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    Moon Safari
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (27 January, 1998)
    list price: $16.98 -- our price: $13.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    French duo Air's debut album is a superlatively happy collection of experimental disco-mood sound nestled between ambient soundscape and breathy pop. It's jazzy and melodic, and mostly laid-back, but not excessively so. There are a few shake-it, shake-it numbers, too, like the absurdly daft hit "Sexy Boy." It's snap your fingers and hang out (while reading) music or dance around sexy-slow with your mate music. It's also the perfect music to do your ironing or some other chore to; it's hypnotizing wallpaper music. It slips in and out of your consciousness, forcing you to move around with a relaxed smile before you even realize it. Oh, and contrary to sampler fashion, Nicolas Godin and Jean Benoit Dunckel played the instruments themselves. Bravo. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

    Reviews (264)

    5-0 out of 5 stars By far their best work ... 5 big fat stars
    There just aren't many words to describe this album's beauty. This is one of those albums that just sweeps you away into another world when you push play. The tranquility, comfort and soothing soundscapes will captivate your mind, tease your ears, and ultimately, it keeps you coming back for more. Every note on "Moon Safari" is perfectly timed. As far as construction, this album tops most albums I've ever heard. Analog synthesizers, organs, electric pianos, and soothing vocals make up this vastly unique album. There is a very cinematic feel to the album, which boasts much more than their fluffy first single "Sexy Boy" has to offer.

    Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel recorded "Moon Safari" in the legendary Abbey Road studios (also a studio for classic records such as The Beatles "Abbey Road" and The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds"). I can't help but think that these guys captured the spirit of these legendary artists, since they are undoubtedly influenced by the likes of Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach and Pink Floyd. Most importantly, these guys are all about making music for the love of it, not for the money or fame. Every track works cohesively with the next, making it a fantastic full (but short) listen; all killer no filler as Jerry Lee Lewis would put it.

    Standouts would include "La Femme d'Argent," "All I Need," "Kelly Watch the Stars," my personal favorite "Talisman," "You Make It Easy," and "New Star in the Sky (Chanson Pour Solal)". There really aren't many records like it. Groove Armada's "Vertigo" is similar, but simply not up to par with "Moon Safari".

    Overall, if you enjoy soothing, sexy, soulful music, you will love this album. This album isn't for any specific age group; my dad loves this stuff. This album is accessible to nearly everyone with a good taste. I highly recommend purchasing this album; a burned copy just won't do.

    5-0 out of 5 stars the greatest album from AIR
    This album is AWESOME! You just must get a copy, you have to experience by yourself, words can't describe the beautiness and quality on each song played, the songs "you make it easy", "all I need" are totally beauty with the smooth and sensual voice of Beth Hirsh, there are no complexity on the lyrics, but just hearing her voice makes you traveling among clouds and that'll be enough to fall in love with these songs. The other songs are just an excellent pieces of retro-electro-acoustic music.

    that's why AIR has become one of my favorites electronic downtempo groups, the refreshing music makes me very comfortable, relaxing, getting in good mood wherever i go...at work, traffic jam, at home...

    This one is a must for a lover of this kind of electronic genre

    5-0 out of 5 stars An album you can describe with the words "a perfect album"
    First of all, how can one say that a cracker of a song called "All I Need" reminds him of Zero 7, when it is clear and obvious that the whole landscape and sounds of Zero 7 are totally Air-rip-offs. "When It Falls" can be dsecribed as being a class-b(or perhaps c or d)-version of "Moon Safari".

    Anyway, about the album itself. It starts with the classic "La Femme d'Argent", which with it's groovy bassline and great droppy organs creates simultaniously a cool and pleasantly dangerous atmosphere. Second track "Sexy Boy", is a great tune and manages also to be hilarious at the same time. "All I Need" offers a welcome break with the excellent Beth Hirsch at vocals. The album continues solidly throughout, bar one slight nudge - "Remember", which would have been better without the vocoder bits in the beginning. Highlights of the album are the aforementioned accompanied with the likes of "Talisman" - same as "La Femme d'Argent, supercool and invitingly dangerous, "You Make It Easy" - which will definitely be played at my wedding!, "Ce Matin La" - the song makes you feel like there's nothing wrong in the world, everything is simple etc. Superb tuba and harmonica.

    My own favourite from the album has to be "Ce Matin La", which sort of crystallizes the whole album - excellent atmosphere, songcraft and even very stylish covers! ... Read more

    Asin: B000003S5H
    Subjects:  1. Ambient Pop    2. Club/Dance    3. Electronica    4. France    5. Indie Pop    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Trip-Hop   


    $13.99

    Simple Things
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (13 November, 2001)
    list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.49
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    Zero 7's ability to conjure beautiful lullabies with all the romance of 1960s French pop (as found on their debut LP, Simple Things) would have made them the toast of soundtrack composers and chill-out connoisseurs the world over. Unfortunately, two Frenchmen beat Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker to the title of "masters of comedown cool," leaving the London duo to be forever called "the British Air." And this is fair; the similarities between Zero 7's lush cinematic soundscapes and those of Air's Moon Safari and the Virgin Suicides scoreare so strong as to sound almost intentional. Nonetheless, their debut is a truly gorgeous album. It has all the tried and tested atmospheric tricks--bleeps and whooshes layered over plodding Fender Rhodes chords, swathes of strings and tender trumpet parps--but it's Binns and Hardaker's languid grooves and the soft melancholy of their melodies that make dream-state instrumentals "Give It Away" and "Polaris" utterly enchanting. The real power of Simple Things, however, is in its songs. As beautiful as the ambient strains are, when laid beneath the seductive vocals of Australian diva Sia on the ethereal "Destiny" or the heart-breaking "Distractions," their potency becomes apparent.--Dan Gennoe ... Read more

    Reviews (146)

    4-0 out of 5 stars Zero 7 and Paris under a groove great dinner discs
    I bought both records here on amazon.Had some people over and the wine and conversation flowed.Most at the function asked about the music.So, I thought I pass the good word on to others here.Thanks to these records and artists the party kicked off just right.

