Shine the Light

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Phil Driscoll is an accomplished composer and writer, earlier in his music career, Phil collaborated with such artist as Stephen Stills, .38 Special, Blood Sweat & Tears and Leon Russell. He also toured with the legendary Joe Cocker in the late 70's, playing piano and trumpet and authoring three of Cocker's hits, Southern Lady, Wasted Years and Boogie Baby. However, in 1978 he left the secular music industry to pursue a calling within contemporary Christian music circles. BAND_MEMBERS: The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section David Hood - Bass Roger Hawkins - Drums & Percussion Clayton Ivey - Keyboards Will McFarlane - Guitar Phil Driscoll - Trumpet Randy McCormick - Keyboards Sonny Garrish - Steel Guitar Wayne Bridge - Steel Guitar Bill Mason - Piano --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Album Description
I hope you can see there is a lot of me in this recording. The style I hope you will feel is uncontrived and a very real part of my roots. form a musical point of view, this is the real Phil Driscoll. I hope you enjoy hearing it half as much as I did making it.

Phil --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Shine the Light, Music, Phil Driscoll, CCM, Inspirational, Jazz Music, Pop, Religious / Contemp. Christian

Mendelssohn: Elijah
Average customer rating:

Wonderful, but not my first choice

THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever...

Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah

Mendelssohn: Elijah

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Franz Joseph Haydn: The Creation

Mendelssohn - Elijah / Terfel, Fleming, Bardon, Ainsley, Fulgoni, Paul Daniel

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) / Auger, Stilwell, Atlanta SO, Robert Shaw

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem]

ASIN: B0002XV31A
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

Introduction: As God The Lord Of Israel Liveth
Overture
No.1 Help, Lord! Wilt Thou Quite Destroy Us?
No.2: Lord! Bow Thine Ear To Our Prayer!
No.3: Ye People, Rend Your Hearts
No.4: If With All Your Hearts
No.5: Yet Doth The Lord See It Not
No.6: Elijah! Get Thee Hence
No.7: For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee
Recitative: Now Cherith's Brook Is Dried Up
No.8: What Have I Do To Do With Thee?
No.9: Blessed Are The Men Who Fear Him
No.10: As God The Lord Of Sabaoth Liveth
No.11: Baal, We Cry To Thee: Hear And Answer Us!
No.12: Call Him Louder, For He Is A God!
No.13: Call Him Louder! He Heareth Not!
No.14: Lord God Of Abraham, Isaac And Israel!
No.15: Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord
No.16: O Thou, Who Makest Thine Angels Spirits
No.17: Is Not His Word Like A Fire?
No.18: Woe Unto Them Who Forsake Him!
No.19: O Man Of God, Help Thy People!
No.20: Thanks Be To God!

Tracks:

No.21: Hear Ye, Israel; Hear What The Lord Speaketh
No.22: Be Not Afraid, Saith God The Lord
No.23: The Lord Hath Exalted Thee
No.24: Woe To Him, He Shall Perish
No.25: Man Of God, Now Let My Words Be Precious
No.26: It Is Enough; O Lord Now Take My Life
No.27: See, Now He Sleepeth
No.28: Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains
No.29: He, Watching Over Israel, Slumbers Not
No.30: Arise, Elijah, For Thou Hast A Long Journey
No.31: O Rest In The Lord
No.32: He That Shall Endure To The End, Shall Be Saved
No.33: Night Falleth Round Me, O Lord!
No.34: Behold! God The Lord Passed By!
No.35: Above Him Stood The Seraphim
No.36: Go, Return Upon Thy Way
No.37: For The Mountains Shall Depart
No.38: Then Did Elijah The Prophet Break Forth
No.39: Then Shall The Righteous Shine Forth
No.40: Behold, God Hath Sent Elijah
No.41: But The Lord, From The North Hath Raised One
No.41a: O Come Everyone That Thirsteth
No.42: And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, but not my first choice.......2007-04-07

