Fundamental

Amazon.com
Bonnie Raitt's marvelous voice, saucy grooves, and singing slide guitar are this album's fundamentals. But these 11 love songs are more than a back-to-basics exercise. Coproducers Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake help Raitt create the edgiest arrangements she's ever had. Which explains the dry, in-your-face vocal sound of "Round and Round" and the near-naked framing of the best guitar solos, like Los Lobos' David Hidalgo's probing Jimmie Vaughan masquerade on "Cure for Love." Raitt herself plays a rippling African-style melody line on "One Belief Away." And the jittery guitar break and pumping piano on "I Need Love" threaten to knock the tune's tonal center to pieces. Her lyrics are crafty, too, whether she's calling down the furies as she opts for another spin on the flaming "Spit of Love" or feeling romance tug like quicksand in "Cure for Love." A little weird, maybe, but commanding, wise, real, and beautiful. --Ted Drozdowski

Rolling Stone
[Bonnie Raitt] enlists producers Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake on a quest for the fundamental things.... The material flattens slightly about halfway through and the production gets straighter as well.... But in a musical world where "everything's carefully prearranged," Raitt has thrown a Birkenstock in the works, and the clatter sounds like life itself.

Fundamental

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Fundamental

Average customer rating: Ring introduction critique FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE Welcome back to a classic analysis Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle Very Functional

An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen Deryck Cooke , Georg Solti , Wiener Philharmoniker , Anita Valkki , Berit Lindholm , Birgit Nilsson , Brigitte Fassbaender , Christa Ludwig , Claire Watson , Claudia Hellmann , Dame Gwyneth Jones , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Eberhard Wächter , George London , Gerhard Stolze , Gottlob Frick , Grace Hoffmann , Gustav Neidlinger , Hans Hotter , Helen Watts , Helga Dernesch , Hetty Plumacher , Ira Malaniuk , James King , Jean Madeira , Joan Sutherland , Kirsten Flagstad , Kurt Böhme , Lucia Popp , Marga Höffgen , Marilyn Tyler , Maureen Guy , Oda Balsborg , Paul Kuen , Régine Crespin , Set Svanholm , Vera Little , Vera Schlosser , Waldemar Kmentt , Walter Kreppel , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baritones | Voices | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Wagner's Ring: Turning the Sky Round Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sir Georg Solti Decoding Wagner: An Invitation to His World of Music Drama (includes 2 CDs) Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen / Levine, Metropolitan Opera (Complete Ring Cycle) Ring of the Nibelung ASIN: B00000424H Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. Of All Great Musical Compositions... (Examples 1-4)
2. The Fundamental Symbol... (Examples 5-11)
3. Returning Now To The Nature Motive... (Examples 6, 12-16)
4. A Number Of Further Motives... (Examples 5, 17-21)
5. A Second, Much Smaller Family... (Examples 22-25)
6. So Much For Nature. (Examples 26-38)
7. The Cause Of The Deterioration... (Examples 39-44)
8. The Other Transformation... (Examples 45-48)
9. Several Other Motives... (Examples 49-52)
10. Two Further Motives... (Examples 41, 53-61)
11. The Basic Motive Associated With The Spear... (Examples 62-68)
12. Along Another, More Complex Line... (Examples 69-72)
13. In Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 69, 73-75)
14. Returning Now To Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 76-79)
15. Love Is Another Of The Central Symbols... (Examples 80-83)
16. Later In The Same Scene... (Examples 84-87)
17. Freia's Motive Has Two Independent Segments... (Examples 88-91)
18. The Label 'Flight'... (Example 92)
19. When Fasolt, In Scene Two Of Rhinegold... (Examples 93-98)
20. A Little Later In The Interlude... (Examples 99-103)

Tracks:

1. The Other New Motive... (Examples 104-109)
2. There Are Several Independent Love-Motives... (Examples 110-114)
3. The Characters In Whose Lives... (Examples 115-120)
4. One Further Motive Belongs... (Example 121)
5. The Sword Motive Recurs... (Examples 122-130)
6. Ironically, This Phrase... (Examples 131-135)
7. Closely Associated With Gutrune's Motive... (Examples 136-140)
8. Here We Come To The End... (Examples 141-146)
9. Complemtary To This Symbol... (Examples 147-149)
10. One Last Central Symbol... (Examples 150-157)
11. One Further Motive Connected... (Examples 158-161)
12. There Are One Or Two Motives... (Examples 162-168)
13. These Motives Of Alberich And Mime... (Examples 169-171)
14. Quite A Number Of The Subsidiary Motives... (Examples 172-176)
15. Besides This Family Of Motives... (Examples 177-180)
16. Our Final Example... (Examples 10, 181, 182)
17. In The Final Scene Of Gotterdammerung... (Examples 181-183)
18. Even More Masterly... (Examples 184-188)
19. Now If We Return... (Examples 189-191)
20. This Masterly Way... (Examples 192, 193)

Amazon.com

When Wagner set the Ring to music, he intended the orchestra to act in the fashion of a chorus from a classic Greek tragedy--setting the mood and commenting on the action. In order to allow a nonverbal musical line to reflect on the plot, Wagner developed a psychologically and musically complex symbology to communicate his thoughts to the listener. From the beginning the Ring has spawned numerous written commentaries on the relationships of the motif structure, but by using examples from the Decca Ring recording, Deryck Cooke's thoughtful spoken commentary is by far the most accessible guide for either the fledgling Ring enthusiast or the seasoned veteran. --Christian C. Rix

Customer Reviews:

Ring introduction critique.......2006-11-04

This is very worthwhile, at the same time it requires time, patience and attention, but it does provide some keys to better enjoyment of a sensational piece of music.

FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE.......2006-08-16

This may look an intimidating, daunting and dull prospect - a 2+ hour lecture on the motifs in the Ring. Don't be put off. Whether you're a relative novice to the Ring and want to find out what it's all about, more experienced with a desire to understand the composer's methods better or an afficionado who thinks he knows it all inside out, there is great pleasure as well as elucidation to be had from this set. Originally made to accompany the Decca Solti Ring, it contains a multitude of musical illustrations taken from those recordings as well as some specially recorded by Solti just for this Introduction.

It wasn't the first time this has been tried. The famous HMV sets from the late 20's also included recorded examples of over 100 motifs. (These, by the way, are available as part of the Pearl reissue of those wonderful HMV recordings). What that set lacked was the wonderful insights as well as the approachability of the talk by Deryck Cooke. Cooke was a great and much missed musicologist - a Mahler expert responsible for the performing edition of the Tenth Symphony still most played today, a fascinating explorer into the nature of music's basic building-blocks in his excellent book, The Language of Music, and an inspiring and elucidating critic of Wagner's work as shown by the fascinating book he left unfinished at his death, I Saw the World End.

On these CDs he does much more than list the leitmotifs and identify them as calling-cards. He shows the amazingly integrated and organic growth of the musical material that Wagner uses throughout his vast work. He demonstrates how motifs can change their sense and meaning as they evolve through the drama. And he shows how the complex combinations of motifs can radically advance both the musical and the dramatic narrative of the piece. There are even places where he corrects the misinterpretation of some of the motifs that had become ingrained from early commentators' false labels.

This set should engage and enlighten anyone with an interest in Wagner's huge and inexhaustible tetralogy. Do give it a try - no matter how far down the road to Wagnerianism you are.