    5-0 out of 5 stars Musical Bliss
    It is hard for me to describe how inspiring this CD is. I really feel that everyone should have this in their record collection because it is such beautiful music. Destiny is one of the most heartfelt and inspiring songs I have ever heard. Definitely listen to that one first and you will know if you like Zero 7. That is probably one of 10 songs I've heard in my life that I was completely blown away by and couldn't stop thinking about. I can actually remember exactly where I was when I first heard it, how rare is that!
    And the rest of the CD is perfect. The songs are varied and complex enough that I never get tired of it, even after hundreds of listens. Because of this it works as well on headphones or in the background. Great music for going to the beach or relaxing. I'm still searching for a CD this good and I haven't found it. Well, their second one is the only one that comes close. The vocalists they have are just so incredibly soulful and the production is beyond top notch. The album came out 4 years ago and I think it shows how talented they are in that no one has come close to touching it (in the genre). I've heard some good singles from other groups, but to make an album so complete, the very top of the genre, it is impressive. Long live Zero 7, one of my favorite groups ever, may they make as many records as possible.

    4-0 out of 5 stars Awesome album...especially the instrumentals
    I thought this was a great album....very haunting and chill.I have to say, though, that I lean more to the instrumentals on the cd, especially Red Dust and Give It Away.I Have Seen is my favorite vocal because it develops along a bigger theme than some of the other tracks.The best piece, bar none, is Likufanele with the African childrens chorus leading the way. It is very uplifting and different....almost a chill, downbeat version of a Paul Simon 'Graceland' tune. ... Read more

    Asin: B00005R5M6
    Subjects:  1. Acid Jazz    2. Ambient Techno    3. Britain    4. Downtempo    5. Electronica    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Trip-Hop   


    $13.49

    Places
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (05 September, 2000)
    list price: $18.98 -- our price: $18.98
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    In 1999, pianist Brad Mehldau took his four-part Art of the Trio series to a pinnacle with Back at the Vanguard, his second live album (after Art of the Trio, Volume 2: Live at the Vanguard). He likewise took flight on his solo piano Elegiac Cycle, which bolstered listeners' association of Mehldau with the impressionistic line of pianists ranging from Bill Evans to Keith Jarrett. With Places, Mehldau deepens the sense that he's fond of invoking spaces dynamically, as physical locales and mental-spiritual planes. He's furthering his solo-piano explorations, with seven starkly lyrical performances here. Six tunes feature Mehldau's standing trio--rounded out by drummer Jorge Rossy and bassist Larry Grenadier--and the unit's telepathic communication on each tune. Balladry meshes on Places with steady grooves and sweetly drawn, melancholic portraits like "Airport Sadness." Creatively restless, Mehldau also logs important, diaphanous flying time on saxophonist Charles Lloyd's millennium-opening salvo, The Water Is Wide, extending Lloyd's appetite for expansive, meditative genius. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

    Reviews (23)

    5-0 out of 5 stars As the album tittle reads , this is a travel
    Every Mehldau album is quite different, "Places" provides a variety of scenarios and sorroundings that take to the listener rigth to the place Mehldau has dedicated the song , Los Angeles, Paris , Madrid , Amsterdam , every track have its own charm the same as the place object of its dedication, eventhoug the global atmosphere is melancholic in a delightfull way for the audience and some grey moments are present for brief moments this is a sweet travel.
    No bagage needed
    HM

    5-0 out of 5 stars DisPLACEment
    The first couple of times I listened to this album it did absolutely nothing for me, and I stupidly forgot about it, thinking "ok, this is the one Mehldau album I don't really like." Then I decided to revisit it recently-- this time giving it my full attention and keeping open to the music in every way-- and now it's constantly in my CD player. The compositions (all Mehldau originals), each named after the place in which they were written, are all of a piece. Not in a boring way, like uninspired repetition, but there are similarities of theme & melody, and the same feelings: haunted, enchanted, longing, transcending. I think it's a mixture of all the things Mehldau discusses in the essay that accompanies the record, translated into music.

    There's a mix of trio recordings and Mehldau solo on the piano-- although Mehldau solo sounds like three people and I have to remind myself it's just him. The sound is a little bit jazz, a little bit classical, but more than that, the tunes have got that Mehldau-ness about them. His music definitely has a certain something that makes it recognizable as his.

    Aside from the music, the liner notes contain one of the lengthy essays Mehldau is famous for, this one about Places, the Sublime, Romanticism, and Irony. He gets an A+ from me! haha
    Oh, and the picture behind the CD is too funny. It makes me laugh every single time.

    5-0 out of 5 stars Really distinctive
    I find that of Brad Mehldau's various CDs, this is one that I keep returning to.What I like about the CD is that it has a consistent mood and style, listening to it from start to finish is really rewarding.It does have a sort of melancholy feel to it, evocative of travelling a bit too much and spending too much time in airport lounges, perhaps expectable given the title of the CD and the inclusion of a track called "Airport Sadness".I can't really decide if it is better or worse than his other work, since Mehldau's work is generally so good, but it is definitely distinct from his other work, and very rewarding. ... Read more

    Asin: B00004X0LW
    Subjects:  1. Contemporary Jazz    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Post-Bop   


    $18.98

    Quiet Is the New Loud
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (06 March, 2001)
    list price: $15.98 -- our price: $13.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    Although Kings of Convenience are keen to play down any blatantly self-evident similarities to Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, and Belle and Sebastian, the winsome and placidity-favoring Norwegian duo of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe have probably already got the subway buskers of tomorrow lining up to lend an ear. Studentlike in appearance (one of them has a duffel coat and John Major specs) and unashamed to softly impart such nonrock lyrics as "put the kettle on" and "using The Guardian as a shield to cover my thighs against the rain," the weightless and airy acoustic guitar muse of Quiet Is the New Loud isn't a million miles from Radiohead's "Nice Dream" or Pink Floyd's "If" with a subliminal swish of bossa-nova rhythm. A contentedly purring cello, a plaintive touch of piano, and the muffled sound of a trumpet add necessary sonic depth, and the results are as pleasant and civilized as a little light conversation over tea in the drawing room. But what a shame they chose to name themselves after a lavatory. --Kevin Maidment ... Read more

    Reviews (51)

    5-0 out of 5 stars The Soundtrack to My Life
    I initially listened to this album at work on my headphones via iTunes and it was good - very good. But I didn't fully appreciate it's greatness until I was on the train home from work on my iPod, watching life go by both inside the car and out of the windows of the train.

    While it is a rather quiet album it invokes a lot of emotion. The melodies and lyrics compliment eachother so well that I find myself consumed by emotion by simply staring out the window of the train and being alone with my thoughts.

    You don't have to be by yourself to be alone and Kings of Convenience allow me to feel solitude amidst the rest of the world.

    4-0 out of 5 stars Take it easy...
    This album is just beautiful...It does not put me to sleep, but at ease. Nice to music to chill out to. If you are looking for dancy booty jams, look else where. Lovely album.

