Numbers [CD-single] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
The first Church release since 'Hologram of Baal' in 1998, 'Number's' is an EP highlighting the leading track from the forthcoming album 'After Everything, Now This'. Include 3 non-LP tracks. Tracklisting, 'Numbers (Album Version)', 'Numbers (Soft Mix)', 'Undo' & 'Oxydental'. 2001.

Tracks:

This Is a Song
You Never Had It
Take a Chance
Boy
Undecided
Slow Down (The Way It Goes)
Keep It In The Pocket
Take Me or Leave Me
Let Somebody In
Runnin' Out
Goodnight
All I See (hidden track)

From Amazon.co.uk

The second album from the Magic Numbers, Those the Brokes, finds this hirsute UK foursome--comprised of two brother/sister pairs, Michele and Romeo Stodart with Angela and Sean Gannon--expanding on the florid, harmonic pop vision showcased on their Mercury Music Prize-nominated 2005 debut. Importantly, it doesn't just mimic that album's most obvious tricks--or, indeed, the tricks of their forefathers (The Beach Boys, the Mamas and the Papas). Indeed, these 13 tracks often find the Magic Numbers eschewing straightforward breezy sing-alongs for more complex outings that boast a more nuanced understanding of shade and space, or hide firm, beating hearts underneath their diaphanous pop exteriors. Oh, OK, the opening "This Is a Song" prances along at a fleet-footed tempo, all lilting, interlocking voices and tumbling guitars. But "Take a Chance" comes on like a candy-flavoured Sonic Youth, breathy harmonies hiding choppy guitar crunch, while "Undecided"--a mid-album delight that sees Angela take the microphone for a bruised, bluesy paean to breaking up and making up--boasts the sort of vintage soul muscle that few, to date, have given the Magic Numbers credit for. Time to reconsider. --Louis Pattison

Album Description

The Magic Numbers are back with Those The Brokes, the stunning follow-up to their critically praised, self-titled debut. With the luxury of being able to revisit and remodel the album, released in the UK late last year, The Magic Numbers now offer up a superior, revised and re-sequenced US version of Those The Brokes. By forgoing the ballad-heavy leaning of the UK track listing in favor of a better paced, more varied tempo song mix, this US version of Those The Brokes provides the most engaging presentation yet of The Magic Number's extraordinary heartwarming guitar-pop whose fan club includes Noel Gallagher and Brian Wilson as members.

Customer Reviews:

I love you best.......2007-07-17

Longing and broken love, played in uptempo indiepop and wistful ballads.

That's what the Magic Numbers played in their self-titled debut, and that's what they play in their sophomore album "Those the Brokes" -- painful, prettily sparkling pop music. It would have benefited from a song or two being trimmed off, but the English quartet sound more polished and assured.

It opens with gentle glockenspiel and a murky guitar melody, before blooming out into a sprightly little pop tune. "I don't wanna tell her/No don't want to tell her/I lie awake in the dark/Lost in the beat of my heart," Romeo Stodart sings mournfully. "And if it hurts me baby you know why/I go it alone/Hurt me baby if you like/It's already gone..."

It's a bit too pop, I have to admit. But they embrace a more sweeping, catchy melody in the layered "You Never Had It," with some squiggle synth and ringing guitar riffs. From there, they try out all sorts of pop music: peppy dancey stuff, mellow bouncy tunes, some fun alt-rock, folk-edged string melodies, and meditative little ballads, ending with the folksy, fond "Goodnight."

If "Those the Brokes" has a flaw, it's that it's about two songs too long. But on a musical level, it's a great combination -- like Camera Obscura, the two brother-sister pairs meld the mournful, wistful, achy lyrics encapsulated in shimmering, smooth pop confections. You're sad, but still the music is a bit uplifting.

Those melodies are spun out of some solid guitars (both solidly acoustic and blurrily cycling), some undulating basslines and drums for the basic beats. But they're also dressed up in some extra instrumentation -- melodica, weeping strings, some really exquisite glockenspiel tinkling, and what sounds like a trumpet in "Undecided." It's much the same as in their first album, but here it's deeper, smoother and more layered.

Siblings Romeo and Michelle Stodart provide most of the vocals, and they both have mellow, full-bodied voices that can be either mournful, or sprightly (depending on the tune). They mainly sing about loves lost or broken, with writing that's solid but not exceptional just yet: "What you gonna do when she turns around/And says you broke another heart that was broken down/It's a crying shame, that the love you've made/Is a cross that you bear when it's cold..."

"Those the Brokes" is a solid, polished second album, and expands on the sound that the Magic Numbers crafted in their debut -- an enjoyable pop album full of woe.

Average customer rating:

Infectious fun, upbeat music
Pretty Good
Sweet Mini-Suites
Los Numeros de Magico
I am SO ECSTATIC that I stumbled upon this wonderful group called "The Magic Numbers".

The Magic Numbers
The Magic Numbers
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000B66PP2
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Mornings Eleven
Forever Lost
The Mule
Long Legs
Love Me Like You
Which Way To Happy
I See You, You See Me
Don't Give Up The Fight
This Love
Wheels On Fire
Love's A Game
Try
Hymn For Her

Amazon.com

In an age of vigorously-marketed rag-trade clothes horses, Trinidad/New York/London collective the Magic Numbers are an anomaly; a word-of-mouth phenomenon whose affable live shows have been compared to happy clappy religious experiences and whose music--an unfashionable blend of soft country pop with Fifties and Sixties inflections--is evidently more important to them than the intercession of style gurus and hairdressers. The "kids" are converted and the band's self-titled debut album may prove to be the most surprising success story of the year. Comprising two pairs of siblings, the Stodarts (singer and songwriter Romeo; the girth of a bear, the hair and beard of a friendly fairy-tale giant and the voice of a mouse; sister Michelle on bass, keyboards, vocals) and the Gannons (the equally hirsute Sean on drums; sister Angela on vocals, melodica and percussion) the familial ties shine through in the wholesome, harmonious nature of it all, from the skiffle of "Long Legs" and the upbeat Undertones-flavoured pop of "Love Me Like You" to the melting, dreamy teen frustration dialogues of "Love's a Game" and "I See You, You See Me". The Magic Numbers offer conclusive proof that math isn't boring. --Kevin Maidment

Customer Reviews:

Infectious fun, upbeat music.......2007-01-11

These guys are a huge hit in the UK, and I can see why. You can't help but feel upbeat when you listen to them. Their music is just plain FUN and a good pick-me-up!