Welcome back to a classic analysis.......2006-05-28

Deryck Cooke's lecture series upon THE RING is almost as much a classic by now as the Solti RING cycle, with which it was originally issued on LP, and from which it derives its musical examples. The difference is that whereas the Solti RING has been continuously in print ever since it was completed, and was among the first opera sets to benefit from the CD revolution, the Cooke analysis was for long almost totally unobtainable. Now we have it back. It should be welcomed: it is a classic. Cooke's mellow, deep voice with the hint of a Celtic burr - which made him ideal on BBC radio - patiently explains Wagner's melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic metamorphoses to such good effect that if you own this recording, you really require no other RING analysis. (A pity about the abrupt beginnings and endings of too many vocal and orchestral illustrations, though.) Musicology lost a fine, sensitive thinker with Cooke's premature death in 1976.

If all you want is dilettantish baby food, there are plenty of dumbed-down Wagner commentaries on the market, stretching from Anna Russell's famous monologue (which doesn't pretend to be anything other than a parody aimed at morons) to the latest standard-issue "Wagner-was-a-Nazi-boo-hiss" feuilleton (which, unfortunately, does). Without reasonable score-reading skill you will find Cooke useless, however diligently you have ploughed through Marx, Jung, Freud, or other gurus purportedly relevant to THE RING. Cooke expects you to use your brains and your musical sense. Quelle horreur. At today's BBC his "elitism" would render him unemployable.

Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle.......2006-05-15

I originally bought this set on vinyl in the early 70s when I discovered the Ring in college. I studied the records and booklet assiduously, and after about three run-throughs I finally started getting it. Wow! Thirty-five years later, I still remember Mr. Cooke's analyses of various motive families, and I don't know how I could have mastered and loved the Ring without him. I now own this set on CD and listen again on the rare occasion of attending a Ring performance. My wife calls me a "Ring nut," but of course I'm nuts about many other things as well.

Bottom line, buy this set and study it if the Ring has captivated you as it has countless others. The presentation is dry, but sticking with it brings measureless and longlasting rewards.

Very Functional.......2006-03-19

This CD set is excellent for what it sets out to do: present the leitmotives of the Ring according to their relationship to one another and their role in developing both characters and plotlines. Deryck Cooke's lectures on each motive are very insightful, very helpful at cueing the listener into the semantic aspect of Wagner's orchestral writing. The one drawback is that the musical examples are a bit jarring. Without fade-ins or -outs, the engineering is quite barbaric. And though the orchestra was, I believe, conducted by Solti, and is beautifully done, the vocal performances can be quite unpleasant. Point being: this is not background music, but in accomplishing what it sets out to do, it is very successful, and I don't know of anything else like it.

Average customer rating: Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material! Beginner or Expert Very Informative and Enjoyable Frank's view Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra Various Artists Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4 The Mahler Symphonies: An Owner's Manual (includes 1 CD) The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Book & CD) What to Listen for in Music Study of Orchestration, Third Edition ASIN: B00006O0NT Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
4. Hungarian Dance No.7
5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
10. Csardas Music
11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
18. Tzigane
19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
20. Caprice No.24
21. The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
27. The Violin Muted
28. Clair De Lune
29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
31. The Pizzicato Violin
32. Pizzicato Polka
33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
35. Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
37. The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
38. Hungarian Dance No.4
39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
42. Bolero
43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

1. Introduction To The Viola
2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
7. The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
10. Cypresses (No.9)
11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
24. Elfentanz, Op.39
25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
28. Flamenco
29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
33. It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
39. The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
40. Capriccio Di Bravura
41. Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
42. The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
6. Sa'Dawi
7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
8. Chamber Music No.II
9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
13. A Variety Of Techniques
14. Chamber Music No.II
15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
20. Naelden, Naelden
21. The Bachian Oboe
22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
26. The Swan Of Tuonela
27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
30. Bolero
31. The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
32. Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
35. The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
38. ...And Quite Low.
39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
44. Introduction To The Saxophone
45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
49. Bolero
50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
53. Sax-O-Phun
54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
60. Bolero
61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
6. Fanfare For The Common Man
7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
11. The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
16. Billy The Kid
17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
21. The Birth Of The Trombone
22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
27. The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
28. Hosannah
29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
35. The Horn And The Hunt
36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
9. Den Hoboecken Dans
10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
12. No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
13. Gymnopedie No.2
14. The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
15. Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
18. Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
22. The Birth Of The Bongo
23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
33. The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
37. Ravel And The Xylophone
38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
40. Introducing The Vibraphone
41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
44. Folk Dances
45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
52. Introducing The Celeste
53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
57. A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

1. Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
2. Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
3. But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
4. Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
5. The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
6. An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
7. Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
8. Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
9. Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
10. Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
11. Mahler's Sleighbells
12. Symphony No.4 (Opening)
13. A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
14. Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
15. Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
16. Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
17. National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
18. And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
19. And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
20. The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
21. The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
22. The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
23. The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
24. The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
25. The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
26. The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
27. The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
28. There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
29. The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
30. Nocturnes
31. Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
32. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
33. The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
34. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
35. The Oboe As Duck
36. Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
37. The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
38. The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
39. The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
40. Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
41. Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
42. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
43. Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
44. The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
45. A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
46. Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
47. A Thunderstorm In A Million
48. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
49. the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
50. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
51. Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
52. The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
42. Canzon 28
43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
51. Images (Gigues)
52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
58. A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

Average customer rating: " its a once in a life time...production" Mature work Sterile/Immaculate/Rational/Perfect - a return to the fundamentals Leave it to the underground masters of this genre to deliver the goods Pet Shop Boys

Fundamental Pet Shop Boys Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Dance & DJ | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Union Street Pop Art: The Hits Ta-Dah Behavior Under the Iron Sea ASIN: B000FMGTUI Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

1. Psychological
2. The Sodom And Gomorrah Show
3. I Made Excuses And Left
4. Minimal
5. Numb
6. God Willing
7. Luna Park
8. I'm With Stupid
9. Casanova In Hell
10. Twentieth Century
11. Integral
12. Bonus Track 1

Amazon.com

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe's experiment in brainy dance pop has been going on for two decades now, and since it's never really been broke they never bother fixing it. True, 2002's Release was more of its time than anything they'd released since Please, but after 2005's Back To Mine diversion, they're indulging in pure '80s nostalgia on Fundamental. The first single, "I'm With Stupid" shamelessly works a pure synth-cheese vibe, and it doesn't stop there; check out the robotic romance of "Numb" or the beyond retro electro on "Minimal." This is rather familiar territory for legendary producer Trevor Horn as well, whose previous credits include... uh, let's see, Tom Jones? Frankie Goes To Hollywood? ABC? Happily, everybody concerned is clearly having a blast so the record doesn't sound dated--it's too vivid and alive for that. Tennant's preening, slippery lyrics make grand mischief of songs like "Casanova In Hell," and Horn floats occasional reminders of the 21st century into the fray, especially on "20th Century" (cheeky, no?). It's not a Grand Statement of a record by any means, and could use more thump. A good DJ will soon take some of this material and remix it into dance floor Nirvana. Until then, break out the hypercolor shirts, drink some new Coke and buy this cassette tape (err... CD, I mean) ASAP. -Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews:

" its a once in a life time...production".......2007-07-20

Luis Mejia (son) - Pet Shop Boys has always been either critisized by doing juvenile 'adolescent' music or by having a collection of electronic ballads and romantic flavored rythms all the time. Well, with the release of this album this critics change completely.

