Dubbed 'the Greek Bruce Springsteen' Laiki Superstar George Dalaras Ranks Among the Biggest Pop Music Phenomenons to Hit the Mediterranean in Decades. While Remaining a Star Primarily in his Native Land, his Reputation Did Extend to the Global Musiccommunity and He Played Many of the World's Most Legendary Venues.
I Astaltos Pou Trehi,George Dalaras,EMI,World Music
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The Reminder
Feist Manufacturer: Cherry Tree ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000NPE7YC Release Date: 2007-05-01 |
Tracks:
- So Sorry
- I Feel It All
- My Moon My Man
- The Park
- The Water
- Sealion
- Past In Present
- The Limit To Your Love
- 1234
- Brandy Alexander
- Intuition
- Honey Honey
- How My Heart Behaves
Amazon.com
Feist is the solo project of Canada's Leslie Feist, a prolific artist who has also played in one capacity or another with Broken Social Scene, Kings of Convenience and half a dozen other bands. The Reminder, her third release, comes from the same well of quiet, appealing songwriting, and delicate vocalizations that made 2004's Let It Die such a sweet treat. This one is a bit more hushed and ballad heavy, closer to Cat Power than Peaches (with whom Feist has also worked with in the past) but maintains an indie-minded blend of confessional pop, jazzy folk, and lo-fi torch songs. The comparatively upbeat single "My Moon My Man" splits her voice off into unexpected harmonies, just dissonant enough to stick in your head. It's hard to predict where her melodies are going to end up; "Brandy Alexander" starts with a simple snap-pulse, and gradually unfolds into a cathartic chorus of sweeping vocal overlays. Throughout, the record profits from a simple, unfussy aesthetic that keeps the production minimal and the emphasis squarely on Feist's cracking, wistful vibrato. Everything sounds deliberate, but not obsessed over, like an e-mailed wedding invitation. It's a low-pressure vibe, welcoming and content to linger. And linger you will. --Matthew CookeCustomer Reviews:
A great blend of styles, but still unique.......2007-07-06
And better still, the album (yeah, I'm a neo-oldster) is a good deal.
Overrated.......2007-07-05
feistier!.......2007-07-05
Great Music.......2007-07-04
start of the decline.......2007-06-28
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Costello Music
The Fratellis Manufacturer: Cherry Tree ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000MXPE74 Release Date: 2007-03-13 |
Tracks:
- Henrietta
- Flathead
- Whistle For The Choir
- Chelsea Dagger
- Gutterati?, The
- For The Girl
- Doginabag
- Creepin Up The Backstairs
- Vince The Lovable Stoner
- Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night
- Baby Fratelli
- Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy
From Amazon.co.uk
There's nothing terribly complicated about the Fratellis' debut album, Costello Music, but that's by no means a criticism. Rather than inject their songs with complex chords, or steep their lyrics with their political and social agendas, this Glasgow trio have instead focussed on writing 13 songs that are pure, unabashed entertainment. And it's a pace--and an attitude--that doesn't let up, from the jumpy opening bars of "Henrietta" to the groupie-reminiscing of "Ole Black'n'Blue Eyes". In many ways, Costello Music sounds like a return to the hedonistic rush of early 1990s Britpop, with its exhilarating guitar riffs and arrogant swagger--"Chelsea Dagger" somehow applies the attitude of early Oasis to the pop catchiness of Great Escape-era Blur. But the Fratellis also know their history: the ska-punk of "Cuntry Boys & City Girls" and "For the Girl" has the Fratellis sounding like the cheeky offspring of the Clash, or a less-irritating Madness. But all this analysis kind of misses the point of Costello Music: this is music for dancing, not for contemplation. It's loud, fast and in-your-face, exactly what you'd expect from three young men with guitars. --Ted KordCustomer Reviews:
Didn't see this coming!.......2007-07-15
Other than the main hits such as Chelsea Dagger and Flathead- this album is full of amazing song. Nothing short of a must buy if you like indie or pop; or if you were like me, looking to lighten up your atmosphere. And that's exactly what this does- it just makes you happy; makes you want to dance even if you can't.
Every song is filled with an incredible rhythm, ranging from mosh pit punk to bob your head and go with the flow. Songs such as Henrietta and Whistle for the Choir are full of constantly changing riffs, so you can't expect what to hear next. So it never gets old.
The lyrics are quite interesting, the way he tells his stories are such that you can just close your eyes and watch the colors dance when you're feeling down or getting you and your friends amped for the trip to the game. One thing i should address for the parents is the cover art, it can seem slightly provocative- but nothing more than you'd see openly on TV nowadays.
Ok, so if this whole makes less than any sense to you- lemme just sum it up into one sentence.
"You will not regret this buy!"
THIS is my summer album.......2007-07-01
That's certainly not the case here. This is the very, very rare album that's actually worth buying. There's not a bad track on here. When's the last time you said that about a CD? Buy it... you will not be sorry!