Pretty Good.......2006-12-27

How do you conjure up 60's sunshine while still being contemporary enough to crack the current market? They do as good job as can be done with that impossible task. Some of the slower songs a grating.

Sweet Mini-Suites.......2006-11-16

This album was on a few of the more esoteric Best of 2005 lists and drew comparisons to The Mamas and The Papas, a reference we hadn't heard in a while. So we bought it. It is indeed a fine cd. Although we see "M&P" similarities, they seem more cosmetic than substantive. Like The Mamas and The Papas, the Magic Numbers are composed of 2 men and 2 women (although, because they are brother-sister pairs, their chances of similar intra-group romantic upheavals appear less likely). Like "The M&Ps", they are led by an excellent songwriter (male) with a penchant for crafting ear-grabbing pop hooks. Moreover, the chirpy harmonies of the female members of the group (one of whom, coincidentally, bears the same name as a corresponding Mama) are indeed reminiscent of those sunny vocals provided by Mamas Cass and Michelle. But The Mamas and The Papas were mostly about 3-minute pop ditties and effervescent 4-part harmonies. The Magic Numbers take a somewhat different tack. Most of these songs run in the neighborhood of 5 minutes, not 3. This allows writer Romeo Stodart (who hails from Trinidad, not California) to change tempos and moods, thereby stretching boundaries as he turns pop songs into mini-suites. There is also more room for instrumentation this way. While the production is spare, instrumental performances and flourishes are as important to The Magic Numbers sound as their vocals (something that cannot be said for "The M&Ps"). In fact, if there is a caveat to this record, it would be with regard to the wispy (a crueler man might substitute an "m" for the "s" in that word) vocals of lead singer Romeo. We must admit, however, that, after first perceiving them as a drawback, we have come to find them an interesting and apropos match for the airy, infectious and complex songs in which they are found.

Los Numeros de Magico.......2006-09-09

I actually hated this album when I first got it (it was a Christmas present) but now I love it. It's one of my favorite albums. They rock. They look scary but they're not, really. They are much better than stuff my friends listen to, like Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson and all those people. One time one of my friends asked me "What are you listening to?" because I had my headphones in. I said, "Love me Like You." I expected her not to know what that was. She said that she loved The Magic Numbers and she had their CD.
The best songs on here are "Love me Like You", "Don't Give up the Fight", (I am seriously going to use that for the theme song for the TV show I'm writing) and "Hymn for Her".
I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! Where's my Magic Numbers T-shirt?
P.S. I need to find out which sister has the high voice, Michele or Angela. I have a hunch it's Angela.

I am SO ECSTATIC that I stumbled upon this wonderful group called "The Magic Numbers"........2006-08-15

I was listening to XM Cafe one day in my car, and this group was live in studio. They played several songs before I exited my car and I was hooked! I went directly to my computer and ordered this disc. It has not disappointed. Their music is so surprising. Just when you think that the song is going in one direction, it totally evolves into a 'hook' that is at least half of the song. The harmonies are just fabulous, and they sound just green enough to give one the hope that the next disc will be better than this one. The song 'I See You, You See Me' has the clever give and take of two people who have crushes on each other, but have been friends first and aren't aware the each other's feelings have evolved into more. The violin music on 'This Love' intertwines through the song and is so plaintive and gorgeous and showcases the sheer musical genius of these four. My favorite songs are 'Don't Give Up The Fight' and 'Loves A Game'. All of these songs (as in many first efforts of groups) contain the hopes, feelings and pain of life experience in them and it all pours out into song. This is why every song is so special. This is the best group that you are not listening to.

Average customer rating:

Could we "Imagine A Man" that hasn't upgraded to the CD version with 3 bonus tracks?
A Respectable Close to 10 Years of Brilliance (* * * 1/2)
Stunning Powerful and Underrated. Buy This CD
The First Song About The Internet
Empty Glass part. 1

The Who by Numbers
The Who
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002P2W
Release Date: 1996-11-19

Tracks:

Slip Kid
However Much I Booze
Squeeze Box
Dreaming From The Waist
Imagine A Man
Success Story
They Are All In Love
Blue, Red, And Grey
How Many Friends
In A Hand Or A Face
Squeeze Box (Live)
Behind Blue Eyes (Live)
Dreaming From The Waist (Live)

Amazon.com

This 1975 collection excels in large part due to its modest goal. It's the Who's singer-songwriter record. Without the ostensible shield his "rock operas" provided, Pete Townshend's personal demons strut about nakedly. Not a pretty sight, but an involving spectacle nevertheless. "They Are All in Love" and "How Many Friends" are forgotten Who songs, but they've aged beautifully. John Entwistle's "Success Story" sequences nicely with the rest of the album. And "However Much I Booze," "Dreaming from the Waist," and "In a Hand or a Face" are great decade-early exercises in mid-life self-pity. There are only three bonus tracks here--live versions of "Squeeze Box," "Dreaming from the Waist," and the earlier "Behind Blue Eyes"--but By Numbers is such a cohesive collection that they're less welcome extras than annoying distractions. Still, By Numbers now stands as one of the linchpins in a great band's catalog. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Could we "Imagine A Man" that hasn't upgraded to the CD version with 3 bonus tracks?.......2007-07-12

Amazon Reviews

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.

