This Fire

Amazon.com
After a promising but overlooked debut album, Paula Cole kept the bills paid with a fateful stint as Peter Gabriel's vocal foil on his 1994 Secret World tour. Gabriel's immersion in richly theatrical, primal vocals only magnified Cole's already fevered attack; it's obvious that his sense of adventure as a producer and writer also struck conceptual sparks with the Massachusetts singer-songwriter. This Fire, Cole's self-produced 1996 breakthrough, finds her investing her songs with outsized emotions, framed by consistently inventive arrangements built around Cole's keyboards, and reaching a zeitgeist-piercing intensity on "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and "I Don't Want to Wait," making Cole seem very much like Fiona Apple's older, slightly less cracked sister. --Sam Sutherland

This Fire,Paula Cole,Warner Bros / Wea,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop

This Fire

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter moves on.. and so does the music
The Magic is Gone
Atmospheric...But That's About All
Musically Spellbinding
Wonderful as always

Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire

Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

ASIN: B000BGH22W
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

Story Continues
Frank Dies
Quidditch World Cup
Dark Mark
Foreign Visitors Arrive
Goblet of Fire
Rita Skeeter
Sirius Fire
Harry Sees Dragons
Golden Egg
Neville's Waltz
Harry in Winter
Potter Waltz
Underwater Secrets
Black Lake
Hogwarts' March
Maze
Voldemort
Death of Cedric
Another Year Ends
Hogwarts Hymn
Do the Hippogriff
This Is The Night
Magic Works

Amazon.com

Big news on the Harry Potter musical front: After scoring the first three installments in the series, John Williams has been replaced by Patrick Doyle. Still, Williams never feels far away. His main theme pops up here and there, and a track like "Voldemort," which eloquently illustrates the soul of a blacker-than-black wizard with thunderous cymbal crashes, shrieking horns, tumultuous strings, and a stately finish, firmly belongs in the Williams mode. Overall, Doyle acquits himself well. He can do light when needed ("The Quidditch World Cup," which starts out like some kind of jig), but mostly he's required to be ominous ("The Quidditch World Cup," which ends in martial war chants). Among the highlights are the aforementioned "Voldemort," but also the frantic, overpowering "The Dark Mark." Note that the CD concludes on a jarringly different note with three songs by the Weird Sisters, the group that performs at Hogwarts' Yule Ball. Led by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, the ad hoc band also includes members of Radiohead and Cocker's side project Relaxed Muscle. "Do the Hippogriff" is a fast-paced rocker that somehow comes across like a grungy hybrid of Billy Idol's "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself." The other two songs--"This Is the Night" and "Magic Works"--are less obvious, and much better. Still, the contrast between these tracks and the instrumental score that precedes them may not be to everybody's taste. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth film (and soundtrack album) in the massively successful Harry Potter franchise-nearly $1 billion in U.S. box office alone-features a score by Academy Award-nominated composer Patrick Doyle and three songs written by modern rocker Jarvis Cocker, and performed by Cocker, Jonny Greenwood, Phil Selway, Steve Claydon and Jason Buckle-with all these musicians also appearing in the movie.

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter moves on.. and so does the music.......2007-05-23

As a collector of movie soundtracks, it was unthinkable not to get this fourth album of the Harry Potter series. After reading the mixed reviews, I was apprehensive as to whether it would sit on my shelf collecting dust or get a good workout in the CD player.

I own all four albums, and as avid a fan as I am of John Williams, I would have to say "The Goblet of Fire" rates up there with "The Philosopher's Stone" (which really did set the standard for the rest of the following albums). In fact, I would have to say that "The Goblet of Fire" is my favourite. The music is quite simply beautiful and atmospheric. Standouts are "Harry In Winter" (this particular track I can't help but have on repeat mode in the car), "Death of Cedric" and "Foreign Visitors Arrive". "The Quidditch Cup" makes me want to catch the next plane to Ireland! And call me old-fashioned, but "Neville's Waltz" and "Potter Waltz" are pleasant and lovely to the ear.

As for the rock songs at the end, I usually bypass them. Some complain about the jarring disconnect between the orchestral aspect of the soundtrack and the loud rock of the end - well, at least they're at the end and not in the middle! And let's face it. How many people would have grumbled that those songs that featured at the Winter Ball were left out?

