Rough Music

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Reissue of 1995 Release. A Later Title in their Career.

Jarvis
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • the world is a better place because of jarvis cocker
  • Jarvis is back and sharper than ever
  • Album of the Year
  • Jarvis Won't Waste Your Time
  • Brilliant
 Jarvis
Jarvis Cocker
Manufacturer: Rough Trade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NVHWIO
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

  1. Loss Adjuster
  2. Don't Let Him Waste Your Time
  3. Black Magic
  4. Heavy Weather
  5. I Will Kill Again
  6. Baby's Coming Back To Me
  7. Fat Children
  8. From A To I
  9. Disney Time
  10. Tonite
  11. Big Julie
  12. Loss Adjuster
  13. Quantum Theory

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars the world is a better place because of jarvis cocker.......2007-06-08

i, like many folks, really, really, REALLY, miss pulp. pulp was style AND substance, pomp and grandeur, literate and accessible, melodic and challenging, and jarvis cocker was its ringleader. after back-to-back-to-back-to-back (his 'n hers, different class, this is hardcore, we love life), pulp just kind of disappeared without any real fanfare and we, the fans, have been clamoring for new pulp stuff ever since (i still hold secret hopes we will one day get a new pulp album).

so, in lieu of a proper pulp album, we are lucky enough to get a jarvis cocker solo album, which, truth be told, isn't that far from a proper pulp album. if i had 'jarvis' without the benefit of knowing it was a solo album, i would've sworn it was a new pulp album. this is both a blessing and a curse. a blessing because it reiterates how blindingly good jarvis cocker is as a songerwriter, performer, and frontman. he's second to no one in lyrical ability. really, dood's tremendous. he touches those subjects no one will walk within a mile of. he's not afraid to skewer anyone and everyone. but he's also not above making himself vulnerable and speak to matters of the heart. it's a curse (though not in the purest sense of the word) too, because as good as 'jarvis' is, i get the feeling jarvis is much better served when he's standing in front the sizable musical talents of candida doyle, mark webber, nick mackey, and nick banks. i get the impression jarvis works best in the band setting--when he has people to lead, to guide, and to provide the backdrop for his scathing, witty, humorous, and aticulate lyrics. the songs are great, but they drama and tension inherent to so many of pulp's best songs. could it be age has mellowed jarvis cocker, even just a bit? maybe. probably. i don't know.

on its own terms, which is how it should be judged, it's a great album (i know it's really unfair to reference pulp in a jarvis solo album review. i realize it and readily admit it). even if you've never listened to pulp, 'jarvis' still comes highly recommended. 'black magic,' 'fat children,' 'big julie,' and 'don't let him waste your time' are all terrific pop songs. jarvis has lost none of his insight and cleverness.

hopefully this is a welcomed (and worthy) stop-gap between 'we love life' and the new pulp album. i can hope, can't i? and if not, the hopefully jarvis will see fit to bless the world with another solo record.

5 out of 5 stars Jarvis is back and sharper than ever.......2007-05-19

Love it! With maturity and age, so many social critics become more resigned to accepting things as they are, more inclined toward polite disagreement. Not Jarvis Cocker. He's been away for a while watching, sharpening his pen, and perfecting the art of the musical withering sneer. Every song on this release combines an underlying world-weary heartache with intelligent moral outrage and thought-provoking juxtapositions. Who else can get away with referencing Auschwitz and Frigidaires in a pop song to which you can't help singing along? It's unfortunate, though, that the song that most succinctly sums up the state of things ("Running the World")is the hidden bonus track on the US release.

5 out of 5 stars Album of the Year.......2007-05-06

I ponied up the extra cash, and bought this when it was released in the UK. It was well worth the cost. Jarvis is a perfect gem of a record, not a single note or lyric out of place. Coupling catchy pop melodies with sardonic, clever, often dark lyrics is something that Cocker has always done extremely well. Songs like "Tonight" and "From A to I" show that he hasn't lost his touch.
It's difficult to pick a favorite track. Today, it's "Big Julie"...tomorrow it might be "Black Magic" or "Fat Children." The songs on Jarvis are all outstanding in their own way.

God, I love this album.

5 out of 5 stars Jarvis Won't Waste Your Time.......2007-04-19

I'm probably one of the few people around who thought Pulp's '98 album This Is Hardcore was Jarvis Cocker's crowning achievement. Yes, Different Class is a masterpiece in it's own right, however, the brooding, intense Hardcore had an emotional pull that still haunts me whenever I hear it. I remember buying Hardcore upon its release and being so overwhelmed by the maturity of the material. I honestly thought it would be an even bigger hit than Class. Sadly, this did not happen. It would go down as a critical darling but didn't have the Pop appeal to snag the casual fans who purchased Class in droves (in England and Europe at least). Their subsequent album We Love Life ended up being a bit of a reactionary album to regain momentum they had lost with the public at large. Although a great album it lacked the hunger of Class and the realism of Hardcore. It didn't suprise me one bit that they went on (possibly permanent) haitus after its release. All this is my opinion of course, only the band members themselves know what their motivations were.

