So

Amazon.com essential recording
So is generally regarded as a peak in Gabriel's recording career, notable both for its solid set of songs and lush yet musicianly production. For Gabriel, who'd put his music in theatrical contexts ever since his days with Genesis, the modern sound of So (co-produced with Daniel Lanois) was itself a dramatic conceit that effectively played off the more organic roots of many of its songs. The album's big hit was "Sledgehammer," the English rocker's somewhat stilted take on the Stax/Volt style of rhythm & blues. Gabriel was much more powerful on his own art-rock songs, such as "Red Rain," which evoked nuclear ruin with its cascading rush of guitars and synthesizers. "Don't Give Up" is perhaps Gabriel's best ballad, with Kate Bush's heavenly second vocal enough to give anybody encouragement. But the song that best exploited So's blend of technology and soul is "In Your Eyes," a beguiling rhythmic tapestry in which Gabriel duets with Youssou N'dour. --John Milward

So,Peter Gabriel,Geffen Records,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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So

Average customer rating: Here's what the fuss was all about! Beverly Sills - The Best Beverly Sills' highs are breathtaking! THE 2005 OPERA CD OF THE YEAR EMI Does It Again: Beverly Sills - A Tribute

The Very Best of Beverly Sills Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sills, Beverly | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Massenet, Jules | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Lehar, Franz | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Great Recordings Beverly Sills: Made in America Art of Beverly Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation) Verdi: La Traviata / Sills, Gedda, Panerai; Ceccato ASIN: B0006VYELE Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

1. Una Voce Poco Fa - Sherrill Milnes
2. Dunque Io Son - Sherrill Milnes
3. Contro Un Cor - Sherrill Milnes
4. Ah, Qual Colpo Inaspetatto! - Sherrill Milnes
5. E Il Sol Dell'anima... Addio! Speranza Ed Anima - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
6. Gualtier Malde... Caro Nome - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
7. Tutte Le Feste Al Tempio... Compiuto Pur Quanto... Si, Vendetta - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
8. V'ho Ingannato... Lassu In Cielo - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
9. Quel Guardo Il Cavaliere... So Anch'io La Virtu Magica - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
10. Pronta Io Son... Vado, Corro - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
11. Via, Caro Sposino - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
12. Tornami A Dir Che M'ami - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
13. La Morale In Tutto Questo - Ambrosian Opera Chorus

Tracks:

1. Vilia - Beverly Sills
2. Ah! Je Suis Seule... Dis-Moi Que Je Suis Belle - Beverly Sills
3. Cielo! Che Diverro?... Si, ferite... Dal Soggiorno... Ah! Che Spiegar - Beverly Sills
4. Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici - John Alldis Choir
5. Un Di Felice, Eterea - John Alldis Choir
6. E Strano... Ah, Fors'e Lui... Follie! Follie!... Sempre Libera - John Alldis Choir
7. Pura Siccome Un Angelo... Ah! Dite Alla Giovine - John Alldis Choir
8. Che Fai? - John Alldis Choir
9. Addio Del Passato - John Alldis Choir
10. Parigi, O Cara - John Alldis Choir