    5-0 out of 5 stars I've been thinking about this album...
    There has always been that undertone that fans preferred Versus over Quiet Is The New Loud.The easiest point to make here is, 15 years from now, I will treat Versus like a somewhat dated remix record (don't get me wrong, I love it) against Quiet Is The New Loud being treated as maybe Nick Drake's Bryter Layter.Being a big Drake fan, KOC have added something to two acoustic guitar playing acts that is really unique.If you are bored with this record, no offense, but take some, you have no ears. ... Read more

    Asin: B000056MYN
    Subjects:  1. Folk-Rock    2. Indie Pop    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Slowcore   


    $13.99

    Love Is Here
    Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (08 January, 2002)
    list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    Although Love Is Here, Starsailor's anxious, soulful, folk-and-urban-blues-nuanced debut won't be a culture shock to any British pop-scene follower who experienced, say, Tom McRae's 2000 debut, it certainly jolts the core beliefs and common cultural values of the U.K. indie scene. Nothing about Starsailor is remotely "alternative"; cool dads will appreciate them every bit as much as the hip kids. Not only is tender-aged singer James Walsh proud to admit to being influenced by Van Morrison and Tim Buckley (blimey, it's like punk never happened), he is also gifted with a larynx as gnarled, emotionally articulate, and demonstratively tremulous as the underrated Roger Chapman. Love Is Here is an assured classic, whose exposition of impending mid-life crises and buttoned-up desperation (typical lyric: "I need to be alone while I suffer") is conveyed through shuffling jazz percussion, metronomic acoustic guitars, and keyboards that veer between decorative cocktail piano and ice rink organ (courtesy of former crematorium organist Barry Westhead). Are Starsailor the future of British pop? Let's bloody hope so. --Kevin Maidment ... Read more

    Reviews (126)

    3-0 out of 5 stars Wanted: Decent Producer
    I am a definite Starsailor fan now that I have seen them live twice and own both of their albums. They are a bit of that excellent Britrock I crave with the insanely beautiful vocals that put James Walsh in his own league (I don't buy comparisons to Robert Plant; Jeff Buckley is a little closer; and though I like Richard Ashcroft a great deal more, they do not sound similar to me).

    The problem here is not the songs - it's the album. I saw them open for the Charlatans UK and I was so affected by their performance, I immediately bought tickets to see them headline, which I did not think they could possibly do at the same venue in the same season! It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. They were blowing through a single album, and one that I did not even know at the time, and somehow it felt epic. The vocals soared into that falsetto realm and the music was so vibrant and powerful that I left quite stunned. What happened between their live act and their studio act or vice versa, I cannot say for the life of me.

    It took me a few listens just to recognize which songs matched with the ones I was so taken by live. On Love Is Here, it's all so soft and slow and toned down. Live, songs rushed into your head with a hungry fervor that let me know Starsailor was one to keep in consciousness for the ages. Fever was an incredible thrashing rock ballad (I swear they even called it by a different name - "The Dukes Of Hazzard Got A Fever!"), whereas on the album it is just a rock ballad. This is exactly what seems to have happened to the majority of songs, with the exception of Goodsouls which still appears to be very radio-friendly, (perhaps they did not expect to release other singles? I don't get it...). I feel that Tie Up My Hands is the most interesting song on the album, as it is slowed down and sounds different enough from what I knew to be the song in concert, and manages to be the only one that works for me in this new, pure melancholy state. It still has the aching desperation and wondrous vocals, without the infectious rhythm that first pulled me in. But something about this works quite well for this isolated track.

    I was left dumbfounded at first listen, and sadly am still, after these years since its come out, quite the same. All I can do is attribute it to shoddy production that makes their sound lost in a sort of low melancholy drone with the occasional appeal of Walsh's singing or a nice riff. They have the capacity to go way beyond this. It saddens me that there is no other version of these songs out to fulfill their extreme potential. As far as the new album goes, I feel it lacks the poorly produced feeling this one has. All of the songs are tight and the music stands out for each track, however, the songs are perhaps a bit less inspired or distinguished. I'll still be waiting for that perfect live release; their fantastic live performance is already starting to feel a bit mythical...

    4-0 out of 5 stars First Time for Everything
    I think this band has real talent, I find them to be very emotional and they take that emotion to a very high limit, somehwhere between love and hate, lies and ignorant liars. Starsailor is a very unique band. The lyrics are great, and the melodies are very hypnotic, I really enjoy this band. The guitar solos are awesome, whoever plays the guitar in this group rules!!

    2-0 out of 5 stars whats wrong with you
    you must have some brain damage to find this album anything more than mediocre. Tie up my hands" was the only track that is at all interesting. I start tuning out after that. dont bother with this album ... Read more

    Asin: B00005UOFF
    Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   


    $13.99

    Gold
    Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (25 September, 2001)
    list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    Torrential creativity has fast-forwarded the artistic evolution of former Whiskeytown frontman Ryan Adams from country-rock boy wonder (see Faithless Street) to despondent troubadour with a 1960s fixation (his solo debut Heartbreaker), but it may also explain why listeners often need to wade through some pedestrian material just to find a few pearls of poetic excellence. Gold is no exception to that trend, a sometimes engaging middle-of-the-road roots-pop album that's both overlong (70 minutes) and at times overindulgent. There are high spots--such as the bouncy, breezy opener "New York, New York" and the plaintive ballad "When the Stars Go Blue" (which features a vocal turn reminiscent of Morrissey)--but much of the disc gets lost in forests of indistinct guitars and plodding percussion that never nudges Adams into actually rocking. Gold is the work of a notoriously prolific songwriter who hasn't yet learned to play to his strengths, one whose execution doesn't yet match his vision. --Anders Smith Lindall ... Read more

    Reviews (131)

    5-0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    I want to go on and on about this album and about Ryan Adams himself but I think I'm going to keep it simple and just say that this album is absolutely incredible.It's one of the best albums I own and, being a music fanatic, that's saying something.

    2-0 out of 5 stars yet another letdown.
    Generally speaking I like Ryan's voice.When he tries to put some grease on it he reminds me a bit of Steve Earle and that's a good thing.When he stops worrying about overcomplicating his songs and not worrying so much about things(like on "Demolition") he's just dandy, but when he tries too hard he ends up stinking up the joint like only Adam Duritz from the Counting Crows can.

    Anders Smith Lindall is quite right when he says that "Adams hasn't yet learned to play to his strengths and that his execution doesn't yet match his vision".For him to overcome this the formula should be "Less Duritz, more Dylan" but that's not what's happening on Gold.Most of the music here is as carefully contrived as Ryan's new $100 haircut. It takes money, time and a special kind of talent to make something look like it ain't, but I know plastic when I see it.The music on this is nowhere near as smart and honest as Will Oldham's "Bonnie Prince Billy Sings Greatest Palace Music" or Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" and that's what's keeping this from being filed in the "good" category.

