Editorial Review

You'd have to stretch back to 1967 to London's psychedelic underground(a time and a place that Blur is admittedly fond of) to find a band that revelsas much in its Britishness. And on its third album, Blur takes 30 years of coolEnglish rock, throws it into an art-punk Cuisinart, and ends up with amasterpiece of timeless hooks and Cockney attitude. Like the Kinks at theirsatirical best, Blur paints warm and funny portraits of quintessentially Englishcharacters ("Tracy Jacks," "Parklife," "The DebtCollector"), delivering them with early Small Faces swagger, wiggy SydBarrett-via-Julian Cope production, XTC circa "Respectable Street"vocal hooks ("ooh-we-ooh"), and a cynical Buzzcocks detachment. Theband members are mods, of course, borrowing fashion tips from the pre-glam DavidBowie, tempos from the Jam, and actor Phil Daniels (the star ofRead more

Reviews (94)

MR ALAN WILLIAMSON IS BRILLIANT!!
OK. So I was duped. Alan Williamson--see The Stone Roses review--is the funniest man alive! Thinking he was serious, I got all riled up and blasted him a new one over this Stone Roses album and ended up sounding like a complete arrogant putz in the process. Bravo, sir! His reviews are hilarious and well worth searching out, especially the Beatles REVOLVERand the one (S) about Kelley Clarkson and womens shoes! Very funny stuff.
I don't like this album
When Mike and the Mechanics ushered in the Britpop era with Looking Back Over My Shoulder, it was only a matter of time before these dopes attempted to jump on the bandwagon. How they won so many Brit awards with this rubbish is beyond me. It must have been rigged!

Modern Life Is Rubbish.
High record sales are often inversely proportionate to the effect on the morale of the bands concerned. Blur became household names in Britain because of this album, especially through cheerful cockney singalong sinle "Parklife", but it messed them up in terms of moving on as a band: it is also the album which was responsible for singer/writer Damon Albarn's mental breakdown.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Dance    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Britain    4. Britpop    5. Club/Dance    6. England    7. Indie Pop    8. Pop    9. Pop/Rock    10. Popular Music    11. Rock    12. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

The great thing about Flaming Lips records is that each new one renders all its predecessors obsolete.

Reviews (44)

Definitly Try other Lips cd's
Don't let this review get you down on the band. There is surely some good music here. But only on the opening of this CD. After that, its downhill. Nothing Horrible. Just not mentionable.
Great Album
It's really pretty basic. If you like the Flamming Lips you should own this album. If you are figuring out whether you like them I would probably get "Transmissions from a Satelite Heart." But this one is also another I'd recommend. In my mind, it's much better then their newest alubm

This where is where the The Flaming Lips started thier odesy to becoming one of the best bands ever began
After reading the mostly solid review for this album I decided that I should check this one out for my self to see just excatly what all the fuss was about it.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Dream Pop    3. Neo-Psychedelia    4. Noise Pop    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Extra tracks

Reviews (10)

dis nonsense but "witching hour" be very good
dat lady right which say de ony good song be "17"--da rest be wispy
Not worth it
I bought this CD because I didn't mind the "Witching Hour"album. "Light and Magic" did not meet my expectations- the songs weren't paced enough for my liking. The album gets 1 star for the "Seventeen" song.
Great, but not better than their debut
This was my first Ladytron album. While I find it kinda boring compared to "604" it's still a great album to crank up every once in a while. Some of the songs tend to stand out more than others. Some songs are more redundant than others. However, this album still rocks with some of it's catchy vocals and beats. Buuuttt... I could never get into "Nuhorizons" very much. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic    2. Electronica    3. England    4. Indie Electronic    5. Indie Pop    6. Pop    7. Post-Rock/Experimental    8. Rock   

Reviews (4)

Brilliant as Always!
This band came into my life in 1988 with "Blue Bell Knoll," and I've never looked back.Lullabies to Violaine, vol. 2 is a great addition with numbers I hadn't heard, "Mud and Dark," and "Summer-Blink."This is an example, though not complete, of their evolving from a heavier style to a lighter and more sophosticated sound.Where are "Carolyn's Fingers," and "Blue Bell Knoll?"
In a word, it's... cool.
The Cocteau Twins were one of those mysterious bands that the really cool kids in High School were into. You know, the ones with lots of black clothing, complicated footwear, hip hairdos, and surprisingly easy access to mind-altering substances. In other words, not me.
Really Beautiful
I've never been a Cocteau Twins fanatic, but this collection and V. 1 could change my mind.To my ears, the Twins were at their very best on their singles and toward the end of their career.Liz Frazer's voice was sweeter, the songs less "cutesy" and more beautiful, and they could throw up a beautiful wall of sound when they wanted to. Cherry Colored Funk, Round, An Elan and the second version of Violane are especially stunning in this collection, but I wouldn't want to be without a single disc in either of the two volumes.Even if you've always had a bit of a problem with the Twins you ought to check this out.There's some incredible stuff that I wouldn't want to live without here.I should add that the sound quality is some of the most incredible I've ever heard on a popular music disc, and beats their album remasters in terms of depth, spread and especially textural beauty (and there's a LOT of that here).At the asking price, this and V. 1 are about the best bargains going. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Ambient Pop    3. Dream Pop    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Scotland   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (99)

