Heathen

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese limited edition of his 2002 album includes one exclusive bonus track on the first CD, 'Wood Jackson'. Also included for the first pressing will be a 4 track bonus CD, which will be available in every other territory including the US. Tracks on th

Tracks:

The Hindu Times
Force Of Nature
Hung In A Bad Place
Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Songbird
Little By Little
A Quick Peep
(Probably) All In The Mind
She Is Love
Born On A Different Cloud
Better Man

Amazon.com

At their career zenith, Oasis were lauded as the best band in the world. They were actually never the greatest rock & roll band at any time, but for a few years they were the biggest. While they offered the '90s two of its most defining albums, and a resurgence of '60s-influenced Manchester rock, Oasis tumbled off the top of the mountain in the last half of the decade. Heathen Chemistry is their first step back up the ascent, albeit a small step. The album opens with "The Hindu Times," which will certainly be listed among Oasis's best anthems, and it closes with "Better Man," a distorted-guitar-driven thrill that revs up to 60 mph in second gear. But between the strongest songs on the disc, Noel "Walrus" and Liam "Eggman" Gallagher exploit the Beatles references almost to the breaking point. It's no secret that the Gallaghers worship the Beatles (who doesn't?), but here they've gone beyond obvious influences and stepped right into infringement territory. On "Born on a Different Cloud," Noel's guitar weeps a little too gently, and Liam's signature rasp now sounds like a deliberate imitation of Lennon with a cold. Further, Liam shares the mic with Noel, who sings lead on several tracks, the best being "Force of Nature." Unlike on Beatles albums, however, the switch back and forth is jarring (Liam might be the biggest troublemaker, but he is also the better singer). Nonetheless, if a band is going to unapologetically rip off what was unquestionably the best band in the world, no one does it better than Oasis. --Beth Massa

Customer Reviews:

Defintion of average.......2007-04-02

Some good tracks including Gem Archers magnificant if unoriginal Hung In A Bad Place but some very tedious ones, born on a different cloud makes me want to shoot myself in the face it's that boring and repetitive.

Overall pretty good and I do feel the need to play it through over but hold no hesitation in skipping one or two tracks.

The MacDonalds of Rock Music.......2007-03-09

Oasis sound more and more like a Beatles tribute band who never heard anything past 1967. For people who like their music unchallanging, easy to digest, and predictable. "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" is a Big Mac.

Unfortunately underrated.......2006-04-19

For the most part, this is a rock-n-roll album with big guitars. In spots, it's a bit overproduced. Like all its predecessors, this Oasis album has that air of familiarity and gives you that, "I've heard this before" feeling. I think it's quite fresh, though. Oasis is a paradox: they beg, steal and borrow from the Who, the Beatles, the Stones, the Stone Roses, Slade, T. Rex, Bowie, etc, but still come out sounding like Oasis. With the exception of one or two songs that are blatant rip-offs, the worst that can be said for its originality is that it's "derivative" in places.

This is also the first Oasis album with songs written by the non-Gallagher members of the band, and the first album to feature more than one song by Liam (three, in fact).

"The Hindu Times" (Noel) - Neo-psychedelic. Big guitars with raga-sounding lead guitar licks and Liam's braying vocals. In the rhythm guitar you'll hear a smidgeon of "Jumpin' Jack Flash." This is a song (apparently) about nothing ("I get so I high I just can't feel it."). It's one of the better songs on the album and a good one to crank with the windows down.

"Force of Nature" (Noel) - This song floated around for a year or two before HC as Noel solo song (he's the singer.) Noel's vocals are great; he really screams it out. There's a healthy dose of anger and cynicism in this one, rare for Oasis. The best line: "I betcha knew right away/It's all over town that the sun's going down/on the days of your easy life." The ghost of Marc Bolan has certainly possessed this tune.

"Hung in a Bad Place" (Gem Archer) - Though not written by a Gallagher, "Hung" sounds like it would have fit right in on Definitely Maybe. It's another big guitar song with Liam's nasally snarl. The more I hear it the more I dig it! Lyrically, it's in the vein of "Free" by Jagger/Richards: "I can go where I wanna/be where I wanna be now . . ." This has the makings of a great live tune.

"Stop Crying Your Heart Out" (Noel) - When I hear this song all I can think of is "Dear Friend" off of Wings' Wild Life. After the slowly plodding piano intro, it turns into a power ballad. The lyrics are weak and cliche. Sample: "`Cuz all of the stars are fading away/just try not to worry/you'll see them someday . . ." This is one of the more disappointing songs on the album and, unfortunately, it ended up being a single.

