Field Studies

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The audacious concept of Quasi--a divorced couple playing mournful yet sometimes hilariously embittered songs on only keyboard or guitar and drums--is nicely at odds with the power and catchiness they generate. On their fourth album, former Heatmiser bassist Sam Coomes and indefatigable Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss fill their sound out with a varied palette of keyboard textures and, on two cuts, even a string section. Coomes twists Surf's Up-era Beach Boys style on the deceptively sunny "Under a Cloud," asks "How many hours can a minute hold?" on the sweeping "Me and My Head," and even gets momentarily positive on "Smile." Weiss, for her part, contributes "Two by Two," a brief, beautiful romance postmortem. Stripped down as it may be, Quasi's music is as elegant as Rufus Wainwright's baroque pop, and as magically pained. --Rickey Wright --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Radio Attack
Nuno
Life/Death (with Mikah 9)
Smile In Your Face
Point To B
Five Minutes Away
Living Life (with Rec Eenter)
Eve Of Dextruct
Last Light (with Sam Prekop)
Cliche Intro
Back In Time
Hot Winter's Day
Blacklist (with MF Doom & Aesop Rock)
Untitled
Afternoon Love-In
7th Message

Amazon.com

Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives's 16 tracks can be listened to as one 50-minute piece of experimental ambient hip-hop. Even the album's more disruptive elements are somehow seamlessly integrated into the overall sense of groovy calm and funky forward motion. Atlanta-based producer Scott Herren uses a richly varied palette to create Vocal Studies' warm, subtle sound collages. Sliced-and-diced rap and vocal performances play a key role on a number of these sonic constructions. "Blacklist," featuring MF Doom and Aesop Rock, is an exception. Herren doesn't mess with the MCs' raps and the relatively straight-up track nicely contrasts with the CD's hip-hop abstractions. The producer does subtly manipulate the mellow vocals of Sam Prekop (Sea and Cake) on the lovely "Last Light." Listening to this flute-and-strings-laced R&B piece, it's easy to imagine sunbeams gently slicing through cloud formations. Vocal Studies can make you feel like you're dreaming and dancing at the same time. --Fred Cisterna

Customer Reviews:

Caught on Late .......2007-03-23

It's hard to believe I am now listening to this album in 2007 for the first time. This is an album that has completely gone under the radar and I regret not having heard this earlier.

Great subtle beats cut perfectly that while it may seem unaccessable at first will all make sense by the second listen through. Need to listen alone uninterupted for all 50 minutes to get the full effect.

Great album, dare I say brilliant, possibly??? Best album I've heard in the past few months. Hands down.

Art you can dance at.......2006-01-25

this record is just plain art and reaches beyond music, it seems as if it was exploring and commenting in urban culture

whether your thing is hip-hpo, idm, dance, whatever it is, just get this record,

inspiring indeed

david

Stellar.......2005-07-02

This is the best breakbeat disc I have ever heard. To hear Scott Herren's music is to hear DJing as no one else does it. The breaks are fast, skitterish, and dynamic, constantly reinventing themselves before you can quite grasp what you've just heard. Somehow, through it all, the mixing is really smooth. That's not to say you could dance to it. Well, perhaps you could dance to it if you were having a siezure, but otherwise, it won't happen. The disc is beat heavy, with just a few vocal tracks with guests MF Doom and Aesop Rock.
I hate to gush like this, but I sincerely think this disc is one of the best I've heard in the genre, and I'd hate not to do it justice.

Hidden.......2004-07-26

Excellent Album from this Atlanta based Hip-Hop Crew. Almost 5 STARS!! Nice breaks, not overly produced. If you're into Dan the Automater, Kid Koala, and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien you'll get into this real well too. Buy the LP and the CD together. Money well spent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

knocked out and put in the van.......2004-07-14

it all started while taking my son to the local record exchange to look at used gamecube games and I heard a curious beat with a groove that I couldn't place?

I kept listening as we looked and it sounded like the radio was in between stations (radio, television, and shortwave?)!

I couldn't help but keep listening..... it was hip hop... rap.. samples..... commercials..metal guitar.....D&B... groove .... dub w/ a twist of dance hall?

on the way out I was so worked up I had to ask the counter guy
"WHo is That!!!???

Prefuse 73 vocal studies and uprock.

...... "what???"

he said it again.

Now.... I'm 40 yr old black REPUBLICAN that remembers the begining of hip hop and knew it wasn't a fad in 1977.

Prefuse 73 is Glitch Hop and has to be the one night stand of Kraftwerk ,Art of Noise, yellow magic orchastra, and some of blackest most militant straight out of brooklyn public enemy with a pinch of KRS1 hip hop

Those homeless guys you see argueing and apologizing to themselves?.......... this is want their listening to!

I love it!!!! IT MAKES ME DRIVE FAST

Average customer rating:

review
"Memories of You" and an English Folksong To!
Very nice phrasing.

