Sleepwalker

Product Description
JamisonParker’s debut full length "Sleepwalker" is a collection of well-crafted songs fitted with gorgeous sounds. The guitar tones alone were contrived with the kind of attention to detail that would make a Swiss watchmaker jealous. Putting yourself repeatedly through the wringer, whether it’s in search of the perfect guitar tone, or in dedication to the fine art of artfully spilling your guts, leads to a kind of certainty. Sleepwalker is filled with the confidence and artistic ambition pretty much unchanged since before Jamison and Parker were JamisonParker.

Sleepwalker,JamisonParker,Interscope Records,Emo,Pop,Punk-Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Sleepwalker

Average customer rating: A Milestone in Kinks History! a strong start to the Kinks' Arista Records years The Kinks Komeback --- Again! Return To Form Ray's originality was sleepwalking

Sleepwalker The Kinks Manufacturer: Velvel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Misfits The Kinks Present Schoolboys in Disgrace State of Confusion Give the People What They Want Word of Mouth ASIN: B0006U3TYI Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

1. Life On The Road
2. Mr. Big Man
3. Sleepwalker
4. Brother
5. Juke Box Music
6. Sleepless Night
7. Stormy Sky
8. Full Moon
9. Life Goes On
10. Artificial Light
11. Prince Of The Punks
12. The Poseur
13. On The Outside (1977 Mix)
14. On The Outside (1994 Mix)

Customer Reviews:

A Milestone in Kinks History!.......2006-03-30

Sleepwalker was the Kinks' first album for the Arista label. When released in 1977 it was also the first Kinks album for several years that did not have a strict concept. This was quite refreshing and probsably also a bit of a relief for the band.

At any rate it's a very inspired album and along with "State of Confusion" the strongest and most consistent Arista album. Davies' songwriting is varied and at his very best. Dave Davies? guitar-playing is terrific and it gives edge to the music. It's hard to bring out any specific tracks, because all are great. Personal favourites were always the classic Kinks-type of songs like "Full Moon" and "Stormy Sky", but Dave great guitar on "Mr Big Man" makes the song another favourite. A little Steve Miller inspiration on the title track??

Moreover the added bonus-tracks are also fine. Two decent B-sides "Artificial Light" ( sounds like a "Misfits" song ) and "Prince of the Punks" are fine for fans/completists, but the two outtakes are really great additions. "The Poseur" was originally thought to be the title-track, but it was eventually dropped with the change of the album title. Even more strange is it that they decided to leave out the outstanding "On the Outside", which would have been another highlight on the original album. Now it finally gets it's deserved release - classical Kinks!!

A milestone in Kinks History!

a strong start to the Kinks' Arista Records years.......2006-01-26

Originally released in February of 1977, "Sleepwalker" was the first album the Kinks did for the Arista Records label which was founded, and at the time headed, by the notorious record industry mogul Clive Davis. This switch from RCA to Arista coincided with Ray Davies backing down from the seemingly endless string of Broadway-flavored, horn-laden concept albums he'd been writing in favor of a more-or-less straightahead rock 'n' roll approach.

You've probably read about how Arista Records wasn't going to accept any "Preservation"/ "Soap Opera"-style concept albums from the Kinks. However, in characteristic Ray Davies fashion, he wanted to have his cake and eat it too, so he devised "Sleepwalker" as a loosely thematic album about sleeplessness/ restlessness, a theme which can be detected just by glancing at some of the song titles such as the title track, "Sleepless Night", and "Full Moon".

And this is a really solid, satisfying album. Although these years on Arista Records also tend to be referred to as the Kinks' "arena rock" years, "arena rock" really is not an accurate description for the music on this album. Granted, the group does rock out pretty hard on many of the songs here, but the group demonstrated that they hadn't entirely forgotten the concept of rocking out on the previous album "Schoolboys In Disgrace", and "Sleepwalker" is hardly a move toward Kiss-style territory.

As usual, Ray has sole writing credit for all the tracks on the album. And there are a bunch of great ones. "Mr. Big Man" is a raging rocker about a person who acheives fame and then proceeds to blow off the people who helped him get there. "Juke Box Music" has really curious lyrics about not taking music too seriously and how it's "only there to dance to", but regardless, it's an absolutely infectious rocker with a simple-but-irresistible riff, catchy melody, great Dave Davies lead guitar work, well-placed synthesized strings, and neat interplay between Ray and Dave's vocals. The bluesy "Sleepless Night" has some silly, seemingly unfinished lyrics, and Dave's lead vocals are a little shaky, but it's irresistible anyway, thanks to more great Dave Davies guitarwork, cool organ, and the sheer catchiness. "Full Moon" is a soaring, emotional song that builds up arrestingly, with Ray's vocals starting off gentle and working their way up to a wonderfully from-the-gut delivery.