I believe this was the first recording of Elijah in English that used an "international" conductor and some international singers. Fruhbeck gives a good, dramatic sweep to the piece, with some wonderful dramatic moments. This is an old fashioned performance, with only a solo quartet, and if there is a semi-chorus, I can't tell the difference. This means that the soprano is the Widow, and an Angel, the mezzo the Angel and Queen Jezabel, etc. You really should have a libretto, but you don't get one at this price.
Fischer-Dieskau roughens up his voice for the role, and therein lies a problem. The voice spreads and his diction suffers because of it; that and his unidiomatic pronounciation, with far too many rolled "r"s. He does the drama well, but what works well in lieder works here less well on the large scale. Odd, given his success as on opera singer (check out his Iago), that here he frequently comes off blustery.
Dame Gwyneth Jones belies her reputation and gives a contolled, dramatic performance, using her "edge" to advantage in "Hear Ye, Israel". Gedda's diction is amazing, with exactly the right color for this literature, and projecting a little more blood than an English tenor.
Dame Janet Baker is my star in this performance. Dramatic, heart-rending when need be, and in wonderful voice. She'll chill your blood when she tells the people of Baal to "slaughter him, do what he hath done!".
And as for the people of Baal, the Philharmonia Chorus is wonderful. Incisive and dramatic, with beautiful tone. I could do without the trick of the boy choir for "Lift Thine Eyes", and I miss the small ensembles, but all in all a fine performance, and good recording, circa 1968.
First choice in English, Daniels/Terfel: better Elijah in Terfel, better recording, more authentic orchestra, small vocal ensembles (as per the score) but inferior women (including Fleming: beautiful tone, but where's her head?). In German, it's Sawallisch/Adam all the way.
But if you're singing Elijah, and have a score, this is a good choice.

THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever..........2006-08-15

Okay, I'm gonna admit I'm biased- I first sung in the chorus of Elijah when I was 14 and it made a BIG impression on me!
This recording is in every way wonderful. Starting with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. He IS Elijah to me. His singing is perfection. He has amazing phrasing and his diction makes it possible to understand the lovely, inspired libretto to this heavenly music. There are so many pieces that are ephemeral, but a couple of my favorites are: #14, Lord God of Abraham and #37, For the Mountains shall Depart. Dieskau does a great job of what I think of as compassionate, heartfelt singing. His interpretation sounds like the voice of God himself. It has a quality of kindness and yet he sounds just as convincing reprimanding the people of Baal. He is the true highlight of this recording.

That said, the rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Gwyneth Jones has a lovely, silvery voice that has a clarion bell-like tone that rings over the large orchestra with ease. She has occasional "misfire" but is a consistent performer. Dame Janet Baker and Nicolai Gedda both perform at a consistently lovely level. The orchestra and chorus are both wonderful. #15, Cast thy Burden upon the Lord, #32 He that Shall Endure to the End, and #38 Then Did Elijah are all highlights.

All said, for me the main reason to get this recording is Dieskau's Elijah- after all, he's the main character. But don't forget the lovely music. This story is exciting and passionate and sacred all at the same time. For me, it's the best oratorio that has a moving story and great music too.

Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah.......2006-07-03

This is a good recording of an oratorio that deserves more attention. The chorus and soloists are very good--I just wish Fischer-Diskau wouldn't slide around so much in singing the title part!

Average customer rating:

Simply amazing
Gloria: Sacred Music of John Rutter

Gloria: The Sacred Music of John Rutter

Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers
John Rutter: Te Deum and Other Church Music
The John Rutter Christmas Album
John Rutter Collection
Be Thou My Vision

ASIN: B000AA4JBG
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Tracks:

First Movement: Allegro Vivace
Second Movement: Andante
Third Movement: Vivace E Ritmico
All Things Bright And Beautiful
Cantate Domino
O Clap Your Hands
Wedding Canticle
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Gaelic Blessing
Hymn To The Creator Of Light
Arise, Shine
Praise Ye The Lord
For The Beauty Of The Earth
God Be In My Head
Open Thou Mine Eyes
A Prayer Of Saint Patrick
The Lord Bless You And Keep You

Customer Reviews:

Simply amazing.......2007-06-16

If I do make it to heaven, I don't know what it will look like, but I do know what it will sound like - listen to the vocals in the Second Movement: Andante . They are worth the price of the whole CD.......
a miracle, really.