I've always loved the work of Patrick Doyle (e.g. "Sense and Sensibility" and "Much Ado About Nothing"), and this soundtrack is no exception. He didn't 'fill' John Williams' shoes on this score. He pretty much created a new pair. Harry's story and personality have shifted on. It would be remiss of us to think the music wouldn't evolve as well.

So has this soundtrack lost that feeling of magic? I would have to say a resounding 'no'. It's certainly a lot more listener-friendly than "Chamber of Secrets"!

The Magic is Gone.......2007-05-10

John Williams is not simply a hard act to follow...he's THE hard act to follow. Nonetheless this score falls far short. There was once magic in the land of Hogwarts.. themes were stated boldly and elevated the story, flurries of woodwinds nurtured scenes of flight. Doyle's score does dare to quote William's melodies at 3 points in this score. They are harmonized poorly and treated even worse. The rest of the score just goes downhill from here. He does introduce his own new "themes." These are presented as boring quarter note string lines that you can't seem to remember 10 seconds after you hear them. The rest of the scoreat it's best is a prime example of dated cliches. The dialogue scenes are overly sappy and the action scenes become hokey in an almost silent film music stlye. Watch the graveyard scene again and laugh, check out the dance scene where characters get lifted in the air as simple scales comically mirror their moves. The most common reaction to the music after viewing the film is "I don't really remember it as being good or bad." If you go back and watch it again I think you story will change. The magic is gone.

Atmospheric...But That's About All.......2007-03-31

One of the joys for me of the John Williams "Harry Potter" scores are the lush, melodic leitmotifs. On "The Chamber of Secrets" album alone there are wonderful themes for Fawkes, Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart, not to mention Colin, Hedwig and The Flying Car. They're charming, evocative pieces that stand alone apart from the moodier, more percussive tracks composed to accompany the actual movie. Unfortunately, there's nothing that even comes close to these in Doyle's "Goblet of Fire" score. There's certainly drama ("The Maze") and pathos ("Death of Cedric"), but nothing thematic that you'd want to hear over and over again. And what themes there are ("Neville's Waltz" for instance) I find woefully banal. (And don't get me started on the acid rock songs that close the album.) So this is a true movie score in the sense that it's pretty much all background music; it certainly creates atmosphere and serves as a reminder of the film's superlative visuals. But what works well in the theater doesn't translate very well for the home audio listener.

Musically Spellbinding.......2007-01-09

This album is a must for an Harry Potter fan, both young and old, from the mild to the extreme. I also recommend the entire collection of soundtracks to the movies. Each one is full of calm, soothing melodies we have come to enjoy from Harry Potter.

Wonderful as always.......2007-01-04

It is easy to become totally absorbed in this rendition. Believable voices.

Average customer rating:

Unexpected Greatness; One Of The Best Albums With A Female Vocalist!
Can't believe it's been 10 years
Love her voice and style
I love this CD
This Fire By Paula Cole

This Fire
Paula Cole
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Amen
Harbinger
Greatest Hits: Postcards from East Oceanside
A Few Small Repairs
Blurring the Edges

ASIN: B000002NBO
Release Date: 1996-10-15

Tracks:

Tiger
Where Have All The Cowboys Gone
Throwing Stones
Carmen
Mississipi
Nietzsche's Eyes
Road To Dead
Me
Feelin' Love
Hush, Hush, Hush
I Don't Want To Wait

Amazon.com

After a promising but overlooked debut album, Paula Cole kept the bills paid with a fateful stint as Peter Gabriel's vocal foil on his 1994 Secret World tour. Gabriel's immersion in richly theatrical, primal vocals only magnified Cole's already fevered attack; it's obvious that his sense of adventure as a producer and writer also struck conceptual sparks with the Massachusetts singer-songwriter. This Fire, Cole's self-produced 1996 breakthrough, finds her investing her songs with outsized emotions, framed by consistently inventive arrangements built around Cole's keyboards, and reaching a zeitgeist-piercing intensity on "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and "I Don't Want to Wait," making Cole seem very much like Fiona Apple's older, slightly less cracked sister. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Unexpected Greatness; One Of The Best Albums With A Female Vocalist!.......2007-06-20

On October 15, 1996, Paula Cole released her sophomore album entitled "This Fire." The album, which was entirely self-produced, contains eleven solid tracks that sound like a hybrid of Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan. Below, please find the rating for each song individually:

Tiger - 8/10

Where Have All The Coyboys Gone? - 7/10

Throwing Stones - 9/10

Carmen - 8/10

Mississippi - 8/10

Nietzsche's Eyes - 9/10

Road To Dead - 7/10

Me - 10/10

Feelin' Love - 8/10

Hush, Hush, Hush (Featuring Peter Gabriel) - 8/10

I Don't Want To Wait - 10/10

Can't believe it's been 10 years.......2007-05-05

My first exposure to Paula Cole was seeing her "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" video. There were a few things immediately entrancing to me about the video. I had never heard a voice as awesome as Paula's, the lyrics are whimsical and ironic, and I'll admit, seeing her in the video (including her facial expressions) reminded me so much of a girl I was close to at the time. I bought "This Fire" on cassette tape soon thereafter, and the first time I played it and "Tiger" came on, my initial reaction was "Did they make a mistake in packaging? This doesn't sound anything like the woman in the video I like." After listening to the whole tape, I realized that no song on it sounded like any other song. All I knew was that her vocal ability is downright amazing, and as a songwriter, she is in the John Lennon category--awesome. She's not afraid to write songs with lyrics that radio will never play ("Throwing Stones," "Feelin' Love,"). She's not afraid to write songs about hard-to-face subjects ("Hush Hush Hush" as a tribute to a friend who died from AIDS). And she is enough of an intellectual to write songs which appeal to intellectual types ("Nietzsche's Eyes" and "Road to Dead"). About a month after buying the tape (which eventually wore out so I bought the CD), I saw Paula in concert (for the first of three times so far) and that sealed the deal. I had never seen anybody before, or seen anybody since, who is just perfect for performing. She can rock the house, get tender with a ballad, pound away on the piano like a raging wildfire, and dance around the stage like a whirlwind during an instrumental bridge.

Two things to mention:
1) Somebody's review mentioned that they'd like to know where the toy xylophone was used in the album. The answer: it's in "Road to Dead".
2) The artwork on the album is quite a concept. The drawings represent Paula's newly found freedom (a far cry from her photos in Harbinger). But the one inside photo of Paula with her head buried in her hands doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the artwork at all.

Love her voice and style.......2007-03-27

I love the way she sings and
the gift of her voice touches
me deep within my soul.
She speaks my language.

I love this CD.......2006-12-23

Paula cole has a beautiful voice. She is one of my favorites. My favorite song on this cd is Feelin Love..it's a beautiful sexy song.

This Fire By Paula Cole.......2006-12-03

This Fire By Paula Cole Released in 1996 By Warner Brothers Records. A truely explosive self released hit. Paula wrote and composed all 11 tracks on this her second album. With Hits like ( I Dont Want To Wait ) & ( Where Have All The Cowboys Gone ) She has been compaired with the likes of Jewel and Fiona Apple. If you have never heard her music before. Its really hard to say she is like them in style or music talent. Paula is a strong willed women on a mission with this album. As it says in the liner notes of the CD. "I wish the buyer listener of this CD to play it Loud and take a trip with me"........ Rolling stone Gave this CD 4.5 Out of 5 and made it one of the must have CD's for the 90's. I think David Henkel Of Spin Magizine put it best " At the Price of $14.00 I would of purchased One, After listening to it I would of purchased 50 for my family at $30 dollars a piece". Surpising,Strong,Moving,Very talented musically. I must have for your collection. MY PERSONAL OPION: I put her in the grouping talented as Jewel,Dixie Cicks,Morrissey. thats an odd bunch I know.

Average customer rating:

Dream a dream
This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!
This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!
A must-have for Christmas music lovers
Gorgeous!

Dream a Dream

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Voice of an Angel
Charlotte Church
Enchantment
Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church
Our Favorite Things

ASIN: B00004ZDPO
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

Dream A Dream (Elysium)
O Come, All Ye Faithful
The Little Drummer Boy
Mary's Boy Child
Ding Dong! Merrily On High
Winterwonderland
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The Coventry Carol (Lully Lullay)
Joy To The World
When A Child Is Born
What Child Is This?
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Draw Tua Bethlehem/Far Over Bethlehem
Ave Maria
Gabriel's Message
O Holy Night
Lo! How A Rose E'er Blooming
Silent Night

Amazon.com

Everybody's favorite precocious sprite of a soprano comes out with her third album in Dream a Dream. It's only been two years since Charlotte Church's smash debut, Voice of an Angel, but that's a big chunk of the Welsh singer's life span so far. This latest is basically a Christmas album, so full of festive cheer you'd never guess it was recorded in the summer. Even the glummest of moods will disappear when you hear Charlotte's infectious take on chestnuts such as "Winter Wonderland" and "Little Drummer Boy" (and having the London Symphony Orchestra as your backup band doesn't hurt either). And on top of that is a really special treat: the title song (borrowing an unforgettable classical melody) which blends Church's soaring vocals with the tender voice of young country prodigy Billy Gilman. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

Dream a dream.......2007-04-03

I bought this CD after watching the music video of the same name. Their performance of "dream a dream" is exquisite. The fact that they wrote the lyrics just adds icing to an already magnificent cake!