Tuba Tracks

Manufacturer: Summit(Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Favorite Things
Orchestral Excerpts for Tuba
The Romantic Tuba
Portrait of an Artist: Arnold Jacobs
Bobissimo! The Best of Roger Bobo

ASIN: B0000038J1
Release Date: 1995-02-08

Tracks:

Adagio
Allegro
Adagio
Bouree
Menuetto
Allemande
Corrente
Sarabande
Bouree Anglaise
General Levine - Eccentric
Oh, Never Sing To Me Again
Harvest Of Sorrow
The Pied Piper
Serenade From Sonatine For Bass Saxhorn And Piano
Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte
Prelude A L'apres-midi D'un Faune
Adagio
Andante Sostenuto
Larghetto
Lento
Andante Tranquillo
Allegro Vivace
Theme And Variations On The Blue Bells Of Scotland
Memories Of You

Customer Reviews:

review.......2006-04-06

As a former student of Gene Pokorny, I can attest to his wonderful insight and musicianship. If you are a musician (especially if you play tuba), this is a must-own. This CD dissolves all of the stereotypes...the tuba is just as much a solo instrument as trumpet, flute or any other!
--EJL

"Memories of You" and an English Folksong To!.......2000-09-24

There is an incredible range of music, from the amazing interpretation of "Memories of You" to Carnival of Venice, its just.............great!

Very nice phrasing........1999-05-20

I first came upon this C.D. when I was in School taking tuba. It is a very good piece to add to one Tuba music collection. The music he choses is excellant and gives a young listener a taste of the range a tuba can play. The disc is recorded in a rather simple matter and you can here the breaths Pokorny takes as he goes on. It adds a very r/t touch to the disc.

Average customer rating:

Dining Classics

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000C83YQ
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

Vivaldi: Spring from the Four Seasons
Hummel: Mandolin Concerto - 2nd Movement
Respighi: Six Pieces for Violin 7 Piano - 4th Movement
Scheibe: Sinfonia in A Minor - Allegro
Torriba: Sonatina - 1st Movement
Bach: Violin Concerto No.2 in E Majpr - 3rd Movement
Albinoni: Concerto with Two Oboes - 1st Movement
Bach: Brandenberg Concerto No. 5 - 3rd movement
Telemann: Concerto in D - 1st Movement
Vivaldi: Concerto for Strings in D Major - 1st Movement
Chopin: 12 Etudes, Op. 10, No. 10
Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 - 3rd Movement
: Schubert: String Quartet, D. 112 - 3rd Movement
Ireland: A Downland Suite - 3rd movement
Arne: Symphony No. 2 - 3rd movement
Vivaldi: Concerto for Lute - 3rd Movement
Elgar: Chanson de matin
Spohr: String Sextet, Op. 140 - 3rd 7 4th Movement
Mozart: Rondo in C major for Flute (violin) and Orchestra
Villa Lobos: Choros No. 1
Chopin: 12 Etudes, Op. 10, No. 5

Tracks:

Beethoven: Seven Bagatelles, Op. 33, No. 4
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 - 2nd Movement
Pergolesi: Concerti Armonici No. 5 in B-Flat
Handel: 'Where E'er You Walk' from Semele
Handel: Water Music, Suite No. 2 - Sarabande
Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - 2nd Movement
Tarrega: Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Handel 'Lascia ch'io Pianga' from Rinaldo
Field: Concerto No. 2 in A-Flat - 2nd Movement
Herschel: Symphony No. 2 - 2nd movement
Pachelbel: Canon in D
Field: Nocturme No. 5 in B-flat
Bach: 'Sheep May Safely Graze'
Debussy: preludes Book 1 - No. 8
Massenet: Le Denier Sommiel de la Vierge
Myers: Cavatina

Average customer rating:

Quasi-good
Ehh
slow moving and loathing
Worthy
WOW!

Field Studies
Quasi
Manufacturer: Up.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Yellow No. 5
No Dice
Yellow House

ASIN: B00000K1MY
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Tracks:

All The Same
The Golden Egg
The Skeleton
The Star You Left Behind
Empty Words
Birds
A Fable With No Moral
Under A Cloud
Me & My Head
Two By Two
It Don't Mean Nothing
Bon Voyage
Smile
Let's Just Go

Amazon.com

The audacious concept of Quasi--a divorced couple playing mournful yet sometimes hilariously embittered songs on only keyboard or guitar and drums--is nicely at odds with the power and catchiness they generate. On their fourth album, former Heatmiser bassist Sam Coomes and indefatigable Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss fill their sound out with a varied palette of keyboard textures and, on two cuts, even a string section. Coomes twists Surf's Up-era Beach Boys style on the deceptively sunny "Under a Cloud," asks "How many hours can a minute hold?" on the sweeping "Me and My Head," and even gets momentarily positive on "Smile." Weiss, for her part, contributes "Two by Two," a brief, beautiful romance postmortem. Stripped down as it may be, Quasi's music is as elegant as Rufus Wainwright's baroque pop, and as magically pained. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Quasi-good.......2006-01-30

This album is an interesting one in the Sam Coomes repertoire, but the songs are a little repetative. Elliott Smith's bass is good, solid, but the songs have a way of spiraling downward until there is no inspiration left. His lyrics are, as always, amazing. That's one of the reasons I like his stuff.