The album has some things in common with other album, like the typical society overview applied in Tennant's lyrics, but instead of focusing more on society they focused more on political themes and religion, shown mostly in the songs Integral and Casanova In Hell. Anyway, this album is a much more serious and mature work, all the tracks have much more focused sounds and rythms and certainly deeper; I'm impressed with this release, obviously differetn from all their other albums, containing deep themes, electronical arrengemetns and sound very astonishing and a lot much modern and alternative, the instrumentation applyed by Tennant and Lowe in the keyboards is very delicate and thoughtful, as I said not alike with their dance and "colorful" way of composing songs. A work that definitively leaves a trace. The best tracks are the famous Minimal, talking about Minimalism, which contradictes in certain parts like "an empty box, an open space", The Sodom And Gomorrah Show, which has, in my opinion, one of the best keyboard usages in their whole career (and the tittle of my review is referes to one verse of the song), I Made My Excuses And Left, which even when it starts with a very thoughtful introduction and the Tennant sang part seem to be completely out of tune it really leaves one impressed after hearing to it a couple of times more, and Integral, which has a comfortable rythm and it reffers to the British National Identity Card plans. I'm With Stupid and Numb are the most famous tracks in the album, very alike with their past works. Psychological, Luna Park, Casanova In Hell, God Willing, Twentieth Century and Indefinite Leave To Remain are also nice tracks concentrated in direct political and religious themes. The production of the album is very fine and intelligent.

In conclussion the album is delicately mature, touchy, serious and with a thoughtful composition, one of their best works and definitively the most adult album they've released. BUT maybe for all the ones who are extremely into their juvenile and dance songs won't see the light in this one.

Mature work.......2007-06-04

It took me a year to decide whether to buy this album or not - the singles were not that impressive and generally I'm not fond of ballads. When I finally bought it, I wrote off over half of the songs but eventually they grew on me, mostly through their lyrics and subtle effects (Trevor Horn's job).

It isn't really a dance record (only 3 dancefloor tunes and one of them, Integral, sounds more like a routine filler), rather an LP for den, imbued with moody and bitter lyrics that nevertheless keep room for a smile. Emotionally the records' atmoshpere resembles that of Behavior, musically it's a typical PSB album.

Sterile/Immaculate/Rational/Perfect - a return to the fundamentals.......2007-03-07

You would never guess that it's been over twenty years since "West End Girls" by the sound of the pet Shop Boys' "Fundamental." Producer Trevor Horn sets the wayback machine to the mid-eighties to invoke PSB hits past like "It's A Sin" or "Left To My Own Devices" and then fast forwards to the 90's for a song or two. "Minimal" cold easily be a left-over from Neil Tennant's tenure in the synth-pop supergroup Electronic.

Where "Release" was a decidedly mellow affair, it lacked that dance floor snap that fans like me had come to expect from the best PSB CD's. I liked it a lot, but it left me with the impression that Tennant and Chris Lowe had reached the point of no return maturity and we could expect future releases to move in that vein. "Fundamental" turns that notion on its head with the opening "Psychological." Coming on like "Violator" Depeche Mode, it sets a dark but dancey vibe. "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show" is part a vague update of "It's A Sin" and coming out story that slaps back at religious fundies that would have those Civil Unionized Brits forced back into the closet. (It also sounds most like a Trevor Horn over-the-top signature production.)

There is also a smattering of British politics involved. The lead single, "I'm With Stupid" fires its darts at Tony Blair's willful lap-dogging with George W Bush. Both "Twentieth Century" and "Luna Park" both read like allegory for current adventures in the Middle East. And just as "Psychological" opened "Fundamental" on a dark hue, the scathing "Integral," with its 1984-ish lyric (reportedly written in protest to a proposed UK national identity card), closes the CD on a burning note.

"If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear.
If you've something to hide you shouldn't even be here.
You had your chance, now we've got the mandate.
If you've changed your mind I'm afraid it's too late."

There are a couple of duff songs here ("Cassanova In Hell" and "Numb"), but not enough for me to dismiss the CD. I probably returned to "Fundamental" more in the late summer of 2006 than many of my other CD's from the year, enough to make this one of my picks for the best of the year.

Leave it to the underground masters of this genre to deliver the goods.......2007-02-15

You have to excuse my ignorance of the Pet Shop Boys. The only thing I know of them is "West End Girls." I must say that after more than 20 years since hearing them last, the group sounds just like I remember them. The second half of the album title lets you in on the albums lyrical theme. From start to finish Fundamental hits you with superb synth-pop that can be both dark and uplifting. Leave it to the underground masters of this genre to deliver the goods.

Pet Shop Boys.......2007-01-10

The duo can still pop out a dance tune. The music seems to mellow along with the Pet Shop Boys.

Average customer rating: Some thought provoking music here folks! how can i review an item that i never received???? p.o.d.- but not at their finest For Ms. Rich I really give Zero stars....

The Fundamental Elements of Southtown P.O.D. Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Satellite Payable on Death (with Bonus DVD) Testify The Warriors EP, Vol. 2 Snuff the Punk ASIN: B00000JZBU Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

1. Greetings
2. Hollywood
3. Southtown
4. Checkin' Levels
5. Rock The Party (Off The Hook)
6. Lie Down
7. Set Your Eyes To Zion
8. Lo Siento
9. Bullet The Blue Sky
10. Psalm 150
11. Image
12. Shouts
13. Tribal Warriors
14. Freestyle
15. Follow Me
16. Outkast

Amazon.com

With their aggro music, tattoos, piercings, and dreadlocks, P.O.D. (Payable on Death) might be conveniently filed next to Deftones or Rage Against the Machine. However, like U2, whose "Bullet the Blue Sky" they cover, P.O.D. are actually a Christian-based rock band, though not overtly religious enough to scare nonbelieving music fans away. This multiethnic quartet from the Southtown area of San Diego purveys an amalgam of modern music; elements of rap, metal, reggae, and hip-hop permeate this 16-track debut. P.O.D. doesn't bring much new to their hybrid style on The Fundamental Elements of Southtown, but what they do, they do well. From the gentle, reggae-tinged "Set Your Eyes to Zion" to the heavy grind of "Hollywood" and the rap-metal of "Lie Down," P.O.D.'s diverse and rockin' musical messages of positivism should make the foursome, already well known on the Christian rock circuit, a band to reckon with in secular circles. --Katherine Turman

Customer Reviews:

Some thought provoking music here folks! .......2006-07-24

This is the album that got me into POD. The lyrics on this album are the most overt that I have heard from any band.
"Greetings" is simply an introduction to how confrontational this album would be. This album displays true feelings, not just appeasement for the casual rock fan. 5/5
"Hollywood" puts down the "money, power, and fame" ideology of current stars. POD makes a stand that they will not be corrupted. 5/5
"Southtown" is very rhythmic and memorable. It explains the humble beginnings of the band. 5/5
"Checkin' Levels"-The band pretty much messed around with the recording sound here. Sonny does a quick freestyle song.
"Rock the Party"-This song was big on MTV. I thought it may have been a little too self-absorbed, but the tempo changes are great. Plenty of disc scratching sounds in this song makes it sound like you're in a club. Pretty unique. 4/5
"Lie Down"-Heavy, heavy guitar here. Quite a bit of yelling. I didn't care for this one too much. 3/5
"Set Your Eyes to Zion"-This is a very frank song relaying the gospel message. It's a very contemplative song about Christ's forgiveness. It's soft, but there's a lot of excellent melody. 5/5
"Lo Siento"-Simply an instrumently interlude, quite short.
"Bullet the Blue Sky"-Very surreal remake of a U2 classic. Sonny is very emotional on this track as he should be. It's a very vivid portrayal of the crucifixion of Christ. 5/5
"Psalm 150"-A man reads the Psalm aloud in Hebrew.

The rest of the CD wasn't really that memorable, save "Freestlye" and "Outkast".