"Songbird" (Liam) - Liam, with typical braggadocio, declared this one, "Better than anything on Revolver." The only Beatles song this tune might be better than is "Mister Moonlight" or "Revolution # 9," and even that would be a stretch. The guitar and rhythm sound like they're taken directly from "Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles. It's a throw away and shouldn't be on the album.

"Little by Little" (Noel) - Noel sings this one and does a great job on vocals. The verses sound like many a Pink Floyd tune. The chorus makes this a good pop-rock tune. It has a nice guitar solo. It's basically about a relationship and inner searching ("Why am I really here?") There's nothing new in it, musically or lyrically, but it's a pretty good track, nonetheless.

"A Quick Peep" (Andy Bell) - Instrumental. I can't decide whether this is Pink Floyd doing The Pogues or The Pogues doing Pink Floyd. Either way, it should have been saved for an EP or a B-side.

"(Probably) All in the Mind" (Noel) - Perhaps a bit of a twist on the whole neo-psychedelic thing. Instead of dealing with personal exploration, it's about wanting to run away with someone else to another "life" that may only exist in his imagination. Not bad.

"She is Love" (Noel) - Has a folk-rock-pseudo-soul feel. Definitely pot-laced. I think the Black Crowes rubbed off on Noel when they toured together last year. It's Oasis doing a stripped-down version of "Soul Singing" on Lions. Very catchy.

"Born on a Different Cloud" (Liam) - A blatant Lennon rip off, this song is drenched in "I'm Losing You"from Double Fantasy. I swear Noel dug up George Harrison up and got him to replay the guitar solo from "How Do You Sleep?" The lyrics are even more of an obvious theft, ala "living on borrowed time" and "It's no surprise to me/that you're classless, clever and free." Yoko should sue have sued Liam for this one. There's a kind of clever . . . er . . . interesting line: "Talking to myself again/this time I think I'm getting through." If you like covers of John Lennon's solo work, you'll love this one.

"Better Man" (Liam) - The younger Gallagher takes his turn with a slightly Crowes-esque blues based rocker. Don't get me wrong, it's not a rip off. Very good song, certainly Liam's best. Positive lyrics from Liam who, by all accounts, is a drunken lout. Very, very subtly, it ends like "Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five" by Paul McCartney/Wings, which probably is no accident. This track is something like 38 minutes long. I thought something was wrong with my CD or the player because there was almost a ? hour of silence. Fast forward to minute 33 and there's a nice little surprise.

Heathen Chemistry falls squarely in the middle of the pack of Oasis albums. It's better than some but worse than others. It is a nice transition album between Standing on the Shoulders of Giants and Don't Believe the Truth. 3.5 stars would be a more than fair rating for it, but I'm rounding up rather than down, and giving it 4 stars.

Two stars is generous!.......2006-03-11

Perhaps its the fact that "Owen Morris" is not producing their albums anymore, or the fact that they need a producer, because Oasis produced this album themselves, and while thats all well and good. Noel Gallaghar (singer/songwriter/lead guitarist)said in a interview around the time of this release that the band should take responsibilty for their own records, its actually very dissapointing even compared to "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" and "Be Here Now" both which got more flak than they deserved because they were by no means bad albums at all, they were just unfoccussed.

Heathen Chemistry is pretty watered down and weak, it does not stand up well as a entire listen and too much of the tracks sound more filler than anyhting else.
"The Hindu Times" "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" "Little By Little" would make you think that Oasis are back with a vengeance, to re claim their status, but they just don't cut it with their best songs, and in their own way lack alot of life.

Whats worse is that "Don't Beleive the Truth" is even worse, much worse, and unfortunatly saw Oasis previewing their entire album, miming to the album on TV, just before its release.

If Oasis want to pull out a stunner they need to get out the electric guitars, crank up the amps and get Owen Morris who produced their first three albums to make them sound "live" and "loud again." Oasis are a live band, thats the sound thats missing from this album.

Weak.......2006-01-30

Really 2.5 stars. People who have read my other reviews know I am a big Oasis fan. No other rock band of the past 15 years has put out such a huge volume of high quality music. Oasis' first two albums are straight up classics. I also think "Be Here Now" is one of the most underrated albums of the 90's and will be recognized as a classic in time. Oasis' newest, "Don't Believe the Truth," is great as well-- as good as anything they've ever done. I am sure they have a lot more in them as well.

That said, "Heathen Chemistry" is a really weak performance. It's slightly better than "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants," but that's not saying much. In all, there are really only three decent songs here-- "The Hindu Times," "Hung In a Bad Place," and "Better Man."

The production sucks too. The production on "Be Here Now" was big and loud, but so were the songs. The songs on "Heathen Chemistry" just can't stand up to all of this clutter. Noel was smart to hand over the production reigns to someone else for "Don't Believe the Truth."

