Blender [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
The new album from US rock group, Collective Soul features the exclusive bonus track Over Tokyo' (live acoustic version)

Tracks:

Skin
Vent
Why Pt.2
10 Yrs Later
Boast
Turn Around
You Speak My Language
Perfect Day
After All
Over Tokyo
Happiness

Amazon.com

Collective Soul again turn back the clock to the '70s, when rock bands were bigger than life, guitar riffs were circuitous, lyrics tended to the repetitive, and the drumming was bombastic. The Roland brothers and company reinvigorate the power ballad in a way that even Jon Bon Jovi has never been able to--and they do so totally without irony. In fact it's no joke that they've convinced old-school rock icon Elton John to croon on "Perfect Day." Collective Soul allowed a contest-winning fan to name their fifth album Blender, but it's not a particularly apt name, since they deviate so little from their classic-rock approach, save the frenetic, Prince-like "Vent," with its flashy guitar gymnastics and laughable lyrics ("You bite before you lick / Why? Because you're such a prick") and the well-executed psychedelic frills in the rhythmically challenged "Skin." But other than those artistic curves, Collective Soul serve up muscular anthems about being misunderstood, ("You Speak My Language"), finding one's way out of chaos ("Turn Around"), and love gone bad ("Why Pt. 2") with the same lumbering lyrics that colored their first four albums. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-01-07

This is a melodic, slightly electronic collection of hard rock tracks and ballads. Positive lyrics for the most part, too. This is one of those CD's that you can just let play, and while none of the songs compare to the hit "Shine," the consistency of the sound makes this album a notch above their other ones just because they seem to have developed a clear direction for their sound. They have settled into a great album-rock band, with a newer sound applied to classic 70's rock melodies. "Skin," "Why" and the haunting "Turn Around" are some highlights, but there are only two poor tracks on the whole disc out of 11. Ed Roland has to be perhaps the greatest alt-rock vocalist today, vastly underrated songwriter as well. Collective Soul CD's are never instant classics, but they have a way of growing on you and man do they sound great live!!

Collective Soul launches into the 21st Century with "Blender".......2006-02-09

Collective Soul had already given us a major dosage of their anthem rock style mixed with bluesy tunes and the occasional soft power ballad. With "Blender" we're in for even more of a treat: Another album diverse in structure and noble in effort.

Blender starts out with no less than three gems that are worthy of praise for their power and style. "Skin" "Vent" and the MTV video hit "Why pt. II" are good enough by themselves to carry the rest of the album. However, that is not the case with this band, who with the exception of Pearl Jam, has survived the 90's messy musical scene by sticking together and putting out solid albums that make rock music fun again.

The fast paced rocker "You speak my language" and the moody envoked, soft drifter of "Over Tokyo" are other tracks to relish on BLENDER. Collective Soul continues to produce songs that are powerful, fast, slow, fun, funny, and serious, all the while maintaining their lineup with great guitars and heavy drums. If you have been looking for a rock band that's not a one hit wonder, and has the diversity of songs that are not found with formula rock or whatever you are hearing on the radio, BLENDER is a great album to check into.

blender?.......2005-12-25

collective soul had a few nice attempts toward pop music like dosage. The main problem i have with this album is none of the songs are hits so no airwaves and the fact that the album probably has about 7 fillers! Its just to flawed to recommend to everyone it may be if you are a diehard collective soul fans. i wouldnt lose this album but i wouldnt buy it again.

Collective Soul's "Blender".......2005-10-29

This is an awesome CD!!!!! I am a new Collective Soul fan and every CD I have bought is excellent! They are the best Rock band ever! I'm happy with the Amazon's service!

Pleasing / A Good Pop Effort.......2005-06-17

I didn't come into this album as a fan. In fact, I thought this band had kinda disappeared after the early 90s! Of course now I'm starting to realize how much music they did put out.

This CD doesn't seem to be as loved by the fans on here as their earlier works, and I'll agree it sounds slick and "poppy".