Gritty Retro.......2007-06-13
YEAH!.......2007-06-13
SO FREAKIN CATCHY........2007-06-09
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Family Tree
Nick Drake Manufacturer: Tsunami Label Group ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000PTYS2W Release Date: 2007-07-10 |
Tracks:
- Come In To The Garden
- They're Leaving Me Behind
- Time Piece
- Poor Mum
- Winter Is Gone
- All My Trials
- Kegelstatt Trio
- Strolling Down The Highway
- Padding In The Rushes
- Cocaine Blues
- Blossom
- Been Smokin' Too Long
- Black Mountain Blues
- Tomorrow Is A Long Time
- If You Leave Me
- Here Come The Blues
- Sketch 1
- Blues Run The Game
- My Baby's So Sweet
- Milk And Honey
- Kimbie
- Bird Flew By
- Rain
- Strange Meeting II
- Day Is Done
- Come Into The Garden
- Way To Blue
- Try To Remember
Amazon.com
You'd think there wouldn't be much more to present by a songwriter who recorded three albums in his lifetime and has been dead since 1974. However, interest in Nick Drake's riveting music has grown enormously in the new millennium. Rarities were added to a number of posthumous collections, but with Family Tree his estate has brought forth an hour of music that predates his first album, Five Leaves Left. This set illuminates Drake's musical background, with his mother and sister appearing, and even Drake himself on clarinet for a Mozart trio. He covers traditional numbers as well as songs by Dylan, Blind Boy Fuller, and Jackson C. Frank. There are clear links to his own early compositions, including a couple early versions that appeared on his debut. Some of this has circulated on bootlegs over the years, but here assembled and sonically polished, it radiates with warmth. Recorded in casual circumstances, there are bits of chatter and laughter between songs, painting a picture of a happy, loving home scene. --David GreenbergerCustomer Reviews:
Come Into The Garden.......2007-07-14
One of the most prized recordings in my collection has long been the Nick Drake bootleg, Tamworth-In-Arden 1967/68. I usually avoid buying boots, but couldn't resist the plethora of completely unheard/unreleased songs. Now, most of that material has been lovingly compiled (with a few surprises, as well as omissions) & cleaned up considerably in terms of the sound quality. Half of the songs are written by Drake & half are rather obscure covers, including 3 songs by the legendary Jackson C. Frank. Fans of Drake will hardly be disappointed.
Among the self-penned selections, the real highlights are the haunting "Leaving Me Behind" and "Come Into The Garden". "Rain" and "Bird Flew By" reveal a talent that is nearly fully formed. "Strange Meeting II" & "Been Smoking Too Long" were included on the Fruit Tree box set appendix, Time Of No Reply. Both are welcome here. (According to the liner notes that collection is soon to be re-released).
More than likely, fans will not be as thrilled with the two songs, written & sung by Nick's mother, Molly. But to be frank, I like them both even if they are a bit jarring amidst the rest of the set. Its nice to hear where Nick got some of his talent from.
Lovingly compiled & with copious liner notes (Nick's sister, Gabrielle's are quite moving) this is certainly worth the price of admission for longtime & new found fans of this brilliant and truely unique artist.
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Fear of a Blank Planet
Porcupine Tree Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000O75F7C Release Date: 2007-04-24 |
Tracks:
- Fear Of a Blank Planet
- My Ashes
- Anesthetize
- Sentimental
- Way Out Of Here
- Sleep Together
Amazon.com
On Fear of a Blank Planet veteran progressive-rock act Porcupine Tree takes up the task of exploring the alienating forces of the media and its impact on our youths and ourselves. Fear's titular cut features lyrics rife with allusions to the confusing, isolating effects of TV, the X-Box, drugged out consumer escapades, and the ennui that arrives with prescription and self-prescribed numbness. "My Ashes" advances the themes of isolation, as a young person becomes increasingly estranged from himself; "Anesthetize" aptly captures dull apathy with accuracy and knowing but perhaps delves to deep into the dark depths and instead of alleviating pain and pressure instead deepens it via a track that fails to offer much emotional or mental counterpoint. The tune does feature an exceptionally lyrical guitar solo from Rush's Alex Lifeson and proves that if anyone can write a sprawling, throbbing epic it's most likely Porcupine Tree. Elsewhere, such as on the beautifully crafted "Sentimental" and "Way Out of Here," Wilson and Co. land squarely between the epic grandeur of peak-era Pink Floyd and the psychically distant cool of Radiohead, a feat that doesn't as much demonstrate how well PT echoes those bands as it shows us how expansive the English quartet's music and emotional vocabulary is. For elder listeners Fear probably won't serve as the powerful statement it wants to be--its themes have been explored to more exacting impact before and, musically, it's fairly standard progressive fare--but it is a strong and intelligent album and for a generation that's grown numb from three-minute ditties about life at the end of the country club cul-de-sac that embrace rather than rage against the dying of the light, it may serve as a wake up call and provide hope for a brighter and more color-infused tomorrow. --Jedd BeaudoinCustomer Reviews:
They've done it!.......2007-07-12
Then came the announcement that the new album would be titled "Fear of a Blank Planet." I thought, "This could either work or it will be a complete disaster." I heard the two tracks that found their way out to the internet before the release, and there was one brilliant track and a better version of "Deadwing" (the song, that is). So, to be honest, I was a bit nervous.
After a few months of digesting it, I can now say, with excitement and relief, that this is PT's best work yet. With the exception of a couple minutes at the end of "Anesthetize", every single second of this album is solid. It begins with the heaviest track on the album, musically and perhaps lyrically as well. They're not messing around here!
After we are treated to a very nice, atmospheric melody in "My Ashes" (the first PT track in some time to feature strings), we get to experience the brilliance that is most of "Anesthetize" (clocking in at 17 minutes or so). This track, albeit epic, is actually fairly minimalistic. We get repetitive, thinly-layered guitar parts over a trip-hop bass and drum beat which is reminiscent of circa-Up The Downstairs PT. The drums make this songs work, and they make it work well. The heavy riffs at some points in the songs are some of the best Steven Wilson has created.
Sentimental has a much lighter feel and flows softly and smoothly. It also has a sound different than anything they've done before, with high-pitched clean guitars ala U2 (though I'm not a U2 fan in the slightest...). This is followed by what is perhaps the weakest songs on the album, Way Out Of Here (which is not bad by any means).
The album closes (some would say too soon) with Sleep Together, which is absolutely brilliant. For all the flak it has gotten in some of these reviews, I consider this one of the most interesting pieces they've put out lately, with a feel that is completely different than anything they've done before. It ends in epic fashion, with thick strings, keyboards, and guitars reminiscent of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir, except not as unneccesarily long.