This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!.......2007-03-01

You know charlotte church has received so much harsh critismn about her,I find that people were jeolous of her voice, and of how a young girl can sing, she is definetly my dream ome true, (So back off johnathan flanders),this girl in the past has done some wonderful music which is inspirational and she is a wonderful person, I dont care whether she has changed, anyway her rock albumn has given me a lease on life and has given me potential in my singing,I love your voice very much, and this reviewer hasnt been written by a kid at all,if charlotte church is reading this,good on yeah girl,you definetly my dream come true,and I hope I will see you one day. your best friend JJCox

This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!.......2007-03-01

A must-have for Christmas music lovers.......2006-12-07

this cd is pure magic...almost 20 great christmas songs on one cd sung by the voice of an angel herself..there may be a few mixed reviews by some people who must be opera voice teachers because there is nothing wrong with this cd...it is flawless....charlotte's soaring vocals, the beautiful orchestra and background singers, the whole cd has the christmas feel to it..."o come all ye faithfull" has to be heard to be believed...it is breathtaking...i love charlottes take on "winter wonderland" and "ding dong merrily on high" ..made me want to go dance in the snow or something.....she hits every note beautifully..buy this cd...i bought it back in 2000 and have listened to it at every Christmastime since or Christmas doesnt feel the same.

Gorgeous! .......2005-12-07

Charlotte Church has done it again! She is extremely talented. Even if she was 25 when she put this out, she'd be amazing. But she was only 14-15 years old when she recorded this! Beautiful. This album has great choral accompaniments and fabulous orchestra arrangements. It is a little on the high side in certain songs, but it still sounds amazing. I love her voice.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
God Bless Daniel Rodriquez
Music From and For the Heart
Daniel Rodriguez
Some definite winners on this album

The Spirit of America
Daniel Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Manhattan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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In The Presence
From My Heart
God Bless America
Ronan
My Life Belongs to You

ASIN: B00005Y1YC
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Tracks:

God Bless America
We Will Go On
Ave Maria
This Is The Moment
Danny Boy
Bring Him Home
Shenandoah
America The Beautiful
The Lord's Prayer
Into The Fire
You'll Never Walk Alone
The House I Live In

Amazon.com

It's said politics makes strange bedfellows. But it's got nothing on the peculiar marriage of art and history inspired by the tragic events of 9/11/01. Before that day, Daniel Rodriguez was a member of New York's finest, working as an NYPD security officer at the Manhattan South precinct. If it seemed an odd calling for a gifted, operatically trained tenor, it was employment many a journeyman artist could relate to: the proverbial "day job." As it turns out, no police academy in the world could have trained Rodriguez for the crucial role his city's darkest hour thrust upon him. While his colleagues mourned their staggering losses and toiled around the clock in rescue efforts, Rodriguez delivered renditions of "God Bless America" that rallied both his city and his country, much as Kate Smith's version of the Irving Berlin patriotic standard had done at the dawn of WWII.

Contemporary jazz great-producer Tom Scott took it from there, showcasing Rodriguez's powerful voice in this deftly arranged album focused sharply on personal and national inspiration. Taking his cue from his own hero, Mario Lanza, Rodriguez instills no small amount of drama in his performances, and it serves him well on tracks like the American folk classic "Shenandoah," a rousing take on Scarlet Pimpernel's "Into the Fire," and the relative Sinatra rarity "The House I Live In." The "God Bless America" here varies from the original single release, with Rodriguez reading the spoken intro once delivered by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Is Rodriguez the greatest tenor of modern times? No. But it's hard to imagine a talent better suited to the challenge history has thrust upon him; we're lucky--make that blessed--to have him. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-07-21

This cd will bring tears to your eyes. His voice is so clear and lovely. I bought this cd for my mother for her birthday in September. It is so sad that the events of September 11 had to occur for this man to be discovered.