"Freestyle"-showed the band's reggae side a little bit. It was pretty good. 5/5
"Outkast"-This is a hard song, but I think it shows the band's frustration about being Christians while reaching the secular audience for Christ. This band gets bothered by the constant bashing it gets on both sides. I appreciate that honesty. 5/5.

I give this album a 4 1/2 because there were some very powerful songs in here. The end of the album has a lot of filler in my opinion, but the 5/5 songs are too good to pass up. Get this thing if you can. I haven't listened to the first 10 songs in a long time, yet the lyrics are still so clear in my mind.

how can i review an item that i never received????.......2006-07-16

i havent received the CD, how can you people in amazon expect me to review the product? i regularly received packages from out of the country to my address, recently was one from netherland. but i never received an item from amazon.com. i dont know where i must deliver my complaint for this, since your cust.service told me that the fist item has been lost and a replacement has been made. if you can not guarantee a shipment to be delivered in indonesia, so dont put indonesia on the list. i dont want to claim for a replacement anymore neither that i have the desire to shop at amazon.com.

p.o.d.- but not at their finest.......2006-04-10

You would think that given the rip of this album that I gave Christian hardcore legends P.O.D. on my review of their album Satellite that my rating would be lower than this. However, the phrase "It'll grow on you." came true for me after I got this CD from a friend who really didn't like it. Though not as good as Satellite or their recent effort Testify, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown showcases much of what made P.O.D. great in the first place.

P.O.D.'s Rastafarian-lookalike singer Sonny Sandoval and the rest of the P.O.D. crew (including the now-gone guitarist Traa Daniels, replaced by Jason Truby, formerly of another Christian hardcore band called Living Sacrifice) break it down with the CD's highlight track, Southtown. Rock the Party is another standout track, with its odd music video and riffs that only a pro could play right. Other than that, though, there really wasn't much greatness. Now, don't interpret that as a statement that the rest of the CD sucked, because it didn't; the other tracks were awesome, just not so much as Southtown and Rock the Party.

For those of y'all who actually care, this is P.O.D., and I end my review with this:

Sonny Sandoval- vocals
Traa Daniels- guitar
Marcos Curiel- bass
Wuv Anderson- drums

For Ms. Rich.......2006-01-20

The reconstruction commences; the soldiers equip for the lessons
My life, a sacrifice is made new through these confessions
Manifested, this joy is my desire
Light this fire to flames; praise the name, Jehovah Jireh
Is my provider, the truth that lives inside of this fighter?
Take me higher, Master, Sire makes me a good rider
I'm gonna ride on down til I break through the front lines
And ain't going home until I gets mines.

This is "Tribal Warriors" from the "Fundemental Elements of Southtown" Album.

I'll have you know that Jehovah Jireh is a name for God and just because they use "Jah" instead of God does not make them a non christian band. Why would Family Christian Bookstores carry their music? The reason they use "Jah" is so they can draw people in because once people hear Jesus or Christ or God they turn from it because they have been hurt by a so called CHRISTian or have been hurt in a church or whatever the story may be people aren't so willing anymore to even hear the gospel.

Ozzfest, yes they do play at that.......BUT they go out into the crowds and WITNESS to people that is why they are there. Whether you want to accept that or not that is up to you. They may have said that they aren't a Christian band but that doesn't make them as people not christians. They have said many times that they are in the business for giving the fans a positive message to let them know that whatever they're going through there is something they can turn to with that problem. If my band was big like that then I would do the same, you don't want people running from you before they even hear your message. This is what P.O.D. has done they have made it so they can draw people in with a positive message and tell them the truth. So whatever you HEARD their religion is, is not true and thats a fact if you want to email me about this I can show you other songs that prove them to be christians.

Sincerely,
Josh

jsunderland86@gmail.com

P.S.
For the Review part of it this cd is great and most of their cd's are and don't forget to pick up the new album too. "Testify" is the name of the new album P.O.D. has a great purpose in the music industry and if you study up on them you will see why I say that. But if you want great rapcore with a positive message this is what you want to buy.

I really give Zero stars...........2006-01-05

I know some of you will not agree with me on this but..I feel this needs to be said. I don't beileve that POD is in fact a Christian band. Listen to the lyrics is there any mention of Jesus at all? YOu may hear "JAH" or "I and I" which is the beliefs of Rastafarianism.

Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia, (also named Ras Tafari), who died in 1975, was Almighty God in the flesh. Rastafarians worship Haile Selassie, or Ras Tafari, as God.

"The Rastafarians reject Christianity and firmly believe in Haile Selassie as the returned Messiah and Ethiopia as the promised land of all Black people."

They also appear on the "Blair Witch 2" soundtrack with Marilyn Manson and others like him. WHY...would any believer want to be on the same CD as MANSON? Don't you think that it's a bit hypocritical?
Marilyn Manson, proudly boasts:
"Hopefully, I'll be remembered as the person who brought an end to Christianity." (Spin, August 1996, p. 34)

And what about our youth that follow them... A band who calls themselves Christian but then goes on the OZZFEST Tour. What's up with that?

When P.O.D. is asked the logical and honest question - isn't their a conflict of interest when a so-called Christian band performs with the hellions and wickedness at Ozzfest. And Marcos, of P.O.D. replies "we're not necessarily a Christian band"!

You might want to research the bands that you are listening to. I use to listen to POD when they first came out..but I felt something was missing in their music. So I did a lot of research and found a lot of information that was troubling to me to say the least.

Here is a web site if you would like to see for yourself:
http://www.av1611.org/index.html

Average customer rating: The best of Bonnie Excellent adult album Back to basics. Try Luck Of The Draw Instead Not her best

Fundamental Bonnie Raitt Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Longing in Their Hearts Silver Lining Nick of Time Luck of the Draw Road Tested ASIN: B00000634V Release Date: 1998-04-07

Tracks:

1. The Fundamental Things
2. Cure For Love
3. Round & Round
4. Spit Of Love
5. Lover's Will
6. Blue For No Reason
7. Meet Me Half Way
8. I'm On Your Side
9. Fearless Love
10. I Need Love
11. One Belief Away

Amazon.com

Bonnie Raitt's marvelous voice, saucy grooves, and singing slide guitar are this album's fundamentals. But these 11 love songs are more than a back-to-basics exercise. Coproducers Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake help Raitt create the edgiest arrangements she's ever had. Which explains the dry, in-your-face vocal sound of "Round and Round" and the near-naked framing of the best guitar solos, like Los Lobos' David Hidalgo's probing Jimmie Vaughan masquerade on "Cure for Love." Raitt herself plays a rippling African-style melody line on "One Belief Away." And the jittery guitar break and pumping piano on "I Need Love" threaten to knock the tune's tonal center to pieces. Her lyrics are crafty, too, whether she's calling down the furies as she opts for another spin on the flaming "Spit of Love" or feeling romance tug like quicksand in "Cure for Love." A little weird, maybe, but commanding, wise, real, and beautiful. --Ted Drozdowski

Customer Reviews:

The best of Bonnie.......2007-03-20

I own a lot of Bonnie Raitt albums, I have always regarded this one as one of my favorites. The production is left rough around the edges for texture, which makes for a fresh and relaxed, unstrained, honest and free-flowing collection of songs. It sounds like we are all sitting around the table in the kitchen, having a few beers, playing music and enjoying the moment.

