Editorial Review

Pulp frontman-lyricist Jarvis Cocker is still obsessed with making his concerns those of his audience and the even wider world. Drawing again on classic British pop like the '70s Roxy Music, Pulp attempt to make sense of--and draw together--everything from the aging process ("One time they were just like you / Drinking, smoking cigs and sniffing glue") to doing the dishes. Read more

Reviews (86)

WHAT HAPPENED?
OK, I've looked through all the other reviews on here, and I know that anyone who does the same will probably go with the looming majority vote and get this album but PLEASE DON'T!!! About a year ago I first heard Different Class and thought it was great. So much fun, excellent lyrics, and just really great! the melodies, the instrumentation...amazing. So recently I heard This Is Hardcore. A few of the songs are pretty good (Dishes, The Fear, The Day After The Revolution) but for the most part it's just plain BORING!!! Where did the fun go? This album is sad, dreary, and dull. Yes, it is a darker mood, and I realize that Jarvis Cocker probably had a reason to write such melancholy songs, but after hearing Different Class, who wants to listen to them? Many of the songs sound the same and, while not being terrible, were completely uninspiring. Buy Different Class instead. It rocks.

every single day
i guess i missed out on the days when pulp was popular.where was i??oh yeah i was listening to meatloaf and megadeth probably.well now i have this cd and i have to say, yes, i have to say, it is very good.

this is pure genius
At the same time a shaggable genius and a skinny loser, Jarvis Cocker frontman and lyrics writer for Pulp is truly inspiring, one of the last REAL ROCK STARS offered to us by the XXth century. Yet Pulp is now dormant and a bit forgotten, what a pity ! Surfing on the Cool Britania wave of the mid 90's the Sheffield band that had started on the independent circuit in the 80's makes itself noticed and provides Britain's underdogs with a voice. and what a voice !!! breathy, sexy, deep or fragile, Cocker knows how to use his organ, and even takes you very close to musical orgasm. Delightfully pervert but also touchingly sincere and simple the lyrics are just wonderful and served by surprising tunes.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Britpop    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Features

• CD-single
• Import

Reviews (7)

technical info
this review is not for the content but to inform anyone interested of an error in the product description.it states that 'sexual healing' is over 10 minutes in length.just got a copy today and it is the better part of 6 minutes.
I waited .... and was rewarded.:)
The other reviewers have eloquently stated exactly what I would say so I would only be paraphrasing them.I'm actually numb, waiting until Tuesday when I can hear new Kate songs.It's like a dream.I put her above all others (ok, maybe equal with Annie Lennox) in the pantheon of Goddesses, and I CANNOT wait to have more.KOTM is a great song.What you get from Kate is never expected, but unique.Sadly, American radio is terrible and will probably never play it.Thankfully, we have the internet and other areas to listen to music these days.I know there are others out there that are faithfully awaiting this album, and if this single is any indication, we are in for quite the treat.Welcome back, Kate darling.We missed you.

The nervous wait paid off
I was so nervous as I tuned in to BBC Radio (all the way from here in Bangkok via the internet) to hear the first play of King of the Mountain. We Bush fans have been craving new material for 12 years. For the first couple of years after The Red Shoes we had to be content with an occasional track here and there ('Mna Na Eiran, Rocket Man and all those bootlegged demo tracks) but when oh when was Ms Bush going to put little Bertie into creche and get on with her real task at hand? Well here in late 2005 she finally did it. Six weeks after hearing KOTM for the first time I still love it; the creepy, creeping beginning which builds up to an almost terrifying climax with wind whistling, ghosts howling, and thankfully, Bush at her dramatic best. Now comes the agonizing wait for Aerial, and the knowledge that once I've listened to it, I won't be hearing anything else from Ms Bush until 2023. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 5-Inch CD Singles    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. England    4. Pop    5. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    6. Rock   

Reviews (16)

