Fear of Music
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
This disc represents the bridge between Talking Heads' first two herky-jerkier albums and the next two funky ones. Fear of Music is more than just a bridge, though. It's the water under the bridge, the air, the animals, the cities the river flows through, and the heaven on top of it all: "...a place where nothing ever happens." Plenty happens here, however. The CD starts out with its feet off the ground and both arms in the air: "I Zimbra" is all-out celebration. The rest of the songs are pretty much exercises in simplicity: one-word titles with music to match. (Witness the lightness of "Air," the trippiness of "Drugs," the "ooga"-ness of "Animals.") David Byrne's artful naiveté ("Hold the paper up to the light/Some rays pass right through"), coupled with the whole band's musical playfulness (for example, the tuba on "Electric Guitar"), makes for fun fun fun. --Dan Leone --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Average customer rating:
- Delightfully, more of the same....
- It just hasnt hit me like the previous stuff.
- They've done it!
- Will This Be The Breakthrough?
- Pretty good
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Fear of a Blank Planet
Porcupine Tree
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
 General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Experimental Rock
| Rock
| Alternative Styles
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Ambient
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Experimental Music
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Snakes & Arrows
- Stupid Dream
- Arriving Somewhere (2pc)
- Somewhere Else
- In Absentia
ASIN: B000O75F7C
Release Date: 2007-04-24 |
Tracks:
- Fear Of a Blank Planet
- My Ashes
- Anesthetize
- Sentimental
- Way Out Of Here
- Sleep Together
Amazon.com
On Fear of a Blank Planet veteran progressive-rock act Porcupine Tree takes up the task of exploring the alienating forces of the media and its impact on our youths and ourselves. Fear's titular cut features lyrics rife with allusions to the confusing, isolating effects of TV, the X-Box, drugged out consumer escapades, and the ennui that arrives with prescription and self-prescribed numbness. "My Ashes" advances the themes of isolation, as a young person becomes increasingly estranged from himself; "Anesthetize" aptly captures dull apathy with accuracy and knowing but perhaps delves to deep into the dark depths and instead of alleviating pain and pressure instead deepens it via a track that fails to offer much emotional or mental counterpoint. The tune does feature an exceptionally lyrical guitar solo from Rush's Alex Lifeson and proves that if anyone can write a sprawling, throbbing epic it's most likely Porcupine Tree. Elsewhere, such as on the beautifully crafted "Sentimental" and "Way Out of Here," Wilson and Co. land squarely between the epic grandeur of peak-era Pink Floyd and the psychically distant cool of Radiohead, a feat that doesn't as much demonstrate how well PT echoes those bands as it shows us how expansive the English quartet's music and emotional vocabulary is. For elder listeners Fear probably won't serve as the powerful statement it wants to be--its themes have been explored to more exacting impact before and, musically, it's fairly standard progressive fare--but it is a strong and intelligent album and for a generation that's grown numb from three-minute ditties about life at the end of the country club cul-de-sac that embrace rather than rage against the dying of the light, it may serve as a wake up call and provide hope for a brighter and more color-infused tomorrow. --Jedd Beaudoin
Customer Reviews:
Delightfully, more of the same...........2007-07-24
Fear of a Blank Planet by the band Porcupine Tree neatly picks up where the band's previous outing, Deadwing, leaves off. This CD openly owes a lot to bands like Pink Floyd, the later King Crimson (Robert Fripp is a guest guitarist on this CD) and The Police. Leader Steven Wilson is still hard at work here with his bleak lyrics and bleaker vocals, but always there, moving the music along, is drummer Gavin Harrison. This work is a bit more driven then Deadwing and while the cuts My Ashes and Sentimental let you up for air, these songs are in no way comparable to the tune Lazarus from Deadwing. The title tune is great, but very dark. Maybe the weakness here, if any, is that the Thrash Metal direction the group seems to be taking is puzzling. But, another good and consistant work is Fear of a Blank Planet. Progressive, neo-Psychedelic, whatever, fans of the group will not be disappointed. Give it a try if you are not a fan, I think you will like it.
It just hasnt hit me like the previous stuff........2007-07-18
As a long term Porcupine Tree fan and in posession of every CD they have put out, I was really looking forward to F.O.A.B.P. I received my CD the day before a week's holiday in Greece, so immediately downloaded said product onto my mp3 player and listened to it continuosly (Alongside the new Rush CD "Snakes and Arrows"). I was present at a Manchester Gig where the band played the whole album six months before it was due to be released so I had a bit of an inclination as to what to expect. It sounded mostly like a continuation of their previous 2 albums (Deadwing and In Absentia) at the time, but having listened to the finished article, there were a couple of tracks where "Lightbulb Sun" came to mind on the 2 softer tracks (i.e. My Ashes and Sentimental)and a touch of "Sky moves sideways" atmospherics appears elsewhere. The begining of "My Ashes" is very close to Led Zeps "No Quarter". So much has been made of "Anesthetize", and yes, it is without doubt the highlight of the album. The opening to this song is monumental. However, I feel the album could have offered more to us, the fans. Firstly, I believe that "Anethetize" should have been chopped into two parts. After 12 or so minutes, it is turned into a completely different vibe and is like a totally new song. Steve Wilson had great joy at introducing the song at Manchester as "18 minutes long", and the crowd response was just as enthusiastic at hearing the news. Neal Morse's new CD has a 3 tracks on his new CD "Sola Scripture" averaging 23 min. each, and yet each is made up of 6 songs within it. In this case I would rather skip to a favourite piece of the track than have to fast forward. Prog. music is "Very much alive". I would rather have 4 x 5 minute songs highlighting Mr Wilson's amazing musical talents than one stretched out piece. On "Voyage 34" that was a different story. AHHHHH Voyage 34. That brings me to another small matter. That CD (Or "EP" as it was known) totalled 60 min. whereas F.O.A.B.P. (A full album release) totals only 50 min. Why is that so? Finally, I believe the 2 main ingredients that were lacking on this release were the trademark harmonies and also the lack of any guitar solos, apart from Alex Lifeson's shortis piece on Anesthetize. Steve seems to be putting more emphasis on the heavier chunky sound. Who knows, we could be witnessing an Opeth-like sound on their next release. To me, This CD was like listening to "Animals" after the release of "Wish you were here". Do you understand where I am coming from? Animals was a great album, but not up to the class of Wish you were here. I got more satisfaction listening to both the Blackfield albums honestly.
They've done it!.......2007-07-12
I'll admit, I was skeptical. I consider all of Porcupine Tree's albums from Signify all the way up through In Absentia to be five star albums. All of them are nearly flawless, and each of them is groundbreaking in their own way. They quietly became the best band of the new millenium. Then came Deadwing. Deadwing is a solid album, but to me, it is *only* four stars. While it does have some of their best work, it *gasp* has a few weak tracks at the beginning. And much worse, it doesn't seem to be a breakthrough album like each of their previous four.
Then came the announcement that the new album would be titled "Fear of a Blank Planet." I thought, "This could either work or it will be a complete disaster." I heard the two tracks that found their way out to the internet before the release, and there was one brilliant track and a better version of "Deadwing" (the song, that is). So, to be honest, I was a bit nervous.
After a few months of digesting it, I can now say, with excitement and relief, that this is PT's best work yet. With the exception of a couple minutes at the end of "Anesthetize", every single second of this album is solid. It begins with the heaviest track on the album, musically and perhaps lyrically as well. They're not messing around here!
After we are treated to a very nice, atmospheric melody in "My Ashes" (the first PT track in some time to feature strings), we get to experience the brilliance that is most of "Anesthetize" (clocking in at 17 minutes or so). This track, albeit epic, is actually fairly minimalistic. We get repetitive, thinly-layered guitar parts over a trip-hop bass and drum beat which is reminiscent of circa-Up The Downstairs PT. The drums make this songs work, and they make it work well. The heavy riffs at some points in the songs are some of the best Steven Wilson has created.
