Nonesuch [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese pressing featuring a limited edition miniature LP sleeve. To. 2005.

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

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

Album Description

Customer Reviews:

Love those VW ads..........2007-07-25

Wilco is unquestionably one of the best bands of our time, and this is certainly worth a listen.

This is very different from Ghost / YHF in that the songs are much more direct, with less elaborate mixes / elusive lyrics than their prior two masterpieces. Sort of hearkens to Being There, but with less of an alt-country sound.

One of the best of 2007 - but not quite as good as at least this fan was expecting (check out Cassadega for the best to date this year).

Simply just good music.......2007-07-21

I know it's hip to scrutinize a band's intentions, personal backgrounds, blah blah blah, but whatever happened to just listening to the music? Yes, Wilco has been experimental, using dissonance and space to create compelling noise. This time, they wrote songs that could actually be played on the radio (the nerve!) and listened to while mowing the lawn (how dare Wilco make a fun record!). I am a Wilco fan from the beginning. First record, OK. Second, became a great American band. Third, tried too hard. Fourth, became pretentious to their success. Fifth, remained pretentious to their detriment. Sixth, made a very thoughtful, cool record. Remember when Radiohead made "The Bends" and we could all sing along? Then Thom Yourke decided he should change the world and use an Atari 2600 to write "songs"? Let's hope Tweedy realizes that his fans like to hear the great songs only Wilco can write.

an experiment in refinement.......2007-07-21

Wilco's incessant experimentation and growth between albums are instantly intriguing. Despite the fact that their work is often changing genres, it is always exciting. However, as is always the case, if you fell in love with Wilco because of the 'style' of one album or another, you might be disappointed here. The moody and sublime landmark 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,' with its amazing juxtapositions of griding guitars and harmonic acoustics, has evolved into 'Sky Blue Sky,' a more even keel work indicative of introspective, peaceful summer days. The earlier instrumental experimentation has, on 'Sky Blue Sky,' evolved into somewhat superficial and cliche solos.
This album is reflective in a way that no other Wilco album has been- it is somehow singular and introverted, as though Jeff Tweedy were singing only to himself.
Wilco's evolution is inevitable and admirable. It's the subtleties that I miss on this album- the storytelling, the raw experimentation.

This is, if nothing else, what Wilco sounds like all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Wilco at its best!.......2007-07-20

Sky Blue Sky is practically flawless, by far the most complete Wilco album. The songwriting, guitars, piano, drums, etc. blend seamlessly. From start to finish an instant classic!

U.T. Fans--Get over it.......2007-07-20

My husband loves Jay Farrar. I love Jeff Tweedy. I introduced him to Uncle Tupelo in 1992 and he became a true believer, as we all were at the time. Yet he, as well as many, many hard-core alt-country fans, remains unwilling to understand the process of change and the need to challenge oneself musically. Screw the fans with ego. Sometimes that's O.K.

I admit, I've had a hard time with some of my other favorite bands' evolution from their early works to what they've now become (e.g. R.E.M.), but somehow, Wilco's growth has not bothered me one bit. Maybe because I see the importance of following what you believe in as an artist (and maybe because now I'm over 40). Maybe I just have empathy for what Jeff Tweedy has gone through in the last 20 years.

Sky Blue Sky doesn't sound like what people may think Wilco SHOULD sound like, but really, what SHOULD Wilco sound like? The point is, Tweedy follows his calling, and it's not always what's expected. This new album has more elements of his earlier works--the U.T. roots stuff--than any of the band's more recent efforts, from "Summerteeth" on. Tracks like the title "Sky Blue Sky," "Please Be Patient with Me," and "What Light" are so reminiscent of Uncle Tupelo, it makes my heart weep. What more do you want?

Personally, "A Ghost is Born" is one of my favorite Wilco albums, because of its noisy, disturbing guitar solos (just the fact that Tweedy, who's NOT a lead guitarist, played lead on that album is enough for me). That album, the precurser to his time in drug rehab, has a disjointedness and a pleading cry to it that is hard to ignore. Yet, the more refined sound on "Sky Blue Sky" (thanks mainly to Nels Cline joining as lead guitarist) should not be dismissed as just another one of Tweedy's "moods." This album has merit--forget all the references to the blankety-blank Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan and all the other 70's crap America can't seem to get enough of or get over. Listen up and hear what Tweedy and the band are trying to say. Long live 'em, I say. Tweedy turns 40 soon; give him the credit he deserves. Not many in his shoes and with his upstart background in the music scene could even come close to his talent. Keep up the good work Wilco, it's well worth the listen...and listen, and listen, and listen.

Average customer rating:

half & half
Joni Mitchel lovers will really love this one
Bad Beyond Belief
Who thought this was a good idea?
ATribute to Joni Mitchell

A Tribute To Joni Mitchell
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Tributes | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music
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Twelve
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Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur

ASIN: B000NJXCG2
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

FREE MAN IN PARIS - Sufjan Stevens
THE BOHO DANCE - Bjork
DREAMLAND - Caetano Veloso
DON'T INTERRUPT THE SORROW - Brad Mehldau
FOR THE ROSES - Cassandra Wilson
A CASE OF YOU - Prince
BLUE - Sarah McLachlan
LADIES OF THE CANYON - Annie Lennox
MAGDALENA LAUNDRIES - Emmylou Harris
EDITH AND THE KINGPIN - Elvis Costello
HELP ME - k.d. lang
RIVER - James Taylor