Excellent adult album.......2003-05-15

This is wonderful, mellow album takes me to higher place when I lay back and listen. It makes Nick of Time sound like overproduced 80's pop. Bonnie felt this material deeply and it shows in every song. This isn't an experiment, but a smooth, natural sounding recording with rich, clear vocals. Close your eyes and it sounds like Bonnie and her band are right in the room. Her latest, Silver Lining is also very strong, but I am one of those who think Fundamental is superb. Bonnie Raitt continues to record brilliant albums.

Back to basics........2003-03-25

When Bonnie Raitt embarked on the production of her thirteenth studio album, 1998's "Fundamental," she had achieved almost everything that a musician can wish for: an exceptionally long career, the respect of her peers and the admiration of her fans, multiple Grammies, and particularly following her last three records, "Nick of Time" (1989), "Luck of the Draw" (1991) and "Longing in Their Hearts" (1994), even the widespread commercial success that her prior albums, despite all acclaim, had not brought her. But as the title track of this 1998 release makes clear, she then decided that it was time to take a step back and "get back to the Fundamental Things;" to "do the braindrain [and] leave it all behind."

And those fans who only had discovered Raitt as a result of the above-mentioned, vastly successful trio of albums were nothing less than shocked: Gone was Don Was's slick, stylish production which had driven the sound of those records. Gone, the pop/mainstream rock overtones. Back in full force was the blues; as raw and low-down as ever. Back in, the rootsy, down-to-earth feeling of Raitt's very first albums, released almost three decades earlier, now tempered by half a lifetime's worth of experience. In also the star production team of Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake, who in the 1990s alone had successfully worked with artists like Los Lobos, Neil Finn and Randy Newman, and had helped advance the careers of such strong female singers as Cheryl Crow, Suzanne Vega, Vonda Shepard and the Indigo Girls.

True to its title, "Fundamental" is thus a barebones, stripped down recording which soon had the choir of Raitt's most recently acquired fans howl "underproduced" in utter disgust, while others reveled in rediscovering the singer who once, barely more than a teenager, had awed the music scene with her slide guitar skills, her feeling for the blues, and her energy and determination. The album's opening title track is perhaps the best expression of that feeling, with its relaxed, slightly uptempo blues rhythm, its slide guitar solos, the "live-in-the-studio" sound of its vocals, and its background horn arrangements (by Bonnie Raitt herself), subtly framing her voice without ever getting in the way. It is followed by the slow "Cure For Love," all grating blues guitars, written by Los Lobos' David Hidalgo and Louie Perez (Hidalgo also contributed his instrumental talents); succeeded in turn by veteran Chess blues men J.B. Lenoir and Willie Dixon's "Round and Round," and the first of Bonnie Raitt's five own compositions on the album, "Spit of Love;" from the first dark, edgy guitar riff to the lyrics' last line vintage Raitt, likening the destructive force of a dishonest relationship to a slowly consuming fire and to "a rage as old as Hades" (the sinister underworld of Greek mythology). And after she had covered the upbeat "Thing Called Love" on 1989's "Nick of Time," Raitt chose another John Hiatt tune as "Fundamental"'s fifth track, the melancholic "Lovers Will," describing the lengths to which lovers will go for "the thrill that only love can bring" and deploring that they will often throw themselves and their love away without even giving it another thought, only to realize what they've lost when it is too late. - Next is a trio of Raitt's own compositions, the energetic "Blue For No Reason" and "Meet Me Half Way," in turn pleading to restore a bit of spontaneity to our lives and arguing that an already stale relationship will fail entirely if both partners don't equally contribute to its revival; again, both as much classic Bonnie Raitt tunes as the then following calypso-ish "I'm on Your Side," the lyrics of which thematically resemble those of "Meet Me Half Way." The album is rounded out by the gentle country beats of Dillon O'Brian's "Fearless Love," Joey Spampinato's rocker "I Need Love," and the last track (co-)written by Raitt, the reflective "One Belief Away."

In addition to Los Lobos' David Hidalgo (guitars, bass and background vocals on "Cure For Love") and co-producer Mitch Froom (keyboards, bass on "Spit of Love" and accordion - "my mom's," Raitt reveals in the liner notes - on "Fearless Love") Bonnie Raitt could rely, as always, on a group of outstanding musicians, from Dillon O'Brian (background vocals on his own "Fearless Love") to veteran bassist "Hutch" Hutchinson without whom, for so many years now, no Bonnie Raitt record or live appearance has ever been complete. The album's warm earthy sounds are reflected in the subtle glow of the fall colors depicted in its booklet and front cover, delicately blending with Raitt's red hair. But don't let those brown, red and golden leaves deceive you, and don't be deterred by the mixed reactions "Fundamental" has received. Bonnie Raitt's career is far from over. On March 6, 2000, she was inducted into the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame, as - in the words of Melissa Etheridge - "a woman in a man's world, breaking ground, [who] can play as well as any man and still be all-woman [and] burn up the strings with the best. Then," Etheridge continued, "there's that voice, that heartbreaking, soulful, sex-on-a-plate voice." And I think as long as Bonnie Raitt can bend the strings of a guitar, we still have much to expect from that voice. With 2002's "Silver Lining," she released her fourteenth studio album; followed by an eight-months-long tour, featuring triple visits to her native Southern California alone and interrupted barely long enough to allow her to catch her breath before going on the road again this spring. When I saw her towards the end of last year's tour in November, she still looked and sounded as great as if she was just getting into the swing of things. She may have gone back to basics with the release of "Fundamental" - but "basics" has nothing whatsoever to do with "stuck at base line" here. It's a reevaluation of her musical values; nothing more. And I am solidly in the camp of those who applaud her for doing so.

Try Luck Of The Draw Instead.......2002-07-27

See Bonnie Raitt be slowly overtaken by the blahs, actually one is temped to think the album will be cool when listening to `The Fundametal Things', but no.

Not her best.......2002-04-28

I just purchased Silver Lining based on the enthusiastic reviews and am glad to see that Bonnie is back on track. Hey, we're all entitled to our creative glitches and no one more so than she, who has given so much musical pleasure. Fundamental is just OK, and in fact I only start it at track 5 because I don't care for the first four at all. Bonnie Raitt is a brilliant artist nevertheless and I can't wait to get Silver Lining.

Average customer rating: If It Wasn't For Stevie . . . Magnet and Steel was great, but there's more to Walter Egan than that.... I'm NOT SHY Now.... Guilty Pleasure A must-have for "Rumours" fans...

Fundamental Roll/Not Shy Walter Egan Manufacturer: Acadia Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Hi-Fi/The Last Stroll French Kiss Go Insane Law and Order 25 Years : 1968-1993 ASIN: B00067ZNHW Release Date: 2004-11-01

Tracks:

1. Only the Lucky
2. Won't You Say You Will
3. Waitin'
4. Feel So Good
5. Yes I Guess I Am
6. When I Get My Wheels
7. Where's the Party?
8. She's So Tough
9. Tunnel o' Love
10. I'd Rather Have Fun
11. Surfin' & Drivin'
12. Sweet South Breeze
13. Magnet & Steel
14. Finally Find a Girlfriend
15. Blonde in the Blue T-Bird
16. Star in the Dust
17. I Wannit
18. Make It Alone
19. Unloved
20. Just the Wanting
21. Hot Summer Nights

Album Description

Albums 1 and 2 by the fresh faced Walter. Includes the US 'Top Ten' hit 'Magnet & Steel' and two other chart singles from 1977 & 1978. Both albums were co-produced by Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham and for the first album by his partner Stevie Nicks. Both Fleetwood Mac members are heavily featured on both albums along with Mick Fleetwood and guests such as Dean Torrance of Jan & Dean fame. Acadia. 2004.