    Adams holds some promise.Some of his previous work is charming and good enough to make you want to believe in him but right now his ever growing popularity is enjoying an inversely proportional relationship with the quality of his work.I hope he finds his way the next time around.

    2-0 out of 5 stars Behind Enemy Lines?
    It is not unlikely that a person who purchases this album does so because apparently it is no longer available the soundtrack of the movie "Behind Enemy Lines" starring Gene Hackman, a movie that has a terrific soundtrack.
    On newsgroups can be learned that one of those songs, the one at the end of the movie, would have been Ryan Adam's "The Rescue Blues".

    Be careful: if you arrived to this cd with that intention in mind and that Rock in mind, the track in this album titled "the Rescue Blue" might not be what you assumed or hoped for. If you have in mind that terrific music at the end of the movie, and if onnewsgroups you are being told it is this one, well, simply: that movie song you are thinking of is not the one listed here as "the Rescue Blues". Simply.

    Aside from that as long as you like Ryan Adams, the cd can be good, but if (I said if) you want to buy this cd hoping to find that song from that movie soundtrack, you'd waste (not too much though) money, that is. ... Read more

    Asin: B00005QY5Y
    Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   


    $9.99

    Vespertine
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (28 August, 2001)
    list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    Ever since Björk's vital, effusive 1993 debut, her musichas been increasingly intimate, gently private, and concerned withseclusion. It's typical then that Vespertine's first single iscalled "Hidden Place." The studious solitude is rewarding, though.Vespertine is a lush, gorgeous swell of midpace electronica,symphonic strings, and Björk's uniquely alien, spectral vocals.There are fantastical wonders here. "Cocoon" (another eulogy towithdrawal from the world) is delicate as a breath, Björk soundingtoo fragile to be flesh as she lauds "a beauty this immense." "PaganPoetry" and "Aurora," likewise, are adrift in an enchanted reverie.When she chooses, she crafts killer tunes; "It's Not up to You" is aslovely as anything on Post. Yet, frequently,on such tracks as the yearning, glancing "Undo," Björk seems to besimply thinking aloud, reveling in this wildly rich and visceral music.She's reclaimed cutting-edge electronica, so often the province ofgeeks and technicians, for the poets and the passionate.Vespertine is a landmark, a revelation, and a truly fabulousachievement. --Ian Gittins ... Read more

    Reviews (366)

    5-0 out of 5 stars just beautiful music
    Last year I happened to discover Bjork. Now I can tell you she has become one of my favorite artists.This album is a masterpiece in every angle; the way she expresses herself through music is unbelievable. I strongly recommend it.

    5-0 out of 5 stars Fine Follow-Up To "Dancer In the Dark"
    A year before Bjork released "Vespertine", she garnered rave reviews for her performance in the film "Dancer In the Dark".This brought her career to new levels.Also, she received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for "I've Seen It All".Beyond the infamous swan dress is genius work, including the album "Selmasongs" (the film soundtrack).Then, in 2001, she released her follow-up "Vespertine".The quality lives up to what she's always released since her debut: never below her top abilities.She earned a 2001 Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album.

    Throughout this album is unique passionate songs that send listeners to a musical trance.The unique blend of ambient, trip-hop, and chamber music remains intimate.No other artist has touched such territory successfully.She proves in every song that she's continually evolving as an artist magnificantly.Despite every song being calming rather than upbeat, the album never becomes boring.Some songs include interesting twists and turns that raise eyebrows.Bjork wrote, produced, and arranged every song beautifully.Meanwhile, she was thorough in arranging all of the melodies assuring they fit amongst one another.

    Bjork's amazing vocals continue to amaze listeners as they have since her debut.As usual, anybody who listens to her can always identify her correctly.Besides her unique vocal texure, her range of tones wonderfully blend with the individual theme beautifully.She gives every song the beauty it deserves.Her expressions she the true passion and intimacy she feels about the lyrics.Therefore, the influences to her words express themselves to the fullest.

    "Vespertine" is an essential album for all old and new Bjork fans.This is great for those for fresh relaxing music besides Enya, Sade, or Andrea Bocceli.This is sure to please many listeners for a long time.

    4-0 out of 5 stars Bjork's Worst
    This (in my opinion) is bjork's worst release album to date, but not to say it's bad, as it, ironically, features my favourite Bjork song of all time 'An Echo A Stain' -- it is mysterious, original, and 'soft'.
    This is not bjork's worst album by far, by the way, and it is ot to me her worst because of the songs, it's because that all of the songs sound very similar to each other, I know Bjork has a (good) habit of creating different moods/emotions in each album she releases, for example, Debut was shy, post was the loud... unlike Debut. Homogenic was aggressive, electronic and unique (her masterwork), and Vespertine is the opposite to Homogenic, and if it is the opposite to my favourite album of all time, one may think `it mustn't be very good', which would noramlly been true -- but all of Bjorks albums are good, so this is an exception -- now to the actual review::
    Starting with the lead single Hidden Place (#21 UK), is my second favourite and very unique, Cocoon is a bit boring and never really goes anywhere -- but the originality and uniqueness is still there (#35 UK), It's Not Up To You is very excessible and creates a very positive mood. Undo is a very strange song, with a great Icelandic choir, followed by my fourth favourite Pagan Poetry (#39 UK) -- it opens with something sounding like an... Asian guitar, and finishes in style!!! Frosti is probably my least favourite B track -- it, like Cocoon never really goes anywhere, but the stuff it still present. Aurora is very good. Some say that Bjorks loud, aggressive vocals don't go well with the soft, fragile tune, but I think it just enhances it's mood (hehehe...) The fabulous "An Echo A Stain" follows, and next is Sun In My Mouth, it is very short, but still very good. Next is the lightly repudiative 'Heirloom' -- the rhythm/beat sounds like it's taken from a beat of a piano, then is the very unique Harm of Will, which is my third fifth favourite song of V, and then my 3rd favourite 'Unison" -- very commonly the fans favourite, it's light tune, and 6:47 time go very well together......

    Instead of this, I would recommend any other Bjork album, especially Homogenic.

    If you liked this, I recommend, well, there IS no other album like this I know, but, ........maybe Ray Of Light from Madonna.

