Bittersweet

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Band was formed in 1997 in San Francisco. All live band members are high tech professionals from Silicon Valley. Singer/songwriter "tia" composed and wrote the songs. She has been writing songs since college. Arrangements were done by brothers - Rich and Bo Razon. Bo Razon has released his own album for BMG in Asia, is also a Cuban music teacher at a major university. Rich has his roots in rock, forming a band while in college. Julian Brown is a classical violinist who studied in England, a computer professional/scholar and is also a published author of the book "Quantum Computing - Mind Machines and the Multiverse" (available on Amazon.com).

Album Description
Music is a soothing fusion of rock with Latin overtones. Rock, Reggae, Zouk, samba and latin jazz are combined to create a unique signature sound. All original compositions, music was the #1 selling CD on MP3 when released. Musical instruments such as the tres from Cuba, balimbing from the Philippines, guiro, and an amazing classical violin are used in the various songs.

Tracks:

Come Away With Me (originally by Norah Jones)
Yellow (originally by Coldplay)
Here With Me (originally by Dido)
Millennium (originally by Robbie Williams)
Hero (originally by Enrique Iglesius)
What Can I Do (originally by The Corrs)
Flying Without Wings (originally by Westlife)
Everybody Hurts (originally by REM)
Every Breath You Take (originally by The Police)
Let It Be (originally by The Beatles)
A Whiter Shade Of Pale (originally by Procol Harum)
Nights In White Satin (originally by The Moody Blues)
Candle In The Wind (originally by Elton John)
Imagine (originally by John Lennon)

Tracks:

Beautiful Day (originally by U2)
Champagne Supernova (originally by Oasis)
Handbags & Gladrags (originally by Stereophonics)
Why Does It Always Rain On Me (originally by Travis)
Livin' On A Prayer (originally by Bon Jovi)
Layla (originally by Derek & The Dominos)
Stairway To Heaven (originally by Led Zeppelin)
Bat Out Of Hell (originally by Meat Loaf)
Run To You (originally by Bryan Adams)
China In Your Hand (originally by T'Pau)
Torn (originally by Natalie Imbruglia)
Bittersweet Symphony (originally by The Verve)
Good Vibrations (originally by The Beach Boys)
Bohemian Rhapsody (originally by Queen)

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Pure & Beautiful.......2005-10-31

If you buy no other classical music, buy this collection. CD 1 (Relax) is perfect for dinner, quiet entertaining or just soft music while you're working. From "Come Away With Me", to "Whiter Shade of Pale" to "Knights in White Satin"... each piece is it's own movement - and moved you will be... Perfect for a romantic evening. CD2 is more robust, but equally entertaining. "Layla", "Livin On A Prayer", Stairway to Heaven", "Run to You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" - you owe it to yourself to hear these licks performed by the RPO.

Symphonic Rock.......2005-07-25

It really isn't rock, but it is a very pleasant presentation of popular music, rendered in creative ways by a full symphony orchestra. It sounds like the orchestra had a great time making these CD's.

pleasant easy listening.......2005-07-19

It's not extremely interesting music, but nice background, relaxing and pleasant with full orchestra. Not a bad buy at all!

Excellent CD.......2005-03-20

I received this as a present and at first I wasn't sure if I would like it because I don't like some of the original songs, but there's something about hearing the orchestra play that makes me like all of them. Just try it out.

luke.......2004-12-12

well, if you like elevator music then you should get this cd. if not then dont waste your time, its lame. big time lame. just listen to the audio samples im so glad i didn't waste my money on this piece of crap.

Bittersweet [Limited Edition w/ Bonus DVD]

Average customer rating:

WOW SHOCK~~~~
I'd Rather Sleep In The Middle
Arista records should be ashamed..
Her promoters need to be shot!!!
A buy.... but only if you must.