This album is simply phenomenal. They've outdone themselves. Steven Wilson has demonstrated with flying colors that he's still got it.
Will This Be The Breakthrough?.......2007-07-10
That may just be the case. With Alex Lifeson and Robert Fripp on board, literally millions of their fans blissfully unaware that Porcupine Tree exists will now be left wondering how a band so good could have been around so long and escaped popular notice. There is a market for great music out there as the success of bands like Rush and Radiohead proves, its just that there are few outlets for it. With luck, the rising popularity of bands like Porcupine Tree will force a change.
I had to listen to Fear of A Blank Planet several times before I appreciated it as much as I now do. There isn't really a weak point on it. From the first notes of the title cut to the final notes of Sleep Together, the listener will be transfixed by the layers of sound that are both hard-driving and dreamily soaring, and by the relentless despair of the lyrics.
Fans of the last couple of years' harder-edged direction of Porcupine Tree will love the title cut and also or even especially the epic Anesthetize which feature's Rush's Alex Lifeson. Those who prefer the spacier soundscapes of PT's earlier years will enjoy My Ashes, Sentimental, and Way Out of Here. The final cut, Sleep Together, offers something to both camps. Me, I like it all!
Fear of A Blank Planet is a recording that will spend a lot of time in my CD changer. Some have suggested that it may be the album of the year. I say its definitely in the running. If you haven't yet heard it, listen and hear what I mean. If you have been lukewarm on Porcupine Tree, this should be the album that makes you a confirmed fan.
Pretty good.......2007-07-08
It is very good. I have enjoyed everything that Porcupine Tree has done, except Stupid Dream. It sucked.
Blank Planet is WAY better than Stupid Dream but not quite as good as Up the Downstair, The Sunday of Life, Deadwing, or In Absentia.
BUT I still give it 5 stars!
Blank Planet - Better than Deadwing?.......2007-07-08
The [near]Perfect Drug.......2007-07-05
And again I find myself yearning for just a bit more musicianship - not much - but a bit. Perhaps this is made obvious when viewed against the more definitive perfection of the lyrics. In my book, lyrics have always been about 40% the weighting, with the music being responsible for the 60%. So lyrics alone don't carry an album (do you hear that Bob Dylan????). But they damn near do on this one. What is so amazing in Porcupine Tree's music is that it truly takes you on a journey, on an adventure. The careful attention to detail in the ambient soundscapes enhance and solidify the legitimacy of Wilson's exploration of mental disorder, topics of isolation, depression, and... well just count how many times he returns to address "pills". Quite a bittersweet and brutally realistic testimonial on life's effects on the human condition. I relate 100%.
So again, perhaps it is this complete identifiability in the subject matter that gives me the feeling of mild let-down musically. Lines such as "It's no fun to be told that you can't blame your parents anymore" beg for a rollercoaster of melody, a cacophony of crashing chords, something....
But rather, strictly musically speaking, there's a wanting. And maybe that's the point. But I've always held the Tree a bit higher musically, dare I say, than even Pink Floyd or Radiohead themselves. This album finds good company in such idioms, but doesn't quite truly transcend. It's an hour of similarly repetitive ideas that too often recall the monotonous drones a la U2, and not often enough does it break out. It's great zone-out music, but nothing Floyd hasn't taken to glorious heights some 30 years ago. A little more distinctiveness and identity to the songs as individuals would give the album more contrast and as a result, more impact. It's a body of work that gets deeper with each listen, but you have to want it.
Which I do.
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The Joshua Tree
U2 Manufacturer: Island ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001FS3 Release Date: 1990-06-15 |
Tracks:
- Where The Streets Have No Name
- I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
- With Or Without You
- Bullet The Blue Sky
- Running To Stand Still
- Red Hill Mining Town
- In God's Country
- Trip Through Your Wires
- One Tree Hill
- Exit
- Mothers Of The Disappeared
Amazon.com essential recording
Having nearly exhausted their capacity for pop-song politics on War and The Unforgettable Fire, U2 turned toward themes of personal identity and complex relationships on The Joshua Tree. Not that the group was willing to come down off the barricades entirely: "Mothers of the Disappeared" and "Bullet the Blue Sky" turned a jaundiced eye toward Central America and the United States' role there. But the predominant mood here is one of self-discovery and the hunger for something more on tracks like the pulsating "Where the Streets Have No Name" and the gospel-ish "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." The album's masterstroke, however, is "With or Without You," a nasty love song dressed up as an ode of devotion and care. It ranks with the Police's "Every Breath You Take" as the most misread smash hit of the '80s. --Daniel DurchholzAmazon.com
U2's most successful album (their first No. 1 album and the 1987 Grammy award-winner for Album of the Year) is also their most dour. From the stark, black and white cover photography, with U2 looking like missionaries (or at least M*A*S*H extras), to the existential angst at the heart of each track, The Joshua Tree is one long, atmospheric wail at the abyss. Producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois turn in an austere production that heightens the drama substantially. --Rob O'ConnorAlbum Details
Same as USA Version.Customer Reviews:
"I see seven towers, but I only see one way out.".......2007-06-13
In certain respects, U2 can be said to be one of rock's most underrated bands, a contention almost laughable when considering their stratospheric success. Yet amid the hits and the bombast and the zeal, the intricacies and idiosyncrasies that have endeared them to the discerning listener have often been lost. Whereas (two of U2's other triumphs) 1993's Zooropa was something of a parody to Achtung Baby!'s (1991) pastiche, The Joshua Tree offers an earnest counterpoint to their oft-laconic 90s forays into electronica.
First and foremost the album is a startling artistic achievement; a master class in onomatopoeia, through artwork and aesthetic, subject matter and performance The Joshua Tree is expansive, invigorating and consummately cohesive.