'Green' Showcases Organic Development
'Green' has all of R.E.M's energy and virtuoso musicianship.It is a propelling and pleasing encyclopedia of pop music.The positive spirit pervades, much like 'Life's Rich Pageant,' but the richness of sound continues with the able hand of Scott Litt, who became, with of late Pat McCarthy, one of two anchor producers.The lyrics, which improved on '...Pageant' and later more consistently on 'Document' is even better this time overall.
a mix of old and new...more new
This sounds a lot like 'Out of time', but not quite as good in somerespects. 'Pop song 89' is a perfect opening to the album, it moves along nicely and is pretty catchy. Other highlights include 'World Leader Pretend', with nice percussion and steel guitars.
I will try to sing a happy song.
I was in college when this album first came out, and I remember being disappointed overall at the effort -- GREEN was a real departure for REM at the time, insofar as that it largely left behind the jangle and obfuscation of earlier albums in favor of a big, clear and mainstream-friendly "rock" sound. I remember being turned off by what seemed (at the time) like too-obvious bids for airplay, like "Pop Song 89" and the awful "Stand." I remember the stark contrast between the gentler, more thoughtful songs - "Hairshirt," "The Wrong Child," "You Are The Everything" and the goofy, charming "Bonus Track 1" - and the rest of the album.
Read more

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

Reviews (24)

Tranquil Voice, Stimulating Music
Jose Gonzalez is a class act. One of his greatest talents is his gift in combining a beautiful, tranquil voice with stimulating, rousing instrumentation. 'Veneer' reflects this perfect combination track after track, and brings the acoustic genre to a new level. It is the perfect soundtrack for buffering this crazy world we live in today. I was introduced to Jose via his work on the latest Zero 7 album. His tracks on that cd bring depth and substance. Likewise, 'Veneer' recharges the mind while soothing the soul...as in my favorite lyric: "Cast some light and you'll be alright".
Very good, but not great
The first song I heard from this album was "Heartbeats" on Radio 1 back in late 2004. I thought it was great, but none of Jose's EPs were avialble at that time here in the States. About a year later, I heard a session and interview of his on NPR. He played a number of songs, including "Crosses" and "Stay in the Shade": both excelent.
Great Songs, Lazy artist
I bought veneer because I had heard "heartbeats" on the sony Bravia advert. I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Most of the songs are awesome cos you feel that the artist is emotionally invested in the music but the disappointing thing about this album is that most songs are way under the 3 minute mark. dont know about anyone else but that just strikes me as plain lazy,with such acoustic beauties the lack of length is a crime. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Pop    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. Sadcore   

Editorial Review

Taken in one concentrated best-of dose, it becomes evident what a coup the B-52's pulled off when they turned their own concentrated craziness into genuine hits. This is some of the weirdest stuff ever to make the charts, much less be loved by the masses. It's all here though--the mad surf guitar of Ricky Wilson (and later Keith Strickland), the banshee wails of Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, and, of course, the, um, well, let's say vocalizing of freaky Fred Schneider. "Party out of Bounds" with a "Rock Lobster" on "Planet Claire," or "Roam" over to the "Love Shack" in "Private Idaho." Whatever you do in the B-52's universe will at least be good, clean, perverse fun. Contains two new songs. Read more

Reviews (61)

Hair Today, Here Tomorrow
Every once in a very long while a thoroughly delightful group appears out of nowhere with something new to say and a distinct, immediately identifiable way of saying it.Such is the case with the B-52's who pull off a nearly impossible trick and make it look easy.For starters, they are musically intoxicating and certainly can't be topped for dance party appeal.The vocal blend of Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson is a lovely, natural fit, and Fred Schneider's droll, spoken word additions provide an effective and often hilarious counterpoint.Keith Strickland knows that a band like this needs basic, pure drumming, nothing flashy, and he delivers.The late, lamented Ricky Wilson provided great retro surf guitar, right on time and target.The frequent use of left-field sound effects sprinkles the songs with splendid surprises.
summer of love