Amazon.com

Beverly Sills hardly needs an introduction. She sang on the radio as a child and on the operatic stage as a teenager; her meteoric international career was launched by appearances in several virtually unknown bel canto operas at the New York City Opera. This compilation of arias and ensembles from some of her signature roles, recorded in the 1970s, with splendid partners like Nicolai Gedda, Alfredo Kraus, and Sherrill Milnes, displays her unique vocal and dramatic artistry at its peak. Her voice, effortlessly produced over an enormous range, is bright, pure, infinitely variable in color, inflection and intensity. Her intonation is impeccable even in huge leaps, and her breath is endless. The coloratura roulades are like strings of perfect, luminous pearls, clearly articulated in seamless legato. But this stunning technique (whose only flaw is a sometimes wide, wobbly vibrato) is never used for show; every note has life and expression, serving the music and the dramatic situation. Indeed, her characters are flesh-and-blood human beings, whose thoughts, emotions and interactions, from inwardness to ecstasy, from lamentation to overflowing joy, she projects with riveting concentration. Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville is a charming, mischievous minx who succumbs to delighted tenderness; Pamira's great scene from his Siege of Corinth shows clearly why her Metropolitan Opera debut in that role was a sensation. In Verdi's Rigoletto, Gilda's hopeful innocence turns into hopeless despair: she dies, palpably, on a floating, celestial pianissimo. In his La traviata, Violetta's initial cool, hesitant restraint gradually melts as she opens herself (and her voice) to Alfredo's ardor and the bliss of love. The vocal balance in their final duet is uncanny; its tremulous tenderness in the shadow of death breaks the heart, as does her duet with Germont. Massenet's Thais is sensuous; Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Lehár's The Merry Widow provide comic relief. --Edith Eisler

Album Description

Details TBA. EMI. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Here's what the fuss was all about!.......2007-07-17

It would have been even better if they had included at least one Cleopatra aria and something from Baby Doe, but it doesn't really matter, because this collection will allow younger listeners especially to hear what the fuss was all about! There are moments listening to Sills, especially from Traviata or Manon, that are so beautifully sung and so genuine that they are heartbreaking. I feel so fortunate to have heard her Queen of the Night, Manon, Violetta, and Baby Doe. She was so generous as a performer and as a humanitarian, and she really brought opera into the American mainstream.

Beverly Sills - The Best.......2007-04-01

What a voice. No coloratura can compare, and she makes it seem so easy.

Beverly Sills' highs are breathtaking!.......2006-09-18

Adio del Passato is incredible! Beverly's high, floating coloratura is no less than ethereal which takes you to another world. Her voice has given me so much joy that it is hard to say one recording is better than another because I love her Mozart album equally with her Bellini/Donizetti. It is so wonderful to have these recordings captured on CD! Enjoy!

THE 2005 OPERA CD OF THE YEAR.......2006-08-19

THIS CD WAS THE BEST OPERA CD ISSUED LAST YEAR, AND HAS CAUGHT THE WORLD'S EAR IN NO TIME. I WAS BUSY WRITING IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL, WHILE THE STATEOWNED FM RADIOSTATION, DEDICATED TO CULTURE, WAS SOFTLY PLAYING OPERA ARIAS IN THE BACKGROUND. SUDDENLY I HEARD THE MOST FANTASTIC RENDERING OF "SEMPRE LIBERA" FROM "LA TRAVIATA". I GOT UP, SAT BY THE RADIO AND WAITED TO KNOW WHO WAS SINGING... THEN GOT BACK TO THE COMPUTER TO ORDER THIS CD FROM AMAZON! INCREDIBLE: ONLY 17 BUCKS FOR THIS, WHILE QUITE A BIT OF TRASH IS SOLD FOR 30.40 AND MORE...
A LADY FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME SHE COULD NOT LISTEN TO THE DUET IN "MADAMA BUTTERFLY" WITH MIRELLA FRENI AND LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (RECORDED IN 1974, BY VON KARAJAN) WITHOUT CRYING. WELL, YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO SILLS IN "LA TRAVIATA" DRY-EYED, NO MATTER WHO THE TENOR IS. SHE PROJECTS THE SAME DRAMATIC FEELING OF "LA DIVINA" CALLAS WITHOUT THOSE SHRIEKED HIGHNOTES; SHE OFFERS THE SAME COLORATURA VOCAL GYMNASTICS AS "LA STUPENDA" SUTHERLAND BUT WITH WARMTH... WHEN BEVERLY SANG, AS IN EVERYTHING ELSE SHE DID, SHE ALWAYS GAVE HER UTMOST. SHE WAS "LA GENEROSA" TO BE SURE.
DON'T JUST SIT THERE READING WHAT OTHERS THINK.
ORDER THIS CD NOW AND MARVEL AT HOW THIS GREAT AMERICAN LADY, IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS, ALSO COULD SING!