God Bless Daniel Rodriquez.......2007-07-16

This alblum is a treasure to own and listen to. He really captures the spirit of patriotism. I have played his songs at a local fireworks show that I DJ at and his songs are up there with the other songs by artists by Mr. Lee "God Bless The U.S.A." Greenwood and other great artists. New York City and the nation needed him at a time when we were trying to recover from the worst tragedy in the history of the U.S.A. and he was there for us.

Music From and For the Heart.......2006-11-25

Daniel's album is music to be shared with family and with friends to help further ensure warmth, strong family ties, and love of our beautiful country. His voice is magical, skilled, rich and so memorable that it can take one on a journey from yesterday to promise for a bright tomorrow. This is a superb rendering of past unforgettable music. His solemn rendition of the peace song "God Bless America" is the album's centerpiece and truly unforgettable....

Daniel Rodriguez.......2006-11-11

I first heard of Daniel Rodriguez a couple of months ago when he sang on Jay Leno's show. He was/is WONDERFUL! His voice is beautiful, but he sings from the heart, and that makes him exceptional.

Some definite winners on this album.......2005-12-14

My favorites are "Ave Maria" and "The Lord's Prayer" where Daniel truly shows off his vocal talents. I could have done without the choir backup on "Ave Maria" but nonetheless a great rendition.

The ending that he has for the "The Lord's Prayer" almost brings a tear to my eye each time I hear it. Well done Daniel.

Average customer rating:

Spirit - The Seventh Fire
Peter Buffett
Manufacturer: BisonHead
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Spirit - The Seventh Fire
Spirit
Spirit Dance
Ojibwe: Waasa Inaabidaa
500 Nations: A Musical Journey (1996 Television Documentary)

ASIN: B00078S63I
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Tracks:

Wolf Love song
Urban Overture
Auglaize River, 1830
Hidden Heritage
The Place Where The Crying Begins
Animal dance interlude
Fire Dance
An Eagle Above
Traditional Song I
Passage
Spirit Dance
Walk of Sorrows
Auglaize Reprise
Traditional song II
The Dream
Aubenaubee
Traditional song III
New West
The Return
Thunderbird
Spirit Dance Reprise

Album Description

Spirit - The Seventh Fire is a new live recording of the show that features Chief Hawk Pope, Patrick Mirabal and many other fine performers. This was the show that had its world premiere on the National Mall in Washington D.C. during the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian. Package includes a 32 page full color booklet of images from the production. The soundtrack also includes many of the memorable words spoken by Chief Hawk Pope.

Stand Ye Steady: Songs of Courage & Inspiration

Average customer rating:

bowersreview
USMA Glee Club scores a real hit
Reverent, Full of Love
Good CD
A real disappointment...

Stand Ye Steady: Songs of Courage & Inspiration

Manufacturer: Curtain Call Prod
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Stand Ye Steady: Songs of Courage & Inspiration
In The Presence
We Were Soldiers: Original Motion Picture Score
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We Were Soldiers

ASIN: B000ATQYVU
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Tracks:

Men Of Freedom
The Longest Day
Into The Fire
Rise Up, O Men Of God
On Great Lone Hills
Lest We Forget
Mansions Of The Lord (Interlude)
Mansions Of The Lord
Jerusalem
Via Dolorosa
Non Nobis
The Star-Spangled Banner
Take Me Home (With I Am A Soldier)
America (My Country 'Tis Of Thee)
Men Of Freedom
This Christmastide

Customer Reviews:

bowersreview.......2007-01-04

Exceptional CD. Inspirational and motivational. Highy recommend this for anyone seeking great quality music.

USMA Glee Club scores a real hit.......2006-11-14

This album is awe-inspiring. I bought the album after hearing an out take from "Men of Freedom", the tune is from an old Welsh battle song. You will recognize the tune if you saw Zulu Dawn with Michael Caine. Many of the other songs are equally powerful and mesmerizing. The only songs I didn't like were when the Glee club used guest soloists. They were less impressive and, in my opinion, took away from the strength of the group.

I liked the multiple verses sung from America, I wished they would have given the Star Spangled Banner the same treatment. The Mansions of the Lord is powerful and supremely reverent, as is Rise Up. I would dearly like to hear more from this talented group of soldiers.

