Blue

Track Listings

1. Doin' Nothin'

2. Don't Pass Me By

3. Baby Blue

4. All There Is to Know

5. John the Revelator

6. World of Mine

7. Everywhere I Look

8. Further Adventures of...

9. All Our Wishes

10. When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God?

11. Shouts of Joy

Tracks:

Either Way
You Are My Face
Impossible Germany
Sky Blue Sky
Side With the Seeds
Shake It Off
Please Be Patient With Me
Hate It Here
Leave Me (Like You Found Me)
Walken
What Light
On And On And On

Amazon.com

After their wild experimental streak of the past decade, Wilco's sixth studio album might feel like a bit of a comedown. Sky Blue Sky is mellow, moody, and uncharacteristically monotone, opening with a pleasant jangle and Jeff Tweedy singing a simple song: "Maybe the sun will shine today, the clouds will blow away." He doesn't even follow it up with a barbed punchline. Could it be that the restless Chicago band has settled back into its gentle Americana roots--or does this sudden mid-career reappraisal represent Wilco's gutsiest move yet? Mostly written in the studio by the full band, it's certainly the group's most cohesive album in ages, presenting a dense song cycle padded with intricate guitar work, brushed rhythms, and '70s soft-rock accents. In places it sounds like Wings ("Hate It Here"), in others Harry Nilsson ("Walken"), and in the middle it goes a bit Grateful Dead ("Shake It Off"). At the same time, there's a distinct sense of hearing a band finally at ease in its own skin. Sky Blue Sky represents the sound of Wilco finally pulling through its petulant adolescence. --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

"Sky Blue Sky" has hints of early-seventies Southern California folk-rock sweetness in the harmonies. The album is filled with brash guitar solos that take songs like "You Are My Face" and "Shake It Off" in unexpected directions.

Customer Reviews:

make up the break up.......2007-07-15

I grew up in St. Louis, watching the first Wilco and Son Volt shows. I threw myself into the last break-up [God bless Uncle Tupelo], beaming over AM and Son Volt's "Trace." Wilco's albums changed immensely with the introduction of Loose Fur [Jim O'Rourke] and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Jeff Tweedy, the band's melodic creativity, and clever lyrics prevailed in spite of various additions and subtractions [Bennett], until now.

I honestly would pay to see this band live no matter what came of an album. -Now? -oof.

When did the already accused "dad band" plummet into the background of a Tide commercial? Will I hear their sound bites on NPR? I am waiting for the newest TV drama to add "Hate it Here" to a young girl's emotional breakdown in her bedroom.

What happened to Charles Wright and Woody Guthrie's influence? Where is the competent composition [shown briefly in "On and On and On"]? I fear O'Rourke's dreamy sonic influence led to gravitational boredom. I expected so much more...

No one is forcing the hand to make tons of albums, here. It's a damn shame.

Mellow Gold.......2007-07-14

From the opening melody of "Either Way" to the gorgeous outro of "On and On and On," Wilco succeeds in creating a cohesive, moody atmosphere that could best be described as mellow groove. At various times the listener will detect hints of the Grateful Dead, the Eagles and even Fleetwood Mac, but Wilco also manages to elevate themselves beyond those 70's influences and create a classic rock/alternative album all their own. And that is largely due to the words and phrasing of Jeff Tweedy. I won't say that his meaning is always clear, but the words make you listen and draw you in closer, and like the best poetry, are vague enough to allow your own interpretation. I have my own relationship to the words and sounds on this album, and I thank Wilco for helping me feel something that is at once familiar and entirely revolutionary.

Amazing.......2007-07-14

Personally I haven't heard an album of this quality in a long time. The last albums to do that for me were Nirvana Unplugged and Elliot Smith XO. The music really stays with you. It is refreshing to hear something so melodic and sad and uplifting, all at the same time. They created something special with this album. Songs 1,3,8 and 9 are classics. The whole album is strong start to finish.

This must have been a really bad breakup.......2007-07-09

This is one of my absolute fave bands--This is disappointing for me even after 5 or 6 run throughs..Tweedy whines on and on about love lost on virtually every song...the most sophomoric he has ever sounded, with ocassional nice little lyrical parts (not as clever or as important as previous three records--I mean he sings about doing laundry for Christs sake, c'mon man) and some guitar parts which he relies too heavily on..it remainds me of Beck's Sea Change which he came back from thankfully and Neil Young's Tonights the Night (although Neil relied a lot on Lofgren's guitar, at least the angst was not a handcuffing factor for every track). Some good stuff on here, but get over the broken heart thing on every track man. Not nearly as pretty as previous "girl" tracks.. I look forward more inspired things from Tweedyco next time.

Beautiful!.......2007-07-08

I listen to this CD every day and will for a LONG time to come! I love all Wilco records, but I have a special place in my heart for this one, for reasons I cannot divulge, but I have a good reason.

I love the title track, Jeff's voice is better than it's ever been, and it's an emotional record, full of just downright beautiful music. Also, for the fan who wants "rock", you've got Walken, Impossible Germany, Shake it Off, what more could you want? If you've never seen Wilco live, you must, a completed rewarding experience!

You won't hear a lot of the noise that was on the last two Wilco CD's, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or A Ghost is Born (both equally excellent records), this new one is quieter, but the lyrics and musicship are first rate. Wilco is the BEST american band today!! Highly recommended!

Average customer rating:

The Voice and the Soul
Not as strong as the her first two releases
Not her best
Insipid and inoffensive, uninspired and uninspiring
Simply Wonderful

Not Too Late
Norah Jones
Manufacturer: Blue Note
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Corinne Bailey Rae
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Wintersong

ASIN: B000KCHZK6
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

Wish I Could
Sinkin' Soon
The Sun Doesn't Like You
Until The End
Not My Friend
Thinking About You
Broken
My Dear Country
Wake Me Up
Be My Somebody
Little Room
Rosie's Lullaby
Not Too Late

Amazon.com

Although the music of Norah Jones continues to blend pop, soul, folk, and country with a seasoning of jazz, her third album for Blue Note is the first where she's written (or collaborated on) all the material. Beneath the smooth surface lie darker strains on the album-opening "Wish I Could" (about a boyfriend lost to war), intimations of mortality in "The Sun Doesn't Like You," and the post-election horrors of "My Dear Country." The last seems to channel the inspiration of Brecht/Weill, while the equally bleak "Sinkin' Soon" is set to a jaunty Dixieland rag. Throughout, Jones's vocal intimacy and melodic warmth remain as disarmingly understated as ever. The soulful "Thinking of You," the countryish "Wake Me Up," and the syncopated "Be My Somebody" reflect the captivating style of her previous work. Although too much in the same midtempo mode becomes a dreamy lull, cut by cut, Jones's voice is irresistible. --Don McLeese

From Blue Note

Album Details

1. "Wish I Could" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitars; Julia Kent: pizzicato cello; Jeffery Ziegler: bowed cello

2. "Sinkin' Soon" (Lee Alexander-Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; Daru Oda: vocals; M. Ward: vocals; Jesse Harris: guitjo; Kevin Breit: mandolin; J. Walter Hawkes: trombone; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums, slit drum, pots and pans

3. "The Sun Doesn't Like You" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitar; Adam Levy: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Paul Bryan: Chamberlain keyboards

4. "Until The End" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer, piano; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitar; Adam Levy: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

5. "Not My Friend" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitars; Adam Levy: backwards electric guitars; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: marimba, cymbals

6. "Thinking About You" (Norah Jones-Ilhan Ersahin): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Chuck Mackinnon: trumpet; Rob Suddith: tenor sax; Lee Alexander: bass; Tony Mason: drums; Devin Greenwood: Hammond B-3 organ

7. "Broken" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, electric guitar; Julia Kent: outro cellos; Lee Alexander: pizzicato, bowed basses

8. "My Dear Country" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; J. Walter Hawkes: trombones; Jose Davilla: tuba; Bill McHenry: tenor sax; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

9. "Wake Me Up" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, acoustic guitars; Lee Alexander: bass, lap steel; Andy Borger: drums

10. "Be My Somebody" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Richard Julian: vocals; Tony Scherr: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

11. "Little Room" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, acoustic guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Daru Oda: whistle

12. "Rosie's Lullaby" (Norah Jones-Daru Oda): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Daru Oda: vocals; Adam Levy: electric guitar, vocal; Robbie McIntosh: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums

13. "Not Too Late" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, piano, Mellotron; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums

Produced by Lee Alexander

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Come Away with Me
Feels Like Home
New York City

Customer Reviews:

The Voice and the Soul.......2007-07-15

Bought this CD after hearing "Wish I Could" on the radio; this is a gorgeous, hauntingly beautiful, moving song.

I too am surprised to see the strongly negative reviews here. Her 3 CDs have sold more than 39 million copies worldwide, so there is clearly a strong fan base somewhere! The added plus on this third CD is that Norah wrote or co-wrote every song, so we are gaining a glimpse into her musical soul as well as hearing the beauty of her voice.

There are some real gems here. "Sinkin' Soon" evokes 1930's jazz with its honky-tonk piano (played by Norah) and its wah-wah trombone. "Until the End" has country roots. "Not My Friend" is a mellow, dreamy, wistful song with dagger-sharp lyrics. "My Dear Country" is a lament about what election day hath wrought. The final title cut, "Not Too late," winds things up on an optimistic note.

It is not surprising that Norah has good musical genes. Her father, Ravi Shankar, brought his sitar to the Beatles and Indian music to a global audience. Norah's seamless blending of country, jazz, blues, pop, and folk brings great talent and aural delight to a new musical generation.

Not as strong as the her first two releases.......2007-07-11

In my opinion, this CD is simply not as strong as her first two CDs. Most of the songs are fine, but forgettable. A couple are just a bit weird-sounding for my taste. Out of her 3 CDs, I preferred "Come Away With Me", although I understand that Ms. Jones feels that her current CD is a truer reflection of her musical style.

Right after I bought this CD, I was privileged enough to see her in concert. She is clearly talented, and has an accomplished band. The concert was wonderful and was over before I knew it. Her performance got rave reviews in the local newspaper the next day.

I look forward to her next release, mostly to see how her artistic style evolves.

Not her best.......2007-07-11

I own all three of her CDs. Come Away with Me is the best IMO. Her passion and talent shine through. Each song was worthy to be on the CD. In Feels Like Home, it seemed she relaxed a bit, had a little more fun, but lost some of the passion, a couple of the songs were not up to what I expected, but passed as entertaining. This third CD is the worst. My impression was that now that she has made a name for herself she can put any track on a CD without much scrutiny. I have listened to it a few times, but it just doesn't do anything exciting for me. A big disappointment.

Insipid and inoffensive, uninspired and uninspiring.......2007-07-08

That's about the highest praise I can muster for this effort. It isn't that it's BAD, but it just never achieves "lift off."

I wish I could wax enthusiastic, but after quite a few listens at this point, I don't think my opinion is likely to change appreciably.

Time for Ms. Jones to find her passion. It isn't evident on this CD.

Simply Wonderful.......2007-07-07

I have all her cds. This one is new, different and good. I like all the tracks, Be my somebody tonight got me a speeding ticket. I saw her in concert and she puts on a helluva show. Worth every penny.

Average customer rating:

Great selection
Continuing writers block
The Legend Continues...
Rock the gypsy in your soul
Ancient Highway

The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Manhattan/EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000IY0FDA
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

Cry For Home
Too Long In Exile
Gloria
Help Me
Medley: Lonely Avenue/4 O'Clock In the Morning
Days Like This
Ancient Highway
Raincheck
Moondance
Centerpiece
That's Life
Benediction
The Healing Game
I Don't Want To Go On Without You

Tracks:

Shenandoah
Precious Time
Back On Top
When the Leaves Come Falling Down
Lost John
Tupelo Honey
Meet Me In the Indian Summer
Georgia On My Mind
Hey Mr. DJ
Steal My Heart Away
Crazy Love
Once In a Blue Moon
Little Village
Blue And Green
Sitting On Top Of the Wolrd
Early In the Morning
Stranded

Amazon.com

Navigating Van Morrison's extensive catalog since 1993 is a formidable task even diehard fans might not want to attempt. The Irish icon has flirted with blues, jazz, country, pop, Celtic, and his own style of indescribable into-the-mystic spiritually-oriented poetic folk on his numerous releases, making for quite a thorny culling assignment. So the EMI brass were probably ecstatic when the singer took the job himself. He weeds through a dozen or so albums released since Volume 2's mile-marker, and adds a clutch of previously unavailable mixes, rarities, and live tracks. The result: a nearly two-and-a-half-hour, 31-track double-disc set as sprawling, eclectic, and tenacious as Morrison's vision and discography. From occasionally rambling but spirited duets with veterans Bobby "Blue" Bland, Junior Wells, Georgie Fame, Lonnie Donegan, B.B. King, the Chieftains, Ray Charles, and even Tom Jones to concert versions of hits such as "Moondance" and an impressive take on Sinatra's classic "That's Life," along with hidden gems like "Steal My Heart Away," this is a beautifully assembled and sequenced collection. It presents most of this multitalented auteur's facets and softens his often crusty exterior by showing his appreciation for the journeymen that helped develop the trail that Morrison then blazed in his own distinctive style. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

The new 2-CD collection, compiled by Morrison himself, offers a comprehensive overview of his later material. The set's 31 tracks include previously unreleased collaborations with Tom Jones and Bobby Bland, as well as duets with John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Ray Charles.

Customer Reviews:

Great selection.......2007-07-12

I won't call this definitive, but the collection's got some previously unreleased and seldom heard numbers that merit the price and hype. This is a very listenable CD that's something you can just stick in the changer and let it play. Definitely worth the money.

Continuing writers block.......2007-07-10

Despite having most of this already I paid out my money and what did I get? A reasonable overview with some obscurities, one of which "Blue and Green" is worth the cost on its own. While the music is all first class the compiling has created some jarring between tracks. I've always loved The Skiffle Sessions album but Lost John between Leaves Come Falling Down and Tupelo Honey sounds bizarre. Nearly all the tracks he has re-recorded are done better in their original incarnation and one gets the feeling that with this, the movie "best of" and the country abomination Pay The Devil before them that he has nothing to say at present. I love Morrison's music and sincerely hope there is more of it to come, its now been a fair number of years since there has been an album of original material and he is overdue for his muse to return.

The Legend Continues..........2007-07-04

This 'Best Of' is a must for any Vanatic (Van fan)... but more importantly it is a must for anyone who thinks Van's career ended in the 1970s... all the tracks on "Vol. 3" are from 1993-2005 - Van's later writing and singing are well represented on this compilation and with a superb supporting cast of John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Carl Perkins, Lonnie Donegan, Bobby "Blue" Bland and the great Georgie Fame as they come along for the journey...

Van is still a mighty force in a world that needs more soul and less pop.

www.vanmorrisonnews.blogspot.com

Rock the gypsy in your soul.......2007-07-03

An amazing compilation of Van Morrison's enchanting and haunting melodies. Although I am not a big jazz or blues fan, he has managed to put those two elements together in a way that is a lyrical treat. The melodies are addictive and very catchy. As he has matured, his renditions of some of his earlier works are performed now with more conviction, passion, and confidence than ever before. Van is an extremely talented musician and lyricist that successfully impacts music for the ages. I could listen to Van Morrison 24/7.

Ancient Highway.......2007-06-29

Van is his element, you won't hear this almost 9 min track on
any broadcast radio station in the US.
I have quite a few of the tracks on other albums over 60% but
didn't hesitate on this purchase.

Average customer rating:

Simply addictive!
Haunting sounds
The phenom Ms Jones
Glad i bought it ( Part II )...!
I'd Love To....

Come Away with Me
Norah Jones
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Feels Like Home
Not Too Late
Careless Love
Taking The Long Way
Corinne Bailey Rae

ASIN: B00005YW4H
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

Don't Know Why
Seven Years
Cold Cold Heart
Feelin' The Same Way
Come Away With Me
Shoot The Moon
Turn Me On
Lonestar
I've Got To See You Again
Painter Song
One Flight Down
Nightingale
The Long Day Is Over
The Nearness Of You

Amazon.com

It is not just the timbre of Norah Jones's voice that is mature beyond her 22 years. Her assured phrasing and precise time are more often found in older singers as well. She is instantly recognizable, blending shades of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone without sounding like anyone but herself. Any way you slice it, she is a singer to be reckoned with. Her readings of the Hank Williams classic "Cold Cold Heart" and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You" alone are worth the price of the CD. Jones's own material, while not bad, pales a bit next to such masterpieces. They might have fared better had she and producer Arif Mardin opted for some livelier arrangements, taking better advantage of brilliant sidemen such as Bill Frisell, Kevin Breit, and Brian Blade; or if the tunes had simply been given less laconic performances. Jones has all the tools; what will come with experience and some careful listening to artists like J.J. Cale and Shirley Horn is the knack of remaining low-key without sounding sleepy--sometimes less is not, in fact, more. --Michael Ross

Amazon.com

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Not Too Late
Feels Like Home
The Little Willies

Customer Reviews:

Simply addictive!.......2007-07-12

This is her best album!
Her voice is unbelievable, the delivery is amazing and the lyrics are stunning!

Haunting sounds.......2007-07-06

For 3 months, my Norah Jones CDs have taken over my car stereo. This woman is very talented!

The phenom Ms Jones.......2007-06-27

This is such an outstanding production, so much better than the later(I think) CD. Miss Jones should be careful which guitar players back her up. She should stick to Bill Frizell or maybe she should try Mark Knoffler, if she can get him away from Emmy Lou.

Glad i bought it ( Part II )...!.......2007-06-20

I knew that Nora Jones was good music but i had no idea just how good...My sister-in-law bought me this CD for Father's Day...i have listened to it 3 times today. The way i would describe her lyrics and delivery is equal to "Musical Rose Petals". So smooth and so inviting is her voice. I really love the Piano work also. Her birth name being "Geethali",Nora Jones along with the likes of Michael Buble have added a nice,new,fresh selection of music to today's currently enemic sound. This album made her only the second artist ever to sweep the "Big Four" being Album,Song,Record,& Artist of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2003. Standouts for me include: "Come Away With Me","Don't Know Why", and i really like her rendition of Hank Williams SR.'s "Cold,Cold Heart". With her throw back to Billie Holiday/Roberta Flack days voice coupled with a very welcomed piano based style, Nora Jones can take me away anytime! If you've waited to give her a listen ,as did I, do yourself a favor and don't wait any longer.

I'd Love To...........2007-06-05

Okay, she's not quite a standards specialist, but a lot of people think Norah Jones is well on her way to setting some new standards of her own.

The daughter of famed Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar, Jones grew up in Dallas with her mother, and her work is firmly rooted in the dry Texas soil. The youngest in this survey (she was born in 1979), Jones burst on the scene in 2002 with this debut album of nine original songs plus a handful of country and pop standards. Renowned for her sweet and soulful set of pipes, Jones has often been compared to Billie Holiday. There's also a touch of Roberta Flack and Emmylou Harris in there.

Come Away with Me is an honest-to-goodness country-blues recording that you can sit back with on the front porch rocker on a brisk autumn afternoon. Sort of like an early James Taylor, Jones mixes a little bit of country, folk, and soul into a collection that's the perfect antidote to today's insincere fare. The public must have sensed the same thing, because it bought this CD in boxcar loads, and in 2003 Jones walked away with eight Grammies, including album of the year and best new artist.

The title track, written by Jones, is the first new song I've heard in a long time that's utterly believable. "Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you," she begs, and it's as though she's singing it to you, personally. To Hank Williams's "Cold Cold Heart" she brings an R & B feel, petitioning in anguish to her lover man to come back, body and soul. "I've Got to See You Again" is an exquisite modern torch song in the same vein, while "One Flight Down" is an upbeat tune with chord progressions right out of Paul McCartney's Wings songs, like "Carry That Load." She ends with Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You." Close your eyes, let Jones's words envelope you with their soulful caress, and you'll sense that she's a lot nearer than your living room speakers.

Average customer rating:

She sounds as contemporary as ever.
More poet than songwriter. A truly lyrical mastery.
Rewarding Listening!

Beauty & Crime
Suzanne Vega
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000H6SU9A
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

Zephyr & I
Ludlow Street
New York Is a Woman
Pornoghrapher's Dream
Frank & Ava
Edith Wharton's Figurine
Bound
Unbound
As You Are Now
Angel's Doorway
Anniversary

Amazon.com

With a career spanning more than two decades, Suzanne Vega has long stressed quality over quantity. It's no surprise, therefore, that her first release in six years is more than worth the wait. Her eye for detail, laconic vocal cool, and thematic focus on New York City continue to distinguish her artistry, but the sonic sheen applied by British producer/multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Hogarth sparks a musical renewal. Crisp guitar riffing recalls the streetwise work of fellow New York chronicler Lou Reed, while chamber strings, electronic atmospherics, and multitracked background vocals lift the results well beyond the folk realm. Vega writes from a perspective of memory and maturity, recalling the New York of old on "Zephyr & I" and "Ludlow Street," showing the musical sophistication of bittersweet seduction on "New York Is a Woman," applying a musical Brazilian wax to "Pornographer's Dream," and contemplating her life as a wife on "Bound" and as a mother on the lullaby "As You Are Now." The results are richly satisfying throughout. --Don McLeese

Amazon.com

On Beauty & Crime, Suzanne Vega's Blue Note Records debut, the Manhattan native uses New York City as the backdrop for a collection of eleven new songs that juxtapose acoustic guitar-driven melodies with coolly synthesized beats; intensely personal lyrics with compelling, short story-like narratives; images of today's scarred cityscape with memories of Vega's old Upper West Side 'hood and Lower East Side haunts. The past commingles with the present, the public with the private, familiar sounds with the utterly new, just like the city itself. Making her first new studio album in six years, Vega says, "I feel like I really stretched my limits. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone--to sing in keys I wouldn't have sung in before, to work with different textures, to be unafraid of doing what ever sounded good to me. I wanted to make a modern classic."

Suzanne Vega Photos

Album Description

2007 album produced by Jimmy Hogarth. She is accompanied by an eclectic group including Will Malone, Gerry Leonard, Lee Renaldo, Mike Visceglia and Doub Yowell. EMI.

Customer Reviews:

She sounds as contemporary as ever........2007-07-17

The sweeet-voiced songwriter has come up with one of her best albums to date.
In fact she has summoned up a gem, revolving around the theme of New York city, the tracks veer from subdued singalongs to atmospheric folk-pop. Literate and lovely, this is pop music for grown-ups.
It's a timeless and comforting album which swings like a pendulum between poetic observations and prosaic emotions.
Always the darkest and most literate of the Eighties generation of female singer-songwriters, Suzanne Vega invariably takes her time.
"Beauty and Crime" is only her seventh album since 1985's self-titled debut and her first in six years. This one features KT Tunstall and Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo and it's primarily a homage to her adopted home, New York.
"Angel's Doorway" and "Anniversary" are moving and intelligent additions to the 9/11 canon; the string-laden "As You Are Now" is a beautifully observed but unsentimental celebration of maternal love and "Edith Wharton's Figurines", the latest in Vega's distinguished line of snappy pop songs.
"New York Is A Woman" plays out like a real life street scene, the fundaments of folk, and never has her voice sounded so fragile, endearing and even beautiful, as in "Zephyr & I".
Possibly the best example of Vega's lyrical mastery is "New York Is A Woman", which perfectly casts the Big Apple in the role of a tough, strong woman - one that's taken a few knocks but is still standing.
Lines like "she's every girl you've seen in every movie" impeccably convey the strange. Actions such as this, and her willingness to embrace dance music with the DNA remix of Tom's Diner in 1991, have meant that she's never become as stale as some of her contemporaries. Yet for her first release for legendary American label Blue Note, she's wisely stuck to what she knows best - indeed, this could almost be a continuation of the gentle folk of "Songs Of Red And Grey", albeit with a huge gap in between.
Less a return to form, more a reminder that Suzanne Vega is a special talent.
This album is really a treat, both for those praying for her long-overdue return and for those new to her charms.

More poet than songwriter. A truly lyrical mastery........2007-07-17

Over 20 years have passed since Suzanne Vega leapt from Greenwich Village storyteller to global superstar, and so she can now be accurately described as something of an elder stateswoman of folk.
She may have been rather quiet for the last few years (her last album Songs in Red and Gray, was released way back in 2001), but she has remained a pioneering influence, recently becoming the first musician to perform live in the online world of Second Life.
Actions such as this, and her willingness to embrace dance music with the DNA remix of Tom's Diner in 1991, have meant that she's never become as stale as some of her contemporaries. Yet for her first release for legendary American label Blue Note, she's wisely stuck to what she knows best - indeed, this could almost be a continuation of the gentle folk of Songs in Red and Gray, albeit with a huge gap inbetween.
As you'd expect from a songwriter so vividly associated with New York, and one whose last studio album was released in those hazy pre 9/11 days, there's a huge focus on how the city has changed in those 6 years.
"Anniversary" is probably the most explicit statement on the tragedy, but there's an echo of 9/11 in many of these songs, from "New York Is A Woman" to the poignant "Angel's Doorway".
The opener "Zephyr And I" also references 9/11, namely the "fireman's monument, where all the fatherless teenagers go".
The tone is upbeat and optimistic, yet the lyrics are wistful, sad and poignant. Vocal harmonies by none other than KT Tunstall add to the slightly dreamy feel of the song.
"Edith Wharton's Figurines" (and how's that for a quintessential Vega title?) is a typically complex study of female vanity, inspired by both the New York author and Olivia Goldsmith, the writer who died after complications arose from routine plastic surgery.
Like most of Vega's songs, the tracks here take their time to sink in. While the lovely melodies and Vega's hushed vocals make it perfectly good background music, to achieve the full effect you have to listen to those lyrics - she's one of the finest lyricists of recent times (more poet than songwriter in fact), and one who can just as easily write a love song for her daughter ("As You Are Now") as study the turbulent relationship of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardener ("Frank & Ava") - and do both brilliantly.
It's beatiful and requires repeated listenings.

Rewarding Listening!.......2007-07-17

It's been about six years since Suzanne Vega released her last (underrrated) album "Songs in Red and Grey". Now she has recorded and released 11 fine new songs. In the meantime we've experienced 9/11 and Suzanne has lost her younger brother Tim; two events which play a role on "Beauty and Crime", which has New York as some kind of overall theme in the lyrics.

She has changed label to Blue Note (EMI) and has a new producer Jimmy Hogarth. Still musically it's mostly her well-known approach based on her acoustic guitar and arrangements that have a great diversity in style and instrumentation.

On this album I generally find the songs with the acoustic guitar as the dominating instrument the most successful. "New York is a Woman", "Edith Wharton's Figurines" and "Anniversary" are all stand-outs, the latter has some extraordinary great harmony vocals - all classic Vega.

Also great is the song for her brother Tim, "Ludlow Street" which has a nice catchy chorus. Amongh the more up-beat songs "Frank and Ava" and "Unbound" should be mentioned; and the erotic lyrics to the bossa-nova styled "Pornographer's Dream" make the song one of the most sophisticated and charming.

As usual it's always a great pleasure to read Vega's clever and observant lyrics, so though the album may not contain immediate "hits" like "Luka", "When Heroes Go Down" or "I'll Never Be Your Maggie May", it's very rewarding listening and an album that can be returned to again and again.

Average customer rating:

Kind of Blue
The Pinnacle of Jazz Music
Shades of Blue
feeling blue...
Classic with a slight engineering problem

Kind of Blue
Miles Davis , John Coltrane , Cannonball Adderley , and Bill Evans
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002ADT
Release Date: 1997-03-25

Tracks:

So What
Freddie Freeloader
Blue In Green
All Blues
Flamenco Sketches
Flamenco Sketches (Alternate Take)

Amazon.com essential recording

This is the one jazz record owned by people who don't listen to jazz, and with good reason. The band itself is extraordinary (proof of Miles Davis's masterful casting skills, if not of God's existence), listing John Coltrane and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on saxophones, Bill Evans (or, on "Freddie Freeloader," Wynton Kelly) on piano, and the crack rhythm unit of Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Coltrane's astringency on tenor is counterpoised to Adderley's funky self on alto, with Davis moderating between them as Bill Evans conjures up a still lake of sound on which they walk. Meanwhile, the rhythm partnership of Cobb and Chambers is prepared to click off time until eternity. It was the key recording of what became modal jazz, a music free of the fixed harmonies and forms of pop songs. In Davis's men's hands it was a weightless music, but one that refused to fade into the background. In retrospect every note seems perfect, and each piece moves inexorably towards its destiny. --John Szwed

Customer Reviews:

Kind of Blue.......2007-07-12

This CD is a must for all the JAZZ lovers out there. The mood setting makes for a night of yesterdays (the good days). The sound of the horn from Miles makes you want to cling to every note and have them just lay next to your soul. It will take you into the minds eye where you will see and feel the greatness within you and yours. This is a must share CD. I mean you must share the mood with that person of rare bread of taste. This is ome CD that the five pleasure zones will be thankful.

The Pinnacle of Jazz Music.......2007-07-12

Well this is THE album to have in your music collection. Its been said many times, but if you only have one jazz album then this is the one to get. This is perhaps the most referred to document of jazz in the history of music, and it does live up to expectations.

Miles Davis was a genius, and both he and his collection of musicians were at the top of their game when they recorded this body of modal work.Timeless in appeal, perfect for background and just as interesting for the astute late night listener. 'Moody' doesn't do the album justice, and neither does any review. If you like jazz, then you simply MUST HAVE this album. If you don't like jazz then grab this out of interest, and watch how it subliminally grows on you.

I cannot recommend this album enough, it deserves more stars than I can give it. A am in reverence of this album, and it is one of the albums that I cannot do without. It will be hard pressed for you to find a bad review regarding this album, and I think that says it all.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Shades of Blue .......2007-07-08

Miles Davis always composed like a painter.....layering shades of color on a canvas, injecting a little light in the center, a bit of darker in the corner. He cops to it with "Kind of Blue", infering that the musical journey may include shades of blue, or other colors that complement. The mood might be kind of blue as well; or maybe not.

The sound waves on "Kind of Blue" play like a rainfall pattern, a rolling brook, a waterfall, many incarnartions of water free-flowing. Perhaps that is where the blue theme came in. "So What", the opener, is probably one of the most recognized jazz standards, re-produced by many artists over the years. It evokes the sight of someone looking like "The Thinker", turning around and asking " I'm deep in thought... so what?" This seamlessly moves into "Freddie Freeloader", a tune that really does depict the lovable mooch of a friend, plying you with smooth talk and subtle requests. "Blue in Green" does seem to speak to a lover, almost a feeling of sadness combined with a little self-righteous jealousy. Truly, these emotions and nuances can be heard in the melodies.

It would require much more space to describe the remaining songs, so I will leave it to the buyer to explore and interpret on their own. Suffice to say, "Kind of Blue" has attained classic status for good reasons. Music is one of the best forms of art, and when a recording achieves the task of being audio and visual, as well as emotional, there is something to touch all sensibilities. "Kind of Blue" delivers.

feeling blue..........2007-06-20

a rainy day...I pop in 'Kind of Blue'...problems with my lover I pop in 'Kind of Blue'...feeling wistful...I pop in 'Kind of Blue'...Miles Davis on trumpet..John Coltrane on tenor sax..Cannonball Adderly on alto sax..Paul Chambers on bass..Bill Evans and Wynton Kelly on piano..drummer Jimmy Cobb..compositions composed by Davis and Evans..in an attempt to move away from bepop which dominated jazz at the time this is the first full jazz album using the modal approach which is basically composing music with a series of scales using improvisation, the results are 'Kind of Blue' one of the most influential jazz albums of all time, also recognized as one of the top albums of all time.

Classic with a slight engineering problem.......2007-06-12

This album never sounded this good before with one exception. Davis's trumpet is in the center channel and ONLY in the center channel. No bleed whatever right and left. Likewise the drums are only right and the piano only left. That is not the way I hear in a live setting. This is obviously a direct conversion from the original three-track master with out-of-phase info added for the surrounds, but the recording obviously acoustically isolated each player. Still, it's minor and shouldn't prevent you from buying. SACD, if you have a good system, is the next step up in CD reproduction.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic voice and song list
easy, breezy...and sexy...me likes!
expected it to be better
What To Do About Joan Osborne.
Dissapointing Effort from a Great Singer

Breakfast in Bed
Joan Osborne
Manufacturer: Time Life Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000O78KZG
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

I've Got To Use My Imagination
Ain't No Sunshine
Midnight Train To Georgia
Baby Is A Butterfly
Breakfast In Bed
Cream Dream
Natural High
Heart Of Stone
Sara Smile
Eliminate The Night
Break Up To Make Up
I Know What's Goin' On
Alone With You
Kiss And Say Goodbye
Heat Wave
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted

Amazon.com

On Breakfast in Bed, her first release on Time Life Records (yes, that Time Life) Joan Osborne tackles a crop of hand-picked soul and R&B favorites with equal parts sass and sensitivity. Long an underappreciated artist, Osborne is a performer with the wisdom to exercise vocal restraint for an effect that's more Dusty Springfield than Christina Aguilera. Her fine previous outing interpreting soul standards was aptly titled How Sweet It Is, and witness her contribution to the terrific 2002 film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, where Osborne's astute readings of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Heatwave" outshone performers like Ben Harper and Gerald Levert (happily, both songs are included here). The title track and Hall and Oates' "Sara Smile" are both canny choices that play to her strengths in delivering credible blue-eyed soul, and six new Osborne-penned songs fit neatly into the record. If her compositions pale a bit next to the classics she covers (with the sultry and slithery exception of the excellent "Eliminate the Night"), give Osborne credit for bravely placing herself side-by-side with songwriting luminaries like Holland-Dozier-Holland and Bill Withers. Breakfast in Bed makes for a leisurely listen on a sunny Sunday morning, so put up your feet and stay awhile. --Ben Heege

Album Description

Joan Osbourne's recently recorded album pays homage to the great Soul and R&B songs of the late '60s and early '70s. The album features a unique combination of unforgettable interpretations of timeless R&B classics. Her first single to radio will be "I've Got to Use My Imagination."

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic voice and song list.......2007-07-12

Most know Joan for her 90's hit "If God Was One of Us." She is far from those days. Most would be astounded to hear what Joan;s voice is capable of, as that song only trapped her into a simple octave throughout its verses.

Here in "Breakfast In Bed", Joan takes the jazz practice of covering American classics and favorites in her dynamic, raspy alto voice. This is a great CD, my favorites include the live performances of "Heatwave" and "What Becomes of a Broken Hearted" with Motown's Funk Brothers; and classics "Natural High" and "Sara Smile."

Check the song list, if you find any of your old favorites the GET THIS CD, you will definately not be disappointed. However "What Becomes of a Broken Hearted" is worth the $13 alone.

easy, breezy...and sexy...me likes!.......2007-06-30

Okay, my thoughts! I dunno, it seems pretty clear Joan has been really enjoying herself lately. I'm all for that.

Speaking for myself, more times than not, Joan selects covers that are mostly new to me - on this disc, besides the 2 live tracks, I was only familiar with Midnight Train. So, generally, all the songs are new to me. Then again, I like covers and I like how Joan mixes in her own songs. She is a singer, after all! I don't think a true singer should be afraid of (or criticized for) covering songs... Admittedly, if I really had my way with Joan, I'd get her to release all those original songs that have gone unreleased over the years, but this album satisfies just as well. Simply put, it's great.

Honestly, when I first listened to the sound samples online, I wasn't quite sure what to think, but since listening to the full album, I've come to really enjoy it. I think it's an accessible album that everyone can enjoy. Joan's voice sounds unbelievably sexy and gorgeous! I don't dislike the first 2 tracks, but I could do without them at the same time. My favorites from this disc are Baby Is A Butterfly & Heart Of Stone (two originals), and Kiss And Say Goodbye (so good!). I'm not one to hum, but I've found myself randomly humming these songs (like while shopping or lounging in bed).

In any case, all the songs work and sound well alongside each other and I'm glad Joan's being more prolific and enjoying herself.

expected it to be better.......2007-06-30

Her "How Sweet It Is" CD is one of my favorites. On that release, she's in great voice, she covers great material and I think it was very bold to do a CD of all cover tunes. I was excited to find that Joan did a new 70's style CD, but I found that this disk to be just pleasant. It is also somewhat dull... no sparkle, no WOW, no "hey you gotta hear this!". I ain't bad, but if you're tempted, start with the "Sweet" CD.

What To Do About Joan Osborne........2007-06-30

Osborne's career has to be one of the most wasteful careers of all time. This is her sixth studio album, and it is her third in a row consisting MOSTLY of cover songs and NOT original material. Is her hand broken? Can she not write 10 original songs for one new cd? I WANT "RELISH" OR "RIGHTEOUS LOVE". At least the songs not written by her were new songs.

That said, I think Osborne is an excellent vocalist, but her vocals have been squandered by re-doing classic r&b, blues and soul songs. I have to admit that some of her successful covers on "Breakfast In Bed" came in unexpected places. When I looked over the titles I thought, "There's no way she's going to pull off Gladys Knight & The Pips's "I've Got To Use My Imagination", but there she was giving it a fresh coat of new paint. This didn't carry over to the other Gladys Knight & The Pips hit "Midnight Train To Georgia". To me, it was a lifeless interpretation of the original. Likewise, Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine" was a rather bland interpretation. "Natural High" by Bloodstone was unfamiliar to me, so I couldn't compare the original with what Joan had done, but the song was okay, not great. "Breakfast In Bed" is eluding me. I'm not sure if it is a cover song because I've never heard it before. Hall & Oates's "Sara Smile" was treading on dangerous ground for me since I am a huge fan of theirs. I was not amused by the original take of a song about a woman being sung by a woman. Again, Osborne didn't bring anything new to the table. "Break Up To Make Up" by The Stylistics was okay. I wasn't too familiar with that song, so again, I couldn't compare. Manhattan's "Kiss And Say Goodbye" is an often covered song, and Osborne did a decent job of it. Strangely, the two songs not designed for this cd, but included as extras, tended to be some of the strongest material. Joan does a decent cover of Martha & The Vandellas' "Heat Wave" and Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" to finish off the disc.

This leaves six originals penned by Joan. I give her credit for making six songs that do sound like the genre she was going for. However, I found only two of the songs to really stand out in my mind: "Baby Is A Butterfly" and "Cream Dream". "Heart Of Stone", "Eliminate The Night", "I Know What's Going On" and "Alone With You" are all unremarkable.

So, what's it going to be? Give Joan five stars because you like her and she's a talented singer/songwriter, or give her three stars because she's not giving fans what they really want (all new material)? For me, it's the latter. I can't stress enough that after 7 years it's high time for Osborne to walk the walk and give us a full album of new material.

Dissapointing Effort from a Great Singer.......2007-06-27

I've been a Joan Osborne fan for years and think she usually brings new life to covers. But this disc falls flat. As soulful as her voice is, she adds nothing new (or that interesting) to most of these Motown (and pseudo-Motown) tunes. I still thnk she's great, but would have expected more from this disc. If you haven't heard much of her, go with "Pretty Little Strangers."

Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits

Average customer rating:

Brilliant Collection
Van the Man at the Movies
Absolutely awesome album
Easy listening
Okay for Van Morrison fans

Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Manhattan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000KQF748
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

Gloria - (Them)
Baby Please Don't Go - (Them)
Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
Domino
Moondance (live) previously unreleased version
Queen Of The Slipstream
Wild Night
Caravan (live)
Wonderful Remark
Brown Eyed Girl (re-recorded)
Days Like This
Into the Mystic (live)
Hungry For Your Love
Someone Like You
Bright Side Of The Road
Have I Told You Lately
Real Real Gone
Irish Heartbeat (w/Chieftains)
Comfortably Numb (live)Recorded live at the Berlin Wall in 1990 with Roger Waters

Amazon.com

If Hollywood's marriage with pop music is too often a marketing-driven shotgun affair, there remain musicians whose artistry can't help but elevate whatever film project they're associated with. This 19-track compendium underscores that notion, gathering a career-spanning collection of the Irish rock-R&B legend's contributions to an eclectic body of films that stretches from Pope of Greenwich Village's effusive early solo hit "Jackie Wilson Said" to the unlikely live collaboration with Roger Waters on "Comfortably Numb" that seasons Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated The Departed. The collection serves as a concise primer to the high points of Van Morrison's mercurial career, from the gritty career-breakout hits ("Gloria," "Baby Please Don't Go") of his British Invasion band Them through such early solo touchstones as "Wild Night," "Brown Eyed Girl," "Domino," and the collection's fine, previously unreleased live version of "Moondance" from An American Werewolf in London. But, as tracks like "Wonderful Remark," "Bright Side of the Road," "Someone Like You," and his Chieftains collaboration "Irish Heartbeat" ably argue, it's also an invitation to explore less heralded, if equally seductive, corners of the singer's rich oeuvre. --Jerry McCulley

More from Van Morrison

Moondance
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Customer Reviews:

Brilliant Collection.......2007-07-13

Just got this in and it's a great collection. It pulls together some very famous Van performances (like Caravan from the Last Waltz) and mixes it up with his best studio efforts. It's great.

Van the Man at the Movies.......2007-07-10

As Michael Heatley notes in the excellent accompanying booklet, when Van came in at The Last Waltz, it kicked that last concert of The Band up a notch, and the ensuing energy never came back down. He has that effect and, I think, in general, helped the films his music accompanied, rather than the other way around. This compilation ranges from "Gloria" with Van's early band, Them, to a duet with Roger Waters on Pink Floyd's The Wall of "Comfortably Numb". The question is, however, how well does it hold up for general airtime in the CD player?

Quite well. If you already have The Best of Van Vols one and two CDs, you already have most of the best songs this disc leaves off. Heatley makes the choice of soundtrack songs for the films seem so much a matter of director's decision, that rather than lionizing them for what they did include, you wonder why they left off your favorites. Where's "Full Force Gale"? "When Will I Ever Learn (to Live in God)"? "And It Stoned Me"? One could go on and on. Change of tactic, therefore, to celebrate what is included rather than decry what is not.

This disc ranges over what might be considered the various Van periods, which are distinctive musically. Hungry For Your Love" comes from what Heatley calls the "often overlooked" Wavelength album, which hails from the era of horns and gospel vocal back-ups. Astral Weeks, yes, but I think Wavelength is one of Van's best albums ever. Some songs exist in alt/ live versions here, to good effect, as with the best known classics, "Domino", "Caravan". "Moondance" and "Into the Mystic". The studio versions are easily available but most fans will enjoy hearing the new takes. Van handles them confidently, and drops into his effortless live groove, slurring the words of "Into the Mystic" which, like these other songs, can survive any number of interpretations. "Bright Side of the Road" comes from another Wavelength era overlooked album, Into the Music, which unveiled the amazing "Full Force Gale", the latter conspicuous by its absence. '90s Van appears with the standout "Real Real Gone" and "Days Like These". Two songs will already be familiar to non- van fans, having been hits for John Cougar Mellencamp and Rod Stewart.

As I write, Van still hasn't gotten the Nobel Prize, although he's done more to bring enjoyment and harmony than almost anyone on the planet, with the possible exception of Mother Teresa, who already did get it, so it's Van's turn. But until that oversight is addressed, at least there's this compilation which shows he's not only raised the bar for music but also significantly improved the movies.

Absolutely awesome album.......2007-07-03

A great Van Morrison album for someone who really loves Van Morrison and his legendary sound. It's in my CD player all the time.

Easy listening.......2007-05-26

Great collection of some of my favorite songs and artists and with good sound quality too.

Okay for Van Morrison fans.......2007-05-25

There are some good songs, but not all are good.

Average customer rating:

Good, but not the best
a snoozer
LOVE IT
Feels Like Home
Feels Like Home

Feels Like Home
Norah Jones
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00018D44U
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Sunrise
What Am I To You?
Those Sweet Words
Carnival Town
In The Morning
Be Here To Love Me
Creepin' In
Toes
Humble Me
Above Ground
The Long Way Home
The Prettiest Thing
Don't Miss You At All

Amazon.com

Norah Jones blew everybody away with her jazzy, country-tinged, Grammy-winning debut CD, Come Away with Me. On this recording, Jones doesn't mess with her trademark formula. Under Arif Mardin's cozy coproduction, Jones is supported by her writing partners, her Handsome Band, and some special guests (country legend Dolly Parton, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of the Band, and jazz drummer Brian Blade, to name a few). Jones's Texas-twanged vocals and her sparse acoustic and electric Wurlitzer piano lines enliven the CD's 13 tracks, from the light and lively single "Sunrise" to Tom Waits's "The Long Way Home" and the bouncy duet with Parton, "Creepin' In." Jones's soul-baring piano/vocal rendition of Duke Ellington's "Melancholia," retitled "Don't Miss You at All," proves she's a true Blue Note artist with unlimited potential. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Amazon.com

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Not Too Late
Come Away With Me
The Little Willies

Album Description

'Feels Like Home' features 13 tracks & a host of special guests including Dolly Parton, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson of the Band, Jesse Harris, Robert Burger and Tony Scherr. Blue Note. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

Good, but not the best.......2007-06-17

"Feels Like Home" is a welcome addition to any fans' collection. I gave it four stars simply because I did not think it was as good as her first or third CD. If you like Norah's other work you will like this CD, but if you don't have extra money or you would like to introduce yourself to Norah Jones purchase "Come Away With Me" or "Not Too Late" instead.

a snoozer.......2007-06-09

Wonderful intimate voice,great musical heritage, extremely monotonous songs....great if your trying to lower your bloodpressure or achieve REM state. This ain't jazz it's elevator music.

LOVE IT.......2007-04-13

I love the sound of her voice, there is no other like it.

Feels Like Home.......2007-03-23

Another Norah Jones classic in its sound and unusual genre. Easy to listen to - fun to sing with!

Feels Like Home.......2007-03-16

I love the music of Norah Jones and I love this CD. She is so smooth.

Average customer rating:

slice of heaven...
Moondance
polished gems.....
another morrison masterpiece.
MOONDANCE IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

Moondance
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tupelo Honey
The Best of Van Morrison
His Band and the Street Choir
Into the Music

ASIN: B000002KHF
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

And It Stoned Me
Moondance
Crazy Love
Caravan
Into The Mystic
Come Running
These Dreams Of You
Brand New Day
Everyone
Glad Tidings

Amazon.com essential recording

Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two classic albums: the brooding, introspective Astral Weeks (1968), and the expansive, swinging Moondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a musician and bandleader. Moondance is that rare rock album where the band has buffed the arrangements to perfection, and where the sax solos instead of the guitar. The band puts out a jazzy shuffle on "Moondance" and plays it soulful on "These Dreams of You." The album includes both Morrison's most romantic ballad ("Crazy Love") and his most haunting ("Into the Mystic"). "And It Stoned Me" rolled off Morrison's tongue like a favorite fable, while "Caravan" told a tale full of emotional intrigue. Moondance stood out in the rock world of 1970 like a grownup in a kiddie matinee. --John Milward

Customer Reviews:

slice of heaven..........2007-06-22

She looked at me with those dark, mysterious eyes of hers and asked me to put on my favorite music. It didn't take but a moment for me to slip in MOONDANCE and so the night only got better from there. Smooth, mellow, rocking, with more soul then a Southern Baptist Church on a Sunday afternoon. No fillers here. Every song with a legacy of it's own. If music is the food of the gods then this one is a gift from the gods. Give it a listen and feel the rapture.

Moondance.......2007-05-03

This album came after "Astral week" I find "Moondance" every bit as good, in fact more enjoyable to listen to. It has a timeless quality about it, and it really dos not sound like it's 37 years old. Overall it has a good fel to it. The first song,"And it Stoned Me",reminds me a lot of the band, and the brass, which is used throughout. The album has a very soulful vibe. On a couple of the songs there's even a gospel flaver ("come running" and 'crazy love"). When he sings"iI want to rock your gypsy soul" in "into the mystic", he makes it sound like tere is nothing mor important in the world. The best moment on the whole album is"Turn it up? Turn it up? Turn it up? a little bit higher" in caravan.
If people listen to the album a few times, the songs will stay with them forever.

polished gems............2007-02-25

Every cut on this album is a polished gem; there are no fillers. "Stoned Me" starts the journey; "Moondance" still retains its sparkle (especially for Libras in October); "Into the Mystic" still haunts.

My personal favourite, "Brand New Day" still inspires me like a reverant hymn. Join Mr. Morrison for a quiet journey that soothes the senses.

another morrison masterpiece........2007-02-13

"and it stoned me," and "into the mystic" are two of the greatest songs of the early 70's in my heart. and the entire album is almost equally as fantastic. after "astral weeks" and "veedon fleece" this is my third favorite van morrison album. music full of emotion, joy and spirit, this should not be missed out on by any audiofile.

MOONDANCE IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. .......2007-01-24

Readers and reviewers, I will be writing a review on the legendary masterpiece album entitled "MOONDANCE" by one of Rock's most spiritual voices and one of Ireland's favorite son's, his name is VAN MORRISON. "MOONDANCE" was originally released in 1970 on vinyl/LP and 8-Track on the Warner Brothers Records label. I purchased one of the very first releases of this album on Compact Disc and the matrix or ID number is 3103-2. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary album, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

VAN MORRISON is a true legend. MORRISON will always be remembered in Rock history as being one of the most gifted spiritual singers of all-time. MORRISON is actually having a spiritual experience while he is singing his songs. He not only sings to you, but he makes you feel the song along with him. U2 frontman Bono paid tribute to his fellow countryman by saying "America has the legendary Jim Morrison, and Ireland has the legendary Van Morrison." I couldn't have said it better myself. VAN MORRISON started his career as lead singer for the 60's Irish group "THEM" and scored international hits in 1965-66 with "Here Comes The Night," "Mystic Eyes" and "Gloria." MORRISON would begin a solo career in 1967 and score a top 5 U.S. hit with "Brown Eyed Girl." In 1968, MORRISON signed with Warner Brothers and released the album "ASTRAL WEEKS" followed by "MOONDANCE" in 1970. "MOONDANCE'S" themes of mysticism, romance and the personal quest are found in classic compositions such as the title track "Moondance," "And It Stoned Me," "Caravan," "Into The Mystic" and "Brand New Day."

Rather than list and describe all the songs in full detail, I am going to descibe one song in this whole album that really tells the full story and personality of this album. If there was ever any one song that makes the whole album worth while and worth listening to, it is the classic song "Into The Mystic." When I listen to this song, it makes me feel alive, and at peace with myself. The soothing mellow music makes you feel like you're home. "Into The Mystic" actually makes you feel like you are having a spiritual experience of joining your whole body and soul with your spiritual being. I love "Into The Mystic" and I hope you will love it too.

I highly recommend this album for those who are really deep into soul searching. This legendary album will stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed and cherished for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER.

In closing, VAN MORRISON is here to stay. Rock n' Roll needs a great spiritual singer to give Rock n' Roll the spiritual roots and rejoicing sounds it desperately needs in order to keep the spirit of Rock n' Roll alive. In my opinion, VAN MORRISON has accomplished these goals and more. Heres to you Van. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong? Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. VAN MORRISON RULES. Long Live Rock n' Roll. Rock out always and take it easy. Forever in Rock, John L.

Music Review:

Music Review

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2. Don't Pass Me By
3. Baby Blue
4. All There Is to Know
5. John the Revelator
6. World of Mine
7. Everywhere I Look
8. Further Adventures of...
9. All Our Wishes
10. When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God?
11. Shouts of Joy