Album Details

Co-produced by Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham. Mick Fleetwood Guests as Well as Dean Torrance of Jan and Dean. The First Two Albums by Walter on One CD features his USA Top Ten Hit, "Magnet and Steel". "Fundemental Roll" was Co-produced by Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks; "Not Shy" was Produced by Lindsey Buckingham. Both Albums Feature Guest Performances from Lindsey and Stevie, Along with Other Members of Fleetwood Mac and Dean Torrance of Jan and Dean.

Customer Reviews:

If It Wasn't For Stevie . . . .......2007-01-29

Being a big Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac fan back in the late 70's, I don't think I would have bought the albums back then. Stevie's haunting voice on "Tunnel O' Love", the B-side to "Magnet and Steel" is what hooked me on Walter Egan. The nice thing here is that you get the first two albums on one CD. The bonus is the great sound from being remastered. Any Stevie Nicks fan will enjoy the number of songs she appears on (and there are many of them).

Magnet and Steel was great, but there's more to Walter Egan than that...........2006-08-14

My introduction with Walter Egan was the only song he seems to be known for. True, "Magnet and Steel" was a hit, and was played frequently on the radio from its 1978 peak of #8 on the charts, up through the mid 1980s, but there is more.

I first got a listen of the entire Not Shy LP in its 8-track format, then on vinyl, and finally in 1997, I snagged the now out-of-print Razor & Tie reissue. Why? Simply put....this is music that is great for those road trips, crusing down the highway, and even when not travelling the roads, is a fun listen.

It's too bad, Fleetwood Mac got all the fame and glory for their Rumours album (Which I will admit, is a flawless pop album), and Bob Welch had his share with his late-1977 single 'Sentimental Lady' (which seems to have been forgotten and is only heard in playback over the PA systems of supermarkets and small dying malls)..all overshadowing what members of the Mac (namely Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, and Lindsey Buckingham) alumni put out when beside Egan. Just have a listen to 'could-have-been-hit' songs like "Blonde In Blue T-Bird" (Stevie wails on this track) or "Make it Alone". To my ears, they have that undeniable hint of that 'Mac' sound that was unescapable at the time. A shame that Not Shy wasn't pushed ahead in promotion by the record label. The entire album is near perfect for me. I can't find a single filler track.

Once I get to hear the Fundimental Roll half of this disc, I'll add to the review.

I picked up this two'fer CD along with the other Egan two'fer HiFi/The Last Stroll (It will be my first time ever hearing those two albums), and on this CD there's Egan's long OOP debut, Fundimental Roll, in its entirety for the first time ever on CD. With the other three unheard of (to my ears) albums, I'm not expecting the same sound I heard with "Magnet", but so long as the music here is fun and puts a smile on my face, that's all that I care about. 'Fun' and 'upbeat' seem to be two things missing from a lot of so-called mainstream 'rock' music these days, which really is too bad. In today's world, that kind of stuff is sorely needed.

Highly recommended for fans of the Mac's later years and those who want something upbeat to listen to.

I'm NOT SHY Now...........2006-07-16

...but I'm still rather attached to my body. I graduated from high school in 1977, and at the Theatre Department's year-end banquet, I received two awards: 'SHYEST' and 'BEST BODY.' That said a lot for my acting ability, didn't it? And you wouldn't expect the guy with the best bod to also be the shyest, would you? Well, take a look through some of my Amazon reviews and you'll see that I'm no longer shy (some might even call me an opinionated, loudmouthed jerk). And yes, I did have the best formed male body, but that's because I was also on the wrestling team - pumping iron all the time - and my competition in the Theatre Department was a bunch of prancing sissies singing Westside Story tunes. Not much competition there, ya know?

One summer after graduation, my friend, Eric, and I were hitting all of the Rock 'N' Roll clubs and seldom missed the free noontime Friday concerts at Santa Monica City College. One Friday we caught this dude named Walter Egan playing great summer beach town tunes on that diminutive stage, and I liked his catchy pop so much that I went right out and bought his just released album, 'NOT SHY.' Within weeks, I heard his song 'Magnet And Steel' on the radio and listened as that July and August it steadily climbed the charts all the way up to #8, making Egan yet another One-Hit Wonder. I felt like I was an "insider."

What's surprising is that the album 'NOT SHY' contains at least half a dozen other cuts that could have just as easily cracked Billboard's Top Ten chart, being (to my ears) much better than the "one hit", but they got no radio airplay. Who can explain that stuff? But if you want an authentic slice of that late '70s pop pie, you could do much worse than Egan's second release, 'NOT SHY.' It was recorded in L.A. in '77 and contains 36 minutes of music that includes Fleetwood Mac pop icon Stevie Nicks singing backup on 5 tracks and bandmates Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood on 2 each, along with Dean Torrance (of Jan & Dean fame) on 1 other.

'NOT SHY' is out-of-print as a single release, but is currently available here in a "Two-Fer-One" package along with Egan's debut album, 'Fundamental Roll.' But I also bought 'Fundamental Roll' way back when and never much cared for it. A little (OK a LOT) older now, and wiser, and more mature, I couldn't bring myself to play that one at this point, as it contains a song called 'Tunnel O' Love' which is about a certain part of a woman's anatomy; a little too lewd and crude for me at (nearly) 47 years of age. I think women should be considered in their totality, not examined part by part. So let's look at 'NOT SHY' alone (*By the way, 30-second song samples can be heard on the Product Page for this out-of-print release.)

SWEET SOUTH BREEZE is a real toe-tapper that opens with Egan's twangy guitar. This had Top Ten hit potential.

MAGNET AND STEEL is the big hit. A ballad which includes a very Beach Boys-like guitar break. "Hey baby, ya wanna camp out on the beach tonight and build a bonfire and...uh....OK, well maybe next weekend?"

FINALLY FIND A GIRLFRIEND with Stevie Nicks featured rather prominently in the background had "hit" written all over it. After years of being the loneliest guy with a good body, I finally found a girlfriend. But the minute I began joyfully singing this song...she dumped me! And the search began again.

THE BLONDE IN THE BLUE T-BIRD is another one that shoulda been a hit. Who can hear this one without thinking of the movie, 'American Graffiti'?

STAR IN THE DUST contains the lyric, "I recall what somebody once told me: Only the lucky in love survive." Here Egan cleverly references his debut album which kicked off with the song, 'Only The Lucky (In Love Survive)' So now you know who the "somebody" was who told him.

I WANNIT is the weak link on the album. Not offensive but not a standout track either.

MAKE IT ALONE contains some angst-driven guitar playing from our boy which gives the song the edge it requires - really his best work on the album. And yes, you can make it alone! Just look at me; I've made it alone. But it IS kinda lonely to be a lone kinda guy. But you CAN make it...alone...and lonely....very lonely....desperately lonely. OK, that's all I have to say about that because it's starting to depress me.

UNLOVED. Ah, yes, here's another one about being alone, lonely, unloved. It's about a girl who can't be contacted because she's "unlisted" her phone. But hey, the singer's gonna make it alone even though he may be a bit lonely, a bit unloved...REALLY unloved. Oh man, here we go again. "Hey baby, let's get together and...oh, I see. OK, well maybe next weekend?"

JUST THE WANTING. No, this brooding ballad is not about wanting a girl when you're unloved and trying to make it alone. It's about the wanting to attain something in life...something a little BIGGER than a girlfriend...unless of course, your girlfriend is named Bertha, or something like that. There's a line in this song that says, "I remember when I was seventeen and my life had just begun." That's funny because I was seventeen when I first saw Walter playing on that little college stage, and I too felt that my life was full of pristine promise. Little did I know back then that the best I'd ever do in life was to write semiappreciated reviews for a then unimaginable internet shopping site while trying to....make it alone...so alone.