Reverent, Full of Love.......2006-09-26

When I saw and heard this music broadcast Veteran's Day on TBN and my friends serving in our Armed Forces in Iraq saw it broadcast on Armed Forces Network, I was so happy to find the stereo CD and companion Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound DVD on Amazon. I cannot stop listening to it! The 60 minute musical program, reminiscent of the great concept albums of years ago, is one of the most reverent, intelligent and passionate portrayals of America's character ever produced. It contains many styles of choral music - all superbly performed by the world famous Cadet Glee Club of West Point arrayed in breathtaking formation on the altar of the massive 100 year old Cadet Chapel. There are richly textured vocal a capella songs such as "Rise Up O Men of God", "Manisons of the Lord", one of the most popular new hymns written, and "America (My Country `Tis of Thee)". Your buttons will burst with pride when you hear the brand new song "Men of Freedom" introduced by a single Cadet then followed by a cascade of additional voices building to a unified and thunderous declaration of defiant freedom in a style reminiscent of the great Welsh Male Choirs. Four songs highlight the power and majesty of the largest church organ in the world. You'll have to fight the urge to stand at attention when you hear and feel its power kick in on "Lest We Forget", "On Great Lone Hills", "Jerusalem" and "This Christmastide". The musical variety is further enhanced by the addition of brass and percussion for the rousing marches, "The Longest Day" and "Non Nobis". When was the last time you heard these two songs - one by world famous singer, songwriter and teen idol, Paul Anka and the other a medieval celebration of thanksgiving sung in Latin! The rich background vocals of the Cadet Glee Club musically frame two songs that underpin the message of this album - Bravery and Sacrifice. "Into the Fire" by NYPD's Daniel Rodriguez made me want to immediately rise up and rush to anyone's aid and when he holds that note at the end - wow! Tony Award Winner Lea Salonga's performance of the classic Christian hit, "Via Dolorosa", (one of the top 50 Christian songs of all time), is "The Passion of the Christ" embodied in a 5 minute song. You will alternate between tears and goose bumps. Her performance of the Spanish stanza will overwhelm you. Finally, Irish song writing master, Phil Coulter's wistful "Take Me Home" is accompanied by beautiful piano and guitar and introduced by a new poem entitled "I Am A Soldier" that is sobering reminder of the oath our soldiers swear to and the actions they are bound to take. God bless them!

A great bonus of the CD and DVD is that they both include a stylish lyric booklet as well as commentary by the producer on why he chose each song.

On the back cover of the CD and DVD cases is the statement that this production was created to honor the men and women of our Armed Forces, past and present, and the great values of America that they defend. This it surely does!! Also, it states that the producer is contributing a portion of his wholesale proceeds from its sale to organizations assisting our wounded soldiers. Bravo, Mr. Coppi.

Good CD.......2006-07-19

Wonderful songs and wonderful renditions of the songs. I must say, though, that the numbers would have been better if they were performed with more "ooomph" (for instance, "The Star Spangled Banner" could have been sung with more power and the arrangement could have used more creativity). The wisest decision on this CD was the inclusion of the numbers from Ms. Lea Salonga (whose hauntingly beautiful voice is able to effectively draw listeners in) and Daniel Rodriguez, one of America's newest tenors. Overall a good CD.

A real disappointment..........2006-06-10

I was so excited to stumble upon this album when a local music store was going out of business and selling CD's at great discounts. I love Glee Club music, I love patriotic music, and I love cathedral/chapel accoustics. Unfortunately, this album did not live up to its billing.

My primary complaints with this recording are twofold: the overuse of unison singing and the unnecessary inclusion of guest soloists. The beauty of glee club music is the rich chords, which are thankfully heard in many songs. To my dismay, though, there are many songs that mostly or entirely omit the beautiful harmonies that make glee clubs great.

As for the guest soloists, I don't understand why a singing group which obviously has many wonderful voices would bring in outsiders for an album like this. Actually, I do know why they would do it, and it's obviously a marketing thing that has financial implications. As reasonable as this may seem, it just cheapens the experience for me. Another great feature of glee clubs (and college choirs more generally) is the lack of polished, perfect, professional singers. There is something raw, authentic, and refreshing about a bunch of college kids singing together. Why bring in random people with no particular connection to the group?

To be fair, "Rise Up, O Men of God" and "Mansions of the Lord" are fantastic. I'll continue to play this album to listen to those songs. However, much of the remainder is somewhat forgettable.