    Track by Track:
    1) 9/10 2) 7/10 3) 7/10 4) 8/10 5) 9/10 6) 6/10 7) 9/10 8) 10/10 9)9/10 10) 7/10 11)9/10 12) 9/10


    85% ... Read more

    Asin: B00005NG4X
    Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Electronica    3. Pop    4. Rock   


    $10.99

    When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (24 April, 2001)
    list price: $15.98
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    Editorial Review

    Mad for sadness? Then Northern Irish four-piece Snow Patrol could be theband for you. Ignore lead singer Gary Lightbody when he hisses that he's "nevergonna fall in love again" on the opening track of the same name; When It'sAll Over We Still Have to Clear Up is an album about giving your heart away,feeling it break, and desperately trying to reassemble it before the nextemotional crackup. Some of this record's greatest moments find amps turned downand emotions laid desperately bare, such as the acoustic "Make Love to MeForever" and the love-laid-to-rest lament of "If I'd Ever Found the Right Wordsto Say." But that's not to say that the ballsy pop songs--see "Ask Me How I Am,"the sound of a harmony-laden Sebadoh playing hip-hop through a detuned radio--don'tmake the grade. And when it's all over? They may have been casualties in thewars of love, but as Lightbody whispers "we won't get much sleep" on the closing"Firelight," you know that--like you--Snow Patrol are ready to flip the recordand live it all again.--Louis Pattison ... Read more

    Features

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    Reviews (3)

    5-0 out of 5 stars uk pop at it's snuggliest
    i don't know another way to describe this album, other than that it makes me feel snuggly and very pleased with life in general. i highly recommend strapping on some headphones with this album spinning in your player, and just walking around. the perfect song for this is track #2, 'ask me how i am'. it's so pop-y and delicious... if you like belle sebastian's snappier tunes, such as 'stars of track and field' or 'my wandering days are over,' buy this... you'll love yourself for it.

    3-0 out of 5 stars Listen to it Before You Buy it!
    This album is ok, but I would advise you to listen to it before buying it because it is very weird.You would have to listen to it more than once because it's not one of those cds that you instantly like (at least I didn't).

    5-0 out of 5 stars snow patrol does it again
    This is great. I have to say that right away, I thought "songs for polar bears" was a masterpiece, snow patrol's second full length is equally good, if not better. Still keeping with that sebadoh, crunchy indie sound, this album moves along very nice allowing for all the songs to shine very bright, My favorite song is, "if I'd found the right words to say" such a beautiful song, gorgeous melodies and thoughtful lyrics. Snow patrol know when to rock and know when to keep it simple and pretty. Think of it as Belle and Sabastian meets Sebadoh, somewhere in the misty green hills of Ireland. ... Read more

    Asin: B00005EBJ5
    Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Twee Pop   


    Know by Heart
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (04 September, 2001)
    list price: $14.98 -- our price: $13.99
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    Editorial Review

    Know by Heart is an apt title for the fourth album by the American Analog Set. Often practitioners of the art of "futuristic" music usually make one crucial mistake: in their quest to replicate the synthetic sheen of a dark, mechanical tomorrow, they often end up completely obliterating every trace of humanity. Fortunately, Texan new wave rockers the American Analog Set are wise to this: the sleeve to Know by Heart--featuring two guitar leads, loosely coiled into a heart shape--smartly points out that there's a very human warmth in the depths of this circuitry. As it happens, for the most part, Know by Heart is a pretty relaxed take on rock experimentalism: AAF seem intrigued by the prospect of crafting pretty nuggets of tune out of the most atypical building blocks--drone, repetition, feedback, and a studied and a largely successful restraint. The studied motorik of "Like Foxes Through Fences" recalls--and betters--the design of Brit experimentalists Appliance, while on the beautiful but uncharacteristically named "Punk as Fuck," the band crafts a post-rock love song out of chiming guitars and velvety instrumental harmonies. The American Analog Set succeed because they put the songs--and a whole lotta love--right at the center of their design. It's far from the stuff of a dark future, but frankly, more bands should follow their lead. --Louis Pattison ... Read more

    Reviews (9)

    5-0 out of 5 stars One Of Indie's Most Overloooked Outfits
    The American Analog Set makes some of the most lovely low-key indie rock, a mixture of warm strummed guitar, steady beats, vibes, analog synths, and Andrew Kenny's whisper of a voice. The unassuming songs are perfect tools for unwinding, but despite the subdued tones, the record never bores. The ironically-titled opener "Punk As F*ck" is a great place to start, while "The Postman," "The Kindness Of Strangers," "Million Young," and "Aaron And Maria" meld the quieter moments of Yo La Tengo with jazzy undertones lifted from Tortoise and other post-rock outfits. Know By Heart is not so much revolutionary as it is just simply strong and affecting.

    5-0 out of 5 stars Sending me a postcard from the sands....
    This is AmAnSet's most easily accessible album, by far.It features a couple of instantly catchy short pop songs as well as some instrumentals and longer pieces -- definitely a culmination of their growth as musicians through all their albums and EPs up to this point.

    The American Analog Set is definitely a band to be experienced live -- as beautiful as this album is, seeing them perform these songs live (and completely CLICK as a live band, flowing from one song to the next smoothly and effortlessly) will bring the music to a whole different level.[Also note: any band that tours with a vibraphone has my undying support!]

    For the record, one of my friends deemed this the "makeout album of the year", which is probably the best description you'll ever hear.Highly, highly recommended.

    4-0 out of 5 stars For those looking for a bit of fresh air
    I was looking for something new that I could really fall in love with. The sound of this record is amazing, and it shows some of the finest production I have seen for this band. If you like progressive rock and a new sound in your ears get this album. I am sure fans of Yo La Tengo, Wilco, Minus 5,and My Morning Jacket will love this album just for its feel. Even though this album tends to get lower ratings than the other albums, it is a better introduction into their music and in my opinion one of their best. ... Read more

    Asin: B00005NFXS
    Subjects:  1. Ambient Pop    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock   


    $13.99

    Cassidy
    Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (04 September, 2001)
    list price: $11.98
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    Editorial Review

    Luke Sutherland, the mastermind behind Bows, really knows how to drape a gauze of sparkling sensuality on top of his work. His second release, Cassidy, contains hazy, Spiritualized-sized orchestration, Gus Gus/Massive Attack-styled trip-hop, and a Low-like sense of minimalism. On Cassidy, guitars sound like harps, and hushed, breathy vocals (from Sutherland and guests from acts like Speaker Bite Me and Snowpony) become naked siren songs. Beats appear and disappear in vapor trails within the tracks. The overall sound may float near shoegazer, slowcore, and drum & bass, but the music comes in cloudy forms that change and lose shape once you try too hard to categorize them. Bows uses basic vocal and synthetic sounds to inflate the songs, making them rise to heavenly heights of narcotic pop, but the twinkle of bells and organs keeps the innocence level just as high. Cassidy is a dreamy record, one that brings all the aural comforts of Slowdive with the additional kick of the occasional beat to keep the disc moving. --Jennifer Maerz ... Read more