It may seem bizarre or even irrational that a band with the magnitude of the Who could have a record that is underrated on all accounts. "By Numbers" is raw in your face rock and roll without any apologies needed. Townshend not only has ripped his heart out but each of us feels his incision. The lyrics are stunning for their brutal honesty. Townshend asks how many friends do I really got? Between the demons of alcohol and the self-doubt of those that latch on to his fame, Townshend has painted a masterpiece that gets better with age.

Without stretching the limit here, it is possible the most played tune from the album "Squeeze Box" could be the weakest. That should tell you about the plethora of material. The opening track "Slip Kid" should leave no fan wondering how superlative the music will be. When Roger tells us "There's no easy way to be free" and Pete chimes in "It's a hard world" you have been hit with a ton of bricks and the festivities are first beginning.

"However Much I Booze" keeps the freight train of pain rolling. "There aint no way out." "Squeeze Box" gives us time to recover from the onslaught. Don't get too comfortable because the opening notes of "Dreaming From The Waist" hits you between the eyes with a sledgehammer. "I feel like I'm heading up to a cardiac arrest." The following track "Imagine A Man" delivers the haunting message "And you'll see the end." "Success Story" (Written by Entwhistle) shows the fear of aging with a subtle line "The big break better happen soon because I'm pushing twenty-one." Roger could sing "They Are All In Love" another thousand times and the message would never be more resident than the version on the LP. A fair question is posed, were do we fit in? "Blue, Red, And Grey" is a work of beauty. Townshend's phrasing of the vocals puts you in his current mind set. When Roger tells us "You could count them on one hand", it is obvious what Pete was conveying. The rock star could have hundreds of hangers on but the question is always how many friends do I really got? The final track "In A Hand Or A Face" continues Townshend's spiral of self-doubt. "I am going round and round."

It's been over thirty years since "By Numbers" hit the record shops. It never fails to leave the same impact as it did on the first listen. Lately if you have been listening to the brilliant "Live At Leeds", "Tommy", "Who's Next", or "Quadrophenia" rediscover the genius contained here. If you look for the remastered edition with the three live bonus tracks, the numbers are even greater in your favor.

Keith and John we miss you greatly!

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

A Respectable Close to 10 Years of Brilliance (* * * 1/2).......2007-07-06

The casual fan who scans the tracklist for The Who By Numbers will recognize only "Squeeze Box". To most such listeners, this is a singable, harmless ditty. To this Who fan, it is the lamest single that they ever released. Even if we forgive the inclusion of this song, The Who By Numbers is still the band's weakest album since A Quick One. This isn't a harsh criticism, since the nine intervening years between those two albums were stuffed with five of the best albums of the era, including one of the greatest live recordings in rock. At worst, By Numbers is a mediocre album by Who standards. At best, it is a refreshing return to a more modest, song-based approach, and a fine capstone for a magnificent decade-long streak for The Who.

By Numbers is invariably described as a confessional, singer/songwriter album, and several of the titles are indicative of the plaintive nature of many of the songs. These songs account for the album's finer moments, especially "They Are All In Love" and "How Many Friends?". "However Much I Booze" and "Blue, Red, and Grey" find Pete Townshend in fine voice, but neither are among the better songs on the album. By Numbers does have some harder-rocking tracks, including "Slip Kid" and the John Entwistle-penned "Success Story", both of which are okay but unremarkable. The album's closer, "In A Hand or A Face", is the best rocker on the album, and "Dreaming From the Waist" is another highlight, showcasing Roger Daltrey's voice in powerful but less testosterone-fueled form.

It is easy to write off The Who By Numbers as for completists only. After all, it lacks the reputation and number of well-known songs that its predecessors have. To do so would sell the record short. While I don't expect casual fans to eagerly seek it out, interested fans would be remiss to assume that The Who's creative well ran dry with Quadrophenia. There are some excellent songs on By Numbers, a few of which could easily become personal favorites of anyone willing to give them a listen. (That said, I should mention that I am not particularly interested in anything after this album that isn't included on compilations or live albums.)

Stunning Powerful and Underrated. Buy This CD.......2007-05-27

Nothing to say but Townshend at his most troubled and powerful. Perhaps it doesn't have the epic quality of Quadrophenia or the sonic marvels of Who's next, but the appeal here lies in the lyrics and the conviction in the vocals. Daltrey is at his most powerful on tracks like How many Friends where he is interpeting Petes lyrics magically. This is a must own. The weakest track is Squeeze Box but even that has an innocence that is refreshing. Great Great Stuff!!

The First Song About The Internet.......2007-03-26

Squeeze Box was their number one hit from the album. Little did anyone know at the time it was about the internet, and right on the money I might add. Come back in 37 years time to find out which song on their latest CD is about the far far away future that has got Pete bugged.

Empty Glass part. 1.......2007-01-29

Pete was a mess, the Who were a mess. This album works though, it reads like Pete's autobiography in 1975 "However much I booze, their ain't no way out" He would put out a solo album in 1980 called Empty Glass and it seems like these songs are the embryo of that album.

