Lutoslawski: Cello Cto / Penderecki: Cto #2

On this CD:

1. Cello Concerto
Composed by Witold Lutoslawski
Performed by Radio Symphony Orchestra with Torleif Thedeen
Conducted by Leif Segerstam

2. Cello Concerto No.2
Composed by Krzysztof Penderecki
Performed by Radio Symphony Orchestra with Torleif Thedeen
Conducted by Leif Segerstam

Tracks:

Come On, Come Out
The Minnow & The Trout
Whisper
You Picked Me
Rangers
Almost Lover
Think of You
Ashes and Wine
Liar, Liar
Last of Days
Lifesize
Near To You
Hope for the Hopeless
Borrowed Time

Amazon.com

A Fine Frenzy is actually just a fine young singer-songwriter from Seattle, born Alison Sudol. A self-taught piano player, on her debut album she pairs sweeping orchestral arrangements with dreamlike lyrics inspired by the classic works of fantasy writers like CS Lewis, EB White, and Lewis Carroll. Add to that a propensity for frilly shirts and cryptic song titles such as "The Minnow & the Trout" and you half-expect to find a back alley Joanna Newsom. Instead Sudol specializes in accessible pop epics, the kind of songs that fit perfectly over the end credits of a great Hollywood tearjerker. Despite the gentle melancholia that runs through "Ashes and Wine" and "You Picked Me," each tune arrives wrapped in an exuberant melody and topped by the singer's commanding voice. On the disc's standout moment, "Almost Lover," she shows she can do simplicity as well, musing over a sublime piano medley, "Shoulda known you'd bring me heartache/ Oh, most lovers always do." --Aidin Vaziri

Amazon.com

A Fine Frenzy Photos

Customer Reviews:

Magic!.......2007-07-23

I heard A Fine Frenzy on One Tree Hill and really loved what I heard. i am very happy to have the whole cd now! My favorites are Minnow and the trout, You Picked Me, Almost Lover, Last of Days, Near To You, and Hope fotr the hopeless but i really like all of them really. I kind of hope Alison doesnt get too famous because i feel like ive found a best kept secret!! I have been listening to this album non stop!

A Stoke of Amazon Luck.......2007-07-21

I can't remember what prompted me to order ths album. I had never heard of A Fine Frenzy or Alison Sudol, but something in the Amazon marketing machine suggested it to me-- whether it was recommended or a "deal" if I bought two, I don't know. I am sure a listened to the 30 sec. teasers, and gave it a shot.

I think Alison Sudol may have the loveliest voice I have heard since Sarah McLachlan and/or Eva Cassidy. That is a major concession from me. I am a lyrics lover to the core, and so far I am impressed. Maybe I am easy, but you will have to decide for yourself.

Amazing Debut Album.......2007-07-21

I just heard this album last night and am already in love with it. I've been listening to it non-stop and it has only become more brilliant. The music is gorgeous and has utterly transfixed me. I can't recommend it enough!

If you love/like Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Sarah McLachlan, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou then you will love A Fine Frenzy.

One Cell in the Sea: A sonorous journey.......2007-07-19

Lately we've been greeted with a king's court full of singer/songwriters. I don't review their music too often and when I do, I can only draft a few terse sentences. For my part, I find many of them to be musicians, not artists. Musicians merely recite their compositions and, after a few repeat plays, I'm left hollow, finding little of themselves, their vulnerability, in the work. The artists, however, paint, weave, and sculpt with music, and you know what dangerous creatures they can be, cleverly lacing the notes with their aspirations, their fears, their essence. You can sense it in their voice, every syllable of the lyrics as they slip into you.

Such is the case with A Fine Frenzy. When I heard their album, One Cell in the Sea, I was struck by its dimensionality. With her vocal and writing talents, singer/songwriter Alison Sudol folds our hand into hers and guides us through her mysterious wonderland (evidenced by the album's cool cover and booklet art), conjuring picturesque landscapes with "Come On, Come Out", the excellent "Rangers", "You Picked Me" and "The Minnow and the Trout" and ensnaring us in sumptuous wine-dark woodlands with her intimate offerings "Almost Lover", "Hope for the Hopeless", "Near to You" and "Ashes and Wine".

By the time the final track, "Borrowed Time", concluded, I found myself in a well of thoughts and emotions, albeit delightedly so. Sudol has not only crafted an outstanding and bravely personal album, but a magical world I look forward to visiting time and again.

The Finest Frenzy.......2007-07-18

It is true that Alison's music is "easy" when you want it to be so (just listen to it while laying down on the couch with your mind wandering). The gorgeous melody and her beautiful voice will soothe you and give you something to hum along with. That's the pop side of this album.

At the same time, her music can also be very profound, with such very well-crafted lyrics and emotions that she puts in every single breath in her voice. There, you get the singer-songwriter part of this album.

I admit that I might be a little bit biased on this album (since I've been listening to "Rangers" as long as back to midst 2006 and keep repeating it over and over along with "Come On Come Out" and "The Well" when she released them on her MySpace page. Heck I even had her "Let It Snow" recorded from her MySpace page during Christmas time). I can't recall the last time I had ever eagerly waited for the release of a new album like this before.

Now that the album has come out, the whole picture is complete. I can't even skip a single song from beginning to end. From the "you-and-me-against-the-world" anthem, "Rangers", to the sad, tragic, achingly painful "Almost Lover". From the peppy "Lifesize" or "You Picked Me" to the semi-acoustic "Borrowed Time". They are all gems. They show range, each has distinct and recognizable melody (as any good pop song should be).

And it doesn't hurt that Alison is quite easy on the eyes. I mean, really, how could you resist someone as beautiful as Alison "Whisper"-ing "I'm down.. to whisper.. in a daydream.. can you hear me?"

Average customer rating:

Best compilation/soundtrack I've heard in years!
WORTH IT!
build your own Smith soundtrack
Too bad there aren't more soundtracks like this one
Romantic and fun...

Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Lakeshore Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Smith - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
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ASIN: B0009HLDBE
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Tracks:

Love Stinks The J. Geils Band
Nothin But a Good Time Poison
Tainted Love Soft Cell
Baby, Baby Alana D
Express Yourself (Mocean Worker Remix) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Mondo Bongo - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
Lay Lady Lay Magnet featuring Gemma Hayes
Ill Melt With You Nouvelle Vague
Nobody Does It Better 8mm
Lets Never Stop Falling in Love Pink Martini
Assassins Tango John Powell
Used to Love Her (But I Had To Kill Her) - Voodoo Glow Skulls
You Are My Sunshine Stine J.
Youve Lost That Lovin Feelin Righteous Brothers
Making Love Out of Nothing at All - Air Supply
You Give Love a Bad Name Atreyu
Love Will Keep Us Together Captain & Tennille

Amazon.com

Just as two super-sexy, professional killers are inexorably drawn to each other, so is the Mr. and Mrs. Smith soundtrack inexorably drawn to the obvious. Husband and wife shootouts? This compilation gets into the spirit of things right away with "Love Stinks" (J. Geils Band) and "Tainted Love" (Soft Cell). It follows up with more of the same: "You Give Love a Bad Name" (performed by metal band Atreyu, and "Used to Love Her (But I Had to Kill Her)" from the ska-punk group the Voodoo Glow Skulls.

Fortunately, this disc grows more interesting toward the midway point with Nouvelle Vague's Brazilian-style cover of "I'll Melt with You" and alterna-lounge act Pink Martini's "Let's Never Stop Falling in Love. The latter melts seamlessly into the lovely instrumental, "Assassination Tango." It's on these more exotic tracks that this compilation shines--if only there were a few more. The middle of the disc is romantic--the rest feels like action movie cliché. --Leah Weathersby

Customer Reviews:

Best compilation/soundtrack I've heard in years!.......2007-01-10

OK, where are you going to get Poison & Air Supply in one CD? I really enjoyed this one, as it had all the really fun music from the movie, including the tango score the couple danced to and the "express yourself" music from their fight scene at home. There's a few odd remake/covers from artists I'd rather hear only from the originals, but otherwise I highly recommend this one.

WORTH IT!.......2006-05-18

This CD is worth the money for track 6 alone, Mondo Bongo's Alone. Everytime I hear it, I see Brad and Angelina fighting and then making up. It is the song for lovers who have lost their way.

build your own Smith soundtrack.......2006-04-29

If you liked the movie, you will like at least half of this CD. If you only like half, it will either be the collection of love-stinks songs (Love Stinks, I Used to Love Her [But then I had to kill her], Tainted Love, etc.) or it will be the collection of South-American-flavored tracks, like Mondo Bongo, Lay Lady Lay, and Let's Never Stop Falling in Love.

As for me, I love the second collection within this CD, so I used those tracks to make my own "soundtrack" (read: iPod playlist), fleshing it out with Putumayo's "Nuevo Latino" and "Music From the Coffee Lands." If you are in this camp, I highly recommend buying at least one of those CDs (Amazon sells them along with other South American Putumayo CDs) as the tracks on the official Mr. and Mrs. Smith soundtrack will not be enough.

Postscript: whichever way you go, you will likely scratch your head at the inclusion of Baby, Baby on the soundtrack. Geez, why not include Girl From Ipanema then (the song playing in the elevator of the home improvement store). The song was picked to represent the anti-John-and-Jane-moment, the vapid dull suburban cocktail party so why?? I would have preferred "(Who Discovered) America" by Ozomatli (you can find this track on their Street Signs album, also available on Amazon) or "Oxidados" by Plastilina Mosh (album: Hola Chicuelos), to name just two songs that were in the movie and did not make the soundtrack.

Too bad there aren't more soundtracks like this one.......2006-03-28

Not only was this soundtrack well-constructed to fit a high-paced, action/romance-type movie, but it is also attractive to a wide variety of personal musical tastes. From more traditional sounds like the latin Mondo Bongo and Pink Martini, to more pop rock sounds like Love Stinks and Poison, this collection is upbeat and fun to listen to from beginning to end. It has also proven to be an especially great CD to have on a road trip. I highly recommend it!

Romantic and fun..........2006-03-13

This made a wonderfull valentines gift for my Girlfriend and also nice romantic and fun background music. She has since put it on her mp3 player (of course) and she ejoys all the songs. Mr. and Mrs. Smith was enjoyable both as a movie, (because it was a chickflick I could make it through) and as a songtrack (Because the music is wonderfull!) Good buy, oh and good music to slow dance or heck, tango to!

Average customer rating:

electronica fantasy
My First Listen to Soft Cell
A Broadway Musical
Tainted Love fades out. Why? Then Where Did Our Love Go.
An almost perfect compilation!

The Very Best of Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Tainted Love
The Very Best of the Human League
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The Best of Simple Minds

ASIN: B0000658PZ
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

Memorabilia
Tainted Love
Where Did Our Love Go?
Bedsitter
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Sex Dwarf
Torch
Insecure Me
What?
Where The Heart Is
It's A Mugs Game
Numbers
Loving You Hating Me
Soul Inside
Down In The Subway
Somebody, Somewhere, Sometime - New Recording
Divided Soul - New Recording
Tainted Love (2X5 Remix)
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Almighty Radio Edit)

Album Details

Digitally Remastered and Updated Collection of the Best of the New Wave Duo's Hits Released in Conjunction with their 2002 Reunion. Includes a New Remix of 'tainted Love' and an Almighty Mix of 'say Hello Wave Goodbye'.

