Showbiz

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Often compared to Radiohead, the youngsters in Muse make no bones about their love of Thom Yorke and company. Like Radiohead and their other favorite band, Nirvana, the tracks on Muse's debut go straight for the quiet verses and windstorm choruses associated with those acts. Unfortunately, Muse don't have that crackling aura their idols possess, and that's something that no amount of production can fix. Still, it's hard to write them off completely after hearing the single "Muscle Museum," which hints at brighter days on the horizon. Radiohead's Pablo Honey wasn't that great an album either, and look at them post-OK Computer. If they're going to crash American radio, they'll have to wait until the next release. --Jason Josephes

Showbiz,Muse,Maverick,Alternative Pop/Rock,Neo-Prog,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop

Showbiz

Average customer rating:

Where the greatness began
Excellent, well worth my wait
Showbiz is amazing. Muse are gods amongst men.
good early effort
fantastic album

Showbiz
Muse
Manufacturer: Maverick
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Origin of Symmetry
Absolution
Black Holes and Revelations
Black Holes & Revelations (Limited Edition CD+DVD)
Hullabaloo Soundtrack

ASIN: B00001SIES
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

Sunburn
Muscle Museum
Fillip
Falling Down
Cave
Showbiz
Unintended
Uno
Sober
Escape
Overdue
Hate This & I'll Love You

Amazon.com

Often compared to Radiohead, the youngsters in Muse make no bones about their love of Thom Yorke and company. Like Radiohead and their other favorite band, Nirvana, the tracks on Muse's debut go straight for the quiet verses and windstorm choruses associated with those acts. Unfortunately, Muse don't have that crackling aura their idols possess, and that's something that no amount of production can fix. Still, it's hard to write them off completely after hearing the single "Muscle Museum," which hints at brighter days on the horizon. Radiohead's Pablo Honey wasn't that great an album either, and look at them post-OK Computer. If they're going to crash American radio, they'll have to wait until the next release. --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews:

Where the greatness began.......2007-06-27

Muse is easily one of the best bands of the last 10 years and this is where they got their start. I would check out their other albums first as this is more for the already seasoned fan, but it's still a great album.

Excellent, well worth my wait.......2007-05-22

This, Muse's first album, turned out to be the very last one I got the opportunity to listen to. The sound is definitely younger and less polished and complex, but the clear signs of genius are already present.

"Unintended" struck a strong, poignant chord with me, being perhaps the closest Muse comes to a balladic love song. It's also a good one for singing in the shower! :) "Muscle Museum" is also a strong track, and the rest of the album rounds out nicely. Solid Muse.

Showbiz is amazing. Muse are gods amongst men........2007-01-26

It's fantastic. Every second of these songs are well thought out, and even though to many people, this isn't their best album, it is definately worth buying and listening to.

It has a unique, ear-catching style of music that makes you want to listen to it over again.

Their themes and their music are also pretty original, and originality isn't something easily achieved.

To sum it up, this is AMAZING. Sorry, no better adjective.

good early effort.......2006-11-26

muse had not completely perfected their sound yet but you can hear the good things to come on songs like muscle museum and sunburn, i also reccomend absolution and black holes, havent heard symmetry yet

fantastic album.......2006-09-10

amazing musicians. I dont see how someone could see flaws. Every note is perfect. Every muse album is amazing. They are the most talented band today.

Average customer rating:

Give Runaway Slave it's props YO!!!
I AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY
ONE OF BEST EAST COAST CLASSIC EVER
A truly underrated classic
Masterpiece. Esssential DITC.

Runaway Slave
Showbiz & A.G.
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Good Fellas
The Funky Technician
Breaking Atoms
Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop
Return of the Funky Man

ASIN: B000001FH6
Release Date: 1992-09-22

Tracks:

Still Digin'
Fat Pockets
Bounce Ta This
More Than One Way Out Of The Ghetto
Silence Of The Lambs(remix)
40 Acres And My Props
Runaway Slave
Hard To Kill
Hold Ya Head
He Say, She Say
Represent
Silence Of The lambs
Party Groove(Bass Mix)
Soul Clap(Short Version)
Catchin' Wreck
Party Groove (Instrumental)

Customer Reviews:

Give Runaway Slave it's props YO!!!.......2007-03-06

Classic Material from Show and AG. Act like ya know!