Tossed about like Johnson's current endowment
Was, is and will always be worthy of our attention.Amazon Rules suggest 75 to 300 words when submitting an assessment of a product but this collection is beyond description.I might ramble further about the ramifications of this product's impact on the early 21st century but I feel time is too valuable.You must obtain this collection immediately.
A VIOLATION OF ALL WE HOLD SACRED
Why must Mark E. continue to torment us so? The only band to lay more "music" to vinyl than the Grateful Dead, and with no end in sight. No musician is more responsible for the ongoing violation of Mother Gaia and the mobilization of vast armies to secure resources to make more records: why do you think the UK is in Iraq? Enlightening us to The Monks is not enough! Any two-bit Mancunian ink-stained wretch could transmogrify rock n' roll long after Manchester United is forgotten. For Allah's sake, the dude doesn't play a guitar and is turning into a hunchback! When will the sonic rapture cease? And who decided to defile the memory of Nudie Cohen? Go ahead. Be a yob. Buy this and turn into some fey Brahmin who thinks Madonna isn't British. I'm warning YOU!!

A great price for a lot of great tunes.
I remember a review of a new Fall release (by Fred Miller?) that
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Subjects:  1. College Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Post-Punk    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Deluxe Edition
• Import

Reviews (1)

Stellar re-issue of Pulp's first step into the limelight
After 10 years of living on the fringe of the Sheffield music scene, "His `n' Hers" is the first album that put Pulp on the radar. While their earlier releases were patchy as best, "His `n' Hers" was a leap forward in terms of songwriting and solidifying their sound. The new "deluxe" edition pulls together the original album, plus an extra disc of goodies that make this the definitive version of this excellent, but largely forgotten album.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Britpop    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording reissued

Reviews (20)

I Am Mark E. Smith
Though to some extent the Fall are a "single's band" they still have put out a lot of solid albums. Owning all of them might bankrupt you so besides any of their greatest hits albums (as long as they focus on older material) this is the place to start. This Nation's Saving Grace sounds like a monologue on everything from Margaret Thatcher era England (Spoilt Victorian Child)to the leader of one of the group's greatest influences, Can (I am Damo Suzuki) over angular post punk/funk rhythms.I prefer it over Gang of Four as This Nation's Saving Grace is not guilty of being didactic but instead is a chunk of bile and vitriol that must have been on Steve Albini's turntable more than once. I don't know whether the current bunch of post punkers from Williamsburg that slavishly imitate this sound are a good or bad thing. However, the Fall, despite line up changes are still a solid band and This Nation's Saving Grace is their most focused musical statement.

Buy it anyway! (If you own it already you shouldn't really be here)
Good solid Fall. Fine stuff. But... well, you know. YOU know! Popular, commercial Fall. Some danceable numbers. But it doesn't live with you as long as many other Fall pieces. Maybe it's just a bit too.. clean. Good album for Fall newcomers perhaps. But it isn't as abrasive, unsettling or amusing as so much other material. John Peel was a bit put out that so many (students probably) had voted "LA" into the festive 50 that year. I wonder why.

OY
Perfect pub music for bruisers with bad teeth and sharp minds.Edgy, jarring, melodic, a little bit of everything. Makes you want to pour your Guiness over Thatcher's head. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Pop    4. Post-Punk    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (8)

Leave Siouxie out of this!
Ignore the whiny naysayer that cried a river because the Cocteau Twins "weren't anything like Siouxie & The Banshees"...By the end of the CT's career they were better than they ever were, whilst S&TB were pop-encrusted shadows of their former selves and glory.
I know it is 23 years old maybe thatis why it stinks
I am always up for a change and a chance offering. When I heard that the "twins" were compared to Siouxsie and the Banshees, well I thought it deserved a hear-see. This is echo chamber crud. Voices that are incoherent and music that sounds as if play in a trash can (appropriate place to place this CD) Sorry, Siouxsie could expell better music and sounds through their intestinals track better than this.