Bittersweet [Limited Edition w/ Bonus DVD]
Blu Cantrell
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00009PJSU
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Tracks:

I Love You
Sleep In The Middle
Unhappy
Impatient
Breathe (Rap Version)
Risk It All
Don't Wanna Say Goodbye
Happily Ever After
Holding On To Love
Let Her Go
Make Me Wanna Scream
No Plave Like Home

Amazon.com

Despite living in a generation of R&B females overshadowed by the indomitable Mary J. Blige, Blu Cantrell can hang. Blessed not only with a strong voice, but a jazzy style that comes across more subtly on this, her sophomore effort, than on 2001's So Blu. Bittersweet finds her teamed at various points with a handful of hot producers, ubiquitous dancehall artist Sean Paul, and some predictable lyrics, but nonetheless showcases a supple vocalist with her own mind. At the same time, Cantrell recalls some of the best of her influences on the Stevie Wonder-like "No Place Like Home" and "Happily Ever After," which would've fit in on any number of Prince records. If Cantrell continues to get the attention she deserves, she may well prove to be an artist we'll be following for decades. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

WOW SHOCK~~~~.......2006-12-22

She has a voice that is amazing and she sounds really great. How is it that we don't see her at all performing or receiving any awards??? That is a surprise to me I love Blu Cantrell when she first came out I enjoy her music. I just don't get the industry to not have her out there doing anything with an album as great as this??

I'd Rather Sleep In The Middle.......2006-10-08

Reflecting on some of the great songs of the past sends you right back to cd's like 'Bittersweet'. Packed with great vocals and great lyrics. I thought 'Sleep in the middle' would have been a huge hit. Music is suffering and why are the great ballads being passed over for one note, one beat songs. How did Mariah manage to sell so many copies of ' Mimi'? Why is Blu not doing so well. Mariah can sing but her songs have little emotion. Blu is the complete opposite. Help someone, please help the music industry. Help the great singers to reach platinum - please promote them well. I am looking forward to more music from Blu.

Arista records should be ashamed.........2006-07-27

Blu Cantrell has one of the best voices in the industry. "Sleep In The Middle" had the potential to be a huge hit. So why didn't Arista records promote it?? The only single released was "Breathe" which was not well promoted. If you want people to buy your products you need to PROMOTE them!!!! Maybe they should go back to college and take marketing/business classes over again. This underrated cd has some great cuts on it. "Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" and "Holding On To Love" are two more of my favorites. If you like r+b/soul music check this cd out.

Her promoters need to be shot!!!.......2005-08-30

Blu Cantrell is very beautiful and very talented! So why then, is she not a superstar? Probably-hate to say- it is her age which I believe is in her mid thirties. That is too bad because I love Blu's voice. This album is very different in the fact that Blu's voice is powerful but with a slight jazz style. Her lyrics are very mature and is straight "grown folks music" that should be appreciated. On Sleep in the Middle Blu really blows the song out of the water! I also like Unhappy and Let her go! Blu emotes a certain type of pain and joy (which ever type of song at the time) that isn't found in too many artists. She knows what the hell she is talking about yall! I think Blu Cantrell's music is very focused and it almost seems as if Blu isn't following any cut song format... just singing!
She does uptempo too. Breathe(with Sean Paul) and Impatient(with Lil Kim and Fat Joe).Happily Ever After that is very jazzy!
I recommend this Cd highly. I didn't appreciate it at first but I had to realize what a gem this is!
My favs: Sleep in the Middle, Unhappy, Let her go, Risk it all, and Breathe

A buy.... but only if you must........2005-03-13

Not the worst R&B I've ever heard, but she's no Billy H., or even Erykah B. Something is missing here but it's difficult to say exactly what. This album is technically proficient, yet lacks the sexual subtlety or painful authenticity of a really great musical work. If your looking for either of these qualities, then go try Billy's stuff. Buy this to bop your head, but buy Billy to blow your mind.

Average customer rating:

Cher: Bittersweet-The Love Songs Collection (1999)
Simply Stellar! Simply Cher!
TORCHY & SOULFUL CHER CLASSIC! BRAVO CHER!!!
My favorite music of Cher....Bittersweet- The Love Songs Col
bitter not...

Bittersweet: The Love Songs Collection
Cher
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

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The Way of Love: The Cher Collection
I Paralyze
Half Breed
It's a Man's World
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves

ASIN: B00000HZCZ
Release Date: 1999-01-26

Tracks:

By Myself
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
Am I Blue
How Long Has This Been Going On
The Man I Love
Jolson Medley: Sonny Boy/My Mammy/Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
More Than You Know
Why Was I Born
The Man That Got Away
What'll I Do
The Long And Winding Road
Greatest Song I Ever Heard
David's Song
It Might As Well Stay Monday
Don't Try To Close A Rose
He'll Never Know
The Way Of Love

Customer Reviews:

Cher: Bittersweet-The Love Songs Collection (1999).......2005-05-12

Simply Stellar! Simply Cher!.......2005-04-08

Having completely worn out 3 copies of the "Bittersweet White Light" LP, I was glad to see the songs on a CD. This album is by far my all-time favorite of Cher's recordings. It's such an overlooked classic that it does deserve a new listen. I remember the day I bought the first copy of the original lp. I listened to it for 3 straight hours until turning it off to get some sleep. I played it so much that I went through 3 copies of the album before finally putting away a new and still sealed copy that I have today. One day I'll open it and transfer it to CD. Boy, were my neighbors ever glad that I moved!!