Customer Reviews:

electronica fantasy .......2005-11-26

marc almond and i can't remember the other guys name expoloded on the scene in the eighties with there irresisable single "tainted love" which marilyn manson has done a fantastic cover of recently.. but anyway these guys were ultra cool electro/pop/ band from the decade that gave us the hair metal and sugary pop i'm glad soft cell were around..just to stand out and wear make-up to shake the world yeah it may sound lame but in those days it was a big deal when a "popstar" was wearing make-up perverting the minds of their childs
if i had been born in the early seventies and been a teenager when soft cell were in their prime i would of loved it but i wasn't so i've got this cd the best of soft cell in my glitter hands and what a joy to listen too
a pounding album of pop/electronic classics
from "tainted love" "say hello wave goodbye" and "sex dwarf"
as i listened to soft cell i couldn't help but realise were placebo got their sound from if you listen hard to placebo you can hear sounds reminsence of the gods of electronica/pop
SOFT CELL

My First Listen to Soft Cell.......2005-07-12

I heard two songs on a local station here in Sydney 'Tainted Love' and 'Where Did Our Love Go' that really sounded good. So I got this CD never hearing Soft Cell before these two songs and didn't know what to expect. This is a Brittish pop group from the 80's and early 90's now retired. Not entirely a bad CD but many of the songs didn't appeal to me. The last 6 songs were the best of the entire CD including the two remixes using modern DJ's. Two other songs which were interesting to listen too were 'Loving You Hating Me' and 'Soul Inside'. If all the songs on this CD sounded like these above, the album would have really been 'A very best of' compilation.

A Broadway Musical.......2004-12-31

This album is so different and can't be compared to anything by any artist. It makes you wanna dance and sing. It's a mug's game makes you wanna groove with it's bass and drums. You'll feel like you were dancing on broadway while you were listening to Down in the Subway. You would be singing to Tainted Love. This album is great. I bought it and haven't been able to stop listening to it. The only thing I don't like is how they seperated Tainted Love and Where did our love go? That should be one song but the rest is great!

Tainted Love fades out. Why? Then Where Did Our Love Go........2004-12-04

This is really a good cd but I'm disappointed that tainted love and where did our love go are not mixed together as played on the radio. It may seam like a small complaint to some, but that was my main reason for buying this cd.

An almost perfect compilation!.......2004-01-19

Great to hear all these tracks again now that they've been fully remastered. The sound is much improved but, I only wish they had included the tracks from their very first single "Mutant Moments".

I'm not a big fan of remixes of old records.
But, an exception must be made for the (Electronic Drum & Bass-styled) 2XS remix of "Tainted Love". Which somehow manages to update but, not spoil the original magic. Whereas Marilyn Manson's take on the song is slow. This version is faster than the original! I read in a Dave Ball interview that they personally asked them to remix this and loved the results. Always nice to know whether the artist approves i think. Buy without doubt.

Cherish: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Average customer rating:

CHERISH CD SOUNDTRACK

Underrated Movie, underrated Soundtrack

Cherish as in Chershing the memories...

A journey through the 80's music

Cherish: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Climax Blues Band , 10CC , Soft Cell , and Hall and Oats
Manufacturer: © 2002 New Line Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000066I4R
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Amazon.com

Fire up the nostalgia machine for the soundtrack to Cherish, an album filled with the type of gooey, fuzzy songs populating light rock stations now, but high school slow dances in the past. 10CC's "I'm Not in Love" sighs like a seashore, all gauzy synths and primitive computerized harmonies, while the title cut by the Association rings with soft bells and summery, melodic mellowness. Daryl Hall and John Oates's mega-'80s-sounding hit "Private Eyes" is a guilty, sing-along pleasure, and the Impressions' "Get Up and Move" jives with big horns and soul. New wave synth chic even checks in, with the Human League's droll "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" and Modern English's romantic "I Melt with You." The only newer tracks are courtesy of Noe Venable--and even then, "Breakdown" is her fragile, haunting cover of the Tom Petty song. The mix on Cherish is definitely low-key, if a little heavy on sappiness. Yet its diversity, charmingly, works well. While certainly jumping decades with impunity, Cherish's high quality hits mesh nicely--creating a sweet, fluffy compilation CD of love songs covering all shapes and styles. --Annie Zaleski

Customer Reviews:

CHERISH CD SOUNDTRACK .......2007-04-01

EXCELLENT CD SOUNDTRACK, PSYCHEDELIC FURS,CLIMAX BLUES BAND 10CC, HALL& OATES I ABSOLUTLY LOVE THIS CD 5 STARS

Underrated Movie, underrated Soundtrack.......2006-12-17

A soundtrack album might contain a lot of good songs, but ultimately the soundtrack is going to be judged on how well it captures the essence of the movie. This is indeed the case with the soundtrack to the film, "Cherish" - an independent film that virtually went unnoticed in 2002. "Cherish" is one of those films I happened to stumble on - and it proved to be one of the most entertaining films I had seen in some time. After watching the movie, I realized that this was one of the most entertaining movies I had seen in some time. One thing that contributed to this movie being entertaining was the outstanding soundtrack that was assembled. "Cherish" has a soundtrack that consists of a mix of pop favorites, one-hit wonders, and some modern day flavor.

To appreciate the soundtrack, one must understand the movie's plot. Zoe Adler (played by Robin Tunney) is someone who is basically socially inept and somewhat of an introvert. Zoe struggles with her lack of social skills both in the office and in the social scene as well. She is also romanticist who loves 1970s and 1980s music and gets immersed in the songs of that era. Unknown to Zoe, she is being pursued and followed by a stalker (played by Brad Hunt) Zoe's life will change when the stalker finds Zoe going to her car to pick up her cell phone. The stalker takes Zoe hostage and forces her to drive - running down a police officer Following the incident, the stalker leaves the scene and Zoe is left facing a homicide charge. While awaiting her trial, her lawyer arranges for Zoe to be put in the "Bracelet Program". This is a program that essentially places Zoe under house arrest and uses a bracelet to electronically track that Zoe stays indeed under house arrest. The movie focuses on Zoe's attempts to deal with her house arrest while attempting to prove her innocence. At the same time, there is focus on Zoe's relationship with the police officer Bill Daly from the bracelet program (played by Tim Blake Nelson), who also suffers from social ineptness.