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS. Yeah, I know all about hot summer nights (today's high here in Phoenix was about 115 degrees and it's still about 100 at 2 AM), but somehow I get the feeling that Egan has a different kind of "hot" in mind. This may be my favorite track. Here's another one with tremendous hit potential that inexplicably never got played over our radios in the summer of '78.
"A-Woo-ooo-ooo-OO-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo, hot summer nights."

There's nothing fancy on 'NOT SHY'; just simple, but catchy commercial pop, summery and tasty. Alright listen, I gotta go now. No, you can't go with me, and don't let me catch you trying to follow me either. I'm gonna MAKE IT ALONE, gosh darn it, and I can't do that if you're following after me like a lost little puppy dog! "Alone" means alone and I can make it that way...I can....I just know I can. Of course, if you're blonde and female...you think maybe I could catch a lift with you in your blue T-bird? Perhaps we could MAKE IT ALONE together. OK, well maybe next weekend?

Guilty Pleasure.......2006-05-31

I guess there are worse disks to experience a guilty pleasure - but this is one of mine. The good thing is that don't have to purchase these separately - the dual disk is a nice touch.

Egan produces some of the best beach-y music since the Beach Boys/Jan & Dean era. It's a music genre that has all but disappeared.....and even Egan's disks are pushing the 30yo mark.

Completely overlooked save "Magnet & Steel" (and that only hit radio due to Fleetwood Mac riding high), there is some credible and good material that encompasses both 'Fundamental Roll' and 'Not Shy'.

That being said, had the best of material on both disks been combined, it could have made for one great disk. As it is, some of the weaker material truly waters down the potential these disks had.

Stand out cuts include: "Won't You Say You Will", "Yes, I Guess I Am", "Magnet & Steel", "Just the Wanting", "Finally Fine a Girlfriend", "Blonde in the Blue T-Bird" and "Hot Summer Nights".

These aren't deep albums or songs. Just fun....and there's nothing wrong w/that.

A must-have for "Rumours" fans..........2005-06-08

Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood are all over these two very decent, very enjoyable albums by Walter Egan, but who is Walter Egan? He's best remembered for the hit "Magnet & Steel" and for his woodcutting side-hobby(displayed in Buckingham's liner notes for "Out of the Cradle"). He's sort of a non-rabble-rousing good-time boy, a bit callow and unambitious. But his straightforward vocals are pleasant and undemanding, and he sounds even better duetting with La Nicks. Best songs feature Nicks prominently: "Won't You Say You Will", "Yes I Guess I Am"(which features a blistering Buckingham guitar solo), the positively infectious "When I Get My Wheels"(Stevie gets down on this one--"Watch out!!"), the rollicking "Finally Find a Girlfriend", and the best song here, "The Blonde in the Blue T-Bird". On the 'Not Shy' album, Egan got a bit more involved and expanded his band outside of his friends, but the girl back-up singer is no match for Nicks(who appears on several songs nevertheless)and his personality is still too lackadaisical to fully come through.

Average customer rating: Fun Stuff brilliant Vital to any CD collection Great mix of different types of music This isn't "latin pop," this is BORIQUA METAL!!

Fundamental Puya Manufacturer: Fontana Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Union Solo Puya The Fall of Ideals Armageddon Through Your Speaker ASIN: B00000HZDC Release Date: 1999-01-26

Tracks:

1. Oasis
2. Fake
3. Fundamental
4. Montate
5. Whatever
6. Retro
7. Keep It Simple
8. Sal Pa' Fuera
9. Remora
10. Trinidad
11. Solo
12. No Inventes

Customer Reviews:

Fun Stuff.......2006-06-29

I have friends into heavy music of most varieties, so the fact I didn't come across this band for half a decade shows you that they had some marketing problems. I only learned about these folks when I stumbled on an old sampler disc that Megadeth distributed. Puya's song on it grabbed me, but this CD was even better than I expected. As with Max Cavelera's tribal metal or Candiria's jazz metal -- fusions that, when described rather than heard, sound as though they won't work -- Puya's music offers an unlikely combination: Latin, metal, and rap/funk musical elements. The result is sometimes fun and sometimes intense but rarely boring. They'll go from sounding like a heavy-metal Santana on one song to sounding like what Incubus might have produced if their mothers had all been Puerto Rican. Good stuff.

brilliant.......2006-02-18

I don't really know what else to add about this band. read the review from "RICH" he pretty much nailed it on the head.

Vital to any CD collection.......2004-05-09

This band should be HUGE!! The fact that it is not (they actually are not even currently signed to a record label) is a testament to both bad marketing and the general public's lack of imagination. This band single handedly created a new genre: "salsacore". They bring elements of tropical music, hip hop, jazz, and speed metal together to create what I consider a masterpiece. The variety and musicianship in this recording is impeccable. Some songs are so extreme that you don't know whether to dance or headbang. My advice: do both and buy this CD. You will not be dissapointed.

Great mix of different types of music.......2002-02-21

On FUNDAMENTAL, PUYA brings us some hard rocking songs that have a latin feel to them also. The percussion and horns on this album show us something unique and different from what is being played today. OASIS, FAKE, FUNDAMENTAL,MONTATE, are good songs that start the album off and they rock. WHATEVER is an average song, it is mostly rap, but the music is still there with some good beat but I personally could have done without the rap. RETRO slows down abit, but as the song plays on, it picks up its tempo and turns into a hard rockin song. KEEP IT SIMPLE is another slower song, it has some positive lyrics, but I think it is just an average song SAL PA FUERA picks the tempo back up and is a good song to rock to. REMORA is a fast, furious song that kicks ... and should make all the hardcore fans happy. TRINIDAD is a tribute to the boxer Felix Trinidad. Even though I dont care for the fighter myself, I wont hold that against the song,, it rocks. SOLO is almost a totally salsa song that the listener will start to dance to when played. NO INVENTES is the last song on the album. It has a heavy bass to it and rocks but it leaves me wanting for more. All in all, FUNDAMENTAL is a good album for metal fans who want to hear alittle spice to their music

This isn't "latin pop," this is BORIQUA METAL!!.......2001-11-01

I heard Puya's record while still a college radio DJ, and it struck a nerve with me. Being a metalhead of Latino heritage, I didn't have many peers or touchstones to go by. So when I heard of a Puerto Rican metal group playing out of Florida who just signed to MCA, I knew something big was about to happen. But enough about my reactions; let's get to the record.

Puya play what the uninitiated and trend-happy refer to as "nu-metal," but with a major and most welcome twist. A very puertoriqueno vibe can be found throughout their sound (Think Pantera and Biohazard jamming with Tito Puente [Vaya con Dios] and Carlos Santana). Add some Spanish-language rapping and you have a sound that's as heavy as metal gets and yet still remains as familiar and as homesickness-inducing as the island.

"Oasis," "Sal Pa' Fuera" and "Retro" are the rockers on this disc that will have you screaming the lyrics (isn't Spanish a beautiful language?) and punching stuff in no time, even with the timbales and horns in the background. "Remora," "Keep It Simple" and "Trinidad" will have you dancing salsa one minute and moshing the next with their boriqua sensibilities and neck-snapping riffage. "Solo" is the high-water mark here; a soulful and yet crunching ode to integrity, ethnic pride and familia that will have you singing, dancing, moshing and hugging your famms all in the space of four minutes.

The short of it is this: If you like metal with originality and (more importantly) soul, then Puya is the band you're looking for.