Amazon.com

Tribute records live or die by the performers' ability to interpret the subject's work in new and inventive frameworks, or by how well they evoke the spirit of the original recordings. Joni Mitchell's poetic folk and jazz offers infinite possibilities for the former, which makes the notion of this collection by indie rockers, pop divas, and country and folk practitioners most appealing. Not surprisingly, for most of the men it turns out to be more of an intellectual exercise than an emotional foray (Elvis Costello's harder take on "Edith and the Kingpin," Sufjan Stevens's jumbled sonic landscape on "Free Man in Paris"). But there are some breathtaking performances from the women, starting with Björk's wide-eyed cover of "The Bojo Dance" and moving on to Cassandra Wilson's mahogany-voiced "For the Roses," Emmylou Harris's devastating reading of "The Magdalene Laundries," and Sarah McLachlan's goosebump-raising "Blue," where her vocals approximate Mitchell's so thoroughly some folks might be fooled. Hands down, the most peculiar track is Prince's doo-woppy "A Case of You," which nearly defies description. The project got started in the late '90s and was finished only recently, which probably accounts for a stilted unevenness and seeming lack of continuity. Think of this as an interesting companion to Mitchell's vast and vital body of work. But the revered Lady of the Canyon doubtless deserves a far more comprehensive and well-executed homage. --Alanna Nash

Album Description

A Tribute to Joni Mitchell features a strikingly eclectic roster of artists who share Mitchell's fierce intelligence, musical sophistication, and boundary-pushing experimentalism. The creative interpretations of some of her best-known songs illustrate Mitchell's breadth as a composer and lyricist while putting something of a unique flavor on the chosen songs.

Customer Reviews:

half & half.......2007-07-25

Skip the opening track - an unpleasant dada-esque rendition of Free Man in Paris. In fact, skip the first 4 or 5 tracks. Once you get to Cassandra Wilson, the CD really takes off. If you download it on iTunes you miss Annie Lennox's "Ladies of the Canyon," which is worth the price of the whole cd. Also beautiful are the tracks by kd lang, elvis costello, sarah mclaughlin, and emmy lou harris.

Joni Mitchel lovers will really love this one.......2007-07-13

This is a great tribute to Joni from artists that understand the true feeling of Joni and her songs. James Taylor ,Katie Lang and Sara capture her the best.

Bad Beyond Belief.......2007-07-10

Amaze your friends with the worst tribute compilation ever recorded. Wow them with a rendition of Free Man in Paris that sounds as if it were arranged and recorded by a first year music student with access to too many horns. See to believe. Bring your camera.

Who thought this was a good idea?.......2007-07-10

A tribute album to Dylan makes sense. After all, Dylan can't sing and it has been proven time after time that his words, in the hands of others, really shine. But Joni Mitchell? It's hard to imagine a more beautiful and original voice. These artists do nothing to add to her body of work. While all talented in their own right, when singing Joni's tunes they offer pale reflections of the original works at best. This album seems like nothing more than a half baked money making scheme and should not be supported.

ATribute to Joni Mitchell.......2007-06-27

The CD arrived in great shape -- however, I was disappointed in the music selections. We gave the CD to our daughter, who thought it was great!

Average customer rating:

Like fine wine
Ibrahim sweet for your ears.
True Cuban Music...
The Cuban Nat King Cole
Soulful

Mi Sueño
Ibrahim Ferrer
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cuba | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Bolero | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Son | Latin Music | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo
Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer
Cuba
Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Manuel Guajiro Mirabal
Momento

ASIN: B000NVHWLG
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

Dos Almas
Si Te Contara
Melodia del Rio
Cada Noche un Amor
Deuda
Uno
Convergencia
Quiereme Mucho
Perfidia
Copla Guajira
Quizas, Quizas
Alma Libre

Amazon.com

When Grammy-winning Buena Vista Social club lead vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer died in August 2005 at the age of 78, he was within a few weeks of accomplishing a lifelong ambition: to record an album of suave, sexy, elegant Cuban boleros. The first acknowledged tune of the genre, "Tristezas," was composed in Santiago by Pepe Sánchez during the late 1800s. The form was descended from a Spanish waltz-like dance of the same name, which in turn evolved from the French contradanse and, even earlier on, from English rural styles. Strangely, Ferrer had repeatedly been told that his voice was not sufficiently "manly" for these leisurely, achingly romantic ballads. But judging by the present tracks--and despite the inevitable depredations of age, which only give his interpretations an added, rueful vulnerability--this is demonstrably untrue. The singer's reedy tenor, in some cases rescued from high-quality demos with instrumentals recorded posthumously, touches places in a listener's soul that no power-popster with an umpteen-octave range and mud-slides of melisma could remotely approach. Ferrer is joined by BVSC band-mates Rubén González (piano) and Omara Portuondo (vocals) on one tune each and is accompanied by the soulfully rinky-tink piano of Roberto Fonseca, Orlando "Cachaíto" López's sinuous, resonant acoustic bass and Manuel Galbán's sensitive guitar, with Ramses Rodrigues and Emilio del Monte manning trap drums and percussion. Overall, Mi Sueño ("My Dream") has a late-night feeling, as though captured amid an after-hours jam in a smoky, malt-scented Havana nightclub, long after sleeves have been pushed up and chairs piled on the tables. --Christina Roden

Album Description

Mi Sueno is essential listening. Ferrer brings warmth, ease, humor and poignancy to his vocals, where romance is looked back on fondly and still longed for passionately. Featuring "Uno" and "Perfidia," Mi Sueno is a dream everyone can share.

Customer Reviews:

Like fine wine.......2007-07-24

Ibrahim Ferrer shows yet again the finesse and maturity of a well seasoned vocalist who over the years has become better and better. With the Buena Vista sound backing him up he lets loose song after song with the incredible range and confidence only a master can produce. A wonderful posthumos album with his take on several classics. A spellbinding duet with Omar and impeccable rythm that grows on you the more you listen to it. Its wonderful to compare to his more youthful works and see that what he gave up in fiestiness he more than makes up for in sheer class and charisma. A must buy.

Ibrahim sweet for your ears........2007-07-21

We don't hear this kind of music anymore.Ibrahim sings from his soul.Classic boleros with an outstanding band behind him.Don't miss it!

True Cuban Music... .......2007-07-03

Just amazing, I play it over and over! For me it serves as a bridge that brings to reality a cuba that was experienced by a generation that is slowly passing like the Maestro Ibrahim Ferrer. I grew up with this style/era of music in thanks to my grandparents.It allows me to be a part of them and bring to them a little piece of the Cuba they left behind.