Average customer rating:

A Better Effort Than "Above The City"
Smoke Or Fire- The Sinking Ship

This Sinking Ship
Smoke or Fire
Manufacturer: Fat Wreck Chords
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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

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

Post Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Above the City
Virulence
Four One Five Two
Cuban Ballerina
Deadline

ASIN: B000MGBRDG
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Tracks:

What Separates Us All
Patty Hearst Syndrome
Melatonin
This Sinking Ship
Irish Handcuffs
Little Bohemia
I'll Be Gone
Shine
Breadwinner
Life Imitating Art
Cars
Folding the Pages

Customer Reviews:

A Better Effort Than "Above The City".......2007-05-08

Is it catchy? Yeah. But why is that a bad thing? I read far too many reviews that say, "It's too clean...it's too catchy." Look, I love classic punk rock, there are some classicly written songs out there. But I'm not going to lie: I hate sh--ty recordings. All I do when I listen to Black Flag and old Misfits records is think, "If this were recorded today, it would be that much better." And why wouldn't you want a song to be catchy? Do you want to forget an album the second you're done listening to it? Is music meant to be analyzed to death or listened to and enjoyed?

I can't deny that Fat Wreck was putting out some bad releases (Randy, The Soviettes, No Use for a Name), but Smoke or Fire, along with Dead to Me and The Loved Ones, are beginning to put my faith back in the label.

"This Sinking Ship" is not a masterpiece, but it's a pretty damn good album. Check out the free MP3s for "The Patty Hearst Syndrome" and "Melatonin" on fatwreck.com and if you like those, you'll like this album.

Smoke Or Fire- The Sinking Ship.......2007-05-02

Is it just me, or are all the bands on Fat Wreck Chords starting to sound the same?

The newest release from Smoke Or Fire, This Sinking Ship, sounds very much like other records I've reviewed for Fat Mike. It isn't that This Sinking Ship is a bad album. Jeremy's guitar chops are loud and bone crunching, Ken keeps a steady pace with his bass, new drummer Dave Atchison slams out a violent beat and Joe rants convincingly about the state of the world. It just sounds the same as latter day NoFX, Against Me, and other groups in Mike's stable.

Smoke Or Fire recreates that clean, highly produced punk that NoFX has turned to and I've got to say, it's getting a little boring. While all the songs on That Sinking Ship are well played, they don't have any character, no life of their own. They're just slickly put together songs with no anima.

Maybe it's just the geezer punk in me that really wants to hear drums that sound like cardboard boxes, and guitars played through kicked-in amps. The production was never the thing about punk. It was about the anarchy, the wildness, the unpredictability of letting yourself loose and slamming into your date while dancing. Somehow, it feels like This Sinking Ship is punk on Ritalin- controlled, well behaved, and nearly comatose.

Hopefully, their live shows are much wilder and if anything, This Sinking Ship has inspired me to find out. But as far as recorded music is concerned, This Sinking Ship is far too self-contained to merit a second listen by my acid-drenched brain. And that's too bad, because I appreciate how punk has survived over the years even if it has become a commercially viable product. So many modern groups have carved out creative niches in music because of punk, including the highly industrial Swans, the experimental rock of Thurston Moore and Sonic Youth, the entire grrrl rock movement of the eighties and nineties, pseudo-industrialists Interpol, and a whole slate of emo bands. So when I listen to something as staid as This Sinking Ship, I have to wonder "what happened?"

Of course, my opinion means nothing. If the highly crafted production values of This Sinking Ship drives the punk movement these days, than more power to it. But Fat Mike and his fellow label-meisters would do all of us with a long history of punk behind us a huge favor by releasing some in your face, screw everything and everyone music that slaps us in the face with its freshness, and makes us want to slam dance with our wives and children.

Average customer rating:

ON FIRE AGAIN!
Super guitar album
Great album
Like nothing else in the genre!

Intimo

Manufacturer: Incendio Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Incendio
Dia y Noche
Seduction
Misterioso
Illumination

ASIN: B000083JS6
Release Date: 2003-01-15

Tracks:

Jaco y Paco
Espiritu
Cities of Gold
Tango para Abel
Temple of the Sun
Midnight for Maya
Los Rios
Vamos Ya
Rhythm of the Heart
Vuelo del Aguila
Barcelona
The Sorcerer

Album Description

INTIMO was recorded live in the studio and features many new songs that are not available on any previous INCENDIO recording. To date, this is the closest thing to a live recording by the Billboard charting Latin Guitar World Fusion group INCENDIO!