Sentimental has a much lighter feel and flows softly and smoothly. It also has a sound different than anything they've done before, with high-pitched clean guitars ala U2 (though I'm not a U2 fan in the slightest...). This is followed by what is perhaps the weakest songs on the album, Way Out Of Here (which is not bad by any means).
The album closes (some would say too soon) with Sleep Together, which is absolutely brilliant. For all the flak it has gotten in some of these reviews, I consider this one of the most interesting pieces they've put out lately, with a feel that is completely different than anything they've done before. It ends in epic fashion, with thick strings, keyboards, and guitars reminiscent of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir, except not as unneccesarily long.
This album is simply phenomenal. They've outdone themselves. Steven Wilson has demonstrated with flying colors that he's still got it.
Will This Be The Breakthrough?.......2007-07-10
Its been about five years now since I first was introduced to the music of Porcupine Tree and I have found that the more I listen, the more I find to like. In another era not so long ago, PT would have been bigger than Pink Floyd was at its zenith and deservedly so. Steven Wilson and his band are so good that they nearly overshadow almost anything else being played today. The music is spectacular, the lyrics are thoughtful and deeply intelligent. The big question is whether Fear of A Blank Planet will be the breakthrough that catapults Porcupine Tree into the upper echelons of superstardom.
That may just be the case. With Alex Lifeson and Robert Fripp on board, literally millions of their fans blissfully unaware that Porcupine Tree exists will now be left wondering how a band so good could have been around so long and escaped popular notice. There is a market for great music out there as the success of bands like Rush and Radiohead proves, its just that there are few outlets for it. With luck, the rising popularity of bands like Porcupine Tree will force a change.
I had to listen to Fear of A Blank Planet several times before I appreciated it as much as I now do. There isn't really a weak point on it. From the first notes of the title cut to the final notes of Sleep Together, the listener will be transfixed by the layers of sound that are both hard-driving and dreamily soaring, and by the relentless despair of the lyrics.
Fans of the last couple of years' harder-edged direction of Porcupine Tree will love the title cut and also or even especially the epic Anesthetize which feature's Rush's Alex Lifeson. Those who prefer the spacier soundscapes of PT's earlier years will enjoy My Ashes, Sentimental, and Way Out of Here. The final cut, Sleep Together, offers something to both camps. Me, I like it all!
Fear of A Blank Planet is a recording that will spend a lot of time in my CD changer. Some have suggested that it may be the album of the year. I say its definitely in the running. If you haven't yet heard it, listen and hear what I mean. If you have been lukewarm on Porcupine Tree, this should be the album that makes you a confirmed fan.
Pretty good.......2007-07-08
Steve Wilson did a good job on this one.
It is very good. I have enjoyed everything that Porcupine Tree has done, except Stupid Dream. It sucked.
Blank Planet is WAY better than Stupid Dream but not quite as good as Up the Downstair, The Sunday of Life, Deadwing, or In Absentia.
BUT I still give it 5 stars!
Average customer rating:
- A wacky classic
- Marvelous
- music
- Interesting
- Should have won an Academy Award!!!
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Everything Is Illuminated
Manufacturer: Tvt
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Movie Scores
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Movie Soundtracks
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
General
| Vocal Pop
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Everything Is Illuminated
- How It Ends
- Everything Is Illuminated
- East Infection
- Balkan Beat Box
ASIN: B000AYEIMW
Release Date: 2005-09-06 |
Tracks:
- Paul Cantelon--Odessa Medley
- Leningrad--Zvezda Rok-N-Rolla
- Csokolom--Amari Szi Amari
- Leningrad--Dikiy Muzhchina
- Paul Cantelon--Prologue/Babushka
- Paul Cantelon--Little Jonathan/The Wall
- Gogol Bordello--Bublitschki
- The Con Artists feat. Peter Miser Ya-takoy
- Leningrad--Malen'kiy Mal'chik
- Tin Hat Trio--Fear of the South
- Paul Cantelon--River Of Collections
- Paul Cantelon--Tank Graveyard/Valse de Suzana/Dee-yed
- Paul Cantelon--Sunflowers
- Paul Cantelon--War Is Love/eta-Ya
- Paul Cantelon--Trachimbrod/Ressurection/Requiem
- Paul Cantelon--Inside-Out
- Gogol Bordello Start Wearing Purple
Album Description
"Everything Is Illuminated" is the directorial debut of actor Liev Schrieber and an adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's best-selling novel. A blend of high comedy and great tragedy, the film tells the story of a young American man, played by Elijah Wood (The Lord of The Rings trilogy), who journeys to the Ukraine to find the woman whom he believes saved his grandfather from the Nazis all those years ago.
The soundtrack features two new songs from high energy New York City based gypsy punks Gogol Bordello, including one track not on their current cd. (Note: Gogol Bordello's lead singer plays a role in "Everything Is Illuminated"). Also included are gypsy folk songs from Russia and the Ukraine by Leningrad, Arkadie Severmie, Csokolom and Tin Hat Trio. And finally, Paul Cantelon's ethnic score ties together this nicely cohesive soundtrack.
Customer Reviews:
A wacky classic.......2007-07-18
Passionate, inspired and exotic, this soundtrack truly captures the spirit of the movie as well as Safran Foer's brilliant first novel; it resonates with longing, heartbreak, and a totally unique sensibility; highly recommended.
Marvelous.......2007-06-13
This is an amazing soundtrack that highlights the two prevalent emotions in the film: hilarity and tragedy. Paul Cantelon deftly mixes an Eastern European feel with pure, gorgeous soundtrack music. Along for the ride are songs by genuinely fun and original bands. I never get tired of it. Sometimes, indeed, there are tracks I can't listen to simply because they're too sad - but then I switch to the upbeat, funny tunes, which always manage to entertain.
1. Odessa Medley: 9/10 - Enjoyable, with fun instruments. It builds up into an intricate array of instruments and melodies, and really picks up at the end, tempting you to let it sweep you along into the movie's crazy world. A great overture to the movie.
2. Leningrad, Zvezda Rok-N-Rolla: 8/10 - Oh, the drama! Leningrad is a Russian band. All of their songs on this album are crazy and fun and fit the craziness of the movie to a T. The horns are wonderful.
3. Csokolom, Amari Szi Amari: 10/10 - Superbly catchy, with that quirky, old feel dominant in the film, this song is a laidback sort of fun. It's the only song on the album not in Ukrainian, Russian, or English: it's Hungarian. This doesn't matter, however, because it fits so perfectly with the feel of the movie.
4. Leningrad, Dikiy Muzhchina: 10/10 - I LOVE this song. It's one my favorites here. The title means "Wild Man" in Russian, and it is definitely a very wild and (dare I say it again?) fun song. The lyrics really are just plain fun to sing along to, even if you don't speak Russian. You can practically feel the energy. In fact, I just now started to sing to it again...
5. Prologue/Babushka: 9.5/10 - This is where a darker mood begins to edge in. It sinks into a waltz that is more bittersweet than tragic, and then slows down to make way for a sweeping, haunting tune. Lovely.
6. Little Jonathan/The Wall: 9/10 - Playful, but once more in a bittersweet sort of way. After awhile it switches gears, swooshing up with energy, befores changing back to that haunting feeling of "Babushka" that I like to think of as simply The Past.
7. Gogol Bordello, Bublitschki: 8/10 - Time for some fun again. This instrumental piece by an immensely talented band (actually, Eugene Hutz, who plays Alex, is the lead singer of Gogol Bordello) mixes an irresistible beat with a traditional Slavic sound.
8. The Con Artists, Peter Miser, Ya-takoy: 9/10 - This definitely brings one back to the silliness of Alex in the beginning of the film. With snippets of his unbelievably hilarious dialogue and an urban beat going in the background, you'll be sucked right in.
