Nu [Live]
Editorial Reviews
Album Description
2002 live release for jazz quintet Nu, specially formed by late jazz artist Don Cherry to tour Europe. Recorded at Bracknell Jazz Festival, 5 July 1986. The quintet features Cherry's fellow graduate from Ornette Coleman's band, Ed Blackwell, Carlos Ward, Mark Helias & Nana Vasconcelos. Tracks include two numbers by Coleman, 'Chopin Chopeen' & 'Traffic'.
Nu, Music, Don Cherry, Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz, Jazz, Jazz Music, Pop, Traditional Pop, World Fusion
Average customer rating:
- New "med!"
- This is a fantastic album!
- the sequel might be better than the original
|
Nu Med
Balkan Beat Box
Manufacturer: Jdub Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Alternative Dance
| Alternative Styles
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| International
| Styles
| Music
Dance Hall
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Balkan Beat Box
- Fresh Off Boat
- Gogol Bordello vs. Tamir Muskat
- Teknochek Collision
- African Pearls, Vol. 1: Rumba on the River
ASIN: B000OZ2COI
Release Date: 2007-05-15 |
Tracks:
- Keep 'Em Straight (Intro)
- Hermetico
- Habibi Min Zaman
- BBBeat
- Digital Monkey
- Balcasio
- Pachima
- Quand Est-ce Qu'on Arrive?
- Mexico City
- Delancey
- Joro Boro
- Gypsy Queens
- $20 For Boban
- Baharim (Outro)
Amazon.com
It seems impossible to avoid the fusion and clash of cultures in world music these days. Connectivity means it's all within your (everyone else's) reach. Here on their second album, Nu Med, Balkan Beat Box continue to play at the nexus of Eastern European, klezmer, Arabic, hip-hop, rock and electronic music. Headed by Israelis Tamir Muskat (drums, programming) and Ori Kaplan (saxophone), the band's sound is far from forced, easily summing up the musicians' lives in their homeland as well as their current experiences living in New York City. As with all great folk songs, the melodies are insistently catchy enough to get listeners to sing or hum along before the song ends. Highlights include the Saharan dancehall cut "Digital Monkey," the insistent "bbbeat," and the Dead Sea surf guitar sound of "Joro Boro," which features singer Dessislava Stefanova. Like the first album, this one is as fun as it is far reaching. --Tad Hendrickson
Customer Reviews:
New "med!".......2007-07-12
Just look at the camels parachuting into a striped desert. Who wouldn't want to listen to what's inside?
Well, hopefully lots of people will. East European fusion music is moderately hot right now, with bands like Beirut and Gogol Bordello on the rise. But one of the best ones is Balkan Beat Box, whose second album "Nu Med" further polishes their ethnic hip-hop/rock sound -- it's just a thoroughly colourful, flavourful album.
It opens with a deliciously funky "Keep it Straight," which sounds like an Arabian market being invaded by hip-hop gypsy brass bands. It's followed by the deliciously colourful rap song "Hermetico," riddled with brass blats, handclaps, horses, and a voice telling us, "We're comin' straight through your ears, no complications... here we go, you better listen..."
They follow it with the exotic "Habibi Min Zaman," which sounds like a James Bond soundtrack in the Middle-East, and lead in to a bunch of even better songs: bootyshaking marches, sinuous rap, gypsy music wrapped in electrodance, folksy horn-rock, funky Balkan dance tunes, and colourful folk pop filled with yipping, yowling vocals.
If anything, "Nu Med" is even better than Balkan Beat Box's debut -- it's more polished and melodious, and more relaxed now that they have their sound down. But they don't change much musically, with the core of the music remaining the same: Middle-Eastern and East-European folk music, interwoven with modern dance, rock and hip-hop.
Musically it's a big hodgepodge -- you can hear some steely guitar buried under all the other sounds, which is the most normal part of it. Then you have nimble horns forming sinuous melodies and funky edges, solid drums, some colourful electronica, some accordion and some murmuring violins in "Mexico City," which is the one dud in the album. It's too sedate and mellow for the raucous overall sound.
But they also spice it up with samples and odd sounds -- babies laughing, horses neighing, a man calling out in another language. And in some songs, we get some very heavily accented rapping, usually pretty nonsensical: "I'm the digital monkey/supply the freakin' season with the rhythm that's funky/I come from Belize/but don't belong to no country..."
"Nu Med" takes what Balkan Beat Box had to begin with, and polishes it to gem status. Despite that one dud song, it's a wild, colourful festival ride, full of gypsy music and dance flavour.
This is a fantastic album!.......2007-07-09
How do you top an album that starts off with a rooster crowing? With a Digital Monkey, of course! After having listened to the first Balkan Beat Box cd quite a lot for the past year, I wasn't sure if Nu Med would live up to my expectations. It absolutely DOES. The band's second effort may actually be stronger, throwing even more varied influences into the music and keeping it really tight while picking up the energy from their live sets. They're all good tracks, at the moment, my faves are Joro Boro, Mexico City and Hermetico. This cd should carry a warning that it will make you dance whenever you hear it (and sometimes even if you only hear it in your head).
the sequel might be better than the original.......2007-05-24
Balkan Beat Box's self-titled debut was terrific, but after listening to Nu Med, the first BBB disc seems almost like a test run to make sure this crazy mash of balkan folk, Jewish and Middle Eastern melodies, beats, pieces, party horns and snippets of politics could actually work. And did it work.
In this record, they've firmly established their groove and the sound here is a more complete package. (And more hilarious cover art: I'm a fan of the parachuting camels motif.) It's also more lyric-heavy than the first one, and filled with live snippets and clips of cheering crowds from tours past, adding to the infectious flavor of the record. At 14 tracks, it probably runs a couple numbers too long, but I'm hard-pressed to tell you which ones should have been cut, because they're all good. If you liked the original Balkan Beat Box, you will like this. And if you don't know BBB yet you can start with this record or the debut without missing out. But you're probably going to end up owning both, like me, because this is some of the most exciting and energetic music being made today.
Average customer rating:
- Luv it luv it luv it
- stompin'kirkfranklinfan
- *IF YOU LOVE TO SING, AND YOU LOVE GOSPEL......
- K.O.'d
- Revolution Before "Revolution."
