Testament

Track Listings

1. Lord's Prayer/Pray

2. I Want It All

3. I'm Gonna Make It

4. I've Got a New Song

5. Searchin'

6. Oh What a Reason

7. I Am What I Am

8. Testify

9. How Long Has It Been

10. There's Not a Cry

Tracks:

Albeniz: Asturias
Albeniz: Tango
Sanz: Canarios
Rodrigo: Fandango
Torroba: Nocturno
Segreras - El Colibri
Albeniz: Sonata in D
De Falla: The Corregidor's Dance
De Falla: Fisherman's Song
De Falla: The Miller's Dance
Torroba: Madronos
La Nit de Nadal
El Noy de la Mare
Granados: Ma Maja de Goya
Abeniz: Cordoba
Tarrega: Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Granados: Spanish Dance No. 5
El Testamen de Amelia
Villa-Lobos: Prelude No. 4 in E Minor
Albeniz: Sevilla
De Falla: Homanaje
Mudarra: Fantasia
Turina: Fandanguillo

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Introduction to Spanish Classical Guitar Music.......2005-09-18

As a sampler, this CD is an excellent introduction both to Spanish classical guitar music and to guitarist John Williams.
The music ranges from Renaissance composers (Sanz, Mudarra) and harmonized folk melodies to standard 20th Century works (Rodrigo, Torroba etc).

John Williams is excellent throughout. The CD is also cheap, and can be used either just for enjoyment, or further to explore other recordings by Williams, the classical guitar repertoire, or other classical guitarists.

As a marketing ploy, it is very effective.

For the collector or classical guitar enthusiast, the chief disadvantages of the CD are duplication of other recordings, and that the way at least some of the works on this CD are listed isn't helpful in telling the listener the set(s) to which these pieces belong and how to find them (e.g. "from ______, Op # "). The font listing the titles and track numbers is small and somewhat hard to read.

However, this CD should attract many listeners and enthusiasts both to the classical guitar, the repertoire, and guitarist John Williams - and I'm all for that.

Over 70 minutes playing time.

Recommended.

The guitar is an orchestra in miniature!.......2005-02-05

This admirable concept belongs to Hector Berlioz and it must not be a surprise the best guitarrists in the story have in common this trademark.

John Williams has always known the delicate equilibrium between the expresiveness and the glamouer. His impresive technique however is not exposed as his prima edonna. He goes directly to the soul of the composer, melts in his spirit and let the music sharp the qith eloquent conviction the composer's demanded atmosphere.

From Granados to Albeniz, from Rodrigo to Agustin Barrios - El indio Mangore -, from Moreno Torroba to Ponce , you will find the warmth, the passion and the Midas touch of this golden guitarrist.

GUITAR MAJESTY.......2004-12-21

John Williams is a true Guitar virtuoso. His repetoire is very extensive and I use his music in my office while I work at my daily office duties. This album is a must for all guitar enthusiasts old or young.

Sweet, sweet music, an essential addition to your collection.......2004-12-07

I originally bought this album three years ago, looking for a good introduction to Spanish guitar music. And this one fits that need perfectly. I still listen to and enjoy it today. I play this for guests at happy hour or dinner for a relaxed atmosphere. At Amazon's current price, this is a great value.

A True Classic.......2004-01-26

This album/cd is extraordinary. All the songs are gorgeous and exciting to listen to. John Williams' interpretation and technique are perfect. After 22 years of listening to it, I still enjoy and appreciate it more every time. I love giving it as a gift.

Strauss: Four Last Songs; Wagner" Excerpts from Tristan und Isolde & Götterdämmerung

Average customer rating:

Strauss: Four Last Songs; Wagner" Excerpts from Tristan und Isolde & Götterdämmerung

Manufacturer: Testament UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs
Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson
Bellini - Norma
Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs
La Nilsson: My Life in Opera

ASIN: B000O59Z0C
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

I. Beim Schlafengehen
II. September
III. Fruhling
IV. Im Abendrot
Prelude
Mild Und Leise Wie Er Lachelt
Dawn And Siegfried's Rhine Journey
Starke Scheite Schichtet Mir Dort

Average customer rating:

Classic! One of the best of the era
Underrated Classic Thrash
Testament Legacy!
Great debut, One of the best thrash albums ever
Essential thrash metal

The Legacy
Testament
Manufacturer: Megaforce / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The New Order
Practice What You Preach
Souls of Black
The Ritual
Low

ASIN: B000002IKR
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Over The Wall
The Haunting
Burnt Offerings
Raging Waters
C.O.T.L.O.D.
First Strike Is Deadly
Do Or Die
Alone In The Dark
Apocalyptic City

Amazon.com

Shortly after Metallica became marketable, the heavy metal community began to focus on several other thrash bands from the San Francisco Bay area. Most came and went in the span of time it took to play side one of Master of Puppets, but Testament began a musical crusade that continues today. The band's debut album The Legacy (1987) still holds up as a fine example of hook-laden thrash music. Songs like "Over the Wall" and "The Haunting" balance barreling blast beats and caustic screams with tuneful guitar licks and semi-melodic vocals. Although he eventually quit the band because he didn't approve of its ultra-heavy direction, lead guitarist Alex Skolnick was a large part of Testament's early appeal. And on The Legacy, his euphoric leads and intricate bridge work makes the music enjoyable even when the rest of band sounds somewhat generic. --Jon Wiederhorn

Customer Reviews:

Classic! One of the best of the era.......2007-05-07

Their first album, this has always been a favorite of mine, its heavy and clean and the guitar work is great.

Underrated Classic Thrash.......2007-03-21

Testament often tends to get lost in the shuffle. In the midst of Slayer and Megadeth and early Metallica, it is not difficult to understand why. The Legacy is a great classic thrash album that can be easily overlooked but should not be. Fans of old school thrash will definitely love this album. Great guitar work, great vocals, and breakneck speed are everywhere in this album. The Legacy is an absolutely excellent thrash album and should not be overlooked by fans of thrash. It rocks.

Testament Legacy!.......2006-05-28

I love Thrash Metal, and Testament has to be one of the greatest bands in thrash along with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. Chuck Billy's vocals kind of remind me of James Hetfield but with a more higher pitch, I dunno that's how I heard it. But this album is a thrash classic - enough said.

Great debut, One of the best thrash albums ever.......2006-05-20

Testament is one of the forgotten band of the Bay Area thrash scene of the 80's. They were technically as good as Megadeth, as agressive as Slayer and Pantera and as melodic as Metallica. The lead guitarist Alex Skolnick was only 17 when he played on this album and his style sounds like a mix of Yngwie Malmsteen, George Lynch and Kirk Hammett. The lead guitar playing is incredible, the riffs kick ass and the vocals sound great.

1.Over the Wall- 10/10 A great opener. The opening riff has a great harmony and is heavy at the same time. The song is fast and heavy and Chuck Billy's agressive vocals are excellent. A ton of great riffs in this song and the chorus is great with Chuck Billy's high pitched scream and the shouted backround vocals. The guitar solo is excellent aswell and starts off slow before going into a fast melodic epic power metal tyle section which has some great sweep picking. A classic song with great guitar work and vocals. Thrash metal at it's best.