    Reviews (7)

    2-0 out of 5 stars Cassidy but no Casanova
    European quirk-tronica can only go so far.Unfortunately Bows missed that memo.I am not sure what happened between their much-heralded debut, 1999's Blush, and their new record, Cassidy, but somewhere somebody missed something.Perhaps I'm just not hip enough to get this record, I don't know.Bows is what Japanese mixmeister Cornelius would sound like after half a bottle of Nyquil.That's not to say front man Luke Sutherland is without talent; his would just be better served as one of Bjork's many collaborators.I kept hoping I would be rescued by the theme song to Mr. Magoo but instead was left with empty atmospherics and a Scandinavian chanteuse.

    4-0 out of 5 stars Cassidy (4.5)
    The thing about Cassidy is that it's not that different from Blush. The only real difference I noticed from both CDs is that Cassidy has more female vocals and actually appears to be slightly softer than Blush. None of these things is really a bad thing, but they aren't necessarily good things. The tracks are still as charming, and still as different in comparison to most other CDs out there. The bad thing is that they lack individuality. One track seemlessly flows into the next, which normally is a good thing like in Boards of Canada's "Geogaddi" or Stereolab's "Sound Dust", but in Cassidy, it just makes them indistinguishible.

    'Luftsang', the title track in Cassidy bears a striking resemblence to 'Big Wings', which is the title track in Blush. Granted, both tracks are awesome, but it just seems a tad identical. It's almost as if Luke Sutherland was rushing the CD in some way, but instead of sacrificing musical beauty, he ended up losing a sense of interest in each of the tracks. When he was in Long Fin Killie, his CD 'Amelia' had a spark. When he made the metamorphosis into the alias of Bows, there was another spark, but his follow-up CD ends up being a dull knife trying to penetrate the side. For those that didn't care for Blush, they probably wont care for this. And for those who loved Blush, they'll love this, just possibly a little less. Despite some of the problems, it still surpasses other CDs as far as the eye can see.

    4-0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly fluffy
    Wow.This is a surprise.Bows' last release was hampered with a repetitive quality and an annoying sarcasm that was difficult to overcome."Cassidy," on the other hand, is sheer ethereal bliss.Beats shift into soaring melodies, guitars plink and strum where harps should be, and the tempo constantly changes, speeding way up before quieting down at the end.

    Those listeners discontent with Luke Sutherland sounding bored on "Blush" will be happy to know that he no longer plays as if he is above his audience.There are nothing but airy, dreamy love songs- albeit strange ones- like a supposed affair between Mohammed Ali and Jackie Kennedy Onassis, on this record.The melodies are pure bliss, and the strings and electronics backing them up make it an even greater pleasure to listen to.

    My only problem is that with all the breathy vocals, no bass, and very little traditional song structure, there is nothing that you can really grab onto on this disc.You keep waiting for it to come, but true nirvana, it seems, is just barely out of reach, almost taunting the listener.But other than that minor gripe, "Cassidy" is easily one of 2001's best releases.

    Think drum & bass heaven style. ... Read more

    Asin: B00005AQR2
    Subjects:  1. Ambient Pop    2. Dance Music    3. Jungle/Drum'n'bass    4. Pop    5. Trip-Hop   


    Y'all Get Scared Now, Ya Hear
    Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (25 September, 2001)
    list price: $17.98 -- our price: $17.98
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    The debut from this U.K. supergroup is a strange, uncertain, and undoubtedly unique record that resulted from a 10-day clatter through the nooks and crannies of the guitar-wielding Glasgow underground. Project leader Gary Lightbody, the fey-voiced front man of Irish indie-popsters Snow Patrol, manages to keep members of bands as diverse as Arab Strap, Astrid, Mogwai, Mull Historical Society, and Belle and Sebastian playing from the same hymn sheet. And on the whole, it's his own quavering, tremulous vocals that take precedence on these ponderous, sad, Sebadoh-like songs (the gorgeous "12 Hours It Takes Sometimes"), lo-fi beat-box breakdowns ("Raindrop"), and technofied Sonic Youth-style droners ("Tout le Monde"). Sure, it would have been nice to hear some of the record's other contributors making more use of their talents--Arab Strap's splendidly miserable Aidan Moffat only steps up to a microphone once, for the rolling acoustica of "Nightfall." But it's clear that this is Lightbody's project, and it's a marvel that Y'All Get Scared Now, Ya Hear sounds so polished, focused, and complete. --Louis Pattison ... Read more

    Reviews (6)

    4-0 out of 5 stars A bit early for a review, but...
    I just got this album, only because I am fans of Snow Patrol, and Belle and Sebastian (Mainly Looper), but I must say, this album opened me up to many other bands, not to mention thoughts and memories. This album has the basic acoustics, pleasant harmony vocals, and at times, eerie uprising "Oh-hs".

    This cd features great indie-rock talents, and the ability to calm the listener down, but I am a bit dissapointed some of the bands featured here barely play a chord, or hardly show off their talents. However this is made up for by the other bands. I guess your basic idea is that this Reindeer Section is a complete band within itself, which is cool with me, but still I was listening for some Looper in there, which I didn't get.

    Bottom line: The cd is great for those that enjoy soft music, and don't mind waiting a while for the good stuff. However, it may take a few times to listen to it, to get used to liking it. In my case, 2 times, but that's just me. It's an okay album.

    4-0 out of 5 stars missed oportuntities...
    Before I complain about what's wrong with this album let me tell you what's right. It's gorgeous, slightly baroque indie-pop at nearly it's finest. It's amazing that this album was slapped together in 10 days. It's a real testament to the talents and professionalism of all those invloved--- and those involved include a veritable who's-who or British Isle's indie music: member or Belle and Sebastian, Snow Patrol, Astrid, Arab Strap, etc. I guess you could call Reindeer section a "super group"-- except, it comes across as more of a Gary Lightbody (of Snow Patrol) solo album. And therein lies its "problem". It just strikes me that with all these great musicians in one room for two weeks, they could have been a little more collaborative. Instead, most of the players sound like competent side-man rather than co-visionaries. At least Lightbody could have shared the mic a little more. The best track on the record by a wide margin is the stunning "Nytol" featuring creepy-sex-obsesser Aidan Mofat (of Arab Strap) on vocals-- I could listen to this guy sing anything. Just listen to the way he sings/says the word "idiot". That makes the track great by itself. "Nytol", to me seems like a glimpse of what could have been given a little more democracy. Instead we are left with what sounds like a very lovely, slightly quieter Snow Patrol album.