America's arid south-west - the Nevada desert in particular - is the record's heartland. Desolate and unforgiving, yet numinous and majestic, the region's historically blurred demarcation between frontier and wilderness is perfectly articulated by the music through the band's enchantment at their surroundings. Where the ode 'One Tree Hill' and the exhalant 'In God's Country' and 'Trip Through Your Wires' bore witness to the stimuli of the landscape lyrically and musically, the real success of The Joshua Tree lies in its amalgamation of typically cherished American modes, particularly folk, blues, rock n roll and country, and heterogeneous humanist concerns. Indeed such aesthetic syntheses often leads to an intriguing incongruity upon closer inspection, for the specificity of Bono's lyricism is often dialectical in relation to The Edge's evocative America-infused guitar work. A notable example of this is 'Red Hill Mining Town' whereby his lyric "through hand of steel and heart of stone" alludes to the closure of England's northern coal mines by NCB chairman Ian McGregor and the disastrous free market economic policies of PM Margaret Thatcher, yet the instrumental pays homage to the classically American folk and blues genres.
Faith and religion also constitute a large part of The Joshua Tree's lyrical canon, but it is another area rife with contradistinction. Bono seems at ease with Christianity ('Where the Streets Have No Name'), despite its many innate paradoxes ('I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'), yet simultaneously at odds with fundamentalism.
The Joshua Tree also calls on America's more unseemly secular traits to convey the band's antinomy toward the Land of the Free. 'Exit' deals with a violent death, yet whether it is murder or suicide is indecipherable, while 'Bullet the Blue Sky' is the album's most flagrant example of antipathy with reference to then-US president Ronald Reagan ("His face red like a rose on a thorn bush...peelin' off those dollar bills, slappin' 'em down"), the economic blockade and civil war supported by the US in Nicaragua, and the US-backed campaign of murder and oppression in El Salvador. The album closes with 'Mothers of the Disappeared' a lament to the mothers and wives of student opposition and dissidents under both the Argentinean military juntas and Augusto Pinochet's brutal regime in Chile following his US-backed coup in 1973.
Massively successful, The Joshua Tree, by virtue of its three mega-hits ('Where the Streets Have No Name', 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' and the claustrophobic, masochistic ballad 'With or Without You') served to propel U2 to the position they had appeared destined for after stealing the show at Live Aid in 1985, that of the world's biggest band, a position they have held unopposed for nigh-on twenty years.
U2 at their best.......2007-06-13
U2 Need To Have This Classic CD.......2007-06-11
The best songs on this CD were never released as singles. Three of my favorites and worthy of the purchase price alone are:
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running To Stand Still
and Red Hill Mining Town, my personal favorite.
This is a 5 star excellent CD, treat yourself to this one. If you haven't heard it, or are new to U2, this is one to run out and buy. If you have been a fan like me - for years - this CD version is a must have!
A great cd.......2007-06-08
A Beckoning Towards Redemption and the Promised Land.......2007-04-23
That being said, I have come here to review an exceptional, exceptional work by U2. These guys never cease to amaze me, and little did I know when they first arrived into my conciousness. I thought at the beginning "how nice, another typical 80's band", for I really wasn't impressed by them. The Edge's guitar grated on me and I couldn't adjust to the sound. But, glad to say, U2 were not to be deprived of their just place in the hierarchy of rock. They have built a tabernacle of considerable and reflective music over time. And, I must say, the quality and workmanship and thought and care that go into their profferings are nothing less than astounding. They care deeply about the music they make and present it to us in a way that many do not. It is this diligency towards excellence that comes to the forefront each and every time.
Admittedly, I do not know alot about their history or how they came into being. I don't think that it matters in the least with music this good. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jnr. have created their own unique sound, their own unique journey towards salvation and universal concerns. With "The Joshua Tree", they reveal their search, achingly, to God and to all heavenly powers. They reveal their weaknesses, their human frailties, and take us on a voyage of discovery and enlightenment. They take us on a journey of strength. And these are just a few of the things that set them apart from most.
To begin with, the Edge's guitar work is outerworldy, and I cannot attempt to explain it to anybody. It can be subtle and sweet and then turn into virile, powerful excursions somewhere that defy description. Whatever he uses (is it a synthesizer?) to make it sound this way-he has definitely created his own unique sound that nobody can copy. You can hear pure emotion in his playing- and this is just one component to U2.
Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen provide the considerable skeletal backbone which gives their sound such heft. They provide the balance to the sound. There is no grandstanding here-but essential stability that compliment The Edge in every single way. Professional and clear, they weave the tapestry, the contour that great edifices are built upon.
And what of Bono? Perhaps the glue that ties it all together. He is probably the most known member of this band, and alot of the reason may lie in his poetry and delivery. He sings from his soul- and he puts the full range of human emotion into his delivery. He doesn't hold back and it shows in songs like "With Or Without You" or ""Red Hill Mining Town" with the urgency and compassion of the line "I'm still waiting-I'm hanging on- You're all that's left to hang on to". These vocals are so impassioned that they send shivers out. Yes, he's that good.
But what of the songs here and their meaning? It seems that Mr. Bono has thoughts of sheer martydom running throughout many of these tunes. Plus, many of the poetic inferences harken back to Christianity or spiritual uplifting in some way. He wants to break free and evolve to a place where "The Streets Have No Name". Could this be heaven? Or, a place where things are not categorized? And after speaking with Angels and holding the hand of the devil- he is in-between and "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". The eternal search of salvation and redemption. "With or Without You" is just pure genius. Allusions to Christ with "See the STONE set in your eyes, see the THORN twist in your side". But, not only that, but, "On a bed of NAILS, she makes me wait". And, furthermore, "my hands are tied-my body bruised". It seems that the relationship in this song has made Bono a martyr of sorts. And, in a strange way, Christ can't live with or without you either. So entirely remarkable. So many biblical terminology throughout- the drout conveyed with the lines "the rivers run, but soon run dry" in "In God's Country". "Thunder, thunder in the mountain, there's a rain cloud in the desert sky" in "Trip Through Your Wires". There are many more examples. The need for human relief, and elevation, whether it be from a bruised relationship or inner spiritual need, is foremost and deeply embedded within the poetry. Many discoveries await here. Many gems to mine. All yours for the asking.