Much of the credit for assembling the soundtrack has to go to Paul Broucek, who was in charge of music for this film. Much of the theme of the movie deals with obsessions - and many of the songs reflect this theme. The theme of music is very nicely woven into Zoe's character as well (she is a big music fan). There are fourteen tracks on the collection, unfortunately they are not ordered as in the movie:

"She's Gone" by Daryl Hall and John Oates
"Tainted Love" by Soft Cell
"Breakdown" by Noe Venable
"I Melt With You" by Modern English
"Private Eyes" by Modern English
"I'm Not in Love" by 10CC
"Cherish" by The Association
"Happy Together" by The Turtles
"(Keep Feeling) Fascination"
"Down Easy" by Noe Venable Trio
"Alone Remix" by Mark De Gli Antoni
"Get Up an Move" by The Impressions
"While I'm Alone" by Maze (Featuring Frankie Beverly)
"I Love You" by Climax Blues Band

Some of the classic songs on here are really going to grip you. When "Tainted Love" is played during the homicide and later in the movie, it gave me a whole new perspective on that song. Before this movie, "Tainted Love" was just another overplayed song by a one-hit wonder (Soft Cell). After hearing it in the movie, it gives a much more haunting feel when listening to it, resulting in a whole new appreciation for a song that I never cared for in the past.

The Hall and Oates tunes are well positioned in the movie too. "She's Gone" is played when the stalker realizes he can no longer find Zoe (who is under house arrest). "Private Eyes" is played when Zoe calls her own cell phone and the stalker realizes it is Zoe, so he plays that song to indicate "Private Eyes - they're watching you". Again, these are old songs, but given a whole new appreciation when put into the context of this film.

Perhaps the best use of music is saved for the end. Climax Blues Band's "I Love You" is beautifully woven into the movie's final scene. In that final scene, we find Zoe and Daly reflecting on the relationship that they had established. This is a very gripping and powerful song to begin with, but when put into the finale of the movie, it is that much stronger.

Like many soundtracks, "Cherish" does not include every song or piece of music that is in the movie. In particular there are some glaring omissions such as Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun", Human League's "Don't You Want Me?" (although another Human League song, "Fascination" is included on the soundtrack), and America's "Sister Golden Hair". Other notable omissions include Togetherness' "I Bet You Never Knew That I Followed You", the Style Council's "You're the Best Thing", and the Flamingos "I Only Have Eyes for You". These songs would have been nice to be on the soundtrack - and all of them fit nicely into the theme of the movie.

One other omission revolves around "Breakdown". In the movie, the classic Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song is included (and woven very nicely into a scene where the Stalker has a "melt down"). However on the soundtrack a cover is included by local San Francisco music star, Noe Venable. Venable's music has a small role in the movie and Venable also has another song included on the soundtrack ("Down Easy"). Venable puts a haunting, folksy spin on "Breakdown".

One final note, Mark De Gli Antoni provides much of the instrumental score of this film and I wish that more was included on the soundtrack. Still, this is a very good collection of music. Not only do I recommend the movie, but I also recommend this collection.

Cherish as in Chershing the memories..........2004-04-05

The movie was excellent and I found the soundtrack is one of those soundtracks that is hard and rare to find. 80"s were my teenage years and brought back alot of wonderful memories. They just don't make excellent music like that anymore. ANything that brings back excellent memories of my ex-husband is always an extra plus.

A journey through the 80's music.......2002-06-27

Either if you have seen this very enjoyable movie or not, if you like the 80's, you will love this soundtrack. It's a great collection of hits from those days.

Average customer rating:

better than expected
It's like a walk in the Soho District for your ears!
I Thought I Was The Only One To Discover This Treasure
Classic Synth Pop album!
Rahhhhh

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Very Best of Soft Cell
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Tainted Love

ASIN: B00005Y1Z4
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Tracks:

Frustration
Tainted Love
Seedy Films
Youth
Sex Dwarf
Entertain Me
Chips On My Shoulder
Bedsitter
Secret Life
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (12" mix)
Tainted Dub (12" mix)

Customer Reviews:

better than expected.......2007-05-13

i thought these guys were just a one hit wonder with "tainted love" but they actually had two other decent 80's esque songs, "sex dwarf" and "chips on my shoulder". i only have one problem regarding "tainted love". i been trying to look for a perfect radio version of the song, the radio version on this cd is too short and the original is too long. if they could make a strapped down version and cut out some of the instrumentral in the middle of the song, we might have a perfect song.

needless to say, a fairly decent cd, worth picking up if you are an 80's fan

G.

It's like a walk in the Soho District for your ears!.......2007-03-12

One of the best 80's CDs I've bought yet! Would highly recommend as an indispensable addition to your 80's or Brit Rock library!

I Thought I Was The Only One To Discover This Treasure.......2006-02-16

Omly one person that reviewed this CD liked "Tainted Love" exclusively. Another surprise in a list of surprises from others reaction to this CD. I always wonder why their greatest hits packages only contain a few songs from this CD until I realized you would have to include the whole thing to satisfy fans. Therefore it is much better to load the greatest hits packages with more obscure songs from other releases, highlights from less consistent CD's, along with unreleased songs, if possible. Then fans can buy a greatest hits CD and this one and get a complete collection of Soft Cell's music, which stands with the best from any group. Their magic comes in that their music takes you into their world and even though it is filled with depression and futility it is exciting when you observe it rather than experience it. I can easily listen to this CD from beginning to end, but I do have a slightly different view of this CD, than others that reviewed it. I still love it to death, but to me "Sex Dwarf" is entertaining only because of the lyrics, and is, to me, the least musical song on the CD. I also find "Secret Life" to be a highlight among a CD of highlights. It is 3 in the afternoon now so I do have to get up sometime. I better start drinking so I can get rid of this hangover and face the same miserable people I hangout with everyday. A truly unique set of fun music.

Classic Synth Pop album!.......2005-10-27

Most people know Soft Cell for Tainted Love but they had so many more songs that were just as good if not better than Tainted Love. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret is the classic synth pop/new wave album Tainted Love comes off of but the album contains such cult hits as Sex Dwarf (my favorite as I heard it thousands of times on LIVE 105 in San Francisco in the 80's and into the 90's), Seedy Films which was recently remade by the DMX Krew (they did a really upbeat version while the whole Electroclash sound was happening), Bedsitter and Say Hello Wave Goodbye. Of course this album also contains the extended version of Tainted Love with Where Did Our Love Go. An excellent version worth listening to over and over again. I think this album is underrated given the fact that Tainted Love has been such a HUGE hit the rest of the tracks on here should be given the same praise as Tainted Love has. Excellent release and worth owning and adding to any 80's collection.