2.The Haunting- 10/10 Another great melodic thrash song. Chuck Billy's vocals are excellent and the harmonized riff is great aswell. The shouted backround vocals kick ass too. A great shredding solo too.

3.Burnt Offerings- 10/10 An awesome melodic song. The intro is soft and has a great harmony in it and than it goes into a killer thrash section. The song is similar to Blackened by Metallica. A great chorus too and plenty of great harmonies. The solo is excellent once again and reminds me a lot of Kirk Hammett's Master Of Puppets solo.

4.Raging Waters- 8/10 Another good song. This song reminds me of early Slayer. Chuck Billy's vocals aren't quite as good as on the other songs. There are still some cool riffs though. Some good screams and the chorus is pretty good too . Alex Skolnick's solo is incredible and one of his fastest! Not as great as the classics on the album but still a good song.

5.C.O.T.L.O.D.- 8/10 Another good song. this is a very short song at only 2:30 and reminds me a lot of early Slayer. A good chorus and some excellent riffs. Another great shredding solo too.

6.First Strike Is Deadly- 10/10 Another good heavy thrash song. A great screamed chorus and some killer riffs. The backround vocals kick ass too. Another blazing solo too and it has a great melodic sweeping section that reminds me of Yngwie. The harmony part of the solo reminds me of Metallica. Chuck Billy's scream after the solo is great too.

7.Do or Die- 10/10 A classic. Yet another thrash song. The lyrics are cool and the chorus is good. Another blazing solo and some more killer riffs. this classic kicks ass. The best 2 songs on the album are the last though!

8.Alone in the Dark- 10/10 This melodic thrash masterpeice starts off with a great slow melodic guitar solo. The riff just kicks ass. The idea of playing the melody in octaves is cool too. Chuck Billy's vocals are very good and the chorus is excellent. The heavy riff and shouted backround vocals kick ass. The diminished harmony fill is great too. Some of the best lyrics on the album too. I think this is the best song on the album. The interlude is excellent and leads into another great melodic harmony line. Alex Skolnick's shredding solo is great and reminds me of Yngwie Malmsteen. The slower melodic ending to the solo is great too. This is not only my favorite song on the album but my favorite Testament song! A classic!

9.Apocalyptic City- 10/10 Another masterpeice. the creepy soft intro shreds chills down my spine and the slow melodic intro solo is great too. The first heavy riff is slower and once again the vocal melody is played in octaves on guitar. This is my second favorite song on the album. Another great harmonized riff aswell. This turns into a thrash song and Chuck Billy delivers another great performance. More awesome shoted backround vocals and a killer chorus. The guitar solo is impressive as hell and has some great sweep picking and shredding. Another great melodic section of the solo. A classic thrash song that is almost as good as Alone In The Dark. A great way to end the album. This is also the longest song on the album.

This is my favorite Testament album. The songs are like a mix of Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Megadeth and Yngwie Malmsteen. This album is up there with such masterpeices as Ride The Lighting, Cowboys From Hell, Rust In Peace, Master Of Puppets, Vulgar Display Of Power and Show No Mercy. This album is full of great thrash riffs, thrashy drumming, melodic shredding solos, harmonies, agressive vocals, soft parts leading into thrash songs...just everything you could ask for in a thrash album. Fans of Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Megadeth, Exodus ect. should all own this. A masterpeice!

Chuck Billy- Vocals
Alex Skolnick- Guitar
Eric Peterson- Guitar
Louie Clemente- Drums
Greg Christian- Bass

Essential thrash metal.......2006-05-09

When people think of thrash metal from the 80s, the Big Four(Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax) tend to come to mind. But if it had been the Big Five, Testament definitely would have been that fifth band. But even though they may not be as well-known, it doesn't take away from their music at all. And what good music it is! This lacks the polish of albums like Practice What You Preach, but I think that helps the music in this case. It is definitely raw, which always helps a band's first album in my opinion.

Over the Wall blasts this killer album off with fast-paced and somewhat melodic riffing. When Chuck starts singing, you can tell this album will kick some ass because he sings with such power. You can't help but love it when he goes "Holding the quest for freedom THAT BECKONS ME!" Chuck gives some good shrieks on this song, and the guitar solo shows us the genius of Alex Skolnick (who was still a teenager at the time, I might add.) Very melodic and breathtaking solo, it's amazing how he could play so flawlessly at such a young age! The Haunting is a killer thrasher, with some very menacing riffs at the beginning. Chuck shows us just how fast he can sing on some parts of the song, and he also gives us some evil shrieks. My favorite one is when he goes "For the haunting now BEGINS!" Gives me goosebumps every time. Alex's solo is amazing, and pretty damn fast as well. Burnt Offerings has a very peaceful and soft intro, and Alex does some emotional guitar playing. But pretty soon the song picks up and turns into a killer metal tune. The singing and the riffs are both quite catchy and Louie's drumming is pretty good on here. Chuck's shrieks on this one are particularly sickening. Raging Waters is a mean metal song with ass-kicking riffs. Alex and Eric are both riff-masters by the way. Chuck sings the verses fast (How does he keep his breath?) and the chorus in a melodic voice. He even gives us some low growls towards the end, hinting at his later style of singing. That is one of the many things I like about Chuck, he can sing in a low voice, a high voice, a melodic voice, you name it. Alex gives us another wild and fast guitar solo as well. Do or Die immediately grabs you with heavy riffs and stellar drum work. The chorus to this song is one of the catchiest choruses on the album, it may not sound like it fits, but you have to hear it because it really does work! Gotta love that shriek of "HELL IS THE PLACE YOU'LL GO!" Now that is a metal shriek, folks! Alex tops it all of with a good solo.

Alone in the Dark starts with melodic guitar playing, which soon gets heavier. The chorus is on here is really melodic and nicely sung by Chuck, it doesn't even sound like him! If you have any doubts that he can sing, then check that chorus out! Speaking of melody, you gotta hear Alex's solo. It is wondefully done and very brilliant. Even the riffs have a bit of melody in there! C.O.T.L.O.D. is a killer speed metal song, perfect for mosh pits. Alex and Eric's riffs will beat you senseless right from the start. Louie's drumming on here is some of his best on the album, fast and crushing! I love those gang vocals of "Provoke the dead!" towards the end, and Chuck's laugh is great too. Nice little solo in there too! First Strike is Deadly has a creepy intro, but it soon turns into some awesome heavy metal! Louie is all over the drums, and the riffs on this song are metal through and through. Chuck's screams are some of best here, especailly when he goes "FIRST STRIKE IS DEADLY!" that always makes my hairs stand on end. This fantastic album ends with a fantastic closer: Apocalyptic City. It has a beautiful intro with great guitar work, but soon morphs some more kick-ass metal. "Burn! Feel no shame or pity/Burn! Apocalyptic City." How can you not love those lyrics? Alex's solo is his best on the album. No contest at all. The melody is simply outstanding, you may find yourself rewinding the song just to hear that solo over and over again. Chuck gives one last shriek at the end, and it brings the album to a memorable close.