Top Joints:
Fat Pockets
Silence Of The Lambs(remix)
40 Acres And My Props
Runaway Slave
Hard To Kill
Hold Ya Head
Party Groove(Bass Mix)
Soul Clap(Short Version)
Party Groove

I AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY.......2007-01-30

hey, i am on the bandwagon with everyone else. this is essential early DITC. FAT POCKETS inspired FATBACKS by quasimoto. SOUL CLAP.........NOLIA CLAP..........hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. love the title cut as well as the first song STILL DIGGIN'. everything else here has a very nice flow to it as well. shoot, the whole darn album has a nice flow to it. it did not get the props it deserved though. wasn't BOUNCE TA THIS on this one as well? if so, then hey, another song i love from this classic that time forgot.

ONE OF BEST EAST COAST CLASSIC EVER.......2007-01-17

sadly I don't own this cd due to it's cost but I've listened it and i know it's a pure classic from the golden era of hip-hop, the early '90s. others rewier have already wrote what i think about it's gorgeous beats, so i just can say. this is pure hip-hop no BS, not the punk dirtysouth sound of these fu...n' 2000 years nor othewr club s..t
wonderful, I might to find it cheaper because now iz too expensive

A truly underrated classic.......2006-08-22

Showbiz & A.G. released "Runaway Slave" in 1992 and it immediately became the first of what would be a long line of underrated hip hop gems from the New York hip hop crew, Diggin' in the Crates. This album is the first from the amazing DITC crew and it ranks among the very greatest. Truly an amazing album. Showbiz & A.G. brought a whole new style to the table, using upbeat, funky production layered with many horns and jazz samples without screaming jazz rap at you. The production is some of the best east coast production out there, it's so consistent and beautiful. Like with all the DITC albums, the lyricism is wonderful to listen to, always entertaining and often funny, always on a level you can feel. Showbiz and fellow DITC member Diamond D produce the tracks, and Showbiz and AG trade off rhymes with a great chemistry. This could be classified as a party album, and that would definitely be a party I'd like to attend. They cover lots of different topics in their rhymes though, tackling some social issues like racism, public housing, and gossip. It's a crime that "Runaway Slave" is out of print, and if you can find it nothing should stop you from getting it.

The album begins with the song "Still Diggin'", which represents everything DITC would proceed to bring us throughout the 90s. It has a great sax-laced beat and the duo talk about their abilities and preferences. The beat to "Fat Pockets" is a head spinning, jazzy one, and the lyrics deal with liking "pockets fat and not flat". "Bounce to This" is among the funkiest, with great bass and cymbal. My favorite instrumental is on "More Than One Way Out of the Ghetto", it has an awesome intro and the lyrics are very relevant. "40 Acres & My Props" is similarly great, conscious lyrics and awesome production. The title track has awesome horn instrumentation, and "Hard to Kill" always keeps my head bobbing. "Hold Ya Head" is one of my favorites, awesome track, great lyrics and beats. "He Say, She Say" tells a story about how lives are ruined by gossipping people. Both mixes of "Silence of the Lambs" are great party tracks, and "Soul Clap" and the self explanatory "Party Groove" could each be described similarly. There's not a bad track here, it's so amazingly consistent.

This album is a great album and the fact that it's out of print is a shame. However, despite its amazing quality, paying upwards of $80 for any CD sounds kind of ridiculous to me, I know it is available for sale or download for much cheaper elsewhere. "Runaway Slave" is just one of the many great early 90s jazzy, funky hip hop albums from the city of New York, and I highly recommend it to all.

Masterpiece. Esssential DITC........2006-05-09

Along with Pharcyde's "Bizarre Ride II", for me, this is the best album to come from one of the best years of Hip Hop (1992). Similarly, this is the best album to come from DITC, which is a bold statement since DITC is one of the most consistent hiphop groups ever, behind Wu Tang, with each and every solo member bringing classic material to the table (Lord Finesse,OC,Diamond D,Big L,). This is Quintessential NY Early 90's hiphop. From the distinctive horns, breaks, samples, snares/drums, flows, ebonics & the natural Funk Show & AG display any fan of early 90's hiphop will worship this, I guarantee it. With 16 Full Tracks, their is not one weak track on the album...Pure CONSISTENCY. It is a landmark, with the track "Represent" featuring Diamond, Finesse, Big L & D-Shawn this is the first group DITC track...on wax. Showbiz really shines on Runaway Slave, with flawless production especially on tracks like "Fat Pockets", "He say, She Say" "Represent" & Catchin Wreck. Compared to "Goodfellas", Runaway Slave is slightly less dark and gives off that funky vibe that was primarily heard in that era. Similarly, You can bet Andre The Giant (AG) comes correct with the flows, lyrics and of course the trademark Voice!
An album that cracks my personal top 10, any fan of DITC, Early 90's Hiphop or music that generally displays raw talent...needs to treat their mental with this, and prepare for an eargasm!. PEACE (P.S. as you can probably tell this is extremely rare, so you will find you will have to pay alot for this, but believe me, its worth it).