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God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation
Kirk Franklin
Manufacturer: Gospocentric
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Christian & Gospel
| Styles
| Music
Gospel
| Christian & Gospel
| Styles
| Music
Christian Contemporary Music
| Christian & Gospel
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
- The Nu Nation Project
- Kirk Franklin and the Family
- Hero
- Whatcha Lookin' 4
ASIN: B000001Y37
Release Date: 1997-05-27 |
Tracks:
- Stomp (Remix)
- My Life Is In Your Hands
- It's Rainin'
- More Than I Can Bear
- Up Above My Head
- Love
- Sweet Spirit
- Faith
- You Are The Only
- So Good
- The Storm Is Over Now
- Stomp (Original Mix)
- He Will Take The Pain Away
Customer Reviews:
Luv it luv it luv it.......2007-06-27
I already had heard some of this cd from a friend, so I couldn't wait to get it.. It is the bomb... get it people it will work you out...
stompin'kirkfranklinfan.......2007-03-01
Oh can a sister write a review one time for this brother! This CD is awesome! Been having this CD since it was first released and the music is uplifting, annointed, encouraging and filled with the Holy Spirit. I love all the songs on this one. My personal favorite is "More Than I Can Bear". You can dance, rejoice and celebrate Christ with this CD. I highly recommend it to all the young people and to anyone who wants an experience with the Lord. AWESOME! If I could give this 10 + stars, believe me, a sister would!
*IF YOU LOVE TO SING, AND YOU LOVE GOSPEL.............2006-07-14
BUY THIS ALBUM. IT IS VERY UPLIFTING. THESE SONGS ARE POWERFUL WITH EQUALLY AS POWERFUL SINGERS ENDOWING THEM. WHICH MAKES FOR A GREAT ALBUM. YOU WON'T GET TIRED OF IT. I GOT THIS CD YEARS AGO AND I STILL LOVE IT THE SAME. ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS IS LOVE. WHENEVER YOU FEEL DOWN PUT ON THIS ALBUM AND SING ALONG. IT WILL SURELY LIFT YOUR SPIRIT. KIRK FRANKLIN TENDS HAVE THAT AFFECT ON PEOPLE.
K.O.'d.......2006-05-11
After hearing the "...Family" recordings, I had come to a belief that only live gospel, recorded in a service, could produce than transcendent quality that can take one up into itself and itself into the heart of a listener, but Producers Big Yam, Victor M and
Kirk F have popped that belief.
My jaw is on the ground.
The trademark tight harmonic vocals and complex beautifully resolving arrangements
( with one foot firmly standing in traditional form and the other
in more meaningful idiomatic R&B stylings ) have withstood the rigors of the sterile production studio and delivered.
It's rare to be satisfied - moved by 4 out of 12 cuts on a CD let alone 10 or 11.
I've always settled for 4 and been grateful...
this CD is golden.
Revolution Before "Revolution.".......2006-04-26
When the single "Stomp" was released on radio and debuted on MTV, controversy loomed over the heads of Kirk Franklin and God's Property, the Texas-based young adult gospel choir. What people failed to realize was that this song was a sigh of relief for everyone in gospel music. It inspired a new and youthful Christian audience and no artist or any album created before it in the history of gospel music had sold anywhere close to 3 million records. Regardless of the album sales, although 1997 would prove to be a successful and even tumultuous year for both Kirk Franklin and God's Property, the album does what most gospel recordings are supposed to do; edify God and create an awesome atmosphere of praise & worship. It's a phenomenal record and one of Kirk Franklin's greatest projects ever produced. There is so much depth on this album. The sound quality is outstanding, God's Property has powerful voices, the vocal & musical arrangements are essential and the spirit of this album is revolutionary. This album was also bolstered by the audio sweetening of Mark Williams & Kevin Bond and guided by production duo Buster & Shavoni, who produced with Kirk Franklin on the "Whatcha Lookin' 4" album. Not only did Kirk write and produce 9 of the 13 songs presented but also got some help from G.P. members Greg Brown, Larron Vaughn, Myron Butler, (before introducing Levi) & Robert "Sput" Searight (producer/keyboardist/percussionist) with writing expertise. The most anointed songs are "More Than I Can Bear," the harmonious "Love," the funk-filled "Up Above My Head," "Sweet Spirit," "It's Raining," [both songs feature Caltomeesh "Candy" West's sensational jazzy vocal style] "So Good," "My Life Is In Your Hands," (which also appears on Spike Lee's "Get On The Bus" movie soundtrack) the sincere "He'll Take The Pain Away," and the tear-shedding "The Storm Is Over Now." In 1998, G.P. won some major accolades for this record and finished the year with 8 million more copies sold before the release of "The Nu Nation Project," another Kirk Franklin commercial masterpiece. We miss you, G.P.!! For 2 solid years, God's Property made a statement and opened another door that will never be shut in gospel music!!
Average customer rating:
- A welcome change
- freeland rules
- Thank goodness something new is coming out of GU
- The Worst Global Undreground Album EVER - DO NOT BUY THIS Album
- Cacophony, to put it midly
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Global Underground: Mexico City
Adam Freeland
Manufacturer: Global Underground
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Techno
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
House
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Britain
| British Isles
| Europe
| International
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- GU Mixed
- Global Underground 031: Taipei
- Balance 011
- Renaissance Presents the Masters Series, Pt. 9: Satoshi Tomiie
- Global Underground: Paris
ASIN: B000P7V5V6
Release Date: 2007-06-19 |
Tracks:
- Faze Action - In The Trees (Carl Craig C2 Remix #1)
- Revl9n - Walking Machine (SebastiAn Remix)
- Etienne De Crecy - F***
- Kim - Wet N Wild (Midnight Juggernauts Mix)
- Mr Oizo - Half An Edit
- Adam Freeland - Silverlake Pills
- Kim - By The Time They Reach You (Bagraiders Mix)
- Jape - Floating (Alex Metric Remix)
- Beauty School - Disco Sux (Stone Lions Mix)
- Oliver Huntemann - 37°
- Justice - Phantom
- Minimal Compact - Deadly Weapons (Optimo Mix)
- DJ Mehdi - Signatune (Thomas Bangalter Edit)/ Spank Rock - Bump (Switch Remix)
- Phones - Sharpen The Knives
- Trabant - The One (Para One Remix)
- Kavinsky - Testarossa (SebastiAn Remix)
- Evil 9 - Happy Ending
Tracks:
- Spacemen 3 - Ecstasy Symphony
- My My - Butterflies & Zebras
- Lee Jones - There Comes A Time (Prins Thomas Miks)
- Justus Kohncke - Advance
- 120 days - Come Out, Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone
- Gui Boratto - Terminal
- Holden - Lump
- Cobblestone Jazz - Dump Truck
- Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye
- Substance & Vainqueur - Immersion
- Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries
- Andrew Weatherall - Feathers
- B-Movie - Nowhere Girl (Adam Freeland Mix)
- Mylo - Paris 400 (Aswefall Remix)
- Adam Freeland - Self Indulgent Ending
Customer Reviews:
A welcome change.......2007-07-08
It's very unfortunate, really, that this double mix album is getting some of these nasty one-star reviews. I can guarantee that if this was released on a different label under a different mix series, this would not be received as poorly as it is by some reviewers. The main problem with this is that it was marketed to the wrong audience. As you can gather by reading these one-star reviews, much of the Global Underground fanbase is too high-set on expectations for typical progressive house fare that this label is usually known for. I like Nick Warren and Danny Howells as much as the next guy, but someone should change things up a bit once in a while! Hernan Cattaneo's latest Sequential release, for example, bored me to tears!