Average customer rating:

Hooks into You
Getting warmer... warmer... warmer...
Seduced after 2 listens
Dream a Little Dream
solid but a bit too sugary for my taste

Back Numbers
Dean & Britta
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Luna - Tell Me Do You Miss Me
Sonic Souvenirs
The Good, the Bad & the Queen
Sky Blue Sky
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ASIN: B000LXHGBC
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Tracks:

Singer Sing
Words You Used To Say
Wait For Me
You Turn My Head Around
Teen Angel
White Horses
Me & My Babies
Say Goodnight
Crystal Blue
The Sun Is Still Sunny
Our Love Will Still Be There

Amazon.com

The thoroughly excellent sophomore release by the two best-looking members of Luna should make any fans who bemoaned that group's demise happy as hell with its lovingly crafted cocktail hour visions. Back Numbers offers up perfect rainy day music on every graceful, laconic song. The album recalls the sophisticated, decadent sounds of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra throughout. Unsurprisingly, Hazlewood is covered on one song here but this is no cheesy retro exercise; in fact, no one has mined this type of material with such originality since Nick Cave approached it in the 1980s. Each song is imbued with a subtly different style, with nods to the hazy psychedelic folk-rock of Opal and Clay Allison on numbers like "Say Goodnight" and the steampunk synth washes of Sonic Boom (who performs on the album) and Suicide on "Singer Sing." Other numbers like "The Sun Is Still Sunny"--awash in sophisticated strings, hushed dual harmonies, a dash of piano and Mr. Wareham's warm and melodic guitar lines--don't sound like anyone else, at all. Huzzah! --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Hooks into You.......2007-06-21

Play this on the laptop through iTunes and the genre comes up as "easy listening". In fact, Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips were half of alt-rock favourites Luna who folded in 2005.

Here they position themselves either as terminally retro or somewhere ahead of the curve. They splice their originals with back numbers from Lee Hazlewood, Donovan Leitch and The Troggs. The pick of these is Britta's soaring take on Hazlewood's You Turn my Head Around.

Crystal Blue R.I.P. calls to mind contemporary singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt (of The Magnetic Fields). As does Dean's deadpan intonation on Words You Used to Say: "Glasses dirty, the drinks are dead. Happy birthday, have this you said/We're color coded, we're coded red. Those are words you used to say".

Best original is the velvety pop of The Sun is Still Sunny, with its laconic "inside my suitcase an orchestra plays". Boldest whimsy is Britta skipping through the cult 1960s TV-show theme White Horses. This attractive album hooks into you like a TV fishing show.

(Canberra Times June 2007)

Getting warmer... warmer... warmer..........2007-05-02

This CD is a solid set of songs that maintains continuity throughout, a rarity these days. A caveat however is that one person's "understated" is another's "boring". I would definitely rate this CD as understated but this is not a bad thing at all. The production is tastefully done, virtually all the songs feature a lovely stereo tremolo keyboard part to establish the mood lighting. Ultimately, this is a CD that demands to be listened to through headphones to demonstrate the amount of work that went into the elaborately constructed sonic space (see "Teen Angel"). Some songs however have a slightly unfinished feel to them, like demos that were only worked over once or twice. As one reviewer noted, the songs are somewhat sugary and while I agree it should be noted that they are not saccharine (an important distinction).

Songs that stick in my head are:
"You Turned My Head Around" features a deliciously 60s style, French girl chorus. I think this could have been a radio hit had Dean and Britta tweaked the bridge and finished writing the lyrics. I like it anyway though.

In "White Horses", Britta turns what would be a rather standard song into something else with her phrasing and delivery. The mini-chorus "on white horses, snowy white horses..." is the best simple vocal hook I've heard in recent memory. The song dissolves into a sonic farewell of keyboards, unfortunately not going anywhere too far but at least gives the impression that you've _been_ somewhere.

"Me and My Babies" has Dean singing on the verses before Britta comes in with some dreamy backing vocals on the chorus. A nicely floaty and meditative piece but again it feels unfinished.

The trend is obvious here. Back Numbers is a good CD but it would have benefitted from tighter songwriting and more fleshed out ideas. Oh yeah, and my girlfriend would like to point out that the "nah-nah-nah" section of "Say Goodnight" was lifted directly from Luna's "Romantica". These shortcomings aside, I think it will make a perfect lazy summer day soundtrack.

Seduced after 2 listens.......2007-04-29

Dream a Little Dream.......2007-04-21

Great follow up to L'Aventura which was a personal favorite from say the past five years. Back Numbers picks it right back up and sounds like Mazzy Star on Prozac. The harmonies are just about perfect esp on "Words You Used To Say" Other fav tracks are "Singer Sing" and "Our Love Will Still Be There." Although "You Turned My Head Around" shows Britta's vocal range it's a bit jarring. Overall -- GREAT CD!

solid but a bit too sugary for my taste.......2007-03-27

As a fan of Luna, I was underwhelmed by Dean and Britta's first CD. This time around, this is a much better CD -- there's a concerted effort to flesh out the sound of each track. But the tracks are still too whispery and cute and lovey for me. It sounds like they are creating these tracks for each other while they look into each others' eyes while sitting on the floor in their living room, if you know what I mean. If Dean werent on this CD I'd be giving it 2 stars.

Average customer rating:

One of the best crossover albums of all time
The Telluride Sessions (Strength In Numbers)
Bluegrass a little less blue
As fresh as ever
Acoustic fire!

The Telluride Sessions
Strength in Numbers
Manufacturer: Mca Nashville
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000006EJJ
Release Date: 1998-03-24

Tracks:

Future Man
Texas Red
Pink Flamingos
Duke And Cookie
One Winter's Night
Macedonia
The Lochs Of Dread
No Apologies
Slopes
Blue Men Of The Sahara

Amazon.com essential recording

This acoustic supergroup joined forces in the summer of 1988, and the result was a true landmark in "new acoustic" music. As if bluegrass (and even "newgrass") was too constricting, the quintet--Sam Bush (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Bela Fleck (banjo), Mark O'Connor (violin), and Edgar Meyer (bass)--incorporates classical-style themes and arrangements within the context of bluegrass instrumentation. Their unbelievable technique and musical ability was never in question; however, what makes the album special is the uncanny blend of precision and freedom, of improvisation and structure. Each of the 10 compositions were written by a different twosome (do the math permutations). Playful bluesy lopes ("Pink Flamingo") accompany tinges of reggae ("The Locks of Dread"), Celtic ("Macedonia"), and Middle Eastern ("Blue Men of the Sahara") music. There are urgent burners, somber mood pieces, and tender ballads, all delivered with grace. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

One of the best crossover albums of all time.......2007-03-08

The incredible chemistry of this ensemble of string wizards mixes bluegrass sounds with every other genre in a way not yet duplicated. Unreal. You must have this CD.