The Cuban Nat King Cole.......2007-05-31

Mi Sueno is the kind of CD that you can put on and play over and over again for hours. Ibrahim sings each song with such conviction you feel every note and you know he has been in love and was deeply in love when he sang these songs. Rest in peace Ibrahim! You were indeed God's gift to us while you were on this earth.

Soulful.......2007-04-26

I have quite a few of Ibrahim Ferrer's recorded music and found his boleros (slower songs) quite pleasing and emotional. I would pick the boleros he sang out of all the Buena Vista recordings and put them on my MP3 player because I liked the soulful emotion he envoked when he sang. It's hard to describe in words, sometimes an artist interpretation of a song really touches the soul, Ibrahim was one of these unique artists. I was very pleased to see that there is finally a release of just slow songs, about love and relationships, even if you don't understand the Spanish language, I think you will hear his Cuban soul and warmth penetrate your senses. I must say that in his earlier recordings ( from the original Buena Vista recordings) the tone and clarity of his voice was prime. In this CD, one can hear the aging of his voice a bit, but don't let that deter you from adding this CD to your collection, for such a soulfoul voice only comes about once in a decade or two, and Ibrahim's expressive qualities were as eminently apparent in his earlier years as they were in his late years. This is a good selection of songs, some were very popular, such as "Perfidia," and "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas," others less recognizable, but all suitable for both listening and slow dancing.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
Splendid
music to my ears
Beautiful, Engaging, but not Explosive
Une "entente cordiale" !

Metheny Mehldau Quartet
Pat Metheny , and Brad Mehldau
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Metheny / Mehldau
Pilgrimage
Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up - Live
Back East
The Third Quartet

ASIN: B000MRNTKO
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

A Night Away
The Sound of Water
Fear and Trembling
Don't Wait
Towards the Light
Long Before
En La Tierra Que No Olvida
Santa Cruz Slacker
Secret Beach
Silent Movie
Marta's Theme (from "Passagio per il Paradiso")

Amazon.com

New Age-leaning guitarist Pat Metheny and melancholic pianist Brad Mehldau have such distinctive, even rarified, sensibilities (each an acquired taste for some listeners), that their teaming may have looked like a one-time commercial ploy in the beginning. But having found rewarding common ground and a receptive audience through their shared love of pop, Brazilian music and Americana, they likely will work together again. Recorded at the same time as their first album, a duo effort, Quartet takes a satisfying step forward in featuring the Mehldau trio's first-rate bass and drum team, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard, on most of the tracks. Ranging from rhapsodic reflections to full-tilt fusion fare to loping, Wes Montgomery-inspired tunes--and let's not overlook that Asian-tinged song featuring Metheny on 42-string guitar--the music is sometimes a bit soft at the core. But when the stars are aligned, as on the effortlessly flowing, co-written opener, "A Night Away," and Metheny's charming "En La Tierra Que No Olvida," their partnership glows. It will be interesting to hear where they go from here. --Lloyd Sachs

Album Description

Quartet expands upon the "dream pairing" - begun by guitarist Pat Metheny and pianist Brad Mehldau on their 2006 Nonesuch collaboration, Metheny/Mehldau. This time they incorporate the members of Mehldau's trio, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, into a breathtakingly eclectic set, which ranges from the airy, pastoral "Don't Wait" to straight-up rocking in the slowly building "Towards the Light." Last year, London's Evening Standard described Metheny and Mehldau as "graceful, lyrical improvisers...It's a duo performance that deserves to tour." Now the pair is indeed hitting the road, along with Mehldau's two band-mates, in March for a month of shows throughout North America in support of Quartet. The 11 tracks that comprise Quartet were cut during the week-length December 2005 session at Manhattan's Right Track that yielded Metheny /Mehldau, a recording date that, over time, will surely be considered a landmark in contemporary jazz. On Quartet, each artist contributes original solo compositions as well as their first co-written piece, "A Night Away." The group also reworks Mehldau's "Fear and Trembling," which originally appeared on House On Hill, Mehldau's final outing with his previous trio lineup. It also interprets Metheny's "Marta's Theme," from his score to the 1998 Italian film, A Passage to Paradise. Quartet is perhaps even more adventurous and just as rewarding as their first release; the exhilarating back and forth between Metheny and Mehldau continues with their eagerly awaited live dates.

Album Description

Quartet expands upon the extraordinary musical dialogue - or, as Amazon.com puts it, the "dream pairing" - begun by guitarist Pat Metheny and pianist Brad Mehldau on their 2006 collaboration, Metheny/Mehldau. This time they incorporate the members of Mehldau's trio, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, into a breathtakingly eclectic set, which ranges from the airy, pastoral "So Much Music Everywhere" to straight-up rocking in the slowly building "Towards The Light.'

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-07-12

This album is second to Michael Brecker's Pilgrimage. The tunes are great, the players are great - great album. Their first album together teased us with two tunes that featured the quartet - the quartet album won't let any expectations down. Buy it.

Splendid.......2007-07-05

This is really a revelation of sorts, beautifully produced new-age jazz by Pat Metheny. I had liked some of his earlier efforts and lost patience after a while but he has managed to renew his approach quite a bit. The music is sonically perfect and the whole disc is exceptional not just one or two tracks, Beautiful. I may have to buy the first one also.

music to my ears.......2007-06-06

a musical delicacy of cold cut jazz. well balanced between slow and mellow songs and more upbeat numbers that simply jazzles your mind.
one down side, some of the numbers are to short, leave you wanting for more, well the whole cd creates this entire empty space that craves more of that jazzy jazz; some of the songs has the beautiful, slow evolution from downbeat tempo but every melodious moving toward some really funky stuff (not as in funk but funky as in phat)but ending all too soon.

Beautiful, Engaging, but not Explosive.......2007-05-30

Mehldau and Metheney have collaborated such that their work on this cd is continuous with their previous but separate efforts while still being a creative and enjoyable work. Most of the tracks have, as their foundation, Mehldau's incredible sense of balance between the complex and the simple. Mehldau's sense of when and how to fill--and not fill--in the spaces continues to be an incredible strength of his approach. Metheney's contribution is to ride this gentle wave with his usual mix of engaging accessibility. Metheny's use of a synthesizer effect allows him to explore two of the tunes more freely which provides the most satisfying tracks on the album (5 & 9). What the album lacks in explosiveness (check out Mehldau's version of "Solar" on the album Art of the Trio Vol IV) it makes up in subtle inventiveness.