In closing- a superb achievement for a group relatively new into their career. The landscapes are a wonder and the music on a higher and grandiose level that satisfys so fully in the pop/rock genre. I cannot say enough.
And now, I think I finally have gotten the courage to ask Bono for a donation to my shelters. That is, if I can even get his public relations agent on the phone. But regardless, I can always play this c.d. for my clients. Get it. It's a classic.
Refreshingly subtle and amazingly devout--your own, Metamorpho
Average customer rating:
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From Under the Cork Tree
Fall Out Boy Manufacturer: Island ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000929AU0 Release Date: 2005-05-03 |
Tracks:
- Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued
- Of All The Gin Joints In All The World
- Dance, Dance
- Sugar, We're Goin Down
- Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner
- I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song)
- 7 Minutes In Heaven (Atavan Halen)
- Sophmore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year
- Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends
- I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me
- A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More "Touch Me"
- Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save The Scene And Stop Going To Shows)
- XO
Amazon.com
The cleverness of Fall Out Boy's lyrical content is immediately evident by looking at the song titles on their sophomore disc, From Under the Cork Tree. "A Little Less 'Sixteen Candles,' a Little More 'Touch Me,'" "I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me" and "Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year" are but a small taste of the group's acerbic attitude. After FOB's indie debut hit the underground charts, the group's sudden indie-style success made for a fast growth spurt. Their appeal is obvious, from frontman Patrick Stump's Killer-esque pipes (especially evidenced in the disc-closing "XO") to their very melodic teen-angst anthems. While much of the disc operates at usual punk-pop speed, the highlight comes from a slower, emotion-laden cut called "I've Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth." This song of living in the public while working through private pain is a beautiful, multilayered number that stays with you long after the album is over. --Denise SheppardCustomer Reviews:
Wasnt expecting much but got a whole lot more.......2007-07-05
Good, well put together music with decent lyrics to match. A good sound production to back up produced a pretty powerful album this realy does represent a good progression for Fall Out Boy and got to say, not much of a fan of so called 'indie' bands who never seem to be off MTV but if they keep producing stuff of this quality I cant realy complain.
Well worth buying.
**ckn awsome!.......2007-05-19
A Civil Attempt At Making It Big.......2007-04-22
1. Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued - 8/10 - A very nice start to the album. The song puts you in a good mood and makes you want to hear more.
2. Of All The Gin Joints In All The World - 7/10 - There was nothing really horrible about this song except it just seemed like an extension to the first track. There's nothing memorable about it.
3. Dance, Dance - 10/10 - The album really takes off from this point. Dance, Dance is a vibrant, colorful song that will get you up and moving.
4. Sugar, We're Going Down - 10/10 - By far, the best track on the album. This is the song that you'll be humming or singing without realizing it.
5. Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner - 9/10 - Another catchy song that will have you dancing.
6. I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song) - 8/10 - This song does have a slight taste of summer, but it definitely is not your summer anthem. Some of the parts were a little bland and repetitive, but for the most part it was a pretty song.
7. 7 Minutes In Heaven (Atavan Halen) - 7/10 - I find this song a little boring. There's nothing that special or unique about it except for a small break in the middle of the song.
8. Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year - 7/10 - Another not so memorable song. The beginning starts off great but it slowly goes downhill after that.
9. Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends - 9/10 - There's some irresistable chords in this song that will finally bring out more of the fun in the album.
10. I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me - 6/10 - The title is creative, but nothing else is. Everything about this song makes it long and almost painful to listen to. My least favorite song on the album.
11. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More "Touch Me" - 7/10 - Nothing too great about this track either. It sounds like most of the previous songs that were forgettable.
12. Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying - 7/10 - The only really great part of this song is the end when all the music is taken away, and there is speaking. It shows what the whole song was about and makes its point nicely.
13. XO - 8/10 - The song starts off not so great, but it ends nicely. All in all, it's a pretty good closing to the album.
The album cover contains lyrics to all of the songs, pictures of the band members, and of course, the credits.
I would recommend listening to the clips of the songs that Amazon provides so you can get a real feel for them.
I am very surprised.......2007-04-05
In less than an hour I changed my mind. GUAU!! I guess says everything.
Now I can not stop to play this CD.
Sugar... (for me, one of the best songs)
Sophomore Slump...
I Slept with Someone...
Get Busy Living...
Each of these deserve stop for a while and repeat again and again
The CD that got me FOBSESSED!!.......2007-03-12
Anyway, onto the ratage of the CD! =3
1) Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued- 6/10. I just don't like this as much as the other songs, and I don't think it makes a good introduction track. :[ However, it's definitely not a track I skip, and the chorus is very catchy (though Patrick doesn't sing it the same live).
2) Of All The Gin Joints In All The World- 9/10. One of my absolute favourite Fall Out Boy songs!! The verses are so fun to sing along to, especially "I used to waste my time dreaming of being alive, Now I only waste it dreaming of you!". It's also awesome live, especially the "oh oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh"'s at the start, near the end, and at the very end. Love it!