There are more quality tunes as well. The album-opening story-song "Life On The Road" starts off mellow before transforming into an uptempo rocker with with some clever and funny lyrics. The title track is also fun and catchy, although somewhat underdeveloped. The album-closer "Life Goes On" is quite amusing with its sardonic lyrics about how we must carry on no matter how bad life gets, and yet the simple and memorable "life goes on and on and on" hook of the chorus is uncannily uplifting, which is seemingly what Ray was going for with the song.

Only a couple songs are considerably dull. One is "Stormy Sky"--the song does have atmosphere, but it's underdeveloped in terms of the songwriting and feels like filler. Even worse is the strained, 5+ minute ballad "Brother" which aims for a directly spiritual quality, and is loaded up with painfully predictable lyrics.

Another comment I can't help but make is that many of the songs here are strikingly similar to earlier songs. "Mr. Big Man" is extremely reminsicent of 10cc's "The Wall Street Shuffle", and some of Dave's lead guitar bits make the song very reminiscent of "Layla" as well. The title track sounds a lot like the Steve Miller Band's "Take the Money and Run" (even if "Sleepwalker" is the better song), and it also has a somewhat annoying "Dear Prudence"-style ending. The ending of "Full Moon" references the Kinks' own "Johnny Thunder". In other words, the album kinda doubles as a virtual name-that-tune fest.

Velvel Records reissued "Sleepwalker" in 1998 with great sound quality, superb liner notes, and bonus tracks. Velvel have reissued it again in 2005 in hybrid SACD format, and thankfully, the bonus tracks remain intact, because they add additional interest to the proceedings--"Artificial Light" is forgettable, and "Price of the Punks" is pretty amusing, but a bit ham-fisted and overdone; however, the moody "The Poseur" is arresting, as is the engaging ballad "On The Outside" (present in 2 slightly different versions). (Velvel have subsequently reissued "Sleepwalker" again in 2005 in hybrid SACD format with the bonus tracks intact.)

Overall, a highly satisfying disc that ranks as a must for any Kinks fan.

The Kinks Komeback --- Again!.......2005-06-16

The Kinks continually reinvented themselves. After the international success of "Lola" in 1970 (their first komeback) the Kinks promptly went underground again, producing a series of quirky koncept albums, some excellent, some less so; these went virtually unheard in the United States.

In 1977, the Kinks once again became a straight rock band. Dave Davies got a chance to be a guitar hero. And, improbably, the band engineered another comeback, becoming arena rockers. Sleepwalker was a minor hit, but it propelled the band back into the limelight.

The follow-up, "Misfits", produced a huge hit (Rock and Roll Fantasy) and sold better, but "Sleepwalker" is the best LP of the Kinks' Arista years. There's not a false note on the nine tracks (although "Brother" is just a trifle slow for my taste). The rollicking self-satire of "Life on the Road" leads into the heart-breaking, beautifully written "Mr. Big Man", then to the lush and bizarre title cut. Every track sparkles with Ray Davies's brilliant lyrics and wry, knowing wit. Having dispensed with the elaborate horn arrangements of their koncept period, the band brings the attention back to the core of rock music: good songs.

These are songs you can dance to, sing along with, hum, and dream to. Great guitar playing by Dave, too! Very highly recommended.

Return To Form.......2005-04-18

A great Kinks album- lush production, the Kinks enter the modern era. Some of Ray's best songs here- little known gems like "Mr. Big Man", "Juke Box Music", "Full Moon", and they all flow together well. I am a Kinks fanatic, so I had to balance the first reviewer- this really is a comeback album from "Schoolboys". SACD, plus rarities- awesome sound.

Ray's originality was sleepwalking.......2005-04-13

The Kinks' "rock theater" period was patchy. "Preservation" Acts 1 and 2, despite boasting lots of great songs, are plagued by poor cohesion and too many half-realized ideas. "Soap Opera" is even messier, with dialogue, sound effects, and the stilted plot taking precedence over solid songs. "Schoolboys in Disgrace," on the other hand, was a return to the style of "Arthur"-- colorful, robust, fully-realized songs linked by a common theme and loose narrative. Ray Davies was finally remembering how to write an album in which the concept served and deepened the music instead of overwhelming it.

Of course, as always with the Kinks, the floor fell out just as they were hitting their stride. "Schoolboys" was their last album on RCA and Ray was summarily told by his new bosses at Arista: No concept albums. So the Kinks assumed the trappings of arena rock: glossy production, generic lyrics, crooned vocals, and fully independent songs (aside from the shared imagery of sleep and night that Ray snuck into several songs here).

So what of "Sleepwalker" itself? When I first heard this album, after reading mostly positive reviews, I was very disappointed. So much of the Kinks' appeal lies in Ray's quirks and idiosyncracies, but the watchwords here are slick, generic, and middle-of-the-road. Synthesizers assume a prominent role in the Kinks' music for the first time here. The full-bodied earthiness of Schoolboys' drums and guitars is replaced by a thick layer of gloss. Ray's lyrics seem to go out of their way to stick to broad, common themes. In short, Ray Davies is on arena rock autopilot.