9. Leningrad, Malen'kiy Mal'chik: 9/10 - Great fun! Leningrad never fails to entertain with this lazy collection of horns and vocals.
10. Tin Hat Trio, Fear of the South: 8/10 - Here's a piece to relax to. It's lighthearted and fresh.
11.Paul Cantelon, River of Collections: 9/10 - With breathy strings, "River of Collections" urges you quietly but with instistence along the river of The Past.
12. Paul Cantelon, Tank Graveyard/Valse de Suzana/Dee-yed: 9.5/10 - Here is the tragedy I've been referring to. It's sad. Almost unbearably so. It sweeps you up in the conflict of the characters, teasing you with peaks at the truth before fading back into the darkness.
13. Paul Cantelon, Sunflowers: 10/10 - Ukrainian, I believe. Haunting, with strong vocals that cast a spell.
14. Paul Cantelon, War Is Love/eta-Ya: 9.5/10 - It begins with lazy simplicity, but toward the end bursts into a powerful and urgent message.
15. Paul Cantelon, Trachimbrod/Ressurection/Requiem: 10/10 - Simply beautiful. About halfway through, the urgency of the previous tracks finally builds up for the climax, whooshing over you bitterly, sadly, and with almost a sense of determination. Again, it's tragic. You don't hear the lightheartedness of previous tracks, but the slight nudging of a past that doesn't want to haunt: it just wants to resolve itself. To exist.
16. Paul Cantelon, Inside-Out: 10/10 - And it does resolve itself. Here is another bittersweet piece. But this time, it carries a touch of enlightenment (illumination?) with it.
17. Gogol Bordello, Start Wearing Purple: 10/10 - This was the absolutely most perfect song the movie could have ended with. It switches the film seamlessly back into that feel of silly hilarity, single-handedly managing to leave the audience uplifted - a sore necessity for such a partly bleak film!
Overall, one of my favorite soundtracks out there. Whether you've seen the (remarkable) movie or not, get this! It is gorgeous, beautiful, fantastic, powerful, uplifting, and itching to tell you something you've known all your life but just can't quite grasp. In short, a brilliant piece of work.
music.......2007-06-02
does anyone know who sings the last song that plays on the movie trailer?
Interesting.......2007-03-18
Elijah Wood was surprising in his portrayal of the main charecter, who is a bit of a "nebish" or dweeb, and a collector of multitudenous often unthinkable items. His search of his family's past which takes him to the Ukraine, and the people he meets are
funny, amusing and often very moving. It's got a shocking thread to it,
but not without humor. I also liked the surprise ending. The music was great!
Should have won an Academy Award!!!.......2007-03-15
Funny, insightful, emotionally a rolling coaster and a must see.
Anita in Albuquerque Nm ....also a collector
Average customer rating:
- Great Classic Rock
- I had forgotten how good it was
- Workshop of the Telescopes Is Better
- Stay Away From All BOC Compilations
- Missing Key Songs...
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Don't Fear the Reaper: The Best of Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Oyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Hard Rock
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
Arena Rock
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- The Very Best of Deep Purple
- The Best of Foghat
- The Continuing Story of Radar Love
- Steppenwolf: All Time Greatest Hits
- The Best of Kansas
ASIN: B00004HYKZ
Release Date: 2000-02-08 |
Tracks:
- Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll
- The Red & The Black
- Flaming Telepaths
- Astronomy
- This Ain't The Summer Of Love
- (Don't Fear) The Reaper
- I Love The Night
- Goin' Through The Motions
- Godzilla
- In Thee
- The Marshall Plan
- Black Blade
- Joan Crawford
- Burnin' For You
- Shooting Shark
- Take Me Away
Customer Reviews:
Great Classic Rock.......2007-04-11
This collection of BOC'S hits are mind blowing. Great Classic Rock cd, that you can listen to over and over again. I love the song Don't Fear the Reaper and my main favorite is track four on the cd.
I had forgotten how good it was.......2007-01-09
This is really something to remember the old rock'n roll times by.
Workshop of the Telescopes Is Better.......2007-01-09
Blue Oyster Cult is a group that nearly has no genre. Much of their early music, only a little of which appears in this compilation, is hard rock with flashes of progressive rock. Most startling are their lyrics, sometimes almost comedic, typically creatively bizarre, and just as frequently so eclectic as to be incomprehensible.
With the success of "Agents of Fortune" Blue Oyster Cult's music changed to a milder rock style, and in some cases, pop. The titles often remain bizarre, such as "Veteran of the Psychic Wars," and the lyrics also remain challenging and unusual, but the music itself is softer.
Consider, for example, "Goin' Through the Motions." This music sounds like something Foreigner might have created rather than the group that created "Harvester of Eyes" and "Flaming Telepaths." Even mellower is "In Thee," which I consider the mellowest song in this collection. This song is romantically beautiful, and somewhat un-Cult.
While I've focused somewhat on the more uncharacteristic songs in this collection, I would be remiss if I did not point out one of the best songs in this collection, "Shooting Shark." This song, from 1983's "Revolution by Night," is somewhat a product of its time, featuring electronics and an early 80s sound, and yet, it contains that spark that has always been at the heart of BOC's best music.
Blue Oyster Cult was formed in 1967, and released an album as recently as 2001. While they were likely strongly influenced by a variety of groups, they have also influenced a variety of musical styles that range from current hard rock to nu-metal or thrash. The length of Blue Oyster Cult's career is barely touched in this sixteen song collection. An even better collection is the two disk compilation "Workshop of the Telescopes," which contains thirty two songs. Once you have listened to that phenomenal collection you may find that you want to purchase Blue Oyster Cult's original albums.
Now comes a question. For sound, buy this CD or "Workshop of the Telescopes"? If you have a high end system and you can readily tell the difference between a remastered CD and the original, and you prefer remastered, then do buy this one. On the other hand, if you have an el cheapo stereo and you can only sometimes tell a remastered CD, then "Workshop of the Telescopes" is a better bet.
Blue Oyster Cult has an array of enjoyable music and this CD gives you a very small sample of that music. If you are unable to find "Workshop of the Telescopes" or you just want a very small flavor of Blue Oyster Cult, then buy this CD. Otherwise, pass this one by for the better options.
Stay Away From All BOC Compilations.......2006-12-10
The problem with any BOC package is they try to combine music from a band the was the coolest group between 1971-74, and a commercial group that produced some of the lamest music I've ever heard. This package only includes 4 songs from their legendary first 3 albums, 11 cuts from their commercial period. If your new to BOC, your have to understand, earlier in their career, they were as good as a hard rock act as there was. They combined top flight muscianship, with cleverly crafted melodies and riffs. The comparasons to Sabbath are only partially accurate in describing their style, because BOC played a more dynamic and colorful range of tunes. In fact, musically, I'd say they had more in common with Deep Purple, particulary in the guitar department. Buck Dharma was simply the most under rated guitar player....ever. Clapton was God, Hendrix was flamboyant, Page was a genius, Blackmore was tempermental, Johnny Winter was an albino, Leslie West was fat, and Buck Dharma, well he just looked like a working-class stiff, but man could that man jam! The rhythm section was propulsive, they played organ when appropriate, and all of the songs had hooks. They were rare then, and they'd be rare today, a hard rock outfit with strong pop sensibilities. So much so, you have to wonder if Eric Bloom and Jeff Lynne aren't the same person? At any rate BOC perfected their attack on Secret Treaties, and rapidly lost their commitment to rock n' roll during Agents fo Fortunes and all albums there after. The other Best of... package to avoid is Workshop of Telescopes. Eventhough it has a better song selection, the songs haven't been remastered and many of the versions are from poorly recorded live and promo albums. Instead of going for a compilation, I strongly recommend purchasing any one of the recently remastered first 3 albums, which sound dramatically better than the originals.