Like "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants," "Heathen Chemistry" is an album that only hardcore fans will want. Still, the fact that Oasis put out two crappy albums doesn't mean they're not a great band. Out of their 7 major releases, 5 have been great. Look at how many awful albums the Stones and Bob Dylan have put out

Average customer rating:

It has my song of this particular moment on it
Twinkle Twinkle...
Good for Latter Day Bowie
Bowie Is Sooo Cool, Like A Slooow Burn....
A complete return to form...

Heathen

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Reality
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Scary Monsters

ASIN: B000065V1V
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Tracks:

Sunday
Cactus
Slip Away
Slow Burn
Afraid
I've Been Waiting For You
I Would Be Your Slave
I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
Everyone Says 'Hi'
A Better Future
Heathen (The Rays)

Amazon.com

Heathen is, in essence, the first "traditional" Bowie album worthy of kudos in years, as it successfully reunites Bowie with producer Tony Visconti, the man at the controls during Bowie's Berlin period. Heathen finds rock's greatest chameleon once again remolding his past, advancing to new vistas by moving up that metaphorical hill backward. Even more gratifying is the universally high quality of the songwriting craftsmanship on offer, where even a ditty as frivolous as "Everyone Says 'Hi'" ("Don't stay in a sad place where they don't care how you are") hits the mark. For heavyweights who like their Bowie with furrowed-brow, the monastic aura of opener "Sunday" sounds like a post-rock Enigma covering Nico's interpretation of Tim Hardin's "Eulogy to Lenny Bruce," whilst the strident savagery evidenced on an apt cover of the Pixies' "Cactus" disposes with Frank Black's hound-dog yelp and reasserts the melody without undermining the original's obsessional score. Tin Machine ought to have sounded like this. Watch out, too, for the Robert Fripp-impersonating flamethrowing of Pete Townshend on "Slow Burn" and the guitar of the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl lending a slacker swagger to a cover of Neil Young's "I've Been Waiting for You" (again, much better than Tin Machine's live version). Heathen proves that Bowie's still got it. All of it. And in abundance. Awaken all ye nonbelievers. --Kevin Maidment

Customer Reviews:

It has my song of this particular moment on it.......2007-05-13

I bought Heathen for the song the "Everyone says"Hi"". This song is low-key, slightly melancholy and intimate. In this song, in David Bowie's vocals and lyrics, I hear qualities of world-weariness, irony and perhaps a wish for the old times. I don't know what the song is really about but its tone and manner makes me feel nostalgic and reminds me of my student days and old girlfriends.

Twinkle Twinkle..........2007-04-17

Heathen saw Bowie enter the new millennium with a new-found confidence and focus. He (generally speaking) does away with the tacky production and lame guitar sounds of 'Hours...' and focuses on a more brooding, sophisticated sound, full of subtle electronics and warm guitar textures.

'Sunday' and 'Slip Away' are particular highlights, showcasing this tasteful use of dark electronic sound scapes in two amazing tracks that prove highlights of his post-70s career.

Unlike most, I find 'Everyone Say's Hi' to be a cloying, insipid, stain on the album, which significantly brings down it's second half. Well, that sounds very harsh...the song is tolerable, but it really does distract from the mood set by the rest of album.

The cover versions are all well done, but none are revelations. But it's the fact that Bowie seems comfortable, less self-conscious, and consequently much more settled, that gives this album staying power. Things are more concise, and the album is more cohesive than some of his 90s material. Apart from 'Everyone Say's Hi' the mood is sombre but still urgent.

An impressive achievement and a perfect place to start if you love his 70s output but have never delved into his more recent outings.

Good for Latter Day Bowie.......2007-04-15

Someone actually wrote a review and said this is as good as "Heroes", which is ridiculous. Not that this is a bad album, it's not. But "Heroes" happens to be one of my favorite Bowie albums, and this frankly doesn't compare. In fact, I don't know how anyone can rate anything past Scary Monsters with 5 stars. That being said, I like this album. I believe this may be some of his best work since 1980. People soon forget how influential, experimental, and possibly ground-breaking Bowie's 70's work was, that they await another album of that calibur. It is very rare that any artist has a stretch of "important" music as long as Bowie's was. Accept it, he probably will not make another album as good as Scary Monsters or prior.
So, if you are a Bowie fan, you will like this album. I personally wish this album was more ambient or post-rock sounding. This album is much better than 'hours...'

Bowie Is Sooo Cool, Like A Slooow Burn...........2007-01-28

This CD is a must have. Must have if your into Bowie, it's no let down at all. As a matter a fact its a great joy to know that he is around, not playing some pop rap reliving of the 80's days, he's always doing his thing as he see's best fit. I'm very happy with this purchase. When I go on stage doing my Bowie tribute it may have Slow Burn as one of the songs, I love Bowie!