Une "entente cordiale" !.......2007-05-26

"Recorded in the same all-originals sessions as last October's Metheny / Mehldau collaborative debut from guitarist Pat Metheny and pianist Brad Mehldau, "Quartet" picks up where the first disc left off, albeit on a slightly quieter note. While Metheny / Mehldau focused on the duo chemistry of the co-leaders (only two of 10 tracks featured Mehldau's trio teammates, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard), the new set tips the scales in favor of the foursome (seven of 11). Again, simpatico chemistry is on exhibit as Metheny and Mehldau converse with intuitive sensitivity on such passionate dialogues as "Long Before," "So Much Music in the Air" and "Sound of Water," the last of which an impressionistic beauty graced by Metheny's 42-string guitar. Highlights include the easy-going, oblique "Santa Cruz Slacker" and "Towards the Light," charged with Metheny's synth guitar dynamics and a surging rhythmic chug in the midsection".( Billboard - Dan Ouellette).
This is the eagerly awaited sequel to an album that exposed an unexpectedly deep empathy between two very different jazz stars last year. Pianist Mehldau, so hyperactive and complex on his own, emerged as a remarkably supportive and creative accompanist, freeing guitarist Metheny's guitar and guitar-synth to take flight in their lightest, airiest way. This audience-friendly process now involves Mehldau's trio, with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, in seven of the 11 original songs.Metheny's change of guitars from electric to acoustic could perhaps jar the senses slightly, but here, rooted by the rhythm section these changes pay off and excite rather than confuse the listener. The pace is varied, there are constant flourishes and changes of tempo and tone to keep your attention and the standard of playing from all present is just incredible. These guys understand pacing and texture, they let a track build it's own internal drama and follow the tune all the way.
Tranquil ballads and serpentine dance-themes ride latin and swing beats in an absorbing package that goes on world tour this spring : this is just a fantastic album of incredible musicianship which never loses sight of the primacy of the melody. Neither intrument is allowed to dominate the other - neither tries to dominate - but instead both weave together in an almost symbiotic way.

Average customer rating:

Raul...WOW
Company
Do yourself a favor
Revival Musical Hits the Mark
Check out Company!

Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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A Chorus Line - The New Broadway Cast Recording (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B000LV6R4G
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Tracks:

Opening
Company
The Little Things You Do Together
Sorry-Grateful
You Could Drive a Person Crazy
Have I Got a Girl for You
Someone Is Waiting
Another Hundred People
Getting Married Today
"What did I just do?"
Marry Me a Little
Side by Side by Side
What Would We Do Without You?
Poor Baby
Barcelona
The Ladies Who Lunch
"You have a good third husband, Joanne"
Being Alive

Amazon.com

There may be no original Broadway cast recording more iconic than 1970's Company, with its funky organ sound and Elaine Stritch's not-quite-there high notes, but the December 2006 Broadway revival makes its own mark. For Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's piece about a single man observing the benefits and follies of marriage, director John Doyle borrows the same controversial concept he used for his 2005 Sweeney Todd: the actors playing instruments on stage (now referred to in many circles as "Doyle-izing," and not always with affection and delight). But when you're listening to a cast recording, as Bobby would say: What do you get? For one thing, you'll have to adjust to some different sounds created by Doyle and his music supervisor, Mary-Mitchell Campbell. It's a benefit in "Side by Side by Side," which begins with a jazzy double-bass line. It's a drawback in "You Could Drive a Person Crazy," in which the trio's doo-doots are replaced by their saxophone lines. You also get "Marry Me a Little," cut from the original show but by now very familiar and welcome, as well as a lot of the contextual dialogue before, between, and even within numbers. Finally, the strong cast led by Raul Esparza makes this the best-sung Company we've ever gotten (and they play very well too), and Stephen Sondheim's score is still a landmark in musical theater. There will never be a replacement for the original Broadway cast recording, but this revival recording can stand on its own and in some respects may be more flat-out enjoyable to listen to. --David Horiuchi

Album Description

Maverick British director John Doyle, a 2006 Tony Award winner, enjoyed a surprise Broadway hit last year with his radical reworking of Sweeney Todd. He dispensed with the pit orchestra and handed all the instruments over to his on-stage performers, who doubled as musicians in between their turns acting and singing. Doyle has taken a similarly unorthodox approach to his revival of another Stephen Sondheim classic, the revered yet notoriously difficult to stage Company. As with Sweeney Todd, the results of this theatre-as-concert have entranced both critics and audiences. Linda Winer of Newsday called it "the very best revival that Broadway has ever seen of Stephen Sondheim's landmark 1970 musical."Variety described it as "striking, revelatory and thoroughly compelling." For Sondheim fans, the recorded score to Company has long been as much an object of adoration as the six-time Tony-winning play itself. Company on disc functions as a deeply moving song cycle, even apart from George Furth's libretto, about the vicissitudes of marriage and the joys and trials of the single life, seen through the eyes of the coolly dispassionate Manhattan bachelor Bobby on the occasion of his 35th birthday. This is truly the stuff of sex and the city - wry, sophisticated, painfully honest and deeply melancholy, even in a comic seducing-the-stewardess duet like "Barcelona." As with Sweeney Todd, which featured a bravura performance from lead actor Michael Cerveris, Doyle has found in rising star RaÃºl Esparza (Cabaret, Taboo, The Normal Heart) an extraordinary singer and actor who, in the words of the New York Times' Ben Brantley, gives Company "the most compelling center it has probably ever had." "Mr. Doyle and his invaluable music supervisor and orchestrator, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, have shaped Company into a sort of oratorio for the church of the lonely," says Brantley. He also praises the work of the entire ensemble - playing five married couples, three single women and one deeply ambivalent, unmarried man: "It's their work as a team that sounds new depths in Company in ways that get under your skin without your knowing it." Variety's David Rooney concurs: "Angel Desai's `Another Hundred People' nails that quintessential New York song; Heather Laws lands every laugh in the mile-a-minute `Getting Married Today' with amazing speed and clarity; and Barbara Walsh is bone-dry as brittle, world-weary Joanne. She reveals the emotional hunger beneath the character's hard shell and adds fresh nuances to `The Ladies Who Lunch,' a song indelibly associated with Elaine Stritch." As Time Out New York put it, "Sondheim's expert musical etchings, his acid craftsmanship, remain unmatched." Sondheim fans will note that this new version of Company, to be released by Nonesuch and PS Classics, restores the original act one closer, "Marry Me A Little," which was dropped from the show before its 1970 Broadway debut; the song has since taken on a life of its own as an orphaned Sondheim gem. The Company cast album is produced by PS Classics co-founder Tommy Krasker (Sondheim's The Frogs, Saturday Night, Assassins, and Sweeney Todd, among others). Along with Company, Nonesuch has also released the original cast album to Doyle's 2006 production of Sweeney Todd and the Tony-nominated A Light in the Piazza, which features a score by Nonesuch artist Adam Guettel.