Which brings us to Jarvis. Mr. Cocker's first full album of material since the days of Pulp. I wasn't hesitant to buy it as soon as it became available domestically in the States simply because of the amount of time I was sure he had put into it. My only wish was that he would be an artist of 43 and put out an album that reflects his age and songcraft up to this point yet not try to recapture the the mood or tempo of Class in some sad attempt to please a mass market. I wasn't disappointed at all. Quite simply put, this is a disc that any artist could release one day then get hit by a train the next with the knowledge that his or her vision and talents had been fully realized. Not only does Jarvis have the intelligence, wit and playful sarcasm of Class but it also has the emotional depth that made Hardcore so great. I was in no way prepared for how brilliantly he has been able to pour his entire career in music into one cd.

It's hard to pick one or two favorite tracks because they all have a feel of their own. Not every song will grab you on first take but once you let the album simmer a bit you'll be hard pressed to pass any up. Cocker has always been a brilliant lyricist and in many cases the lyrics drive the melody of the song. Whether its lamenting the plight of a teenage girl in Big Julie [She's by herself again\in the quiet secret night\Below the neighbour's window\Hands in pockets\head on one side] or pondering society's fate in From Auschwitz To Ipswich [Evil comes\I know from not where\But if you look inside yourself\maybe you'll find some in there] Cocker has a way of being totally descriptive while still leaving a bit of interpretation up to the listener. This record may be his best effort yet with regards to lyrics.

Sonically the album sounds amazing. It was recorded at multiple studios and was produced by Graham Sutton, Sam Lockwood, John Watson and Jarvis himself. With so many hands in the pot and recording locations one might assume the album to be inconsistent with regards to sound, however, this is not the case. The album feels organic and direct with instrumentation that is never out of place. Let's hope this is only the start of Cocker's musical output in the coming years because though c**ts are still running the world, with Jarvis around to kick them in the rear it makes everything a little more bearable.

Note: If you buy the pre-packaged album instead of downloading you will find that Running The World is a hidden track that pops up after Quantum Theory with a 28 minute gap in between. It's a bit irritating so be prepared.

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant.......2007-04-16

I've been waiting for the US version to come out since the album's european release in November, 2006. After hearing it, I wish I had ponied up the cash for the import so I could have been enjoying it for an additional 5 months. For the most part, these songs would fit in on a Pulp album, but they also have a sound that is more modern and lo-fi at the same time. This is a must-have cd for anyone that is a fan of Jarvis from Pulp, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for something intelligent, witty and thought-provoking, yet at the same time, poppy.
Fisherman's Woman
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Sutíl melancolía
  • Different from her debut but Brilliant nonetheless
  • Beautiful Voice
  • really different
  • Gorgeous and low-key (no, it's not trip hop)
 Fisherman's Woman
Emiliana Torrini
Manufacturer: Rough Trade Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007YMUHK
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

  1. Nothing Brings Me Down
  2. Sunny Road
  3. Snow
  4. Lifesaver
  5. Honeymoon Child
  6. Today Has Been OK
  7. Next Time Around
  8. Heartstopper
  9. At Least it Was
  10. Fishermans Woman
  11. Thinking Out Loud
  12. Serenade

Album Description

"Home alone and happy / Nothing brings me down" So opens Emiliana Torrini's second album, a soft-yet-searing collection of twelve intimate and atmospheric songs that will whisper their way into your bloodstream. Back in 1999, when the singer released the critically acclaimed Love In The Time Of Science, Emiliana came out with a gorgeous, electronic trippoppin' vision of endless summer and moonlit nights out. Following her departure from One Little Indian, there's a new introspection, closer to Nick Drake or Jolie Holland than Portishead or Goldfrapp. The 27-year-old singer and writer has nonetheless been busy since Love In The Time Of Science. She moved to Brighton, joined the cast of Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers to perform the enchanting `Gollum Song' wrote and toured with Thievery Corporation, and wrote a Number One Hit for Kylie Minogue in the shape of huge-selling pop smash "Slow."

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Sutíl melancolía.......2007-06-08

Con un disco como este sobran las palabras. Es bellísimo, es de una sonoridad tan íntima y está lleno de una melancolía tan sutíl... Su belleza radica en la sencillez de la instrumentación y en la "tristeza" de la voz de Emiliana.

5 out of 5 stars Different from her debut but Brilliant nonetheless.......2007-03-17

I think it is safe to call Torrini talented. While not completely mainstream her abilities as an artist are strong enough for her to act as a substitute for Enya in the Gollum number of Peter Jackson's cinematic behemoth. It is a shame that most of her fans are not appreciating this record for what it is, which is a minimalistic, poignant, cathartic masterpiece.