A complete return to form..........2006-11-21

Who would of expected this? After the trite and banal 1999 effort "hours...", I don't think anybody expected it - but we should know not to count Bowie out...

"Heathen" is the not only the most critically aclaimed album since 1980s "Scary Monsters", but is my personal favourite Bowie album that started my Bowie fascination. The opening track "Sunday" is possibly the best album opener, of any album, ever, and tracks like "Slip Away", "Slow Burn" and "Afraid" is classic Bowie at his best.

The album is 100% recommended to not only Bowie fans, but fans of classic rock in general.

Average customer rating:

If you like ...And Justice For All
4.5 great stuff
Stronger than all

Victims of Deception
Heathen
Manufacturer: Metal Mind Poland
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000K2Q660
Release Date: 2006-11-13

Tracks:

Hypnotized
Opiate of the Masses
Heathen's Song
Kill the King
Fear of the Unknown
Prisoners of Fate
Morbid Curiosity
Guitarmony
Mercy Is No Virtue
Timeless Cell of Prophecy
Hellbound [*]

Customer Reviews:

If you like ...And Justice For All.......2007-05-26

This is better than ...And Justice For All and it's like that album on steroids with a REAL SINGER!! Great purchase!

4.5 great stuff.......2007-05-09

Classic... Hypnotized and Morbid Curiosity crush! Killer cd from the old days of thrash metal. A big improvement over their "Breaking the Silence" cd. Must have

Stronger than all.......2007-02-12

Heathen is one of the best thrash bands to have come out of the Bay area scene. These guys are so underated that its criminal. Exceptional talent through all of the songs, ripping solos and devistating riffs. The singer has one of the best, clean voices (not growling) in the genra. And if you like the high pitched screem thing then that tops it off. These guys be puttin shti like Metallica to shame. A true thrash fan needs this, and if the price has kept you from getting it, every penny would be worth it since this is priceless.

Average customer rating:

This Heathen could be a cult item!
Slightly better than the single-disc release
better with every listen
A more subdued bowie
The Limited Edition is the one to get

Heathen [Limited Edition w/Bonus Disc]
David Bowie
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Low

ASIN: B000066SX2
Release Date: 2002-11-12

Tracks:

Sunday
Cactus
Slip Away
Slow Burn
Afraid
I've Been Waiting For You
I Would Be Your Slave
I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
Everyone Says 'Hi'
A Better Future
Heathen (The Rays)

Tracks:

A Better Future (Air Remix)
Sunday (Moby Remix)
Panic in Detroit (Alternative Take)
Conversation Piece (Previously Unreleased)

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

This Heathen could be a cult item!.......2005-09-19

I bought this disc after loving, loving Bowie's latest disc "Reality" . Somehow, I managed to get the two CD version of it. Good luck, as it happened too when I bought "Love and Theft" by Bob Dylan.

The first time I played this record, I was not impressed, I was even dissapointed. I could not get a hold on any song.

Then I played it again. And again. And again. I even played it four times in a single day. I believe it is a hit or miss. "Reality" is my favorite Bowie disc, but this one has something special, you do not even realize, you just have to play it.

Overall a dark feeling rules over the whole disc. The opening track "Sunday", "Slip away" ( I adore this gloomy song! ), "The angels have gone" and "Heathen" which is the title song, and the one that closes the album.

Nevertheless, there are some beautiful soft songs like "Everyone says Hi", or "I would be your slave". The cover songs are great too, particularly "Gemini Spacecraft". It sounds so deep, with lots of instruments in the background. It is futuristic yet has disco feelings ( the violins ) which remind me of the future people portrayed in the 60's ( like the Jetsons )

There are three songs that go without interruption between them "The Angels have gone", "Everyone says Hi" and "A better future" And look at their titles: One of them is in past tense, the other is the present, and then the obvious future tense. I still think this was made on purpose.

The extra CD just adds fun to an awesome package. Indeed the Moby remake of Sunday adds little to the original song, but the other tracks are excellent. "Conversation Piece" is the best of these 4 extra songs, soft and beautiful. The remake of "Panic in Detroit", in my opinion, makes the original pale in comparison, being more fast paced, and I like the singing better.

The final word: if you like Bowie, buy it. And play it many times, play songs separately, shuffle them, just play it. If you hate it, you'll like it; if you like it you'll love it, and if you love it, you'll make a religion out of it! Well. maybe not so.... ;)

And GET THE TWO CD VERSION. The second disc barely runs 20 minutes, yet it is awesome!!

Slightly better than the single-disc release.......2005-05-19

I gave this edition one more star than the regular album because Conversation Piece is one of the best Bowie pieces I've ever heard. Too bad we didn't get to hear Toy in its entirety.