Anyways, I'm not even sure how the hell to classify the first CD, as it's an energetic frenzied mix of electro, breaks, acid, and guitars. If you're familiar with Ed Banger's catalogue, then you'll have a good idea of what Adam Freeland's going for, as SebastiAn, Justice, and DJ Mehdi all make appearances here. From the moment the CD starts, the energy hardly lets up and Freeland flies through some absolutely sick cuts. A few tracks and sequences that stand out especially are "F**k," "Floating," and "Signatune" leading up to the devastating "Sharpen the Knives." Definitely not for the faint of heart.
The second CD, although less intense, is much more varied. The first three tracks are hypnotic and fairly subdued before building up to a track by 120 Days, a band whose sound reminds me of Kasabian if they went a more psychedelic route. From there Freeland goes through some techy minimal into a downright weird track by James Holden before getting back to a more conventional rock sound with Silversun Pickups (!), which took me by surprise. Many of these groups/bands would be more familiar to indie rock fans than progressive heads, but that doesn't mean there's a drop in quality here. Freeland continues this sound until the mix comes to a distorted fuzzed-out close.
Clearly the people who went out and bought this before doing any sort of research (are they familiar at all with Freeland's track record??) or sampling have themselves to blame. I suggest that anyone else who is curious about this release would sample some of these tracks before making a decision. It's not the best GU mix by a long shot, but it's way more fresh and exciting than a lot of releases lately.
freeland rules.......2007-07-07
the diversity and open mindedness of this set is mind boggling. so great to see a dj, after so many years of spinning, still having the passion and balls to search out and find whats exciting in music today. if you want the same old same old, 2 minute mixes, tribal/proggy tracks that go nowhere, and sets that are so predictable they sound like the dj went to the john and never came back, then dont buy this. if you like your music fresh, exciting, mind bending, then this is the thing for you.
Thank goodness something new is coming out of GU.......2007-07-04
In short...it's about time GU shook things up a bit. I stopped buying GU albums because I got incredibly bored by their predictable releases...besides Danny Howells. I love how some of the die hard GU fans are falling apart about this release. They sounds like they are getting old when they call it noise. LOL!
The Worst Global Undreground Album EVER - DO NOT BUY THIS Album.......2007-07-03
I am a loyal charter GU customer for 10 years. I buy everything they publish. I have the entire set of GU albums. This is the first time they have published an album I absolutely HATE. I am wondering if the owners of GU were on vacation and didn't listen to this God Awful pair of CDs before allowing them to be published under the GU umbrella. Not only is it terrible, it's also very short - only two hours instead of the usual 2:30-2:35. But the end can't come soon enough in this case. I mean EVERY SINGLE TRACK SUCKS. I take that back. There are one or two that are TOLERABLE. But I mean do not waste your hard earned currency on this piece of garbage.
I hope to GOD the bosses in New Castle do not invite Adam Freeland back for any more disasters. He has not got the chops at all. This is truly an embarrassment to all who helped make this volume the first ever BAD in a series of 31 (there is no #2). I guess you could say they've gotten it 97% right. But until this album, they had it 100% right. Bummer for Adam to inflict such a horrible audio bruise on such a fine label.
Cacophony, to put it midly.......2007-07-02
This is probably the *worst* GU ever, fraught with disagreeable noise, for the lack of a better word- the kind that will make you wonder if there's something wrong with the album you forked out good money to buy.
Both discs are equally bad, but disc 1 deserves some sort of prize for coming up with those random discombobulated beats. A good example of what lies in store for the rest of the album is track 2 on disc 1. Fire up the sample and see if it's your thing.
Bordering on sickening, this album doesn't even deserve a 1, because that would be giving it 20% of the top score. It seems as though Adam is challenging you to get though his junk in one sitting (while he probably sits back and listens to Nick Warren), which I haven't managed to do yet (I have heard it fully though). If this is the direction EDM is going, it is depressing.
Average customer rating:
- Keep your eye on this guy!
- A Must Have CD!!!!!
- This Should Be Your Summer Cruise CD
- Smoothjazz.com Review
|
Stay a While
Jay Soto
Manufacturer: Nu Groove Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Smooth Jazz
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Born 2 Groove
- Stay with Me
- Babysoul
- Ladies' Choice
- He Had a Hat
ASIN: B000OCZ9Z0
Release Date: 2007-05-29 |
Tracks:
- Stay A While
- Just Like That
- Make It Happen
- Love Has Found A Way
- Slammin'
- Grooveland
- Midnight Drive
- Daydreamin'
- Holding On
- Send One Your Love
- City Slicker
- Jaywalking
Customer Reviews:
Keep your eye on this guy!.......2007-07-12
First the bad news: I wonder if Jay still needs to work on forging his own "signature" sound. He sounds like Chuck Loeb on one track, Jeff Golub on another, Norman Brown on the next, Chieli Minucci after that, and Zachary Breaux on yet another.
The Good News: If you put together an album with one or two killer new tracks from each of those guys, this is what it might sound like. I know it's hard to believe, but Stay a While is *that* good.
Stay a While (a title which is just bad grammar and not clever) is filled to the brim with that golden, dripping smooth jazz guitar that is so sweet, you swear it gives you a high. There isn't a single track on here you'll want to skip. And when, from practically out of nowhere, Jeffrey Osborne shows up on track 8, it's a welcome surprise.
After an outing like this, Jay will almost certainly join the pantheon of Smooth Jazz Guitar greats. And once he does settle on a signature tone (likely the next time around) that he can own, watch out!
A Must Have CD!!!!!.......2007-07-03
This CD ranks as one of my all time favorites. Jay is definitely one of the best guitarist on the airwaves today. Each track on this CD stands out as a great track to me. We all love to put a CD in, and just let it go. This is one of those CDs. The productions are simply fabulous!!! This is a must have CD!!!