Head Over Heels - Remastered.
Most albums feature music which reveals the era in which they were recorded. But "Head Over Heels" by Scotland's Cocteau Twins doesn't sound like it belongs to ANY era, even though it was released in 1983. A beautiful rush of etheral magic, "Head Over Heels" stands in a class of its own. The slow-moving opener "When Mama Was Moth" has vocalist Liz Frazer delivering hypnotic (yet incoherent) chants, while the brooding "The Tinderbox (of a Heart)" marches along in all its dark glory. Things get upbeat in "In Our Angelhood" with great melange of guitars, and the single "Sugar Hiccup" holds up well. I've owned this CD since my days in college, and I like it more with each listen. The melodies these guys craft are some of the most beautiful I have ever heard. Mainstream listeners may not realize it, but the Cocteau Twins are among the most influential acts of the last 25 years, developing a unique and distinguished sound that would inspire later genres known as trip hop and ambient. Indie label 4AD re-released "Head Over Heels" with remastered sound supervised by Robin Guthrie.At first, I was reluctant to buy this CD, which, after all, was already reissued by Capitol in 1991.But the sound quality of the new 4AD release is a definite imporvement over the original, featuring a full-bodied sound that projects much better than Capitol's edition.So, even if you already have the Capitol release (or if you have no copy of "Head Over Heels" at all), you should make the upgrade and buy this great album reissued by 4AD.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative/Indie-Rock    3. Dream Pop    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

With Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (288)

Ignorance Crafts an Underrated Album
Here's a perfect example of how attitude changes an entire listening experience.Easily the most bashed work in the Manchester great's back catalogue, called worst album of 2000 on several occasions, slated as a worthless Pink Floyd rip-off with no standout tracks, Standing on the Shoulder represents a career low point for Oasis--this was the first true testament that the band was not immortal, not the Beatles of the new age, but in fact slipping from the title of Brit-Rockers-in-chief.Sigh. It's the album that die-hard Radiohead and Coldplay fans always refer to when discussing Oasis' inferiority, blasting Noel Gallagher for "never progressing as a song writer."Sigh again.I've never really figured out the thunderous disapproval of the album, and I ultimately enjoyed most of the songs.Does SOTSOG contain some garbage?Without a doubt, but not nearly enough to ruin the entire experience, or throw Oasis off their high horse as most critics claim.Here're some facts all listeners need to be aware of:1) `F****n' in the Bushes,' `Go Let It Out,' and Gas Panic!' are three of the best songs of Oasis' career.Wasn't `Go Let It Out' #1 hit in the UK, going right alongside `Yellow' and even surpassing `Optimistic'?2) The biggest problem with SOTSOG occurs in the format, unusual for a psychedelic album such as this.If there's any real unending quandary here, it's that the worst two songs on the album, `Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is' and `Little James' fall in at numbers 4 and 5 respectively.These should have been either left out or positioned differently, perhaps further down in the line up while moving high qualities, perhaps `Roll It Over,' up in the track listing. 3) The album is without a doubt a step up from Be Here Now, which contains about five fillers/B-sides whereas SOTSOG has no more than two.4)Giants is Easy Listening.Oasis flirts with the Easy Listening genre on several junctures, most notably with `Wonderwall' and `Cast No Shadow', but usually sticks to anthemic Indie and at sometimes Hard Rock.I believe that this album has been rejected as quality Oasis by many fans due to the lack of guitars and the overwhelming presence of synthesizers.It doesn't always work--` Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is' for example--but it's definitely different.Not only should it be respected and appreciated by fans, but it should be praised for its boldness.5)Although inaccessible at times, SOTSOG flows unlike any other Oasis album.In this way, it tops both Definitely Maybe and Morning Glory?--a daring yet factual assessment.
Still Standing
When asked, nearly every Oasis fan I know will say that Morning Glory, or Definitely Maybe are Oasis' best albums. While both are very good, I'd have to say that this one is the album I'd have to go with for my personal favorite. Don't Believe The Truth is tied with this one for me.
Worth Having-- A Pleasant Surprise
"Be Here Now" left me with such low expectations for Oasis that I believed "What's the Story..." was just a fluke.It took years before I was ready to take another chance w/ Oasis, and after listening to album tracks on line, I chose this album.I further minimized the risk of adding a stinker to my collection by buying used.Well what a shock."Shoulders..." is actually damn good.It's got a very consistent sound-- sort of a heavy pop with big beat rhythm.Good songwriting, good sound effects and production, and great vocal melodies.Now I "get" Oasis.I always liked "WTSMG" but now I have respect for them and feel like I understand what keeps them going.I think classic rock stations in the US should be ashamed for not adding Oasis to their limited pantheon of artists. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. British Trad Rock    3. Britpop    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Extra tracks
• Original recording reissued

Reviews (12)

Exellent
my fav. english beat CD (and im a fairlly avid fan)
It's not "extra track-S"
Let's be clear."Too Nice to Talk To" is the extra track (singular).