This is not a happy record. The most prevalent tone is one of mourning (even the title suggests it) and she replaces her electronic sound with emotions. And yet it is not a depressing sadness that you get. What you get is the kind of sadness that makes you want to go to a coffee shop in Iceland just to stare out the window and perhaps pick up smoking and all the time... smiling It is that beautiful.

It is not an easy record either. It is harder to get into than love in the time of science with its very obvious melodies and in your face synths. This record is almost completely acoustic. It is also not easy to describe either so let me sum this up and let you read other reviewers attempts.

If you have ever been in a bar and the lounge singer is being mostly ignored by other patrons for a while but eventually every body starts to glance up at her occasionally as if to say, "You know that is true, it does feel like that sometimes doesn't it? How did you know?" Then this is the record for you.

Highly recommended.

4 out of 5 stars Beautiful Voice.......2007-02-07

Her voice is definitely beautiful. However, if I have one complaint...it would be that the album is a bit monotonic.

5 out of 5 stars really different .......2007-01-24

I really like this chick, one of the better female vocals today. Her voice is unusual, but she's very deep, and warm. There is a playfullness to her songs. Her lyrics are vivid and natural. This album in particular is kind of acoustic, w/particular emphasis on her voice. One of my favorite albums.

5 out of 5 stars Gorgeous and low-key (no, it's not trip hop).......2006-11-19

We have to acknowledge the fact that this album is not the inheritor of the trip hop beauties of Love in the Time of Science. Like so many lasting artists such as Bjork or Beck (and even to a certain degree Belle & Sebastian), the mood, music and personality change over time. Don't get me wrong, I adore Love in the Time of Science and there are no bad songs on it. Fisherman's Woman is different but also ethereal and beautiful. And I think that given how polished she is, we forget this is a sophomore effort. Amazing when you think about it.

It feels like a low-key, paired down cousin of folk and pop both. The album starts out with a semi-melancholic strum from Nothing Gets Me Down. Immediately we are in a different country, but then Emiliana's familiar accented vocals remind us of where we are. I personally find that one of the charms of her music is her breathy singing style where you can hear many nuances, this is even better live!

The second song, Sunny Road, was one of the more popular singles and is fairly upbeat. Like her prior album, storytelling unfolds and we learn about some of her life decisions that led to the years between these two albums (at least that is my interpretation). Emiliana has grown up and become more eloquent in Fisherman's Woman. Since her first album, which was full of innocent and sweetly foreign images, she has delved into the language and the emotions, and come up with more controlled, complex jewels.

My favorites:
Honeymoon Child - comes on with a sort of unearthly, wavering music that sets you up for the lyrics. Her voice is amazingly highlighted in this track.
Heartstopper - the most like her former album, an upbeat and fun song - "Outside your house to make a scene / in my head you grabbed me passionately / but the lights are out and in hour / I walked home in the pouring shower".
Serenade - sweet and soft, makes me want to dance alone in the dark before the dawn. Seriously, another gorgeous tune.

In a word: enchanting! You have to be willing to enjoy and put in a little work for her second album, but it's definitely worth it. It's not as "easy" as the first, but nor is it as simple. I can't wait for album #3.

PS: So now you know that lots of fans love this album too. If you're in it for the long haul, Emiliana Torrini is a rewarding and amazing artist. I love how her music has changed. But if you're mainly a trip hop/pop fan, or you're just not into the low-key music, then it may not be for you. Isn't it great that we can all love different things? ;-)
Rough Cutt/Rough Cutt Wants You!
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Long Live 80's Metal
  • I can't believe they released this!
  • An Overlooked Gem
  • Double Shot of Rough Cutt !
  • Rough Cutt and Rough Cutt Wants You
 Rough Cutt/Rough Cutt Wants You!
Rough Cutt
Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AMPZ7Q
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

  1. Take Her
  2. Piece of My Heart
  3. Never Gonna Die
  4. Dreamin' Again
  5. Cutt Your Heart Out
  6. Black Widow
  7. You Keep Breaking My Heart
  8. Kids Will Rock
  9. Dressed to Kill
  10. She's Too Hott
  11. Rock the USA
  12. Bad Reputation
  13. Don't Settle for Less
  14. Hot 'n' Heavy
  15. Take a Chance
  16. We Like It Loud
  17. Double Trouble
  18. You Wanna Be a Star
  19. Let 'Em Talk
  20. Night Cries Out (For You)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Long Live 80's Metal.......2007-07-11

Back in 1985, I owned both Rough Cutt albums on vinyl and cassette. They were listened to quite often and wore out quickly. I had been looking for these on cd for quite awhile. What a pleasant surprise to find it here (ON ONE CD, nonetheless). The musicianship is amazing and the production is what totally propels this into another universe. If you are a fan of 80's metal - BUY THIS NOW!