Lyrics - 10/10
Beats - 10/10
Orginality - 10/10
Replay Value - 10/10

Bottom line----One of Few impeccable classics

If you find this helpful, check my other reviews

Average customer rating:

Where do they FIND this stuff?!
The Best Years - Raw And Gutsy
It ain't nobody but Him and Me
PETER GREEN'S FLEETWOOD MAC AT THEIR BEST!!!
Now this is More Like It

Showbiz Blues 1968-1970
Fleetwood Mac
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Vaudeville Years of Fleetwood Mac: 1968 to 1970
Shrine '69
Live at the BBC
The End Of The Game
Live in Boston 2 (Dig)

ASIN: B000057BG3
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Tracks:

SOUL DRESSING
IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY
OUTRAGE
THE SUN IS SHINING
DON'T BE CRUEL
I'M SO LONELY AND BLUE
HOW BLUE CAN YOU GET
MY BABY'S SWEETER
LONG GREY MARE
BUZZ ME BABY
MIND OF MY OWN
I HAVE TO LAUGH
YOU'RE THE ONE
DO YOU GIVE A DAMN FOR ME
HIM AND ME
SHOW-BIZ BLUES
FAST TALKIN' WOMAN BLUES
WORLD IN HARMONY
LEAVING TOWN BLUES

Tracks:

BLACK MAGIC WOMAN
JUMPIN'AT SHADOWS
a. RATTLESNAKE SHAKE/b. UNDERWAY
STRANGER BLUES
WORLD IN HARMONY
TIGER
(THE) GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN)
COMING YOUR WAY
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
TWIST AND SHOUT

Album Description

Follow-up to the very successful 'Vaudeville Years' released to great acclaim in 1998. 29 digitally remastered tracks of previously unreleased studio jams, superior quality live tracks & alternative versions of studio tracks from 1968-1970. Also includes six tracks which are appearing for the first time on any Fleetwood Mac release, 'Don't Be Cruel', 'I'm So Lonely and Blue', 'Mind Of My Own', 'I Have To Laugh', 'You're The One' & 'Twist & Shout'. Features the classic line up of Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, John McVie & Danny Kirwan. Includes 52 page booklet written by noted Mac historian Martin (Jet) Celmins & a specially commissioned Fleetwood Mac family tree by Pate Frame & many rare photographs. Beautiful hard-back book style packaging. 2001 release.

Album Details

2 CD follow-up the 'The Vaudeville Years' compilation featuring 29 tracks of previously unreleased studio jams, superior quality live tracks and alternative versions of studio tracks from 1968-1970. Includes 7 tracks not on any Fleetwood Mac release. Features the classic lineup of Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan.

Customer Reviews:

Where do they FIND this stuff?!.......2003-10-05

I've been a Fleetwood Mac fan (mostly the Peter Green version) since 1970. Just when I thought I'd heard it all comes this set! Most of the tracks are interesting, but clearly cutting room floor material. The stuff only us Mac fanatics could appreciate.

But some of the tracks are incredible! Among the groups best stuff and lying in a vault for over thirty years?!

Exhibit A: "Black Magic Woman" Green's jam favorite is from the Boston concerts and is the best version I've heard. His Hendrix influenced wah-wah makes the instrumental jam second half of this performance interesting. Mesmerizing, soaring Green guitar that loops around Danny Kirwan's vibrato-laden guitar wails take this Otis Rush inspired piece to incredible heights. Worth the price of the set on its own.

Exhibit B: "Coming Your Way" Kirwan's Afro/Surf jam, marred by poor sound quality and some meandering "solo" playing by Kirwan. Yet, it is a more driving version than the Boston recording, with Fleetwood and Mac laying down an irresistable backbeat. World dance music from the Mac in 1970! Listen to how Green prods Kirwan after Mick Fleetwood's drum solo.

Exhibit C: The four piece Mac! An extremely rare instance where Green and Jeremy Spencer played as a UNIT instead of Green simply backing the slide meister. "I Have to Laugh" is an intensely brooding Otis Rush song driven by Jeremy's powerful vocals and Peter's wonderfully evocative and unobtrusive lead guitar work. This is one of my favorite Mac tunes of all time. Several times, I've played this for friends who are simply stunned. "Who is THAT?"