Missing Key Songs..........2006-12-02
Another BOC compilation (aahk!!). Again, missing key songs. This is likely their best compilation because it's remastered, but it's appauling that it's missing some really key songs. I don't know about you, but I always thought these songs would have to be on a BOC best of: "Hot Rails to Hell", "Moon Crazy", "Perfect Water", "Dancin' in the Ruins" and "The Golden Age of Leather". There could be more songs, too. I think it's time that BOC just puts out a mega box set of remastered tunes like Kiss and Judas Priest have.
Average customer rating:
- Still Love Toad
- Wow
- after hair metal craze and before grunge
- Grrrrrreat CD!!!
- Good songs, but a downer of an album.
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Fear
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Adult Alternative
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Folk Rock
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Dulcinea
- In Light Syrup
- Coil
- Pale
- P.S.: A Toad Retrospective
ASIN: B0000027JR
Release Date: 1991-08-27 |
Tracks:
- Walk On The Ocean
- Is It For Me
- Butterflies
- Nightingale Song
- Hold Her Down
- Pray Your Gods
- Before You Were Born
- Something To Say
- In My Ear
- All I Want
- Stories I Tell
- I Will Not Take These Things For Granted
Customer Reviews:
Still Love Toad.......2006-05-10
I don't usually bother with writing reviews, but I feel I owe to the band, as well as to a great many potential listeners who may not be familiar with the group. This was my first Toad album (11 years or so ago), and I've been an avid listener ever since. I enjoy the emotion they can put into the simplest of stories. Makes me feel like I was right there with them. Every song on this album is a journey.
My personal favorite is the "Nightingale Song". Very short, very simple, VERY uplifting. On my worst day, this song always puts the world back into perspective for me. Makes me smile, and what more can one ask for than that?
Wow.......2006-03-16
Just bought this. The two main songs on it, as usual, still great. The rest, even better! Only CD I think I've heard where I've loved ALL songs...and they keep getting better.
after hair metal craze and before grunge.......2006-01-25
Beginning the 90s this group set a new hope in music, unfortunately after two succesful albums the group went into oblivion. This album was its first succesful album (Dulcinea was their second). It is a great buy if you like soft alternative rock, good melodies, and a warm and great voice. If the lost decade of music (the 90s) has any remarkable albums, this is one of them.
Grrrrrreat CD!!!.......2005-11-30
I saw these guys back in May of '92 and they were great!They were supporting this album and opening for Chris whitley at the Back Room in Austin,Texas.They played all the songs from this album.From the opening of Walk on the ocean you could tell these guys were great songwriters,under appreciated to this day though.If you buy this album you will not be disappointed!!
Good songs, but a downer of an album........2005-10-28
I love this band. I am currently enjoying their compilation album, "P.S.," which is excellent. This album on the other hand, has to go into the category of decent and enjoyable, but not quite good enough to buy. The problem with this album, basically, is the bitterness and negativity present in ALL of the songs on this album. Now I know that Toad isn't exactly the happiest band around, which is fine, but as a whole this album is a real downer. For me, at least, it's hard to listen to front-to-back for that reason. Basically, the whole is less than the sum of its parts. No songs are bad or annoying or feel like filler though, but it could use at least a few pick-me-ups.
My favorites on this album are "All I Want," "Hold Her Down" and especially now, "I Will Not Take These Things for Granted." That last one is so beautiful, it's repetitious but for some reason it doesn't feel like it goes on too long - it just sounds so heartfelt and the lyrics go with the music very well. I would like to see if any other of their original releases, which I haven't heard, are worthwhile though - fans seem to like Dulcinea the best. I'd like to find out if this band is more than just a "greatest hits" band - I hope so.
Average customer rating:
- Unexpectedly heartwarming
- mesmerized
- Radio Documentaries For Long Drives
- Not the best but worth a one time listen
- Regular Folks With Amazing and Hilarious Stories
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This American Life: Stories of Hope and Fear
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Shout Factory
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Sound Effects
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
General
| Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
Spoken Word
| Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
General
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Compilations
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Crimebusters & Crossed Wires: Stories from This American Life
- This American Life: Lies Sissies & Fiascoes
- Driveway Moments
- Driveway Moments, Vol. 2
- David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall
ASIN: B000IONLFY
Release Date: 2006-11-07 |
Tracks:
- If I Can Make It There - Jorge Just
- Is This Thing On? - Jonathan Goldstein
- Thinking Inside The Box - David Wilcox
- Infinite Gent - Alex Blumberg
- Miami Vices - Sascha Rothchild
- The Babysitters - Myron Jones
Tracks:
- Fears Of Your Life - Tom Wright
- On Hold No One Can Hear You Scream - Julie Snyder
- Anti-Oedipus - Nancy Updike
- So A Chipmunk And A Squirrel Walk Into A Bar - David Sedaris
- Slingshot - John Hodgman
Album Description
2-CD collection of the smartest and funniest show on the radio
This American Life is one the most popular yet most unusual programs on radio today, airing on public radio stations all across the country. Each week listeners tune in to hear riveting stories that explore the highs and lows of the human condition.
Host Ira Glass and the staff of
This American Life selected some of their favorite segments for the
This American Life: Stories Of Hope And Fear 2-CD set. Featuring segments by bestselling writer and humorist David Sedaris (Naked), Comedy Central's Daily Show correspondent John Hodgman and many others, this eclectic anthology addresses topics ranging from gender reassignment to karaoke comedy, with over two hours of alternately hilarious and heart-breaking spoken performances set against a hip indie-rock and electronica musical background. Includes music by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Blonde Redhead, Calexico, Morcheeba, Mogwai, Tortoise and others.
Customer Reviews:
Unexpectedly heartwarming.......2007-07-03
I have a set appointment each Saturday to tune in to NPR for another introduction to "This American Life". I am thrilled that I have access to old shows on cd. This is ideal for a long road trip and conversation.
mesmerized.......2007-02-12
I was fortunate to receive this CD the day before I had a 2 hour car ride ahead of me. I put in the CD and I have no memory of the trip, the traffic, or the route I took. I play the CD frequently, and I learn something new each time. Ira Glass - you are the best.
Radio Documentaries For Long Drives.......2007-02-01
I've listened to This American Life going on 8 years now either on NPR or on-line on the website. Great program, this is the 3rd compliation CD I have purchased and I must say that this was interesting especially the Stories of Fear. I am interested in how the human psyche handles fear given certain levels of stress introduced through everyday normal situations. Quite frankly it can be more than a little funny. The story that really clicked with me was On Hold No One Can Hear You Scream, one persons ordeal dealing with an unresponsive phone company. This is a great cd. Better than the last compliation cd for This American Life.
Not the best but worth a one time listen.......2007-01-20
This American Life is my favorite show of all time. I listen to it religiously. I didn't like this one. It's kind of depressing, whereas I have listened to the other CD's over and over again.
Regular Folks With Amazing and Hilarious Stories.......2007-01-05
Ira Glass has a job that everyone would love to do. He gets to interview people and learn about life lessons. I have listened to the NPR show on occassion but could never follow the program faithfully. If you are like me, then this will be your solution. In this 2-CD collection, there are stories about hopes and fears in a new light. I think that the 2nd CD is the most interesting of the 2 CDs.
The story that really made an impression was Julie Synder's dilemna with cell phone customer support (CD 2 Track 2). She really articulates her frustrations that we can all relate to. I worked as an software engineer and dealt with customer service issues on occasion. It's good to see how sometimes mis-communication and tempers often flair into after-the-fact humor. You definitely see the views from both sides which sheds some light on problems with customer support. But, the problems with a phone company just compounds to the humor with technology issues that you cannot imagine. Believe me, it's laughter after laughter but you soon realize that we can all relate to it.
Another touching but eerie story (CD 2 Track 3) is about a closeted son who takes care of his mother. It borders on the unreal as the interviewer learns about the ordeal with his father than suddenly changes things completely. As you listen, there are intimate details that you feel as if you are in the same room. This is one of the true experience that you lack with TV today. It just seems to be all about the shock factor and nothing about the fact that we are all human. It's wonderful that NPR still has shows out there for everyone to listen instead of being glued to the tube.