Believe me, transferring from an LP to CD is such a great thing to do. The sound is so much richer and more lush than that of a factory produced CD. Factory bought may be pristine but they cannot capture the lushness and richness of an LP; it's just not possible technically. I'll take the occasional 'pop' or 'tik' any day. I've transferred all of Cher's recordings to CD rather than purchasing the factory produced product. Unfortunately, most of her 70's work isn't available on an album by album basis. Seems there's always 'bonus tracks' or 'extra tracks' , etc.; Doing them myself, I have just the 10 or 11 tracks that are on a particular album. They sound lush, rich and gorgeous when compared to the factory produced products. Try it and see for yourself. You'll know what I'm talking about after you've transferred music from LP' to CD's.

Cher was only 27 when she laid down the vocals to the standards she chose to sing. She's truly an old soul as she sounds many, many years older than 27. She made these songs her own. This was pre-Ronstadt and pre-Natalie Cole. Cher started the trend and I wish she would revisit these songs and re-record them. She now has the life experience to give to them. Who knows, maybe she do just that. With Cher, anything is possible. Lucky for us it is. Having seen her in concert with Sonny in 1973 & early 1974, then seeing her twice this year, I'm very lucky and grateful to have had the opportunity to hear her sing live on those four occasions.

Do yourself a favor and by this CD already! The sooner you do, the sooner you can bask in just how great this part of her work truly is. You can't explain it. You just have to experience it for yourself. You'll see...

TORCHY & SOULFUL CHER CLASSIC! BRAVO CHER!!!.......2004-05-13

"Bittersweet White Light" has for many years been my favorite Cher classic set as it captures the timeless Diva at her soulful best in a great collection of all time classic standards! Opening with a great rhythmic "By Myself", it is clear that Cher knows her way with a great song and completely in her own way!! This original classic stylist continues with a haunting take on "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good" that is bluesy and soulfully stirring and fades into a brilliant version of "Am I Blue?" that is passionate and powerfully sung. "How Long Has This Been Going On" becomes a soulful athem that beautifully flows into a riveting and soulfully sung up-tempo "The Man I Love" which is breathtaking and beautiful. A really memorable hightlight is a classic Medley inspired by Cher's great solo moments from "The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour" is a complete winner and never has Cher sounded better than on "Sonny Boy", "My Mammy", and "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody". Another standard that is given a great and soulful workout by Cher is "More Than You Know" and also the wildly rhythmic "Why Was I Born" which flows into a mesmerizing and hauntingly glorious version of Judy Garland's "The Man That Got Away" which would have thrilled Garland herself!!! Credit for this daring and inspired masterpiece must also go to the late and great Sonny Bono whose vision of Cher's greatness produced this wonderful and sadly overlooked classic which was brilliantly arranged by Michel Rubini whose masterful keyboard playing add greatly to the magnificence of the songs throughout. Bonus tracks include a great version of "What'll I Do?", a moving "Greatest Song I Ever Heard", a stunning "Don't Try To Close A Rose", and the masterfully sung "He'll Never Know" & "The Way Of Love" which closes this collection of beautifully sung Cher Classics!!! BRAVO CHER!!!!!!!!!

My favorite music of Cher....Bittersweet- The Love Songs Col.......2003-10-15

I TOTALLY agree with the "music fan of USA". This is the type of music I wish Cher would re-create. This music came from the Sonny & Cher show and her own show in the 70's.

I love her music from the 70's and that is why I listen to today. I don't care for Cher's music of today. (Just my opinion)Give me her older music like this CD.

My older sister and I were a TOTAL Sonny & Cher fan! We never missed it on tv! She sang the majority of these songs on the series & she looked BEAUTIFUL. The fun part was always wondering what kind of outfit she would be wearing and what color her nails were going to be! We were in TOTAL AWE of her!