Ehh.......2003-03-12

(3 and 1/2 stars)

After listening to the brilliant R&B Transmogrification and Featuring "Birds", I am compelled to ruefully write that Sam and Janet have let me down. Sure, I still gave it 3 and 1/2 stars, but that's just because it's Quasi. It still has all the elements that make R&B and "Birds" so great, but it just seems to be lacking the alacrity with which Sam would morosely belt out his cynical lyrics in previous efforts. (Yes, that's sort of a paradoxical statement) More incisively, Field Studies is everything that I love about R&B and "Birds", but just not as good. If you compare each track from the three albums in order, you'd undoubtedly discover that you'd prefer the tracks that weren't on Field Studies 3 out of 4 times. I hate to knock such a great band like this, but this album is definately not up to par with their earlier recordings. If you don't have them yet, get R&B Transmogrification and Featuring "Birds".

slow moving and loathing.......2001-06-23

This album is not for everyone. It's rather slow moving most of the time and some of the songs (The Golden Egg, The Star You Left Behind, A Fable With No Morale) fade forever into an instrumental. The attitude of Sam Coones could be a definite turn off. I suggest you download some of it before purchasing. I, on the other hand am not one of those people and enjoyed these aspects. Beautiful pop melodies, insightful lyrics, and the essence of Quasi completely hooked me. The only problem I truly have with the album besides a couple of duds (Don't Mean Nothing), is the way they arranged the songs. If the shifts had been better and a more effecient order, the album would go by much quicker and would seem much more cohesive. Instead, you get the feeling that the moaning and groaning of Sam Coones is never going to end. But most of the time - that's a good thing.

Worthy.......2000-04-22

Quasi has yet to replicate their incredible live sound on record. Only 'R&B Transmogrification' comes close, although it is far too dry sounding. On this album Sam Coomes, once again, churns out some great melodies and great rhymes. However, much of the kick of the two previous albums are missing--which means that the sounds here are far removed from the burst of noise that one hears at a live Quasi show. For the great songs this album is lacking 1) the noise (the absence of the roxichord is evident on this album) and 2) Janet's versatile and kinetic drumming (ex. 'our happiness' on 'Featuring 'birds'').

The most effective songs here feature Elliott Smith on bass. His playing is, as always, very tuneful. And in the tradition of Led Zeppelin, Quasi has released 'Birds,' the supposedly featured track of the previous album, an album later (see 'Houses of the Holy). One false note is the obnoxiously long 'A Fable with No Moral.' As the title states: this song goes nowhere. This song should have been subtitled 'Empty Words.'

But despite my reservations, Quasi is infectious. The album ends with a gorgeous ballad ('Let's Just Go') that ends abruptly and we are left with the buzzing sound of the amps before the plug is pulled.

Go check 'em out live...

WOW!.......2000-03-24

This album was suggested to me by a friend, and i had never heard of Quasi before this. But WOW, what a great album. I actually pulled the car over and listened to the whole damn thing.. This is the album that the Beatles didn't hang around long enough to record. Even so, Quasi has a unique sound, and while everything nowadays is a rehash of something else, Quasi definately puts forth a beautiful sound. Empty Words.. wow..

Psychographic Diaries and Field Studies : 19 Songs Written Between 1999-2001

Average customer rating:

[review]

Psychographic Diaries and Field Studies : 19 Songs Written Between 1999-2001
The Encaustics
Manufacturer: Home Sweet Home Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000067DLK
Release Date: 2001-12-14

Tracks:

beveled edges for a perfect fit
two significant lines
business meeting with a journalist mother
hotel room
about a family in san antonio
emily's birthday
painful posture for a teenage brat
oh, lord
awkward morning after an alcoholic scandal 1
letter to lover
asian couple trying to waltz 1,2
a possibility
1984
emily
awkward morning after an alcoholic scandal 2
temporary residence of dreams 1, 2
indiana girl

Album Description

a collection of songs about beer, family structure, birthday parties, abortion clinics, and other social indequacies.

"This project serves as a candid outlet for the grim reality of everyday sentiments from hotel rooms and morning afters to nostalgic memories of heartache- without a trace of sappiness." Wonka Vision Magazine May/June 2002

Customer Reviews:

[review].......2002-07-04

Pretty good for a debut (?) cd. I tried it out because I saw them play a show in Lancaster PA some time ago. My friend went to college with the singer guy :) They were amazing live though..probably one of the loudest bands I've heard. I don't think this cd is indicative of their live sound, but still a tasteful collection of songs. It's hard to say what kind of style or genre they fall into exactly. I'm interested to hear other material if they have any.