Gloria: Sacred Music of John Rutter.......2007-05-14

Outstanding music and outstanding recording. A musical treat as soon as you put in the disc. This is a must for anyone interested in choral music by Rutter.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir: The Sound of Glory-Battle Hymn of the Republic

Average customer rating:

REAL MUSIC
White bread, well-baked in spots
This is the one!
A Must for the Sabbath
A Must for Sabbath

Mormon Tabernacle Choir: The Sound of Glory-Battle Hymn of the Republic

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Rock of Ages: 30 Favorite Hymns
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Greatest Hits: 22 Best-Loved Favorites
God Bless America
More Greatest Hits: 18 Best Loved Favorites
Songs from America's Heartland

ASIN: B00005Q5LT
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Tracks:

Praise To The Lord, The Almighty
Lead, Kindly Light
Arise, O God, And Shine
All Things Bright And Beautiful
Sweet Hour Of Prayer
The Lord Is My Shepherd
The King Of Love My Shepherd Is
All Creatures Of Our God And King
Take Time To Be Holy
The Spirit Of God Like A Fire Is Burning
Simple Gifts
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide
Sing Praise To Him
Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
I Need Thee Every Hour
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Customer Reviews:

REAL MUSIC.......2007-01-16

THIS IS MUSIC YOU CAN LISTEN TO EVERY DAY AND ENJOY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

White bread, well-baked in spots.......2005-08-12

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir that performs on this disc is a tightly-knit, well-conducted unit, and some of the tracks on the disc border on the ethereal. "Lead, Kindly Light," "Sweet Hour of Prayer" (in parts) and "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," for example, touch the soul and bring tears to the eyes.

However, on other arrangements the choir sounds like a group of white folks far removed from the remainder of humanity. For example, the opening track, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," and also "All Creatures of Our God and King" sound rote and perfunctory, like a group of elementary school students (with very fine voices, to be sure) going through the paces of a daily sing: elevator music on a grand scale. At the opposite extreme, sudden dynamic shifts in other tracks sound pretentious. The final bars of "All Creatures of Our God and King" suggest an attempt at a grand finale, but lack even a hint of majesty or passion. The choir lacks any apparent understanding of the Shaker spirit in "Simple Gifts" --- rather like Lawrence Welk playing Bob Marley. (Not that I've ever seen a Shaker in dreadlocks.) "Battle Hymn of the Republic" begins majestically, but turns into a caricature, and then reverts to a semblance of glory (except for a brief flirtation with a minor key).

The high praise lavished on this disc by other reviewers is no surprise: It is of very high quality for what it is. The choir offers a lovely sound. However, more than half the tracks are seriously flawed, and the musicianship is sufficiently peculiar on the whole as to lower the rating considerably.

This is the one!.......2002-08-24

If you want to hear the best of the best, this CD is it. These hymn arrangements are just beautiful and very touching. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys the choir and wants to feel a little closer to heaven. The choir seems to sing literally with one voice and you feel like they are singing just for you. Congratulations to the new conductor, Craig Jessop and all those who contributed to the quality that went into producing this CD.

A Must for the Sabbath.......2002-04-17

I LOVE IT!!! What better way to enjoy the Sabbath than to sing of the Lord's Praises with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? This album is just the ticket! It's very powerful, and uplifting.

What? You mean I can only give this album five stars? But that doesn't even BEGIN to do it justice!

I love it. Truly a masterpiece!

A Must for Sabbath.......2002-02-05

If you only own one Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD, this is the one. It has creative arrangements of many favorite hymns, as well as the best recording of the Wilhousky Battle Hymn arrgmt that I have ever come across. The only downer: it has (another) recording of Simple Gifts, which has been beat to death by choirs in the last decade.

I especially love the 'Glory' pieces on it: Full of timpani, brass, and alleluias- one of those discs you turn all the way up and direct the stereo when noone is looking. I hope my neighbors like it too; they probably hear it quite a bit.