There are many more wonderful tracks here, with the second cd full of terrific 1970 live performances that were among the band's last recordings in the Peter Green incarnation.

You have to be a fan to enjoy the entire cd. But, all you need is a heart to enjoy the best cuts.

The Best Years - Raw And Gutsy.......2002-07-16

This is the original Mac blues band, the Peter Green band with John & Mick laying down the rhythm for Peter and his young acolites Jeremy Spencer & Danny Kirwan. It was also before Christine joined. So if you like Mac for that little ... Stevie or for Lindsay, please don't buy this.....it's reserved for the original Mac fans.

Having got that out of my system, here's what you probably want to know about this set. I think it can join with the Chicago sessions and The Boston Tea Party set to showcase the best of the original Mac. However, along with the earlier companion set The Vaudeville Years, it does hold a secondary place in the ultimate collection of the early band.

You really should get both the Vol. I Vaudeville and this Vol. II Show-Biz Blues . Personally I think this set has a bit better tracks....Jeremey gets nicely into his Elvis/Buddy Holly/Elmore James groove with Don't Be Cruel, Great Balls of Fire, and a slowed down Twist & Shout.....but the strength of the set lies in a killer Black Magic Woman followed by what I think is the best version of Jumpin' At Shadows and then a great Shake following that...all on Disc 2.

But this one is worth purchasing because it gives full hearing to the band that became famous for jamming, driving rhythm section, and both brilliant and roaring fun guitarists. Mac evolved, but this was a very special time and for anyone who fell in love with the Boston Tea Party releases, this one will fix you up for a couple more years.

It ain't nobody but Him and Me.......2001-08-31

Once again the fine people involved with Fleetwood Mac pump out another brilliantly compiled ORIGINAL Fleetwood Mac outakes collection.
For those who find the Original blues band to be better than the pop rock Rumours Mac this is a 5 star gem. The first disc is a collection of outakes, featuring some fine blues numbers from Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, and Jeremy Spencer. Jeremy also delivers some good 50's songs. It also has some excellent slide play on the takes of what became Showbiz Blues as well as great alternative versions of songs on the Vaudeville Years collection.
Disc Two is the best reason why you should get this album. The first two songs are from the famed Boston performances now available on three discs. (Though these two versions of Black Magic Woman are not on the new Boston CDs.) The rest of it is a exciting BBC performance. The performance is very loose and passionate, featuring some of the Mac's best improvisational jams. (I've always thought that the original Mac were up there with the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers when it came to live jamming.) Though the sound is patchy, the performance is very entertaining.
So if you've been a long time fan of the Original Fleetwood Mac this is a gem you must have! It is both interesting and at times great! If you're beginning to get into the Original Mac I would reccomend the Boston cd's or Then Play On.

PETER GREEN'S FLEETWOOD MAC AT THEIR BEST!!!.......2001-08-11

First, a disclaimer: this is PETER GREEN'S (ORIGINAL)FLEETWOOD MAC, not the Buckingham-Nicks-Christine McVie pop juggernaut. This was arguably the finest British Blues outfit to come out the late 60's, led by the brilliant eccentric genious, Peter Green, and ably assisted by Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan, John Mcvie & Mick Fleetwood. This is a welcome collection of rare, never before releasd material: one side studio and one side live in concert. About half of the live CD's 73 minutes were from a BBC radio broadcast that was heavilly bootlegged. 2 other live cuts are scortching alternate versions from the '70 Boston Tea Party shows. The sound on the live disc is very good for the era during which the material was recorded. The performances are truly inspired, among the best ever. It's a great selection of this band's best songs. Peter Green is the frontman on the majority, with a few ably fronted by Jeremy Spencer or Danny Kirwan. The studio CD is more of a mixed-bag. Cuts 1-3 are by Green & Fleetwood in Peter B's Looners, a 1966 R&B outfit put together by keyboardist Peter Bardens (of later fame with Camel & Them). These cuts are OK, but are welcome due to their rarity and historical significance. There is a higher percentage of Jeremy Spencer on this studio disc, doing his Elvis/Buddy Holly/Elmore James routine to the max. There is a lot of Peter Green material here pre-Kirwan. There are 3 versions of "Showbiz Blues" fascinatingly showing the evolution of the song from the earliest demo into an alternate take, very close to the final version that appeared on "Then Play On". The sound quality of this studio CD varies quite a bit, due to the time range from 1966-1970. There are over 50 pages of text and rare photos in this fine package. As with the recent excellent releases of original Fleetwood Mac material on CD, we've once again hit the motherlode with this EXCELLENT collection. I Highly recommend this release, along with its 2CD twin set, "The Vaudeville Years". Also absolutely essential are The "Blue Horizon Years"(a 6-CD budget Box Set), the 3CD "Boston Tea Party" Box Set, and of course Peter Green's phenominal Fleetwood Mac swansong, "Then Play On". All of this material is among the finest music ever recorded; essential, powerful, passionate British Blues and Beyond! This music smokes!!! However, if you are into Fleetwood Mac's later Pop offerings, you probably will not like this at all. Apples & oranges.......