That was my initial impression. After a few months, however, I warmed to the album a bit. I still think that barely any of the Kinks' unique personality shines through here, but Sleepwalker contains other pleasures that make themselves known over time.

For one thing, it is impeccably sequenced. Outtakes like "Artificial Light" or "The Poseur" may be better than the weakest tracks that did make the album, but it's undeniable that the nine tracks Ray did choose form a coherent, balanced, and well-paced whole (especially compared to the lumpy hodgepodge of "Misfits").

"Sleepwalker" is also one of the most musically intricate Kinks albums. The band obviously put a lot of effort into fine-tuning the intertwining guitar, drum, bass, organ, and piano parts on each song. This artistry makes "Sleepwalker" a great headphone listen, especially the SACD version.

Above all though, the songs just grew on me with time. For all its shortcomings, "Sleepwalker" remains a fun album to just turn up and sing along to. It's still in the lowest third of my personal Kinks hierarchy, and I will always wonder what could have been had Arista not forced Ray to write "normal" songs instead of Kinks songs... but I've learned to appreciate "Sleepwalker" as one more unique facet of the Kinks legacy.

Among the Arista Kinks albums, I would advise a new fan to check out "Give the People What They Want," "State of Confusion," and "Word of Mouth" (all excellent) before proceeding to "Sleepwalker."

Average customer rating: cute Almost Perfect! terrible F Forever a Sleepwalker... Biggest Surprise Of The Year

Sleepwalker JamisonParker Manufacturer: Interscope Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Notes & Photographs Compromises Everything in Transit Things Aren't So Beautiful Now Chroma ASIN: B0009W5JVE Release Date: 2005-07-12

Tracks:

1. Alcohol & Bandages
2. Best Mistake
3. Goodbyes
4. Tearing Through Me
5. Paper, Rock, Scissors
6. Emergency Room Romantic
7. Dusk, The Day After
8. Slow Suicide
9. Here's Everything I've Always Meant To Say
10. The Here And Now
11. I Should Mean More

Album Description

JamisonParker's debut full length "Sleepwalker" is a collection of well-crafted songs fitted with gorgeous sounds. The guitar tones alone were contrived with the kind of attention to detail that would make a Swiss watchmaker jealous. Putting yourself repeatedly through the wringer, whether it's in search of the perfect guitar tone, or in dedication to the fine art of artfully spilling your guts, leads to a kind of certainty. Sleepwalker is filled with the confidence and artistic ambition pretty much unchanged since before Jamison and Parker were JamisonParker.

Customer Reviews:

cute.......2006-08-22

I would define this album as "cute" and catchy. I really like it a lot! It's fun, and you just want to listen to each song over and over.

This is how I rate it:

1.Alchohol & Bandages (10/10): very catchy song kinda weak lyrics but this song was a good intro song because it made me want to listen to it more.

2.Best Mistake (8/10): Good song. I didn't like it at first but it grew on me.

3.Goodbyes (9/10) I like the sound of this song.

4.Tearing Through Me (10/10) short but one of my favorite songs on this album.

5.Paper, Rock, Scissors (7/10) It's Ok. That's really it.

6.Emergency Room Romantic (9/10) Loveee this songgggggg!

7.Dusk, The Day After (10/10) I love this song. It's beautiful.

8.Slow Suicide (6/10) Not a big fan of this song. My least favorite.

9.Here's Everything I've Always Wanted (7/10) Not my favorite but it's a nice song to listen to.

10.The Here And Now (10/10) My favorite song on the album! Amazing! I love it!

11.I should mean more (9/10) Great closing song.

Almost Perfect!.......2006-03-14

I actually love this cd. I heard Best Mistake and love it immediately! The vocals are excellent, very raspy and just great. The lyrics are very well written and the guitars are perfect. You can feel the emotion in every song and it is just perfect. My favorite songs on the album are Slow Suicide, Alcohol & Bandages, Best Mistake, Emergency Room Romantic, Goodbyes, and Paper, Rock, Scissors. You should definately check this album out!

terrible F.......2006-01-25

This is just the same crap over and over. I couldn't find a single song on the whole album that was even worth listening to the entire way through. It's simple power cords, extremely basic drumming, and HORRIBLE 8th grade lyrics (With a few repeated guitar picking riffs so that they could still justify calling it an "emo" album). Extremely lacking in originality. SO many other great emo bands out there. My top five "Better than Jamesonparker - Sleepwalker" list: TBS-Tell All Your Friends, Further Seems Forever-Moon Is Down, Jimmy Eat World-Clarity, Saves the Day-Stay What You Are, and The Get Up Kids-Something to Write Home About. Any one of these blows this crap away. Thank god this band broke up recently...