EMI Does It Again: Beverly Sills - A Tribute.......2005-07-22

EMI's "Very Best Of" series are perfect introductions to operatic singers of the 20th century. Once you hear these artist tribute albums (much like The Singers series) you will get hooked on the singer and seek out their full-length studio recordings. Beverly Sills was the first truly famous American opera star. One may argue that she was not, that she was merely a continued tradition of American divas such as Mary Garden and Lily Pons and which still continues today with Renee Fleming, Elizabeth Futral and Susan Graham. Beverly was raised in New York City, which is still her home, and which is the home of the New York City Opera and the Met, opera houses which rocketed her to fame. Her first success (not featured in this recording...UH WHY ?) was Cleopatra of Handel's Julius Caesar, a performance she sang opposite the illustrious baritone Norman Treigle. Those performances were legendary because coincidentally at the same time the Met was opening its new theatre and season with what became a disastrous Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra starring Leontyne Price in an overblown, big-budget, epic fiasco. The great roles that followed the 1965 Cleopatra were Manon, Queen Elizabeth I in Roberto Deveraux, Maria Stuarda and Anna Bolena in the Donizetti Tudor Queen operas, Pamira in The Siege of Corinth (which were Sill's La Scala and belated Met debut. None of the Queens are featured in this recording, though its supposedly the Very Best Of. An aria from Rossini's Siege of Corinth is featured here however. What we are treated to however are fine lyric roles- Beverly Sills shone brightly and acted convincingly as Gilda in Rigoletto (the final scene is featured here) as Violetta in La Traviata, Thais, The Merry Widow (the beautiful Vilja is featured here)and the ingenue role of Norina in Don Pasquale is also showcased here. To each of these roles, Beverly Sills delivered an authenticity and dramatic interpretation, not ot mention beautiful, sweet tone. I love her pianissimos, her high notes, her chest register. It was the voice of Beverly Sills who first hooked me into opera. For a recording that should showcase her best work, Manon is not featured nor any of her prized French heroines- Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment and the heroines in Tales of Hoffman. Also not in here is the role that was her first success- the Broadway opera Ballad of Baby Doe. Even as such, the arias here are gorgeous. The Barber of Seville is in here and as Rosina she is playful and charming. Sills was a modern singer, with a voice that was beautiful but willing to sacrifice beauty for the sake of dramatic content. When Sills was once asked what she thought of the supposed rivalry with Joan Sutherland (which was never real and only gossip from partisan fans) Beverly said something to this effect -Joan and I are apples and oranges in our take on opera, we are Picasso and Monet. She would do anything for the effect of beauty and tone, I'd sacrifice beauty for the sake of dramatic text. Even as such, I see no ugliness to any of the roles here. All of them are beautiful to hear, full of rich floating celestial tones. It would have been nice to hear the roles that did call for Sills to step up the tense drama - Norma, will her recording ever be reissued by EMI ? Also, few people know that Beverly Sills sung role most would consider dangerous for her voice (though she sang them long before her career even took off)- Aida and Carmen!!

Average customer rating: Looking forward to the next cd Awesome and will develop skills Great voice Excellent Ain't No Reason

So Much More Brett Dennen Manufacturer: Dualtone Music Group ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Brett Dennen (Digipak) These Streets Till the Sun Turns Black Supply And Demand West ASIN: B000GY72WY Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

1. Ain't No Reason
2. There Is So Much More
3. Darlin' Do Not Fear
4. Because You Are A Woman
5. She's Mine
6. The One Who Loves You The Most
7. I Asked When
8. When You Feel It
9. So Long Sweet Misery
10. Someday

Album Description

The Oakdale, Ca native continues to grow his fan base with a live show consisting of the honest songwriting of a Jack Johnson, the guitar work of Paul Simon and the attention grabbing energy of a Ben Harper leaving all in his wake of yearning for more.