    5-0 out of 5 stars It makes everything easier...
    This album makes everything easier.Everything about life, in general.I get up to go to work, and for the last three mornings, I've listened to this album.It's the perfect length for the drive, and the fact that the songs are ordered on the album in from simplest to most musical and most instrumental make the morning, in a way, build into a good idea.I noticed that another reviewer mentioned that this is an album to listen to while you're falling for someone.I agree.I'm at the beginning of a new relationship and the first track, "Be There For Me," is everything I'd ever want to say--but haven't said, yet.The rest of the tracks on the album are all reasons to say it, though.I'm amazed that this album was recorded in ten days.It's sonically beautiful and so intense; but at the same time whimsical.I think that's a good word.The second portion of the album is a stretch from the first, but a perfect one.The processed rhythms and bass lines that subtly drive the last tracks are amazingly crafted, and the closing track, "The Day We All Died," is about the finest melody I've ever heard.That's about all I can say.I love Belle & Sebastian; I love this.You all will, too, you hear? ... Read more

    Asin: B00005OC92
    Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Scotland   


    $17.98

    Morning Sun
    Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (22 May, 2001)
    list price: $17.98
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    Reviews (3)

    5-0 out of 5 stars Impressive!
    This record reminds me of good trip-hop style bands like Massive Attack and Jazzanova, but less heavy. They are right in sync with the times! Musically well thought out with beautiful and stimulating melodies, Block 16 is not your typical techno band.

    There are some minor problems though. Odvious gramatical errors on the title track. Normally, I don't pay much attention to lyrics on the first few listens, and honestly the title track is one of the weaker tracks on the album. Most the album is inventive techno without a heavy transbeat. The melodies flow very well and the electronics are more than just interesting. They are artfully done! So it still gets 5 stars. Excellent spin!

    5-0 out of 5 stars EASY!
    just what you would expect from a nuphonic album: classy and jazzy. 11 high quality tracks and great cameos by bim sherman and jhelisa.

    5-0 out of 5 stars The 'Morning Sun' shines bright...
    From the soft, gentle moments of Jhelisa's voice on the first track, this album continues to build throughout.Dance filled and head nodding this album filled my heart with joy.Nuphonic is a label known for relesing a brilliant mix of jazzy, funky, soulful titles.This one is another welcome addition to the collection.If you enjoy Incognito or other jazzy soulful house, this album will have you feeling the 'sun' all over your body.Essential.... ... Read more

    Asin: B00005B9L4
    Sales Rank: 215679
    Subjects:  1. Dance Music    2. Pop   


    Soul Makeover
    Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (14 November, 2000)
    list price: $15.98
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    Reviews (4)

    1-0 out of 5 stars not my cup of tea
    Unfortunately this album didn't give me much. I just didn't know what to make out of it. To me it wasn't interesting or catchy or soul or whatever....

    5-0 out of 5 stars the other tenor
    I read that Nicole Willis is married to Jimi Tenor. Her debut CD is a marriage between New York deep slow house to the off beat electronica of the mister. Best thing about "Soul Makeover" is that it has a unique style. It does not sound like something you already heard. Partly jazzy, partly sophisticated R&B, it has the spirit of 2001 but you will never hear it playing in the lobby of some hip hotel. Totally under rated. Why?

    5-0 out of 5 stars This album is goooooooooodddddd
    I am usually not fond of slow songs but in this album my favorite song is the slowest: siesta.Nervous songs are also great.Her voice is grealty supported by the arrangments. To summarize, an excellent work. ... Read more

    Asin: B00004ZAYN
    Sales Rank: 256416
    Subjects:  1. Club/Dance    2. Contemporary R&B    3. House    4. Pop    5. R&B    6. Urban   


    Time (The Revelator)
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (31 July, 2001)
    list price: $16.98 -- our price: $13.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    The considerable promise carried forth on Gillian Welch's first two albums is thoroughly fulfilled on Time (The Revelator). Welch has traded the guidance of her previous producer, T Bone Burnett, for the sympathetic studio skills of her longtime guitarist-harmony singer David Rawlings, who loosens the reins just enough to allow moments of spontaneity to sparkle within the duo's spare, eloquent playing. "Revelator" is an instant classic, perhaps the first great folk song of the 21st century. "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" is three minutes of Louvins/Everlys-style bliss. "April the 14th, Part 1" haunts its historical context with an achingly melancholy melody. It all leads up to the epic 14-minute "I Dream a Highway," one of the finest closing tracks ever put on record. --Peter Blackstock ... Read more

    Reviews (97)

    5-0 out of 5 stars "I was thinking that night about Elvis, then he died."
    Time (The Revelator) is a wonderful, mournful and honest thing. It gets better and better with every listening. Contrary to the Amazon review, I think that I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll is the weakest track, its light-hearted upbeat tone is out of place with the rest of the deadpan songs. But every other track is dead on. It's all sad. Gillian's gift is to say things in a simple way, the songs have a mean gravity. Singing about Elvis, she describes him as an ambiguous gendered creature, "he shook it like a chorus girl, he shook it like a Harlem queen." It's really vague, almost trailer trash, but it is powerfull. "I could get a tip jar, gas up the car." Honesty is a rare thing, a real treasure. Thank you Miss Welch.

    1-0 out of 5 stars It's a Doggy.
    I was hoping to hear something like Alison Krauss or the Whites or something bluegrassy or folkish like John Prine. This is in a category all by itself. Nowhere.
    I played it once about a year ago when I bought it and then again last night and I still don't like it. I can't even tap my foot to it. It's just too darn S L O W. I did notknow a person could write a slong as slow as these things are. And her voice is just boring. Excuse me, but you can keep your Gillian Welsh.

    3-0 out of 5 stars OK, but ...
    If you're looking for a Gillian Welch album to begin with, I would recommend "Revival." Revival was the first album of hers I'd got, and I was ecstatic after giving it a listen. (See my enthusiastic review on amazon.) Naturally, I couldn't wait for more, so moved on to Time.

    "Time" may be the revelator, but it's also a letdown. The album is just tooooooooo sloooooooooow. So much so that at times it plods. Painfully along. Note ... by ... note.