Pleased, but wished it had more songs from LUV Shack...
Don't get me wrong! This is a great collection, but I guess I am one of those who fell for the Love Shack & Dead Beat Club hits mostly. And the only other track I still get into is Rock Lobster. But if you don't have any of there cd's. Then I recommend you buy this one to have a good retropective of this band's work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Jangle Pop    4. New Wave    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Popular Music    8. Post-Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop    11. United States of America   

Reviews (21)

Couldn't Hold My Attention
I came to Red Sparowes (through Isis) with very high expectations, and I was not entirely satisfied with this record.Too often, in my view, this record sacrifices emotional content for pretty composition and dreamy soundspace.In many ways, this record retraces the navel-gazing excesses of 1970's prog rock.
Best Album of 2005
While most of the user reviews have been glowing, I am surprised at the handful that accuse Red Sparowes of doing nothing "new".In the limited, narrow world of instrumental (or pseudo-instrumental) post-rock, the Red Sparowes certainly stand head over heels.This is heavy music without being heavy.The melodies are delicate and each composition is carefully crafted.These nuances are even more pronounced when they play live.It is inspiring for an old fart like myself to see kids up on a stage that are channeling a much different energy than the usual trucker-hat, tight pants, tiny t-shirt world of Arcade Fire or Devandra Sufjan Etc.This, in itself, is certainly "new".What Red Sparowes do that no other current band does (and if you can think of any, let me know) is channel the early spirit of '80s goth music.Many of their songs have a similar feel as to a lot of the grandiose introductions on the Cure's "Disintegration", which is, truly, a majestic and beautiful thing.I just hope, with as much energy as these guys have and as committed as they are to other, equally adventurous projects, that Red Sparowes are around for a long time.

Epic soundscapes!
Quoth the track titles when put together:
Read more

Subjects:  1. Ambient Pop    2. Avant-Prog    3. College Rock    4. Dream Pop    5. Experimental Rock    6. Indie Pop    7. Indie Rock    8. Instrumental Rock    9. Neo-Psychedelia    10. Pop    11. Post-Rock/Experimental    12. Psychedelic Pop    13. Rock    14. Rock/Pop    15. Shoegaze   

Editorial Review

Long before No Doubt brought back ska and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy resurrected swing, Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry were making music that recalled an earlier time. How early? Try the Renaissance. Everything old--Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued

Reviews (37)

Mysical Renaissance Magic
Dead Can Dance never lets you down, especially if you are into multicultural influenced music. Here the influences come from Turkey, Egypt, Palestine, Crete, and Celtic Ireland. It seems that Brendan Perry's smoothly dark baritone voice, very masculine and sexy, contrasts nicely with Lisa Gerrard's which is a powerful voice of the priestess, a voice that can chant in any tradition or language.
Historical Soul
By far, the most historical work of Dead Can Dance. I rememebered well when I listened for the first time: Saltarello and Black Sun. Unbeliavable!!!

Favorite CD of one of my favorite groups
If you love Renaissance music in all it's permutations, this is a CD you're going to want.We have everything from chants to Middleeastern and bagpipes."Dead" started the world-music trend and are still seminary in that area--this is probably their best album so far! ... 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   

Editorial Review

While duets have been often turned into pairings that dilute both participants into toothless blobs, that's not the case here. Scottish singer Isobel Campbell, formerly of Belle & Sebastian here teams up with Mark Lanegan, formerly of Screaming Trees and collaborator with Queens of the Stone Age. It's a classic beauty and the beast alignment, with Lanegan's gruff baritone sounding like the protector of a beautiful little bird. This is a combination that's been done with success previously by the likes of Lee Hazelwood & Nancy Sinatra, and Serge Gainsbourg with Jane Birkin. The instrumental settings further underscore the gorgeously weathered timelessness of these dozen songs. This is music that straddles several centuries, updating traditions with confidence and subtle invention. Read more

Reviews (13)

A great surprise
An unlikely but extreme successful combination, Isobel Campbell's pure Scottishness married to Mark Lanegan's weathered American blues is a beautiful union. It's the swaggering, smoulderingly sexy cover of Hank Williams' 'Ramblin' Man' that immediately grabs the attention, but closer inspection reveals a wealth of treasures. The darkly understasted 'Deus Ibi Est' recalls Nick Cave and Tom Waits, and the log-cabin folk of the Lanegan-penned 'Revolver' is rhythmically interesting and has a beckoning quality. The upbeat and poppy 'Honey Child What Can I Do' is easily the closest thing to Campbell's old band Belle & Sebastian here, and ranks with some of their best offerings. There's a mystical, foggy, ethereal quality to the string-adorned 'The False Husband' and Campbell-led tracks 'Black Mountain' and 'Saturday's Gone', while the title track is spaced-out blues. Only 'Do You Wanna Come Walk With Me', a purely acoustic ditty with an incredibly simple chorus, is a little disappointing. A subtle and special record.