Customer Reviews:

Looking forward to the next cd.......2007-07-15

There are artists that it's a given............when their cd hits the shelves, I'll buy it. Brett Dennen is one of those artists. He's made quite an impression because I've only just heard of him, in fact, just last night he opened for Ben Folds, who opened for John Mayer in Hartford CT.

Met him briefly after his set, while Ben Folds was playing. Didn't miss much there.

I'm sure there's lots more good stuff to come from this guy.

Awesome and will develop skills.......2007-07-05

It's easy to see which musicians have influenced Brett Dennen - everyone is in agreement (see below for the timeless names). Nonetheless, I think most people also agree that he has his own style that differentiates him from those who influenced him. His sound is undeniably refreshing. Like many who posted, I believe there is much room for him to grow in light of his young modern talent, and he undoubtedly will. He is still young and it will be interesting to see his style develop over time. 4 stars to "So Much More" in the hopes that Brett will come out with a new album that confirms my belief and merits 5.

Great voice.......2007-06-14

I heard "Ain't No Reason" used in the TV show HOUSE and knew I had to buy the cd. His voice is fantastically soothing - definitely akin to Tracy Chapman. While "Ain't No Reason" is in continuous play on my ipod, the other songs haven't really gripped me yet. I think it's a good cd, but perhaps one that will take me a while to really get into.

Excellent .......2007-06-07

This is terrific, low key, beautiful tunes. He sounds so much like Xavier Rudd (and maybe a bit like Paul Simon). In fact, I think that if you made a mix of Dennen and Rudd, people would think it was the same artist. If you like this, check out Rudd.

Ain't No Reason.......2007-06-03

I can't really comment on the whole c.d., as I've only heard one song. I heard it on House, the television show, on an episode entitled "Family". It of course was "Ain't No Reason". I had to look up the lyrics again, just to make sure I heard them right, but I had. It evoked instant emotion in me, bringing tears to my eyes. It tied in beautifully with what the episode was about, and brought to my mind some issues that had been going on in my life. I found it haunting, sad, yet tinged with hope. I came here to see what others thought, and after reading the mixed reviews I still am not certain whether to purchase it or not. But I had to say that I did love that one song, and I have rated it with 4 stars. I love good lyrics, and it had them.

Average customer rating: Real R&B! Carl Thomas What About A Refund? Trying to work it's majic! So much better? Better than what? Do not by even if its free

So Much Better Carl Thomas Manufacturer: Bungalo Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sex Love & Pain Double Up Ain't Nothin' Like Me Luvanmusiq Special Occasion ASIN: B000Q364BK Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

1. If I Could (Intro)
2. Another You
3. 2 Pieces
4. Thought You Should Know
5. Somthin' Bout You
6. If That Ain't Love
7. Late Night Rendezvous
8. Get You Back (Interlude)
9. So Much Better
10. Oh No You Can't Be Serious
11. Can't Get Over
12. How Can We
13. If You Ever
14. Say I Do
15. I Miss You (Interlude)
16. Home
17. Late Night Rendezvous
18. Oh No You Cant Be Serious

Amazon.com

As easy as Carl Thomas' So Much Better is to love--the lyrics poke at the heart, and the singing swerves from soft to determined in a way that satisfies consistently--its admirers will fall into a couple of camps. Under one tent you'll find mainstream R&B fanatics, the kind who never heard a skillful handclap and ooh-baby combo they weren't willing to vibe along with, and hanging out under the other will be old-schoolers who never stopped mourning Donny Hathaway. Thomas's knack for delivering both groups the soul-stirring, love-centric songs that thrill them is no small thing--his ability to dig beneath a song's shiny surface and pull out pure emotion would do his iconic predecessors proud. Plus, he makes it all seem easy: midtempo tracks like the reggae-fied "On No (You Can't Be Serious)," on which his voice takes on tinges of John Legend, send out bursts of genuine joy, while straight-up love laments like "2 Pieces" land on the ears with a believability so real it almost burns. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Real R&B!.......2007-07-23

This Cd is wonderful, the best I have heard in a long time! At last some real R&B music. This Cd is full of love ballads and is so much better than the last CD but nothing can top Emotional. I think it was impossible to top that one! But I totally enjoyed and did not regret the $10 at all!