Dwight Sirls
Recording Artist
This Should Be Your Summer Cruise CD.......2007-06-11
This is the CD that you'll want to pop into your car for that summer trip. Hopefully, it will turn that frown after you fill up your gas tank into a grin. It is an extremely uplifting and energetic album. You can tell that despite wearing the mantle of both musician and writer, that Mr. Soto is just having fun on this CD cutting loose. I think that allowing jazz icons like Jeff Lorber and Paul Brown and company to do the producing really allowed him to concentrate on the other fun stuff ... like playing. The album is great from start to finish. In addition, the mastering and sound quality are excellent. In this age of numerous great contemporary jazz guitarists, I think Mr. Soto stands out because being also an accomplished pianist, his tunes don't sound like a lot of the other guitarists. In any event, some of the tracks that stand out on this CD are "Stay A While," (the ultimate cruising song), "Love Has Found A Way," (a beautifully written vocal tune that Jeffery Osborne just takes the ball and runs with), "Slammin'," (an extremely fun and funky tune, which looks as though will be the hit single off of the CD), and "Daydreamin,'" which takes me back to my youth in the 1970s, of listening to those classic CTI recordings. Also, being a lover of the saxophone, I have to send out my props to Michael Lington who contributes some beautiful playing on this record, just like he did on Mr. Soto's first CD, "A Long Time Coming." There's definitely something for everyone on this CD, and definitely no sophomore jinx for this jazz artist with this fun and funky release. Go out and pick it up today and start cruising down the highway!
Smoothjazz.com Review.......2007-05-30
This is unquestionably the big breakout album for Phoenix-based guitarist Jay Soto. This guy's got the goods... the jazz chops, the looks, the poise, the panache. Add to those elements the all-star support team (Jeff Lorber, Paul Brown, Michael Lington, Euge Groove, and Jeffrey Osborne) and you've got a killer sophomore release that's already showing its stuff as it moves quickly up the Smooth Jazz charts. If you like Jeff Golub, Paul Brown and Chris Standring then you're gonna love Jay Soto. His playing is superb, and STAY AWHILE has that magical quality about it that marks it as a hit effort. The songs... every one of them... are solid, led by the first radio single, "Slammin'," which is rocketing up the charts. Ten of the tunes are either written or co-written by Jay... there's one cover, Stevie Wonder's "Send One Your Love," which sparkles with Paul Brown's production and Michael Lington's alto sax work. Then there's a Paul Brown original, "Jaywalking," that cranks out some energetic funk with the help of Euge Groove; and we can't forget Jeffrey Osborne's classy, smooth vocal on "Love Has Found a Way." So, let's review: Great songs, world-class production, as you would expect from people like Lorber, Brown, and Darren Rahn (Wayman Tisdale, Jonathan Butler), and a magical vibe. The result: An album that stacks up beautifully against all guitar albums on today's Smooth Jazz charts. Jay Soto's STAY AWHILE is a no-brainer for my "highly recommended" list! ~SANDY SHORE
Average customer rating:
- Yea, the best of the best
- Brilliant, just brilliant
- Very good change for Mr. Transeau
- OMFG
- Amazing!
|
This Binary Universe
BT
Manufacturer: Digital Sound
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Ambient
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Techno
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Trance
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
House
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- I Choose Noise
- State of Trance 2006
- Emotional Technology
- Nuages du Monde
- In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 5 Los Angeles
ASIN: B000G8OZ16
Release Date: 2006-08-29 |
Tracks:
- All That Makes Us Human Continues
- Dynamic Symmetry
- The Internal Locus
- 1.618
- See You On The Other Side
- The Antikythera Mechanism
- Good Morning Kaia
Tracks:
- All That Makes Us Human Continues [Music Video]
- Dynamic Symmetry [Music Video]
- The Internal Locus [Music Video]
- 1.618 [Music Video]
- See You On The Other Side [Music Video]
- The Antikythera Mechanism [Music Video]
- Good Morning Kaia [Music Video]
Product Description
1. All That Makes Us Human Continues
2. Dynamic Symmetry
3. The Internal Locus
4. 1.618
5. See You On The Other Side
6. The Antikythera Mechanism
7. Good Morning Kaia
Format: CD
Amazon.com
BT's This Binary Universe is really a follow-up to his 2004 soundtrack to Monster, a brilliant work of cinematic moods and ambient Americana. It was unjustly ignored by both the Oscars and the Grammys, where it should have at least been nominated for Best Surround Sound Recording. None of that has stopped Brian Transeau from going further down this path of expansive ambient electronica that takes him out of the techno-pop and trance direction he had been pursuing. This Binary Universe taps into BT's classical side, with expansive arrangements and intricate, albeit minimalist, thematic development. From the opening of "All That Makes Us Human Continues," BT reveals himself as a master of Eno-esque melancholy, as simple melodies evolve through an electro-orchestral instrumental palette. Lounge jazz with solos in the key of abstract, plaintive arpeggiated guitars, electro marches, minimalist hymns, and pastoral dreamscapes drive an album that seeks out joy and redemption, but not without traveling through the dark. The last track, "Good Morning Kaia," is a paean to his newborn daughter, and the most purely anthemic track on the disc.
I suspect the real raison d'être of This Binary Universe is the accompanying 5:1 surround DVD. BT creates an immersive space that's less sonic pinball and more audio sculpture, often revealing different aspects of his music than in the stereo mix. Each song on the DVD has a unique video that includes antique robots, surreal landscape drawings, live action fantasies, and abstract designs. It's the best way to experience this music, but whether you watch the DVD or tune into the stereo CD, This Binary Universe may be the first ambient symphony of the 21st century. --John Diliberto
Customer Reviews:
Yea, the best of the best.......2007-06-30
Have you ever bought a drink thinking you are getting something else. Say you buy a 'tea' but when you taste it, tastes like 'coke'. Oh, you bought the tea flavored coke. This is how I experienced BT's Binary Universe. I was expecting that in your face, break-beat, trance, old-school BT but this CD is definitely more ambient or house. With that being said, it is really a truly amazing CD. You won't get it the first time you listen to it, but if you listen to the CD over and over again it starts to sync-in. Some of the music is stuff you haven't heard before. Maybe in 10 years, musicians, producers will catch-up.
Really enjoyed track 4 through 6. Even though those are only 3 songs, they are long and change to different styles in the middle. 6 is freaking awesome.
I wanted to give it 5 stars, but because I was expecting something else, I knocked off a star. Good job though.
Brilliant, just brilliant.......2007-06-07
Men have been knighted for less.
If you like electronica in any way...strike that. If you think sound is kinda groovy, check this out. There will be something here for you.
Very good change for Mr. Transeau.......2007-06-01
This really is impressive music. Brian Transeau has always been at the front of the line for technological wizardry, but a lot of his tracks have lacked the kind of songwriting prowess that is sorely needed when writing anything electronic. His score to the movie "Stealth" was lackluster at best...