4 out of 5 stars I can't believe they released this!.......2007-07-09

I've been trying to get these albums for years. Great singer and songs. One of the great undiscovered bands of the 80's.

5 out of 5 stars An Overlooked Gem.......2007-06-12

Both Albums were 80's rock at it's best. Rough Cutt never got the publicity other less talented bands received during this period. I believe RC focused more on their music and less on the hair and glam. Excellent lyrics awesome riffs---- You won't be dissappointed.

5 out of 5 stars Double Shot of Rough Cutt !.......2007-04-26

Hell Yea ! I was one of those metal head kids ya saw in the 80's. I loved to find the obscure metal bands that kicked butt. I'd see groups in concert like Keel, Helix, Accept, Loudness, TNT, Stryper, etc. I prided myself on having a wicked metal-head collection of 80's\early 90's Metal music. If it was a metal band in the 80's I had it or heard it. Rough Cutt was one of my favorite metal bands. They had a raw but seductive way of sounding and with Paul Shortino's unique voice it glued it all together. The song Black Widow is a song that Cinderella's Night Songs could never touch. The cover song they did of Janis Joplin's "Piece of my heart" truly would make her proud to hear. The song "Dreamin again" just takes me to another time and place of metal paradise, lol. I was lucky enough to see Rough Cutt LIVE at the Hollywood Sportatourium in Hollywood Florida back when they opened for Dio and toured for their first album. The show kicked butt as well as Dio. Damn I wish the metal of the 80's was still going strong today but thats life! Im glad I have my 80's\early 90's metal cd's to listen to and give me good memories. I'm honored to have Rough Cutt in my collection! Tear it up metal heads of the 80's !

5 out of 5 stars Rough Cutt and Rough Cutt Wants You.......2007-01-29

Incredible find. An A+ for those who want to have a nostalgic taste of what metal should sound like in an original sense. The production is top notch and the musicianship is superb. Paul Shortino's vocals are over the top as well as the drumming of David Alford. The track Black Widow rules!
Rough Mix
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Rough Mix
    Pete Townshend , and Ronnie Lane
    Manufacturer: Hip-O Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000LV63SQ
    Release Date: 2007-01-23

    Tracks:

    1. My Baby Gives It Away
    2. Nowhere to Run
    3. Rough Mix [Instrumental]
    4. Annie
    5. Keep Me Turning
    6. Catmelody
    7. Misunderstood
    8. April Fool
    9. Street in the City
    10. Heart to Hang Onto
    11. Till the Rivers All Run Dry
    12. Only You [*]
    13. Good Question [*]
    14. Silly Little Man [*]
    If the Ocean Gets Rough
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Too light
    • all that really matters is the music
    • real genius
    • Willy Mason gets my feet tapping
    • Music like the soul of old Cape Cod
    		 If the Ocean Gets Rough
    Willy Mason
    Manufacturer: Astralwerks
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000KJTCRS
    Release Date: 2007-03-20

    Tracks:

    1. Gotta Keep Walking
    2. The World That I Wanted
    3. We Can Be Strong
    4. Save Myself
    5. I Can't Sleep
    6. Riptide
    7. When The River Moves On
    8. If The Ocean Gets Rough
    9. Simple Town
    10. The End Of The Race
    11. When The Leaves Have Fallen

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Too light.......2007-07-09

    Great songwriting once again but, as this is not really my preferred genre, I feel the need of something darker. His first album gave me a bit of that and seemed a little more experimental. Albeit part of its charm was the amazing 'Oxygen', the kind of song that may along come around once in a while.

    I have nothing against this or him but it just seems to have lost a bit of edge. Perhaps I need to listen to it more.

    5 out of 5 stars all that really matters is the music.......2007-05-24

    as an avid admirer of many genres - punk, indie, hip-hop, electronica, industrial, whatever - the bottom line for me is the quality of the music. i've seen and heard willy mason before, and this album truly captures his oft-described older than he seems voice, quirky and thoughtful lyrics and fine musicianship. this is an album that i've enjoyed sitting and listening to, and once the lyrcis sink in they tend to follow me around. the music has texture and doesn't lie still as the songs change tempo and his voice and instruments weave in and out. he has some interesting takes on youth, the music industry and society. it's worth your hard earned dollars, so just buy it already, you'll be satisfied.

    5 out of 5 stars real genius.......2007-05-10

    There aren't many like Willy out there, something you'll truly understand if you are fortunate enough to see him live. But this second album seems to have gotten permanently stuck in my CD player. Willy is a natural storyteller, a fine guitarist. He writes with real power, and possesses wisdom that belies his age. To say that I am impressed with "If the Ocean Gets Rough" is a massive understatement. Willy is the real deal, the kind of talent we hoped still existed. It does, in spades.