Carl Thomas What About A Refund?.......2007-07-23

My dad and I listened to the first 4 songs....I immediately thought, "Boring...let's throw it out the window!!" However, my dad urged me to keep it and when we got home, he pulled out the 12 gauge, shot it, and then burned it and spread it's ashes up and down H1 Highway!!! =o Opppss!! Another $10 down the drain....ALOHA! =)

Trying to work it's majic!.......2007-07-13

I love Carl Thomas! After waiting three years for a new CD from him, this CD did not capture me out the gates like the first two CD's. I am slowly but surely letting this one work its majic on me.

So much better? Better than what?.......2007-07-09

It starts off really well. The intro "If I Could (Interlude)" promises so much and I so desperately wish he could've stretched it out into a full song. But he didn't. "Another You (Steppers Mix)" is okay but nothing new. If I wanted this kind of stuff I'd buy Ne-Yo's new CD, I found myself thinking. "2 Pieces" is also instantly forgettable, as far as I'm concerned. "Thought You Should Know" featuring Lalah Hathaway is interesting but only in the sense that Hathaway only seems to be doing backing vocals (alongside Troy Taylor, Claude Kelly & Gordon Chambers). In fact, I wouldn't have known she was on the song at all if it wasn't mentioned on the CD cover and I've been a fan of hers since day one. It gives a new and inventive meaning to the word 'featuring', if you ask me. Here's what I'm trying to say: Hathway has a distinctive voice; one of those that is instantly recognisable and consummately memorable. Check out the song "Earth" on Meshell Ndegeocello's brilliant Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape for a real example of what the woman can do as a backing vocalist. It doesn't even say 'featuring Lalah Hathaway' on the title but you know she's on the song as soon as you hear it.

Things are better with "Somethin Bout You" featuring Brandy but only slightly. She's also someone who's vocals I usually recognise immediately and I can hear her clearly here but whatever the woman does on the song, she does not duet with Thomas on lead.

"If That Ain't Love" is another yawn inducer and by this time it's starting to dawn on me that I've probably made a mistake buying this CD. Things finally get cooking with "Late Night Rendezvous" and this is more like the kind of thing I was hoping for on this album, at least musically. Lyrically, well, that's another issue. He sings on the chorus for instance: "Mama, I'm leaving the club/ I was wondering if you were up/ For a late night rendezvous..." I mean, please.

"Get You Back (Interlude)" is what it is and the title track is okay, I guess but again, nothing special. That being said, it is one of the tracks on here that could grow on me in time. "Oh No (You Can't Be Serious)" is another interesting one. Reggae influenced. Good vocals by Thomas and for the first time, I actually believe that he feels what he's singing. It reminds me of the raw emotion he displayed on "I Wish" back in the day. I also give him credit for venturing outside his comfort zone. I also like "Can't Get Over" featuring Dave Hollister. Great lead and background vocal performances and this is the only really soulful song on this CD.

The rest of the CD (apart from maybe "If You Ever", which is a pretty decent ballad and "I Miss You (Interlude)", which again, would've been so great as a full blown song) is just a waste of time, including the alternative versions of earlier mentioned songs, one featuring E40 and another that features Baby Cham. Neither is an improvement on the original, in my view. The sentiment behind "Home" is sweet but the delivery just falls flat.