The Telluride Sessions (Strength In Numbers).......2007-01-12

I first heard the group "Strength In Numbers" years ago on a show called Lone Pine Special. The entire band was phenomenal. It took bluegrass in a whole new and exciting direction. Each player is amazing in his own right as well as mixing beautifully with the other players. Most of this music is what I consider a bluegrass jazz fusion. This is a wonderful CD to include in an otherwise standard collection of traditional bluegrass. The virtuosity of each of these musicians is mindboggling. Some of the cuts make you want to jump up and dance while others cause you to pause, intently listen, and examine the musical techniques presented. Being a banjo and guitar player myself, it was a real joy to listen to such prolific musicianship. I found myself challenged and awed by this CD. I highly recommend this CD.

Bluegrass a little less blue.......2006-12-13

Bluegrass remains in many ways a music that holds its devotees close but perhaps offers less to the uninitiated or to those for whom the insistance on rigorous adherence to some predefined bluegrass standard seems a bit self-involved. Often times reverence towards tradition and outright musical athleticism get in the way of what is at the core a very strong musical message. This CD is one that easily reaches across boundaries and, with bluegrass sensibilities intact but not binding, presents contemporary acoustic country at its best. The musicians present are all masters of their instruments and all have worked together and known each other for years. The music they produce seems almost effortless but at the same time conveys no sense of sloppiness or lack of professionalism. There is a clear musical statement here coupled with a strong feeling so that the musicianship serves an end rather than just becoming an end in itself. Standouts include One Winter's Night, Blue Men of the Sahara, and the wonderful mandolin duet on Macedonia featuring Sam Bush and reminding us that Mark O'Connor can play anything. For the bluegrass traditionalist, the music may seem heresy. For the rest of us, this is a wonderful recording suitable for repeated listening. Definitely not for bluegrass fans only.

As fresh as ever.......2006-09-07

I just bought it; 17 years after its release. Not that that should matter as I have purchased jazz recordings from the fifties. This CD is my first introduction to bluegrass or newgrass or whatever grass. I agree with some of the reviewers that this music is beyond classification. I don't think it gets any better than this. I love the melodies, the harmonies, musicianship and the quality of the recording. I listen to it at home and in the car. There are some world influences in couple of numbers. By the way, "Macedonia" has a Balkan tint to it, not celtic. Inspired by this CD I started tracking the recording of individual artists involved as the group represented a "summit" of sorts. Next thing I will be moving to the Appalachian Mountains.

Acoustic fire!.......2005-12-25

It all started when my friend Ashley used "Macedonia" (track six) to demonstrate the quality of his JBL iPod speaker ring. Never having listened to bluegrass before, I asked what kind of music it was and he said it is beyond classification. So I listened to "Slopes" and got the kind of euphoric rush you get when you're having a sports-related high or the ecstatic sensation of moving at great speed.
No matter what you think of bluegrass or banjos, anyone who takes delight in music that is intricate, brilliant, sensuous and evocative, will find much to love about this album. Jazz fans will appreciate the Pat Metheny undertones and harmonies in tracks like "One Winter's Night." I would be first in line for any new project by this line-up of virtuoso musicians. What a joy to listen to flawless musical jamming!

Average customer rating:

the only GOOD rap band!
Not *as* good as "Quality Control", but it's still an awesome rap album by J5!
Great Music. Classic
Sexy Music
I hate hip hop

Power in Numbers
Jurassic 5
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00006J9OZ
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

This Is
Freedom
If You Only Knew
Break
React
A Day At The Races (feat. Big Daddy Kane & Percy P)
Remember His Name
What's Golden
Thin Line (feat. Nelly Furtado)
After School Special
High Fidelity
Sum Of Us
DDT
One Of Them (Feat. JuJu of the Beatnuts)
Hey
I Am Somebody
Acetate Prophets

Amazon.com

Two years after Jurassic 5's debut album, Quality Control, proved that B-boy-oriented retro-rap doesn't have to be corny, the six-member crew (four MCs and two DJs) seems to be gearing up for the revolution. While fans of Quality Control's bright sound will still find much to enjoy here, J5's sophomore offering does a good job at extending their sound. Opening with "Freedom," a quiet yet focused call to action, Power in Numbers presents a slightly darker vision of hip-hop nirvana than the group offered first time around. In keeping with the album's title, J5 has also expanded its crew--Percy P. (of the early-90s underground group, Double XX Posse) and Big Daddy Kane help wreck the G Rap-esque "A Day at the Races," and the always game alterna-diva, Nelly Furtado, lends a surprisingly effective pop edge to the bouncy "Thin Line." On the production end of things, Juju of the Beatnuts adds his special blend of Colombian madness to the jazzy "If You Only Knew" and the considerably bleaker "One of Them." --Rebecca Levine

Customer Reviews:

the only GOOD rap band!.......2006-07-09

wicked album guys. Got a pre release version of this with a blue cover and DVD and errors on the track listing due to the time limit of a couple of songs. Nelly Furtado guest stars on one of the songs! This is an awesome old school politically orientated rap band who care for our planet. Theve got a new album coming out soon as well. So i guess "Stay Tuned"

Not *as* good as "Quality Control", but it's still an awesome rap album by J5!.......2006-01-14