Customer Reviews:

Raul...WOW.......2007-07-25

I LOVE the original cast recording of COMPANY. However I am too young to have enjoyed it on Broadway. When I heard John Doyle was adding his "double duty" magic and bring one of favorite current Broadway voices, Raul Esparza I couldn't wait! The wait was worth it. Raul is FANTASTIC. Being Alive is probably my favorite American musical theatre song in our lexicon, and Raul KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK! It's worth it just for this number. The supporting cast is great too. It would have gotten five stars if the finale number was included in this recording. this one ends with Being Alive. Whatever, it's great!

Company .......2007-07-25

Of the 3 recordings of Comapny that I have, the latest Broadway revival is far and away the best. The extra dialogue brings back the focus much more than either the OBC or The Donmar recording of the mid 90's. It has hardly been off my cd player since getting back from Broadway, and has pride of place on the iPod. A must for any Sondheim fan.

Do yourself a favor.......2007-07-14

Don't think, just because you have all the other versions of 'Company', you can do without this version. It has additional dialogue and superior sound. Highly recommended!

Revival Musical Hits the Mark.......2007-07-13

Raul Esparza's performance in this revival makes the album a must have. What a talent! What a show! Well worth the cost.

Check out Company!.......2007-07-11

I fell in love with this show when I saw it in NYC and I promptly bought the cast recording upon my return. This was one of those shows that I'm sure will resonate with me for the rest of my life. Although the show doesn't seem to make much sense by listening to the cast recording, you understand what its about and even though this show was written more than 40 years ago, its still relevant today. The theme of marriage and domestic partnership is still something that remains in the minds of all people; whether married or single. This cd airs out all of the thoughts that we all have likely heard or felt in our lifetime.
This cd is truly beautiful and by far one of my favorite Broadway cast recordings of all time.

Average customer rating:

She did it again !
A Place To Go
Pure gold
Stark Beauty
kd lang at her best

Hymns of the 49th Parallel
k.d. lang
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000267J10
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

After the Gold Rush (Young)
Simple (lang/Piltch)
Helpless (Young)
A Case of You (Mitchell)
The Valley (Siberry)
Hallelujah (Cohen)
One Day I Walk (Cockburn)
Fallen (Sexsmith)
Jericho (Mitchell)
Bird on a Wire (Cohen)
Love Is Everything (Siberry)

Amazon.com

Was it homesickness that compelled longtime Los Angeles resident k.d. lang to fashion her one-woman campaign for north-of-the-border nationalism, or just plain good sense? All Canadian content has long been a mainstay of the Canadian Broadcasting System, but few have selected their material with such a fine hand and a high aesthetic. The expatriate singer has taken great pains to create a sophisticated homage to her Canadian roots, elegantly reinterpreting 11 songs penned by some of her more illustrious countrymen (and women) such as Jane Siberry, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen. The idiosyncratic chanteuse turns Cohen's "Bird on a Wire" into an aching monochromatic lament, exploring new tributaries of pain that didn't exist in the original, while recasting Neil Young's "Helpless" into a haunting anthem of memory and comfort, all the while sounding anything but helpless. A gorgeous love letter to her brethren, complete with an intelligent and understated orchestration. --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description

Hymns of the 49th Parallel fulfills k.d. lang's longstanding desire to create a Canadian songbook. On the album, her first for Nonesuch Records, she pays homage to fellow Canadian artists including Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Jane Siberry, Ron Sexsmith, and Bruce Cockburn.

Customer Reviews:

She did it again !.......2007-06-19

I love this ! Absolutely wonderful.

A Place To Go.......2007-03-27

K.D. Lang's "Hymns of the 49th Parallel" is a good disc that celebrates her fellow Canadian artists. Often softened by strings, as on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," Lang's voice is an amazingly expressive instrument. Ron Sexsmith's "Fallen" is a lovely melody that Lang polishes as she jumps into the upper register, "Love is always on the go." From Joni Mitchell's "Don Juan's Restless Daughter" set, Lang covers "Jericho" and shines Mitchell's idiosyncratic melody with its jazz inflections and unmasks the beauty in the piece, "I'll try to keep myself open up to you; It gets easier & easier to do, just like Jericho, let these walls come tumbling down now." Neil Young's "Helpless" is my favorite track on the set. It is such classic pop material that Lang nails with her vocal commitment, "There is a town in north Ontario, with dream comfort memory to spare, And in my mind I still need a place to go." It's exquisite. This 2004 set peaked @ #55 on the Billboard charts and at #2 on the Canadian charts. It is well worth dusting off this classic covers set that has timelessness as it spans songs from 1969 to 2001. Enjoy!

Pure gold.......2007-03-08

This set of covers sung by kd is truly intoxicating!

Having been a longtime kd fan, I was surprised that I never heard of the CD until a friend played it for me. This is mood music for romance and/or reflection.