Jim Stubblefield ~ flamenco guitar (left channel)
Jean-Pierre Durand ~ flamenco guitar (right channel)
Liza Carbe ~ bass
Joe Shotwell ~ drums
Nicole Falzone ~ percussion

Customer Reviews:

ON FIRE AGAIN!.......2003-09-08

I am not going to call this my favorite album because I dont really have a favorite. All of Incendio's albums are AMAZING, but this is the next best thing to hearing them live.
Jim and JP play with such Passion that the listener is taken on a journey around the world and filled with the same Fire that makes Incendio what it is. Joe Shotwell brings the Heart of Incendio directly to the listener's ears with his amazing drumming. The soul of Incendio is portrayed by the amazing talent of the bassist Liza Carbe', and Nicole Falzone adds a little bit of Spice to the mix with percussion. Together the talents of these Artists create a sound that ensnares the heart and soul. Even without "Studio Magic" this CD has a magic all it's own.
All I can say is go see Incendio live it's an outing you will never forget.

Super guitar album.......2003-06-24

If you're into guitar music of any kind (I love Eric and Jimmy Page and many others) or you're into "Latin" music, you will love this album. In my dreams I can play guitar like these guys. Oh well, maybe in another life. Super, super stuff. Their live performances are better, catch them if you can.

Great album.......2003-05-09

I love this album! Incendo came to our famrmer's market in SLO and ended up convincing me to run to the atm in order to buy this cd. They were amazing to watch live. Most of the people in the crowd ended up puchasing a cd. These guys have skills, great music, and are friendly people. Highly recommended.

Like nothing else in the genre!.......2003-01-16

Incendio's new CD Intimo is incredible. Every song is great. Unlike many guitar records of this sort, there is a raw and reckless abandon to the playing of Jim and Jean-Pierre. The rhythm section does not hold back either. This music is great for driving on long road trips or background music for a hip party! Everyone I play this CD for wants it! I have all Incendio's and Jim Stubblefield's CDs and this one really shows that these guys can play without the help of any "studio magic". I hope they do more CDs like this in the future. VIVA INCENDIO!

Average customer rating:

Amazing skills, yet too busy for listening enjoyment
John Bayless Christmas Rhapsody
best concert pianist in the world
My favorite of the season
Best Piano Christmas CD ever!

Christmas Rhapsody

Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Movie Album Classical Pictures; John Bayless
Romantica
Bach Meets the Beatles: Revisited
The Puccini Album: Arias for Piano
Bayless Meets Bernstein: West Side Story Variations

ASIN: B0002VEQ5C
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL / ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH / HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS / "GOING HOME" NEW WORLD SYMPHONY
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN / DANCE OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY
THE CHRISTMAS SONG
RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER / LET IT SNOW
AVE MARIA
O COME O COME EMANUEL / O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM / THE FIRST NOEL
WINTER WONDERLAND / JINGLE BELLS
SILENT NIGHT / O HOLY NIGHT
SWEET LITTLE JESUS BOY / AWAY IN A MANGER / WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
JESU JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING / AMAZING GRACE
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
WHITE CHRISTMAS

Customer Reviews:

Amazing skills, yet too busy for listening enjoyment.......2006-12-13

I can't believe how well John Bayless has mastered the piano. This is very obvious from the first song that you ever hear him play. I'd really like to watch him play in concert. However, the songs on this album are too much work for me to listen to. The music is so busy that I can hardly concentrate on the melody and it hardly gives me the peace I expect from traditional Christmas music. Some of my favorites for this category are Jim Brickman, David Huntsinger, and Tim Janis.

John Bayless Christmas Rhapsody.......2006-02-13

Christmas Rhapsody has quickly become one of our all time favorite Chistmas CDs. We love it so much that it is February 10th and we are still listening to it.

best concert pianist in the world.......2005-08-18

John Bayless is the best concert pianist in the world. This album shows his genuis. Perfect music to listen to any time of the year.
This is the best Christmas album on the market.

My favorite of the season.......2004-12-31

This is the holiday music I have listened to throughout the season, and it is so beautiful I cannot bear to put it away yet. I love Bayless's work at any time, and these arrangements simply take my breath away. His blending of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" with "Going Home" from the New World Symphony is particulary poignant. And his signature "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring/Amazing Grace" is seasonless and timeless. Christmas is over, but get this anyway; it's wonderful.

Best Piano Christmas CD ever!.......2004-12-15

David Lanz? Jim Brickman? John Tesh? Move over guys... John Bayless has done what no others could... Taken the xmas classics to a new level of musical enjoyment! By combining the songs together, and making them so rich and full of life, this will be my favorite Christmas CD for a looooooooooong time.