Now this is More Like It.......2001-07-04

I gave this a four rating due to it being out-takes & extra live cuts. HOWEVER, if you are a Original Fleetwood Mac fan, this thing will be a diamond in the rough!!!

This has some of the earliest sides Peter Green ever cut, as the first few tracks sound like something Santana would do... done in 1966. The real keeper on disc 1 is tracks 14-16, as the same song goes through a metamorphis with the lryics & the feel. Green (on slide!!) goes through different styles with the song. One cut, he takes Son House's style, the other is more like Skip James.... it's quite revealing. The last cut on the first disc is Peter on guitar.... & a violin player!!!

The second disc has more live cuts from the Boston Tea Party that hasn't been available before, along with live cuts from a gig that is not mentioned I believe... believe it or not, some of these cuts are even better than the Tea Party live cuts vol. 1-3. The Jumpin' at Shadows is more melodic, while Green Manalishi has a wah wah bass solo by Green. None of the songs are played note for note, & every track is DEFINITELY worth hearing. Rattlesnake Shake is shorter, & rather different. A great Black Magic Woman. Take that Carlos! Peter is in fine form throughout.

This is one hell of a compilation for all the Peter Green fanatics out there. It completely outdoes the Vaudville set, which is actually quite a find in its own right.The liner notes are fantastic as well. Highly recommended set for the fans of "Fleetwood Mac".

Tracks:

Never Less Than Ill
You Know Now
Check It Out
Add On
Next Level (Nyte Time Mix)
Time For
Got The Flava
Neighbahood Sickness
All Out
Medicine
I'm Not The One
Got Ya Back
Next Level
You Want It

Customer Reviews:

10, 20 STARS..................REFRESHING!!!!!.......2007-03-11

beats, rhymes, no candy, raw, no frills, beats and rhymes, two turntables and a mic, REFRESHING!!!!! hip hop the way it is supposed to be done!!!!! i have heard people diss ag. i shake my head. hell with them!!!! this bumps. get it if you want that raw and real!!!!

Itunes.......2007-01-25

F*ck the $50 copies get it on itunes now. Hopefully they'll get runaway slave soon.

ONE OF THE GREATEST EVER!.......2006-11-08

This is one of the Greatest Hip Hop albums EVER! I have both the cd and vinyl. What more can I say?

Classick ish!!!!.......2006-05-12

If I ever lost my copy, I'd gladly pay the 50 bones it goes for. This LP was such an inspiration to me and it is one of my all time favorite Hip-Hop LPs. The production on this album is so dope, but if you're reading this review or looking this up... you already know.

how is it possible?.......2006-02-09

what kind of record company dispute or personal beef is keeping this improbably genius album from being reissued? for shame!

Average customer rating:

A Beautifully Written Piece of Art
Good, but not for the casual fan
Review from a classical musician
Doesn't do them justice.
Good, but not great

String Quartet Tribute to Muse

Manufacturer: Vitamin Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Black Holes & Revelations (Limited Edition CD+DVD)

ASIN: B00070Q89K
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

Stockholm Syndrome
Map Of Your Head
Time Is Running Out
Muscle Museum
In Your World
Showbiz
The Small Print
Sunburn'
New Born
Bliss
Sing For Absolution
Saving Grace

Product Description

1. Stockholm Syndrome
2. Map Of Your Head
3. Time Is Running Out
4. Muscle Museum
5. In Your World
6. Showbiz
7. The Small Print
8. Sunburn
9. New Born
10. Bliss
11. Sing For Absolution
12. Saving Grace (Original Composition)

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

A Beautifully Written Piece of Art.......2007-06-29

Based on a purely classical mind set, this is one of the most beautiful string tribute albums there are. Granted, Muse fans who usually don't listen to string albums probably won't appreciate it, but for the classical lover, this is the tribute album to start with. The String Tribute to Muse is an absolute masterpiece amongst tributes.