Even though I like "Quality Control" a lot more, their follow-up, "Power In Numbers", is still a great rap album that you definitely ought to check out. It follows relatively the same formula as their debut, although the songs don't seem as inspired or creative as they did on "Quality Control". However, there are 17 tracks here, and all of them are good-if-not-great. Rappers Akil, Zaakir, Marc 7even and Chali 2na are a tad worse than they were on "Quality Control" (they feel less natural), but they're still great and extremely appealing. They still have that oldschool flow and delivery that is severaly missed in today's rap scene. Lyrically the songs are always a lot of fun to listen to, and some of the songs are even quotable. The lyrics are definitely fun to memorize and sing. Musically it's a little different sounding than "Quality Control", but the producer here still has a good eye for great hooks and beats. Though every song here is good, there are definitely several stand-out songs here which I would argue bump the album's rating up - "Sum Of Us", "High Fidelity", "Remember His Name" and "A Day At The Races", for example, are GREAT rap songs that are very very memorable. I'm pretty sure that within one or two listens that you'll either have these stuck in your head or that you'll remember them forever. Basically folks, if you like rap or Jurassic 5 then "Power In Numbers" is another classic album by this classic group. Absolutely recommended!

Highlights include:
"Sum Of Us"
"Remember His Name"
"A Day At The Races"
"High Fidelity"
"Break"
"If You Only Knew"
"What's Golden"
the rest are good or decent

Great Music. Classic.......2005-12-06

If you don't have this album, you need to get this. Buy it, don't download it. Everyone needs to support good hip hop like this. Man, I first heard this at the end of 2002 I was captivated. The beats are a little grimier than the first ablum and the LP, but they still have that true hip hop sound, no club banger from that garbage 50 cent. The rhymes are clever and these guys mesh so well together. The rhymes are great, whether in a love/friendship story in Thin Line, to battle lyrics in One of Them, to old school flavord lyrics in A Day At the Races. They have great guests too. Legends Percee P, and Big Daddy Kane shine in A Day At The Races. They both showed that they still have it. Ju Ju spits fire at all of the glitz and glam mc's in One of Them (which thinking about it is pretty funny because the Beatnuts seem to be gearing towards that direction.) And a supriser, Nelly Furtado, pop superstar fits well in the song Thin Line. Get this, this group is in the same breath as both old school mc's in A Day At the Races, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang, you get the picture.

Sexy Music.......2005-10-21

This is easily one of the best hip-hop albums I've ever heard. No one is out of place in the group. Jurassic 5 really gets back to the old school of big daddy kane and public enemy. Not only do their words have substance but the rhymes are on point! If you like cheap ghetto rap like g-unit or jay z with the catchy hooks, this ain't the album for you!

I hate hip hop.......2005-08-13

To correct myself, it's a love/hate relationship. I grew up on Run DMC and The Beastie Boys, but I quickly lost interest in hip hop during the Mase, Puff Daddy and Biggy days. From that point to now, with all of the commercial so-called "gangster rap" and "durty south", I can easily tell you it's garbage. Because of the trash that soars through the hip hop mainstream, true noble rap has been forced underground.

Now take Jurassic 5, Power in Numbers, and you have great, true to the art form hip hop that sits next to Del, Hieroglyphics, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and DJ Quik. This album specifically, Power in Numbers, is an awesome follow up to Quality Control, one of my favorite albums. Although not as good as Quality Control, is an amazing sophomore product. The two DJ's don't fail to push out great old school beats whilst 4 MC's synthesize rhymes and kinetic flow over subjects more interesting than hoes and shooting people.

If you love rock, and hate hip hop, but have enough guts to find out what the hip hop underground is all about, pick up this album and help the rest of us enthusiasts bring the art back.

Summary: This album is a must-own.

Average customer rating:

I LOVE THIS BAND
Some Good Some Not
Excellent!
So much more than a jam band
Short and to the point...

Safety in Numbers
Umphrey's McGee
Manufacturer: Sci Fidelity Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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The Conch

ASIN: B000EPFD30
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

Believe The Lie
Rocker
Liquid
Words
Nemo
Women, Wine and Song
Intentions Clear
End of the Road
Passing
Ocean Billy
The Weight Around

Customer Reviews:

I LOVE THIS BAND.......2007-07-16

From the first instant I heard "Nemo" playing on Kansas State's Wildcat radio, I couldn't get enough of Umphrey's. Saftey in Numbers is simply the best album I've heard in a long time. Each song is original and the Jam monitor somehow does not quite fit them. It's like listening to that awesome college band that you don't remember the name of but MAN were they good and you met this girl and she was BEAUTIFUL and the beer was everywhere and EVERYONE was having a good time. Its that feeling. Free, clean, well-written, well-produced, fun, engaging, and different everytime you listen to it. The bridges flow into melody so clearly, the rhymes aren't cliched, and its enough of a Jam album to be different but not stiffled by 25 minute interludes of Phishdom. Absolutely great.

Some Good Some Not.......2007-04-17

Do 3 or 4 really good songs make a good album, not this time. I don't know if the other songs were weak or they all needed more of the same style from song to song. The Bottom Half(their newest)is much stronger.

Excellent!.......2007-03-09

I don't know why some people do not give this band more credit. WOW! This album I have been hooked to since it arrived at my door. I have just gotten back into the jamband scene recently and these guys impress me. Their live stuff I hear is even more amazing, but SIN's is definitely a work of art in the studio. Very creative riffs with very tight drumming! Some songs remind me of Yes (Words) or that progressive rock sound. I can only imagine what the album "The Bottom Half" is going to be like. I've definitely pre-ordered that.