Average customer rating:
- Wonderful, but not my first choice
- THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever...
- Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah
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Mendelssohn: Elijah
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Symphonies
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Mendelssohn
| Mendelssohn, Felix
| ( M )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Oratorios
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Oratorios
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Franz Joseph Haydn: The Creation
- Mendelssohn - Elijah / Terfel, Fleming, Bardon, Ainsley, Fulgoni, Paul Daniel
- Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
- Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) / Auger, Stilwell, Atlanta SO, Robert Shaw
- Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem]
ASIN: B0002XV31A
Release Date: 2005-02-15 |
Tracks:
- Introduction: As God The Lord Of Israel Liveth
- Overture
- No.1 Help, Lord! Wilt Thou Quite Destroy Us?
- No.2: Lord! Bow Thine Ear To Our Prayer!
- No.3: Ye People, Rend Your Hearts
- No.4: If With All Your Hearts
- No.5: Yet Doth The Lord See It Not
- No.6: Elijah! Get Thee Hence
- No.7: For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee
- Recitative: Now Cherith's Brook Is Dried Up
- No.8: What Have I Do To Do With Thee?
- No.9: Blessed Are The Men Who Fear Him
- No.10: As God The Lord Of Sabaoth Liveth
- No.11: Baal, We Cry To Thee: Hear And Answer Us!
- No.12: Call Him Louder, For He Is A God!
- No.13: Call Him Louder! He Heareth Not!
- No.14: Lord God Of Abraham, Isaac And Israel!
- No.15: Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord
- No.16: O Thou, Who Makest Thine Angels Spirits
- No.17: Is Not His Word Like A Fire?
- No.18: Woe Unto Them Who Forsake Him!
- No.19: O Man Of God, Help Thy People!
- No.20: Thanks Be To God!
Tracks:
- No.21: Hear Ye, Israel; Hear What The Lord Speaketh
- No.22: Be Not Afraid, Saith God The Lord
- No.23: The Lord Hath Exalted Thee
- No.24: Woe To Him, He Shall Perish
- No.25: Man Of God, Now Let My Words Be Precious
- No.26: It Is Enough; O Lord Now Take My Life
- No.27: See, Now He Sleepeth
- No.28: Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains
- No.29: He, Watching Over Israel, Slumbers Not
- No.30: Arise, Elijah, For Thou Hast A Long Journey
- No.31: O Rest In The Lord
- No.32: He That Shall Endure To The End, Shall Be Saved
- No.33: Night Falleth Round Me, O Lord!
- No.34: Behold! God The Lord Passed By!
- No.35: Above Him Stood The Seraphim
- No.36: Go, Return Upon Thy Way
- No.37: For The Mountains Shall Depart
- No.38: Then Did Elijah The Prophet Break Forth
- No.39: Then Shall The Righteous Shine Forth
- No.40: Behold, God Hath Sent Elijah
- No.41: But The Lord, From The North Hath Raised One
- No.41a: O Come Everyone That Thirsteth
- No.42: And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful, but not my first choice.......2007-04-07
I believe this was the first recording of Elijah in English that used an "international" conductor and some international singers. Fruhbeck gives a good, dramatic sweep to the piece, with some wonderful dramatic moments. This is an old fashioned performance, with only a solo quartet, and if there is a semi-chorus, I can't tell the difference. This means that the soprano is the Widow, and an Angel, the mezzo the Angel and Queen Jezabel, etc. You really should have a libretto, but you don't get one at this price.
Fischer-Dieskau roughens up his voice for the role, and therein lies a problem. The voice spreads and his diction suffers because of it; that and his unidiomatic pronounciation, with far too many rolled "r"s. He does the drama well, but what works well in lieder works here less well on the large scale. Odd, given his success as on opera singer (check out his Iago), that here he frequently comes off blustery.
Dame Gwyneth Jones belies her reputation and gives a contolled, dramatic performance, using her "edge" to advantage in "Hear Ye, Israel". Gedda's diction is amazing, with exactly the right color for this literature, and projecting a little more blood than an English tenor.
Dame Janet Baker is my star in this performance. Dramatic, heart-rending when need be, and in wonderful voice. She'll chill your blood when she tells the people of Baal to "slaughter him, do what he hath done!".
And as for the people of Baal, the Philharmonia Chorus is wonderful. Incisive and dramatic, with beautiful tone. I could do without the trick of the boy choir for "Lift Thine Eyes", and I miss the small ensembles, but all in all a fine performance, and good recording, circa 1968.
First choice in English, Daniels/Terfel: better Elijah in Terfel, better recording, more authentic orchestra, small vocal ensembles (as per the score) but inferior women (including Fleming: beautiful tone, but where's her head?). In German, it's Sawallisch/Adam all the way.
But if you're singing Elijah, and have a score, this is a good choice.
THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever..........2006-08-15
Okay, I'm gonna admit I'm biased- I first sung in the chorus of Elijah when I was 14 and it made a BIG impression on me!
This recording is in every way wonderful. Starting with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. He IS Elijah to me. His singing is perfection. He has amazing phrasing and his diction makes it possible to understand the lovely, inspired libretto to this heavenly music. There are so many pieces that are ephemeral, but a couple of my favorites are: #14, Lord God of Abraham and #37, For the Mountains shall Depart. Dieskau does a great job of what I think of as compassionate, heartfelt singing. His interpretation sounds like the voice of God himself. It has a quality of kindness and yet he sounds just as convincing reprimanding the people of Baal. He is the true highlight of this recording.
That said, the rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Gwyneth Jones has a lovely, silvery voice that has a clarion bell-like tone that rings over the large orchestra with ease. She has occasional "misfire" but is a consistent performer. Dame Janet Baker and Nicolai Gedda both perform at a consistently lovely level. The orchestra and chorus are both wonderful. #15, Cast thy Burden upon the Lord, #32 He that Shall Endure to the End, and #38 Then Did Elijah are all highlights.
All said, for me the main reason to get this recording is Dieskau's Elijah- after all, he's the main character. But don't forget the lovely music. This story is exciting and passionate and sacred all at the same time. For me, it's the best oratorio that has a moving story and great music too.
Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah.......2006-07-03
This is a good recording of an oratorio that deserves more attention. The chorus and soloists are very good--I just wish Fischer-Diskau wouldn't slide around so much in singing the title part!
Average customer rating:
- The album that changed what I listened to
- Fear Itself
- Best Talking Heads album
- Nothing to Fear
- The HEADS are TALKING to people who have no FEAR OF MUSIC
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Fear of Music
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Punk
| Hardcore & Punk
| Alternative Rock
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American Punk
| Hardcore & Punk
| Alternative Rock
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New Wave
| New Wave & Post-Punk
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
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Post-Punk
| New Wave & Post-Punk
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General
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| Alternative Styles
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Pop Rock
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General
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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
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Similar Items:
- Remain in Light
- More Songs About Buildings and Food
- Talking Heads: 77
- Speaking in Tongues
- Little Creatures
ASIN: B000002KNY
Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- I Zimbra
- Mind
- Paper
- Cities
- Life During Wartime
- Memories Can't Wait
- Air
- Heaven
- Animals
- Electric Guitar
- Drugs
Amazon.com essential recording
This disc represents the bridge between Talking Heads' first two herky-jerkier albums and the next two funky ones. Fear of Music is more than just a bridge, though. It's the water under the bridge, the air, the animals, the cities the river flows through, and the heaven on top of it all: "...a place where nothing ever happens." Plenty happens here, however. The CD starts out with its feet off the ground and both arms in the air: "I Zimbra" is all-out celebration. The rest of the songs are pretty much exercises in simplicity: one-word titles with music to match. (Witness the lightness of "Air," the trippiness of "Drugs," the "ooga"-ness of "Animals.") David Byrne's artful naiveté ("Hold the paper up to the light/Some rays pass right through"), coupled with the whole band's musical playfulness (for example, the tuba on "Electric Guitar"), makes for fun fun fun. --Dan Leone
Customer Reviews:
The album that changed what I listened to.......2007-04-21
Summer of 1979. I just graduated from high school. I was into The Who and Led Zep during those years and then I listened to this album. Fear of Music instantly changed my listening preferences much like in the scene from Taxi when Jim, as a college student, eats a pot brownie and changes immediately into the stoned Reverend Jim. Fear of Music introduced me to Eno, Bowie, early Roxy Music, and alot of the new wave music that was coming out at that time. David Johansen's first album stayed on my turntable for a long while. Today Luna and Wilco take up alot of space on my iPod, and I thank Fear of Music for this.