The Air remix is also quite pleasing. Air allows the notes to breathe (no pun intended). I actually favor it to the overcooked album version.

I can't figure out why Moby, supposedly such an electronica luminary, couldn't come up with anything better than this simplistic mix of Sunday. The album version is far more interesting.

The funked up version of Panic in Detroit is okay.

better with every listen.......2004-08-23

Being a fan since '72 in Cleveland, I've gone through all of DB's phases. (Sliding from Ziggy to Plastic SoulMan was tough at the beginning but turned into great stuff)
When I first heard this, sure, there were a few decent tracks but initially I thought it as BLAH as the previous ones.
Then 'Reality' hit and I knew his chops were coming back. Seeing the 'Reality' tour reinforced that. He played only a couple of unfamiliar songs , which when I did my research of the show, came from the Heathen CD.
I was mistaken on Heathen.
It really gets better with every listen. Between the covers and originals, a nice nice CD. Cactus originally by the Pixies, gets a very TRex-y feel to it (much better live though). Slip Away is great sing-a-long much in the manor of All The Young Dudes.
'Twinkle twinkle Uncle Floyd'. And for those of you who don't know who that is, he's a cult TV hero from WOR NY/NJ who had a goofy late hour weekend show during the late 70's through the 80's. The 'house' bands were the Ramones and Bon Jovi.
On a whole, this CD is very positive, for once. See 'A Better Future' & 'Everyone Says Hi'.
DB's vocals are strong for the most part (Christ he's pushing 60!) and on a few songs, it seems like Bowie/Visconti have summoned back to earth, the soul of Mick Ronson (God Bless Mick-you're missed)

A more subdued bowie.......2003-05-05

I just couldn't get into this one. For some reason I felt like this CD was just too subdued, even for Bowie. The album seems too depressing at times and not in a good way. (ala Station to Station)

The Limited Edition is the one to get.......2002-12-30

I actually liked several of Bowie's albums from the nineties better than this one. Heathen and Hours were both too... whiny. "Oh, woe me life is so sad". "Black Tie White Noise" and "Earthling" had a lot more life and melody.

There are some good songs on Heathen. The best of them is only on the bonus disk of the Limited Edition CD though!
For the life of me I can't figure out why they did not include "Conversation Piece" on the standard edition, it is one of my favorite Bowie songs, along with "I Have Not Been to Oxford Town" and "Teenage Wildlife".

Average customer rating:

An underrated and lesser known Thrash gem.

breaking the silence-the best from the bay area

Breaking the Silence
Heathen
Manufacturer: Combat
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AAVEO6
Release Date: 2004-02-23

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Death by Hanging
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Heathen [*]

Customer Reviews:

An underrated and lesser known Thrash gem........2007-07-18

I'm surprised that there is only one other review for this monster of a thrash/speed album. This album came out while the thrash movement was winding down in the late eighties yet it still quite easily holds it's own against some of the other big names of that time. What you get here is great thrash/speed metal with mindblowingly intense melodically tinged guitarwork and solos strongly supporting powerful clean vocals. People seem to stay away from thrash being that they prefer more melody to their metal, as opposed to the raw and relentless nature of thrash metal. This album however, manages to just perfectly incorporate melody without overdoing it or rather underdoing it. A must have for any old school thrash fan.

breaking the silence-the best from the bay area.......2007-04-10

this is a great album from one of the most underrated groups from the bay area.even though they were a little more progressive than thrashy,the guitar team of pearcy and altus is pretty incredible.alot of collectors would like this one too because it includes their original demo.it's amazing that they didn't get father than they did.

Average customer rating:

ISSUE RESOLVED ON THE EUPHRATES
Enjoiyable, but lacking, too.

Handel: Belshazzar

Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Handel: Solomon

ASIN: B0001ZWGHY
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Tracks:

Overture
Vain, Fluctuating State Of Human Empire!
Thou, God Most High, And Thou Alone
The Fate Of Babylon, I Fear, Is Nigh
Lament Not Thus, Oh Queen, In Vain!
Behold, By Persia's Hero Made
Well May They Laugh/Oh Memory! Still Bitter To My Soul
Opprest With Never-Ceasing Grief
Dry Thoes Unavailing Tears
Be Comforted: Safe Though The Tyrant Seem/Methought, As On The Bank Of Deep Euphrates
Now, Tell Me, Gobrias
Behold The Monstrous Human Beast
Can You Then Think It Strange
Great God! Who, Yet But Darkly Known
My Friends, Be Confident
All Empires Upon God Depend
Oh Sacred Oracles Of Truth!
Rejoyce, My Countrymen
Sing, Oh Ye Heav'ns!