So there it is. "If I Could (Interlude)" is a definite yes, "Late Night Rendezvous" is another yes but only musically. The lyrics left a lot to be desired. And then there's "So Much Better", which is a maybe, "I Can't Get Over You", which is another definite yes and "If You Ever", another maybe and finally, "I Miss You (Interlude)", another definite yes.

Overall, while there are some good moments, it's just not particularly rewarding. I very rarely post negative reviews but I was expecting so much from this CD and got so little, I just couldn't go without registering my disappointment. 14 out of the 18 tracks here (including the interludes) are written by and produced by Mike City and I feel that's probably been part of the problem. I was ready to blame the executive producer(s) but Thomas himself executive produced the project, alongside Mike City and Jheryl Busby, so ultimately I have no one to blame but the artiste himself. He calls this album "So Much Better" and my question is, so much better than what? 2000's Emotional was a phenomenal album but I was just too busy to check out his 2004 follow up. If it's true that this album is better than that one (as a number of reviewers are suggesting) then I'm now doubly glad I missed it. It must've been jaw-droppingly awful.

I've always loved Thomas's voice and have always put him up there as one of my main r&b singers of choice. I still feel he's an awesome talent. It's just that I also believe he can do much better than this. So much better, in fact.

Do not by even if its free.......2007-07-05

I am a huge carl Thomas fan but yet when i found that he had a new album and it wasnt advertised i thought it to be weird. Either way i bought the album because Carl always comes out wit a good album but this was just horrible.... All the songs sounded as if he was talking and the beats he used are not good at all. It should have been known that he is no longer with bad boy records. The label he is with now is just no good and made his album very bad....I wish that i would have not bought it even if it was 10 dollars.

Average customer rating: RIP, BEVERLY SILLS 1929-2007 Brava Sills! Sills fits my bill The Great American Soprano My Favorite Woman

The Great Recordings Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sills, Beverly | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Beverly Sills Art of Beverly Verdi: La Traviata / Sills, Gedda, Panerai; Ceccato Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation) Beverly Sills: Made in America ASIN: B0001Y4JG6 Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

1. Son Vergin Vezzosa - Paul Plishka
2. Eccomi... Oh! Quante Volte
3. Mira, O Norma
4. Santo Di Patria... Allor Che I Forti Corrono... Da Te Questo
5. Contro Un Cor Che Accende Amore - Nicolai Gedda
6. Che M'apporti? - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
7. Quel Sangue Versato Al Cielo S'innalza - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
8. Vorrei Spiegarvi, Oh Dio, K.418
9. Amor, Op.68 No.5

Tracks:

1. Martern Aller Arten
2. E Strano! E Strano!
3. Ah, Fors'e Lui
4. Follie! Follie!
5. Sempre Libera
6. Ces Murs Silencieux - Pardonnez-moi, Dieu De Toute Puissance - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
7. Toi! Vous! - Oui! Je Fus Cruelle Et Coupable! - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
8. N'est-ce Plus Ma Main? - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
9. Robert, Toi Que J'aime
10. Tu Ne Chanteras Plus?
11. Chere Enfant Que J'appele
12. Meine, Lippen, Die Kusen So Heiss
13. Wien, Wien, Nur Du Allein
14. Always Through The Changing

Customer Reviews:

RIP, BEVERLY SILLS 1929-2007.......2007-07-03

The great American diva's passing was announced today.

This wonderful CD set is a perfect compilation of her art as can be found anywhere. Her finest roles and performances are captured here, most of them derived from the Westminster/Audio Treasury recordings from her prime. Listening to them again demonstrates to me why she was so special, and such an inspiration to music lovers everywhere.

Brava Sills!.......2007-02-02

A very nice compilation of Sillsiana. The different cuts on this CD provide a nice illustration of her work. Let me briefly describe my response to a sampling of the works on this CD:

Bellini, I Puritani, "Son vergin vezzosa." Wonderful. Sutherland owns this--but so does Beverly Sills. Contemporary sopranos such as Netrebko and Gruberova have also sung this on their respective CDs, and while their product is nice, it simply does not compare. Sills is remarkably agile with her voice; the trills are well done; she cleanly hits high notes; the overall effect can only be described as wonderful.