    I don't know what it is. Her voice is still there, good as ever, but it lacks heart and soul. Which can't be injected into a song just by slowing it down. Notable exceptions include "Red Clay Halo" (my favorite) and "I Want to Sing that Rock and Roll." And the title track, "Revelator," though slow, still has something special to it.

    Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be a one-disc Gillian fan. I'm reluctant to try Hell Among the Yearlings or her newest one, based on my disappointment with Time. ... Read more

    Asin: B00005N8CQ
    Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Americana    3. Folk & Traditional    4. Neo-Traditional Folk    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Singer/Songwriter   


    $13.99

    Melody Am
    Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (28 May, 2002)
    list price: $23.49
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    • Import
    Reviews (14)

    5-0 out of 5 stars Electronic and relaxation-surprising
    The first track I heard was Eple, which was used for acampaign advertising Tiscali(France). First, I thought it was the usual stupid advertising electronic music, but after a few times viewing the advert I started to fall in love with the music. The first tracks make the cd look promising (So Easy and Eple consecutively) , but don't worry, the rest is the same quality, especially "Röyksopp's Night Out" and "She's So".
    Melody A.M is more likely to be listened to in the evening.
    A real success in Europe, by the way.

    4-0 out of 5 stars Wondeful relax music!
    The Norwegian dance Duo Röyksopp are defenitely among the most interesting groups lately,we haven't heard very much dance music from norway before but this album is really remarkable. It's soft dance music, you can relax too, the songs are meliodic and wonderdul, a few with chorus and some instrumental. "Melody A.M" is thier debut album actually, they are that kind of group that will sell more albums then single's so if you like them go for the album cause it's good. "Poor Leno" is one of a few songs with lyrics, it's a slow, seductive and a beautiful sound aswell. Then we have the likes of "Remind me" and "Eple" which i think i've heard somewhere else, but never on single. "A higher place" is good too and "She's so", There are diffrent versions of this album i think, some includes a few remixes of the hit singles, however it's not a very big loss without them either. Some like Moby, but this is defenitely better and it's not only suited for dance music fans, go for it!

    5-0 out of 5 stars Simply stunning
    This album is like moby's play but without the gospel choirs. This is one of the best chill-out albums around. Most of the instruments used by Royksopp you will have heard before but somehow all the songs on here sound truly unique. The best track on here is Higher Place, a stunning track with guitars, and laid back beats (where is this higher place, I want to go there!!!). Royksopp's night out sounds like something from a 60s movie. In space is about as chilled out as you can get with its warm synth and relaxing harp. So easy is a wierd track which keeps moving away from the 'aahing' which people in the UK will have heard on a particular TV commercial. 40 years back/come is a track which I love but I still don't know to make of the atmosphere. Remind me is a laid back song sung the brilliant Erland Oye (Buy the remixes). Sparks is another stunningly warm sounding track. Does the vocalist on this track sing for Telepopmusik? Poor Leno is a cool piece of house also sung by Erland Oye, you can either dance to it or chill to it.
    If you like the sound of this don't waste time downloading it off the net, buy it right now cos you won't regret it. This has to be the best dance album of the year. ... Read more

    Asin: B00005MOQX
    Sales Rank: 66961
    Subjects:  1. Dance Music    2. Pop   


    Rooty
    Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
    Audio CD (26 June, 2001)
    list price: $16.98 -- our price: $14.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
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    Editorial Review

    Since Simon Radcliffe and Felix Burton of Basement Jaxx released the unbelievable Remedy in 1999, house music has experienced a slight identity crisis. But even as trance and Fatboy Slim-style big beat saturate the dance floor, the primal, funky soul of true house that the Jaxx duo know and love clearly reverberates beneath it all. With Rooty, Radcliffe and Burton finish the job they started on Remedy by listening to their instincts, stripping away the gloss, taking some creative risks, and coming up with some of the rawest grooves in recent memory. The first track and single "Romeo" doesn't waste any time, parlaying an irresistible hook and a relentlessly up vibe into the most danceable three and a half minutes of 2001. Frankie Knuckles-era Chicago house and War's deep Latin funk are audible throughout, along with an adventurous production sense; "SFM" packs in a wild kaleidoscope of howls and cross-rhythms while slinking along and rubbing itself on the furniture like a cat in heat. Still, given the level of creative license at work here, the record sometimes misses the mark. Songs like "I Want U" reach for progressive funk, but forget the low bass end that can give a silly, airy song some gravity. But more often that not, the band's decision to eschew beats in favor of dirtier, sexier means of rhythmic expressions pays off. Witness the fat bass line at work in "Get Me Off," as a breathy tease of a lead vocal turns into an outright come-on. Somehow both relentlessly modern and a throwback to simpler, funkier times, Rooty is an effective way to jog the memory should you have forgotten the egg that came before the trance chicken. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

    Reviews (91)

    3-0 out of 5 stars Not For Everyone
    I've never been able to completely get on board with the Basement Jaxx sound, and that probably has more to do with my preferences in music than it does with the merit of Basement Jaxx' music.

    That being said, I usually get everything they put out, because I know that it will sound like nothing else I have in my collection, and diversity is good. But this is an acquired taste, and one that does not suit every mood. What might come off as originality during one listen comes off as annoying in the next. So buyer beware.

    "Rooty" is consistently average throughout. There's no track on this CD that is particularly better or worse than any other track (but if you're interested, check out "Get Me Off" and "Where's Your Head At").

    If you like Daft Punk's "Homework", this should be right up your alley.

    2-0 out of 5 stars apart from the few singles, alot of mindless dribble
    this album is not much like the previous remedy cd, the singles are ok and show the basement jaxx that everyone knows. Although i found the single "where's your head at" kind of annoying the other singles "romeo" sounds like vintage bj music same with "just 1 kiss","do your thing" and "get me off" was an ok techno song.

    The rest of the cd is a bunch of mindess dribble mess that go absolutly nowhere, songs like "breakaway","crazy girl" and "SFM" are good examples and are skipable, unfortunatly i own this cd thinking it would be like "remedy" and i never will listen to this cd in its entirety again and i sadly admit this is one of the worst cd's i own but not the worst, that would probably go to daft punk's homework.

    2-0 out of 5 stars not what i expected
    Rooty sounds like a Prodigy album gone awry. There's the big beat in-your-face production, but the sounds are all sweet and poppy. There's a few decent cuts like "Jus 1 kiss" and "Get me off", but most of it is just inane noise. I really hate this type of music. ... Read more

    Asin: B00005K9V5
    Subjects:  1. 2-Step/British Garage    2. Club/Dance    3. Dance Music    4. House    5. Left-Field House    6. Pop    7. Progressive House   


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