Tracks:

Let Festal Joy Triumphant Reign!
For You, My Friends
The Leafy Honours Of The Field
It Is The Custom, I May Say, The Law
Recall, Oh King! Thy Rash Command
They Tell You True
Oh Dearer Than My Life, Forebear!
By Slow Degrees The Wrath Of God
See, From His Post Euphrates Flies!
You See, My Friends, A Path
Amaz'd To Find The Foe So Near
To Arms, To Arms! No More Delay!
Ye Tutelar Gods Of Our Empire
Let The Deep Bowl Thy Praise Confess
Where Is The God Of Judah's Boasted Pow'r?
Call All My Wise Men

Tracks:

A Singony (Allegro Postillions)
Ye Sages! Welcome Always To Your King/Alas! Too Hard A Task The King Imposes
Oh Misery! - Oh Terror! - Hopeless Grief!
Oh King, Live For Ever!
No! To Thyself Thy Trifles Be
Yet, To Obey His Dread Command
Oh Sentence To Severe!
Oh God Of Truth! Oh Faithful Guide!
You, Gobrias, Lead Directly To The Palace
Oh Glorious Prince!
Alternate Hopes And Fears
Fain Would I Hope
Can The Black Aethiop Change His Skin?
My Hopes Revive
Bel Boweth Down!
I Thank, Thee, Sesach
A Martial Symphony
To Pow'e Immortal My First Thanks
Be It Thy Care, Good Gobrias
Great Victor, At Your Feet I Bow
Say, Venerable Prophet
Tell It Out Among The Heathen
Yes, I Will Build Thy City
I Will Magnify Thee

Customer Reviews:

ISSUE RESOLVED ON THE EUPHRATES.......2005-06-19

One question I might find among the more difficult in my life would be - which is my favourite Handel oratorio? I suspect that my answer would generally be 'the one I heard most recently', and that, as I write this, is Belshazzar. It is a magnificent thing, a heavenly thing. It has taken me longer than it should have to come to an appreciation of what makes Handel the phenomenon - as a genius, as an artist, as a craftsman - that he is, but I am comforted to reflect that no less a genius than Haydn, at the age of nearly 70 gaining a more thorough knowledge of Handel in performance, was driven to say that he felt a mere apprentice. In his sense of how to pace a dramatic narrative, in his instinct for how to use the human voice in song and above all in chorus, in the matchless flexibility and adroitness he displays at word-setting and in the audacity of his melodic and harmonic effects I can think of nobody who can approach Handel on his own terms.

Belshazzar was not a great success at the box-office, although this may have had more to do with difficulties in the casting than because it was deemed insufficiently biblical for oratorio, which seems to have been the fate of Hercules. It seems to me to be perfectly well described as oratorio in other ways too, with (for one thing) the extensive use of the chorus that we find in, say, Samson but not in Hercules. The one passage that cries out for visual effects is of course the apparition of the moving finger itself. Even here the composer can go a long way with sheer power of suggestion, by the strange unaccompanied violin figure creeping upwards and the frightened brevity of the vocal numbers. Otherwise for me Belshazzar is as much an oratorio as Samson is. It has the same librettist too, the crusty and formidable Jennens, who had also collaborated with Handel on Saul and on Messiah itself. Jennens' full text is not provided, but I think if you read the synopsis first and then follow the work from the headlines to each number you will have no difficulty in catching the words, so clear is the enunciation by soloists and chorus alike. As usual, Handel was driven to make alterations to the score for practical reasons. He had been a little concerned about its length, roughly 2 hours and 50 minutes in this performance, but where he wishes to be expansive he gives us full measure - two arias in Act I scene 4 take well over 7 minutes each. The liner-essay (a good one, by Anthony Hicks) goes into the issue of the version of the score used here, and I personally have no problem with it.

I have no faults to find with the performance in any way. Pinnock is an established specialist, the instruments are period instruments and vocal cadenzas at the end of the arias are kept minimal. Anthony Rolfe Johnson, James Bowman and David Wilson-Johnson are tried and trusted Handel singers and at their best here, and Nicolas Robertson and Richard Wistreich in the smaller parts are every bit as good. The part of Cyrus is a soprano part, taken by Catherine Robbin, and when I thought I heard just one touch of strain in `Destructive War' in the final scene she makes up for it instantly in her superb duet with Arleen Auger in the following number. Auger as Nitocris the mother of Belshazzar has the biggest part, and she covers herself with glory all the way through.

The recording is perfect, and when I saw an aria entitled `Destructive War, thy limits know' near the end I felt a sharp sense of irony in the year 2005. Cyrus, Handel, Jennens, you should all have been living at this hour.