Bellini, Norma, "Mira, o Norma". This is smoothly sung and very melodic. The technique that she exhibits does not overwhelm the music.

Rosini, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, "Contro un cor che accende amore." Again, her agile voice is well deployed. The florid singing is well done.

Donizetti, Roberto Devereaux, "Che m'apporti." Her clean, light voice matches well with this aria. Smoothly sung. Her "Quel sangue versato al cielo s'innalza," which follows, is well done. High notes cleanly hit, a smooth line.

Verdi, La Traviata, "E strano. . . .Sempre libera." Again, what agility! In "Sempre libera," she reveals a rich voice and, again, wonderful agility. This is an animated version of one of Verdi's showcase pieces.

Lehar, Giudetta. "Meine Lippen." A lot of fun! This is smoothly sung.

In the final analysis, this is a nice potpourri of Beverly Sills' repertoire. Those not familiar with her work will find this a nice entree to her oeuvre; those familiar with her will find this a good compilation.

Sills fits my bill.......2006-03-13

This recording is another in an all too small CD collection of Sills recordings. I eagerly await more.

The Great American Soprano.......2005-10-01

This is a great collecition featuring arias from the Classical and Romantic periods. Fabulous!!!!!

My Favorite Woman.......2005-08-05

I would have to say that when I first heard Beverly Sills sing, I was entranced. I couldn't take my eyes off of her and I became angry at any rustling around me, because I was afraid I would miss one note. It was so addictive....that is what she is....addictive! A c.d. will never properly capture her style. She is an amazing leader in opera, taking it into a new frontier and I believe this c.d. showcases that.

Average customer rating: One of the very few non-metal/screamo groups I can stand. ... WOW Mazzy Star sublime

So Tonight That I Might See Mazzy Star Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Among My Swan She Hangs Brightly Blind The Trinity Session Mezzanine ASIN: B000002V07 Release Date: 1993-10-05

Tracks:

1. Fade Into You
2. Bells Ring
3. Mary Of Silence
4. Five String Serenade
5. Blue Light
6. She's My Baby
7. Unreflected
8. Wasted
9. Into Dust
10. So Tonight That I Might See

Amazon.com Music Reviews

People tend to confuse the band Mazzy Star with it's singer Hope Sandoval. Truth be told, they've been right all along. Sandoval's languid, weeping willow voice is Mazzy Star; the name is a mere formality. With nods to Nico and the Velvet Underground, So Tonight that I Might See is vintage Mazzy. Remarkably, the recording produced a strikingly undanceable single, "Fade into You," that ascended to respectable rotation on college and AAA radio. The rest of the album sticks close to the single's plaintive, retro balladry. Though Sandoval rarely raises her voice above a sultry whisper, it's bright enough to hold your attention all night. --Nick Heil

Customer Reviews:

One of the very few non-metal/screamo groups I can stand........2007-06-23

Mazzy Star is one of the very few non-metal/screamo groups I can stand. If you don't have everything Mazzy put out, you're wrong. Their second best album.

..........2007-06-13

Easy listening for the college rock scene. You'd probably be better off buying Slow Jamz or something. Totally boring, but I wouldn't mind listening to it if someone put it on and the mood was right.

WOW.......2007-05-28

I am SO blown away with this album. It is truly amazing if I can say so myself. As an R&B and Hip Hop lover, male at that, I must admit that this album's music hits a whole other spot. I can't wait to go and purchase (listened to most tracks from free downloads) because I have to support such outstanding art. While everyone raves over the amazingly beautiful song, Fade Into You, i am so surprised that almost no one has mentioned my current second favorite, Into Dust. That song I can listen to over and over and over and...