Let Your Dim Light Shine
Average customer rating:

good but with some weaknesses

Excellent, as always

their dim light shines bright

"frustrated incorporated"

The dim light tries to shine...it really does

Let Your Dim Light Shine
Soul Asylum
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Grave Dancers Union

And the Horse They Rode in On

Candy from a Stranger

Hang Time

After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom June 28, 1997

ASIN: B0000029EP
Release Date: 1995-06-06

Tracks:

Misery
Shut Down
To My Own Devices
Hopes Up
Promises Broken
Bittersweetheart
String Of Pearls
Crawl
Caged Rat
Eyes Of A Child
Just Like Anyone
Tell Me When
Nothing To Write Home About
I Did My Best

Customer Reviews:

good but with some weaknesses.......2006-07-24

Let Your Dim Light Shine is very similar in style, but not substance with Grave Dancer's Union. Very raw and grungy songs with Dave giving into to his more melodic side, but at the same time not fully withdrawing from his roots.

"Misery" surely packs in some flavor with this big, but not too big hit from the band. The song ultimately led me to the band, but not too fond of the lyrics. The music is w/o a doubt the as good as the band can get. It does grow on you eventually after a gajillion listens, so I guess that's the good thing.

I like "Shut Down" for simply what it's worth. Not too complex, over produced, or watered down. It has a nice sound, good chorus, some backing vocals, and the lyrics aren't that bad either.

Almost country, and almost folk is sort of the tune from which "To My Own Devices" comes packaged with. It's more or less a nice relaxing southern type flare with of course their Minneapolis influences. Has a nice subtle slow tempo.

One of my favorite tracks is "Hopes Up." Surprising it brings in a great beat, and maybe the best sing-a-long lyrics.

A softer approach with "Promises Brokens" is somewhat not as fresh as I'd want it to be, but nonetheless it is still very soothing.

"Bittersweetheart" rages on with a great chorus but some of the ryhmes seem a little too forceful.

Now "String of Pearls" has a great 80's vibe to it with the guitar solo breaks, and resonating metrodome thing. The 'oooohs' along with it are nice touch too. Some people may bash this song because the lyrics are garblely-junk, but really if you just let them be, it's an awesome song, and Dave tells the story with authority.

"Crawl" and "Caged Rat" sadly are just fillers on this 14 track album. I know, I know, some may disagree, but it's hard to really get into either one. Both seems somewhat forceful, but give them a break. I think that the album does need both on here, b/c they really aren't that bad of songs, just have mixed punk along with 90's retro-rock.

Another story-telling song is "Eyes of a Child." Once again, the lyrics may seem kind of out there, but I'm sure Dave knew what he was doing with this one. The song flows exactly like "String of Pearls" only with out the bells and whistles.

Nothing gets more down to human life than "Just Like Anyone." Accompianed with a music video and single, it's about a girl hoping to be noticed by other people and not some outcast. I get the impression that the girl in the song is thinking about life while sitting on the crapper. (Listen to the words, and you'll understand)

A nice electric wave of guitars and folk rock allows "Tell Me When" to be a great song. The words however, are slightly hard to pick up during the soft parts of the song.

"Nothing to Write Home About" would have been a great last song on this album for it sort of wraps up thing about just not giving a damn and moving on with the way things are going. An even better last song does come with "I Did My Best" which is beautiful piano, soft guitar, excellent drifting songs. Lyrics are outstanding too.

There are definately peaks and valleys on Let Your Dim Light Shine. The variance and uniqueness of the songs alone make it a good buy which you can probably pick up for a buck at a used CD store these days. If only for "Misery" you might get caught off guard and soon pick up on this band and the album. I did.

Excellent, as always.......2006-02-13

I'm a long time fan of Soul Asylum, this being the 4th album of theirs that I bought, and I can only wish I bought it sooner! It has everything about Soul Asylum that I love, from the brilliantly intellectual lyrics (String of Pearls) to a little bit of country (Bittersweet Heart) and a little bit of pop (Misery), carefully blended together to create a lovely album. A must buy if you are fan, and if you are new listener, perhaps a good buy to experience the variety they are capable of (you will be hooked!).

their dim light shines bright.......2005-08-14

Man oh Man, this is one fine rock n roll album. I bought it
in 1995 when I was 14 years old and its still one of my favorite records ever. I dont like to hype things too much for fear that people will be disappointed but if someone doesnt like this then we have nothing in common when it comes to music. Misery is a song among songs and is what made me a fan in the first place. Promises Broken and I Did my best are Grade A country rockers. I cant think of a bad thing to say about this album or this band, cant wait to hear what they put out next.