Enjoiyable, but lacking, too........2004-08-16

This 3CD set of George Frederic Handel's (1685-1759) "Belshazzar", from Archiv Production, a division of Universal Music, is proof again that transfer from vinyl to tape to disc brings with it improvements in listening that make the purchase a worthwhile addition to anyone's listening library. Written in 1744, "Belshazzar" is an oratorio in the operatic style that is wonderful oratorio, but lacking the true depth one expects to hear in an opera. London opera audiences of Handel's day agreed, as both "Belshazzar" and Handel's other offering of the period in the same style, "Hercules", were not terribly successful. Instead of the scheduled 24 performances only 16 were given and Handel never offered a full season of oratorio again. The Libretto by Charles Jennens (1700-1773) is, as the production notes say, meant "not only to show the fall of Babylon but to show it as a fulfillment of divine prediction and to confirm the biblical testimony by reference to classical history." There's only one problem, as good a quality as the CDs are, it is not possible to follow the full libretto and the accompanying booklet includes no text, which is a shame. I think the listening experience would have been increased immeasurably if one was able to follow the text of what is being sung. Nonetheless the dramatic narrative is fluid and even, and the English Concert and Choir provide nice balance to the less full vocal passages, as in Disc 3s "Oh Glorious prince", cut 10. There is enough of this throughout to keep one's interest, but disappointing if what one expects is another ""Messiah".

Average customer rating:

Stoner Debauchery and Cold Beer.
The best album ever (apart from Wild Wonderful)
BUy this if you like monotony
Wow
Phat music without a vocalist

Almost Heathen
Karma to Burn
Manufacturer: Spitfire
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wild, Wonderful Purgatory
Karma to Burn
Wild, Wonderful Purgatory
From Beale Street to Oblivion
Ultra-Magnetic Glowing Sound

ASIN: B00005N6OB
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Tracks:

Nineteen
Thirty Eight
Thirty Four
Thirty Seven
Thirty Nine
Thirty Six
Thirty Three
Thirty Five
Five
Forty

Album Description

Almost Heathen channels inspiration from the great rock 'n roll collective, stripping away pretension and exposing the purity and beauty of great songs. There are no hidden agendas; no underlying hackneyed messages, just inspired rock 'n roll mastery.

Customer Reviews:

Stoner Debauchery and Cold Beer........2006-03-21

This is the CD that you slap on when you realized you've gone too far and a hangover the next day is as certain as the fact that these guys JAM!!! I have no idea what CD the guy in the other review was listening to (Slayer without the singing???) but he couldn't have been more wrong. If the music on this CD resembles anything, it would be Clutch and not Slayer ... come on man. All instrumentals that do not get boring. All tracks are jams, like I said, comes close to Clutch without singing. But no band can defeat the monster of Clutch. This CD has me wanting their others, so in my opinion, grab this one now.

SpacegrassMan.

The best album ever (apart from Wild Wonderful).......2003-12-25

This is put quite simply the greatest record I've ever heard (aprt from Karma to Burn Wild Wonderful 2nd album. The bass player left to join a band called Speedealer but they suck big time. This records has amazing riffs with incredible song structure. There's no vocals but so what? The songs are long andinteresting and with no vocals the moods of te songs becomes yours. Don't listen to what the first review said. It's not meant to sound like Slayer - Slayer are a thrash band. Karma to Burn are a rock band - and an amazing one at that!

BUy this if you like monotony.......2002-06-19

Wow.......2001-10-12

I thought "Wild Wonderful Purgatory" was a great record, but "Almost Heathen" is one of the 5 best albums of 2001 easily. Incredible rhythms, songwriting and guitar work. A must have for anybody who truly knows rock and roll.

Phat music without a vocalist.......2001-09-04

The first time I heard of KTB was in the year of their first selftitled release. I thought they had a really good singer back then but the band didn't feel right and they decided to sack him. This is their second album without a vocalist and they still do not sound like a headless band. It's really amazing how they can hold my attention with nothing more than a guitar, bass and drums. Their influences seem to range from Black Sabbath to Lynyrd Skynyrd and from Hendrix to Kyuss. Well I have to say that they melted all those influences into something they can call their own. Thumbs up for this band that deserves better than they have had until now. It's just too bad that there aren't more instrumental bands of this calibre around. Buy this disc, you won't regret it!!