The piano production is particularly outstanding, but kd's vocals are simply, well, unparalleled.

Stark Beauty .......2007-02-20

An amazing set of songs sung by an amazing singer. The beauty of lang's voice is a tonic to the senses. She makes all these songs her own. The best being "Love Is Everything" - - one of the saddest songs I have ever heard. kd has never sounded better. This is her at her best.

kd lang at her best.......2007-02-11

I have always loved kd lang, but I like this cd the best. Her singing is smooth as always, and the song choice is great. The 49th parallel (in case you didn't know) is the Canadian/US border, and the title refers to her homage to some of the greatest Canadian singer songwriters; Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Jane Siberry. An interesting side note: When Johnny Carson died, lang made a special appearance on the Tonight Show at Jay Leno's request. Apparently she was Carson's favorite. If you caught the performance, it was beautiful and very moving. The song she sang was from this cd. If you want a cd to lift your spirits give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Nice cuban music
Cubano Revisited
Ry Cooder With All Star Cuban Band
Buena Vista Social Club Classic
Absolutely fantastic!

Buena Vista Social Club
Ry Cooder , Ibrahim Ferrar , Ruben Gonzalez , Compay Segundo , and Omara Portuondo
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer
Buena Vista Social Club
Introducing...Rubén González
Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo
A Toda Cuba Le Gusta

ASIN: B000005J56
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Chan Chan
De Camino A La Vereda
El Cuarto De Tula
Pueblo Nuevo
Dos Gardenias
Y Tu Que Has Hecho
Veinte Anos
El Carretero
Candela
Amor De Loca Juventud
Orgullecida
Murmullo
Buena Vista Social Club
La Bayamesa

Amazon.com essential recording

Ry Cooder's name has helped bring attention to this session, but it's the veteran Cuban son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism, Buena Vista Social Club is that rare meld of quietude and intensity; while the players sound laid-back, they're putting forth very alive music, a reminder that aging doesn't mean taking to bed. Barbarito Torres's laoud solo on "El Cuarto de Tula" is both more blinding and more tasteful than any guitar showcase on any recent rock album; a quote from "Stormy Weather" and some very distinct parallels to Hawaiian styles remind us of why it's called "world music." --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Nice cuban music.......2007-03-15

I have had this album a number of years, and my enthusiasm is not quite as great as many of the viewers here, because although it is generally pleasant listening, I don't think there are really any outstanding tracks or personal favorites on here.

I should add that I speak Spanish fairly well and therefore understand the lyrics, and am generally an enthusiast of Hispanic culture and music. The story of this worthy project and how this was recorded are interesting and I suspect some reviewers are moved more by sentiment than just on the merits of the music, some of which seems very middle-of-the-road to me, albeit pleasant enough for casual listening.

Cubano Revisited.......2007-02-12

Ry Cooder did a good thing reassembling these wonderfully talented and forgotten stars of another period. Great album, wish it was a double, triple, a collection. I would buy it. Can't replace these icons of another era and their sound will be gone with them.

Ry Cooder With All Star Cuban Band.......2007-02-02

All done in Spainish, this excellent CD has a book included with translations and facts about the players. The music here oozes with atmosphere, taking you to the heart of Cuba. First rate musicianship and great songs all the way through. Ry leaves the vocals to various others, but his guitar work is unmistakably present. A good veiw indeed!

Buena Vista Social Club Classic.......2007-01-16

For those of you who are fans of the Buena Vista Social Club already, this is the masterpiece. A culmination of talented musicians, soul, love, and sultry afternoons with a cool drink getting ready to kick on into the night!

For those of you who have never listened to this style of music, don't just listen to it once as you could compare it to the first 3 olives you have ever eaten.

The first one shocks your taste with a layered complexity that is both sharp and mellow, leaving you with a look on your face that says "what just happened?".

The second takes you back to the memory of your first taste, and enjoying re-living the sensation, you start looking for more.

The third confirms your interests and instils an infatuation with something unique, powerful, and good for the heart and soul, that will be played over and over again.

Absolutely fantastic!.......2007-01-11

Michael Fletcher reviewed this CD spot-on. And I concur with the review that it is magical--it is indeed that. I can listen to it over and over at work or at home! It seems to suit almost any mood and simply nourishes the soul. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys good music--you don't even need to be a fan of Cuban music. I certainly am not well versed in Latin music, but am a definite fan of this album!

Average customer rating:

Good--but it doesn't hold together for me as well as the reviews described
...it wasn't that long ago....
Sorry Ry...
ry cooder at his best
Ry's own voice................................

My Name Is Buddy
Ry Cooder
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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West
Try Me One More Time
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Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD)

ASIN: B000MDH8E6
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Tracks:

Suitcase in my Hand
Cat and Mouse
Strike!
J. Edgar
Footprints in the Snow
Sundown Town
Green Dog
The Dying Truck Driver
Christmas in Southgate
Hank Williams
Red Cat Till I Die
Three Chords and the Truth
My Name is Buddy
One Cat, One Vote, One Beer
Cardboard Avenue
Farm Girl
There's a Bright Side Somewhere

Amazon.com

Though this release carries the deceptive subtitle Another Record by Ry Cooder, the virtuosic guitarist and ethnomusicological adventurer has never released another album quite like this. And neither has anyone else. After brilliant side trips into the music of pre-Castro Cuba and pre-baseball Chavez Ravine, Cooder returns to the Depression-era and Dust Bowl ballads that marked his earliest solo releases of the 1970s. Yet most of this material is original, offering a populist parable of three fellow travelers: Buddy Red Cat, Lefty Mouse, and the Reverend Tom Toad. The tradition of putting pointed social commentary in the mouths of animals extends from Animal Farm to Pogo, and Buddy seems like a feline cross between Woody Guthrie and Joe Hill--a troubadour of union solidarity, interspecies brotherhood, and radical populism. Though Cooder's cartoon vocals occasionally sound a little mannered, the music throughout ranks with his best, as he reunites with conjunto accordion master Flaco Jimenez and soul singers Terry Evans and Bobby King, enlists banjo brothers Pete and Mike Seeger, and receives inspired support from the Chieftains' Paddy Moloney, pianist Van Dyke Parks, and drummers Jim Keltner and (his son) Joachim Cooder. Whether he's channeling his inner Chet Baker on "Green Dog" or closing with the utopian vision of "There's a Bright Side Somewhere," Cooder shows more sides of his multifaceted music than he has on any previous release. --Don McLeese