When I saw this CD at the store, it brought back a lot of wonderful memory's! I remember my sister listening to this album in her room with the sound blasting. So when I bought this CD, I remembered ALL of the words of the songs. It's GREAT!

Hey females,...you will be empowered by, "By Myself". Play it very load!.

Best regards,
Diane

bitter not..........2002-08-04

It makes some sense for Cher to record an album of standards. She hit on a few that worked back on her TV show, and there are hints of the right sound in some songs like "The Way of Love." But to really sing the standards, you either have to invest your life in them, like a Rosemary Clooney, or -- like Linda Ronstadt -- study like a monk and train like a triathlete. Cher did none of the above in putting most of these disasterous recordings together. Add the tricked-up arrangements and you've got the worst collection of standards I've ever heard. I love Cher, but this is the least successful combination of singer and genre since "Merman sings Disco." Nice cover photo.

Average customer rating:

"Drop all your troubles by the riverside..." -Blood Sweat and Tears

Bittersweet Sixteen
Black 47
Manufacturer: Gadfly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Home of the Brave

ASIN: B000EOTW06
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Tracks:

Home Of The Brave
Funky Ceili
For What It's Worth
My Love Is In New York
Downtown Baghdad Blues
Southside Chicago Waltz
Big Fellah
Bobby Sands, MP
Road To Ruin
Voodoo City
Staten Island Baby
Losin' It
Danny Boy
Patriot Game
Forty Deuce
Joe Hill's Last Will

Customer Reviews:

"Drop all your troubles by the riverside..." -Blood Sweat and Tears.......2006-03-21

Time passing has a way of creeping up behind your turned back and slapping you right in the face when you least expect it.
I don't think of myself at 16 years of age when I reflect on the title "Bittersweet Sixteen",
(the less I reflect on years spent in near worship of Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue the better...)
I think of where time has brought me in the past sixteen years.
That is, from 1990 to here and now.
Very pleased to have Black47's music amongst my personal soundtrack for those years,
Bittersweet Sixteen could have easily been writen off as an appriciated but none the less, cop-out greatest hits compilation,
(a road many great bands before them have gone down in effort to get one last bang out of a wanning career)
Much like Black47 however the album refuses to be pigeon-holed so easily into a rock and roll stereotype.
It's good.
Really good.
The first track, Home of the Brave having not appeared on the Black47 album that bears that name,was a surprise to me however, I do like a show that begins with a punch and that track ceratinly is a sucker punch if I ever felt one.
From there the disk eases the listener into the more familiar opening cry of "Bridie!",
off to twists and turns of a most delightful nature,
(John Denver and the Muppets team are the only other people to ever take Stephen Stills' "For what it's worth" for all it's worth...)
and round back again to the completely unfamiliar drop off at the end of Joe Hill.
No matter if your river be the Hudson, the Charles or points beyond, it's best to keep it flowing.
I guess the greatest compliment I can give this disk is that it's a nice one to have along for the ride.
Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Sometimes these things just don't work
an enterprising collection of gems!

Memento Bittersweet

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Out of the Depths
Kevin Oldham: Piano and Vocal Music

ASIN: B000003EL5
Release Date: 1994-04-12

Tracks:

Tango Bittersweet - Fred Hersch
Concerto for Piano - Kevin Oldham
God Is Our Righteousness - Chris DeBlasio
Triad-O-Rama - Lee Gannon
Variations on "Amazing Grace" - Lee Gannon

Customer Reviews:

Sometimes these things just don't work.......2003-09-12

I found this CD to be rather disappointing. I bought it for Fred Hersch's "Tango Bittersweet," a cello/piano duet featuring Erik Friedlander, but also hoped that the rest of the CD would be worthwhile.

Well...

First off, Tango Bittersweet is amazing. It's a truly beautiful, haunting piece of music, that is brilliantly performed by Friedlander and Hersch.

Secondly, Chris DeBlasio's "God Is Our Righteousness" for guitar and organ is also quite a nice work. It has a very majestic and expansive quality about it that I think is nicely pulled off by both composer and performers.

"Triad-O-Rama" by Lee Gannon and "Variations on 'Amazing Grace'" by Lee Gannon and Calvin Hampton, respectively, are unfortunately throw away pieces. They're rather cliched and trite.