Average customer rating:

Church Heathen

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000PSJABW
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Average customer rating:

DE LUXE
EXCELLENT BONUS DISC WITH BETTER AUDIO

Heathen
David Bowie
Manufacturer: Sony Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Outside

ASIN: B000P28R8K
Release Date: 2007-06-18

Tracks:

Sunday
Cactus
Slip Away
Slow Burn
Afraid
I've Been Waiting for You
I Would Be Your Slave
I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship
5.15 the Angels Have Gone
Everyone Says "Hi"
Better Future
Heathen (The Rays)

Album Description

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2007.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork. Double CD

Customer Reviews:

DE LUXE.......2007-07-02

One of his best late-period records -- anyone care to argue whether Earthling is a Bowie album or the third Tin Machine release? -- made more compelling by the guitar work of David Torn, a terrific cover of one of the better Pixies songs, Major Tom's wanking twin, a Saul-Bellowish short-story set to music and the sort of track to track coherence of the Early Days. It's enough to make you forgive and forget "Let's Dance"!

This package may be pretty highly priced, but the "bonus" disc does include work not present in the previous and original "limited edition" which remains available still. (What are the "limits" exactly?) But all the additions aside (The word "extras" seems inappropriate -- it's like saying "extra money". Be honest, is there such a thing?) the reproduction here seems snapped up a few points: more inner detail and better imaging and nuance to the dynamic range which means you need something a few steps up from the iPod dock to get what you're paying for. With the tracks that are added -- Wood Jackson; When the Boys Come Marching Home; Baby Loves That Way; You've Got a Habit of Leaving; Safe; and Shadow Man -- make it enough volume for a second album. And they're not celeb remixes. But as good as the work is here there are no standouts that compare to the final selects comprising the original album. Nice to have, nice to hear and good to know that one of his better efforts has another incarnation. If you can spare the change, and the time.

EXCELLENT BONUS DISC WITH BETTER AUDIO.......2007-06-19

Amazon doesn't mention that this '07 Japan mini-sleeve edition carries a bonus disc containing some fabulous non-album tracks & remixes. Here is the track list for the bonus disc:

13. Sunday MOBY REMIX
14. A Better Future REMIX BY AIR
15. Conversation Piece
16. Panic In Detroit
17. Wood Jackson
18. When The Boys Come Marching Home
19. Baby Loves That Way
20. You've Got A Habit Of Leaving
21. Safe
22. Shadow Man

The audio on the main disc is the same '04 remaster. However, the mastering on the bonus disc is notably improved over many of the original singles' audio. Presumably, this is the same edition as the 2004 2CD jewel box re-release.

Average customer rating:

Dupré: Works for Organ, Vol. 9

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Dupré: Works for Organ, Vol. 7
Dupré: Works for Organ, Vol. 3
Dupré: Works for Organ, Vol. 13
Marcel Dupré: Works for Organ, Vol. 5
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ASIN: B000038I7V
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Tracks:

Son in a, Op.60: Allegro Marcato - Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Son in a, Op.60: Allegro Moderato - Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Son in a, Op.60: Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Trio, Op.55: I. (Withoug Movt Indication) - Timothy Durbin/Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Trio, Op.55: II. Lento - Timothy Durbin/Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Trio, Op.55: III. (Energico-Largo-Presto) - Timothy Durbin/Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Qt, Op.52: Prld - Timothy Durbin/Jennifer Rende/Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Qt, Op.52: Scherzando - Timothy Durbin/Jennifer Rende/Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Qt, Op.52: Larghetto - Timothy Durbin/Jennifer Rende/Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Qt, Op.52: Rondo - Timothy Durbin/Jennifer Rende/Clyde Beavers/Bruce Neswick
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 31. Lord God Now Open Wide Thy Heaven
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 32. Lord Jesus Christ, Turn To Us
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 33. My Soul Longeth To Depart In Peace
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 48. Descend, O Jesus, From Heaven To Earth
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 49. Kyrie, God The Everlasting Father
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 50. Kyrie, Christ The Comforter Of The World
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 51. Kyrie, God The Holy Ghost
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 52. Beloved Jesus, Here We Stand
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 53. Praise The Lord Almighty
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 54. Praise God, All Ye Christians
Chorales, Op.28, Nos.31-33, 48-54 & 57: 57. Now Thank We All Our God
Regina Coeli, Op.64
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 58. Rejoice Now, Beloved Christians
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 59. Come Now, Saviour Of The Heathen
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 60. O Gracious God
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 63. The Child Was Born In Bethlehem
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 64. Deck Thyself, O Beloved Soul
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 68. Out Of High Heaven Have I Come
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 69. From Heaven Come Angels
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 70. I Will Never Part From God
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 71. Before Thy Throne I Will Appear
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 72. Awake! Hear The Call Of Watchmen
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 73. He That Suffereth God To Guide Him
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 74. How Bright Shineth The Day-Star
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 75. We Christians
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 76. We Thank Thee, Lord Jesus, For Thy Redemptive Death
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 77. We All Believe In One God
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 78. We All Believe In One God
Chorales, Op.38, Nos.58-60, 63, 64 & 68-79: 79. Whither Shall I Flee?