Forever a Sleepwalker..........2006-01-13

I've had this CD for a while, and, since I'm procrastinating on my studies, I thought, "Oh, what the hell, I'll just write some online reviews."

"Sleepwalker" is the first and only full-length CD from JamisonParker, as announced in AP Magazine that they've recently broken up, and we won't be hearing music from this duo together anytime soon.

Looking over at the reviews, Jamison probably does suffer from a mental illness. I always thought there was something about that boy; No one is that breathtakingly beautiful. Anyway...

This CD is a CD that you'll be listening to. A lot. I guarantee you, if you buy it, you can't bear to remove it from your CD player for at least a month.

My favorite track on the album is "Slow Suicide."

Overall, you should just go buy it. It's terrific. Fantastic.

And, I owe my soul to JamisonParker.

Forever a sleepwalker.

Biggest Surprise Of The Year.......2006-01-08

I first heard of these guys in an AP magazine. They looked like their music would be terrible and another run-of-the-mill emo band. About a month later, their name popped back into my head when I was listening to some music. I heard 4 of their songs and was very surprised. The names to their song also made me groan becaise again, it looked as if they were another emo band (which is just what the world needs...note the sarcasm). Anyways, so I really enjoyed these songs I heard and decided to buy this album since it was cheap on this site. I don't think I have ever been more surprised in an album. Although the names are very emo ideas, they take a bad situation and turn it into a good one. It's actually hopeful and pretty profound. How could these guys create such a gem after a very emo EP? This CD has amazing lyricism though. His voice is also very surprising in a good way. Songs:

1. Alcohol & Bandages - (4/5) Good opening to the CD. Solid song, not very long, got me to keep listening instead of just skimming through the CD.

2. Best Mistake - (5/5) I liked the theme of this song. It's pretty good musically as well. Overall, just a great song.

3. Goodbyes - (5/5) A hopeful outlook by guys who look like they do? I guess you never can judge a book by it's cover. Great lyrics.

4. Tearing Through Me - (5/5) Maybe the most emo lyrics on the album. Still a quieter, great song. Again, some great lyrics.

5. Paper, Rock, Scissors - (5/5) Made me mad that they emphasized the scissors part of that title. I have no idea why it's called this, but it's a great song. Very hopeful and very "poppy" sounding. One of the best on the album. Great chorus and great lyrics.

6. Emergency Room Romantic - (5/5) One of the most emo titles on the CD. Not that emo though. He actually takes the extremely negative situation that most emo bands just dwell on, puts it in the past, and says how he finds love in the emergency room. This made me very happy to hear how he turned such a bad topic into a good one.

7. Dusk, The Day After - (4/5) Not a bad song. Some pretty good lyrics. Solid song.

8. Slow Suicide - (5/5) The beginning of the zenith of this CD. He talks, not about killing yourself with a razor or something to that effect, but about how things that this world decides to disguise as innocent (sex, pain, drugs, alcohol) are slowly killing us. Amazing lyrics. Incredible song.

9. Here's Everything I Ever Meant To Say To You (or something to that effect) - (5/5) I should be giving this a (6/5). I didn't expect a completely selfless, amazing love song on this CD, but I found one. This song is without a doubt the best one on here. Incredible in every aspect. Listen to this if you haven't heard it.

10. The Here And Now - (4/5) A good wind down from the last two songs. Good opening. Pretty cool, solid song. Good lyrics.

11. I Should Mean More - (5/5) Great ending to the CD. Great lyrics again. A great intro to this song. I really enjoyed how it would get louder after the chorus, but stayed quiet the rest of the time.

Overall, a gem of a CD. I don't know what to classify it as, but I'm leaning towards pop-rock. It's unfortunate that they broke up right after this one. They could have continued their amazing lyricism. Get this CD, and you will not be disappointed (unless you want to hear the maligned emo that people like Hawthorne Heights sing).

Average customer rating: Excellent Rock Album incredible cd *Thumbs Down* Smart lyrics, catchy tunes, originality. Awesome! album of the year!

Sleepwalker Radford Manufacturer: Umvd Labels ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Radford Remedy Back to the Innocence Swim Vonray ASIN: B0000YEE5I Release Date: 2004-04-13

Tracks:

1. Therapy (I Don't Need You)
2. Dead Heart
3. Fake A Smile
4. Easier
5. Beautiful
6. Control
7. Out Of The Dark
8. Long Way Down
9. Someone Somewhere
10. Anything

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Rock Album.......2007-05-11

Despite what I have read on some of the online reviews about this album, I decided to give it a try and I am glad I did. I own most of the albums that are listed as similar albums to "Sleepwalker" on Amazon. (Greenwheel, Dakona, Strange Celebrity, and Seven & the Sun) This is just as good as Greenwheel's Soma Holdiay and rocks a tad harder as well. Every track on this album is great and there really isn't a stand out track because they are all terrific.
The lead singer's voice is not nearly as bad as people on here are saying. The whining is close to non-existent and the music is great. If you are a fan of many of the bands listed in the similar section, then buy this cd, you will not be disappointed.