"Solo venimos, solo nos vamos. Y aqui nos juntamos, juntos aqui estamos" (Alone we arrive, alone we leave, and here we come together, here we are together.) -"Solo"

Average customer rating:

Fundamental Destiny Manufacturer: Aeco ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Early and Late Sacred Ground Renunciation Mosaic Select 16: Andrew Hill ASIN: B000S6BMY4 Release Date: 2007-06-01

Tracks:

1. People in Sorrow
2. Song for Atala
3. Fundamental Destiny
4. Odwalla/The Theme

Product Description

The Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded live at the Frankfurt, Germany Jazz Festival on June 1, 1991 with Don Pullen

Album Description

The production team at AECO has once more gone through the archives and come up with another gem, culminating in the release of 'Fundamental Destiny', a record of a live 1991 Art Ensemble concert given at the Frankfurt,Germany Jazz Festival. All the members of the ensemble are present: Lester Bowie on trumpet, Joseph Jarman on woodwinds and percussion, Roscoe Mitchell on woodwinds and percussion, Malachi Favors Moghostut playing both bowed and pizzicato bass and percussion and Famoudou on drums and percussion. Significantly, this release also includes renowned keyboardist Don Pullen. A definite for fans of Jazz, Avant-garde, Don Pullen,Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Pharaoh Sanders.

Average customer rating: Steve in GA dont call it Love Tractor Best LT ever ! Absolutely fantastic ! PART 2 great work

Green Winter Love Tractor Manufacturer: Fundamental ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Jangle Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Black Hole Before and After Christmas The Sky at Night This Ain't No Outer Space Ship Concrete Dog ASIN: B000F1HGGA Release Date: 2006-04-11

Tracks:

1. Saturn Rings
2. Humble and Modest
3. Wrong Turn
4. Three and Nine
5. Inventor of Worlds
6. Turquoise and Yellow
7. Slow Down / Below the Surface
8. Greenfield Rock
9. Pain and Suffering
10. Green Winter

Album Description

The Love Tractor boys have done it again! This is the second record in less than a year from the Athens, GA band. "Black Hole" was released in April 2005, and a third title will be released on the heels of this one to finish the trilogy. (That title will possibly feature Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, Mike Mills of REM, and other guests). Musically Green Winter is very different from 2005's Black Hole. Gone are the harsh tones needed for "Black Hole". On first listen "Green Winter" has a much warmer sound. The song "Wrong Turn" is reminiscent of the Allman Brothers and contains impressive guitar and organ solos. "Inventor of Worlds" sounds like Piper at the Gates of Dawn era Pink Floyd and "Turquoise and Yellow" harkens back to the Love Tractor power pop of the late 80's. There are also elements of Funk, Reggae and T.Rex inspired groove, all brought together in LT's original brand of Psychedelia. The band even does a cover version of the Roxy Music song "Three and Nine" from the Country Life record.

Customer Reviews:

Steve in GA.......2006-10-08

Continued evolution and development of one of Athens, GA's greatest bands. Songwriting continues to be highly creative and the musical chops are at a level never seen in the early L.T. days. This disk is true "fusion" (perhaps a bad choice of words!) in that it captures the myriad musical influences that have touched the band members over the years....from prog to rock to punk to dance....they perhaps have invented their own format. It will be interesting to see where these guys continue to go, given the talent and the no-holds-barred approach to exploration of new terrain. One of the more creative disks you're likely to purchase. Highly recommended.

dont call it Love Tractor.......2006-08-14

Decent enough tunes, but without the two crucial founding members who co-created the first five Love Tractor albums, (over a twenty year period no less), the magic of previous era is certainly missing. A Mike Richmond project does not a Love Tractor album make. Check out 'Sky at Night' or previous works instead to see what this once awesome group really sounded like.

Best LT ever ! Absolutely fantastic !.......2006-06-29

I got all Love Tractor's stuff. Every single bit.
This is the best record they've ever done, hands down!

Mike's vocals are up front,the drums are big but don't have that cliche' eighties sound.

The songs are smart. It has a variety of cool grooves, and it totally flows from beginning to end. I have it on
" repeat ", and have been chillin' by the pool to it.

"Saturn Rings" is a fave,"Turquoise" and "Pain" are great too. And I cn start 2 see where the story is going. It was hard to see after not having a record for several years and then just hearing "Black Hole" alone( which was kind of a hard rock extention of "Sky at Night")w/ no explanation that it was the turbulent dark beginning of a 'space trilogy' concept thing. With Green Winter, its starting to make sense. ( Those clever fellows r messing with us ! )

The best thing is that along w/ totally new directions, ("Wrong Turn" is a Derek Trucksish jazzy hippie jam w/ flute) its got elements of all the earlier CDs in it too:
"Turquoise" ( Venus and Spaceship ), "Slow Down" (LT, Cows)Inventor"(Black Hole), "Green Winter" (Sky atNight )

LT has come out of the black hole and have come around the bend...again.

No doubt. This one is destined to be a rock classic.

PART 2.......2006-06-28

This is the second installment in the LT trilogy that started with Black Hole, and you can kind of see the bridge that Mike Richmond and Co. are building here. Green Winter still has the prog touches that were all over Black Hole, but it seems like the band might be sneaking in a bit of the old LT twang. It might be a while before we find out, but here's to hoping that part 3 will be a re-birth of the LT and an advancement at the same time.

great work.......2006-06-28

Though I liked 2005's Black Hole a lot, it is easy to hear that Mike Richmond's new lineup is getting better and better at playing together. This album takes you on a trip, drifting effortlessly through the realms of the earthly and the ethereal, floating through the upper atmosphere and into space with such songs as Saturn Rings, and pulling you back down to earth with such songs as Turqoise and Yellow. I also like the cover of 3 and 9 better than the orginial Roxy Music version. Definitely worth a buy.

Average customer rating: Running out of steam... How about three point seven five stars? Pop with Perspective

Fundamental (Ltd. Edition w/ Bonus CD) Pet Shop Boys Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: I'm with Stupid The Battleship Potemkin Pet Shop Boys: Life in Pop Pet Shop Boys Catalogue Very ASIN: B000FO0AAG Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

1. Psychological
2. Sodom and Gomorrah Show
3. I Made My Excuses and Left
4. Minimal
5. Numb
6. God Willing
7. Luna Park
8. I'm with Stupid
9. Casanova in Hell
10. Twentieth Century
11. Indefinite Leave to Remain
12. Integral

Tracks:

1. Fugitive [Richard X Extended Mix]
2. Sodom [Trentem Remix]
3. Psychological [Alter Ego Remix]
4. Flamboyant [Michael Mayer Kompakt Mix]
5. I'm with Stupid [Melnyk Heavy Petting Mix]
6. In Private [Stuart Crichton Club Mix] - Elton John, Pet Shop Boys
7. Minimal [Lobe Remix]
8. Gomorrah [DeTtinger Remix]

Customer Reviews:

Running out of steam..........2007-04-25

I've been following PSB for two decades now, and I'm convinced they've run out of steam. The last few albums have been extremely spotty, and this one even more so. Sure, there's always a terrific single or two. And the remixes on the bonus disc are thumpy in all the right places. But they seem incapable of pulling off an entire album of arresting and memorable moments. Nothing here begs for repeated listens, and that is what ultimately flaws this collection. Even the assistance of producer Trevor Horn doesn't inspire. From the simply humdrum to the absolutely excrutiating, "Fundamental" is the sound of the Boys who have very little left to offer.

How about three point seven five stars?.......2007-03-17

I detect a ve