3) Dance, Dance- 8/10. When I first heard it, I absolutely loved it, but now I'm slightly more partial to it, after having heard plenty of other FOB song. "I'm two quarters and a heart down", and the rest of that pre-chorus is so catchy, I find myself singing along to it every single time. I wish they had included the verse that they left out but was displayed in the demo version (We'll leave you kicking and screaming, etc). Vocals in the chorus are great and Patrick can actually pull them off live (which did, admittedly, surprise me). A nice job on this song, definitely.
4) Sugar, We're Goin Down- 9/10. Pretty much anyone who listens to the radio, or MTV, will have heard of this song. I personally think more hype could have been created over some of the other songs in this CD (and some from their other CDs, too) The chorus is my least favourite part of the song, and I don't find it as catchy as the first and second verse. "Is this more than you bargained for yet? Oh, don't mind me, I'm watching you two from the closet, Wishing to be the friction in your jeans" is pure genius in my opinion. The music at the start is very fun to hum to, as a side note xDD Altogether, not my favourite, but definitely very up there.
5) Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner- 10/10. Love it! The quick little drum bit at the beginning, then the quick launch into the vocals is really great, and this song is so energetic, and fun to lipsynch and sing along to! The chorus is impossible to listen to without singing to, and the transition from SWGD to this song is awesome, too. Don't really have any critiscm for the song at all, every bit of it is very listenable, "Wear me like a locket around your throat, I'll weigh you down, I'll watch you choke" is fantastic, especially when it blends with the chorus at the end. This song is GREAT!
6) I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth- 7/10. This one definitely grew on me. When I first heard it, I thought it was a bit dreary, slow, and boring, but when I did some research and found out what the song was about, I listened to it in a whole different light, and found the chorus irresistable to sing along to. Not exactly catchy at first, but think about the range Patrick displays in this song, and then appreciate it more. It's definitely not the sort of song that will stick in your mind the first time round, but listen to it a few times and you will begin to love it. As stated in Dead On Arrival, "The songs you grow to like never stick at first"!
7) 7 Minutes In Heaven- 9/10. Music at the start is fantastic to sing to, "da da da"'s in the middle (ft. Brendon Urie from Panic! At the Disco) just as great. "I keep telling myself, I keep telling myself, I'm not the desperate type" is lovely and fast, and incredibly catchy. Lyrical content in this song is incredibly clever and an upbeat way of describing a serious situation (fighting an addiction). Emphasis on the guitar in the chorus is very effective, as well. All in all, this song is awesome, and I never get tired of it!
8) Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year- 10/10. PURE LOVE!! The lyrics are genius, "The best part of believe is the lie", nobody but Pete Wentz could come up with something so clever! The chorus especially sticks in your mind, and the second verse and refrain, too. Very very clever, I don't know what else to say, it's just great! I could listen to it again and again and again and not get bored of it. =]
9) Champagne for my Real Friends, Real Pain for my Sham Friends- 8/10. The title is great, I just LOVE it. xDD It's awesome. Music at the start is fantastic for leading into the song, "You are a getaway car, Rush of blood to the head" gets you pumped up for sure! This song gets me really excited, it's nice and fast-paced. Great song, though *COULD* be considered a skippable filler track. I would disagree, though, 'cause I love this song. :]
10) I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me- 6/10. Yeah, everyone loves the title, but I'm not so fond of the actual song...I can skip it. =/ Chorus is catchy enough, but I don't sing along with this one that much, it didn't really stand out for me, the only cool part for me is "I found the cure to growing older". Still a good song, just doesn't have something special, at least where vocals are concerned.
11) A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me- 10/10. It really doesn't get much better than this! :] Love this one to BITS. Since the first time I heard it, the insanely sticking chorus was in my mind and I was humming it everywhere I went. Lyrics, though repetitive a bit, are still fantastic, and the overall tune is so catchy. Vocals are nothing special, but such a cool song, I can't see how it's possible to dislike it! One of my faves! :D
12) Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying- 6/10. In my opinion, the chorus lets the verses down, and the screaming bits...just ergh. Sure, Pete might be a good screamer, but I wish he'd just left the otherwise-perfect vocals of this song to Patrick. D: The best bit of this song is "I know this hurts, it was meant to, it was meant to", the rest of the chorus is a bit mediocre, at least I think so anyway. :] The speech at the end of the song is FANTASTIC, though. The lyrics are very well thought-out, and I can't critisize the music at all, either. This song just didn't stick in my mind much at first, which is why I gave it a 6/10.
13) XO- 9/10. The singing in this song is GREAT, if you're listening to it with headphones on, here's a piece of advice; take one of the headphones out (you need to try with both) until you find the one which is playing the pure vocals at the start ("I comb the crowd...I swear, I say"), you will be amazed by the purity of Patrick's voice. The only letdown to this song for me was how much "To the love I left my conscience pressed" was repeated, I sometimes fastfoward through that bit. I sing this song everywhere I go, it's very addictive, the fast-paced verses remind me of a high-speed car chase, and it really puts me on the edge of my seat listening to it! Awesome song.
All in all, I prefer Take This To Your Grave, but From Under The Cork Tree is a fabulous album, though I think many people have a negative view towards it because of the two main singles on the album, SWGD, and Dance, Dance. Those songs definitely don't represent the best of Fall Out Boy, good though they are. :]
If you haven't already bought From Under The Cork Tree, I HIGHLY recommend going to get it now! Apologies for the insanely long review, I got a bit carried away!