Their reggae album
After the wild hyperactive ska of their debut I Just Can't Stop It, The English Beat slowed down the tempo big time on the Wha'Ppen? album. Not that the band did a complete u-turn here musically, but it's a definitely a more subdued affair. While there aren't any tracks here as strong as "Mirror In The Bathroom", "Hands Off...She's Mine", or "Save It For Later", Wha'Ppen? is a more diverse affair and most of the songs here are very good.
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Subjects:  1. College Rock    2. New Wave    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Rock    6. Ska    7. Ska Revival   

Editorial Review

Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry actually manage to out-shimmer the Cocteau Twins on this 1987 release, which finds their beautiful minimalism adorned with increasingly developed compositional genius. The cascading melodies that grace "Summoning of the Muse" and "Persephone" are tailor-made for that next Christmas or Winter Solstice celebration, while more conventional (albeit somewhat somber) pop tracks like "Xavier" and "Anywhere Out of the World" keep the going from getting too arcane. All in all, more fun than a barrel of goths. Read more

Reviews (58)

Passionate and romantic yet brooding and mournful
The arrangement of selections on this CD are somewhat different from other Dead Can Dance arrangements in that the voice of Brendan Perry dominates the first selections while the voice of Lisa Gerrard dominates the last selections.
A Stunner
The only album that can hold a candle to Joy Division's "Closer" besides..well other Joy Division records.

Wonderful!
What a blast from the past.I hadn't heard anything from Dead Can Dance in years so I was ecstatic to find their music here on Amazon.The music is wonderful, the best way I can describe it is goth meets Middle Eastern.I was also very happy with how quickly I recieved the product once it was ordered.Very fast service! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Dream Pop    3. Ethnic Fusion    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. World Fusion   

Reviews (7)

Album of the Year-It's that good!
Stars of CCTV went to # 1 in England and for good reason. The songs on the album are about real people dealing with real issues, but, at the same time, have excellent melodies, "Better do Better," and tight guitar hooks, "Gotta Reason." Lead singer Richard Archer also uses the melodica effectively, as in the opening of "Cash Machine."
Five Stars for Stars of CCTV
Stars of CCTV by Hard-Fi is an insanely catchy, extremely good first album.I know in this day and age we anoint the next Beatles on a weekly basis, but there's something about this band (OK, I know a lot of people will say this is sacrilege, especially since Hard-Fi is so derivative).I won't get analytical here...I'll just say, stick it in the cd player and turn up the volume.And, oh yeah, put on your dancing shoes.This is a DANCE BAND.But there's also a grit and gusto there that's real.
London Suburb Kids Sound Off
11 excellant tracks is what you get from a great debut album. Hard Fi are wonderful. The lead track Cash Machine, Tied Up Too Tight, Hard To Beat, and Better Do Better are top of the charts singles. Richard Archer's composer skills are not limited to these four songs. Hard Fi are a new band that has alot of promise with a vein that be traced back to such greats as The Jam, The Clash, and The Specials. Unnecessary Trouble track shows a great blend of these groups. This album will be a classic no matter how long the life of Hard Fi will be. A must buy. Hoping for alot more great music coming out of this band from the suburbs of London. Hard Fi are off to a very good start. Please get this one now. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Britpop    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Box set
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (25)