Album Description

On My Name Is Buddy, Ry Cooder revisits, in a new set of original material, the sound and feeling of the "dust bowl songs" he first explored more than three decades ago on such groundbreaking albums as his self-titled 1970 debut and 1971's In The Purple Valley. In fact, he's joined by old friends like pianist Van Dyke Parks and drummer Jim Keltner who were with him at the start of his extraordinary, ultimately globe-spanning musical odyssey, which has yielded him six Grammy Awards to date, several more nominations, and perennial acclaim. My Name Is Buddy is also a journey, a phantasmagorical rendering in music, words and pictures of the travels of three unlikely cohorts - Buddy Red Cat, Lefty Mouse and Reverend Tom Toad - as they meander through the west "in the days of labor, big bosses, farm failures, strikes, company cops, sundown towns, hobos and trains...the America of yesteryear." For this allegorical tale, Cooder marshals all his remarkable skills as a producer, arranger, songwriter, soundtrack composer and musicologist. (The Christian Science Monitor recently dubbed him "a modern-day Alan Lomax.") My Name Is Buddy recalls Woody Guthrie's Bound for Glory - that is, if it had been enacted by the articulate animal characters of Walt Kelly's classic comic Pogo. Cooder conjures up the dark shadows of an earlier time to wryly comment on the political and social issues of the present. As back-story to his songs, Cooder has written short stories for each one and they're accompanied by evocative illustrations from noted San Antonio-based painter and muralist Vincent Valdez, all of which are included in a specially designed package.

Customer Reviews:

Good--but it doesn't hold together for me as well as the reviews described.......2007-07-12

I got the CD because I like Ry Cooder and like the concept of a story-CD. For me, "Chavez Ravine" felt like a more cohesive body of material, though.

I cannot fault the musicianship and the storyline is fascinating. Anyone who has a past anchored in the Dust Bowl area will identify with the stories---Cooder must have done his research from testimonials of folks who'd been there. If you are interested in this topic, the Oklahoma Historical Society has an extensive oral history collection, plus there were many interviews conducted by the WPA during the Depression. (The Indian Pioneer Histories)

One thing, I'm happy I got this CD used. I'd probably rate it less if I'd paid $16.99 for it and seen the 'eco packaging' already raveling at the edges. Yes, I'd like friendlier CD covers, but please can we at least get archival quality here? I do plan on keeping this CD.

...it wasn't that long ago...........2007-06-18

And maybe that is part of Ry's point.

Ry Cooder seems to be able to find the wonderful diversity of our world lurking under the notes. He plays and out comes ...the heat of the desert as desperation in Paris, Texas, ...the saucy spirit of persistence in Buena Vista Social Club, the fun "Oh I forgot how happy music makes me" in Chicken Skin Music. There are so many. And whats amazing is that there is hardly an album or soundtrack that you don't listen to - I mean really listen.

This is another amazing effort. Full of depression and unionizations references. There is Buddy (the buddy system), Lefty (left - get it), J. Edgar the pig (you can do this one yourself). Characters, good and bad, the truck drivers, the Klan (Republiklans), the poll police (the man) and the wonderful farmer's daughter.

I think the message could have been stronger. Pete Seeger is definitely part of the inspiration. He was master of the alagory - but he had to be. Those were the days when the man would pop out of nowhere and you would be gone (maybe lost to the coyotes). Seeger let his listener pull the power of the issue out of his prose. Ry Cooder could have been abit more "in our face" with these issues. 'Chavez Ravine' proves he has a punch.

But - fear not - this is too good to pull back a star. Listen to it and tell the younger folks that there were times when it was hard - really hard - to find the bright side.

Sorry Ry..........2007-06-12

...but this album borders on the juvenile. And the songs are poorly phrased. This package is destined for the bargain bins.
Now, let's hear from more of those folks who couldn't write a negative review if their life depended on it....Those are the ones that always wind up at the top of Amazon's Customer reviews.

ry cooder at his best.......2007-06-08

love the story line which gets across the message in such a subtle way- who would love a cat named buddy!!

Ry's own voice.......................................2007-05-31

A bit of a "return to his own roots" effort in that Ry:

(a) sings in a style I remember him most for, that is, in a straightforward unstrained manner, as he did on his earlier albums that I admired so much, and
(b) brings back to the arena some political folk sentiments, so we have some Woody Guthrie/Pete Seeger sprinklings along the way.

And he also brings along something rather new for him, a concept album built along a developing lyrical theme. So we have a story line that runs the length of the album.

As always, excellent sidemen and women bring invaluable contributions. But my first thiought on hearing this was that Ry was letting his own voice take its rightful place in the mix again, not so much at the expense of spotlighting his string playing and the guests.

The Civil War - Traditional American Songs And Instrumental Music Featured In The Film By Ken Burns: Original Soundtrack Recording

Average customer rating:

Civil War
Great Job
Very relaxing
A great peice of Civil War history.
Music Befitting This Most Tragic of Wars

The Civil War - Traditional American Songs And Instrumental Music Featured In The Film By Ken Burns: Original Soundtrack Recording

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns
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The Lovers' Waltz

ASIN: B000005J0O
Release Date: 1990-12-29

Tracks:

Drums Of War - Old Bethpage Brass Band
Quote - Oliver Wendall Holmes
Ashokan Farewell - NA
The Battle Cry Of Freedom - NA
We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder - NA
Dixie/Bonnie Blue Flag - The New American Brass Band
Cheer Boys Cheer - The New American Brass Band
Angel Band - Russ Barenburg
Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier - Jacqueline Schwab
Lorena - Jay Ungar
Parade - The New American Brass Band
Hail Columbia - The New American Brass Band
Dixie - Bobby Horton
Kingdom Coming - Jay Ungar
Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Matt Glaser
All Quiet On The Potomic - Jacqueline Schwab
Flag Of Columbia - Jacqueline Schwab
Weeping Sad And Lonely - Jacqueline Schwab
Yankee Doodle - The Old Bethpage Brass Band
Palmyra Schottische - The New American Brass Band
When Johnny Comes Marching Home - The Old Bethpage Brass Band
Shenandoah - John Colby
When Johnny Comes Marching Home - M. Manson
Marching Through Georgia - J. Ungar
Marching Through Georgia(Lament) - Jacqueline Schwab
Battle Cry Of Freedom - Jacqueline Schwab
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Ashokan Farewell/Sullivan Ballou Letter - Paul Roebling

Customer Reviews:

Civil War.......2007-07-16

Great soundtrack. Anyone who is interested in the civil war and its music will like this. Very soothing. Great violin.

Great Job.......2007-05-13

I can always count on Amazon to have products I can't find anywhere else.
I love it......
The Service with Amazon is excellent too.

Thanks for being there.

Very relaxing.......2007-03-31

This CD is nearly as relaxing as a Deepak Chopra CD. I am a voice in the chorus in that I originally bought it for use in a U.S. History class, but the Cd is great in its own right. Especially with tracks like Ashokan Farewell, and Battle Hymn of the Republic, this CD really is an amazing peace of work (although Ashokan Farewell isn't actually from the Civil War).

A great peice of Civil War history........2007-02-14

This CD is a good buy for any Civil War buff. Even though it was intended for use as a soundtrack I would recomend it. It has many of the time honored songs that we associate with the period and the sound quality is great. I bought this CD with the intention of useing it in a high-school U.S History class, but it as has good non-educational merit.

Music Befitting This Most Tragic of Wars.......2007-02-12

Why does it seem that some music becomes intrinsically connected to an event? Perhaps I should have said why is there such an affinity between certain soundtracks and the subject material? One thinks of films as wide-ranging as Twelve Monkeys (Astor Piazzolla), Lonesome Dove (Basil Poledouris) or Schindler's List (John Williams) and the music seems as integral to the film as the dialogue. That's the way it is in this case. That soulful, rising and falling sound of the violin, the rustic tunes with rural roots - all accentuate those terrible times with beauty and pathos. To put it bluntly, I find it difficult to believe that there will ever be a greater match between the visual and audible than is the case here. My Grade - A

Average customer rating:

Classic Wilco
good the first listen better every time
Give yourself time
tweedster
Phenomenal

Sky Blue Sky (CD/DVD)
Wilco
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jeff Tweedy - Sunken Treasure - Live in the Pacific Northwest
The Search
New Moon

ASIN: B000P6R6X8
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

Intro (DVD)
Sky blue sky (DVD)
Impossible Germany (DVD)
Please Be Patient With Me (DVD)
Shake It Off (DVD)
Walken (DVD)
What Light (DVD)
Side with the Seeds (DVD)
Hate it here (DVD)
Credits (DVD)

Album Description

"Sky Blue Sky" has hints of early-seventies Southern California folk-rock sweetness in the harmonies. The album is filled with brash guitar solos that take songs like "You Are My Face" and "Shake It Off" in unexpected directions. The Deluxe Edition includes a bonus DVD, which contains more than 45 minutes of footage of the band performing songs from Sky Blue Sky. The DVD also contains interview segments with all six band members. The film was directed by Christoph Green and Fugazi's Brendan Canty, the creators of the Jeff Tweedy solo concert film, Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the acclaimed documentary series, Burn to Shine.

Customer Reviews:

Classic Wilco.......2007-07-24

This new album, much anticipated, is simply classic Wilco. It's a little more stripped back and less "experimental" than the recent "A Ghost is Born" or "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"

Tweedy's vocals are as penetrating as ever. I think for instance on track 2 "You are My Face". After a dazzling guitar solo, Tweedy, with so much depth and passion, cries "I have no idea how this happens." That line alone is worth the price of the album.

Track 3, "Impossible Germany" is a catchy little song.

"Please Be Patient with Me" is a profound song written for Tweedy's wife.

Get the deluxe version with the DVD for the videos are fun to watch and Tweedy's explanation of the songs are interesting and illuminating.

This is a stand-up album from a band that seems to only get better.

good the first listen better every time.......2007-07-21

this is a great album. admitedly, I had very little Wilco in my music vocabulary to begin with. i had heard a few songs here and there and had a few songs in compilation cd's, but i kind of knew I would like them. I was not dissapointed. Kind of a greatful dead sounding folk / roots sound. I got the copy with the dvd. the dvd is cool with the interviews and live performances in the band's studio. kind of get the feel of hanging out with them. *****

Give yourself time.......2007-06-27

I made a mistake when I listened to this for the first time. I expected it to touch me and move me the way Wilco's previously records have, immediately. There is no way any album can meet that expectation. But its a mistake I, and others, make all the time. Some folks only want a fresh take on what they already know they like. This is not re-gurg rock. Its not YHF. Its not A Ghost is Born. Its Sky Blue Sky.

Here I am one month later and I really love this album. I found everything I want from a Wilco record in Sky Blue Sky. The roller coasters are there, its just not the same ride as before. Nor should it be. The hooks are there where you least expect them. The irritating moments of the first few listens (Shake it Off's tempo or Impossible Germany's verbiage) have long faded. Whats left is satisfying and heartfelt.

Let yourself get lost in it and you too can find exactly what you didn't know you were looking for.

tweedster.......2007-06-21

every wilco album is a must have. this one even has less noise then there past couple albums. sometimes noise, well, is annoying. this is a great album

Phenomenal.......2007-06-21

Best CD of the 21st Century. Although it is both lyrically and sonically dense and much can be said for the artistry, it just makes me smile.

Alternative fans will love it, as will fans of folk music. I think rock and country fans will enjoy it quite a bit as well. Metal only fans may want to look elsewhere.

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