Thanks for reading! :]
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One Tree Hill - Music from the Television Series, Vol. 2: Friends with Benefit
Original Soundtrack Manufacturer: Maverick ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000CS463M Release Date: 2006-02-07 |
Tracks:
- Feeling A Moment - Feeder
- The Mixed Tape - Jack's Mannequin
- Be Yourself - Audioslave
- Always Love - Nada Surf
- Jealous Guy - Gavin DeGraw
- Son's Gonna Rise - Citizen Cope
- Middle of Nowhere - Hot Hot Heat
- Missing You - Tyler Hilton
- Light Years Away - Mozella
- Please Please Please - Shout Out Louds
- I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea... - Fall Out Boy
- 23 - Jimmy Eat World
- Halo - Haley James Scott
- Coffee & Cigarettes - Michelle Featherstone
- For Blue Skies - Strays Don't Sleep
Album Description
For the first time in television history, a storyline on a TV series will result in a soundtrack album. After inhabitants of Tree Hill are stricken by cancer, their friends and neighbors stage a concert and create a modern-rock compilation album to raise money to fight the disease. That album, on the show and in real life, is One Tree Hill, Vol.2-and a substantial portion of its proceeds will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Association.Customer Reviews:
AMAZING!.......2007-03-02
Best album I own.......2007-02-15
MIND BLOWING!!.......2007-01-19
AMAZING.......2007-01-05
One Tree Hill Rocks.......2007-01-03
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The Road Mix: Music From The Television Series One Tree Hill, Vol. 3
Original TV Soundtrack Manufacturer: Maverick ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000NO1XM2 Release Date: 2007-04-03 |
Tracks:
- Don't Wait - Dashboard Confessional
- Stay Away - The Honorary Title
- Naive - Kooks
- The Funeral - Band Of Horses
- Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez
- You'll Ask For Me - Tyler Hilton
- I Gotcha - Lupe Fiasco
- Good Vibrations - Gym Class Heroes
- Lay Me Down - The Wreckers
- Soon Enough - The Constantines
- He Lays In The Reins - Calexico
- Tell Me What It Takes - Lucero
- Just Be Simple - Songs:Ohia
- World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
- Non-Believer - La Rocca
- Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns - Mother Love Bone
Amazon.com
Key to the success of this prime-time teen soap opera has been a mix of contemporary rock and pop that musically embroiders the show's increasingly complex mix of hope, fear, and youthful angst with often melodramatic flair. This third volume of songs from the successful series continues in that tradition while, as the title suggests, exploring a little wider artistic range. "Don't Wait" by Dashboard Confessional and the Honorary Title's "Stay Away" immediately anchor the set with a familiar tone of urgency, while star Tyler Hilton offers up another expected sensitive acoustic ballad in "You'll Ask for Me." But elsewhere, the collection admirably pushes the envelope via such tasty, eclectic morsels as the infectious pop of the Kooks' "Naïve," Gym Class Heroes turning "Good Vibrations" into a stripped-down shuffle, and the effusive hip-hop-pop of Lupe Fiasco's "I Gotcha." But it's still a collection centered largely on the contemplative, indie spirit embodied by the Wreckers' gorgeous "Lay Me Down," Lucero's emotive dirge "Tell Me What It Takes," and the Constantines' similarly focused "Soon Enough." --Jerry McCulleyAlbum Description
For the first time in television history, a mixtape heard in an episode will become a soundtrack album. Containing hits from artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Dashboard Confessional and The Wreckers, The Road Trip is another innovative musical breakthrough for a series that continues to be an indie showcase.Customer Reviews:
Perfect for the Road.......2007-06-14
Hands down La Rocca's "Non-Believer," The Weepies "World Spins Madly On," and Band of Horses' "Funeral" are the best tracks on the album. Those songs alone are worth buying the cd for.
Awesomeness.......2007-06-10
That's what I like about the OTH soundtracks. They're not filled with "what's now" hot in the music scene, but rather songs that can be listened to over and over, because you're not going to always hear them on the radio.
the perfect follow up,hope there'll be a fourth..........2007-04-12
Don't wait : way to obvious choice but great though.The perfect song to start the CD with. 4,5/5
stay away : not the best from the band,but after listening to it several times you get used to it. 4/5
naive : good choice,siuts very well with the show itself,but not so good song. 3/5
the funeral : one of the highlight from the CD,great choice!....5/5
heartbeats : just the same as naive,but a good song. 3.5/5
you'll ask me : not his best by far and I must say that I get a little tired of him.
i gotcha : not the usual OTH tune but really great choice,second highlight. 5/5
good vibrations : way too much Citizen Cope vibes for me,but an OK song. 4/5
lay me down : third highlight,love the band and Michelle Branch. 5/5
soon enough : beautiful song but unnoticed,too bad. 3/5
he lays in the rein : fourth highlight,such a beautiful and lyrical song. 5/5
tell me what it takes : the same as soon enough,plus the song's not so good as for the band which is supposed to be one of Luca's favorite...2.5/5
just be simple : could have been a highlight but way too obvious and passe choice. 4.5/5
world spins madly on : love the band ad the song,fifth highlight. 5/5
non-believer : the perfect choice which was to be made.the sound from the great episode,song to live and die by,reminds me so much of Peyton. The sixth and last but not least highligh fom the CD. 5/5
chloe dancer/crowns of thorns : not my favorite at all but Jason Shwartzman made such a moving speech telling us why he chose the song that we have to at least like it. 3.5/5
If you love the show and the previous soundtrack just buy it,if not,buy it cause you'll find something you love on it.
Another Great Soundtrack.......2007-04-05
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Under a Shady Tree
Laurie Berkner Manufacturer: Two Tomatoes ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00006JKGN Release Date: 2002-10-01 |
Tracks:
- Under a Shady Tree
- Rhubarb Pie (Hot Commodity)
- Mister
- Drive My Car
- I'm Gonna Catch You
- Just Like the Sun
- Mahalo
- I'm Me and You're You
- Choc-o-lot in my Pock-o-lot
- Shortnin' Bread
- Running Down the Hill
- My Energy
- After It Rains
- Do the Dragon
- Song in my Tummy
- This Hat
- Who's That?