Still, this is a good "car album". I'm kinda impatient, and if there are more than a few klunkers on a CD, it's not worth loading into the player. But only track #7 (Speak My Language) gets the finger.

Sometimes you have a few CDs in your collection that are kinda commercial-- but still listenable and better than the tired singles on the radio. I place this one in that category.

Average customer rating:

An icon among singer-songwriters of America

Crossing [Multichannel Hybrid SACD]
David Elias , and David Elias
Manufacturer: Sketti Sandwich Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Window [hybrid multichannel SACD]
Sisters & Brothers (Multichannel Hybrid SACD)
Harpslinger (Multichannel Hybrid SACD)
Concord Records SACD Sampler 1 (Multichannel Hybrid SACD)
Dark Side of the Moon 30th Anniversary Edition

ASIN: B000ALMTXK
Release Date: 2005-06-01

Tracks:

Crossing (Lonely Bells)
Mend My Mind
Close My Eyes
Morning Light / Western Town
Rodeo On A Ridge
Red Tail Guide
Heaven's Destiny
One More Savior
Above The Creek
The Riddle Song
Changing Down
If I Had My Way

Product Description

"Crossing" is a recording for anyone looking to rediscover the folk tradition in a contemporary expressive format. It has the songs and the musicians performing that are capable of recreating what many consider to be a lost or at least an endangered art. Having blazed a new/old trail in 2003 of addressing the folk tradition idiom by working with some incredible musicians in a live studio recording session that resulted in my first SA-CD "The Window", this disc "Crossing" continues to explore the depth to which highly articulate lyrics and accompaniments can be captured and recreated for the listener in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound. 'Crossing' joined the top list of picks by High Fidelity Review writers for the 2005 Surround Music Awards: ** "Listener's Choice" award ** final nominee. 'Crossing' was also a final nominee in these categories for the SMA 2005 Awards: ** Best Made-For-Surround Title ** final nominee ** Best Non-Orchestral Mix ** final nominee Featuring: - Sally Van Meter (dobro/weissenborn) - Matt Flinner (mandolin) - David Phillips (pedal steel) - Eric Moon (accordion, keyboards) - Eric Thorin (standup bass) - Marc Dalio (percussion) - Chris Kee (standup bass) - Peter Tucker (percussion) - John Havard (electric) - Reid Dennis (percussion)

Customer Reviews:

An icon among singer-songwriters of America.......2006-01-15

With the release of "Crossing," David Elias has re-affirmed his place as an icon among singer-songwriters of America. For David, it seems truly a crossing of old and new technologies - warm, wooden, acoustic instruments recorded on state-of-the-art Sonoma DSD equipment. Also crossing exciting new tracks (the gritty, gunslinger Dobro of "Morning Light/Western Town," the vivid, honest imagery of"Crossing," and the signature David Elias way of making a yearning, existential paean sound hopeful, as in "One More Savior") while breathing new life into a few of David's classic tunes ("Mend My Mind," "Heaven's Destiny," and "Changing Down"). But the real irony of David Elias' "Crossing" is the friendly way it greets you ears on first listen, and then finds it's way into your heart thereafter. And once that happens, you're a fan for life. Lucky for us, David's prolific songwriting keeps us fed with gems like "Crossing."

Average customer rating:

Visqueen rocks out!
Power Pop is Alive and Well
booooooooooring
Yeah! Vasqueen Take the Sting out!
Sorry Seattle..

King Me
Visqueen
Manufacturer: BlueDisguise Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Sunset On Dateland
Very, Very Powerful Motor
The Day That Didn't Exist
Truth, Corrosion and Sour Bisquits
Canadian Amp

ASIN: B000089SG7
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

Vaxxine
Sailor
Last to Know
My House
Zirconium Gun
Mrs. Elder
Red Blood Blue
Buried Alive
Omaha
Lovely Guilty