Fear Itself.......2007-03-11
David Byrne always passes off the "Fear" angle/theme here as a joke -- but I don't buy it. These songs are anxious, clautrophobic, and twisted -- and legitimately so to my ears. They're also poppy as a laundry basket full of poppyseed muffins, and this aural culture clash has been known to lead to vertigo -- don't look down....
Best Talking Heads album.......2006-11-12
Buy it, definitely. Every song is great (except Animals - I never could get into that one). It's dark, it's funny, it's artsy (in a good way), it's 100% unique, like the Talking Heads in general. Best cuts: I Zimbra; Cities; Life During Wartime; Air; Heaven (my favorite of the bunch) and Drugs. Buy it, and pick up More Songs About Buildings and Food, Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues while you're at it.
Nothing to Fear.......2006-09-22
First off....What an amazing title for a record. "Fear Of Music"....I find that hilarious. But coming from the mind of David Byrne I guess it should not come as such a huge surprise. What IS surprising about this record is how FUNKY it is. That's right's....funky. Who knew that David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz had it in them? "More Songs About Buildings and Food" (another hilarious title) may have hinted at this direction slighty but I don't know how to catergorize this band and that may be the reason they fascinate me so much. Along with "Remain In Light" this record showed the Talking Heads maturing and at the same time we get to see what their souls look like.
This is the record where the band began to rely heavily on their rhythm section. This is music that grabs you at first listen and just does not let go on repeated listens. The more listens, the more addicting it becomes. As I said before I don't know if this is R&B, Funk, Rock or New Wave but I do know that the band makes it work. (Think about it....they are considered art-school Punks)
"I Zimbra" kicks the record off and the change in style from the previous records is immediately noticeable. Nonsense lyrics, great bass....it sets the record up nicely. "Mind" and "Paper" follow and then tracks 4 and 5 kick in and to me are worth the price of the CD.
"Cities" and "Life During Wartime" simply are stunning. (Great live versions are present on the "Stop Making Sense" DVD) Have you ever heard of a lead bass part?? (I'm not talking Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, Cliff Burton, Bootsy Collins, Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius virtuso bass) I mean a straight driving, funky bassline that is in essence the melody of the song. (Until the solo in the middle section but it's a solo, not melody) I know what I wrote may not make sense because it is a bass but Tina Weymouth put it down on this track!! She has the only moving part in the song which accounts for the melody. The first time I heard "Cities" I was in disbelief and it is funky as hell!! She's not the most technically proficient bassist but she has to be on the greatest bassist of the late 70's and early 80's. (In my opinion one of the greatest ever). If you need someone to hold down a rhythm she is right up there with the best. Frantz's drums blend it perfectly and David's playing his rhythm part and singing in his glorious vocal style. "Cities" is just a great song and one of my favorite by the band.
No time to rest though because "Life During Wartime" follows and the momentum does not stop. The funk vibe continues and David has some of his most famous lyrics...."This ain't no party/This ain't no disco/This ain't foolin' around. This ain't the mud club/or CBGB/I ain't got time for that now!" This was the only single from the record and the most popular song because of it. It's a great song. Tina's bass is not as forceful in this track but she's in the back doin' her thing. David is the star of this one and it is what we expect from him. Great song.
"Heaven" is another great track and a beautiful ballad about a bar in England. This slows the momentum some after "Air" (some people have a problem with air) but still is amazing. The rest of the record holds together nicely although there are some weaker moments that don't deter from the end product which is an awesome record. This is a very unique band that were not afraid of taking risks to create art. And before I forget....this record was produced by Brian Eno who knows a little bit about what he's doing. (that was an understatement, Eno is awesome). He produced "Buildings and Food" and "Remain in Light" as well. NOTE: This is a transitional album. (Like "Station to Station" before Bowie went on the make "Low" and Heroes" also produced by Eno) All that means is a definite change is taking place to set up music in the future. The funkiness that was present on this record comes full blown on "Remain in Light" but this record is great on it's own. If you like this band and don't have this you are missing out. Even though the Talking Heads started at CBGB and are sometimes called a "Punk" band I think "New Wave" fits them better. It may take a while to warm up to but once you give it chance it will not be too far away from you.
The HEADS are TALKING to people who have no FEAR OF MUSIC.......2006-06-26
"I Zimbra" opens FEAR OF MUSIC kind of famously for its wordless or "nonsense" lyric, merely vocal utterances, musical syllables coupled with complex rhythmic styling and an irresistible groove. This is followed by the equally rhythmic yet persecuted "Mind," the HEADS at their most minimalist, "I need something to change your mind..." We're then freed by "Paper" and its translucent and resonant homage to guitar rock. "Cities" perhaps defines this record and its era ("...Some good points! Some bad points! Find a city, find myself a city to live in!") It's absurd minimalism at its most ironic. We're then necessarily treated to the woeful "Life During Wartime" which also happens to be one of the great party grooves of that era ("This ain't no party! This ain't no disco! This ain't no foolin' around!" This ain't the Mud Club or CBGB's...I ain't got time for that now!")
"Memories Can't Wait" has an unusually lush production for this album, and is reminiscent of acid rock at its most obscure, but is more off-key and desperate, like its lyric suggests. There is something terribly true, insightful, and disturbing, about David Byrne's lyric "Take a walk thru the land of shadows take a walk thru the peaceful meadows...don't look so disappointed, it isn't what you hoped for, is it?" Perhaps the most influential track on the album, Byrne sings, "I'm wide awake on memories...these memories can't wait!" That tune is about as profound as the TALKING HEADS get.
"Air" is a delight as light as its name and humorous, and like all these weird little songs, a catchy tune. "Heaven" is perhaps the most quoted of all songs on this album ("Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens...!") Brilliant but cold, it does remind me of (the great) Neil Young at his most ponderous and protracted. "Animals" is what we are, capiche? Funky, and a little skunky. "They're livin' on nuts and berries..."
Like objects "Paper" upon which he writes his lyrics, or "Mind" from which ideas spring, the artist's "Electric Guitar" is essential and that track comes across like a 1950s Sci-Fi homage to the institutional claim of one's art, or perhaps the fascist claim of same by the state, or more likely, the cognescenti (i.e. the New York press or Rolling Stone magazine) bringing FEAR OF MUSIC back to personal expression and the hold of such expression on the artist, both fearful and funny. "Someone controls electric guitar...Someone controls electric guitar..."
The last track "Drugs" is an afterthought nightmare dream float you forget in the night, a footnote, a dream float, an insight and epiphany, the last secret little piece...
Produced by Brian Eno, who may have been a bit heavy handed here or there, but only in comparison with the HEADS' followup, FEAR OF MUSIC remains a mesmerizing album that is also underrated. Perceived by some as an extention of MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD, but FEAR OF MUSIC is moving towards the HEADS' masterpiece and has a unique transitional quality. Not exactly loveable, hardly perfect, but nonetheless groundbreaking, fascinating, and essential. There would be no REMAIN IN LIGHT if there was not FEAR OF MUSIC.