incredible cd.......2006-02-25

i just picked this cd up on a whim today because i saw a good review of it on alternativeaddiction.com awhile back. This is alternative rock at its finest, some of the best i have heard in a long time. Highly reccomended

*Thumbs Down*.......2005-07-18

This cd isn't TOO bad but at the same time I wish i hadn't bought it. I think the singer said to himself "Let's see how i can ruin this record by whining like a country singer all emotionally". (And in a realllly bad way) Oddly enough, the absolute best song these guys ever put out isn't featured on either of their cd's. (Sweet Summer) Besides the fact that this is missing that gem of a song, it's nothing like the first cd. Nothing quite like the cathy pop rhythms of Don't Stop on this cd. Just kinda BLAND soft rock. I recommend downloading Sweet Summer as it is their best song by FAR and perhaps possibly buying the first cd, but don't waste your time on this one.

Smart lyrics, catchy tunes, originality. Awesome!.......2005-01-24

"Sleepwalker" is the kind of music that makes you think. It's the music that you can tell is deeper than just lyrics. They have a purpose, a meaning, from which great songs are born. The artist's smart rhyming lyrics add immensely to the extremely catchy tunes. Each song seems to have a catchy string of notes that you can't seem to get out of your head. The emotions expressed vocally through stylish lyrics are sung by Radford, an amazing unique and creatively original singer.

The CD is filled with track after track of potential hits. It's a shame I heard about Radford on an internet radio and not on a mainstream radio station. Radford deserves to become more popular.

If you take the amazing drummer from Strata, add a country music singer (he sounds like country but, believe me, I HATE country--he makes it work), throw in the guitarist from the Muse, put in the keyboardist from Postal Service, and top it off with a songwriter from Trapt or Crossfade and you've got the sweetness that is Radford.

I am a drummer and after listening to "Sleepwalker" (which is a cool name) just once, I was able to identify the drummer, Josh Freese, as one of the best, most talented drummers I've ever heard.

It ROCKS!

~T*RIN 5lbscatfood.blogspot.com

album of the year!.......2004-11-14

as a drummer, I always want to have my hands on any ablum that feature Josh Freese on drum, and Sleepwalker is one of those, after giving that a listen, I just can't put that down, it's not just because of Freese, it's also because Radford worte some of best tunes of our time, the whole album is full of great song writing and arrangment, the way they put together loops and real instruments brings great climax to songs and will definitely blow you away with all of the their energy.

Average customer rating:

Sleepwalker Manufacturer: Nefarious ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CAEN8I Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

1. Next to Nothing
2. Sleepwalker
3. Transmitting
4. Drinking With Baron
5. Inside Out
6. Awake
7. Behind the Eyes
8. Broken
9. Sun Burning Satellites

Average customer rating: a strong start to the Kinks' Arista Records years Nothing Sleepy About It Pre Punk Rock band in one of their best Something about the Kinks Just brilliant!

Sleepwalker The Kinks Manufacturer: Velvel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Misfits Low Budget State of Confusion The Kinks Present Schoolboys in Disgrace The Kinks Present a Soap Opera ASIN: B00000FDJT Release Date: 1998-11-24

Tracks:

1. Life On The Road
2. Mr. Big Man
3. Sleepwalker
4. Brother
5. Juke Box Music
6. Sleepless Night
7. Stormy Sky
8. Full Moon
9. Life Goes On
10. Artificial Light
11. Prince Of The Punks
12. The Poseur
13. On The Outside (1977 Mix)
14. On The Outside (1994 Mix)

Customer Reviews:

a strong start to the Kinks' Arista Records years.......2006-01-26

Originally released in February of 1977, "Sleepwalker" was the first album the Kinks did for the Arista Records label which was founded, and at the time headed, by the notorious record industry mogul Clive Davis. This switch from RCA to Arista coincided with Ray Davies backing down from the seemingly endless string of Broadway-flavored, horn-laden concept albums he'd been writing in favor of a more-or-less straightahead rock 'n' roll approach.

You've probably read about how Arista Records wasn't going to accept any "Preservation"/ "Soap Opera"-style concept albums from the Kinks. However, in characteristic Ray Davies fashion, he wanted to have his cake and eat it too, so he devised "Sleepwalker" as a loosely thematic album about sleeplessness/ restlessness, a theme which can be detected just by glancing at some of the song titles such as the title track, "Sleepless Night", and "Full Moon".

And this is a really solid, satisfying album. Although these years on Arista Records also tend to be referred to as the Kinks' "arena rock" years, "arena rock" really is not an accurate description for the music on this album. Granted, the group does rock out pretty hard on many of the songs here, but the group demonstrated that they hadn't entirely forgotten the concept of rocking out on the previous album "Schoolboys In Disgrace", and "Sleepwalker" is hardly a move toward Kiss-style territory.