So much more than a jam band.......2006-11-13

At a time when great music is seldom heard on commercial radio and music fans have to discover it through the Internet, live shows, and listening to public or college radio, Umphrey's McGee's Safety in Numbers is a true gem. Previously, I had only known the band as the opening act for the Dave Matthews Band's 2006 summer tour. I purchased this on a whim and was pleasantly surprised with what I heard. Although Umphrey's McGee is classified as a jam band, they offer so much more than other bands of that genre as they combine elements of jazz, metal, folk, country, and progressive rock to create a sound that is truly their own. Furthermore, the band prove to be excellent songwriters as the more immediate tracks never get dull and the more experimental songs grow on you with each listen.

Every track here is a winner. "Believe The Lie" starts out as a fast paced rocker before becoming reflective during the choruses. Despite its title, "Rocker" is very melancholy and the strings provide a lot of color. "Liquid" and "Words" are both very progressive as the former's vocals recall the Alan Parsons Project while the latter recalls late-80's Yes before becoming very dreamlike. "Nemo" is the hardest track with its staccato rhythms and wild guitar leads. "Women Wine and Song", which guests Huey Lewis on harmonica, is the most immediate track and easily the most upbeat. "Intentions Clear" remains my favorite song on the album due to its memorable hooks and the excellent interplay between the guitars and saxophone. The folky "End of the Road" is very cool and the harmonica at the end is a nice touch. "Passing" is very personal and somber while the awesome "Ocean Billy" bounces between its repetitive raging riff and its atmospheric verses. "The Weight Around" is a great acoustic track with excellent harmonies that ends the album. In closing, I'm glad that I purchased Safety in Numbers and based on the reviews I have read here on Amazon, I'm going to pick up their other albums too. Highly recommended.

Short and to the point..........2006-11-07

According to some of the reviews on this album already this should not be the first Umphrey's album you should listen to. Well I could not find any other Umphrey's album at my local music store so I gave it a chance since I have been curious about this band for a while. All I have to say about this album is it is captivating, from the opening riff on the first track to the last note played on the final song, I couldnt drag myself away from the album. I just got this three days ago and has been on repeat (along with m. wards new album). I can see where people say they sound like phish but honestly so does any other band out there in the "jam band" category, just listen to raq(their new album the vocalist sounds like he is trying to emmulate treys voice) but the same thing was also said for phish when they were at the height of their popularity, people claimed they sound like they are trying to be the dead. My point is to just give it a chance you will probably like it especially if you have heard their previous material and if you like the "jam band" type music you will probably like it as well.

Average customer rating:

Add this one to your collection
Music Lover
A Solid Rock and Roll Album from 38 Special!!
Undiscovered Gem.
38 Specials Best

Strength in Numbers
.38 Special
Manufacturer: A&M Super Budget
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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38 Special

ASIN: B000002GH3
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Somebody Like You
Like No Other Night
Last Time
Once In A Lifetime
Just A Little Love
Has There Ever Been A Good Goodbye
One In A Million
Heart's On Fire
Against The Night
Never Give An Inch

Customer Reviews:

Add this one to your collection.......2005-10-20

This is a very decent album. I am not a huge fan, but this album and Special Forces are true classic rock albums. There is not a bad track on this CD. And some of these are some really good rockers!!!

Unfortunately, this was the last good album .38 Special made.

Music Lover.......2005-09-09

I have been a huge fan of .38 Special for a long time. This album, "Strength in Numbers" has been my favorite. I have the album and cassette but not the CD. This album has the best of the songs they have released.

A Solid Rock and Roll Album from 38 Special!!.......2004-04-10

"Strength in Numbers" is the 1986 album release from Southern Arena rockers 38 Special. At the time, the band was at the peak of a winning streak crafting albums of upbeat melodic pop-rock with a slight Country tinge. This album is no exception. It's a fantastic album from beginning to finish and displays the band's tight musicality and hook-filled songwriting at its best.
Guitarist Don Barnes is mostly up front on lead vocals here while main lead singer Donnie Van Zant takes a step back from the microphone until the very end of the album bringing it to a dynamic finish on its final two tracks.
Tracks such as the hits "Somebody Like You" and "Like No Other Night" were all over the airwaves when this album was released. Other standouts such as "Last Time", "Just A Little Love", "Hearts On Fire" and "Against The Night" are impossible to dislike and contain enough hooks to have you humming in no time. The slower tracks ("Once In A Lifetime" and "Has There Ever Been A Good Goodbye") are equally enjoyable and shows the band tackling ballads as effortless as their trademark rock numbers.
With all this said, "Strength In Numbers" is a great album and a wonderful trip down memory lane. The album also marked the end of an era for 38 Special. Two years later, the band regrouped with a new line-up without guitarist/singer Don Barnes. Barnes did return to the band a decade later bringing back its signature sound.
If you can find a copy of "Strength In Numbers" (as I was fortunate enough to find), pick it up. It's worth it.

Undiscovered Gem........2003-12-23

In many ways, it's a mix of their early 80s hard Country tinged rock, and the arena pop/rock of their next album "Rock & Roll Strategy."

1) Somebody Like You -- Energy packed arena rock minor hit with a slight southern sound. A heartbreak and break-up song these guys do so well. I'm still amazed this didn't become a huge hit.

2) Like No Other Night -- Another small hit. Similar to the first song, but not quite as poppy or catchy.

3) Last Time -- Melodic, only slightly less heavy pop tune about this being the 'Last Time' his girl will get another chance again. I don't think it was actually a hit, but I very vaguely *think* I might have heard it played on the radio. (Keep in mind, I was only about 4 years old when this came out). It's also worthy of being a big hit.

4) Once in a Lifetime -- The first song to be a semi ballad. Not as good as the first three tunes, but another underrated pop masterpiece. Just another reason to pick this entire album up, even if you have a hits package.

5) Just A Little Love -- More of a Country sounding mid tempo rocker, about how 'Just a little love can go a long way.'

6) Has There Ever Been A Good Goodbye -- A good question. LOL. A slightly uptempo southern rock ballad which begs this very question. One of the more pop songs of the album.