"frustrated incorporated".......2005-05-22

"Misery" is far and away the standout track on this album. It's a perfect pop song, much more tuneful and catchy than anything else here. There's some other good stuff, but some of it is pretty lackluster and almost irritating to be honest. "Shut Down" is pretty good. I like about half of "String of Pearls." As another reviewer here noted, the lyrics are a bit embarrassing at times. And let's face it, when it comes to hard rocking, this band is far from the hardest, although they often deliberately go for a mellower direction on this album.

I thought "Misery" would be a huge hit when I first picked up the single. It seemed to perfectly ridicule the marketing of teen-age angst while celebrating it at the same time. Some of the other reviewers here who criticized the lyrics just didn't get them: they're pretty brilliant. Now I understand why this song didn't take off - it hits a little too close to the bone for the tastes of your average angst-rock fan. I think in some way it reveals a little too much, something they'd rather not consider (especially while trying to rock out).

The dim light tries to shine...it really does.......2004-09-02

If you had a pair of functioning ears in 1992/1993, you heard Runaway Train. It became, ahem, a runaway hit on college radio then crossed over to the mainstream. Soul Asylum had their work cut out for them when it was time to make a follow-up. And they could have done better. They also could have done lots worse.

Selecting Butch Vig for producer was probably an awkward choice since Vig's work ethic involves layering lots and lots of guitars to make everything slick and pristine while Soul Asylum, at least in the past, recorded albums hit-and-run stlye with Bob Mould sitting at the knobs. So the sound of Let Your Dim Light Shine, the CD that was designed to sell at least as many copies as Grave Dancers Union, sounds like clean and produced music performed by a band that does not have their heart in the clean and produced territory.

That's too bad, because there is plenty to admire about Let Your Dim Light Shine. Although the nerve-racking punk of Husker Du has left their sound, Soul Asylum can still play a simple, catchy song with plenty of energy. Tell Me When, Just Like Anyone, Bittersweet Heart, and To My Own Devices are all nifty little pieces of what most people would typify as classic, working man's rock. They take a few gambles, like with Caged Rat (the verses are jazz-fusion, the chorus is noise) and String of Pearls (shifting meters and a long narrative of what happens to a set of pearls after they snap off a necklace).

But beware, this is not the CD for you if you can't shut out lyrics. If self-abosrbed lyrics bug you, then it will be hard to get past stanzas like "put me out of my misery/I'll do it for you if you do it for me." Egads.

Still, the music is good. It's not anything bold or new, but it's pretty good as far as cutout CDs go. It comes from a band with lots of experience under their belt recording albums and playing gigs. But I don't think they were ready for the pressure Columbia put on them.

So yes, they cracked. But not all the way.

Average customer rating:

Cold-Blooded Sympathizer
Sound like US Maple
A Great Rock and Roll Band
Whatever
many opinions, one record

Shine a Light
Constantines
Manufacturer: Sub Pop
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Separation Sunday
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Return to Cookie Mountain (with Bonus Tracks)
The Crane Wife
Sound of Silver

ASIN: B0000A59WE
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Tracks:

National Hum
Shine A Light
Nighttime/Anytime (It's Alright)
Insectivora
Young Lions
Goodbye Baby & Amen
On To You
Poison
Scoundrel babes
Tigar & Crane
Tank Commander(Hung Up In A Warehouse Town)
Sub-Domestic

Album Description

The first pressing of the The Constantines' self-titled (and Juno Award-nominated) debut (released on Three Gut Records in 2001) was fittingly packaged so that, upon opening the red cardstock booklet, you'd find a single strike anywhere match. In an effort to not ruin the beauty and poignancy of a thing through over-explanation, suffice it to say that if your relationship with rock and roll is not fundamentally a quest for fire (elemental, transformative, consuming), you've missed the point. This from Magnet magazine: "They're young offenders with sharpened teeth who make grinding, literate punk with the elasti-to-explosive guitars heard on Fugazi's "Smallpox Champion," the stark lyrical economy of a Vonnegut-penned newspaper obituary..." And: "The Constantines are old souls in young bodies-guys in their early 20s who sound like Joe Strummer backed by Fugazi - making music that wakes the sleeping and the dead." Shine a Light is The Constantines' second full-length and first for Sub Pop (Three Gut continues as the band's home north of the border).