Broken indeed
On paper, it looks tantalizing: the wispy-voiced Scottish sweetie teams with the hard-living, asphalt-throated American drifter. Twee meets grunge, all doe-eyed glint and ginger-bearded grunt. But that's paper.
No throwaways
Sophisicated and beautiful effort. Timeless and NOT trendy. Lots of orchestration and does not "rock". This is something you can listen to twenty years from now with no regrets. Kick back, have a drink(if you are so inclined) and enjoy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Pop    2. Indie Pop    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered
• Import

Reviews (21)

Good Overview
"The Very Best of the Smiths" is a 23 song CD of some of the Smiths biggest hits, plus a couple of fan favorites. They're a British group, 1980s and guitar driven (with great playing by Johnny Marr), catchy and made all the more memorable by the wit and observation of Morrissey's lyrics. He sings of the shy, the unemployed, the young and the lonely, and helped me through some rather tough times when I was all four at once. They're up in my top 5 bands somewhere. They've made me laugh, made me cry, made you think too sometimes.
Holy Smith!
How can you release a "Best Of The Smiths" album without songs such as "Handsome Devil", "Pretty Girls Make Graves" and "A Rush And A Push" on it? Hang on, how can you release it without "What She Said" "Unhappy Birthday" and "Nowhere Fast" on it? Well it has to be done, because every single Smiths song ever created deserves to be on this album, bar none. As for what IS on this album, it is a fine selection of songs worthy for any collection, and a good Smiths album to buy if you're just getting into them.
The Best Smiths Compilation on the Market
I truly believe that this is the Best Smiths comp out there. Let me explain:
Read more

Subjects:  1. Rock    2. Pop    3. Alternative Pop/Rock    4. College Rock    5. Indie Pop    6. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Extra tracks

Reviews (3)

Best Ladytron album yet
...although I might be wrong because I haven't had a chance to get Witching Hour yet. I think their debut is the best as I got this one after "Light & Magic". Songs on "Light & Magic" have the redundancy of getting boring often although it's still a nice album to hear every once in a while. I don't know, I think they made their best effort on their debut. All the tracks seems worth hearing and all of them seem different and eccentric. I would say that this is best Ladytron album to get into for a first time listener. Awesome british sounding chick vox with dancy (sometimes chimey) beats! Must have!

Great First Album: Ladytron Proves their Worth with 604
If your new just figuring out what electroclash is or if you are a fan of the genre Ladytron's 604 is a great album packed with great beats catchy songs and interesting harmonies. With 80's instruments and modern production techniques the band is able to sound retro and futuristic at the same time.Overall the sound is fun although many of the tracks have a bit of a goth sentiment to them using the darker Eastern European vocals of Mira and the softer tones of Helaine.The band actually formed in a peculiar way when the two guys in the band met Mira in Bulgaria while DJing and then Helaine joined as they were recording their first singe "He took her to a Movie".
ummm,,,, yes--YES!!!
If the beats' look of the 1950s were placed in the year 2050, this would be Ladytron's look.If the sound were made to emulate innocent truisms and hardcore, well, just general hardcore-ness, this would be Ladytron's sound.I love this band.I love the two lovely ladies of the group, and I never get tired of their sound.It's a mish-mash of Gang of Four bounciness, mixed with unabashed keyboard Korg sound, mixed with the android-angelic vocals of a 1960's style vixen.Love this.You can't not love this.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic    2. Electronica    3. Indie Electronic    4. Indie Pop    5. Pop    6. Post-Rock/Experimental    7. Rock   

Editorial Review

In 1997, with dreamy Ozzie kiddos Silverchair at their commercial zenith and record labels seeing dollar signs, an unassuming pop-rock trio from Texas led by teenage singer-songwriter Ben Kweller sparked a bidding war. As the dust settled, Kweller's band Radish signed with Mercury and released Read more

Reviews (114)

The thrill of random oddities
So I was at F.Y.E. with my boyfriend and he was looking for something and I spotted this album cover of a man in a ski hat brushing his teeth, and I thought it was too brilliant to pass up.
The weaker of his two outings
I probably won't say anything here that many others haven't already but it's precisely because so many are hitting the nail on the head when they proclaim this disc as over-hyped. I'm a power pop addict so I went into this CD with a bias toward WANTING to love it. The fact that I don't shows you something's not alright in Kwellerland.
I tried to like it. I really did!
My roommate is obsessed with this guy, so I decided that I would give him a listen. I tried to find what was appealing. I've listened to it numerous times. Sometimes it takes a few listens to get to like some artists for me, but it never came with Kweller.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Pop    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

