disk player.Sade's voice is absolutely beautiful, and the band has crafted a number of fine songs that complements its haunting quality.Stand-out tracks include "Clean Heart" and "I Never Thought I'd See the Day."

Superb Album That's Lost With The Bands Other Classics.
What do I mean by band? For those living in caves, hopefully you know that Sade is a band, that bares the lead singers first name.

Stronger Than Pride, went a different route than the band's previous two albums, "Diamond Life" and "Promise". The first two were more melancholy, the mood here was subliminaly psycho happy to drunk depressing, I never recommend Sade albums for those down on their luck. This one is an insane downer, keep this album from those who are chemically unbalanced.

Musically, this was about as strong as "Promise", lyrics were okayish, not the greatest of all the Sade albums, but better than alot of stuff I've heard past and present. Favorite Tracks include the rare upbeat "To Turn My Back On You", "Paradise", the depressing "Love Is Stronger Than Pride", and the so depressing that you hit the bottle "Clean Heart". The track the outshines them all is the final track and one of my top ten Sade tracks "Siempre Hay Esperanza", Sade is not singing here, but the rest of the band cuts loose. If I was to make my own Sade CD, this track would definately be on there.

If you are a Sade fan and don't have this album in your collection, I would advise you to pick this one up. It very well may be the weaker of all Sade albums, but it's very solid and stands on its own, compared to the others, "Siempre Hay Esperanza" alone is enough to pick this album up. ... Read more

Asin: B000051XXB
Sales Rank: 11723
Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Pop    3. R&B    4. Sophisti-Pop    5. Urban