On a side note, the reviewer who falsely credited BT with the score to the Matrix movies should check his/her facts first. The score was by Don Davis, a wonderful band named Juno Reactor, and contained songs by Paul Oakenfold, Rob Dougan, and several rock bands, but absolutely no BT songs were on the soundtracks to any of the 3 movies or the "Animatrix" short film collection, or any of the video games (so far).
This is a really interesting album, containing 7 ambient tracks that tend to follow the Concerto style of establishing a theme, varying the theme, then returning to it. Most of these songs follow this pattern in some shape or form. A major theme in here is youth, particularly infantile youth. I believe that Kaia is the name of his daughter, and supposedly he had her in his arms for many parts of this writing process. Many of the melodies are very beautiful in that infantile sort of way, giving you the impression that they are lullabies of sorts.
They are wonderfully crafted with an infinite amount of detail. There are subtle changes to almost every piece in every sequence. This is best enjoyed with headphones or in surround, as many other reviewers have noted.
The only parts that didn't fit well with me were the power chord sections of "Good Morning Kaia" which clashed with the rest of the album. The jazz section of "Dynamic Symmetry" also sounded quite robotic and lifeless. Jazz does not fit in well with the kind of perfection of sound that BT uses, at least in this attempt.
Major highlights are the orchestral sections in "The Antikythera Mechanism", which are booming and powerful, and get torn apart cleverly by his editing. The other is the core of the song "1.618" (a BRAVE title for a song, I might add), which is this gorgeous hook at a walking pace that you could loop and listen to for 20 minutes.
Overall, wonderful sculpting and a dizzying array of effects make the replay value on this music through the roof. A bit more work on the last track and a little more life in the short jazz section would've made it near perfect.
OMFG.......2007-05-16
I dont really like the housey stuff by BT (or anyone) but this album has a classical sensibility and an epic feel that i love about other ambient electronica. If you like ambient electronica- this CD is perfectly crafted - I'm not joking - its like... f'n... perfect.
Amazing!.......2007-05-14
BT is a genious. This CD/DVD combo is a little different from a lot of his stuff I've heard in the past, but it is still excellent. The quality of the music on this CD MUST be listened to with good headphones to be truely appreciated! I am no audiophile, and I reguarly poke fun at their gigantic headphones, but in BT's case, this CD deserves the special treatment. You will miss a LOT of what he is including in his music if you listen with speakers. The DVD is also fantastic. The DTS surround makes it even better. It's great background video/music for a party. Do not download this from iTunes, buy the high quality CD/DVD and you won't be sorry!
Average customer rating:
- "Nothing but Noise"........People listen to the CD!!!! Its a GREAT Mix
- a refreshing departure from GU's excellent progressive pedigree
- Two CD's of noise
- Fits in perfect
- The Worst Global Undreground Album EVER - DO NOT BUY THIS Album
|
Global Underground: Mexico City
Adam Freeland
Manufacturer: Global Underground
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Techno
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
House
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Britain
| British Isles
| Europe
| International
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Global Underground: Taipei (GU31)
- Global Underground 030: Paris
- Dubai
- Renaissance Presents the Masters Series, Pt. 9: Satoshi Tomiie
- Balance 011
ASIN: B000P7V5UW
Release Date: 2007-06-19 |
Tracks:
- Faze Action - In The Trees (Carl Craig C2 Remix #1)
- Revl9n - Walking Machine (SebastiAn Remix)
- Etienne De Crecy - F***
- Kim - Wet N Wild (Midnight Juggernauts Mix)
- Mr Oizo - Half An Edit
- Adam Freeland - Silverlake Pills
- Kim - By The Time They Reach You (Bagraiders Mix)
- Jape - Floating (Alex Metric Remix)
- Beauty School - Disco Sux (Stone Lions Mix)
- Oliver Huntemann - 37°
- Justice - Phantom
- Minimal Compact - Deadly Weapons (Optimo Mix)
- DJ Mehdi - Signatune (Thomas Bangalter Edit)/ Spank Rock - Bump (Switch Remix)
- Phones - Sharpen The Knives
- Trabant - The One (Para One Remix)
- Kavinsky - Testarossa (SebastiAn Remix)
- Evil 9 - Happy Ending
Tracks:
- Spacemen 3 - Ecstasy Symphony
- My My - Butterflies & Zebras
- Lee Jones - There Comes A Time (Prins Thomas Miks)
- Justus Kohncke - Advance
- 120 days - Come Out, Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone
- Gui Boratto - Terminal
- Holden - Lump
- Cobblestone Jazz - Dump Truck
- Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye
- Substance & Vainqueur - Immersion
- Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries
- Andrew Weatherall - Feathers
- B-Movie - Nowhere Girl (Adam Freeland Mix)
- Mylo - Paris 400 (Aswefall Remix)
- Adam Freeland - Self Indulgent Ending
Customer Reviews:
"Nothing but Noise"........People listen to the CD!!!! Its a GREAT Mix .......2007-07-12
Ok I have not written a review in a long time. But I have to let my voice be heard. This cd is truly an amazing mix. No, its not progressive, house, or trance. It Breaks (and a few rock songs thrown in for good messure). Now dont get me wrong, I was thrown off on the first listen. Almost did not give it another chance. But on the second listen I got to really soak up what Freeland has done here and its GREAT. I mean come on people, Who else can have you right in the middle of a pounding breaks mix then all of the sudden throw down a smoking rock song (Lazy Eye)on disc two. Any way I'm not going to go into the specifics of the cd, just trust me GIVE IT A CHANCE
a refreshing departure from GU's excellent progressive pedigree.......2007-07-10
The problem I have with the negative reviews regarding this release is that many of them start off with:
"This is noisy and awful! I've been a fan of GU ever since the series existed and this is nothing like what they play!"
Yea okay. If this was a Seaman release--or Digweed--then sure, be angry. It would be a complete disaster of sound. You got hooked by the expectation of heavily layered, ethereal progressive house and got edgy, punchy electronica. Complain--people will listen.
But if you have been following Adam Freeland around, or electronic music in general for that matter, you'd know that he's not a progressive house DJ. In fact, he isn't even a house DJ. Known for his blistering breaks and genre-defying sets, Adam has slowly progressed (pardon the pun) towards the French and Australian labels (Ed Banger and Modular come to mind), pushing the boundary between house, electronica, and rock.
To me, the combination is sublime. I love every minute of this release (I'll give the other reviewer some slack since the revl9n track IS a bit weird). If you like artists like SebastiAn, Busy P, Digitalism, The Bagraiders, Ajax, and other "new electro" stars, then pick up this album. If you are a diehard fan of groovy, deep progressive house, then this album shouldn't have even attracted you in the first place.