Great collection of an essential band
This is a first-rate box set. Practically everything a non-completist Jam fan needs is included, and the sound quality is much better than the various individual remastered CDs floating around, especially the latter albums. Check out the bass on "Set the House Ablaze" for a comparison-- it's practically nonexistent on the 1997 "Sound Affects" import, but here it sounds full and richly textured.
Missing something important to me
Interesting - I was about to spring for this when I noticed that it's missing something that I've loved for years: a B side recording of "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" live. It's sloppy at times, but they regain their place. But have it on cassette somewhere, taped from a friend's vinyl 20+ years ago.
Buy direct from UK and get it for half this price!
Amazon's UK site has this same box set selling for �28.97.Under the current exchange rate that's about half what it sells for here, so even with the overseas shipping charge it's still a lot less money for the same product.Shop smart! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. British Punk    3. England    4. Mod Revival    5. New Wave    6. Pop    7. Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Features

• CD-single
• Import

Reviews (5)

Imperfect but not without interest
The Verve were rashly hailed in Britain as saviors of art pop when they came along in the late nineties, and this was their best-known track. And it's true, there's something vaguely interesting about looping an old violin riff from a discarded Rolling Stones session and building a song around it. There's also something highly repetetive about it, and the computerized drum tracks don't help the matter. There's also something whiny about the lead singer's voice, and something highly inelegant about the lyrics if you ever take the time to suss them out. ("You know the one that takes you where all the thing meet, yeah. I'm here in my mo, I am here in my mo...") Be all this as it may, it's a catchy riff and there are some fun sound effects whirring around in the background.

Wedding Processional
Don't have the CD, but my friend who just got married had a group of musicians play the "Bittersweet Symphony" music as the wedding processional. I must say the music was 100% perfect for the occassion, and really made it unique and orginal, yet not to "weird." Perfect for the couple getting married. :)

Love, life, happiness/Nothing more/Nothing less
More like 4 1/2 stars.I received this CD packaged with it's sister half (Pt.2) two years ago, and I still find it (and the other) to be a good listen when I'm in the right mood.Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Britpop    3. Dream Pop    4. England    5. Neo-Psychedelia    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Space Rock   

Editorial Review

Lisa Gerrard, the former voice of Dead Can Dance, returns with a soundtrack following on her acclaimed scores to Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (31)

It's OK...
This Soundtrack is very nice for people who like very quiet music, I expected more songs from the girl, but must of the soundtrack is sound..

Hauntingly Beautiful
This is a beautiful soundtrack to go with one of the best movies I have ever seen. Paikeas Whale, Waka in the Sky, They Came to Die, and Empty Water are worth the CD by themselves.
Whale of an album
I stumbled upon this movie "The Whale Rider" one fetid afternoon on PBS TV. It is a powerful movie that moves you. At least it did me. A movie such as this comes along but rarely. Tears welled up in my eyes towards the end. The music is just as stirring. The old Maori chants are so similar to the chants of some tribes in India. A lost world now gone from us. I am glad someone made a movie on this theme. That it acquired such a haunting soundtack contributes to its universal success. I highly recommend the movie and the CD, in that order. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Original Score    4. Pop    5. Rock/Pop    6. Soundtrack    7. Soundtracks    8. Soundtracks & Film Scores    9. World Fusion   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (46)

Brooding and beautiful
To me, Asleep in the Back is one of the few albums that doesn't reveal a cynical formula after repeated listening. It is atmospheric, creative, intelligent and gorgeous. Too bad their follow-up efforts are not as cohesive. I still believe that one day they will blow my mind again.

besti have bought in years
i heard about twenty seconds of track one ( any day now ) on an episode of nip/tuck, then spent several hours trying to track down the name of the band. i ordered the cd , anticipating one or two good songs, but after listening to the entire cd , i fell in love. i havent felt so emotionally connected to music since i was in high school, about thirteen years ago. after listening to the cd several times certain tracks grabbed ahold of me, namely #'s 1 , 4 , 6 , and 10.then i began to castigate myself for not knowing about this band before.they combine all of the best elements of pink floyd, radiohead, therapture, and something else that sets them apart from any other band that ive heard . i would reccommend this cd to anyone who craves emotioal , evocative music that makes you feel again.