As usual, Ray has sole writing credit for all the tracks on the album. And there are a bunch of great ones. "Mr. Big Man" is a raging rocker about a person who acheives fame and then proceeds to blow off the people who helped him get there. "Juke Box Music" has really curious lyrics about not taking music too seriously and how it's "only there to dance to", but regardless, it's an absolutely infectious rocker with a simple-but-irresistible riff, catchy melody, great Dave Davies lead guitar work, well-placed synthesized strings, and neat interplay between Ray and Dave's vocals. The bluesy "Sleepless Night" has some silly, seemingly unfinished lyrics, and Dave's lead vocals are a little shaky, but it's irresistible anyway, thanks to more great Dave Davies guitarwork, cool organ, and the sheer catchiness. "Full Moon" is a soaring, emotional song that builds up arrestingly, with Ray's vocals starting off gentle and working their way up to a wonderfully from-the-gut delivery.

There are more quality tunes as well. The album-opening story-song "Life On The Road" starts off mellow before transforming into an uptempo rocker with with some clever and funny lyrics. The title track is also fun and catchy, although somewhat underdeveloped. The album-closer "Life Goes On" is quite amusing with its sardonic lyrics about how we must carry on no matter how bad life gets, and yet the simple and memorable "life goes on and on and on" hook of the chorus is uncannily uplifting, which is seemingly what Ray was going for with the song.

Only a couple songs are considerably dull. One is "Stormy Sky"--the song does have atmosphere, but it's underdeveloped in terms of the songwriting and feels like filler. Even worse is the strained, 5+ minute ballad "Brother" which aims for a directly spiritual quality, and is loaded up with painfully predictable lyrics.

Another comment I can't help but make is that many of the songs here are strikingly similar to earlier songs. "Mr. Big Man" is extremely reminsicent of 10cc's "The Wall Street Shuffle", and some of Dave's lead guitar bits make the song very reminiscent of "Layla" as well. The title track sounds a lot like the Steve Miller Band's "Take the Money and Run" (even if "Sleepwalker" is the better song), and it also has a somewhat annoying "Dear Prudence"-style ending. The ending of "Full Moon" references the Kinks' own "Johnny Thunder". In other words, the album kinda doubles as a virtual name-that-tune fest.

The 1998 CD reissue of "Sleepwalker" on Velvel Records has great sound quality and superb liner notes. It also adds interest to the proceedings in the form of bonus tracks--"Artificial Light" is forgettable, and "Price of the Punks" is pretty amusing, but a bit ham-fisted and overdone; however, the moody "The Poseur" is arresting, as is the engaging ballad "On The Outside" (present in 2 slightly different versions). (Velvel have subsequently reissued "Sleepwalker" again in 2005 in hybrid SACD format with the bonus tracks intact.)

Overall, a highly satisfying disc that ranks as a must for any Kinks fan.

Nothing Sleepy About It.......2004-08-04

Whether or not it is "only juke box music," "Sleepwalker" also happens to be the most consistent album in the string of releases that comprised The Kinks second wind. The sound is juicy as an over-ripe melon, the music is fantastic, and the songs are some of the best in the band's catalog: the anthemic "Juke Box Music," the hit single, "Sleepwalker," and "Sleepless Night," one of those ocassional gems penned by younger brother Dave. "Life on the Road" is a rock 'n roll theme song in its own right: a characteristically charming take on the lifestyle of the rock star. "So I searched night and day/to catch a kissable lady/But all I caught was a cold," Ray quips as the song trundles delightfully onward. History may have robbed these guys of their richly deserved immortality, but compared to the garbage other baby boomer bands put out at this time (all that reggae and disco trash from the Stones, or those pitiful late-70s CSN albums), the songs on "Sleepwalker" speak for themselves.

Pre Punk Rock band in one of their best.......2004-04-17

I remember liking this a lot back in the seventies. I got it on cd and it is just as good . Simple, energetic pieces that give you that goose bump hair raising feeling. Even though this is a bit far away from their early rock-ier best stuff , this is good too! A little bit more on the Pop side of things but great melodies and great playing. What more could you want to scape from this hip-hop-trip-metal world?

Something about the Kinks.......2004-01-08

I lived with my aunt and uncle in high-school during the mid 80s and my uncle introduced me to the music of the Kinks. I listened to them a lot then and enjoyed their music (especially Sleepwalker), but then I stopped listening to them for some reason or another. I recently broke out my huge plastic tub of cassette tapes and relistened to a bunch of them, such as the Kinks and realized that they really connect to me in a very cerebral level. Their music and lyrics are witty and intelligent and so very British. The combination of these make me really happy to make Sleepwalker my first Kinks CD and certainly not my last!