Average customer rating:
- If Lord of the Rings was put in a blender with Led Zeplin...
- a modern experience I'll never forget
- Alan Dean Foster Meets Rush!
- Great Album
- Disappointing from an outsider's perspective.
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Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness
Coheed & Cambria
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Emo
| Hardcore & Punk
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
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Punk-Pop
| Hardcore & Punk
| Alternative Rock
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General
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| Styles
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Progressive Rock
| Progressive
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Alternative Metal
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Similar Items:
- In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
- Vheissu
- The Second Stage Turbine Blade
- Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
- Coheed and Cambria: Live At The Starland Ballroom
ASIN: B000AA302A
Release Date: 2005-09-20 |
Tracks:
- Keeping The Blade
- Always & Never
- Welcome Home
- Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial)
- Crossing The Frame
- Apollo I : The Writing Writer
- Once Upon Your Dead Body
- Wake Up
- The Suffering
- The Lying Lies & Dirty Secrets of Miss Erica Court
- Mother May I
- The Willing Well I: Fuel for the Feeding End
- The Willing Well II: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
- The Willing Well III: Apollo II: The Telling Truth
- The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut
Amazon.com
There's a lot to be said for continuity and high concept, and Coheed and Cambria have invented an elaborate geeky parallel sci-fi world that spread over four CDs. If you follow the story line, it unfolds like some punk Harry Potter series; equally ambitious and didactic and almost as tightly written as the Moody Blues' "Days of Future Passed." You can also listen to each of the albums without a thought about the story and marvel at the musicianship, the intricately layered guitars, Claudio Sanchez's overwrought and rather pinched vocals and the sheer imagination displayed by these four musicians whose idiosyncratic emo seamlessly flows into prog rock. Epic, surreal, bigger than life, and utterly unlike anything you've heard in decades--even Geddy Lee expounding on free will. -- Jaan Uhelszki
Customer Reviews:
If Lord of the Rings was put in a blender with Led Zeplin..........2007-07-17
I wasn't excpepting much from this album before purchasing. I heard the Suffering which I thought was catchy, but I thought there was no way the album could be that good the whole way threw. I was wrong. The music ranges from rythmic harder rock (Welcome Home, and some of the later songs on the album) to really out there fast beats (Once upon your dead body, the Suffering).
Were this album really succeds is in it's great stroyline. The artwork of the album as well as the music relays a sense of epic-ness. You truly will not understand the depth of this Cd until you've heard it first-hand. Buy this CD I could not have been more pleased. In the great words of Apollo I and II, tonight the night on Burning Star IV...
You also may want to check out the Special Edition of the album. The Special Edition comes with a bonus DVD.
a modern experience I'll never forget.......2007-07-09
Luis Mejia (son) - I have to admit that I am one of those guys who love proffesional and complex music but I certainly lost my hope since mid 90's, specially in prog and good rock, and stayed in the era of the 70's, a magical era wich I didn't live. I never met the band 'till I heard the genre "new prog" and Coheed And Cambria was on the main charts, I also recognized the band because my cousin told me about it so I decided to give them a try, and this was the first album I bought seen the good critics and sales. Low in hopes, even when I heard the first track I was surprised they applied that kind of instruments in a classical way. Even more than a year that I've heard this album from the first track to the last one I'm still shocked of how excellent, delicate and professional it is!
I characterize this album more as heavy metal or progressive metal, even a litle bit of alt rock, but it stays a little apart from prog, even when it has certain characteristics of the genre.
The composition of each track is simple superb, delicate, heavy and well thought. Lisetn well, EVERY track is incredible and outstanding, one of the few album you don't have to skip any track; Welcome Home, Ten Speed (Of God Blood And Burial), the four fragments of The Willing Well (specially part 4), The Suffering and Wake Up are extremelly potent tracks that show every characteristic of the album, including soft ballads (until half of the album I never imagined a soft track), rythmical and confortable tracks like The Suffering, heavy, potential tracks with escapist sounds like Welcome Home and Ten Speed, the most likely prog songs like the fragments of The Willnig Well, and so on, each track is different from the other one. The moods of the CD are quite difficult to identify; I quite agree with those reviewers who characterize this album mainly EMO, and though it has many characteristics of EMO (wich I still do not think is a defined or even real genre) it also assimilates alt rock, prog, heavy metal, and so on; within the moods the songs are very different among each other but I can say their moods are agressive, hard, soft, constantly changing, experimental and a certain level of complexity.
Among the artists the guitar of Travis Stever is the best feature in the album, he's such a talented guitarrist, Claudio Sanchez vocals are very melodic and nice to hear but it isn't a voice such talented and trained but stunning as well, Josh Eppard drums are one of those instruments that in every song you listen to them carefully, and Michael Todd bass can be heard, you don't know how it bothers me not to be able to hear a bass in a song, but he makes it sound incredible.
Viewed as a concept album, its a little weird and even a little dumb as a concept album, I trully know that they are trying to make five albums about Teh Amory Wars but it's obvious that Coheed And Cambria would have a lot more credit and much better critics if it weren't for this detail.
In conclussion this band demonstrate among a world full of pitiful new music how still it can be excellent compositions written, if they only take their time, any musician can bring back the flame of music, good music, and the CD is a masterpiece, my sincere recommendations to everyone who appreciates good music.
Alan Dean Foster Meets Rush!.......2007-05-25
As my title states, Coheed & Cambria remind me of a really good sci/fi book set to music. Like a cross between Star Wars and Dream Theatre. I got IKSOSE first and still like that album better, I think simply because it is easier to follow the storyline. This album is much more musically complex though. It took me a long time to get used to the Claudio's voice because I a fan of Doom Metal not pop (not that they are a pop band), so it actually was the storyline that got me so interested. If you like concept albums, this is like trying to solve a really awesome riddle. I love the intro to Good Apollo with the violin!
Great Album.......2007-05-09
Yes C&C is an acquired taste, everything written in other reviews for all the albums pretty much spells out what people like about them. They are just what the current scene lacks, and bring back melodic, powerful, catchy metal in spades.....call it emo(the stupidest label ever coined bar none) or any other dumb term you want.....these guys simply rock.
The reviewer below is more interested in the album art, if thats your concern stick with cereal boxes or bazooka joe wrappers, this is rock n' roll. He also claims "sub par musicianship", which is an amazingly naive statement by someone who must know little about that which they speak. Grab a guitar and write tunes anywhere near this level. Sub par my a**. These guys are at the top of their game.
Disappointing from an outsider's perspective........2007-04-25
I am a huge fan of concept albums. Dream Theater's "Scenes from a Memory" and Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime" are two of my all-time favorite albums because they bring together theme and form. In other words, the music fits the theme of the album, which is also complemented by the artwork and the composition's overall structure.
I am also a fan of new punk rock. Taking Back Sunday's "Tell All Your Friends" is an anthemic album that tugs at many strings, notably angst and self-conscious outcast. Thursday's "War All the Time" is a prime example of a relatively simple subset of music (emo/punk) reaching beyond its comfort zone into more controversial territory. Still organic, still cohesive.
"Cohesive", ironically enough, is not a word I'd use to describe Coheed and Cambria's "Good Apollo" album. It fails in both respects: it does not unify its theme (complex story) with its content (music & artwork) and the overall musicianship is subpar. Though I am not familiar with their previous albums (and therefore not familiar with the story that precedes it) I will strictly deal with this album as it stands alone.
At first glance, the album's song titles ("Ten Speed (Of God's Blood and Burial)", "Apollo I: The Writing Writer", "The Willing Well I: Fuel for the Feeding End") suggest an intricately woven story that will not easily reveal itself to the listener. A more negative viewpoint would say that the track titles are deliberately complicated; they are strange for the sake of strangeness. The artwork is dark, sinister and also suggests that the music will sound gothic or at least morose.