give it a few listens
itll take a few careful listnes to appreciate whats going on in these songs. theres a subtle brilliance to it that many people overlook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Ambient Pop    3. Britpop    4. Dream Pop    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Whether such lofty notions as "the circle remains unbroken" or "all things old become new again" mean much to The Redwalls is debatable. But the young Chicago quartet channels their passion for r&b-tinged '60s/'70s rock forms with admirable energy on a big label debut that seems as inspired by resurgent Britpop as it does a reaction against a decade of shoe-gazing alt.rock. The raucous opener "Robinson Crusoe" lurches with loping rhythms and a brass section wallop, while the gritty vocal swagger of Logan Baren belies his age (at 22, he's the band's elder statesman) and avoids most of the pitfalls of poseurhood. Yet there's more to Redwalls here than the muscular mod pretensions of hard-charging anthems like "On My Way" and "It's Alright," ranging confidently from the infectious blue-eyed soul of"Thank You" and "Hung Up On the Way I'm Feeling" to the bittersweet pop melancholy of "Front Page" and noisy psych-dirge "Back Together." Like any good recipe, it's not the familiarity of the ingredients that triumphs here, but the heart and soul with which they're lovingly stirred together.Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (40)

A Breath of Fresh Air
Everybody is influenced by something or someone. And you can hear all kinds of different influences here. So what? These guys have got it going on. The first time I heard "On My Way" I found myself singing along before the song was over. This stuff makes me feel good.

Retro-rockin' Fun
The "album cover" art should be your first clue of what to expect from the Redwalls:a "shelf-worn" effect and a cover photo of them in rather Beatle-esque poses.(Apparently they passed on an opportunity to label their CD tracks as "Side 1" and "Side 2".)But these guys are not "poseurs" - they have an honest passion and commitment to the "British Invasion" sound of the 1960's.Throughout this energetic and musically authentic effort, you'll hear echoes of the Who, early Elton John, and especially the John Lennon side of the Beatles.(Listen to the closing track, "Rock and Roll", and then try telling me I'm wrong.)These young lads from Chicago have nailed down the sound better than any of their contemporaries, better than even Canada's Sam Roberts.This is a fun and energetic CD with a number of standout tracks, including "Build a Bridge", "Robinson Crusoe", and "Thank You". (And for you "sensitive" listeners, don't let the "explicit" tag scare you off - it's only for one song, "Falling Down", which uses profanity to make a point about radio censorship.)This album doesn't pretend to be avant garde, nor does it want to be.Just put in on, shake your mop-top, jump around, play air guitar, and enjoy it.

Oasis of the poor ones!
This is a great Album! it has the swagger of oasis and some good melodies! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Trad Rock    2. British Trad Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (66)

Naughty by nature, on doubles and chaser
The Great Escape is, in my humble opinion, the best and most underrated pop album of the 90's. It is an album where each song doesn't necessarily flow together and yet to the listener, it feels like the album created a world. In that world are characters that are pretty bummed out. Damon Albarn sympathizes with these characters, it's as if he makes fun of them and becomes friends with them at the same time. He narrates what they do, but understands why they do them. He treats them as if they just took the wrong path by mistake and now they're paying for it. But what I love most about The Great Escape is how diverse the themes are. This album has everything: humor ("Mr. Robinson's Quango", "Dan Abnormal"), wit ("Charmless Man", "Top Man"), optimism ("Could Be You"), pessimism ("Fade Away", "He Thought of Cars"), desperation ("Entertain Me"), and fantasy ("The Universal"). The songs are tight and structured; there's nothing indulgent about The Great Escape. The real true great escape of the album is the final minute of carnival music at the end. It's as if Dan Abnomal, Ernold Same, and Mr. Robinson (and everybody else) actually decided on going to a carnival and forget about their problems for a day. If you love this album the way I do, it will probably make you watery-eyed.
Trilogy's End
Of Blur's english trilogy "The Great Escape" has alway struck me as the less inspired record probably because of the two or three annoying songs it has in it(the Ray Davies aping "Ernold Same"at the top of them) and at the same time for sounding less fresh and a bit more designed for success than previous efforts.
Escape into the world of The Great Escape
This album was quite good, yet in my opinion not quite as good as Blur's self-titled album. A number of songs on here discuss the life of a fictional character, some being rather childish yet at the same time likeable. Many tracks also feature some sort of horn, also. I would most recommend the song "Fade Away", which has a unique beat and an almost circus-like off key horn melody which is slightly eerie yet enjoyable. Aside from this song, there are numerous other great incomparable songs, a strange booklet, and interesting lyrical features. I would recommend this album to any Blur fans out there, as well as those of any rock genre.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Britpop    3. Indie Pop    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