SJ
www.bestplaylists.com

Rahhhhh.......2005-04-20

This album is well good. Sex Dwarf is hilarious and well funky. Should be included on more "best of" lists and that kind of silliness. They'd be less silly were it on there, obviously. I am also partial to the cut Chip on My Shoulder, normally considered a mediocre one. Ball went on to be a bit annoying in The Grid.

Average customer rating:

In my top 5 list.
THE One
where did our love go?
Still Untainted After All These Years.
You gotta get this!

Tainted Love
Soft Cell
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Very Best of Soft Cell
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Dare!/Love and Dancing

ASIN: B0000030KO
Release Date: 1998-12-01

Tracks:

Tainted Love/ Where Did Our Love Go
Loving You Hating Me
Where The Heart Is
Tainted Love '91

Album Description

1991 CD maxi single for the duo's top 10 1982 smash. Features the full nine minute medley of 'Tainted Love/ WhereDid Our Love Go' (Original 12in Version) and three other tracks: 'Loving You Hating Me' (Original 7in Version) 'WhereThe Heart Is' (Remixed by The Grid) and 'Tainted Love '91' (Remixed by Julian Mendelsohn). Standard jewel case. Both theoriginal & this reissue are Phonogram/ Vertigo releases.

Album Details

The Original Classic 12 Inch Single Mix of One of the Best Selling Singles of the 80's, Complete with the Original Artwork as Well. The B-sides However have Been Updated to Include "Loving You, Hating Me", "Where the Heart Is" and the 1991 Remix of "Tainted Love".

Customer Reviews:

In my top 5 list........2007-02-19

I love Soft Cell and Tainted Love is one of my favorite `80s songs of all time. I love the synthesized, new wave sound this song has. I'm a huge synth-pop fan, and this song is my definite favorite out of all. After all these years it's so immaculate, of course this song is a 1981 remake of the Gloria Jones 1964 version, which is really good, but I prefer this version, plus the song became an international hit with this cover, and later on was remade again by Marilyn Manson in 2001 (Which was an okay remake), butchered by The Pussycat Dolls in 2005 (Blech!), and then sampled in 2006 by Rihanna for her hit song S.O.S. If you haven't heard of this song or never heard this particular cover. Please go ahead, and take a listen. I know you won't be disappointed.

THE One.......2006-03-04

The first track is the one which I had frequently heard on the radio (listening in Southern California). This is an awesome piece of music, and a must-have.
Somehow it is a marketing disaster - I tried to buy it in eight major national music stores and none stocked it. I guess (in these days of hype, niches, product placement, branding etc.) that means it is now a classic.

where did our love go?.......2002-12-24

always in my stereo ,the longer version is forever!!way to go, make more like this!!j.h.

Still Untainted After All These Years........2002-12-18

It's hard to do a survey of the great electropop singles of the 1980s without mentioning "Tainted Love" from the influential duo Soft Cell. Vocalist Marc Almond sings this song with the urgency of a scarred lover who's had his heart bruised too many times. The moody and dark synths underscore the pained lyrics which convincingly illustrate a picture of a relationship gone bad. "Tainted Love" stayed in the charts for weeks and weeks, and it's easy to see why. Not only did we connect with Almond's agony, it also provided ample proof that synth pop can carry emotion. But "Tainted Love" doesn't really hit its climax until it segues into their version of the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go." This single, which has the original 9-minute extended version, excludes the b-side "Memorabillia," which was featured on the original US 12-inch single. Also, the 1991 remix that surfaces here isn't bad, but it's rather unnecessary. Still, "Tainted Love" is a single definitely worth revisiting. Even after all these years, it remains untainted.

You gotta get this!.......2000-12-14

I agree with the previous caller that the version of Tainted Love from Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret was short and leaves you yearning for more. However, and it's a BIG however, the rest of the album is equally as brilliant. It really showcases 1) Marc's vocal abilities, 2) David's wizardry with sounds/the equipment and their songwriting skills. The depth of their world into which they take you when you listen to the lyrics, is nothing short of real. Just listen to Bedsitter, Frustration, Seedy Films, Secret Life and other singles not on the album: Torch, Insecure Me. I could go on and on. If you can find it, you MUST buy a copy of Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing, a compilation of remixes that is phenomenal! ....

Average customer rating:

trailer music
Great!
sin city
Go Here if you want Cells download
An addendum to "FangsFirst" comment

Sin City
Robert Rodriguez , John Debney , and Graeme Revell
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sin City - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Constantine
Grindhouse: Planet Terror
Batman Begins
Transporter 2

ASIN: B0007XT7TK
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Tracks:

Sin City
One Hour To Go
Goldie's Dead
Marv
Bury The Hatchet
Old Town Girls
The Hard Goodbye
Cardinal Sin
Her Name Is Goldie
Dwight
Old Town
Deadly Little Miho
Warrior Woman
Tar Pit
Jackie Boy's Head
The Big Fat Kill
Nancy
Prison Cell
Absurd - Fluke
Kiss Of Death
That Yellow Bastard
Hartigan
Sensemaya - Eduardo Mata
Sin City End Titles

Amazon.com

Set in dark, slickened streets and populated by a stellar ensemble cast, this adaptation of Frank Miller's hard-edged, film noir inspired graphic novels plays like comic-book-come-to-life—not surprising, as Miller is credited as Robert Rodriguez's co-director (with a bit of help from Quentin Tarantino). The soundtrack to this bleak, compelling exercise in pure noir stylism is provided mostly by director Rodriguez, with an occasional assist from past collaborators John Debney (Spy Kids and its sequel) and Graeme Revell (From Dusk Til Dawn). While their largely synth-driven cues tend naturally towards brooding atmospheric soundscapes, their tense electro-rhythms are seasoned with bracing doses of sinewy, sensual sax and dotted with the occasional bongo flourish, details that musically evoke both a shadowy humanity and the film's genre-savvy roots. Also featuring disparate, yet wholly integrated contributions from techno-house savants Fluke (the hypnotic "Absurd") and 20th century Mexican classicist Silvestre Revueltas, it's the sinister flipside to the future-jazz sheen of Vangelis' classic Blade Runner.--Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

trailer music.......2006-08-06

i listened to the servant song and i know everyone said its pretty well known that that is the song they used in the trailer, but if you listen to "broken chairs" by built to spill it really sounds like parts of the trailer music too. and its also a good song. so i would recommend trying that as well!