Delerium was the perfect diamond chipped out of the blasted earth of Front Line Assembly. A collaboration between FLA's Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb, Delerium took them to the opposite pole of their prior industrial electronic sound. Where FLA was a group that would just as soon sledgehammer Pachebel's "Canon in C," Delerium turns it into a dance number of ethereal seduction called "Paris." Drawing from their recordings for Nettwerk Records, this collection focuses on the seductive side of Delerium with chilled electro-dance rhythms and the bevy of ethereal girls they've used to front their project. Of course, Sarah McLachlan's "Silence," a yearning hymn for heaven, is here in it's original and a remixed version. "Silence" remains Delerium's greatest hit, but there are many equally compelling tracks including songs with Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer and early works featuring a little-known singer, Kristy Thirsk. It was Thirsk who established Delerium's penchant for gothic lyricism on "Flowers Become Screens." While their recent CD, Read more

Features

• Limited Edition

Reviews (13)

Angelic and Dreamy
Silence - There is a reason this is on here three times, but the
Love it
I listen to this Cd everynight on my way home from work it is so soothing and relaxing

Didn't flow
The album didn't flow for me.I know greatest hits albums aren't supposed to, but this was what I enjoyed about their previous albums.Evanescence's Origin album flows as well, much better than Fallen.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Dance    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Ambient Pop    4. Dark Ambient    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Techno   

Reviews (43)

Who Knew?
Change your name to that of Sun Myung Moon's wife, amp up the Red House Painters slow-fi dirges, even add some cuts that get a little loud, write songs about long-dead and mostly forgotten boxers and what do you get?A terrific album.Duk Koo Kim is way too long at 14:32, but everything else here is superb.Salvador Sanchez and Pancho Villa are the same song -- done once to rock and then again as the CD's final cut in a quiet late night farewell, even a bit of mandolin it sounds like, to all these memorable characters.My other favorites are Lily and Parrots, an unabashed hymn to a lover whose absenceliterally pains Kozelek, and Glenn Tipton, where -- while throwing out lines like "Cassius Clay was hated more than Sonny Liston" -- Kozelek recalls his father watching late night TV like he now does and that makes me remember my own Dad in a similar situation as -- years from now -- my son in middle age may think of me on late nights.It goes on.In the end, I guess, that's what this CD is -- living as an act of remembering.Whatever it is, it's great stuff.

Best album in the past decade
This is by far my favorite album of the past decade. Mark Kozelek's vocals aren't for everyone, but if you listen to some clips of the album and you're not turned off, *get this album*.

A Brilliant Change of Pace
I don't normally write reviews, but someone below suggested that the rave reviews are only being given by hard core fans of Kozelek or RHP.I had never heard of either before hearing "Carry Me Ohio" one day on XM.It is one of those songs that is so good it is shocking when you first hear it, like The Shins "New Slang" - it grabs you immediatly.I have sampled some of Kozelek's other works here, and doubt I will pick up anything else soon, but I really love this album.There are several songs that I wish would just go on and on.If you have become bored with everybody trying to copy Sufjan Stevens, or you're like me and really don't understand the buzz about the Canadians, pick up this album and try it.Whether you like it or not, there can be no doubt that Kozelek is his own artist. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Dream Pop    3. Folk-Rock    4. Indie Pop    5. Pop    6. Psychedelic Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (21)

hmmm...
I wanted to write an oozing review of this work. It strikes me from several angles. I've only got two comments in my mouth:
Amazing, simply the most complicated sound ever.
I first heard these girls when they opened for Bright Eyes.I was dragged to the Bright Eyes show by a friend who hadaspare ticket.I really was not looking forward to it... Until CoCo Rosie took the stage.2 women, one with Keyboards, one with a collection of childrens noise makers and toys.Honestly the cake was taken by their "Percussion section" some black dude in a loud ugly Bill Cosby sweater and a Giagantic Native American Headress playing the human beat box.SPECTACULAR!Most original thing I have ever heard outside of Central park street performers.
Beautiful & Weird, you decide.
Coco Rosie really does make you feel like your floating in a land like a child all colorful and odd.It's a charming cd.I recommend it to open minded people...but if your into traditional stuff don't even bother with this. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dream Pop    2. Indie Electronic    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Post-Rock/Experimental    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Trip-Hop