    5 out of 5 stars Willy Mason gets my feet tapping.......2007-05-06

    Willy Mason is an incredibly talented person. His lyrics are inspiring and his music as a whole puts a nice beat into my days. This new albumn rocks. I highly recommend others to check him out and be inspired!

    4 out of 5 stars Music like the soul of old Cape Cod.......2007-04-09

    This album is cleaner and more refined than his debut. The lyrics are more mature and the songs are more melodic but manage to stay soulful and gritty. They also play a good live show and its only a matter of before they are the headliners. Willys deep voice is complimented by Nina Violets voice and viola. Its the soul of old Cape Cod. Every song on the album is good. Buy this album!
    Nux Vomica
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Here to Stay
    • Beautifully melodic, though the words don't always match the music
    • Oh fate, your face
    • Wild and lovely
    		 Nux Vomica
    The Veils
    Manufacturer: Rough Trade
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000O5B4S8
    Release Date: 2007-04-24

    Tracks:

    1. Not Yet
    2. Calliope!
    3. Advice For Young Mothers To Be
    4. Jesus For The Jugular
    5. Pan
    6. A Birthday Present
    7. Under The Folding Branches
    8. Nux Vomica
    9. One Night On Earth
    10. House Where We All Live

    Amazon.com

    "It looks an ugly world out there" moans Veils leader Finn Andrews as the New Zealand quintet opens their sophomore album Nux Vomica, and the outlook doesn't get much sunnier as the veil is lifted to reveal eleven theatrical and contradictory tracks. Nux Vomica is the Latin name for a poison tree of South East Asia, source of deadly strychnine, and the Veils seem to have ingested just enough to hurt--behind the alluring melody and lush instrumentation of each song here, there's an unmistakable menace seeping through. The shadow of Echo and the Bunnymen looms large (the title track could have been a "Killing Moon" b-side), and more than a trace of the punctuated rhythms of past New Zealand indie notables the Verlaines in the somber and swaggering "Jesus for the Jugular." The enhanced disc also contains a video for "Advice for Young Mothers to Be", which might cause concern at Child Protective Services if it weren't so amusing. --Ben Heege

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Here to Stay.......2007-06-27

    I bought this album and took it along on my iPod this summer and hardly listened to it. Now I'm back in New York, and I can't live without it. Just saw his acoustic cover of Bruce Springsteen's "State Trooper" on YouTube, and finally understood.

    5 out of 5 stars Beautifully melodic, though the words don't always match the music.......2007-06-20

    I'd first reviewed this CD for the college radio station, and since then the music's been on my mind. It's rare that a voice comes along that seemingly flows through the air smoother than a river over rocks. The power of the singer's voice is enough to jerk me out of everyday life and into whatever wonder this band is able to create with their music.
    The third song, Advice for Young Mothers to be, makes me weep every time I hear it. The reason for this is the words go along with the melody, unlike half the songs on the CD, and the song touches on a subject male singers rarely touch on - pregnancy.
    The song does it effectively, not targeting people like a lot of modern music seems to, but simply putting the spotlight on young pregnant women, trying to cheer them on and enter their shoes.
    The harmonics of this song are very easy to follow, and one's mind trails along with the music for every note of it. "Bloody marvelous."
    These guys deserve much more spotlight than they've been given. Nice freaking job!

    5 out of 5 stars Oh fate, your face.......2007-04-29

    The Veils are doing a pretty good job of obscuring the lines between genres -- is their second album: A. classic metal, B. Britpop, or C. wild weird indiepop?

    Answer: D, all of the above. This New Zealand band has a new lineup and a new sound, not to mention the kind of renewed energy that bands rarely have on their sophomore album. And in "Nux Vomica" they tear through different musical genres, with brilliantly raw results.

    "It looks an ugly world out there/Of girl-guides and disease and war/I love my little velvet bed/I never want to leave it anymore," howls Finn Andrews in the opening song. "All my fears will come to me in dreams/Maybe the end ain't as far as it seems/Not yet revived but not yet mourned/Not quite denied just not yet born..."

    The song he's singing changes several times as it plays -- it starts off as a some of folksy ballad, but them blooms out into an eerie synthy hard-rocker, and then into as sort of piano-edged metal. And over it all, he's wailing, "I TRIIIIIIIIIIED.... I TRIIIIIIED..." By the end of it, I was dizzy.

    Things don't get any less colourful with the songs that follow. Each one seems to give a new spin on indie-rock -- flavoured with calliope, soulfully edged with soaring voices, ominous and distorted, smashing alt-rock, twinkly hard-rockers. They even work in a ballad, "Under The Folding branches," which is an exquisite little shimmer of strings and piano.

    The Veiils are apparently trying to wring every last drop of inspiration from their music -- they smush classic indie-rock, moments of hard-rock and metal, with driving Britpop edges. And it all serves as the frame for Andrews' songs of uncertainty and sorrow.