Just brilliant!.......2002-05-26

The Kinks years on Arista Records are best summed up by the wonderful "Sleepwalker" CD. This release reintroduced The Kinks to the US after their series of rock operas on RCA.

"Sleepwalker" defines itself as an exciting rock record full of good songwriting and excellent musicianship. The underrated Dave Davies blasts his way through several songs with his guitar work while John Dalton and Mick Avory support the songs of Ray Davies with one of the most powerful rhythm sections of 70's rock. A real bonus to the listener is to really hear and enjoy the artistry of John Dalton and Mick Avory on this record. These guys played their hearts out and put forth a musical clinic on this release. This was John Dalton's last appearance on a Kinks release as he was replaced by Andy Pyle and Jim Rodford but Dalton did good work and it should be enjoyed and respected.

In the end, "Sleepwalker" is a fine sample of the vast Kinks catalogue and a necessary part of anyone's collection who loves Ray Davies and the Kinks. To me it was one of their best works and one of the better offerings on the 1977 musical scene. Enjoy!

Average customer rating: Fun to listen to! An interesting concept not quite realized

Piano Dance: A 20th-Century Portrait Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Tangos | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music General | Antheil, George | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Bartók, Béla | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ginastera | Ginastera, Alberto | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Glass | Glass, Philip | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Hindemith | Hindemith, Paul | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Ligeti, György | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Martinu | Martinu, Bohuslav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Poulenc | Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Scriabin, Alexander | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chaconnes | Variations | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Scriabin, Alexander | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Piano Music of John Adams & Terry Riley ASIN: B00004UEKB Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

1. Red Ribbon Dance
2. Sleepwalker's Shuffle
3. Golliwog's Cakewalk
4. Like A Tarantelle
5. Shimmy
6. Polka
7. Hungarian Rock
8. Rumanian Dance
9. Tango
10. Hesitation-Tango
11. A Tortoise's Tango
12. Waltz
13. Mazurka
14. Valse-Improvisation Sur Le Nom De Bach
15. Waltz IV
16. Percussion Dance
17. Modern Love Waltz
18. Lilt of the Reel
19. Rigaudon
20. Cancion Y Danza
21. Danzas Criollas
22. Illicit Felicity
23. Conga

Amazon.com

For sheer entertainment value, it's hard to find a classical CD that will beat this one. Gloria Cheng has chosen an astonishing variety of 20th-century piano music with nothing in common except brevity and dance origins. The disc is full of familiar pieces (Debussy, Scriabin, Ravel, Prokofiev) and entertaining novelties (Albright, Martinu, Poulenc, Ginastera). Donald R. Davis's exercise in creative plagiarism, "Illicit Felicity," rates a special mention for its ingenuity. But really, unless you're allergic to Philip Glass, there isn't a loser on the entire program. Cheng plays brilliantly, with appropriate special emphasis on the dance rhythms of the music, and Telarc's sound engineering is typically realistic. It ain't profound, but this is still a marvelous program. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Fun to listen to!.......2000-09-18

Listening to this CD is fun. The CD has a diverse selection of contemporary dances for solo piano, ranging from familiar favorites, such as Gollywog's Cakewalk by Debussy, to lesser known and unconventional but charming works, such as del Aguila's Conga. The dances are varied and well-interpreted by Ms. Cheng, who brings poignancy to each one while maintaining throughout the CD a fun and energetic mood.

Ms. Cheng's playing is phenomenal, and I also enjoy her earlier CD of works by John Adams and Terry Riley. Both CD's show off her rich tone and appealing style, but the dance collection is the most entertaining. If you buy this CD, you'll probably find yourself listening to it frequently.

An interesting concept not quite realized.......2000-07-25

A very good concept. Take a noted pianist, in this case Gloria Cheng, and work with her on a program of 23 short works or short sections of larger works, all of which are one form or another of Dance--and you might come up with something good or possibly just a mixed bag. The Telarc release (CD-80549) is such a program. The playing is wonderful, the results what you might expect, alas: a mixed bag.

A very definite positive about this program is that almost every selection was new to me. After all, how many of us are familiar with works like Miguel del Aguila's "Conga," Philip Glass's "Modern Love Reel," or Paul Hindemith's "Shimmy"? I mean, really! So there is much Joy of Discovery afforded by this CD; but with all but one piece running under 5 minutes (and that one at 9:26), a certain cloying factor creeps in after a while, and perhaps I should recommend this be played in small sections.

But all in all, what a treasure-trove of little-known pieces.

Average customer rating: Get it for the bonus track

Sleepwalker ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00066D096 Release Date: 2004-12-07

Album Description

Taken from 'My Hotel Year', the debut solo album from No-Man's Tim Bowness. Details TBA. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

Get it for the bonus track.......2005-05-12

This is a fine CD-single from the excellent "My Hotel Year" album. The "Sleepwalker" track is good introduction to Tim Bowness' unique combination of melody, melancholy, and immaculate use of space. The b-side, "Unprotected," is more of a beat-driven track, and it is essential for anyone who enjoyed the main album. At a very reasonable price, this is a great value. Fans of no-man, Porcupine Tree, and Jansen Barbieri Karn will appreciate it greatly.