By 1987, there were many thrash bands, but I think Testament stands above many of them. Their riffs are brutal, yet catchy in a way. And I mentioned before how talented of a vocalist Chuck is. And having Alex Skolnick in your band doesn't hurt either! Trust me, if you haven't heard this guy before, then all of the praise he gets is deserved! He is not overrated in any way, his solos put him in a league of his own. This is not mainstream music, this is a raw and dirty piece of thrash metal. And if you like that mean sound in thrash (and why the hell wouldn't you?) then get The Legacy as soon as you can!

Average customer rating:

Alex Skolnik's shredding second album
Listen To the new order! Or I'll burn you to that cross!
Couldn't be more under-rated
4.5 stars. Essential listening
Reign of Terror goes on

The New Order
Testament
Manufacturer: Megaforce / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Practice What You Preach
The Legacy
Souls of Black
The Ritual
Low

ASIN: B000002IMG
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Eerie Inhabitants
The New Order
Trial By Fire
Into The Pit
Hypnosis
Disciples Of The Watch
The Preacher
Nobody's Fault
A Day of Reckoning
Musical Death (A Dirge)

Customer Reviews:

Alex Skolnik's shredding second album.......2007-05-07

This was one of the first albums I ever bought. Alex's shredding unique guitar composition makes this a must have. I remember getting this for christmas when I was in 6th grade, after reading about it in a metal mag called Amplified Assault (too bad they only had 5 issues, it was the best). It was the first one I listened to and subsequently learned to play Muical Death on the guitar.
Musical Death is an instrumental guitar piece by Alex Skolnik and it alone makes this album worth buying.
A very inspiring album. 5 star

Listen To the new order! Or I'll burn you to that cross!.......2007-02-18

This is a very good record, and confirms why Testament should be in the big four of thrash in place of Anthrax. The vocals and guitars are meld to create a classic thrash album. The songwriting on here is fairly solid, and there are plenty of memorable songs. The intro song is a great example, after leading off with a winding baroque sounding solo, the song kicks into a great classic thrash stomp with great vocals a memorable chorus and another thrashtastic solo. What more can you want. Songs like Into the Pit, Eerie Inhabitants, Disciples of The Watch, Trial By Fire and the title track are all solid excellent thrashers. Even more the bands cover of Aerosmith's Nobody's fault is BETTER than the origional and is very good along with the beautiful instrumental. The album does have some filler in Day of Reckoning and The Preacher but overall its a solid thrash record that can be comfortably mentioned in the list of top 10 thrash albums ever. Very good. Maybe not essential if you only want a few thrash records to listen to but its still great.

Couldn't be more under-rated.......2006-11-03

Every now and then i forget how totally awesome Testament is, only to rediscover how much i love every single song by them. I'm sitting here trying to think of any flaws and with the band, there just isn't. Great singing, great riffs, great basslines, great drums, great solos, great harmonies, everything. the only one thing i could MAYBE say that isnt so good about the older Testament cds is that the recording quality is very...80's. But if you're into metal as much as you should be, then you should be into all sorts of old 80s bands with not so great recording.
buy this cd people, and every other testament cd while you're at it. they're all pretty much best-of's. you need all of them. you will not be dissapointed.

4.5 stars. Essential listening.......2006-09-14

Are you a little bored with the usual Anthrax, Metallica, Megadeth, and slayer stuff? Want more thrash? Check out this EXTREMELY underrated band. Who are they? you may ask. This band is from the bay area, and their name is Testament. These guys are one of the few great thrashers that never sold out. Their first 3 cd's "the legacy" "The New Order" and "practice what you preach" are all classics. Unfortunately, amazon doesn't hold "the legacy". But "The New Order" is similar anyway, so you can get this instead. Let's go into the tracks shall we?

Eerie Inhabitants: 10/10 with a creepy guitar intro, you may be expecting some sort of weird ballad. but you're dead wrong.... amazing riffs throughout. Alex Skolnick can really shread his guitar!

The New ORder: 10/10 another great thrash classic

Trial by fire: 10/10 "

Into the pit: 9/10 a great thrasher but much too short. Can you guess what you're supposed to do when you listen to this one?

Hypnosis: 8/10 a bit weird. just 2 minutes of... well weirdness. nothing much to it really

Disciples of the watch: 10/10 Testament get back on track here, with a great thrasher. 5 minutes of pure head banging.

The preacher: 9/10 This song ain't bad. A bit below par when compared to Disciples of the watch

Nobody's fault: 10/10 one of my personal fav's of the album. This is great!

A day of reckoning: 9/10 this song is exactly 4 minutes. These are the times when you're kind of bored. some of the songs on this album may sound similar to each other. needs a few listens to get used to.

Musical death: 10/10 another one of my personal fav's. A great instrumental.

overall this is a great thrash classic. This is a must own along with Rust in peace, Master of puppets, Seasons in the abyss, and Among the living.

Reign of Terror goes on.......2006-08-19

Gang vocals - a trademark of the Bay Area thrash scene and often emulated by thrash acts from outside that region. In many reviews of Bay Area thrash acts, the gang vocal factor is often ignored. But it was the bellow of the band as a whole that helped propel the songs and give them bombast. Testament uses the gang vocals style to perfection on both "The Legacy" (especially "Curse of the Legions of Death" with its primal "Provoke the dead!") and on this, their sophomore release, "The New Order." Just check out the title track and, yes, the mosh pit masterpiece "Into the Pit." The energy is frantic and contagious. When I saw them in Syracuse, NY on their tour for this album almost twenty years ago, the pit was a sweaty surge of bedlam.

No, Testament did not top the cathartic brilliance of their debut album, but they suffered no sophomore slump either. Every song on this album is a thrashing slap of power and riffs. Did I mention the energy? The aggression? The way the band works seamlessly as a unit, with bellowing Chuck Billy as ringmaster keeping the rage in focus?

It's no wonder that most new metal bands pale in comparison to classic thrashers like Testament. How do you top the intensity of the Bay Area scene from the late-80s? Answer: you can't and you don't. You merely pay respects to the masters.

Average customer rating:

Testament rules!
different but thrash still
Great album often overlooked.
Another great Testament disc
A Thrash Classic!!