    The music is a swirl of hard-edged guitar and bass, and sometimes they explode into eruptions of pure hard rock. But the raw instrumentals are laced with some tinkly piano and shimmering keyboard, and Lou Reed collaborator Jane Scarpontoni weaves in some beautiful string arrangements as well. Some songs are catchy, some are fast-paced, but all of them are wonderfully layered.

    But they all have a feeling of mild sadness and confusion, and that gets reflected in the songs as well. Andrews seems to be asking "what's the point? What's ahead of us?", and reflecting on the decay of the world. And he sings it in a sort of Robert Plant manner, howling with devastating power -- but he can also switch to the bittersweet murmur of a ballad.

    Good thing the Veils changed their lineup and sound, because "Nux Vomica" is a painful, exquisite rock album that deserves to be heard. Definitely one of the best of 2007 thus far.

    5 out of 5 stars Wild and lovely.......2007-04-24

    Is this a Brit pop band? A New Zealand heavy metal stomp outfit? The latest chamber rock wunderkind in the mold of the Arcade Fire and Okkervil River? The Veils are all these things, and a bit more. The Kiwi lead singer, who sounds like a mix of Robert Plant and the dude who fronts the Violent Femmes (really, stay with me here), growls and emotes over piano, high-hat heavy drums and aggressive guitar. But how did these guys get so adept at pop, anthems, what sounds like American southern rock boogies and heart-wrenching love ballads? America hasn't heard of these guys, but when this CD comes out in April, I trust they will...the Veils are, to quote Hank Williams, Sr., "wild and blue."
    Rough Guide to Bhangra Dance
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Hi! Hi! HI!
    • great intro to bhangra
    • Complex, lively music for listening or dancing
    		 Rough Guide to Bhangra Dance
    Various Artists
    Manufacturer: World Music Network
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    IndiaIndia | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
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    5. Beware

    ASIN: B000E41KQA
    Release Date: 2006-02-17

    Tracks:

    1. Rail Gaddi - Four Of A Kind
    2. Dil Tera - Soni Pabla
    3. Captain Bhangre Da - Ravi Bal
    4. Dil Nai Lagda - Aman Hayer
    5. Gal Sun - Partners In Rhyme
    6. Sajna - Veronica
    7. Chal Hun (Get Up Fix) - Malkit Singh
    8. Billo Raneeay - Binder
    9. Akheer - Juggy D
    10. Paisa - Manak-E
    11. Mahndi/Madhorama Pencha - Madan Bata Sindhu
    12. Lakh Hilda - Indy Sagu
    13. Taweet - Daljit Mattu
    14. Apna Sangeet - Taz
    15. Nain Preeto De - Panjabi By Nature

    Amazon.com

    The follow up to 1999's Rough Guide To Bhangra, Rough Guide To Bhangra Dance focuses on recent mutations of this flexible music genre also known as "desi beats." Originally brought to England by North Indian Punjabi immigrants and their children, bhangra mutated in cities like London and Birmingham in the 80s to reflect the new surroundings of the artists and audience. The barrel-shaped dhol drum is still at the center of the clattering bhangra sound, but the 15 tracks here range from Four Of A Kind's boy-band leanings to Veronica's modern R&B-ish grooves to the traditional-minded Daljit Mattu & Ravi Bal. The music's party vibe works surprisingly well in conjunction with the strict aesthetics of hip-hop, dancehall and dance music, and has actually been incorporated by artists in those genres (Missy Elliott being a notable example). Nonetheless, this is an excellent line-up of artists coming out of the Indian tradition looking to Western forms in search of new fusions. --Tad Hendrickson

    Album Description

    From its humble beginnings as a folk dance in northwest India, the British-Asian phenomenon of bhangra has incorporated Western instruments, such as the electric guitar, bass and keyboards, and evolved into the energetic and highly popular club and dance music it is today. This album features some of the hottest bhangra beats and the funkiest names on the British-Asian scene.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Hi! Hi! HI!.......2006-10-03

    this is the music to accompany a dance craze that is going to the big urban centers in the USA right now after having been a euro- phenom. I first heard about it when I was doing a websearch on music of India, then ordered the CD. My daughter hwo lives in DC was surprised to hear that I had gotten this, and she had just been to a Bhangra event at a a club there. The tracks are danceable and really really fun. some of it has a hip hop beat but the harmonies and melodies are so wonderfully fresh that you will find yourself humming along after on ly a listen or two....