Great!.......2006-01-17

Now, i loved the movie, but the soundtrack blew me away! all the songs fit the movie perfectly. However, it is missing the instrumental version of "Cells" by the Servants, which plays on the DVD title menu
so, here you go:
http://epical.bobdeveaux.com/TM/cells-sincity.mp3
Instrumental Version!
Have Fun

sin city.......2005-09-30

Is a very good soundtrack because i think that Robert Rodriguez has made a great choice with the composers and his own musical composition

Go Here if you want Cells download.......2005-09-27

While the previous reviwer was correct that Cells the trailer song is not on the soundtrack, Servant did indeed create an instrumental version and you can obtain it at this link follow the instructions it is at the Servant website so its legal and its for a limited time only!

http://www.bdarules.com/2005/05/servant-release-instrumental-of-cells.html

Your Welcome ;)

An addendum to "FangsFirst" comment.......2005-09-16

FangsFirst is absoluty correct -- trailer music is almost never on the movie's soundtrack. An interesting additional bit of trivia, however; almost all trailer themes ARE from a movie soundtrack, just from a DIFFERENT movie than the one the trailer is for!

So if you're looking for "Cells" by The Servant (the song from the Sin City trailer), take a look at the soundtrack to Transporter 2. You'll find it along with another song by The Servant. "Cells" does have lyrics to it (which aren't on the Sin City trailer), but it's still a damned good song.

Just thought I'd share that with everybody.

Average customer rating:

ChiCago, the best movie, the best soundtrack
The Best of Chicago
great
I'm sorry, but this is overrated; get the 97 Broadway record
Razzle Dazzle Me!

Chicago [Limited Edition w/ Bonus DVD]

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Chicago (Widescreen Edition)
Chicago
Chicago - A Musical Vaudeville (1975 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00008NGAA
Release Date: 2003-03-18

Tracks:

Overture/And All That Jazz - Catherine Zeta-Jones / Renee Zellweger / Taye Diggs
Funny Honey - Renee Zellweger / Reilly, John C. / Colm Feore
When You're Good to Mama - Queen Latifah / Taye Diggs
Cell Block Tango - Catherine Zeta-Jones / Susan Misner / Deidre Goodwin
All I Care About - Richard Gere / Renee Zellweger
We Both Reached for the Gun - Christine Baranski / Cleve Asbury / Shaun Amyot
Roxie - Renee Zellweger
I Can't Do It Alone - Catherine Zeta-Jones / Taye Diggs
Mister Cellophane - John C. Reilly
Razzle Dazzle - Richard Gere
Class - Catherine Zeta-Jones / Queen Latifah -
Nowadays (Roxie) - Renee Zellweger / Taye Diggs
Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag Medley Title - Renee Zellweger / Catherine Zeta-Jones / Taye Diggs
I Move On - Catherine Zeta-Jones / Renee Zellweger
After Midnight - Danny Elfmann
Roxie's Suite - Danny Elfman
Cell Block Tango / He Had It Comin' - Queen Latifah / Lil' Kim / Macy Gray 18. Love Is a Crime - Anastacia

Album Description

Bonus DVD contains promo video of "And All That Jazz" starring Catherine Zeta Jones, behind the scenes footage of the stars rehearsing for the film, interviews with all the principle actors and director and demos of 2 Kander & Ebb songs.

Customer Reviews:

ChiCago, the best movie, the best soundtrack.......2003-11-10

The movie was sensational, it seems almost impossible to capture all of it in a soundtrack, but they did a wonderful job of it. Every sngle song captured the spirit of the movie, it was almost like going to a broadway musical because of the quality of this music. Catherine Zeta- Jones did a amaizing job of singing the songs "All That Jazz", "Cell Block Tango", "I cant Do it Alone",and so many more. This music is almost magical, I would recammend this soundtrack for anyone!

The Best of Chicago.......2003-10-08

If you loved the movie Chicago I'll garenty that you'll fall in love with the soundtrack. You can never get to bored of "all that jazz" with Catherine Zelta Jones singing it, you can tell that she's the real star of the soundtrack. Don't be surprised if you run across "The cell block tango remix" and all that junk, it just didn't blend in with all the other songs, I always avoid it.

great.......2003-08-28

the movie had great songs and great music and this soundtrack captures all of it.

I'm sorry, but this is overrated; get the 97 Broadway record.......2003-08-09

I'm surprised by the enormous volume of glowing, 5-star reviews here. This soundtrack isn't THAT great. Maybe I'm biased. I was fortunate enough to see "Chicago" on Broadway in early 1997 (the matinee right before the cast walked over to Radio City for the Tonys, of which it won 3 or 4). That was a few months after it opened, with the original revival cast: Bebe Neuwirth as Velma, Ann Reinking as Roxie, James Naughton as Billy, Joel Grey as Amos, Marcia Lewis as Mama Morton, and D. Sabella as Mary Sunshine. Right afterwards I bought the CD and have listened to it many times since. So I can't help but be stuck on it. (I even have the 1975 Broadway recording, which I like though not as much as 1997.)

This soundtrack simply does not feature the vocal chops to be found on the Broadway recordings. The music itself is comparable, but certainly not an improvement. And the rap version of "Cell Block Tango" is a too-obvious attempt to take modern pop "stylings" (if you can call it that) into consideration when they are NOT at all relevant here. (Okay, more bias, since I despise rap.) Plus that last track with Anastacia, or whatever her name is, is awful. She tries so hard to sound like a modern R&B singer, but she can't do it. (And, again, I hate modern R&B, so yet another pre-disposed strike for me).