7) One in a Million -- Just about the most underrated song in their catalogue. A true ballad, with an '80s poppy, melodic sound. Could have easily been a huge hit. A precursor to what would be on their next album.

8) Hearts on Fire -- A tougher edged mid tempo rocker sure to please fans of the bands' earlier, heavier work. It's less pop and the most Country sounding song on the album, but it still fits in.

9) Against the Night -- A masterpiece which never deserved to be just an album track! Melodic, hard pop/rock arena anthem that's just a lot of fun. As an analogy, imagine Journey or Loverboy performing southern fried rock.

10) Never Give an Inch -- Back to a more basic, mid tempo southern sound. This time, about not giving in. A good, but not great album closer.

I'm not sure if this CD is even in print anymore. If you're into Eddie Money, Georgia Satellites, Lynyrd Skynard; 80 music; or even Country and you see this somewhere, pick it up! The best songs are actually the non-hits.

38 Specials Best.......2002-12-22

This was also my first 38 Special CD (actually it was an album), and everytime I play it, it ends too soon. Not a bad cut on this CD. There may have been stronger individual songs on their earlier stuff, but there was a big drop off in effort after that one or two songs, where the rest of the CD was not up to the same quality. Don Barnes had a hand in writing seven of the ten cuts here, and he is usually involved in their better songs. Rarely does he write one alone, but even on Flashback (a greatest hits CD), he was involved in eight of the fourteen cuts there. Not trying to put down the others in the band, but I personally enjoy his stuff the most. The song "Like No Other Night" is my personal favorite, but from beginning to end if you are looking for 38 Special's best that is not on a Greatest Hits package, this is the one you want to start with. The only drawback to buying this one first is that you will never be as pleased with any of the others from beginning to end. I have all but their live CD, and have never regreted having any of them.

One Little Sound - Fun With Phonics And Numbers

Average customer rating:

Good CD
great four any age
Simply the best!
One little gem!
Wow! What a terrific CD!

One Little Sound - Fun With Phonics And Numbers
Hap Palmer
Manufacturer: Hap-Pal Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000063K7S
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

Chickadee and Chipmunk
Bop 'til We Drop
Marching Around the Alphabet
Ayee I Owe You
Mary and Marvin
Bounce!
Follow Along
One Little Sound
D-O-G Walkin' the Dog
Celebrate the Day
How Many Are Here?
The Secret Word

Album Description

Here's a fun musical way for children to learn about reading, writing, and mathematics. Phonics and numbers are presented in a meaningful context of colorful rhymes and stories. Through hand and finger motions, full body movement, and opportunities for verbal expression, children are fully engaged in the learning process.

The songs focus on the relationship between letter symbols (the alphabet) and sounds of the English language (phonemes). The songs also encourage children to search for relationships, order and predictability as they work with numbers.

When the lyrics pose questions or problems, answers often come from children on the recording. There is always a musical interlude or a short pause before the answer is given. This gives the child listening a chance to answer first, then check the answer immediately following.

The 12 songs are presented first with vocal versions and then with instrumental renditions. Once children have learned a song, they can sing along without hearing the words or create their own lyrics and activities. The instrumentals have a soft piano melody line to act as a guide without overpowering the children's voices.

Included with each CD is a teaching guide that describes ways to actively involve children with each song. (Feel free to vary and adapt the ideas suggested in this guide, and to create new ways of using the songs to fit your school or home situation.) The ultimate goal is always the same: to foster enthusiasm and enjoyment of learning through music and movement.

Customer Reviews:

Good CD.......2007-01-05

This CD is great for young children. They like the songs, and all songs are very catchy. It's nice that the songs are included without words as well. Overall, a very good cd for little ones!

great four any age.......2006-08-15

I have a twenty-two month old and a six month old.They both smile, bounce and dance when I put this c.d. on. The tunes are pleasent and fun. The older child sings some of the words during the call and reponse. I like it and the children seem to love it.

Simply the best!.......2005-03-20

Both of my granddaughters, ages 2 and 5, love this CD and ask for it in the car more often than Sesame Street. The tunes are really catchy and easy to remember. And every song teaches something, from rhythm, to numbers, to vowels and alliteration. Just a great CD!

One little gem!.......2003-05-30

I've used Hap Palmer's music in my pre-k and kindergarten classes for many years. This year I moved to first grade, and having such a huge selection of Hap's music, (nearly all of it on LP's!) that I hadn't thought to add to my collection until I happened to get a copy "One Little Sound, Fun with Phonics and Numbers" at the beginning of this school year. While "One Little Sound" is still great fun and learning for pre/k, and kindergarten, it's also a wonderful resource for those all important first grade skills too. Having a hard time getting those vowels memorized and tired of singing about Old MacDonald's vowels? Try "Ayee I Owe You" and get them down in nothing flat. Learning about syllables? Sing along with "Chickadee And Chipmunk" and learn all about word chunks! (And slide right into a REAL kid pleaser--"Skidamarinkadinkadink" at the end of the song!). Beginning word families? Bop, hop, pop, mop, chop, and flop along with "Bop 'Til We Drop". And learn even more word families with "Bounce", "One Little Sound" and D-O-G, Walkin' The Dog". How about skip counting? "Follow Along" will introduce counting patterns for you. And not only are these songs educational, they are FUN, FUN, FUN! There is so much to this CD, and I've only scratched the surface, so to speak. One more thing--don't forget to read the booklet that comes with it--there's a goldmine of information about how to extend the learning with every song.

Wow! What a terrific CD!.......2002-07-21

Hap's most recent work shows why his music is so widely used by educators. "One Little Sound: Fun with Phonics and Numbers" uses cutting-edge educational methods in a most enjoyable way. Hap's music has evolved with the times, integrating rap and cool beats with his trademark calls for movement. Superb for building reading and math skills. Who says learning can't be fun?