Amazon.com

Imagine '60s London dolly birds Lulu or Petula Clark fronting a power-punk trio of the Ramones school and you get a good sense of where Visqueen is coming from. Seattleite Rachel Flotard, like the aforementioned '60s thrushes, knows the score, but she doesn't waste time keeping score. The compassion of "My House" (she volunteers her home as a place to stay "because you've found a friend in me") and "Last to Know" (in which she professes to be "sorry that you're losing your heart and your dreams") seem genuine and refreshing. The unaffected spunk of Flotard's hook-filled songs are powered by chugging riffs and high-octane support from former Fastbacks bassist Kim Warnick and drummer Ben Hooker. The catchy likes of the slashing "Vaxxine" ("Take the sting out of my heart") and the punny "Omaha" ("You and me are mutual like Omaha") signal the arrival of a band that's smart, tart, and open hearted. --Steven Stolder

Album Description

PRODUCED BY Barrett Jones (Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Melvins et al.)

Customer Reviews:

Visqueen rocks out!.......2005-03-06

If you are too pretentious to enjoy good rock music, ::looks at negative reviews and coughs loudly:: then you probably shouldn't listen to this album.

If you like to rock out, if you like catchy melodies and harmonies, thought provoking lyrics, and just like to listen to GOOD music, then you should definitely listen to this cd.

I don't listen to corporate radio, and this is really the first time that I have been excited about a band in a very long time. Obviously it is hard to put the energy and vitality of a live show into a studio recording, but they do a very good job of it. For me, it is the type of CD that I liked the first time, but like it more and more every time I listen to it.

All of the tracks are really good and all could have easily been chosen as a single. I would recommend heading over to their official website, www.visqueenonline.com, and checking out the video for Mrs. Elder, a great song, and listening to the mp3s available here on Amazon.

Power Pop is Alive and Well.......2004-09-30

From start to finish an excellent offering. Is it possible to wear out a CD? I'm going to find out with this disc. Also, don't miss them live. Rachel restored my faith in rock and roll.

booooooooooring.......2004-05-04

simple really. bad.

do they have more than 1 riff?? amateur effort all round

Yeah! Vasqueen Take the Sting out!.......2004-04-13

pardon me for retreating to an overused phrase, but:

This CD ROCKS!

Short Review - Great stuff, buy it now!

If you're not sure, check out the free downloads - they are very representative of the sound of this group.

Longer review:

If you like up-tempo get off your ass and rock music with fun lyrics, great hooks, great harmonies, jump out on the dance floor, flail-your-arm air guitar (or in my case, air bass), rock-out music, this is a CD for you.

buy this CD now, hopefully you'll encourgage the band to get back in the studio to record their 2nd cd - it'll make ME happy anyway!

The only thing I don't understand is why pop radio isn't all over this stuff, but hey, I grew up in the 60s when all the songs on the radio were 2:38, didn't cuss, didn't degrade anybody, talked about havin' fun and didn't require a phalanx of scantily clad dancers and microphones that sang the songs on their own :).

One thing I do think is Joey Ramone is smiling down on these guys from Rock'n'Roll heaven, knowing the music lives on...

Sorry Seattle.........2004-01-29

I was disappointed with this purchase. "Vaxxine" got me excited for this disc, but sadly, the remaining songs don't compare to the fire of the lead track. Mid-way through the CD I find myself very bored by the uninspired chugga-chugga guitar riffs. On the brighter side, the vocal harmonies are a plus.

Average customer rating:

Best Damn Band

Paint the Town Brown
Banana Blender Surprise
Manufacturer: Freedom (City Hall)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000EQ60B8
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Tracks:

Will You Introduce Me to Your Girlfriend
Saveena
Barbecue
You Can't Cook
At the Cafeteria
She Keeps Me Busy
Office Song
Royal Crown and a Moon Pie
It Can't Go Wrong
Worrying Walt
Legend of J. Schroeder
My Girl Is Going out with a Smoker
Is It Friday Yet?
Dose O' Trouble (You Have to Admit)
Charles
I Can't Wait
Sweeter Than an Apple
13 or 15
I Don't Like You (Very Much)
Saturday at the First Evening
Slab O' Cheese

Tracks:

I Kinda Want (I Really Need)
Hey, Reverend
I Need Love
Take It on out to the Blacktop
I Don't Want to Talk to Your Friend
I Know I Cross Her Mind
Ode to Murgatroyd
Central Station
Picture of You
Trish and Charlie
Lock
Slime in the Ice Machine
Walked Under the Same Moon
Screamin' Reba
Lottery
Waiting for the Lease to Expire
Something Shakin'
Chester
Tent City
Hot and Bothered
Day Old Half Price

Customer Reviews:

Best Damn Band .......2006-05-10

If you want your music loud, proud, and just plain ass fun you need to add three of these to your collection. I have followed David, Allan, Jason, Gerard and Conrad since the early 90's. I followed them from Houston to Austin to San Antone to New Orleans' Tipitina's to the dives of Mississippi and I would quit my current job to do it again. Covers of the Fabulous T-Birds to their own boot thompin' originals grace this double CD and bring smiles to my face. If you ever get the chance to see them perform live haul ass to the venue, get there early, drink a Lone Star, eat a Moon Pie while your honey slams back an RC (lable out), and get strapped in for the ride of your life. Buy this album NOW!!!!! You will never take it out of your car stereo, your home stereo, or your friend's stereo. Hence, buy three now.

Average customer rating:

For Katharina
all over me song
Oh Leisha and Heather - how i love you so...
Getting close to what I want
powerful for a girlie group

Blender
Murmurs
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Murmurs
Pristine Smut
All Over Me
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ASIN: B000009NSD
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

La Di Da
I'm A Mess
Big Talker
Misfit
Smash
Genius
Don't Lie
Underdog
Sucker Upper
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About Nothin'

Customer Reviews:

For Katharina.......2004-07-29

That song is actually a song by Helium called "Hole In The Ground"...i think the original vinyl is out of print, but it is included on the All Over Me Soundtrack.

all over me song.......2004-05-02

Hello i`m from Germany, i search the song out the movie alle over me leisha hailey sing,, I heardyou talk; wer have the song? please write me a e mail, please sorry for my bad english

Oh Leisha and Heather - how i love you so..........2002-04-20

i love ALL of the Murmurs three albums, but this one seems to be the most popular.

THE SOUNDS:
the first self-titled album has a very acoustic, girly driven sound...
the second album, Pristine Smut, came back with a more rock kind of sound - with a twinge of country...
and the third album, Blender, is kind of a re-do of P.S., with a pop sound.

COMPARISON TO PRISTINE SMUT:
This album is nearly identical to their second effort, Pristine Smut. However, Sleepless Commotion, a beautiful song about the murder of the artist's mother, was removed on Blender. And some very pop-oriented songs that don't appear on Pristine Smut, were added to Blender... which, in my opinion are kind of silly. (a song called "La Di Da.) I prefer Pristine Smut to Blender, but unfortunately, it is out-of-print and hard to find. But if you can purchase it used, i HIGHLY reccommend it. If not, Blender is good too!

THE COVER ART:
wow. heather and leisha look breath-taking on this cover... which is ultimately the reason why it out-sold Pristine Smut. and it is packaged in an oh-so-fun pink, transparent jewel case.

The Murmurs are by far, one of my favorite bands, and have been for the pasrt 6 years. Unfortunately, they never put out a new album after this... but it is still super fun and remains part of my CD rotations.

Getting close to what I want.......2001-12-17

In their third venture into the CD world there has definitely been some improvement. Most of the songs on this CD are the same as their prior Pristine Smut CD, but some have undergone rework. This CD is more pop oriented then either of the Murmur's previous CDs.

I was disappointed that this didn't follow the same style as the debut CD, The Murmurs, but certainly happy that they had moved on from the 4 person band of Pristine Smut. It's a good CD, and the Murmurs have learned to perform pop music well, but will probably be a disappointed for fans of the original.

powerful for a girlie group.......2001-07-25

It seems to be stuck in my CD player and the songs rattle around in my head. It's a nice surprise.