    5 out of 5 stars great intro to bhangra .......2006-06-14

    being born in the states to bengali parents, there isnt as much popular music thats influenced by indian culture (bad rap looping aside). mostly, we (as in first generation americans) usually have to turn to british stuff for that crossover. bhangra is, for us, what rock en español or reggetón is for latinos.... its dancable and familiar. this cd, i think, has some awesome tracks on it... there is a whole spectrum of bhangra types- from the reggae-inspired to the more 'hip-hop' flavored stuff to the calm, religious 'akheer' (which is totally my favorite). you dont have to understand punjabi to enjoy it (i mean, i dont and nor do most of my indian friends... but we connect with it even though bhangra is a regional punjabi phenomenon... then again, reggetón is supposedly a puerto rican/caribeño thing and even argentinians and spaniards can dig it). anyway, the point is this cd has a good collection of songs that is very cool regardless of your background. neat songs, a lot of indian backgrounds (with traditional instruments like the veena and harmonuim) and pulsing dhol/syth rhythms. it makes you want to get up and dance, which is exactly what bhangra is for!

    5 out of 5 stars Complex, lively music for listening or dancing.......2006-05-22

    I stumbled across this CD on a display rack at Borders and listened to a few minutes and then bought it. I fell in love with the complexity and liveliness of the music. Most of the tracks have complex percussion of standard 4/4 count dance music but with lots of other percussion rhythms thrown in with various instruments. I can't identify many of the instruments but I certainly enjoyed them. The singing was also excellent and sometimes quite intricate.

    This music is good for driving or anytime when you want to get into a happy energetic mood. It's also great for organized dancing. Most of it will work with salsa, hustle, or west coast swing. The energy of the music encourages a lot of improvisation and messing around. It is nearly perfect dance club music.

    This is fun, lively, interesting, and enjoyable music. I highly recommend it. It inspired me to rip it to mp3 at a much higher quality level than I usually do. Usual is variable @ 192 kbps. This one rated averaging @ 256.
    The Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Vibrant Vocals and Versatile Vibes from Vietnam
    		 The Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam
    Various Artists
    Manufacturer: World Music Network
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B000PHW2JU
    Release Date: 2007-06-05

    Tracks:

    1. HUONG THANH - Crossing The Valley
    2. THAN QUY - Ngoi Tua Song Dao (Sitting By The Peach Mullioned River)
    3. CAM LY - Em Gai Que
    4. BLUE ASIA - Blue Requiem
    5. THU HIEN - Cau Doi Cau Cho
    6. KIM SINH - Li Giao Duyen
    7. KHAC CHI ENSEMBLE - On The Bamboo Bridge
    8. TRANH SAO BAO - Ly Con Sao
    9. HUY DU, TUYET TRING - Kim Trọng Tuong Tu Thuy Kieu
    10. NGUYEN THANH THUY - Luyen Nam Cung
    11. VAN KHANH - Dem Phuong Nam Nghe Cau Ho Hue
    12. QUANG LINH - Toi Yeu
    13. CHAU DINH & CA HUE ENSEMBLE - Ten Reasons Why We Love Hue Girls
    14. DAN BAO VIETNAM - Rider In The Sky (Live)

    Album Description

    The apocalyptic image of Vietnam in the movies is a far cry from the reality of later-day Vietnam - a dynamic country with an ancient and vibrant culture combining Eastern, and in recent years, Western influences. Featuring some of the biggest stars of contemporary Vietnamese music, key regional styles, popular folk songs and ancient court music, The Rough Guide To The Music Of Vietnam offers a unique insight into one of the world's least understood nations.

    Artists include - Huong Thanh, Than Quy, Cam Ly, Blue Asia, Thu Hien, Kim Sinh, Khac Chi Ensemble, Tranh Sao Bao, Huy Du, Tuyet Tring, Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Van Khanh, Quang Linh, Chau Dinh & Ca Hue Ensemble, Dan Bao Vietnam

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Vibrant Vocals and Versatile Vibes from Vietnam.......2007-07-15

    On the Rough Guide musical tour of the world, next stop is Vietnam! And as usual they've excelled in offering a CD full of great music that's evocatively representative, widely ranging, and eminently listenable. From contemporary pop songs to time-honored folk lyrics, from popularly traditional melodies to globally-influenced innovations, this CD will take you on a crash tour of one of the most exciting musical landscapes on the planet (and the stuff people in Vietnam are really listening to). If you've never heard Vietnamese music before, you can't find a better intro than this album. On the other hand, if you've been a big fan of Vietnam's incredible music for years, you'll appreciate this fine selection and find a few surprises--Vietnamese Blues? "Rider in the Sky" on the dan bao recorded poolside in Saigon? You'll only hear it here! But every track is golden in its own way, lovingly handpicked by the compiler as is standard practice with Rough Guide CDs.