A real dancer in my book.
Two CD's of noise.......2007-07-07
I have to agree with the other reviews that came in at one star. If they had a rating of zero stars these CD's are awful enough to have deserved a zero star rating. If you are into sounds that mostly make you cringe then this is certainly your style. NO need to go on any more, but there's not a single track on these 2 CD's worth listening or dancing to.
Fits in perfect.......2007-07-06
You one star bashers aren't patient. When I first heard this, i was like "what the hell" but.....gave it a chance and im glad i did. Maybe you wouldn't want to hit the random button on this cd- i think thats what the "one star" reviewers did. Superbly mixed, different, and rockin'. If you've given every other GU a chance go ahead and do the same for this.
The Worst Global Undreground Album EVER - DO NOT BUY THIS Album.......2007-07-03
I am a loyal charter GU customer for 10 years. I buy everything they publish. I have the entire set of GU albums. This is the first time they have published an album I absolutely HATE. I am wondering if the owners of GU were on vacation and didn't listen to this God Awful pair of CDs before allowing them to be published under the GU umbrella. Not only is it terrible, it's also very short - only two hours instead of the usual 2:30-2:35. But the end can't come soon enough in this case. I mean EVERY SINGLE TRACK SUCKS. I take that back. There are one or two that are TOLERABLE. But I mean do not waste your hard earned currency on this piece of garbage.
I hope to GOD the bosses in New Castle do not invite Adam Freeland back for any more disasters. He has not got the chops at all. This is truly an embarrassment to all who helped make this volume the first ever BAD in a series of 31 (there is no #2). I guess you could say they've gotten it 97% right. But until this album, they had it 100% right. Bummer for Adam to inflict such a horrible audio bruise on such a fine label.
Average customer rating:
- A little disappointed
- A CLASSIC
- How inspirational!
- Excellent Album
- Praise GOD, I love this cd!!
|
The Nu Nation Project
Kirk Franklin
Manufacturer: Zomba
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Christian & Gospel
| Styles
| Music
Gospel
| Christian & Gospel
| Styles
| Music
Christian Contemporary Music
| Christian & Gospel
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation
- The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
- Hero
- Kirk Franklin and the Family
- Whatcha Lookin' 4
ASIN: B00005TSOT
Release Date: 2001-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Interlude: The Verdict
- Revolution - Kirk Franklin, Rodney Jenkins
- Lean on Me - Mary J. Blige, Bono, , Kirk Franklin, Kirk Franklin & the Family, R. Kelly, Crystal Lewis,
- Something About the Name Jesus
- Riverside
- He Loves Me
- Gonna Be a Lovely Day - Kirk Franklin, Skip Scarborough, Bill Withers
- Praise Joint [Remix]
- Hold Me Now
- You Are
- Interlude: The Car (Stomp)
- If You've Been Delivered
- Smile Again
- Love [Remix]
- My Desire
- Blessing in the Storm
- I Can
Customer Reviews:
A little disappointed.......2006-08-31
The CD, while being typical Kirk Franklin (great), was a little disappointing. The song called "Stomp" on the CD is not the "Stomp" from the radio that is so popular. The way its titled on the CD is confusing. That was the song I was looking for, and unfortunately the only song I knew on the CD. So now I have a CD that I didn't want and I have to buy the CD with the correct song. Money wasted - Bummer man!
A CLASSIC.......2005-10-07
THIS ALBUM BY KIRK FRANKLIN IS THE BEST HE HAS EVER MADE. THIS ABLUM BLESSES ME EVERYTIME THAT I HEARD IT. ALL OF THE SONGS ARE AWESOME. IT WILL MAKE YOU SHOUT BECAUSE THEY ARE ON FIRE FOR THE LORD AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. KIRK FRANKLIN IS THE BEST IN THE WHOLE WORLD AND THIS ALBUM IS THE HIS BEST ONE. SMILE AGAIN IS THE BEST SONG ON THIS WHOLE ALBUM. IT WILL MINISTER TO YOUR SOUL AND TO YOUR HEART AND IT WILL BLESS YOU. IF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH SOMETHINGS THEN YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS SONG. KIRK NEEDS TO MAKE MORE SONGS LIKE THESE. ANYWAYS THIS ALBUM IS AWESOME. YOU ARE GETTING YOUR MONEYS WORTH.
How inspirational!.......2005-09-01
During this time I was very involved in church and loved these songs by Kirk Franklin. It kept me from running the streets and getting into SO much trouble.
Kirk and Nu NAtion went up to another level with this disc. The anointing was definitely on them from GOD. This CD touched so many saints and sinners alike. It is an ultimate testimony.
Revolution,Riverside, and If you've been delivered are stand up and dance/shout joints.
Meanwhile Hold me NOw, Lean On me, and Jesus You are still keep me spellbound. I can relate to these three songs very well.
There isn't any song here that I don't like or still know the words in exact memory.
Favs: Hold me nOw, Jesus You Are, My Desire, Riverside, He loves me, and Something about the name.
Kirk and Nu Nation created a certified gospel classic!
Excellent Album.......2005-03-25
Kirk Franklin is one of the most influencial artists in gospel and contemporary christian music and is probably the most influncial artist of the late 90's/ early 00's. He infuses R&B, funk, traditional gospel, hip hop, and pop music in truly innovative way. He has been criticized and judged for being revolutionary, for not keeping God in a religious box. This album is the best response to this critics, he brings forth and album bringing traditional gospel artists (Donnie McClurkin, God's Property and Fred Hammond) with contemporary christian artists (Crystal Lewis) and Pop and R&B artists (Bono of U2, Mary J. Blige, and R. Kelly)for a truly revolutionary album. He blends old and new and never loses his sense of humor or lowers his standards. If more gospel music sounded like this, more people of all ethnic groups would listen to it. He brings gospel music to non-religious people. His next album is more humble but none of his albums are better.
Praise GOD, I love this cd!!.......2004-12-13
When this cd first came out, I was all over it! The Lord moved through Kirk on this one. Lean on Me was a big hit, both gospel and secular, but it is definitely not the best song on the album.
1. Interlude: The Verdict---I for one really don't like interludes
2. Revolution- 9/10
3. Lean on Me -10/10
4. Something About the Name Jesus-10/10
5. Riverside-11/10!!! Listen to the song and you'll know why!
6. He Loves Me-9/10
7. Gonna Be a Lovely Day-8/10
8. Praise Joint [Remix]-8/10
9. Hold Me Now-8/10
10. You Are-7/10--for reasons, I cannot discuss here
11. Interlude: The Car (Stomp-see above about interludes
12. If You've Been Delivered-8/10
13. Smile Again-9/10
14. Love [Remix]
15. My Desire--this song is AWESOME because my main man Fred Hammond is featured on it 10/10
16. Blessing in the Storm
17. I Can
Average customer rating:
- Classic Disco Dance Music
- Good debut, awesome power singles!