Good, but not for the casual fan.......2007-05-19

I agree very much with Brian Allen; you should only spend the money on this one if you happen to be either a big fan or strings or a big fan of Muse, and I fall very much into the latter. As far as the songs themselves, some sound beautiful. "Bliss" nearly breaks your heart as an all-string tribute. But other songs are hard-core alternative rock, like "Stockholm Syndrome" so songs like that sound awkward at best. If you like a song by Muse here and there, only have one or two of their CDs, and think, "Oh, they're alright," don't bother purchasing it. However for big Muse fans, it's a nice treat.

Review from a classical musician.......2006-02-05

I play cello in a string quartet and am a huge Muse fan as well. As far as this compilation of, perhaps, some of Muse's greatest hits, a string quartet version just doesn't depict the kind of emotional response that I get from listening to the orignal trio. I listened to some of these tracks and thought I was listening to my buddies playing Muse songs by ear and just messing around. Save your money, or better yet, for the same price go out and treat yourself to the original albums that these songs derived from (Showbiz, Origin of Symmetry and Absolution)!

Doesn't do them justice........2006-02-04

Well, before I say anything about this tribute album, let me state clearly for the record that I am a HUGE Muse fan, and always will be. I'm also very fond of classical music, so I thought this album would be incredible. Unfortunately, that assumption was way off. To me, this was basically like a bunch of recordings of people humming Muse songs. The original tracks have so much power and emotion, but these versions seem cheap and empty. If they would have had a full orchistra it would have been awesome. The string quartet just doesn't cut it, at least not for me. Of course, this is all in my humble opinion.

Good, but not great.......2005-12-06

I'll do an actual review later, but here are some of my thoughts on this album, since only one other person rated it so far. The songs all sound great, but they hardly differ from the original versions, and none of them are really that much different. Most of them sound note for note the same, but just played on the strings. This is ok because Muse has a lot of classical influence in their songs, but I wish the makers would have put more effort into this. If you're a casual fan you can skip, but if you really like string tributes or Muse you should get it. Some better string tributes, which are less basic, are the ones for Nine Inch Nails, Coldplay, and A Perfect Circle.

Average customer rating:

That's Showbiz
The Lustre Kings
Manufacturer: Wild Boar
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mark Gamsjager Rocks & Lustre Kings Roll

ASIN: B0001XAMRC
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

Livin End
I Wanna Bop
I Won't Take No
You Don't Call
Set You Free
No One Left to Turn To
Quarter to Two
Maybe Little Baby
Danger Man
Fishin With Spam
Little Baby
Set the Drag
Don't Stop Now
Livin End [Big Band Version]
That's Show Biz

Average customer rating:

An Uneven Album featuring a couple of Kinks Classics!
Who Cares If The Liquor Flowed?? Life On The Road And It's Discomforts and Insights
First Kinks album I ever bought...
You had to be there...
EVERBODY'S IN SHOWBIZ

Everybody's in Showbiz
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Velvel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Muswell Hillbillies
Preservation: Act 1
Preservation: Act 2
The Kinks Present Schoolboys in Disgrace
State of Confusion

ASIN: B000009DI2
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Here Comes Yet Another Day
Maximum Consumption
Unreal Reality
Hot Potatoes
Sitting In My Hotel
Motorway
You Don't Know My Name
Supersonic Rocket Ship
Look A Little On The Sunnyside
Celluloid Heroes
Top Of The Pops
Brainwashed
Mr. Wonderful
Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues
Holiday
Muswell Hillbilly
Alcohol
Banana Boat Song
Skin & Bone
Baby Face
Lola
Bonus Tracks: Till The End Of The Day
Bonus Tracks: She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina

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It makes sense that a transition album by the Kinks wouldn't be a run-of-the-mill transition album. This artifact from 1972 originally came out on two LPs, the first consisting of new studio material (highlighted by the sublime "Celluloid Heroes" and "Sitting in My Hotel") and the second documenting a two-night Carnegie Hall stand. The live selections are representative of the sodden sets the Kinks were notorious for at the time. Ray Davis is in good humor ("My name's Johnny Cash; nice to see y'all"), and a seedy four-man horn section nicely juices up "Alcohol," which surpasses its studio predecessor. As the follow-up to the popular Muswell Hillbillies, Showbiz didn't wow fans and critics when it arrived, but it now stands as a tellingly haphazard venture from a group that just wasn't cut out for straight-to-the-top stardom. --Steven Stolder

Album Details

Japanese Version Re-released featuring Two Bonus Tracks: End of the Day (Live), and She Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina (Live).

Customer Reviews:

An Uneven Album featuring a couple of Kinks Classics!.......2006-04-30

This album was originally released a double studio/live set.