Practice What You Preach
Testament
Manufacturer: Megaforce / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The New Order
Souls of Black
The Ritual
The Legacy
Low

ASIN: B000002IOJ
Release Date: 1989-08-02

Tracks:

Practice What You Preach
Perilous Nation
Envy Life
Time Is Coming
Blessed In Contempt
Greenhouse Effect
Sins Of Omission
The Ballad
Nightmare (Coming Back To You)
Confusion Fusion

Customer Reviews:

Testament rules!.......2006-07-26

This has got to be the best Testament album! This band ranks up there with Slayer. Hardcore thrash and yet the melodic subtleties blow your mind away during the slow song "The Ballad". The lead singer Chuck has an awesome voice and if you've ever seen them in concert he bangs his head NON-STOP! My personal favorites on this album are "Sins Of Omission" and "Nightmare(Coming Back To You)". There's some really cool hardcore bass goin on in "Confusion Fusion". Every single song on this album rocks. You can listen to this album from start to finish without wanting to skip any songs. In other words...go buy this album NOW!!! And then buy some of their other albums.
NOW!!!

different but thrash still.......2006-06-02

Testament's first 2 albums are typical thrash albums with great songs on it. Testament's breakthrough album is Practice What You Preach - a more polished album with more melodies and catchiness. The songs aren't as thrashy or as fast as the previous albums but it still sounds and feels like Testament. This is one of my favorites currently and I just love the music this band comes up with!! \m/

Great album often overlooked. .......2006-02-01

Testament's third release "Practice what you Preach" is a superb metal effort that is under-appreciated and often overlooked. The late 80's/early 90's was a great time for heavy metal. Classic albums from Metallica, Slayer and Pantera were pushing out the hair metal crap that for some reason carried the title of metal. It was a good time to be a fan of rock and roll. Great new bands were starting to gain notariety. One of these bands was the San Fransisco quintet Testament. Putting out a number of albums in a span of a few years Testament were set on making it big. Why they never did is a mystery to me. This album was the follow up to arguably the most popular and in my opinion best Testament album "The New Order." Perhaps this one may have been a little too rushed following the release of their masterpiece. A few of the songs on the end could be viewed by some as filler songs but I still love them. It seems that every thrash band has four main albums that really define them as a band. For Metallica it was Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, And Justice for All, and Metallica (Black Album), for Megadeth it was Peace Sells, Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction and So Far So Good So What and for Testament it is The Legacy, The New Order, Practice What you Preach and The Ritual. You wont find too many people that agree with me but Testament's work is just as impressive as the afore mentioned bands. Testament is the lost thrash band and deserve more credit then they are given.

Another great Testament disc.......2006-01-03

Testament may not have invented thrash metal, but they are still a very underrated band. The musicians in Testament are equally as talented as anybody in thrash's Big Four bands (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax), and they are more hook oriented than many speed metal bands. Lead guitarist Alex Skolnick's solos are a lot more technical than Slayer's, and are usually every bit as breathtaking as Metallica's. The guitar shredding on Testament's third studio album, "Practice What You Preach" (which was released in 1989), is, of course, no exception. Even when the rest of the band (especially the drummer) sounds somewhat generic, Skolnick soars on every track with fiery, blowtorch riffs and wonderful solos. "Time Is Coming" and the title track are both catchy numbers with chugging riffs, thumping drums, and vocals which almost echo James Hatfield (plus "Practice What You Preach" has a shout a long of "preach!" in the chorus.) These songs are also both capped off by a lengthy, wailing guitar solo. Likewise, "Perilous Nation" features up and down, classical-sounding guitar work, "Envy Life" has an ascending solo, and "Sins of Omission" is highlighted by another superb, very complex solo which has several different parts to it. Other standout tracks include "The Ballad" and the instrumental (albeit brief) album closer, "Confusion Fusion." The former track, "The Ballad," kind of sounds like Metallica's 1986 single, "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," because it begins as a power ballad with acoustic plunking, but it gradually builds and gains momentum. Over the years, this album has taken a slight dip in sound quality, but it has aged better than some of the music from the Eighties. Testament may not be as iconic as some thrash bands, but albums like "Practice What You Preach" prove that they definitely should be. This is another great, must-own album from one of thrash's most important, most underrated, and finest bands.

A Thrash Classic!!.......2005-11-27

What can you say but Testament Rulz!! This cd is a Thrash masterpiece. "The Ballad" is one of their better slow songs ever recorded. It picks up in the end. Practice what you preach is a solid cd and only second to "The New Order". If you like Thrash and don't have this cd you're missing out!

Average customer rating:

good but not the best
their worst album to date
Souls of Thrash!
"Time is but a passageway trying to believe your life was sanity"
Cut them some slack.

Souls of Black
Testament
Manufacturer: Megaforce / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Practice What You Preach
The New Order
The Ritual
Low
The Legacy

ASIN: B000002IPZ
Release Date: 1990-10-01

Tracks:

Beginning Of The End
Face In The Sky
Falling Fast
Souls Of Black
Absence Of Light
Love To Hate
Malpractice
One Man's Fate
The Legacy
Seven Days Of May

Customer Reviews:

good but not the best.......2007-01-10

Testament has been my favorite metal band ever. Even though I loved Megadeth and Manowar too much at the time, I've always had a special love in Testament. It's mostly because of Alex Skolnick, who is one of Satriani's students, that created his own style and licks , without copying Satriani's. (Testament has never been the same after he left). and also Peterson, Clemente and Christian were monsters at their instruments, with Billy and his killing vocal, creating incredible music and lyrics. so why I gave 4 stars to this album?? There are masterpieces like "Souls of Black", "Legacy" and "Seven Days of May" in this album but, there are two or three songs that resembles each other. This album is worth to buy but not perfect as "the new order" and "practice what you preach"

their worst album to date.......2006-01-15

out of testaments prime (the first four albums)this is easily their worst, but souls of black is still way better than anything after this album. the first three albums rule, but "souls" still kicks ass.

Souls of Thrash!.......2005-09-16

This is a very underrated album I think, I think it's even better than The Legacy, don't get me wrong, I love The Legacy, but I think they got better each album, this was released in 1990 after the awesome "Practice What You Preach", pretty much the same formula, but it is effective, the production isn't as good as on Practice What You Preach, because the fans back then wanted it to sound like "The New Order" but it fits the music well, Chuck Billy is a great vocalist, and really shines on this album, the vocals are echoed, but like I said, it's the production, and it fits, the drums are pushed back, but you can still hear them well, Skolnick and Peterson work together great, just listen to Skolnicks solo on "Face in the Sky" you will find yourself air-guitaring, and again, Testament pull off another great ballad "The Legacy" which is nothing short of killer, Billys vocals REALLY shine on this one, and the music is great also, just listen to the intro, great solo too, other standout tracks "Falling Fast" "Seven Days of May" "Souls of Black" they are all good, but I've named the best in my opinion, I'd buy the album, I don't think you'll be dissappointed, THRASH!!!

"Time is but a passageway trying to believe your life was sanity".......2005-08-30

I bought Souls of Black when it was new back in 1990. I was going through my metal period in high school (which never ended: the metal period, I mean, not high school) and I already had The Legacy and New Order by Testament which I liked but did not consider among my favorite albums. After seeing the video for the beautiful track "The Legacy" (not to be confused with the album by the same name) which incorporated the cool cover imagery, I rushed and bought Souls of Black and it quickly became one of my favorite metal albums. I did not (and still don't) notice anything rushed or under-produced about it. I just hear a solid thrash metal album with tracks so catchy (ie "Absence of Light" and the title track) I can sing along to them (I can't say that about most thrash albums). "Beginning of the End" might be considered a "filler" because it is a short instrumental but it is very cool with a Latin flavor, and it makes for a nice intro to the explosive "Face in the Sky." The only track I might consider semi-weak is "One Man's Fate" because I do not like the overall sound but even on this track there is aa highlight: kicking drums!

"Seven Days of May" deserves special mention. It is about the student-led protests held Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the People's Republic of China, between April 15, 1989 and June 4, 1989. The protest denounced China's economic instability and political corruption and was violently suppressed by the PRC government. This event was still very fresh when this album was released in 1990. On May 4, 1989, 100,000 students and workers peacefully marched in Beijing making demands for adherence to socialist principles of equality, and protesting government corruption. These demonstrations continued even after the government declared martial law on May 20. The Communist party leaders eventually sent troops and tanks to restore order. When these forces were confronted by Chinese workers in the streets of Beijing, a massacre ensued (in the words of Testament: "They tried to show a peaceful path then it turned into a blood bath / In the Square they plan the game That's when the tanks of the army came"). Even today, the Chinese government will not allow any tallies made to count the actual number of dead. So there is lyrical meat to the album. And by the way, the song kicks as do the others save for "The Legacy" which is a charming metal ballad about the discovery of one's mortality. Excellent all the way through, I recommend it without hesitation.

Cut them some slack........2004-09-14

Souls of Black is not Testament's finest album. That much is true. However, it isn't a bad record. The truth behind this recording is that the band was rushed into recording it, so it would be released at the same time as a European "Clash of the Titans" tour, featuring Megadeth and Slayer. The band has never liked it. But, there are some good songs here. (Good old vinyl years) Side one is strong. So, the first six tunes are pretty good. And side two starts with Malpractice which is okay as well. The Legacy is also a very good song. So, there's enough here to give it at least 3 stars. Where Souls of Black falters is on the production end. The sound is too thin, and not loud enough. The drums are buried way back in the mix too often. The bass is also lost in some songs. It's hard to headbang to this album, because it's just not HARD, even if the songs are heavy. But, it does provide some decent listening for metal fans. It was definately, at the time, fairly progressive thrash metal. Not the worst album you could have in your collection.

Average customer rating:

A "GOTTERDAMMERUNG" and a "RING" for the AGES!
Full Circle
Which Gotterdammerung to buy, Keilberth or Solti?
FINE ENDING TO A GOOD RING
The Climax of the Definitive Ring

Wagner: Götterdämmerung

Manufacturer: Testament UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wagner: Das Rheingold
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Wagner - Gotterdammerung

ASIN: B000J20D6K
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

Prelude (orchestra) PROLOGUE
Welch' Licht leuchtet dort?
Dammert der Tag? (Drei Nornen)
Dawn/Tagesgrauen/Lever du jour (Orchestra)
Zu neuen Taten, teurer Helde (Brunnhilde)
Mehr gabst du, Wunderfrau (Siegfried/Brunnhilde)
O heilige Gotter (Brunnhilde/Siegfried)
Siegfried's Rhine Journey (Orchestra)
Nun hor, Hagen (Gunther/Hagen) ACT ONE, scene one
En Weib weiss ich (Hagen/Gunther/Gutrune)
Vom Rhein her tont das Horn (Gunther/Hagen/Siegfried) scene two Heil! Siegfried, teurer Heldi!
Wer ist Gibichs Sohn? (Siegfried/Gunther/Hagen)
Bergrusse froh, o Held (Gunther/Siegfried/Hagen/Gutrune)
Vergass' ich alles (Siegfried)

Tracks:

Gunther, wie heisst deine Schwester?
Bluhenden Lebens labendes Blut (Siegfried/Gunther)
Was nahmst du am Eide nicht teil? (Siegfried/Hagen/Gunther/Gutrune)
Hier sitz' ich zur Wacht (Hagen) scene three
Altgewohntes Gerausch (Brunnhilde/Waltraute)
Hore mit Sinn, was ich dir sage !(Waltraute)
Welch banger Traume Maren (Brunnhilde/Waltraute)
Blitzend Gewolk (Brunnhilde)
Brunnhild'1 Ein Freier kam (Siegfried/Brunnhilde)
Jetzt bist du mein (Siegfried/Brunnhilde)

Tracks:

Prelude (orchestra) ACT TWO, scene one
Schlafst du, Hagen, mein Sohn? (Alberich/Hagen) scene two
Hoiho, Hagen ! (Siegfried/hagen/Gutrune) scene three
Hoiho! Hoihohoho!
Rustet euch wohl (Hagen/choir)
Gross Gluck und Heil (Choir/Hagen) scene four
Heil dir, Gunther! (Choir)
Brunnhild', die hehrste Frau (Gunther/Choir)
Gegrusst sei, teurer Held (Gunther/Choir/Siegfried/Brunnhilde/Hagen)
Einen Ring sah ich an deiner Hand (Brunnhilde/Siegfried/Gunther/Hagen)
Betrug! Betrug! (Brunnhilde/Gutrune/Choir/Gunther/Siegfried)
Helle Wehr! Heilige Waffe!(Siegfried/Brunnhilde/Choir)
Glaub', mehr zurnt es mich als dich (Siegfried) scene five
Welches Unholds List (Brunnhilde)
Vertraue mir, betrogne Frau! (Hagen/Brunnhilde)
Auf, Gunther, edler Gibichung! (Hagen/Gunther/Brunnhilde)
So soll es sein! (Gunther/Brunnhilde/Hagen)

Tracks:

Prelude (Orchestra) ACT THREE, scene one
Frau Sonne sendet lichte Strahlen (Woglinde/Wellgunde/Flosshilde)
Eine Albe fuhrte mich irr (Siegfried)
Siegfried !
Ein goldner Ring ragt dir am Finger!
Behalt ihn, Held
Weialala leia (Flosshilde/Wellgunde/Wogline/Siegfried) scene two
Hoiho! (Hagen/Choir/Siegfried)
Trink, Gunther, trink! (Siegfried/Gunther/hagen)
Mime hiess ein murrischer Zwerg (Siegfried/Hagen/Choir)
In Leid zu dem Wipfel (Siegfried/Hagen)
Was hor' ich? (Gunther/Hagen/Choir)
Brunnhilde, heilige Braut! (Siegfried)
Funeral March (Orchestra) scene three
War das sein Horn? (Gutrune)
Hoiho! Hoiho!
Siegfried - Siegfried ershlagen!(Gutrune/Gunther/Hagen)
Schweight eures Jammers jauchzenden Schwall (Brunnhilde/Gutrune)
Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort
Wie Sonne lauter strahlt mir sein Licht
O ihr, der Eide ewige Huter!
Mein Erbe nun nehm/ ich zu eigen
Fliegt heim, ihr Raben!
Grane, mein Ross, sei mir gegrusst! (Brunnhilde)

Amazon.com

Testament's 1955 Bayreuth Festival Götterdämmerung completes their release of that extraordinary Ring cycle. As in the previous operas of the tetralogy, this Götterdämmerung scores on several counts. As part of the first Ring cycle to be recorded in true stereo it has important historical interest. As an example of Joseph Keilberth's revelatory conducting, it reminds us that he was a great Wagnerian. His control of the dramatic narrative is superb, with tempos that were considered fast for his time but now are convincingly apt. And as an example of great Wagner singing, it's nothing less than spectacular. Astrid Varnay is a magnificent Brünnhilde, singing with passion, her big dramatic soprano soaring over the orchestra in the Immolation Scene. Windgassen was the Siegfried of choice in the 1950s, and he fits the bill with his virile tenor and characterization. In Joseph Greindl, Keilberth had a black-voiced Hagen who conveyed real menace.

The rest of the large cast is as close to flawless as we have a right to expect, with perhaps the best Gunther (Hermann Uhde) and Alberich (Gustav Neidlinger) on disc, and in Maria von Ilosvay, a Waltraute who is gripping in her long scene with Brünnhilde. The singers are as strong in the last act as they are in the first, remarkable for this long opera. The orchestra is uniformly excellent and the sonics, if not up to today's state-of-the-art engineering, are natural, accurately depicting the voices and projecting a good sense of space and stage spread. This is a unique Götterdämmerung (and Ring cycle), with an unbeatable combination of great performance and decent stereo sound. --Dan Davis

Album Description

The is the fourth and final release of the first stereo recording of Wagner's Ring Cycle, Gotterdammerung recorded during the 1955 Bayreuth Festival and featuring Astrid Varnay, with Joseph Keilberth, conductor.

Customer Reviews:

A "GOTTERDAMMERUNG" and a "RING" for the AGES!.......2007-06-19

This recording of Wagner's "Die Gotterdammerung" recorded live at Bayreuth in 1955 is a TRUE masterpiece, a testament to the heights that can be reached when "everyone works together" for the sake of the "art" itself, not self-aggrandisement (which we have today, generally). Every aspect of this recording pales every other! It immediately, and solidly, goes to the top of the list of "Die Gotterdammerung" choices on disc. As do the remaining three operas, also recorded at the same time, by the same cast, that make up the "Ring".

Going back over the decades of my life, I remember when you only had one choice for a "Ring"...Solti/Decca, and that was it.

Then, there came the von Karajan, and then the Bohm/Bayreuth. Then, there seemed to be a mini-explosion of "Rings" over the following years, so many that it became/becomes staggering to think about!

Two statements:
1) If you are NEW to Wagner's "Ring" do not become confused with all the choices out there. There are really only two live recordings you need consider...the Krauss/Bayreuth, and this one, Keilberth/Bayreuth, and one studio recording to think about, the Solti/Decca set. You may think this excessive, but you NEED all three of these recordings. Period.
2) If you are FAMILIAR with Wagner's "Ring", then, assumably, you want the Best recording of it. I will assume you already have the Solti set, as most people do. The Krauss set you may or may not have. It is a stunner. And, now, the Keilberth....the most awesome recording, in many ways, you will ever experience.

Think: 1955, live, Bayreuth, the Best Wagnerians of their age, assembled together at the behest of Wagner's grandsons, in Wagner's theater, and the best part....recorded in STEREO! By Decca, of all people, before the Solti studio Ring was ever thought about! Why Decca sat on these magnificent recordings just blows my mind.

Luckily for us, Testament acquired the rights to release these timeless recordings, and we now, after 52 years, can marvel at and enjoy these magnificent performances of four of the greatest musical masterpieces ever written, combining to make up the most monumental work ever written for the stage! Enjoy this (set) of Masterpiece Recordings! ~operabruin

Full Circle.......2007-05-09

The 1955 Bayreuth Ring comes full circle with this excellent GOTTERDAMMERUNG. The cycle is a superb example of music drama at its finest, with golden-age performances caught live, in sound equal to the best of its day. We hear a truly stellar cast, in their prime, with several seasons of RING performances behind them. The conductor, Joseph Keilberth, had been conducting at Bayreuth since the 1952 RING. He knew the house well, and all the singers.

I would not want to be without the Clemens Krauss RING of 1953, another great cycle from Bayreuth, but the quality of sound, good as it is, cannot match the 1955 cycle, concluded with this recording. The only real problem the Decca team encountered was with the 'infernal' smoke and fire machine that runs through the Nibelheim scene of DAS RHEINGOLD.

There is no such technical problem with GOTTERDAMMERUNG. This, and its companion dramas of the Cycle, surely must be the benchmark in terms of cast, sound quality, conducting, and orchestral execution. It may be outpointed in certain areas, but overall this GOTTERDAMMERUNG completes a RING that ought to be the first choice, if cost is not an issue.

It is expensive. The cost for the vinyl version is staggering, though I suppose purists will insist on having that incarnation. I am very happy with the CDs, which I purchased one set at a time as they emerged. It took a while, but the wait has been worth it.

Which Gotterdammerung to buy, Keilberth or Solti?.......2007-04-21

I was prepared not to find this Gotterdammerung superior to, or even equal to, the receding Siegfried, but one listening tells me that all is well. Whereas there are few impressive sets of Siegfried on disc, Solti's Gotterdammerung is one of the recordings of the century (I believe I read one poll where it was voted THE recording of the century). Yet for overall dramatic effect, Keliberth also leads an inspiring performance. Since Testament is asking a dear price for this historic set, it might be worthwhile to compare the two rivals.

Solti: The overwhelming element here has always been the Vienna Phil, recorded in sumptuous grandeur by Decca. For sweep and epic proportion, no one has ever come close to matching them. The next freat thrill comes from Nilsson, a Brunnhilde of incomparable power and gleaming penetration. Solti gives us his best effort in Wanger, and among the supporting roles Christa Ludwig (Waltraute), Gunter (Fischer-Dieskau), Alberich (Neidlinger) and Hagen (Frick) cannot be faulted. Windgassen's voice had become worn and leathery over the years, and his Siegfried, although highly experiened and musical, isn't a pleasure to listen to for beauty of voice or youthfulness. (It sounds considerably more taxed in the live Bayreuth set under Bohm on Philips.)

It must be remembered that the stereo era hadn't seen a complete Gotterdammerung before this pioneering effort, which stunned the classical music world in the early Sixties. After four decades, it remains undiminished and sells for reduced price is various reissues. ONe should seek out the latest remastering since the original ADRM version from the early Eighties sounds thin and shrill compared to the original LPs.

Keilberth: Decca also recorded this 1955 live Gotterdammerung, which would be the standard to this day if they hadn't rejected it and moved on to record Solti seven years later. The decision made sense at the time. Although the sonics are fine for a live performance, we hear considerable audience noise and the occasional fluff in the orchestra, which in any event isn't the equal of the Vienna Phil. by a long stretch. Keilberth does one of his best jobs coducting, but he is proficient rather than inspired. I like the opening of the opera, which he keeps from dawdling, but at times Keilberth is too anxious to move forward, and the great set pieces of the Rhine Journey, Funeral March, and Immolation Scene lack the grandeur of studio recordings.

In the cast the standout is Astrid Varnay as Brunnhilde, who sings with passion and commitment, and whose voice is heroic and gleaming enough to encompass the role (she doesn't get tired by the end but is even ore resplendent in the Immolation Scene). Windgassen is nearly as good--he and Varnay were frequently paird and had made DG duet recordings of Wagner). HIs voice is fresh, and he shows stamina during the Act 1 love duet. In the end he was an almost-Heldentenor, but we haven't seen his like as Siegfried since, so I can't complain. The supporting cast is nearly as strong as for Solti, with Neidlinger repeating his signature Alberich. Decca's microhones capture the voices onstage quite realistically and with minimal fade-out due to stage movements.

Overall, Keilberth's interpreatation goes for momentum and propulsion, which is fine in such a long evening, while Solti gives us richness, epic sweep, and the incomparable beauty of the VPO. I am not aobut to make recommendations between the two sets. Many of us who love Gotterdammerung have owned the Solti forever, so it's wonderful to get a second bite of the apple. We'll own both and be greateful.

FINE ENDING TO A GOOD RING.......2007-02-23

I have been more critical than most of the other parts of this Ring Cycle, frequently lauded by others not just as the first stereo Ring, but as the Ring to have over all the rest. To be fair, all 4 parts offer performances that would have been thrilling to have experienced in the theatre, certainly compared to anything you're likely to hear anywhere in the world these days. Standards in Bayreuth in the years following the reopening of the Festival in 1951 and throughout the 50's were impressively and consistently high. But there's the rub. From this one opera house and in that one decade alone there is a range of alternative performances of the Ring, often with a very similar cast, many of which can lay claim to match or even surpass this one, depending on your taste in performance style for this monumental work. Certainly Clemens Krauss from the year before Keilberth is for many people including myself the most satisfying performance of any. Knappertsbusch a couple of years later is patchy but, when he finds his focus, overwhelming - his is a Ring on the grandest scale. These were all in Wieland Wagner's groundbreaking, almost minimalist production from the reopening year of the Festival. Kempe in 1960 (in Wolfgang's first deconstructed dish production) is at the opposite end of the scale; more intimate, more subtle, very much alive to the ebb and flow of the entire cycle. Bohm a few years after that in Wieland's second, much more claustrophobic and primitive production is again a first choice Ring for many connoisseurs, intensely theatrical and with a cast similar to that of Solti's spectacular studio performances, here excelling themselves in live performances. Beyond that, you have Boulez, blowing some fresh air into the textures, cleaning the patina of age off the picture, but less than profound in the great moments, and Barenboim, following in the footsteps of his idol, Furtwangler, in his flexible approach to tempi, but not quite matching his broad architectural control. Neither has a cast to approach those of the 50's.

Having said all that, I must admit that this Gotterdammerung is the finest part of Keilberth's cycle. The urgency of his conducting carries the narrative along on a wave of inevitability to its tragic (if, indeed, it can be called tragic) and glorious end. This works to best effect in the taut, urgent and intense arch of Act 2. In the grandest moments of Act 3, however, you may feel something more is needed. For a Funeral March and an Immolation that carry the full grandeur and weight of the destruction of a whole civilisation (which is what they ultimately are), perhaps you need to turn to Kna, to Goodall or to Furtwangler.

The singers throughout the lifespan of this first Wieland Wagner production were remarkably consistent and uniformly of a far higher standard than we are forced to accept these days. Varnay never sang with less than 100% commitment, here more than ever. Hers is a white-hot performance: the voice has more warmth and darkness (if that's not oxymoronic) than a Nilsson, less mumsiness than a Flagstad and she uses it with bold abandon in the Dawn Duet and the Oathtaking of Act 2. Windgassen is truly a youthful hero (compared to his outings for Solti and Bohm) and brings real poetry to the Narration and Death. I'm inclined to think Neidlinger the definitive Alberich and here, as throughout the cycle, he gives his definitive performance. Uhde, too, is near enough the definitive Gunther, but his performance for Knappertsbusch in '51 perhaps shades this one for penetrating depth of characterisation. I've always found Greindl's voice a bit unattractive compared to the rich blackness of a Frick or an Andresen, but it certainly has the size to dominate a Wagnerian orchestra in full cry in his summoning of the vassals. Rhinemaidens, Norns and a superb Pitz-trained chorus are all worthy of their colleagues.

This is undoubtedly a very fine performance, one that does not deserve to have lain gathering dust on the shelves for so long. The finest Ring on disc, though? For my money that accolade would go to Krauss or, in Gotterdammerung alone, Knappertsbusch in 1951 - a concentrated, intense and profoundly moving performance on the grandest scale. The sound on these new `First Ever Stereo' recordings is good, too, giving an excellent impression of the unique Bayreuth acoustic, but Culshaw and Solti in Vienna are undeniably in a different class. To sum up, this is a Gotterdammerung well worth hearing, owning even, alongside other Bayreuth versions. But to say it sweeps all before it is perhaps overstating the case.

The Climax of the Definitive Ring.......2007-02-16

After having bought Rheingold, Walkure and Siegfried, I had high hopes for this last Ring opera. If anything, they were surpassed. Conductor Keilberth reveals a mastery of this richest and most complex of Ring scores in a way that boggles the mind. Every bit of pacing and phrasing is simply perfect, and it fits together so well that singling out examples won't do it justice. This is a true symphonic entity. anyone who thinks that Gotterdammerung is an overlong opera should listen to the concentration and intensity of Keilberth's interpretation. As for the cast, they really outdo themselves. Windgassen's Siegfried is if anything more secure and heroic than in Siegfried, and his Narration and Death are heartbreaking. Uhde's Gunther is perfect in its blend of heroism and cowardice. Brouwenstyn's Gutrune is perfect as an innocent seductress, von Illosvay's Waltraute is very urgent and really convincing, and Greindl's Hagen is perhaps the most polished and malevolent on recording. Neidlinger remains the classic Alberich, better than on another other cycle, because his portryal is multidimensional, embittered and downtrodden as well as spiteful. As for Varnay's Brunnhilde, well, she is the best, period! Vocally, she combines Flagstad's warmth with Nilsson's high notes, and goes through the metamorphoses of ardent lover to vengeful harpie to transfigured and resigned figure of wisdom more convincingly than any other. The sheer strength that she musters in the Immolation has to be heard to be believed. There is no question about it: GET THIS RING CYCLE AND LISTEN! BAYREUTH RULES FOREVER!
I would like to clarify something here. I fully appreciate other ring recordings in existence. I would never want to be without the Kempe or Krauss Bayreuth Rings, or the great 1951 Knappertsbusch Gotterdammerung. Each has something to contribute to our knowledge and appreciation of this, one of the greatest works of western art. But again, I must say that if I prefer this Keilberth Ring above others, it is merely because this is one Ring in which everything has gone right and fits so perfectly together. Plus, Keilberth seems to unite all the best qualities of the aforementioned conductors and makes this such a compelling experience for this listener. As for the recorded sound, I do not agree that it is behind in quality to the Solti/Decca. Wagner intended for there to be a BALANCE between singer and orchestra, not a predominance of orchestra over singer, something that happens in the Solti at times. This is not to belittle that achievement, but rather, that to my mind and ears, this is more what the composer wanted us to hear. The contrapuntal yextures are simply clearet in this recording; the Rhine Journey could almost be a Bach Brandenburg Concerto! REAL power comes from clarity, subtlety, light and shade, and tension, rather than from sheer muscle and brute force. I feel that Keilberth, like Krauss, Kempe and (at times) Knappertsbusch, offers us these qualities in greater portions than does Solti (again, not to in any way belittle his great concept). It is fortunate that, as I had said in the Rheingold review, there is a richness of great Ring recordings to offer us thought.