- listen to this by the pool
- Nu Shooz a little scuffed
- "I Cant Wait"
|
Poolside
Nu Shooz
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soul
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
CDs $7 - $10
| Dance General
| Dance & DJ
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
All Bargain Titles
| Dance General
| Dance & DJ
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
CDs $7 - $10
| R&B General
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
All Bargain Titles
| R&B General
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
CDs $7 - $10
| Soul General
| Soul
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
All Bargain Titles
| Soul General
| Soul
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
4-for-3 Dance & DJ
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
4-for-3 Pop
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
4-for-3 R&B
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
4-for-3 All Music
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
- Expose - Greatest Hits
- Exposure
- Pretty Poison - Vol. 1-Greatest Hits
- Told U So
- Jody Watley
ASIN: B000002IJ9
Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Lost Your Number
- I Can't Wait
- Don't Let Me Be the One
- Goin' Thru The Motions
- You Put Me In A Trance
- Point Of No Return
- Secret Message
- Don't You Be Afraid
Customer Reviews:
Classic Disco Dance Music.......2007-06-19
Although I bought this CD for "I Can't Wait," the other tracks possess that pure, upbeat disco sound that almost make me long for the '80s.
Good debut, awesome power singles! .......2007-06-11
Nu Shooz broke out with "I Can't Wait", but I have always favored the follow-up single but not as big hit "Point of No Return". There a few other memorable songs like "I Lost Your Number" and "Don't Let me be the One", and it is glossy pop with a little funk tossed in, but I think the fact Jeff Lorber was a Producer and added his own keyboard and synth touches is what makes this cd very good and worth a listen.
listen to this by the pool.......2007-06-06
you will want to listen to poolside by the pool.the songs i can't wait,point of no return,lost your number,don't let me be the one,and don't be afraid will be fun to listen while laying by the pool. when you go to the pool,don't forget your sunblock,sunglasses,portable cd player,and nu shooz poolside cd have a nice summer. ed wilson
Nu Shooz a little scuffed.......2006-01-19
I've had this disc for... good god... almost 20 years! Every once in awhile I have this urge to hear it and when I do, I play it for days.
This is a good, not great disc, thanks to their monster hit "I Can't Wait", and its even better follow-up "Point of No Return". The rest of the songs are pleasantly forgettable. Some of the lyrics are downright cringe inducing ("Put a dollar in your cup/when I saw that you were blind"?!? Hey, thanks for the help, Val...) and Valerie Day's nasal vocals can get on one's nerves, though.
Sometimes I swear this is a concept album about communication as the telephone gets mentioned in almost every single song...
"I Cant Wait".......2005-11-04
Contrary to the misinformed statements in some Amazon reviews, "I Cant Wait" was the "major hit" from this album. The track was a smash in more than 20 countries and allowed Nu Shooz to tour the UK, Europe and Australia. While "Dont Let Me Be The One" was also released as a single, it didnt fare so well - leading many to consider Nu Shooz as "one hit wonders".
I Cant Wait continues to be licensed to compilation after compilation - still earning the outfit royalties many years after the original release.
Average customer rating:
- If you like club music, get this NOW!
- Amazing remixes for great classics
- Ono - Open Your Box
- Outstanding Remix/Dance album
- Great Sound From Ono!
|
Open Your Box (Remixes)
Yoko Ono
Manufacturer: Astralwerks
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Electronica
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Trance
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
House
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| New Age
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Yes, I'm a Witch
- Memory Almost Full [Deluxe Limited Edition]
- Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
- Volta
- The Warmth of the Sun
ASIN: B000NA2398
Release Date: 2007-04-03 |
Tracks:
- You're the One (Bimbo Jones Main Mix)
- Everyman Everywoman (Basement Jaxx Classic II Mix)
- Walking On Thin Ice (Felix Da Housecat's Tribute Mix)
- Hell In Paradise (Peter Rauhofer Reconstruction Mix)
- Give Me Something (Morel Pink Noise Vocal Mix)
- Walking On Thin Ice (Pet Shop Boys Electro Mix)
- I Don't Know Why (Sapphirecut Remix)
- Yang Yang (Orange Factory Down & Dirty Mix)
- Will I (John Creamer & Stephan K Remix)
- Everyman Everywoman (Murk Space Mix)
- Kiss Kiss Kiss (Superchumbo Remix)
- Open Your Box (Orange Factory Club Mix)
- Walking On Thin Ice (Danny Tenaglia Walked Across The Lake Mix)
- Give Peace A Chance (DJ Dan Vocal Mix)
Customer Reviews:
If you like club music, get this NOW!.......2007-07-05
This is an incredible CD. The mixes are all great/good. Her vocals are unique to say the least, but that sets her apart from the generic dance diva.
Amazing remixes for great classics.......2007-06-08
I love Yoko and I love electronic music, so I can only love this CD.
Ono - Open Your Box.......2007-05-20
Excellent remixes! Bimbo Jones' catchy 'You're The One" will get you moving as will the unexpected "I Don't Know Why" by Sapphirecut. DJ Dan's mix of "Give Peace a Chance" brings a smile as well. Peter Rauhofer also did an excellent job with "Hell In Paradise".
Although the shortened remixes of "Walking on Thin Ice" and "Everyman Everywoman" are appreciable, it would have been nice to hear some more 'new' remixes instead of what has already been released. Nonetheless, it is very listenable!
Outstanding Remix/Dance album.......2007-05-09
Wow, this is great stuff. I can agree with critics who say Yoko is not a great singer, but she is a great artist, and these remixes produced by a wide variety of dance floor wizards really knock me out. If you like to dance, and the artists who created the remixes appeal, then get this album. Guaranteed to get you out on the floor! Open Your Box, indeed!
Great Sound From Ono! .......2007-05-02
I've been familiar with Ono's work in the dance music genre for some time now, I have purchased her singles of Yang Yang and Walking on Thin Ice (which i heard in an episode of Queer as Folk) so I was particularly excited to see a compilation of all of her remixed hits. Her voice, although quirky, works very well with this type of music. The musical styles range from smooth house, electro, progressive house to big room sounds. The only disappointment I had was that all tracks are only edits which makes them harder to mix with, other than that, I highly reccomend.