I liked the movie, but it (and the soundtrack) don't hold a candle to the Broadway "original revival" cast. I highly suggest getting that recording instead. You'll hear Bebe Neuwirth wail even better than Chita Rivera did, and James Naughton blows away Jerry Orbach (and certainly Richard Gere, by FAR).

And the DVD version isn't worth it. It really only has a 10-minute featurette that I'm willing to bet is on the DVD that's about to come out. And I can see that some people here have taken Richard Gere too seriously when he mentioned that Renee Z has a Billie Holiday quality to her voice. I laughed when I heard it then, and I laughed again when I see people repeat it here (as if it's their own words--yet they spell her name Billy). Not that Renee is bad (nor is Catherine ZJ), but by no means is she anywhere near the ballpark Billie Holiday is still in 45 years after her death. (And before anyone else takes Richard Gere too seriously: no, Catherine Zeta-Jones isn't really like Dusty Springfield, either).

Razzle Dazzle Me!.......2003-06-15

Wonderful sound track! Anyone, who enjoyed the movie, will certainly relive the experience listening to the CD. I cannot wait for the DVD to be released in August.

Chaos Theory: Splinter Cell 3 Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

Awesome.
AK47..
Chaotic Indeed...
Simply Breathtaking
Amon Rocks Again

Chaos Theory: Splinter Cell 3 Soundtrack
Amon Tobin
Manufacturer: Ninja Tune
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Supermodified
Permutation
Out From Out Where
Bricolage
The Foley Room

ASIN: B00070FUG2
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

The Lighthouse
Ruthless
Theme From Battery
Kokubo Sasho Stealth
El Cargo
Displaced
Ruthless (Reprise)
Kokubo Sasho Battle
Hokkaido
The Clean Up

Customer Reviews:

Awesome........2007-02-13

I really enjoyed this soundtrack. It brought back a lot of memories of sneaking up behind people in the game, and is definitely one of my more played soundtracks. The sound is very distinctive, and the compositions are incredible; Amon Tobin's mastery of sound shows in every piece.

AK47.........2006-07-18

This CD is spine chillingly brilliant. Relighting memories of hiding in the shadows, and lurching out at your unsuspecting enemies. It's only once you have heard Amon Tobin's work, without being chased by an AK47, that you can really start to appreciate every aspect of this masterpiece. It makes you feel emotions that would never see the light of day in normal music. Simply outstanding! A must buy for a Splinter Cell fan, or for someone that has never played the game. You can't go wrong, in feeling something for this.

Chaotic Indeed..........2006-06-25

I love the title "Chaos Theory". Bit of a contradiction, innit?

Having had this album now for some time, since its release date anyway, I can confirm 2 things:

a) It's still mind bendingly different

and

b) It's absolutely brilliant.

This is quite a departure for Mr Tobin. Being a sound pincher a la DJ Shadow and other Ninja Tune stable mates, it must have been quite a challenge to make this album, considering that it is an album created by REAL musicians. Even more of a challenge considering that they all spoke completely different languages and the two brothers that worked on the record didn't get along (see sleeve notes and various internet reviews). And how did Amon get them to make the sounds he wanted if he himself is not a musician? Did he whistle them? Did he fart them? HOW? Thats what he leaves me wondering after every record. How?

This is the only score (not soundtrack) that I have repeatedly listened to ever, and that goes for films too. It's extraordinary how Tobin manages to bring together a group of instrumentalists to create the sound he has, which is where his studio engineering comes into play, I guess. Chances are we wont see a live show of this.

This is essentially a dark, broody, paranoid, schizophrenic sound murdering excercise that has probably been accentuated due to heavy bouts of weed smoking. A remarkable factor of this album are the things that you think you heard, but are not quite sure. Felt bass rather than heard bass has been an Amon trade mark for a while and he plays with this throughout. The arrangement and complexity of the beats are unprecedented for a pop band setup (anybody care to challenge this?) and I dare anybody to listen to it and NOT feel something. Be it panic, paranoia, power (end of El Cargo), you will feel something. Probably nauseous.

Amon's love of jazz really shines through on this record and I find it subtly blending bits of Permutation with Out from Out Where (Kokubo Sosho Stealth) a real treat to the ears.

Mr Tobin makes it clear that this is NOT a 6th album (incl. Cujo), so just enjoy it for what it is. It doesn't get five stars because it is missing the one essential ingredient that his best album (Permutation) has: a wickedly dark sense of humour that makes you want to chuckle and hide at the same time.

Look at that. An review about a game soundtrack without a mention of the game. Times are a changing. Will it be the case that some day a score for a film will totally outshine the film itself? Who knows, but Amon has finished the score to a film called Taxidermia. I don't have a clue what the film is about, but the score is good though...

Simply Breathtaking.......2005-07-27

Prior to the Playing of SC: Chaos Theory, i didn't even know who Amon Tobin was, and boy was I missing out. Soon after hearing the in-game music, I did some investigating and found out who the artist was. I can tell you that after getting this CD, I love every single track on this disk. The dark, moving melodies can almost draw you into a different world and stir up different emotional reactions within you. If you are even a passing Amon Tobin Fan, this CD is for you.

Amon Rocks Again.......2005-06-03

I've loved Amon's work for years and this is no exception to the high-octane high quality music this guy seems to effortlessly perfect album after album.
For those who know Amon's work, this is a little more `accessible' than his older stuff but don't let that put you off. But for those who don't know it, maybe for the gamers, this is the ideal gateway into his world.
His talent is something to behold, and he reaches new levels with the full orchestra behind his beautifully choreographed strings, samples and heart-breakingly fast beats.
The first track kicks off with a fantastic hard-core riff that promises deeper and darker paths ahead. I'm not much of a gamer, so I can only imagine that the images conjured by the music match and enhance the game to no end. Like walking through a spider-web and the horror dawning on you that you're the prey.
Theme From Battery is one of my favourites, slow and atmospheric, bleeding into the next track with more familiar break beats and industrial sounds. El Cargo is haunting and eerie, letting Displaced slam huge steel doors behind you as you run for cover.
This is total Tobin, at his very best. What I love about it is that I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone who knows serious music when they hear it.