This leaves Kevin Oldham's Concerto for Piano, a track I found myself coming back to a bit. It's a bit of an uneven oddball. It has its fantastic moments, but is generally rather sophomoric. It sounds to me as though he didn't truly finish revising this work, due to this uneven nature. And this is extremely frustrating, as the music provides several glimpses of what this piece was capable of becoming. It's still worth hearing...though it is a fitful listen.

Overall, you probably should pick up this CD for, if nothing else, the Hersch composition. The rest of the CD has its moments, but its otherwise nothing to write home about. The cause that prompted the CD is great, no doubt, but the actual product leaves something to be desired.

an enterprising collection of gems!.......2003-05-09

This is a compilation of works composed ... The heart of the CD is the Oldham Piano Concerto, an uneven work with some very shallow, trite gestures in the outer movements balanced by a very poignant slow movement. The guitar and organ piece is a gem, as is the delightful wind instrument work. Performances and recording is exemplary...I believe this CD is out of print, so snatch it up if you can. All the works are quite listenable and even more bittersweet since their composers are no longer with us. A "must"!

Average customer rating:

music to dream to
beautiful, gorgeous, romantic, lush...
In the Spirit and Vibe of the Cocteau Twins
Awesome female etherial music
Easy listening

Ever
Love Spirals Downwards
Manufacturer: Projekt Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Idylls
Ardor
Temporal
Flux
Mira

ASIN: B000000BE4
Release Date: 1997-06-24

Tracks:

El Pedregal
Sideways Forest
Madras
Last Classic
Ipomoea
Delta
Cay At Dawn
Promises
Lieberflusse
Ananda
Above The Lone

Amazon.com

Vocalist Suzanne Perry and guitarist Ryan Lum seem like just plain folks--you know, that cute couple from next door who invite you over every once in a while for a tofu stir-fry and sulfite-free wine. Ever, the band's third disc, telegraphs that kind of unassuming charm. It's a languid, atmospheric, but unfussy affair, built around Perry's airy, pretty voice and Lum's echoing electric and calming acoustic guitars. The dreamy, contemplative music is not unlike some of the Cocteau Twins' quieter moments. (Indeed, the strongest track here, "Delta," could have been plucked directly from the Twins' Blue Bell Knoll.) In many ways a transitional album, Ever sees LSD taking small steps away from the spare acousticness of 1992's Idylls and 1994's Ardor and tinkering with denser mixing and light electronic percussion--presaging the confident drum & bass they would employ on 1998's Flux. --Steve Landau

Customer Reviews:

music to dream to.......2006-10-13

Not alot of bands could even come close to sounding like the cocteau twins. LSD is probably that band. They create rich atmospheric music without sounding like knock-offs. Ryan lum is a genius guitar player suzzanne perrys voice floats over the music effortlessly. Ever is probably one of their best albums, all of the songs blend together seemlessly as if they all relate to each other. The music is just heavenly.

beautiful, gorgeous, romantic, lush..........2002-01-02

After a hard day at the rock quarry come home and kick off your shoes, jump in a hot bath with a glass of bubbly, turn on "Ever", and be transported on a gossamer breeze to a mystical, otherworldly, more relaxing realm.

In the Spirit and Vibe of the Cocteau Twins.......2001-07-26

This CD is completelely astounding! Its a band with an incredibly talented vocalist and an instrumentalist who seem to be inspired on taking the Cocteau Twins style of ambient/gothic dream-pop to a whole new level. All of LSD's albums are worth owning for any fan of this genre. Ever is my favorite because it has the spiritual vibe of their first two albums with the electro-hypnotic sound of Flux. This particualar album is in my opinion the best of both worlds in that respect. Along with Ardor, its perfect for meditation. You may have an out-of-body experience if you listen too intently! I hope LSD's upcoming release is more balanced like this than having the strictly drum n bass sound of Flux.

Awesome female etherial music.......2000-03-12

Few bands are essential to a music collection but LSD is perhaps the flagship of the "Heavenly Voices" genre.

Like much on the Projekt label, they are under appreciated, but if you like excellent etherial "heavenly voices" or "angelic" music, buy all three of their CD's. You won't regret it.

Easy listening.......1999-12-30

If you're hooked on Cocteau Twins, the finely-textured and ethereal music of LSD might be just the thing while you're waiting for the next CT album. Although many of the songs here sound quite similar, that's not necessarily a problem; there's not a bad track in the bunch, and the album as a whole has a pleasing, hypnotic quality. It deserves to be heard by a much larger audience.