- Smile
- Boody Boody Ya Ya Ya
- Blow A Kiss
Amazon.com
From the reggae-tinged title track to the light blues of "Drive My Car" to the irresistible tease of "I'm Gonna Catch You" and at all stops in between, the 20 tracks on Laurie Berkner's fourth record for kids dance off the disc and into the imagination, with a Goldilocks just-right ratio of silly ("Do the Dragon") and serious ("I'm Me and You're You"). Driving home her reputation as an Ani DiFranco for kids is the earthy "Running Down the Hill." "Shortnin' Bread," the Southern traditional, will compel kids to tie on aprons and tap their way across the kitchen floor. The Hawaiian thank-you number "Mahalo" and the Eastern "Boody Boody Ya Ya Ya" draw upon world music, but otherwise, Berkner's days of shaking her noodle head (a favorite dance ditty off an earlier disc) to the delight of 2-year-olds seem numbered. That's not to say Shady Tree's canopy doesn't extend to the sippy-cup crowd, only that Berkner's branching out. --Tammy La GorceAlbum Description
Winner of: 2003 Gold N.A.P.P.A. Award; 2002 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award; 2004 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award and 2003 Children's Music Web Award.Customer Reviews:
Kids love it!.......2007-06-29
A good album, but not Laurie's best.......2007-06-04
Great for Kids!.......2007-02-27
I would recommend this CD - it's a lot of fun to sing along with my daughter.
Great music for young kids!!!.......2007-02-06
It's good..........2007-01-22
That is my only complaint. Other than that, it's a great cd for kids!
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In Absentia
Porcupine Tree Manufacturer: Lava ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00006IU73 Release Date: 2002-09-24 |
Tracks:
- Blackest Eyes
- Trains
- Lips Of Ashes
- The Sound Of Muzak
- Gravity Eyelids
- Wedding Nails
- Prodigal
- .3
- The Creator Has A Mastertape
- Heartattack In A Layby
- Strip The Soul
- Collapse the Light Into Earth
Amazon.com
After a quarter-century of punk and postmodern excesses, it's always something of a surprise to find young musicians who not only recall a past era's musical indulgences, but also revel in them. This Lava Records debut is the latest fruit of Porcupine Tree mainstay Steven Wilson's obsession with prog, a mania that dates to the late '80s when the "band" was little more than a fantasy, though one with a remarkably imaginative--if entirely fictional--history and bio. But that pipedream eventually became a real "alt prog" cult fave, with these dozen ambitious songs finding a focus that occasionally eluded the band on half-hour soundscapes like its underground hit, "Voyage 34." Tracks like "Gravity Eyelids" have a retro-psychedelic feel that would have done the XTC alter ego Dukes of Stratosphear proud, with Wilson's pure melodic tenor pushing it beyond the merely baroque. But the collection is also a strong statement of another crucial Wilson/Porcupine retro-sensibility: The album has unified musical statement. "Lips of Ashes" and "Prodigal" serve up the sort of impressionistic, harmony-rich musings that Pink Floyd has rarely managed since Wish You Were Here, while "The Creator Has a Master Tape" punctuates the rich harmonies of tracks like "Heart Attack in a Layby" with Crimson-esque metallic thrash and processed vocals. While the band's instrumental prowess sometimes slums its way into the free-form jazz noodling of past efforts, the album remains one of the band's fullest achievements. --Jerry McCulleyAlbum Description
Hailed by Billboard as 'cinematic...simple gorgeous', Porcupine Tree are unquestionably one of the UK's most inspired and inventive rock groups. In Absentia is their eagerly anticipated Lava Records debut. Digipak. 2002.Album Details
2002 Album from the Longtime Progressive Rock Outfit that Includes a Bonus Three Track CD for a Limited Time.Customer Reviews:
A Cool Band that deserves the world's attention.......2007-07-13
"This is my blood flow, this is my headstone.".......2007-07-05
"Blackest Eyes" starts with a little picked, distorted intro before the explosive guitars come in, leading to the typical contrasting refrain. "Trains" follows with a great example of how different the band can be song to song. It's more acoustic and rhythmic. "Gravity Eyelids" starts as a really soft, minimal song before breaking down with a very hard and entertaining instrumental section. "Wedding Nails" is entirely instrumental, and features some really great guitar sequences. "Prodigal" has a good effect-pedaled melody before the chorus with strummed background. ".3" is another mostly instrumental, strongly atmospheric track with nice bass. "Strip the Soul" is another really good hard song with plenty of jamming to digest before the finale, "Collapse the Light Into Earth", ends it with a softer song with piano. Despite a variety of sounds it all fits together well as an album, and is really just crafted nicely.
How Muzak Should Sound........2007-07-02
The songwriting is just bliss. From the (somewhat) all encompassing "Blackest Eyes" to the minimalistic "Collapse the Light Into Earth," there are so many great tracks, you will find yourself listening to the whole album through almost by force. This doesn't mean you will not have favorites though, and one of those favorites will be "Trains" which is now officially Porcupine Tree's encore song. The song just gives the listener the feeling of being at ease which is ironic considering the dark lyrical matter. Another one of my favorites is "The Sound of Muzak," it's just such an addictive little tune with an especially groovy drum beat. The instrumental "Wedding Nails" has incredibly catchy riffing throughout, which builds up to an abstract solo section that is an unexpected pleasure. Every song is beautiful though, and recorded so brilliantly.
Either way you cut it, Porcupine Tree's evolution can only convince people of just how incredible they are. I feel obligated to let everybody know about just how great this band is!
Very strong !.......2007-05-15
Don't believe reviewers...listen for yourself!.......2007-04-18
Myself, I haven't enjoyed a CD as much as I enjoyed this one since Toy Matinee. I can't tell whether it's good music or bad music. But, I can tell you I love it!
International Music: