This Island [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Japanese Release featuring a Bonus Track

This Left Feels Right: Greatest Hits With a Twist
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • don't waste your money
  • The point?
  • Disapointed
  • Love it.
  • What a let down!!!!
This Left Feels Right: Greatest Hits With a Twist
Bon Jovi
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000DZ3DG
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

  1. Wanted Dead Or Alive
  2. Livin' On A Prayer
  3. Bad Medicine
  4. It's My Life
  5. Lay Your Hands On Me
  6. You Give Love A Bad Name
  7. Bed Of Roses
  8. Everyday
  9. Born To Be My Baby
  10. Keep The Faith
  11. I'll Be There For You
  12. Always

From Amazon.co.uk

First of all, hats off to Bon Jovi for trying something different with This Left Feels Right--a selective collection of their most popular songs with a twist. That twist isn't a purely acoustic reworking, MTV unplugged style--anybody looking for that experience will be sorely disappointed by what's on offer. What Bon Jovi have done is re-record these songs in a completely different way while maintaining the original lyrics, melody and song structure. What's different then? Well, quite a bit actually. Check out the almost trip-hop beat and distorted vocal of "Wanted Dead or Alive", or the lazy soul of "Livin' on a Prayer". "It's My Life" is a beautiful piano-only standout, almost worth having the whole album for.

The tracklisting isn't perfect, concentrating largely on their 1980s period (there's nothing from These Days, for instance). As such, the venture works as an effective cheese-extraction exercise, keeping the elements that made the originals so great, but removing shouty, hairspray-fuelled "whoa-yeahs". What we get is something that is closer to Jon Bon Jovi's last solo offering--the criminally underrated Destination Anyway. It doesn't always work ("Bed of Roses" just sounds like a warbling cover of the powerful original and by the time they reach "Always" it's obvious they've run out of new twists), and no doubt there will be legions of bemulleted faithfuls who will denounce this as blasphemy of the highest order. Sure, it's probably just record-company filler, but it's a worthwhile investment and you won't be embarrassed to have it on when your mates come round. --Cortman Virtue

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars don't waste your money.......2007-07-23

I HAVE LISTENED TO BON MJOVI SINCE HE START3ED HIS CARRER AND I NEVER THOUGHT HE WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I WAS SO EXCITED BY THE TITLE MI COULD HARDLY WAIT TO HEAR IT. IT WAS SSSOOOOOOO BAD.....I COULD NOT REDCOGNIZE A SONG UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST HALFWAY THRU. ONE SONG SOUNDS LIKE THE NEXT...IF YOU DON'T MIND LISTENING TO HIS MUSIC AT HALF THE SPEED THEN THIS IS FOR YOU, THERE IS NO EXCITMENT IN THIS MUSIC AT ALL. I LISTENED HOPING HE WAS SRARTING MELLO AND WAS GOING TO JAZZ IT UP NO SUCH LUCK...THIS IS ONE CD OF BON JOVI'S I COULD DO WITHOUT.

1 out of 5 stars The point?.......2007-06-28

So let me get this straight...all of Bon Jovi's hits were gathered together, chopped up, and destroyed to produce this piece of trash? How about an ACTUAL greatest hits album?

2 out of 5 stars Disapointed.......2007-06-25

I did not like any of the songs on this album. It really only ranks 1 star, but I'll give a point for trying something new.

"This left feels right" sounds like it was done by a high school cover band trying to be artistic. Ranks WAY below Tesla (see "Five man acoustical jam" for those of you younger then 30).

I am a Bon Jovi fan and bought this without reservation. I suggest you sample the songs before you buy.

5 out of 5 stars Love it........2007-05-09

I love this album. I also love the original songs. Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't. For those who are gasping at the supposed blasphemy of messing with classics, well, if this is all they have to worry about, their lives must be pretty good and I'm happy for them. As for me, I'm impressed that Bon Jovi took a bit of a risk. I think it worked out nicely. I'd happily buy more of this style from them.

1 out of 5 stars What a let down!!!!.......2007-03-22

I was SO disappointed when I listened to this CD! It's a remix of the songs. They are done acousticly and it is not worth buying. I love Bon Jovi, but this was a HUGE disappointment! I am not happy with this CD at all.
Once On This Island (1990 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Broadway's NOT better!
  • Why tell this story? It's a good story, with better music!
  • BROADWAY
  • Very Authenic and Beautiful Work
  • Stunning and flawless Musical Fairy Tale
Once On This Island (1990 Original Broadway Cast)
Lynn Ahrens
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000003F2N
Release Date: 1990-09-25

Tracks:

  1. We Dance
  2. One Small Girl
  3. Waiting For Life
  4. And The Gods Heard Her Prayer/Rain
  5. Pray
  6. Forever Yours
  7. The Sad Tale Of The Beauxhommes
  8. Ti Moune
  9. Mama Will Provide
  10. Some Say
  11. The Human Heart
  12. Pray (Reprise)
  13. Some Girls
  14. The Ball
  15. Ti Moune's Dance
  16. When We Are Wed
  17. Forever Yours (Reprise)
  18. A Part Of Us
  19. Why We Tell The Story

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Broadway's NOT better!.......2007-07-24

This CD gives you all the songs from Once On This Island, but they are recorded by the Broadway cast. Usually that would be a good thing- not this time! They changed many of the rhythms and the dialogue is very forced and unnatural. They make the story seem "corny" rather than deep.

5 out of 5 stars Why tell this story? It's a good story, with better music!.......2007-03-11

There is nothing worse than a weak story linked together with weaker tunes. However, Once on this Island is operatic in its beauty, organic in its execution (not a note out of place!) and is bound together with a strong story, stronger performances, and some of the most upbeat and uplifting music I have ever heard. The music brings you to the Antilles and establishes the place of this island, with its symbitioc relationship with nature and its gods. And you will root for Ti Moune and her faith in her place in the world, and even though she doesn't get the guy, it could be argued that she gets something even better.

Give it a listen....

5 out of 5 stars BROADWAY.......2006-05-14

My schools 8th grade play was Once On This Island and I loved it so i'm gonna buy this cd! you should too!

5 out of 5 stars Very Authenic and Beautiful Work.......2006-04-25

The team of Flaherty and Ahrens truly blew me away with "Ragtime", and I didn't anything could come close to that power. While "Once On This Island" is nothing like "Ragtime" in terms of gandeur, it still is a wonderful work filled with some wonderful music. The ensemble on this recording sounds exactly as they should in my opinion, and they perfectly depict people on a magical island. The story is also one that I enjoyed in that it was very simple, yet had a great message. While the vocal work provided by the ensemble is great, it is LaChanze who truly makes this recording soar. Her voice is like that of a goddess, and she makes all of the emotions of Ti Moune come alive, especially in "Waiting For Life", which is this recording's star number.

It may not be big, bold, or grand, but "Once On This Island" is a magical recording of a magical little musical that proves to be quite effective. It's authenticty and clever musicality are what make it great.

5 out of 5 stars Stunning and flawless Musical Fairy Tale .......2006-04-08

This musical represents all that is RIGHT with new musicals. Flaherty creates musical themes that recur throughout the piece and Ahrens' lyrics are brilliant. Through this musical, which I saw in NY 7 times, I was introduced to the talent of La Chanze and now as the lead in Color Purple, the world is getting another glimpse at what a great singer she is. Listening to her interpret a song is beautiful. For those who never had the privilege of seeing the show, we can all thank our stars that the production lives on forever in recording. Many other notable performers from Milton Craig Nealy (Rain) to Kecia Lewis Evans (Mama Will Provide) to Jerry Dixon (Some Girls)to Eric Riley (in every stand out number), this cast recording is worth every penny. I am on my 2nd copy and rapidly working toward my 3rd.
Stranger in This Town
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Criminally underrated gem
  • The CD you would take to a deserted island
  • Richie is just as good alone
  • A window to a guy who is often in the shadows
  • Unappreciated Blues Rock Gem
Stranger in This Town
Richie Sambora
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001G16
Release Date: 1994-06-14

Tracks:

  1. Rest In Peace
  2. Church Of Desire
  3. Stranger In This Town
  4. Ballad Of Youth
  5. One Light Burning
  6. Mr. Bluesman
  7. Rosie
  8. River Of Love
  9. Father Time
  10. The Answer

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Criminally underrated gem.......2007-06-03

After achieving so much with their band, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora decided to go their own ways and see what they could do as solo artists. Jon Bon Jovi's Blaze of Glory proved to be an immediate success, both musically and commercially; while Sambora released his debut a year later to mixed reviews. Although the average Bon Jovi fan took to the album right away, from a commercial standpoint, it didn't earn Sambora quite what he may have hoped for. Regardless, musically, Stranger in This Town is a terribly overlooked gem, and it exudes unadulterated songwriting brilliance.

Behind Richie Sambora, there are two of his long-time band mates: David Bryan on keyboards and Tico Torres on drums. Torres' playing strictly serves the purpose of the songs; he doesn't really do any lengthy drum acrobatics, but there are pieces that allow him to shine through. Bryan, on the other hand, is integral to the overall sound of the album, as his keyboards are, at some point, the defining factors of the songs. Also, he co-wrote two tracks: the beautiful album intro "Rest in Peace", a wonderful song based on profound blues licks and Sambora's emotive vocals; and the ambitious title track, which sees the duo merging nifty acoustic guitars with delicate synth lines. Bryan is also highly audible on the truly moving ballad "Father Time", complete with Desmond Child's signature hooks, distant female vocals, and a warm melodic edge.

Though a solo album, only three of the ten songs were written entirely by Richie Sambora. "Church of Desire" is the mid-paced piece, centred around moody keyboards and blues-inflected guitar riffs. The song is carried by a thick bass groove, and Sambora's guitar solo is truly heartfelt and emotional. On "River of Love", Tony Levin's bass arpeggios become central to the piece, especially when supported by Torres' spare drum beats. Finally, "Mr Bluesman", by many known as the album's minor hit, Sambora's greatest influence, Eric Clapton, makes a guest appearance playing an improvised blues solo where he rips it up. Despite its five-minute running time, even Torres gets to play a brief drum solo, yet it's all within the context of the song and the writing is truly impressive.

That said, the album being more on the blues rock spectrum of things didn't really produce any radio hits. Actually, Sambora did collaborate with Desmond Child on two tracks, one of them being "Rosie", arguably the most popular cut off of this track. Also co-written by Jon Bon Jovi, the piece has a solid hook, but truth be told, it does not gel that well with the rest of the pieces, which seem more honest and from the heart. Likewise, "One Light Burning" might have been his take on poppier songwriting; he tries to merge cool beats and percussion work with Randy Jackson's bass playing whilst injecting the piece with a sing-along main chorus, but it doesn't really work -- Sambora is simply more of a blues-ridden rock guitarist than someone who can churn out easily accessible melodies. That's obviously Jon Bon Jovi's strong side.

Stranger in This Town is in many ways better than most of the Bon Jovi catalog. Even after sixteen years, most of the songs are still timeless and still imbued with emotional power. It's also filled with material we'd normally never hear on a Bon Jovi release, so kudos to Sambora. He was totally right when he wrote that "listening instruction" in the liner notes: "Turn down the lights, light a candle... Welcome..."

5 out of 5 stars The CD you would take to a deserted island.......2007-03-22

If you like the blues that has been modernised you will love this cd. It is ashame his following cd did not keep with the blues feel Richie Sambora could of taken over for Clapton for a new generation of blues fans.

4 out of 5 stars Richie is just as good alone.......2007-01-18

While best known for his jammin licks in the band Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora holds his own this solo album. Full of grit and soul.

3 out of 5 stars A window to a guy who is often in the shadows.......2006-04-26

Richie Sambora, guitarist of stadium rockers we all know (and either loathe or love) put this disc out in those bygone days of 1991 and - surprised us.

We didn't get a bunch of 2nd rate BJ tunes. We didn't get endless widdly diddly excess nor crap attempts at showing a blues/roots tinge.

What we got was an album that really opened up some possibilities for Richie. There were typical soft rock tunes like hit 'Ballad of Youth', youthful love gone wrong tracks like 'Rosie' but there was also more on display.

The more on display is a guy with some body to his music, with an ear for a decent tune, a guy who with this album has perhaps shown the world that he isn't just a guitar player but a musician.

Taken as a whole I can't give this album more than three stars as it's a bit overwrought in places and a little too understated too often/too long in other parts. But it does give anyone into melodic hard rock or BJ or afficianados of 80's rock a real glimpse at a guy who definitely has a voice of his own. Any fan of this genre should try to at least hear this disc. More metal fans may find the whole thing somewhat wanting in ooommpphhh.

5 out of 5 stars Unappreciated Blues Rock Gem.......2006-03-23

I have been a Bon Jovi fan for over twenty years and always thought Richie Sambora was very underrated and unappreciated for his guitar playing. Happened to pick this CD up out of curiosity recently and WoW.

This is a great album. Deserves to be heard. It is very Blues influenced and doesn't sound like Bon Jovi at all.

Just buy it.
Instruments of the Orchestra
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
  • Beginner or Expert
  • Very Informative and Enjoyable
  • Frank's view
  • Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra
Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

  1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
  2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
  3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
  4. Hungarian Dance No.7
  5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
  6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
  7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
  8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
  9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
  10. Csardas Music
  11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
  12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
  13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
  14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
  15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
  16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
  17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
  18. Tzigane
  19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
  20. Caprice No.24
  21. The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
  22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
  23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
  24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
  25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
  26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
  27. The Violin Muted
  28. Clair De Lune
  29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
  30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
  31. The Pizzicato Violin
  32. Pizzicato Polka
  33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
  34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
  35. Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
  36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
  37. The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
  38. Hungarian Dance No.4
  39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
  40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
  41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
  42. Bolero
  43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
  44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
  45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
  46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
  47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
  48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
  49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
  50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
  51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
  52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
  53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
  54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
  55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
  56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
  57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
  58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
  59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
  60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
  61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
  62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
  63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
  64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
  65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
  66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
  67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

  1. Introduction To The Viola
  2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
  3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
  4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
  5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
  6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
  7. The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
  8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
  9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
  10. Cypresses (No.9)
  11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
  12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
  13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
  14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
  15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
  16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
  17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
  18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
  19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
  20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
  21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
  22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
  23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
  24. Elfentanz, Op.39
  25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
  26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
  27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
  28. Flamenco
  29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
  30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
  31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
  32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
  33. It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
  34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
  35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
  36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
  37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
  38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
  39. The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
  40. Capriccio Di Bravura
  41. Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
  42. The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
  43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

  1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
  2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
  3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
  4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
  5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
  6. Sa'Dawi
  7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
  8. Chamber Music No.II
  9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
  10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
  11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
  12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
  13. A Variety Of Techniques
  14. Chamber Music No.II
  15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
  16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
  17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
  18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
  19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
  20. Naelden, Naelden
  21. The Bachian Oboe
  22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
  23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
  24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
  25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
  26. The Swan Of Tuonela
  27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
  28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
  29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
  30. Bolero
  31. The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
  32. Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
  33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
  34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
  35. The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
  36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
  37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
  38. ...And Quite Low.
  39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
  40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
  41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
  42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
  43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
  44. Introduction To The Saxophone
  45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
  46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
  47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
  48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
  49. Bolero
  50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
  51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
  52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
  53. Sax-O-Phun
  54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
  55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
  56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
  57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
  58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
  59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
  60. Bolero
  61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
  62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
  63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
  64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
  65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
  66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
  67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
  68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
  69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
  70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
  71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
  72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
  73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
  74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
  75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
  76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

  1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
  2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
  3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
  4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
  5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
  6. Fanfare For The Common Man
  7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
  8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
  9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
  10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
  11. The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
  12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
  13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
  14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
  15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
  16. Billy The Kid
  17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
  18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
  19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
  20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
  21. The Birth Of The Trombone
  22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
  23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
  24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
  25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
  26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
  27. The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
  28. Hosannah
  29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
  30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
  31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
  32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
  33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
  34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
  35. The Horn And The Hunt
  36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
  37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
  38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
  39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
  40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
  41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
  42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
  43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
  44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
  45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
  46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
  47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
  48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
  49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
  50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
  51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

  1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
  2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
  3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
  4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
  5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
  6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
  7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
  8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
  9. Den Hoboecken Dans
  10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
  11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
  12. No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
  13. Gymnopedie No.2
  14. The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
  15. Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
  16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
  17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
  18. Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
  19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
  20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
  21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
  22. The Birth Of The Bongo
  23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
  24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
  25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
  26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
  27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
  28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
  29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
  30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
  31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
  32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
  33. The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
  34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
  35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
  36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
  37. Ravel And The Xylophone
  38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
  39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
  40. Introducing The Vibraphone
  41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
  42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
  43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
  44. Folk Dances
  45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
  46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
  47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
  48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
  49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
  50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
  51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
  52. Introducing The Celeste
  53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
  54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
  55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
  56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
  57. A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
  58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
  59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
  60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
  61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
  62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
  63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

  1. Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
  2. Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
  3. But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
  4. Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
  5. The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
  6. An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
  7. Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
  8. Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
  9. Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
  10. Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
  11. Mahler's Sleighbells
  12. Symphony No.4 (Opening)
  13. A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
  14. Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
  15. Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
  16. Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
  17. National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
  18. And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
  19. And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
  20. The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
  21. The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
  22. The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
  23. The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
  24. The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
  25. The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
  26. The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
  27. The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
  28. There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
  29. The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
  30. Nocturnes
  31. Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
  32. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
  33. The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
  34. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
  35. The Oboe As Duck
  36. Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
  37. The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
  38. The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
  39. The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
  40. Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
  41. Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
  42. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
  43. Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
  44. The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
  45. A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
  46. Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
  47. A Thunderstorm In A Million
  48. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
  49. the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
  50. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
  51. Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
  52. The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

  1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
  2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
  3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
  4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
  5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
  6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
  7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
  8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
  9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
  10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
  11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
  12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
  13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
  14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
  15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
  16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
  17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
  18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
  19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
  20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
  21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
  22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
  23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
  24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
  25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
  26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
  27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
  28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
  29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
  30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
  31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
  32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
  33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
  34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
  35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
  36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
  37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
  38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
  39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
  40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
  41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
  42. Canzon 28
  43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
  44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
  45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
  46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
  47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
  48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
  49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
  50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
  51. Images (Gigues)
  52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
  53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
  54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
  55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
  56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
  57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
  58. A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

5 out of 5 stars Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

5 out of 5 stars Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

3 out of 5 stars Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.
Is This Desire?
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Sky, My Friend
  • 40 Minutes of perfection
  • Angeline come home
  • Thank Goodness for PJ Harvey!
  • "Prettiest mess you've ever seen..."
Is This Desire?
PJ Harvey
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. To Bring You My Love
  2. Dry
  3. Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
  4. Rid of Me
  5. Uh Huh Her

ASIN: B00000AFFI
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

  1. Angelene
  2. The Sky Lit Up
  3. The Wind
  4. My Beautiful Leah
  5. A Perfect Day Elise
  6. Catherine
  7. Electric Light
  8. The Garden
  9. Joy
  10. The River
  11. No Girl So Sweet
  12. Is This Desire?

Amazon.com essential recording

Each of Harvey's previous albums has been a distinct affair as she took steps forward in not only forging her sound but also exploring the wealthy veins of rock & roll. So on first listen, Is This Desire? almost disappoints; it's very close to the same dark, woozy, and bluesy musical territory she staked out on To Bring You My Love. But it's been said that though good stories can be read once, great stories must be read twice, and, like great literature, this album deserves repeated listenings to appreciate its beautiful complexities and subtle shadings. A recommendation: Spend a few nonstop hours with Is This Desire? It will change you. --Tod Nelson

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Sky, My Friend.......2007-02-14

It is hard to claim for a PJ Harvey album as her best, because every album of hers is such a classic! Is This Desire includes some of her most melancholic and darkest songs yet such as the classics "The River", "Angelene" and "Catherine". I believe this album carries her "To Bring You My Love" album one step forward.Because her vocals are much more clear and comfortable. Melodies of songs are more experimental. However, they really catch the listener easily. Even the darkest "Electric Light", "Catherine" and "My Beatuiful Leah" can be your personal favorite from the very first listening. Try this album if you want to hear from one of the most talented female musicians of the last two decades.

5 out of 5 stars 40 Minutes of perfection.......2006-12-22

Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite albums EVER:

If you were to poll PJ fans, this will NOT rank as favorite with most of them. However this is my favorite of hers for so many reasons I will try and explain. At this point in her carreer, she had 4 albums under her belt and her fans were accustomed to experiencing a very brash rocker chick. This album is a clear departure of the woman her fans had come to know.

They had become accustomed to this mad operatic diva shrieking and moaning her pain so when many heard this toned down vision, they thought she had lost her strength. But no, she FOUND her strength. In her subtelty she lays claim to power and becomes a whole new artist. Many were also lost on the electronic nature of this album but that only added to her invention. This album is a marvelous blend of electronic elements and organic instruments. Skin to the muscle, blood to the veins. Intimately connected.....


"My first Name Angeline
Prettiest Mess you ever seen
Love for money is my sin
Any man calls, I'll let him in......."

And the search begins..... This song to me, sounds like a hymn, but more like a lost spiritual than anything you'd hear in a regular church. That's how much of this album feels to me, like lost spirituals. The kind that you'd only hear in a place where there was no pomp and no tradition, just the open wounds of those in search of healing bleeding until they either have no blood left or have been completely healed. A friend of mine characterizes this album as "haunted" and I feel that is really perfect description.

The album is very focused on female characters.....Angeline, Leah, Elise, Catherine, Joy, Dawn....... And word has it that many of these are literary characters which stories have been written about. However, I will never read any of the stories these characters are based on for I would ruin the truth I have created in my heart.

"I'm walkin in the city tonight
I'm walkin in the city at dark
Remembering, remember light
Thinking of nothing and the shooting stars

And this world tonight is mine
a world to be remembered in
Think on a faded photograph
My hair longer than it's ever been, and then

THE SKY LIT UP!
the sky, my friend
the sky lit up and i'm lighter than I ever been..."

OMG! Amazing what can happen in less than 2 minutes..... My mind's sky turns to fire when I hear this song......and I become lighter than I've ever been. By the time this song is over, your sky will be on fire too.....





"Catherine liked high places
High up on the hills
A place for making noises, like whales
Noises like the Whales

Here she built a chapel with
Her image on the wall
A place where she could rest and rest
A place where she could wash......shhhhhhhhhhhh

and listen to the wind blowing, and listen to the wind.....blow"

This is the church of lost spirituals. I have longed to be like Catherine at her chapel.






"Did you see her walking?
Did she come around here, Sir?
Black hair, brown eyes
My beautiful Leah
She was always so needing
Said, "I have no-one"
Even as I held her
She went out looking for someone
She only had nightmares,
And her sadness never lifted
And slowly over the years
Her lovely face twisted
Did she come around here, Sir?
I swear you would remember
Black hair, Brown eyes
Late September
October
November
December
It never leaves my mind
The last words she said
"If I don't find it this time,
Then I'm better off dead".

Cold desperation....... Sadly, this reminds me of my cousin Lisa who was murdered in March :cry: She was always searching for something in her life, even searching unto her death. When Gangsta calls this haunted, I can't think of a more perfect song to really characterize that feeling. I included this on a mix disc that focuses on social ills, anguish and pain. This song was just perfect for that mix.





"It's a perfect day.....a perfect day Elise."

Perfection is the furthest thing from the truth.





"Catherine Debara you've murdered my thinkin
gave you my heart, you left the thing stinkin
I'd shake from my spell if it weren't for my drinkin
the wind bites more bitter with each light of mornin....

'til the light shines on me
I damn to hell every second you breath"

Here is Catherine's reintroduction. You get your first glimpse of her at her chapel high up on the windy hill. And now you know what conclusion she's come to.....





"The beauty of her, under electric light"

electric........light. The initial sublelty of this song is belied by the entire universe that lies within. Listen carefully and you will hear that there is a whole world going on underneath the surface....





One of the most famous stories ever told is the act of humanity's genesis. Imagine the perfection of that day. God taking dirt and forming a man, taking a rib and fashioning a mate for him. A New Earth, pure skies, crisp clean air, warm sunshine washing the skin with its golden rays. Every day after became more perfect than the day before and this was the most perfect of all days. And then.........

"He was walking in the garden
and he was walking in the night
and he was singing a sad love song
and he was praying for his life"

Adam sensed something was very wrong for it had never turned so dark so quickly and so early, neither had it been so cold. Searching the garden, he noticed Eve standing at the foot of the Tree of Knowledge in discourse between the highest powers. Adam saw the flaming eye of God's wrath focused on the cool slick veil of smoke that surrounded Eve and there enveloped in the shroud of Satan's lie stood Eve with a half eaten fruit. Remembering the commandment to never eat of the Tree of Knowledge, in fear he ran......




"and the stars came out around him
he was thinking of his sins
and he's looking at his song-bird
and he's looking at his wings"

Having not come to Eve's defense, Adam's guilt bore down on him like a thousand crimes. Grieving over the knowledge he would never see his Eve again, he went in search of the one thing he knew would bring him comfort........his song-bird. Adam's earliest days in the garden had him searching for this creature. Just one of many of God's creations, this one made the most beautiful music of all. However, of all the times Adam heard the bird's majestic symphonies, he was never able to spot it. Having never seen his songbird before Adam stood in shock and awe as he stood looking at his mirror image. The song-bird was not a bird, but a man.....





"there inside the garden
came another with his lips
said, 'Won't you come and be my lover?'
'Let me give you a little kiss'
and he came, knelt down before him
and fell upon his knees
'I will give you gold and mountains
if you stay awhile with me'"

The first words of his creator upon his waking moments rang clear in his memory.....For I have fashioned a mate for you..... and Adam realized that God had given him a CHOICE. God created Adam 2 mates and now the choice was there before Adam, but which one was right? Should he stay with his song-bird? Should he validate Eve's disobedience to their creator? Adam's heart surged and swelled and, he got down on his knees and pled for the love of his bird. Adam promised him everything the Lord had created on his earth, if he stayed with him.



"and there was trouble taking place, trouble taking place......."

As Adam pled with his song-bird, Eve was being banished from the garden......



"there inside the garden
They kissed, and the sun rose
and he walked a little further
and he found he wasn't alone"

Having just been lost in the comfort of his lovers arms, Adam's stopped dead in his tracks as he noticed the jealous and rage filled glare of a woman he used to know named Eve.



"and the wind, it gathered round him
he was thinking of his sins
And he's looking for his song-bird
He was looking for his wings

and there was trouble........taking place. Trouble, taking place"

In Scorn, the wind of Eve's rage whirled around them. In her short time on the earth she had been betrayed by the snake, her creator and her mate. In shame, Adam could barely meet her gaze. Remembering how he ran in fear instead of standing in solidarity with his charge, the burden of guilt was too much and Adam cried hot bitter tears, facing an impossible decision.

Which mate should he choose? Should he choose the path Eve has taken and become banished from his paradise forever? Does he leave the loving arms of his song-bird never to see him again? How to make up for the fact that he left Eve alone when she needed him the most? Eve walked over to Adam as the Song-bird tearfully looked on from afar. Eve stretched out her arm and opened her hand and in it was the half eaten fruit.

Perhaps Eve's sin wasn't the only betrayal that day......



"Joy was her name
A life un-wed
Thirty years old
Never danced a step

She would have left these red hills far behind if not for her condition
'Would have left these red hills long ago if not for my condition'

Pitiful Joy
She looked away
Into a hollow sky
Came face to face

With her own innocence surrounding her until it never was a question
Innocence so suffocating, now she cannot move, no question

No hope for Joy
No hope or faith
She wanted to go blind
Wanted hope to stay
'I've been believing in nothing since I was born, it never was a question.'

Trapped, with no way out..... :shudder:








"And they came to the river
And they came from the road
and he wanted the sun
just to call his own

And they walked on the dirt
And they walked from the road
til they came up close

Throw your pain in the river
To be washed away slow

And we walked without words
And we walked with our lives
Two silent birds
Circled by

Like our pain in the river
And we followed the river
And we followed the road
And we walked through this land
And we called it a home

But he wanted the sun
And I wanted the whole
And the white light scatters
And the sun sets low
Like the pain in the river"

PJ is famously known for singing about cutting off her lovers legs so he cannot run away :lol: And one of the really intriguing things about her as an artist is that she gives voice to the things that many cannot find the courage or the ability to speak. She is able to sing and play her feelings in the way that many of us wish we could but simply aren't able. I feel that is the kind of purpose she was made to serve. I think this is really the first time you get a glimpse of the PJ that strives for cleansing and healing. I feel that this is the first peak at the evolved person she is to become......







"In came the girl with the saddened eyes
And asked him over again and again
"Was I too weak ? Was I a child ?
And can't we leave here and start again ?"

Said "I don't mind if you take me down"
And "I don't mind if you break it all"
But "how much more can you take from me?"
"How much more did you take from me?"

"I'd like to take you inside my head"
"I'd like to take you inside of me"
"You came from heaven" is all he said
"You came from heaven and came here to me
And I love you"

He drove it fast to make the night
And looked at his angel where she lay
Resting her head and closed her eyes
And outside the heat and the summer fades

Deep in the sky a storm he'd seen
Deep in the sky a storm he'd seen
"There ain't nothing no girl so sweet"

"Took her from heaven and gave her to me"....."

This is probably the primest example of how excellently fused the electronic and natural are. Anyone who feels that they miss the old PJ and therefore neglect this album, can feast on this song because aside from Sky Lit Up, it's singly THE performance that characterizes the PJ that people claim is missing from this album....






Mary and Joseph went on and on..... The Sun went down. It was getting cold. They saw fire....

"Joseph walked on and on
The sunset went down and down
Coldness cooled their desire
And Dawn said, 'Let's build a fire'

The sun dressed, the trees in green
And Joe said, 'I feel like a King'
And Dawn's neck and her feet were bare
Sweetness in her golden hair

Said, 'Iím not scared'
Turned to her and smiled
Secrets in his eyes
Sweetness of desire
Is this desire
Enough enough
To lift us higher
To lift above?

Hour-long, by hour, may we two stand
When we're dead, between these lands
The sun set, behind his eyes
And Joe said, 'Is this desire?'
Is this desire
Enough enough
To lift us higher
To lift above?

Is this desire
Enough enough
Enough inside
Is this desire?"



Is this Desire? Is......this......Desire?

That question can be asked many many times over during this 40 minute spell. 8 years after it's release, this album continues to remain a mystery to me. That is one of the things about it that I love so much.

5 out of 5 stars Angeline come home.......2006-12-15

I am a newcomer to the wonder that is PJ Harvey, having been a fan of Nick Cave for a while, and hearing her vocals on Murder Ballads, i just had to check her out. This is the second album i bought of hers, and my favourite of the two i own. My first remark is that this is a woman not afraid to really sing, and i mean it. In many respects though quite a feminine voice, she sings in a very masculine way, which adds to her charm. The album itself is a mix of solemn ballads and quite jumpy dance techo themes (i dunno if that's the right term). My favourite of them is probably A perfect Day Elise, in many ways reminiscent of Cave's songwriting style. All in all, a difficult one to get into but good for fans

5 out of 5 stars Thank Goodness for PJ Harvey!.......2006-05-31

IS THIS DESIRE? is PJ Harvey's fourth studio album and by now I've learned to expect the unexpected, especially after such distinct varying styles of each of her previous records. My expectations were pretty high though, cos TO BRING YOU MY LOVE was such an epic of an album that I didn't think she could top its grandeur but I'm glad to say this album is just as good, if not better than the latter.

Whereas TBYML was blues infused, ITD? has got a heavy dose of electronica to it. It is her most intriguing, most melodic and deepest record to date. She's always been an excellent storyteller but her style of writing is beyond comparison here. All the songs are written, arranged and sung like short stories with a lot of literary references, borrowing from (I imagine) some of her favorite writers thus glorifying each heroine's names, allowing Polly to try on different personas but never feeling trapped in any one. It is most difficult to find words to describe this record, but I read one eloquent reviewer described it as "incandescent in its loveliness" and I couldn't agree more. Lush with aching emotion and dripping with etherealness, ITD? moves away from the theatrics of TBYML to grace us with this bewitching of a masterpiece.

The sultry first track "Angelene" really tears at your heart, setting the mood for the rest of the album. It is about a prostitute who ponders what could've been and longs to but is terrified of starting a different way of life. The lines "Rose is my color, and white. Pretty mouth, Green my eyes" is almost directly quoted from a short story by JD Salinger.

"The Sky Lit Up" to me is a very happy upbeat danceable song. It is about finding inspiration in oneself. A friend was saying it's actually a sinister kind of song but I don't care. It makes me feel like everyday is my birthday and all I want to do is dance and celebrate me.

"The Wind" is epic. I don't know how else to describe this magnificent song. It's told like a book, with the instruments being arranged to create a "windy" kind of atmosphere for that added, almost surreal feel. Starts with a whispering narrator introducing us to a woman named Catherine who we learn was once the life of the party but is now an outcast. Lonely and alone, she turns to the wind for solace.

"My Beautiful Leah" is a bit reminisce of RID OF ME. It is very dark and disturbing, from the heavy vibe of the synthesizers to Polly's deep vocals to the lyrical content, it is an evil of a song. The last line indicates a lot: "It never leaves my mind, the last words she said, if I don't find it this time, then I'm better off dead."

At first listen "A Perfect Day Elise" sounds like "The Sky Lit Up" in that the beat is very light and happy, with the chorus seemingly very uplifting, "It's a perfect day, a perfect day, Elise!" But upon learning the lyrics I realized this is quite the sinister song. It tells the tale of sex, rejection, obsession and ultimately ends with the murder of Elise, shot down by her lover Joe. So imagine the raised hair when realizing what I thought to be an "uplifting" chorus actually belies doom: today's a perfect day, Elise, a perfect day... to die. "God is a sweat dripping down his back, the water soaked her blonde hair black." The title was inspired by another short story by JD Salinger called "A Perfect Day For Bananafish."

My favorite song off the record is "Catherine." This is the most alluring, most hypnotic song I've ever heard. It is a song about extreme jealousy and intense hatred brought on by unrequited love. I think PJ took inspiration from Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights here, in style of writing and in theme. In the song PJ curses Catherine Debarra, "Until the light shines on me, I damn to hell every second you breathe" almost in the same manner as Heathcliff cursing Catherine in the book, "And I pray one prayer, I repeat it till my tongue stiffens-- Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest, as long as I am living!"

"Electric Light" is very strange, heavy in rhythm but spare sounding. I know that didn't make sense but if you heard it you'll know. I must admit this is my least favorite track on the album but I think it's mostly cos I don't really get it.

"The Garden" is lushly beautiful. I'm not sure if it's the title but I can't help but think of Adam and Eve and conjure all the brilliance of the stars and Gods when I hear this song. As with most of the songs on the record, the melodic use of instruments is juxtaposed with very dark, very foreboding lyrics. I hear this one is about some kind of sodomy. Yikes.

"Joy" has got to be the darkest, most heartbreaking song ever. Geez, even thinking about this song makes me sad. I can't help but pull for poor ol' Joy. After all, she lives "a live unwed, thirty years old, never danced a step." It's a song of self-pity I think, and very harsh, about a woman named "Joy" but never had a taste of it in her life. "I've been believing in nothing since I was born, it was never a question." Sigh. Poor Joy.

The song that moves me most is "The River." It's like a dream to me, this song. It makes me feel right with the world, if just for five minutes. It's a song about evolution, I think, and of humanity. Lovely, lovely song.

"No Girl So Sweet" is awesome! Fast and intense, I think this is Joy's sister song. Only Joy's sister is the total opposite of Joy. Imagine Joy but wilder. Joy's sister is named Rage. She is the talking-back, staying up all night and gettin' into trouble kinda gal. The building of the music and intensity of Polly's voice towards the end of the song is electrifying.

The album ends with the title track, "Is This Desire?" I love that we get to hear Polly's voice crystal clear here because she is quite a singer but she doesn't necessarily showcase that in a lot of her songs. My heart melts when I hear her croon, "Is this desire enough to lift us higher, to lift above?"

So? After all that's said, is it desire? For me, you bet it is. It may even be true love.




4 out of 5 stars "Prettiest mess you've ever seen...".......2006-05-07

Is This Desire? by P.J. Harvey is such a haunting and strange album. I like it though because the songs are not silly or pretentious, Harvey never tries to be somebody she is not. She is a real artist who likes doing her own thing and I respect that. Standout tracks include: The Sky lit up, The Wind, The River, No girl so sweet, Catherine, A perfect day Elise, and my personal fave, Angelene. That song is so good, "I've seen men come and go but there will be one to collect my soul and come to me, 2 thousand miles away, he walks upon the coast, 2 thousand miles away it lays open like a road..." The River is sweetly mellow and sad, "Two silent birds circled by like our pain in the river..." But unfortantely some of the tracks are less than average, but Is This Desire? is a great album just not one of my all-time favorites, I prefer Dry and Stories from the city, stories from the sea. If you are just discovering P.J. Harvey then I recommend all her albums to see which one is your favorite. Enjoy!
This Time Around
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Best of..... HANSON!
  • If you love pop/rock and don't have this album...YOU'RE NUTS!
  • Their Best Album
  • Pure fun
  • This Album Proves That Hanson Are Talented Musicians...
This Time Around
Hanson
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Teen PopTeen Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Middle of Nowhere
  2. 3 Car Garage
  3. Snowed In
  4. The Best of Hanson Live and Electric (CD & DVD)
  5. Live from Albertane

ASIN: B00004SBNC
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

  1. You Never Know
  2. If Only
  3. This Time Around
  4. Runaway Run
  5. Save Me
  6. Dying To Be Alive
  7. Can't Stop
  8. I Wish That I Was There
  9. Love Song
  10. Sure About It
  11. Hand In Hand
  12. In The City
  13. A Song To Sing

Amazon.com

It's tempting to go after Hanson with a full-on snark attack and deconstruct the new haircuts, snicker at the slightly rougher sound, and hoot at such impossibly tortured lyrics as "On the ground crying out, 'Somebody see me please.'" Trouble is, it's hard to trash them when the smile on your face has no trace of malice. That's the sort of smile these songs induce. The mildly spicy, funked-up "You Never Know" has a "Smooth" feel (only it's Jonny Lang, not Carlos Santana, supplying the licks). Hyper-happy harmonica (courtesy of Blues Traveler's John Popper) and thwacky-wacky effects on "If Only" turn yearning into a disease you'd stand in line to catch. "Save Me" is a sweet plea; the title track (and first single) has Southern-rock/gospel textures; "In the City," despite its adultery theme, is like Disneyland Manhattan--more fun than dangerous. Throughout, Taylor Hanson's vocals prove pretty expressive and throaty for an adolescent could-be male supermodel. Yes, teen girls will be penning pining letters to boyfriends at far-flung camps all summer to this stuff. But the Tulsa trio's real triumph is the way they bridge not just the generation gap, but the cynical chasm with clean, perfectly sappy pop. --Nina Malkin

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Best of..... HANSON!.......2007-07-01

Definately a definitive CD by Hanson. A more grown up CD. Like making their mark on the music world. And my favorite is of course the title track "This Time Around".

5 out of 5 stars If you love pop/rock and don't have this album...YOU'RE NUTS!.......2007-05-18

This is one of Hanson's best and strongest albums. Now sure, I've bought every other one of Hanson's albums but I do mean it, with every strand of me, when I say this is without a doubt one of my faves from them! The songs, each, have their own personality and charisma. I can't help but fall madly in love with If Only every time I hear it; a song like this just CRIES to be sung along to! And woah, what a sorrowfully sweet song it is! (If you couldn't tell, this is my #1 fave song!! lol) Runaway Run...gosh! Impeccable lyrics, a tune that draws you in, and instrumentation and performers that could only get better with age. Who can resist? Another one that I can't help but get caught up in is Sure About It. It is just but one of the songs on here that gets me vamped up and ready to tap my feet in rythm to it's irresistible beat. Rock driven and edgy at it's best, In The City gives off taunting and seductive vibes. Maybe even a bit of a "Hell, if I care!" flare! In a lugubrious mood? This Time Around has songs that are great for a listen when you're in a slump! I can't say enough good things about this album; I honestly have neither qualms regarding my decision to purchase it nor do I have any dislikes about any one song on it. Never has any one band brought me as much pleasure as Hanson! Love pop? Well, what are you waiting for? Put this in your player and get ready because Hanson delivers much more than just pop! The sound is closer to rock with this album. TEN STARS!!!

5 out of 5 stars Their Best Album.......2006-05-15

This is by far Hanson's best album. It didn't get great sales, because of the music company that produced it, but it still has great quality despite its poor marketing. All of the songs...I'm serious, every-single-one will have you hooked. This is a great cd to play at a party or when you are alone. It's so versatile. Buy it.

5 out of 5 stars Pure fun.......2006-04-07

This cd is exactly what it is; catchy fun. The songs just keep playing over and over in your head and they are an absolute delight. There is no hidden agenda, no deeper meaning to the lyrics. The instrumentation is infectious. I would like to emphasize certain songs but I will resist because all the songs are very worth your while. Just slide "This Time Around" into your cd player, let loose and let go!

5 out of 5 stars This Album Proves That Hanson Are Talented Musicians..........2005-12-01

"This Time Around" is a perfect album...there's really no weak song on the entire disc. The best track on the album is, hands down, "Runaway Run"-it should have been the first single. "If Only" is great, as well, even if you are not a Hanson fan you will find this song entertaining. "Sure About It", "Wish That I Was There", "This Time Around", "Can't Stop", "Love Song"-these are just some of the tracks-and they are all great. Regardless of what people may say about Hanson, they truly are real musicians & excellent song writers and because of this they will still be around 25 yrs from now, while other "popular" acts today most likely won't.
This Island
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Another Great Selection From Le Tigre
  • Good album, bad album cover!
  • Disappointing...not even close to LT's debut in quality
  • Where did the fierce feminism go?
  • Fun, but less "feministic" than their first two albums
This Island
Le Tigre
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Electronic PopElectronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Experimental RockExperimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Experimental MusicExperimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Alternative Rock4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Pop4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Rock4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Le Tigre
  2. Feminist Sweepstakes
  3. From the Desk of Mr. Lady
  4. Show Your Bones
  5. Light & Magic

ASIN: B0002X9NWQ
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

  1. On The Verge
  2. Seconds
  3. Don't Drink Poison
  4. After Dark
  5. Nanny Nanny Boo Boo
  6. TKO
  7. Tell You Now
  8. New Kicks
  9. Viz
  10. This Island
  11. I'm So Excited
  12. Sixteen
  13. Punker Plus

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Another Great Selection From Le Tigre.......2007-07-15

If you are a fan of Le Tigre, you'll this latest edition of their off-beat style of music. I originaly fell in love with the band while watching the movie "Better Luck Tomorrow." Their song "Let's Run" is what originally drew me to the band. A nice alternative to most of the drab music on the radio.

4 out of 5 stars Good album, bad album cover!.......2007-04-11

Seriously, I almost didn't buy this because of the cover. The music is alot of fun, but the cover...not so fun.

1 out of 5 stars Disappointing...not even close to LT's debut in quality.......2006-06-13

Very weak effort; Hanna and company are too caught up in fetishizing the sounds/styles of bygone eras rather than writing solid songs. Didn't think it was danceable/catchy either.

Skip it.

3 out of 5 stars Where did the fierce feminism go?.......2005-10-09

Although I enjoyed this album and it's polished studio recording, I really missed the old sound that Le Tigre has had for so long. The feminist attitude is not as porminent in this album as much as it is on their previous albums. "This Island" is a good way to introduce a new listener to Le Tigre.

4 out of 5 stars Fun, but less "feministic" than their first two albums.......2005-09-17

Like most people, I have mixed feelings about This Island. It's basically a fun, glossy record with fantastic beats. While Le Tigre's first two albums were loaded with reference material for young feminists to check out, This Island is mostly devoid of content. This isn't always a bad thing, however, as the silliness replacing the content can be genuinely fun. What we get here is electro-pop, with punk flourishes used more sparingly than on the first two albums.

It feels like a completely different band. Songs like 'On the Verge', 'After Dark' and the witty, catchy, 'Nanny Nanny Boo Boo' are fresh and danceable, but if you've heard the first two albums then you can't help but feel a little wistful, and ask yourself, "What happened to the feminism?" Which isn't to say there aren't political songs here; because there are. Three, to be exact. 'Seconds' is the album's punk song; an indictment on George W. Bush that features some embarrassing, simplistic lyrics, but that doesn't matter too much as you can barely hear them anyway (Kathleen shows off her trademark squeal on this song.) 'New Kicks' uses a punk-rock sample to background some anti-war speeches, but seems to exist mostly for the video. 'Viz' is my favourite song on the album. It's JD's butch lesbian manifesto; about going clubbing, the butch/femme lesbian subculture, sexuality, and liberation. 'TKO' is fun and anthemic, but to the band's own admission the song is about absolutely nothing, and unfortunately that nothingness extends to too many of the songs, threatening to define the album itself. 'Don't Drink Poison' is the album's weakest moment -- a hodge-podge of guitar samples, electro music, and bad rapping about how "chicken caesar grows on trees".

Ofcourse, this album is a million times better than the other trash we're subjected to -- despite a few awkward lyrics, it's essentially smart pop music, which is a rarity these days. However, This Island has the least "heart" of their three full-length albums -- there are no book or cd recommendations/references to be found here, which disappointed me personally and does detract from the Le Tigre experience a little, as this album seems to lack the soul and militant feminism that were Le Tigre's whole schtick in the first place, and what made them special and different.

Le Tigre sound more confident than ever here, and they're definitely one of the better, smarter bands of the electro genre. The problem is, this album doesn't seem like it was meant to last -- it's happy to make you dance right now (and make no mistake, it's got groove in spades) and raise consciousness about Bush, but I'm not sure it will stand the test of time (or if it's even meant to.)
Gotta Get Thru This
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • You will have no problem getting thru this album...
  • A great CD from Daniel Bedingfield
  • dance, cry, & sing along
  • A pleasant surprise
  • Piece of art.
Gotta Get Thru This
Daniel Bedingfield
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Second First Impression
  2. Unwritten
  3. If You're Not the One
  4. Unwritten
  5. Justified

ASIN: B00006GO8V
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Tracks:

  1. Blown It Again
  2. James Dean (I Wanna Know)
  3. Gotta Get Thru This (D 'n' D Radio Mix)
  4. If You're Not the One
  5. He Don't Love You Like I Love You
  6. I Can't Read You
  7. Friday
  8. Honest Questions
  9. Girlfriend
  10. Without the Girl
  11. Inflate My Ego
  12. Gotta Get Thru This (Acoustic Version)

Amazon.com

For many bedroom producers, Daniel Bedingfield's debut must seem like a dream come true. A songwriter, home producer, and vocalist whose laptop recording of the title track was one of the biggest hits of 2001 in the UK, Bedingfield makes music that's one part Prince, one part Michael Jackson, and one part UK Garage. Poppy soul-funk in the vein of Cameo, he possesses a distinctive edge that sets him apart from countless other '80s revivalists. A softer side of Bedingfield emerges on "If You're Not the One," a ballad that could easily be dismissed as generic album-filling slush but, with a few listens, proves to be the kind of well-crafted song Jackson's Invincible lacked. One gripe: the re-recorded version of "Gotta Get Thru This," while far more polished and professional than its predecessor, lacks the infectious, raw groove of the original. Still, this album demonstrates how pop music should be made--with a strong emphasis on skill rather than image. --David Trueman

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars You will have no problem getting thru this album..........2007-03-01

I know I'm a little late on reviewing this album, but it could quite possibly one of the best, ever! I was introduced to it by my friend in college four years ago and since then it has gotten a lot of play out of me. Unfortunately, Daniel has fallen off the US charts due to poor sales of his second album which wasn't nearly as great as this release.

I can't begin to tell you which track stands out more then another. Every single song has it's own unique flavor and has won me over. And trust me when I tell you that I do not say that about many artists, especially in this type of music. Most pop these day is terribly written or over produced, but not Daniel. His lyrics are all his own and the passion in his voice is very evident on each track. I only wish that he would come back to us with another release such as this one. Until then I will be patiently waiting and listening to this album!

5 out of 5 stars A great CD from Daniel Bedingfield.......2007-02-25

This is the first of Daniels cds I have bought. I really like it. The songs are all great. I will definately get more.

5 out of 5 stars dance, cry, & sing along.......2006-07-17

the songs on this CD are either a) 2dance4 or b) sweet, sappy, and beautiful.
very catchy, easy to love tunes. my personal favorites were

"Inflate my Ego" ('cuz it's so crazzzzy & u just want to sing along) and

"If you're not the one" (so simple for all of us who've been through heartbreak--&Iquot-"is there any way that i can stay in your aaaaaarrrms. 'cuz i need your body & soul so bad that it takes my breath away"--just gorgeous. made me want to cry...that's another story, though. if you listen to that song on headphones it sounds as if he's whispering in your ear.)

his voice is soothing and deep when it needs to be, fast and crazy when it needs to be. "gotta get thru this" is good the first time you hear it, but then you get sick of it (or at least i did). every single song is a gem, i didn't waste my money.

4 out of 5 stars A pleasant surprise.......2005-04-05

Like many people, I was first introduced to Mr. Bedingfield via his first US hit single and title track to this CD, "Gotta Get Through This". That song was OK, but it was not the kind of song that would make me want to run out and buy a CD. Then came "If You're Not the One". I immediately fell in love with that song. After hearing it repeatedly on the radio, I decided to buy the CD. Now, let me tell you, that was a major feat. If I think an artist is only gonna have 1 or 2 good songs on a CD, I download those songs rather than buying an entire CD. So, I only knew 2 songs and decided to buy this CD based on those songs. I was pleasantly surprised.

I am not sure why Daniel has not had other hits here in the States. This CD is equally balanced between high-energy dance tunes and touching ballads. And Daniel's voice can really tear right through you on those ballads. Other songs that I particularly like on this disc include "Blown it Again", "James Dean (I Wanna Know)", "He Don't Love You Like I Love You", "I Can't Read You", "Friday", "Honest Questions", "Girlfriend", and "Without the Girl". In my opinion, anyone of these songs should have been Top 10 hits.

The only song that I am less in love with is "Inflate my Ego", which sounds like a song Robbie Williams refused to do. Late in 2004, Daniel released a 2nd CD in the UK. So far, it has yet to be released stateside. I am anxious for the new CD to be released here in the US. I hope his record company has not abandoned the US market. I know it is available as an import, but I hate to pay import prices. Until it is released, I will just have to enjoy playing this CD.

5 out of 5 stars Piece of art........2005-02-14

First of all, I don't agree with many of the previous reviews. Someone up there made mention to his "alright" range. EXCUSE ME! Have you not listened to "If You're Not The One". Someone has to do some research before making useless comments.
Anyway, I am not a fan of pop music at all. Infact, I usually despise it. However, this CD is in a genre of it's own. Daniel Bedingfield is an amazing artist who writes some amazing tracks, and again, has an amazing voice. My favorite songs on this CD have to be "If You're Not The One", "Inflate My Ego", and "Gotta Get Thru This - Instrumental".
All in all, great CD. Awesome buy.
This Is Hardcore
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent late 90's alt pop
  • WHAT HAPPENED?
  • every single day
  • this is pure genius
  • A classic in a slightly darker mould from "Different Class"
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
BritpopBritpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Different Class
  2. His 'n' Hers
  3. We Love Life
  4. Suede
  5. Pulp Hits

ASIN: B000006DI9
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Tracks:

  1. The Fear
  2. Dishes
  3. Party Hard
  4. Help The Aged
  5. This Is Hardcore
  6. TV Movie
  7. A Little Soul
  8. I'm A Man
  9. Seductive Barry
  10. Sylvia
  11. Glory Days
  12. The Day After The Revolution
  13. Like A Friend

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

Pulp frontman-lyricist Jarvis Cocker is still obsessed with making his concerns those of his audience and the even wider world. Drawing again on classic British pop like the '70s Roxy Music, Pulp attempt to make sense of--and draw together--everything from the aging process ("One time they were just like you / Drinking, smoking cigs and sniffing glue") to doing the dishes. This is Hardcore is slightly less charged than its predecessor Different Class, but only slightly; Cocker is one rock star who knows how to raise his fans' expectations and then surpass them. --Rickey Wright

Amazon.com

Bespectacled Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is a crooner from the old school, a frock-sleeved dandy who's not afraid to emote with exaggerated aplomb. And it's been tongue-in-cheek humorous, for most of his career, to hear the Brit turn that talent on sarcastic societal subjects, poking fun wherever he could. Things have changed this time around, though--Cocker hit 33 and began looking inward, for some of his darkest, most soul-baring work yet, all set to an elaborate quasi-cinematic score. As the CD booklet itself says, "It's OK to grow up. Just as long as you don't grow old." Maturity may not be encouraged in show business, but it sounds very appropriate here. --Tom Lanham

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Excellent late 90's alt pop.......2007-05-15

Fluid set of English Alterna-soul found Pulp finally receiving the success critics had thought them deserving. More then proving why they remained giants of 90's indie rock in Britain, the songwriting is infectiously hooky, depressively catchy, and lyrically potent all the way through. Every song may not be as memorable as the title track or a few others (in particular the effectively rousing final few), yet each cements a certain replayability with the well measured, easily accessible, melodic pop songwriting. The band became a mainstay for fans of loud, semi-experimental music, falling somewhere between the predictability of Spiritualized and the randomness of Radiohead. Whatever small market the still under-valued (in America) band conquered during the mid 90's across the pond, This is Hardcore still makes the case for being the modern alternative classic some have made it out to be.

2 out of 5 stars WHAT HAPPENED?.......2006-08-14

OK, I've looked through all the other reviews on here, and I know that anyone who does the same will probably go with the looming majority vote and get this album but PLEASE DON'T!!! About a year ago I first heard Different Class and thought it was great. So much fun, excellent lyrics, and just really great! the melodies, the instrumentation...amazing. So recently I heard This Is Hardcore. A few of the songs are pretty good (Dishes, The Fear, The Day After The Revolution) but for the most part it's just plain BORING!!! Where did the fun go? This album is sad, dreary, and dull. Yes, it is a darker mood, and I realize that Jarvis Cocker probably had a reason to write such melancholy songs, but after hearing Different Class, who wants to listen to them? Many of the songs sound the same and, while not being terrible, were completely uninspiring. Buy Different Class instead. It rocks.

5 out of 5 stars every single day.......2005-03-02

i guess i missed out on the days when pulp was popular. where was i?? oh yeah i was listening to meatloaf and megadeth probably. well now i have this cd and i have to say, yes, i have to say, it is very good.

5 out of 5 stars this is pure genius.......2005-01-25

At the same time a shaggable genius and a skinny loser, Jarvis Cocker frontman and lyrics writer for Pulp is truly inspiring, one of the last REAL ROCK STARS offered to us by the XXth century. Yet Pulp is now dormant and a bit forgotten, what a pity ! Surfing on the Cool Britania wave of the mid 90's the Sheffield band that had started on the independent circuit in the 80's makes itself noticed and provides Britain's underdogs with a voice. and what a voice !!! breathy, sexy, deep or fragile, Cocker knows how to use his organ, and even takes you very close to musical orgasm. Delightfully pervert but also touchingly sincere and simple the lyrics are just wonderful and served by surprising tunes.
This is Hardcore is the 3rd "commercial" album of the band and was written at a point when Cocker was trying to get himself together, after as he himself put it "getting as hammered as possible". Yet, contrary to Oasis's Be Here Now which musicaly suffered from drug and alcohol abuses, Pulp's This is Hardcore is their best album. Suffering is sometimes source of greatness and Cocker sure knows how to sublimate his angst into breathtaking songs.
Opening with The Fear (the best song ever written on depression) sets a dark mood, but also a sophisticated and demanding quality. It's not because he is depressed that he gets sloppy! But the mood lightens up a bit with track 2: Dishes, in which Pulp displays its simple musical talent and which lyrics are pure Jarvis humour, singing "I'm not Jesus Christ though I share the same initials..." proving a modesty unknown to most rock stars. This is Hardcore is off course the absolute highlight of the album, a drifting number that pulses like blood in your veins. The absolute beauty of the production on this song proves that the band has reached maturity. The following, TV movie, is yet another simple piece with touching lyrics, but Cocker never really let's himself fall into stupid pathos and the self derision and critical stance he takes on himself is reffreshing as ever. Other great songs on the album are Party Hard, a more upbeat song, a bit more agressive and something u can definitely dance to. The album like a therapy finally lets us hear signs of hope with Glory Days, a great reflexion on the common victories of life, but don't worry nothing to existencial.
This is Hardcore is an absolute must have for anyone who loves rock. It is stylish, honnest, moving, even arousing (a great specialty of Jarv); yet for all it's sassy sophistication it stays true to the band's origins and to the common people feel. Working class Britain, we love you !!!

I definitely recommend to listen to Different Class as well, released before TIH it is the album Pulp will be remmembered for and is characteristic of the sound and mood of the band. Together these 2 albums form a magnificent diptic of genius. Essential.

4 out of 5 stars A classic in a slightly darker mould from "Different Class".......2004-08-14

"This Is Hardcore" is a slightly darker and seedier, yet more vulnerable sequel to the social observations and issues of fury, frustration and desire addressed on "Different Class". Indeed, the bitterness and rage felt on "Different Class" seems to have given way to a kind of sadness on "This Is Hardcore". After the success and the brilliance of "Different Class", whatever album followed was bound to be compared to it, but "This Is Hardcore" sounds a little more "grown-up" than "Different Class" in a way, for if "Different Class" was the soundtrack to a life from age 16 to 29, then "This Is Hardcore" feels more for life at age 30 and over. The lyrics are still as ingenious as those on "Different Class", but with less humour and more sentiment. "A Little Soul", "Dishes" and "Sylvia" are almost tragically touching. "Party Hard" sounds like a Bowie track from his late 70's "Eno-produced" album period, with Jarvis Cocker even sounding vaguely like Bowie on the song. My favourite songs on the album are "I'm A Man" and "The Day After The Revolution" which has a strange kind of "bittersweet" air of finality to it without being sickly, like a happy ending to a particularly tense film where everything turns out okay. The only track I'm not too keen on is "Seductive Barry". It just moves too slow and lacks any real hook. Overall though, another really great album from Pulp and enjoyable to listen to both on it's own and back to back with "Different Class".
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