Customer Reviews:

Cold-Blooded Sympathizer.......2005-11-17

Reading the reviews, I hear the phrases "droning hard rock" and "standard rock and roll regalia" associated with The Constantines....Why has everyone failed to mention how sad this album is? There is something about his voice that is so tragic, so desperate. Listen to "Goodbye Baby & Amen"...listen to "Insectivora"...Listen to their other album, listen to "Justice". It helps that they can write...but I would listen just for Bry Webb's voice. So sorrowful, yet strangely triumphant.

Sound like US Maple.......2005-11-03

This band sounds a bit like US Maple on politics. But better.

A Great Rock and Roll Band.......2005-05-20

I had never heard of The Constantines untill I saw them live with The Weakerthans (A great Canadian Band, check them out). I have been hooked on the ever since. Listen to the song Shine A Light if you don't like the main riff of this song then you don't like rock and roll. Totally amazing band.

Whatever.......2004-12-30

I did not enjoy this CD, boring, droning hard rock, not good at all, why so many people liked it is beyond me, of course lots of people listen to Crud, I mean Creed.

many opinions, one record.......2004-12-16

to the guy below and anyone else whos interested in hearing what this band sounds like. this DOES NOT sound like fugazi. at all. simple as that. it does have a bruce springsteen quality in the vocal quality only. the guy sounds like the boss. what can you do? hes got a good voice too. the music, is nothing at all that is new. this is rock and roll. they have their own style, but it doesnt stray far from the standard rock and roll regalia thats been going around lately. so, why did i give it four stars? because there is something we all have to remember here, songwriting. the music may be nothing new, but the songwriting is great. nirvana wasnt new by any means, but the song writing was great and thats why they were respected. same with this band. they are a good band, with good lyrics, and good rocking parts. the vocals add alot more to the feel of the music. his gritty boss like vocals make the music sound really good and blue collar like the thing a bunch of dudes that got off of their job at the mechaninc shop would play before going out to knock down a few bottles of beer. it makes you feel slightly bad ass without feeling like a young punk. it is music for us older people, who arent pissed at the world, but are just pissed at the man, and want a decent paying job so we deal with all our bills. word.

Sing, My Soul: Choral Music of Ned Rorem

Average customer rating:

Impeccably Performed, Stunning Sound

Sing, My Soul: Choral Music of Ned Rorem

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000FDBJ
Release Date: 1998-11-24

Tracks:

'Thee, God..'
Seven Motets For The Church Year: 'While All Things Were In Quiet Silence'
Seven Motets For The Church Year: 'Before The Morning Star Begotten'
Seven Motets For The Church Year: 'Lay Up For Yourselves'
Seven Motets For The Church Year: 'Praise Him Who Was Crucified'
Seven Motets For The Church Year: 'God Is Gone Up'
Seven Motets For The Church Year: 'Today The Holy Spirit Appeared'
Seven Motets For The Church Year: 'Rejoice We All In The Lord'
'Phos Hilaron'
'Canticle Of The Lamb'
'Little Lamb, Who Made Thee?'
'Come, Pure Hearts, In Sweetest Measure'
'Mercy And Truth Are Met'
Love Alone: 'Here'
Little Prayers: Three Prayers: 'Creator Spirit, Who Dost Lightly Hover'
Little Prayers: Three Prayers: 'Father, Guide And Lead Me'
Little Prayers: Three Prayers: 'Creator Spirit, Please...'
What Is Pink?: 'What Is Pink?'
What Is Pink?: 'The Mysterious Cat'
What Is Pink?: 'Who Has Seen The Wind?'
What Is Pink?: 'A Pavane For The Nursery'
What Is Pink?: 'Counting-Out Rhyme'
What Is Pink?: 'The House On The Hill'
'All Glorious God'
'Breathe On Me, Breath Of God'
'Lead, Kindly Light'
'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling'
'Sing, My Soul, His Wondrous Love'
'Surge, Illuminare'

Customer Reviews:

Impeccably Performed, Stunning Sound.......1998-11-20

The beautifully captured reverberant sound of the acoustic space is matched by gorgeous choral balance, precise diction, and definitive interpretation. In spite of the contemporary style of the compositions - Rorem doesn't shy away from crunchy dissonances - this is a very enjoyable collection of Choral music with many beautfiul moments.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful melody but lacks variety

Being Julia
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Being Julia
The Queen
Ladies in Lavender
De-Lovely
Memoirs of a Geisha

ASIN: B00065U0NG
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

Curtain Up
Real World - The Mills Brothers
Lift
Bei Mir Bist du Sch
Farewell My Love
Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries
Never Seen Them Shine Like That Before
Birthday Presents
It Will Only End in Tears
They Didn't Believe Me
Charades
I Saw the Light On
Am I Late
Not That Sort of Girl
Take a Break
Yes, Yes - Alison Jiear
Avice Gets the Part
Reunion - The Andrews Sisters
Play for the Other Side
Mad About the Boy
Jimmy's Magic
Avice Takes a Bow
For Old Times' Sake
Laird O'Drumblair
Stage Is Set
Curtain Call
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Quite Alone

Amazon.com

Based on Somerset Maugham's middling novel Theater, Annette Bening stars as the title character, an aging star of the London stage whose life and the melodramas she performs have come to mirror each other. Composer Mychael Danna sets those conflicts to a score that emphasizes theatrical surfaces and rigid role-playing, utilizing a finely honed classical pastiche approach with parallels to his previous period-evoking work on Vanity Fair. His cues here are rooted in the light romantic chamber music of the 19th century, though they frequently bristle with a more contemporary energy and aplomb. Offering counterpoint to Danna's dignified, oft-precious classical confections and mining the story's more sensual human dimensions are pop chestnuts from the era (The Andrews Sisters' saucy "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" and Mills Brothers' jaunty "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries"), as well as fine contemporary takes of "They Didn't Believe Me" and Noel Coward's "Mad About the Boy" by Denzel Sinclair and Alison Jicar's elegant read of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful melody but lacks variety.......2005-04-11

Being Julia OST has a beautiful main melody which occurs over and over again throughout the tracks. I especially like "Curtain Up" and "Quite Alone". However, Being Julia OST doesn't have other strong melody to show along side with the main melody which seems a little too simple for a complete album. The movie is great too. Annette Bening's performance is outstanding.

Shall We Gather - American Hymns and Spirituals

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Brilliant

Shall We Gather - American Hymns and Spirituals

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Live Recordings | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Wade In The Water, Vol.1:African American Spirituals:The Concert Tradition
Great American Spirituals, Vol. 9
Go Down, Moses
The Shapenote Album
American Angels

ASIN: B00005QK6L
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Libert Hall (Lord, In Thy Presence)
Rise, Shine, For Thy Light Is A-Comin'
Welwyn (O Brother Man)
Pisgah (The Lord's My Shepherd)
Poor Rosy
I've Just Come From The Fountain
Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveler
Nettleton (Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing)
Wondrous Love (What Wondrous Love Is This)
Gospel Train
Shining Shore (My Days Are Gliding By Swiftly)
More Love
In Mercy, Lord (In Mercy, Lord, Incline Thine Ear)
Beautiful River (Shall We Gather At The River)
Some Of These Days
The Old Ship Of Zion
St. Peter (In Christ There Is No East Or West)
Missionary Chant (Awake, Our Souls)
Old Ship Of Zion (What Ship Is This?)
Inching Along
Watchman (Watchman, Tell Us Of The Night)
Hurry, On My Weary Soul
Morning Trumpet (O When Shall I See Jesus)
He's A Mighty Good Leader
Hold On
Resignation (My Shepherd Will Supply My Need)
We Shall Walk Through The Valley

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-05-09

The best "Sacred Harp" or "Shape Note" type singing that I've heard. The various renditons are clear and harmonious.
None of that tuning up, barking, la-la's or other cacophonous sounds here.

Brilliant.......2003-09-22

I couldn't recommend a CD more highly. As a musician I was amazed at the variety of the music here and the truly exceptional performances. It's seems we can always rely on Albany to put out the most interesting and highest quality recordings.