In 2000 Oasis wisely dispensed with theatrics and concentrated on being the world's greatest stadium-sized pub-rock band. And so, with just three mammoth video walls in tow, they toured the world. Big as the video screens were, however, the band's straight-ahead rock and Liam Gallagher's mouth were even bigger, and contributed much to the drama, tension, and entertainment of the tour behind Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics
• Live

Reviews (83)

"Hello, Manchester!!!"
It was July 2000, Oasis played Wembley Stadium in London for two nights in a row. The heat was on, the expectations were high, and the thousands of fans that crammed the famous soccor field were "mad for it!" Everything was going good; Oasis were and still are the biggest band in England with a timeless influence on most of the bands coming out of America and Europe today, and they were to take the stage by storm, but there was one too many problems: Liam had just broken up with his then wife actress Patsi Kensit, was seriously drunk, and Noel wasn't talking to him. The effects of all of the above are evident on this recording.
Well done (to the crowd)
Ive always been a big fan of oasis but they really let themselves down here. This was an opportunity to perform a memorable, energetic and musical show, well it was certainly memorable.
Lay off the cigarettes, Liam
Instrumentally, Oasis is still a tight band, and Noel's vioce still sounds good, (his cover version of Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My" is a highlight) but damn Liam really sounds like he just woke up after a rough night.They rush their way through "Wonderwall" like they're bored with it,and their version of Champagne Supernova also sounds weak voiced. Now some times the ragged effect does work, versions of "Stand by Me", "Live Forever" and "Cigarettes and Alcohol" are still pretty rousing.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. British Trad Rock    3. Britpop    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (58)

The First Time Around, The Best Time Around, Word Gets Around
Simply put the first time around for The Stereophonics was definately the best in their case.If you've read any of my other reviews, you'd know that I discovered these guys from the track Maybe Tomorrow, off Wicker Park.That made me buy the fourth album, "You Got to Go there to Come Back".I loved that album so I went out and bought their fifth and newest album at the time,"Language,Sex,Violence,Other".Loved that one too so I picked up "Live at Dakota".Loved it, especially some of the old songs that I had never heard before, especially A Thousand Trees and Too Many Sandwiches.This prompted me to get the album that those tracks were from, "Word Gets Around". All in all, this album is one that can be listened to and enjoyed in its entirety.All of the tracks, except for maybe More Life in a Tramps Vest are awesome.Including the great tracks mentioned before from "Live at Dakota", other stellar cuts include Local Boy in a Photograph,Check my Eyelids for Holes, and Goldfish Bowl. A tremendous performance both musically, and especially in Kelly's vocals, are heard on the beautiful Traffic.The best is saved for last with the title track.For such a sad song, it is the perfect ending for a nearly flawless album.Buy it.

Actually, 4.5 stars
The debut album from Stereophonics, Wales' answer to a hard-rockin' band.This album has the perfect balance of melody, rock sensibilities, and tight performances to make it stand out.Songs like Local Boy in the Photograph and A Thousand Trees get you musically and lyrically in ways that haven't been done in a while.While the album does sound rather generic after a while and has some weak numbers, overall this one was a great starting point for the band.

they suck
they suck they only have 1 good song and it is more life in a tramp's vest and that is the only good song out of all the songs on all of their cd's ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. British Trad Rock    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

The Clash were the only first-generation punk band capable of (or perhaps interested in) tailoring their up-from-the-gutter firepower to suit arena-size audiences. Here, at last--a decade and a half after their demise--is proof of their substantial stage skills. Read more

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Reviews (66)

Awesome!
This is an awesome album! Best songs: London Calling, I Fought The Law, Career Opportunities, Train In Vain, and Rudy Won'