Average customer rating: Great use of pedalsteel! thoughts you might have while sleeping A Great band stemming from SUMthing greater Having trouble Removing this one from my CD player!!

Man in the Moon Sleepwalker Manufacturer: Hayden's Ferry ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000DC3Y Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

1. Kidding
2. Anonymous
3. Pony Bones
4. Out Of Here
5. Shenandoah
6. Sleepwalker
7. Oxygen
8. The Woodcutter's Wife
9. Still
10. Dear Jill
11. Dandelion
12. Please

Customer Reviews:

Great use of pedalsteel!.......2003-02-14

Jon Rauhaus plays a very unusual and sonically beautiful Pedal Steel Guitar. Do not expect traditional steel playing. This albums has excellent vocals, rhythm section and tunes as well. Shanandoah is covered in a very different way than in the past. -Buck Dilly

thoughts you might have while sleeping.......2001-05-27

If ever you wondered what the soundtrack to your mind might be, this is a great starter. Gorgeous melodies, rich tones, lovely layers, ethereal prescence -- this is Sleepwalker. Jamal Ruhe is a fine singer, and a charismatic performer who has a knack for bringing together amazing artists to collaborate on musical projects. He has been know to be a part of several different bands at one time, and is always eager to get it going on. This music is haunting -- try "Shenandoah", and see if you can get it out of your head.

A Great band stemming from SUMthing greater.......1998-12-11

Sleepwalker is the brainchild of Jamal Rhue (spelling?) A local Tempe, AZ artist formerly of the band One. In Sleepwalker, Jamal & Co. present of a host of haunting and melancholy tunes, backed up by an incredible bass line. Jamal's signature reverb / pedal guitar compliments his sad and dreamy vocals in songs like "Pretty Soon Ill be getting Out of Here" and "Hey Jill". before Sleepwalker, Jamal was in a band called One with his sister Shamsi. It's too bad mercury records screwed this band up. Jamal if your out there, Id like to get my hands on any recored One tracks. Sleepwalker is a wonderful Phoenix rising from the ashes of One / Sum-One.

Having trouble Removing this one from my CD player!!.......1998-11-14

The most mesmerizing sound I have ever heard! Incredible drums and Bass lay down a winding path on which Rauhouse's dreamy Pedal Steel (not your average twangy pedal steel either!)pushes you along. Incredible songwriting and vocal styling to boot! This band has it all. Can't wait to hear more from this trio, they could be my favorite band.

Average customer rating:

Microphone Music Manufacturer: Basta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music ASIN: B0002NAIE8 Release Date: 2003-02-04

Tracks:

1. Egyptian Barn Dance
2. Penguin
3. Christmas Night in Harlem
4. Pretty Petticoat #1
5. Square Dance for Eight Egyptian Mummies
6. Moment Whimsical
7. Devil Drums
8. Little Bit of Rigoletto
9. Hypnotist in Hawaii
10. Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals
11. Toy Trumpet
12. Suicide Cliff
13. Siberian Sleigh Ride
14. Steeplechase
15. Peter Tambourine
16. Celebration on the Planet Mars
17. Brass Buttons and Epaulettes
18. Bumpy Weather Over Newark
19. Pretty Petticoat #2
20. Turkish Mish-Mush

Tracks:

1. Microphone Music
2. Twilight in Turkey
3. New Year's Eve in a Haunted House
4. Tobacco Auctioneer
5. Girl With the Light Blue Hair
6. Sleepwalker
7. Happy Farmer
8. Oil Gusher
9. Boy Scout in Switzerland
10. Reckless Night on Board an Ocean Liner
11. Swing, Swing Mother-In-Law
12. Girl at the Typewriter
13. Yesterday's Ice Cubes
14. Pretty Petticoat #3
15. War Dance for Wooden Indians
16. Dead End Blues
17. Harlem Hillbilly
18. Quintet Goes to a Dance
19. Bugle Call Rag
20. Powerhouse

Average customer rating:

Green City K. Page and Sleepwalker's Pararde Manufacturer: RealPolitik Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000PE3CNS

Product Description

1 Vanity 2 More Loving One 3 Naked and Naive 4 Long Distance Swimmer 5 Beyond Right and Wrong 6 If I Were A Soldier 7 Trust in Me 8 Mind F*cker 9 Sleepwalker 10 Green City

Rap Music:

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6. Still Not Getting Any... [DualDisc] [Enhanced]
7. Tennessee Fire
8. The Best Little Secrets Are Kept [Explicit Lyrics]
9. The Dan Band Live [Live]
10. The Dirty South

Rap Music

rap music

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