If you don`t like trumpets of horns in general, this probably won`t be your favourite Kinks album. Around 1971-74 the horn section was more or less a permanent part of the Kinks line-up.

Musically there is absolutely a lot to go for here. Especially the studio-half of the album has its outstanding moment. The classic "Celluloid Heroes", one Ray Davies` greatest compositions, does not need further presentation.

"Sitting in My Hotel" is another great song; actually more or less a sequel to "All of my Friends Were There" from "The Village Green Preservation".

The single "Supersonic Rocket Ship" is catchy and quite amusing.

A Kinks U.S. Tour video-documentary was in the plans early 1972, and several songs has a life-on-the-road theme in the lyrics. There is a degree of disillusion to the lyrics, and a few songs may appear a little uninspired.

Musically most songs are not far from the sound and style of the previous album "Muswell Hillbillies", but apart from the 3-4 strongest songs, the album is generally slightly weaker.

Logically the documentary that never was, had to cover the Kinks` live act, which was quite different from early Kinks, and also from latter year Kinks. There obviously was a quite relaxed atmosphere, at times tending towards the sloppy, at the Kinks` live show in those days. Several jazzy standards were included in the show and Ray Davies seemed to enjoy the role of an entertained more than being a traditional rock-star. With the brass-section dominating most tracks, the album is very different to their next and highly successful live album "One For the Road". This live set is an interesting document and at times quite amusing, but for me the studio half is by far the most important.

An uneven affair with a couple of really great moments.

Who Cares If The Liquor Flowed?? Life On The Road And It's Discomforts and Insights.......2005-08-22

At least the the live half of the CD At Carnegie Hall has feeling...It is pretty clear the Kinks were having a ball and so were the audience listening to the classics of the highly regarded Muswell Hillbilly album whose songs were an insightful view of mental stability in the 20th century...Alcohol,Paranooia etc. all included..The Muswell studio CD is indeed a classic and worth it's weight in gold,these live performances were originally the 2nd LP of the album and the CD presented here is one great long affair, half studio half live and it all flows together well.
The opening half is a collection of top rate songs chronicling Life and it's problems on and off the road.Celluloid Heroes,Sitting In My Hotel,Supersonic Rocket Ship all rate as some of the Kinks most finese moments laid down in the studio..An added bonus are the bonus tracks, additional live songs of the same performance not on the vinyl release.

First Kinks album I ever bought..........2004-10-27

Thirty years ago this was the first Kinks album I ever bought. It was love at first listen. A 2-record set, one live and one studio. It's great that it can all fit onto one CD. The studio album includes the classic "Celluloid Heroes" and my favorite "Sitting In My Hotel" in which Ray reflects about what all his friends would think he was trying to prove "riding in his chauffeur driven jam jar dressed in satin strides and two-tone daisy roots". Every other song is fantastic with much of Ray's sardonic wit and his keen insights into, well, mostly food. Then it gets even better. The live album is a blast. It includes great versions of "Top Of The Pops, Acute Schizohenia Paranoia Blues, Muswell Hillbilly, Alcohol, Lola and Till The End Of The Day" plus covers of the "Banana Boat Song and Baby Face". 23 songs in all. In addition you get great liner notes and quotes from each of the band members (separately of course). Plus two bonus tracks that weren't on the album. I am willing to bet that huge amounts of alcohol and junk food were consumed in the making of this gem.

You had to be there..........2004-05-22

Of the thundering herd, only three English musical groups lasted well after the early sixties British invasion: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and the Kinks. Unlike the other two, however, the Kinks were just teenagers when they tasted their first successs with "You Really Got Me" and "Stop Your Sobbing".

Raymond Douglas Davies and his entourage produced great music at a phenomenal rate without the sort of promotional and theatrical nonsense that seemed to plague the other two acts. The bottom line is, what the Kinks were doing musically was more sophisticated than their counterparts. That's why they were able to survive.

This CD is a highlight of what would become a prelude to the last great pinnacle of working years for the Kinks. To someone who may be unfamiliar with that era of rock (from about 1971 - 1973), the music on this CD may sound like an average collection of songs that were thrown together for quick consumption. Not so.

This CD serves as a historical benchmark for the Kinks and shows how the band changed from their "Kinkdom" days of two guitars (or one), a bass guitar and drums to something else, entirely. The music is good, and if you can read between the lines, there's a lot of humor here.

This is a fun album; These are the Kinks going through a phase that highlighted their showmanship, with Davies throwing in a lot on unpredictable antics for good measure. Sometimes in concert, Ray would throw a case of beer out into the audience during "Alcohol", which of course, made the crowd go nuts.