Convoluted story? Yes. Gothic, intricate music? No. What we have is the following:
A piano, string-quartet intro to start off the album. It begins with "Keeping the Blade", an instrumental piece that starts with a single ominous note, and gradually builds up to a full 4-string ensemble with a piano hinting at an eerie buildup. "Always & Never" is a warm acoustic piece that hints at singer/songwriter Claudio Sanchez' harmonized and pained vocals. Nothing heavy or intricate. "Welcome Home" takes this same acoustic guitar and adds a metal crunch to it. The song is 6 minutes of pinched vocals, squealing guitars, and epic strings.
This is as close as the album gets to its artwork and song title complexity. From there, you have simple guitar rock, campy "punk" songs, devoid of any real complexity. Songs that attempt to mimic odd time signatures ("Mother May I") end up sounding empty and poorly thought-out. Others, such as the insufferable mouthful "The Willing Well II: Fear Through the Eyes of Madness" are too flimsy to merit a 7-minute duration.
All in all, it is a lump of coal in a silver box. Attempting to say that Coheed and Cambria are bridging the gap between punk rock and progressive rock is almost insulting. The artwork and thematic construction of the album suggests that the songs will come together to create a progressive masterpiece. But (and I should have thought of this before buying it) it's an album written by an emo band. Though I don't want to discredit Sanchez' imagination, the music does not fit the rest of the album. He needs to up his songwriting to compete with the intricacies of his album's conceptual designs or tone the art in his future albums down to more accurately reflect the music within.
This is not a progressive masterpiece - it's a subpar emo album with a flashy exterior and one good song.
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- Simply amazing
- Gloria: Sacred Music of John Rutter
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Gloria: The Sacred Music of John Rutter
Manufacturer: Collegium
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Similar Items:
- Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers
- John Rutter: Te Deum and Other Church Music
- The John Rutter Christmas Album
- John Rutter Collection
- Be Thou My Vision
ASIN: B000AA4JBG
Release Date: 2005-09-20 |
Tracks:
- First Movement: Allegro Vivace
- Second Movement: Andante
- Third Movement: Vivace E Ritmico
- All Things Bright And Beautiful
- Cantate Domino
- O Clap Your Hands
- Wedding Canticle
- The Lord Is My Shepherd
- A Gaelic Blessing
- Hymn To The Creator Of Light
- Arise, Shine
- Praise Ye The Lord
- For The Beauty Of The Earth
- God Be In My Head
- Open Thou Mine Eyes
- A Prayer Of Saint Patrick
- The Lord Bless You And Keep You
Customer Reviews:
Simply amazing.......2007-06-16
If I do make it to heaven, I don't know what it will look like, but I do know what it will sound like - listen to the vocals in the Second Movement: Andante . They are worth the price of the whole CD.......
a miracle, really.
Gloria: Sacred Music of John Rutter.......2007-05-14
Outstanding music and outstanding recording. A musical treat as soon as you put in the disc. This is a must for anyone interested in choral music by Rutter.
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Similar Items:
- Vivaldi's Cello
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- Obrigado Brazil
- Simply Baroque
- Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla
ASIN: B00005OAY5
Release Date: 2001-09-18 |
Tracks:
- Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
- Prelude
- Fear Tango
- Butterfly's Day Out
- Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
- Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor, Op.72
- Three Preludes
- Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
- American Collection Theme
- Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 99
- IV. Allegro molto
- The Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- Erbarme dich (Matthdus-Passion)
- Quartet for Piano & Strings No. 2 in G minor, Op. 45
- IV. Allegro molto
- Vocalise
- Libertango
- Simple Gifts
- Appalachia Waltz
Amazon.com
Except for one "previously unreleased" recording and two new ones, this is a compilation of segments taken from older Yo-Yo Ma CDs, perhaps to whet listeners' appetite to hear the entire records. The disc represents a triumph of performance over material. The program consists of short pieces and single movements of long ones and serves to display Yo-Yo Ma's extraordinary versatility, his spectacular instrumental and musical gifts, and his remarkable ability to invest everything he plays with the same commitment and emotional concentration. There is no logic to the sequence, except that it begins and ends with solo cello. Bach, whom Ma plays tuned normally when unaccompanied and tuned low with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, may justify the CD's title but seems out of place. Moreover, juxtaposing him with O'Connor and Piazzolla is jarring, though the Tangos are beautiful. The transcription of Dvorák's lovely E-minor Slavonic Dance, despite the participation of violinist Itzhak Perlman and his golden tone, sounds like a movie soundtrack: all bravura and cheap effects. The playing's the thing, and it is stunning, not only Yo-Yo Ma's, but that of all his collaborators, from vocalists Bobby McFerrin and Alison Krauss to pianist Emanuel Ax, Ma's duo partner of 25 years. Ax joins Ma for the Finale of Brahms's second cello sonata; that is what you may find yourself humming at the end. --Edith Eisler
Customer Reviews:
New Yo-Yo Fan.......2006-07-09
I had never listened to Yo-Yo Ma before (that I knew of) and then I was at a dance recital a few months ago. Two little ballerinas danced to "Simple Gifts" with Alison Kraus, and I had to have that song. I really enjoy playing this album when my family is just hanging out reading or playing with the baby in the living room. Each piece is unique and beautiful in its own way. Simple Gifts is still my favorite piece on the album, I only wish it were longer!
Simply wonderful!.......2006-06-04
I recently got this CD as a birthday gift. I've been wanting this CD for a while. The first track is a wonderful song in all reality the entire CD is a wonderful experience. The prelude by Gershwin is unique sounding with the cello. The jazz quality is still there and has a bit of classical influence intertwined among it. Yo-Yo Ma's recording of Simple Gifts is a good song and when they had the lyrics sung by Alison Krauss it was a wonderful choice. Her vocals matched the cello incredibly well. Track 8 is a wonderful song that I love to hear being played on the cello. For any person who loves classical music or cello music this CD is a good choice to buy. It will be well worth your money.
Awesome.......2004-08-20
While most people on this site see the "classic" in the title of the album as referring to classical music only, they are mistaken. Classic Yo-Yo refers to his style, not the genre into which his music choices fall. The list of tracks alone should have been a big enough clue that the music isn't all classical. Judging this album, or any album for that matter, on just its title is simply foolish. And while this is technically a solo album, the way Yo-Yo brings in guest artists to perform with him shows his flexibility as an artist. His version of Simple Gifts is so much more than a school chorus; it is an amazing cellist playing the accompaniment on a song that is meant to be sung.
On a more positive note, I found every track beautiful, from the elegant solo cello in the Bach cello suite to the haunting vocal line in the Bobby McFerrin piece. Yo-Yo Ma gathered a wide range of intriguing pieces to make this fantastic album.
What is this?.......2004-02-10
This is a compilation of many different styles; look Yo-Yo can play bluegrass! Not really "Classic" Yo-Yo.
Great if you're not familiar with Yo-Yo Ma.......2002-12-27
This CD is a good sample of what yo-yo ma has acheived in his musical career, if you want a more in depth listening of his talents than I suggest getting the simply baroque CD. The only thing that I didn't like about this cd was that the compositions were to mixed up in the genres. There was a bit of classical, some movie works, a great song by John Williams, and some of The Tango series music. If you would rather listen to one genre, get a CD that just has Classical or Contemerary, don't get a jack of all trades cd.
Music:
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- Fort Fun
- Frankenchrist
- Freedom of Choice
- Gish
- Give Out But Don't Give Up
- Greatest Hits
- Hatful of Hollow
- Hee-Haw
- Hold Me Up [Import]
Music
music
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Release the Beast
Troubadour Songs of the 12th & 13th Centuries
Songs from Venice
4 Country Legends
Are You the Sick Passenger?
Unity with Your Higher Self
The Songs That Got Away
The Audio Checkdisc
Vent [Explicit Lyrics]
Trio
Things We Did Last Summer [Import]
Together Forever
Tu Minifalda
Gospel Music Salutes Its Mountain Heritage
Escapade