    Speaking of the compiler, Paul Fisher's liner notes are well-written and do the job nicely of introducing each performer and singer while contextualizing and placing the music within the overall musical culture of Vietnam--no stuffy musicological details, just the right amount of background so that the listener can pretty much know and appreciate what's playing. And the tracks are introduced in the order that they appear on the CD (a common sense arrangement that some Rough Guide CDs have gotten a bit too fancily experimental with), so it's easy to follow along with the music--at least the first time, and with this music, it'll be the first time of many!
    The Rough Guide to African Blues
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		The Rough Guide to African Blues
      Various Artists
      Manufacturer: World Music Network
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      Contemporary BluesContemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Blues | Styles | Music
      Acoustic BluesAcoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
      Modern BluesModern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Africa | International | Styles | Music
      AfricaAfrica | Compilations | International | Styles | Music
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      ASIN: B000OONP3G
      Release Date: 2007-05-08

      Tracks:

      1. MARIEM HASSAN - La Tumchi Anni
      2. NURU KANE - Goree
      3. COREY HARRIS - Special Rider Blues
      4. BOUBACAR TRAORE - Mariama Kaba
      5. OUMOU SANGARE - Mogo Ti Diya Bee Ya
      6. ETRAN FINATAWA - Iriarer
      7. AFEL BOKOUM - Jaman Moro
      8. ROKIA TRAORE - Kele Mandi
      9. AYALEW MESFIN & BLACK LION BAND - Feqer Aydelem Wey
      10. DJELIMADY TOUNKARA - Sigui
      11. BOB BROZMAN & DJELI MOUSSA DIAWARA - Maloyan Devil
      12. RASHA - Azara Alhai
      13. DABY BALDE - Waino Blues
      14. BAABA MAAL & MANSOUR SECK - Bibbe Leydy

      Album Description

      Nowadays it is almost universally accepted that the DNA of the blues can be traced back to Africa. Featuring significant collaborations which explore this link - including Corey Harris and Ali Farka Toure - alongside pivotal artists such as Afel Bocoum, Oumou Sangare and Boubacar Traore, The Rough Guide to African Blues examines this complex and fascinating musical connection.

      Artists include- Mariem Hassan, Nuru Kane, Corey Harris with Ali Farka Touré, Boubacar Traoré, Oumou Sangare, Etran Finatawa, Afel Bocoum, Rokia Traoré, Ayaléw Mèsfin & Black Lion Band, Djelimady Tounkara, Bob Brozman & Djeli Moussa Diawara, Rasha, Daby Balde, Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck
      Rough Guide to North African Cafe
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Rough Guide to North African Cafe
        Various Artists
        Manufacturer: World Music Network
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
        AfricaAfrica | Compilations | International | Styles | Music
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        1. The Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam
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        ASIN: B000QEILTW
        Release Date: 2007-06-26

        Tracks:

        1. Barman - Akli-D
        2. Rai Rock Rumba - Roberto Rodriguez
        3. Salam - Barrio Chino
        4. O Ellelli - Madioko
        5. Hat - Smadj
        6. Ben Melamet Hirkasini Guydim - Orient Expressions
        7. Wayak - Les Orientales
        8. El Dia - Cheb Balowski
        9. Sar a Lay - El Tanbura
        10. Lemon Bara - Abdel Gadir Salim
        11. A Chaque Instant, Oran - Akim El Sikameya
        12. Dorbiha Zina - Less Boukakes
        13. Halawa Ya - Mahmoud Fadl
        14. La Foule - Tarik

        Album Description

        Amble down the narrow walkways of a North African medina past the cafes filled with the aromatic smoke of hookah pipes and hum of local chatter all around. The Rough Guide To North African Cafe is a musical journey through the bustling backwaters of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt, featuring artists from Algeria's legendary Maurice El Medioni to French-Tunisian oud master, Smadj. Welcome to North Africa's most intoxicating sounds.

        Artists include- Akli D, Maurice El Medioni & Roberto Rodriguez, Barrio Chino, Madioko & Rafika, Smadj Presents S.O.S. Project, Sahabat Akkiraz & Orient Expressions, Les Orientales, Cheb Balowski, El Tanbura, Abdel Gadir Salim, Akim El Sikameya, Les Boukakes, Mahmoud Fadl, Tarik

        Music:

        1. Rubber Space
        2. Simmer
        3. Sound of Sounds/Ping One Down, Pt. 1 [CD-single] [Import]
        4. Stereotype A [Extra tracks] [Import]
        5. Strange Condition [CD-single] [Import]
        6. Super Best [Import]
        7. Superfreaky Memories [CD-single]
        8. Sweet N Sour
        9. Taking the Cure
        10. Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution) [CD-single] [Import]

        Music

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        Luminescence [Import]

        Rowell Rogers: Warrior Dreams; William Heinrichs: Dream Sequence

        Sweet Love Sweet Hope

        So Long So Wrong

        The Original Bootleg Series from The Manticore Vaults, Vol. 3 [Box set] [Live] [Import]

        Sail Away~Songs from the Heart of Broadway

        That's All

        Passionate World of Puccini [Import]

        Rollercoaster

        Soul Trombone [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered] [Import]

        Right on Time

        Salle Des Pas Perdus [Import]

        Presents the Free Association [Import]

        Chants Juifs: Jewish Songs for Cello & Piano

        Mingus Plays Piano