Most Romantic Classical Music in the Universe

Average customer rating:

very romantic to make love by
Great Mood Music

Most Romantic Classical Music in the Universe
Gabriel Faure , Felix Mendelssohn , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Fryderyk Chopin , Franz Liszt , Erik Satie , Robert Schumann , Antonin Dvorak , Gustav Mahler , Sergey Rachmaninov , Leos Janacek , Cesar Franck , George Frideric Handel , Jules Massenet , Sergey Prokofiev , Catalan Traditional , and Various Artists
Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
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ASIN: B00011V890
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Tracks:

BIZET Aragonaise from Carmen
DEBUSSY Clair de Lune
SAINT-SAS The Swan
BEETHOVEN Moonlight Sonata, Adagio
TARREGA Recuerdos
FAURE Aprun rrie
,MENDELSSOHN Song without Words Op. 19 #6
TCHAIKOVSKY Serenade for Strings, Elegia, Larghetto elegaico
CHOPIN Ballade No. 1
LISZT Liebestraume
SATIE Gymnopedies No. 1
SCHUMANN Abendlied
MENDELSSOHN Song without Words Op. 62 #5
DVORAK Serenade for Strings, Larghetto
BEETHOVEN Fse

Tracks:

MAHLER Symphony No. 5, Adagietto
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2, Adagio
JANACEK Idyll for Strings, Adagio
FRANCK Violin Sonata, Recitativo-Fantasia
HANDEL Largo from Xerxes
CHOPIN Etude in E Major
TCHAIKOVSKY Swan Lake (excerpt)
MASSENET Meditation from "Tha
PROKOFIEV Romeo & Juliet
TRADITIONAL Nocturne in F
TCHAIKOVSKY Nocturne in F
RACHMANINOFF Prelude

Customer Reviews:

very romantic to make love by.......2007-06-11

The music is seductive and promotes an atmosphere of feeling uninhibited when you are making love.

Great Mood Music.......2006-08-11

This is a great CD to compliment any romantic situation. A meal by candle light, champagne on the veranda, or a Jacuzzi for two! Very soothing.

Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings (1981-1985)

Average customer rating:

skip the first 12
ALL IN ONE
Rebirth rock & roll
Rave on! Blasters Rule!
Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings

Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings (1981-1985)
The Blasters
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Barefoot Rock
Bus Station
One More Dance
It Must Be Love
Jubilee Train
Long White Cadillac
Fool's Paradise
Boomtown
Leaving
Tag Along
Justine
Flat Top Joint
Leave My Money Alone
One Bad Stud
Blue Shadows

Tracks:

Trouble Bound
Just Another Sunday
Hey, Girl
Dark Night
Little Honey
Samson And Delilah
Colored Lights
Help You Dream
Common Man
Rock And Roll Will Stand
Can't Stop Time
Cry For Me
Kathleen
High School Confidential (live)
What Will Lucy Do? (live)
Crazy Baby (live)
Got Love If You Want It (live)
Rock Boppin' Baby (live)
Walkin' With Mr. Lee (live)
Keep A Knockin' (live)
I Don't Want To (live)
Go, Go, Go (live)
Roll 'Em Pete (live)
Take Out Some Insurance (live)

Album Description

2 CD's packaged in a deluxe gatefold digipak with 52 tracks, including 8 previously unreleased tracks, 'Flat Top Joint', 'Leave My Money Alone', 'Can't Stop Time', 'Crazy Baby' (live 1982), 'Got Love If You Want It' (live 1982), 'Walkin With Mr. Lee' (live 1982) & 'Take Out Some Insurance' (live 1995). 2002. Rhino Records.

Customer Reviews:

skip the first 12.......2007-06-10

skip the first twelve cuts, they are a work in progress, the rest really rock with that retro fifties/eighties punk attitude, well written songs....and guitar energy...

ALL IN ONE.......2007-01-10

IF YOU LIKE THE ROCKABILLY SOUND THIS IS FOR YOU. GREAT SONGS FROM ONE OF THE GREATEST BANDS FROM U.S.A., THIS COLLECTION HAVE ALL THE SONGS YOU SHOULD NEED TO HAVE FROM THE BLASTERS, A CLASICC RECORD!!!

Rebirth rock & roll.......2004-06-21

I was born in 1955. When I first heard the Blasters, it was like being born again ! I don't see how I could add to the praises others have bestowed upon this fabulous album right here, but I just wanted to insist on one point one fellow came up with : Pleeeeeaaaaaaase, re-release Phil Alvin's Unsung Stories on CD ! What on earth must we do ? Start a petition here on Amazon ? Meet in the street and start a demonstration ? A riot maybe ? Pleeeeeeeaaaaase, re-lease Unsung Stories !

Rave on! Blasters Rule!.......2004-06-19

This band was the only thing that made the 80's bearable.

The Blasters put the roll back in rock.

Celebrate them.

Love them.

LISTEN to them.

Loudly.

Daily.

Dig?

Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings.......2004-04-14

I agree with most of the reviewers. I have seen the BLASTERS in Belgium as the opening acts of ZZ TOP and The KINKS in 1983. The BLASTERS out performed these "polished acts". I was completly impress with the roots blues sound. I found an LP with " One red rose" in a little city of Mons, Belgium. I have played that LP until it is almost non-playable. I want to thank who ever put these tracks on CD. None of the live sound was lost in the translation into CD. If you buy only one CD this year buy Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings by the Blaster. Quick side note. Catch the Blaster in the movie: "Streets of Fire".

Average customer rating:

The Real Testament
Plies
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000ROA07W
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. Lord's Prayer/Pray
2. I Want It All
3. I'm Gonna Make It
4. I've Got a New Song
5. Searchin'
6. Oh What a Reason
7. I Am What I Am
8. Testify
9. How Long Has It Been
10. There's Not a Cry