Average customer rating:

One of the Best Ever!!
the Boredoms as interpreted by the Chipmunks
Oh neat
An incredible record from Japan's noise terrorists
music that matches a manic mindset

Cell-Scape
Melt Banana
Manufacturer: A-Zap Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Teeny Shiny
Charlie
Speak Squeak Creak
Bambi's Dilemma
Scratch or Stitch

ASIN: B0000996HR
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

Phantasmagoria
Shield For Your Eyes, A Beast In The Well On Your Hand
A Dreamer Who Is Too Weak To Face Up To
Lost Parts Stinging Me So Cold
Chain-Shot To Have Some Fun
Like A White Bat In A Box, Dead Matters Go On
Key Is A Fact That A Cat Brings
A Hunter in the Rain to Cut the Neck Up In The Present Stage
If It Is The Deep Sea, I Can See You There
Outro For Cell-Scape

Album Description

No wave without the self-conscious pretension, avant garde composition compressed into one-minute-or-less bursts, urgency, intricate destruction, pure glorious abandon. Melt-Banana play the same way that Repulsion, Naked City, The Ruins or The Boredoms all make you want to scream and dance and kill your neighbors. A-Zap. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best Ever!!.......2007-06-02

This band is getting better and more creative as they evolve.
I completely recommend this album. Every song is great.
I recommend the new cd also Bambi's Dilemma.
I saw them live in san diego and they were an energetic,passionate and tight group.

the Boredoms as interpreted by the Chipmunks.......2007-04-16

I'm being a little rough on this one. I enjoy noise, I enjoy the Boredoms (mostly, except when clearly NOTHING is being put into the effort) - but I've never gotten comfortable with muppet-like vocals. In this case, very nearly chipmunk styled vocals over what sounds like early 80's west coast American thrash punk.

There's some atmospheric synth pieces as well, and nothing seems beyond worth recording. I wonder what they left in the studio?

maybe it grows on you.

Oh neat.......2006-05-12

Melt-Banana is great, and this album is the greatest. Read the other reviews if you want descriptions of this frantic craziness. This is by far their best album; they pushed things to a new level with more interesting, catchy songs that actually sort of resemble songs, and yet are more frantic and fast than ever. It's the sound of uncompromising compromise.

"Shield For Your Eyes," by itself, makes my face crack wide open with demented glee every time I hear it. You should get this CD.

An incredible record from Japan's noise terrorists.......2006-03-13

I first heard Melt-Banana years ago on John Peel's tiny little 30-minute space on the BBC World Service. Almost as soon as the song began, it was over. And while it made an immediate, jolting impression, it took me a while to get around to trying them out.

Now that I've "discovered" what they're all about, I can say that Melt-Banana is one of the most exciting bands I've ever heard.

Imagine you put on a CD by Rage Against the Machine and accidentally set the player on fast-forward. That is just sort of what Melt-Banana sounds like. They are called noise rock, noisecore, or simply noise. But really, they are a hardcore band incorporating noise and, on this album, traces of techno, hip-hop, and even trance music. And yes, they will draw disses from your buddies that they're a punk band fronted by Yoko Ono on crack. But who cares what they say?

I say don't listen to Yasuko O's vocals as a melodic instrument, but as a percussion instrument. Once I figured out how she fits into the sound, and accepted that her approach is more rap than punk, the more I knew her style is a vital part of Melt-Banana's rhythm. And now I couldn't imagine it any other way.

Truly, the mad scientist of Melt-Banana is Ichiro Agata. He's one of the most original guitar players I can think of, drawing apt comparisons to Tom Morello. Agata can rage full-on, and often does, then he spins up piercing waves of noise. He can also chill out and get subtle, while mixing styles interchangeably, enticing you to think he's "DJ Agata." This guy is a genius of guitar noise, and a really overlooked alt-rock player.

I think bassist Rika Mm' is probably the core of the Melt-Banana sound (the way John Entwistle was with The Who, if you'll allow the analogy). The insane, manic drumming (uncredited here -- apparently MB have chased a few drummers away of late) seems to key off of the bass rather than the other way around.

Melt-Banana likes to operate at breakneck speed, changing gears as fast as an F1 car, using stop-start dynamics in ways that would leave a lot of expert practitioners slackjawed. And somehow, they are just as precise live as they are on record.

Their song craftsmanship has become more refined on CELL-SCAPE. On earlier albums, many of their tracks were furious bursts of less than a minute, hinged on a single idea or direction. What they do here is cram several ideas into cohesive three-minute structures, letting ideas develop further than before. The improved production quality also gives the band more layers of sound to surround the listener with. After demented tracks like "Shield for Your Eyes, a Beast in the Well on Your Hand" and "Like a White Bat in a Box, Dead Matters Go On," it will have you reevaluate those bands you used to think were really intense.

CELL-SCAPE may be the best stuff they've ever put out, and I think they are one of the best-kept secrets in alternative music. They are a great band, and I hope they get their due.

music that matches a manic mindset.......2006-02-04

It's easily their best album. This album tones down the noise and introduces rhythm and melody. Not the barrage of sound and havoc that most would expect having heard their other efforts. Advanced rhythms and a less by the numbers structure to everything softens this up.

This really sets in by the time "Lost Parts..." kicks in and you reallize their genius in turning noise into something with order, turning the familiar into the unfamiliar and back again.

The best way to get into Melt Banana is through this album, and it's likely to stick as most people's favorites

You can even enjoy this album if you're not high :D

Music Review:

Music Review

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Octopus [Import]

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The Dreamtime Journey: The Path of Direct Experience: A Shamanic InnerJourney

Stravinsky: Petrushka, Pulcinella / Klemperer, Philharmonia (1947 vrsn. prev. unreleased)