Average customer rating:
- One of my favorite albums over time
- great listen over the years
- A Promising Band That Never Filled It's Potential
- One Of The Overall CDs I Own
- Incredible Sound!
|
An Education in Rebellion
The Union Underground
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Alternative Metal
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Tonight the Stars Revolt!
- Felons and Revolutionaires
- Live...One Nation Underground
- American Apathy
- Transform
ASIN: B00004UASO
Release Date: 2000-07-18 |
Tracks:
- ...An Education In Rebellion
- Drivel
- South Texas Deathride
- Turn Me On 'Mr Deadman'
- Until You Crack
- Killing The Fly
- Natural High
- Revolution Man
- Trip With Jesus
- Bitter
- The Friend Song
Amazon.com
Union Underground's debut album is a bit of a mixed bag. Though they come from the industrial end of heavy metal, they're at their best when they incorporate the back-to-basics Southern grind of Monster Magnet and White Zombie on excellent tracks such as "Turn Me on 'Mr. Deadman'" and "South Texas Deathride." The amped-up spirit of grunge-rockers Alice in Chains loom large over "Killing the Fly" and "Revolution Man." Unfortunately, "Until You Crack" is fairly predictable, while "Trip" boasts ridiculous lyrics ("I'm a junkie / God is gay"). --Robert Burrow
Customer Reviews:
One of my favorite albums over time.......2007-07-06
I first bought this album sometime in middle school, [...] I believe. I was in the midst of a big Powerman 5000, Monster Magnet, etc., kick, and they had come up through some recommendation. I bought it then, which was around 8 years ago, and lost it sometime in college. I recently repurchased it, and it was as excellent as I remember. It's one of the only albums I can sit down at any point in time, and listen to. It's also great music to just turn on and let play while doing other stuff. The first two tracks took a little while to get into, but tracks like Revolution Man and Bitter have always been favorites of mine. It's really unfortunate despite the rumors, that they never put out another album, as I think they would have only grown better. As is, for a first and only album, it's fantastic, and a great listen any time.
great listen over the years.......2006-12-02
even though there was unfortunately no follow up to this album, i must say even after five years of owning it, it never got old. the songs are short and sweet enough that the cd invites you to listen to it in its entirety. in this day and age, i only buy cd's from artists i really respect and i would buy this album time and time again if i had to.
A Promising Band That Never Filled It's Potential.......2006-07-21
The Union Underground have not been heard of as much since their appearance on Ozzfest 2001. Even though on Ozzfest they proclaimed to release a new cd and played one of the tracks on the "soon to be released" CD, that was never actually released. This CD was definitely good but apparently the band didn't really pursue to follow up too much, which could be due to many various reasons. It has been too long for them to expect their name to do much for them as the time in which they came out is long since gone. My personal opinion is that it is a mix of southern rock(Pantera) with a nu metal(Slipknot) edge and then a bit of an industrial(Nine Inch Nails) feel to it. It is definitely worth a listen, or even worth buying, but don't expect any strong follow up. . . ever.
One Of The Overall CDs I Own.......2006-04-15
Every once and awhile i find a CD that is great. This is one of them. I really started listening to UU at the end of 2005. I bought the cd at a local music store because it was really hard to find in other bigname stores. I was introduced to UU when i was watching Monday Night Raw, A wrestling program. I heard the song and immediatly downloaded it from iTunes. Then like other band if i liek a song ill buy their cds. This is one of those CDS that is purly excellent. You know.... the cds when u fall in love with EVERY DAM SONG ON IT!
I only know of a few other cds in my eye that has only good songs.
Nevermind-Nirvana
Americana-Offspring
Every Six Seconds-Saliva
Sinner and Desensitized-Drowning Pool
My Favorite songs on this cd are "Revolution Man" (download the video off iTunes it rocks)"Trip With Jesus", my favorite song on the CD, and "South Texas Deathride".(i reconmend get "Ozzfest 2001 2nd Millenium" and "Live...One Nation Underground" to hear great live versions of the song.
Incredible Sound!.......2006-03-24
This is one of the best "old" albums I've bought in quite some time. It's been a strange year for me, as far as my tastes in music. I've been continually frustrated with the selection in music stores, and I am growing EXCEPTIONALLY upset with the radio cuts of what they consider "good" rock. Therefore, I've been scanning Amazon's collection and looking for ANYTHING that MIGHT be good between 1989 - 1997.
I got REALLY lucky when I ran across this band.
I can compare them to so many other bands, but they only seem to adopt certain qualities from each, so in a sense, they're a hybrid of originality. Take the frontman's voice. It reminds me at most times of Layne Staley (RIP), but at other times, it borders a Manson-esque/Rob Zombie feel. The guitars are tight, and while the riffs aren't necessarily all original, the twist of electronica gives each song a totally new appeal. The percussion section isn't anything that struck me as amazing, but this is good; it somehow meshes well within the song. (Most industrial-flavored bands-at least to me-have drums that stand out a little bit too much, making it easier to identify flaws or awkward musicianship).
What makes this album stand out is the INTENSITY each member puts into each song. I know I could be cyber-hanged for saying this, but I think they are BETTER than PM5K (whom I love, by the way). There seems to be a lot more vocal flexibility...the frontman ranges between creepy, growly whispers to throaty, infectious screams, to edgy anti-pop vocals (probably bad wording...think of Rob Zombie when he's carrying tunes instead of screaming or whispering). That's the best analogy I can think of at the moment.
As far as I'm concerned, there's not a bad song on the album, but there ARE standouts. Obviously, the ferocity displayed in "South Texas Death Ride" and "Turn Me On, Mr. Deadman" are immediate moshpit starters. "Killing the Fly" slows down the pace just a little, until the prechorus storms in with the anthemic: "I wanna break you!...". And personally, I don't care what the Amazon.com editor says. "Trip with Jesus" is THE best song on the album. Listen to it ONCE...LOUDLY. I guarantee you, you will find more climaxes in this song than any industrial band out there today...and this includes most Nine Inch Nails tracks.
Angry, bitter, fast-paced, and so much fun. I wish they had more albums out...I would definitely buy them.
Even if you still believe this review is questionable (and I guarantee, if you like Rob Zombie or PM5K, you'll love this stuff), it's really cheap, so what have you got to lose? Seriously...pick this UP!!!
Music:
- On Broadway
- On the Ponderosa: Lorne Greene & His Western Classics
- One For My Baby
- Performance-Live in Concert [Live]
- Pete Kelly's Blues
- Rare Gems and Hidden Treasures [Original recording remastered]
- Romance on Film/Romance on Broadway
- See You at the Fair [Import] [Original recording remastered]
- Sexbomb [CD-single] [Import]
- Showstoppers [Import] [Limited Edition]
Music
Music