"Everybody's In Showbiz" is one of the Kink's best, but because of the evolving nature of the band, is not necessarily representative of the majority of the Kink's work. It does, however, stand out very well.

EVERBODY'S IN SHOWBIZ.......2004-03-21

Though most people give this one ****.I give it *****.It is truly excellent.It was one of the very first kinks cd's I ever bought.And I still love very much.Contrary to what some people believe I think the studio album on here is their 4 best one of all time.It has some very nice underated tracks.Here Comes Yet Another Day is a road rocker.I just like Hot Potatoes for some reason.I'm not sure why.One of the very best songs on it is Sitting In My Hotel.Not many people like it and it never gets talked about either.I think it's a beautiful piano filled track.With a great beat.Super Sonic Rocket Ship is also a great guitar filled dity about airplanes.Celluloid Heroes is the best known song on the album.And it really does hold it's own.Now on to the live album.It's also very good.I think they do Holiday and Muswell Hillbillies especially good.They also share some other classic well known hits.That you can't get anywhere else but this album.Such as Banana Boat.And thier EXCELLENT jazz filled version of Baby Face.Which is my favorite track that they do on the live part of the album.If you don't already have this get it some where.Remastered version or not.(It only has 2 extra tracks).HIGHLY RECOMENDED!

Average customer rating:

FULL SCALE has the perfect hiphop weight!

Full Scale
Show & AG
Manufacturer: Fat Beats
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Customer Reviews:

FULL SCALE has the perfect hiphop weight!.......2007-02-08

The 3rd album from Show & AG is probably the best in my opinion. I know the debut was regarded as a classic and the 2nd was darker but equally tight. The reason I prefer this is that it came at a time when hiphop was struggling to put out some real quality albums. It has that boombap feel that many (myself included) think was the best era of rap. Show's production is literally outta this world on so many of the 15 tracks. The only things that stopped this being a 5star classic to me were that A.G. doesnt get enough alone time on the mic to shine b'cuz so many of the tracks have guests such as O.C., Diamond, Finesse, Big L, KRS1, Big Pun and his crew Ghetto Dwellas. Also I have 4 of the tracks "Drop It Heavy", "Time to get this money", "Dignified Soldiers" and "Weekend Nights" already from the D.I.T.C. album. Apart from those minor complaints the album is brilliant. The production is basically big, deep basslines with horns and whiplash inducing beats. The flows are non-stop metaphor laced street rhymes that the Bronx is known for. What else would you expect from the D.I.T.C. crew at the height of their powers?? The track listing and quality of each track are as follows "Themes, Schemes+Dreams" (5/5), "Drop it heavy" (3.5/5), "Q+A" (5/5), "Full Scale" (5/5), "Spit" (5/5), "Time to get this money" (4/5), "Who's the Dirtiest?" (4/5), "Dignified Soldiers" (3.5/5), "Put this in ya system" (4/5), "Raw as ever" (5/5), "Dignified Soldiers (remix)" (4/5), "Weekend Nights" (3.5/5), "Hidden Crates" (5/5), "Hold Mines" (5/5) and "Get Dirty" (4/5). This is 1 seriously under-appreciated and head-nodding album from start to finish. Get it!!!

Average customer rating:

"Another South Bronx classic"!

Showbiz & A.G.
Showbiz & A.G.
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Customer Reviews:

"Another South Bronx classic"!.......2005-08-25

This EP came out in '92. Back when they were still "bringing back that ol' New York rap"! These were the sounds of NYC Hip-Hop that we all miss and love. Right before dropping the classic "RUNAWAY SLAVE", Show & A.G. gave us a taste of what to expect from them and the D.I.T.C. family. The production by Showbiz and Diamond D is LETHAL! And the way A.G. spits fire on each track is nothing less than what to expect from a raw MC upholding the "Bronx traditions". This CD contains 8 tracks of pure, 100% NYC Hip-Hop. I'll break down the tracks for you; trk.1- "INTRO". Trk.2-"PARTY GROOVE" (instrumental) 10/10. trk.3- "SOUL CLAP" (short version) 10/10. Trk.4- "CATCHIN' WRECK" 10/10. Trk.5- "PARTY GROOVE" (bass mix) 10/10. Trk.6- "DIGGIN' IN THE CRATES" feat. Lord Finesse & Diamond D 10/10. Trk.7- "SOUL CLAP" (off beat mix) 10/10. Trk.8 "GIANT IN THE MENTAL" 10/10. A TRUE Hip-Hop CLASSIC!!