This album is a must have.

Mazzy Star.......2007-03-08

CD is in horrible condition adn not advertised that way. Otherwise delivery was just fine.

sublime.......2006-12-29

If you have never treated yourself to a Mazzy Star album - start with this one. Of course it opens with the incredibly sublime 'Fade into you' which still remains to be my favorite song of all time after so many years. Having said that, every song on the album is incredible and takes you to another place. Hope Sandoval is possibly the best female vocalist I've ever heard and it's a shame that she hasnt released more albums.
Absolute sublime classic disc that you will never tire of.

Average customer rating: Jeff Buckley was so Awesome. THE BEST INTRODUCTION TO A GIFTED BUT CHALLENGING ARTIST Excellent CD for new and old J Buckley fans!! So Real Quite a Gem Here we go again.

So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley Jeff Buckley Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Similar Items: Grace Tim Buckley: My Fleeting House Easy Tiger Release the Stars Grace ASIN: B000NOK9YK Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

1. Last Goodbye
2. Lover, You Should've Come Over
3. Forget Her
4. Eternal Life
5. Dream Brother
6. The Sky Is A Landfill
7. Everybody Here Wants You
8. So Real
9. Mojo Pin
10. Vancouver
11. Je N'en Connais Pas La Fin
12. Grace
13. Hallelujah
14. I Know It's Over

Amazon.com

Among the legions of rockers who died way too young--including Jeff Buckley's father, Tim--few have approached the artistic range and seemingly limitless potential on display here. In the decade since Buckley's death, there has been such a flood of posthumous releases that it might be hard to remember that he issued only a four-cut live EP and a studio debut album while he was alive. This anthology serves as an effective introduction for the initiate, showing how Buckley could rock with the slash-and-burn intensity of Led Zeppelin on "Eternal Life (Road Version)," turn rapturous with the reverie of "Lover, You Should've Come Ove," and cover the likes of Edith Piaf ("Je N'en Connais Pas La Fin") and Leonard Cohen (his by now iconic transformation of "Hallelujah"). Completists will need this for the live versions of "So Real" and the Smiths' "I Know It's Over," previously unreleased commercially. Whether Buckley would ever have been able to balance the control that mature artistry requires and the ecstatic abandon that distinguished him, such raw talent continues to startle. --Don McLeese

Album Description

Import 14-track pressing features tracks from his two studio albums and includes two rarities, 'So Real' (Live and Acoustic in Japan - non album version/ promo single) and 'I Know it's Over' . (Previously Unreleased - Smiths cover from a session at Sony Studios that was edited for broadcast on WNEW on April 6, 1995. It was not included on the radio broadcast.) Other highlights include 'Last Goodbye', 'Forget Her', 'Everybody Here Wants You' and more. All of the tracks lifted from Grace are pulled from the remastered tracks that featured on the Legacy Edition. Sony. 2007.

Customer Reviews:

Jeff Buckley was so Awesome........2007-07-20

This latest issue of some of Jeff Buckley's best selections is a must have for fans. Included are some good Buckley standards -- like Hallelujah -- but also included is a live cover of Eternal Life and a moving rendition of one of Morrissey's (The Smiths) tear jerkers, I know it's Over.

Given that Jeff was tragically lost to the world almost 10 years ago, it is sadly gratifying to have the full range of his recordings so that we can at least celebrate his talent and remember him very fondly.

THE BEST INTRODUCTION TO A GIFTED BUT CHALLENGING ARTIST.......2007-06-01

One of the best things about reviewing music is that it compels the writer to listen hard and fair to everything that comes out of a speaker. If you attempt to write something based solely on your own preconceptions, then a) you aren't listening, and b) you are not qualified to inflict others with your words. Jeff Buckley was the type of artist that I knew had special qualities, but there were elements of his presentation that held me at arm's length. He singing range was extraordinary, but his dramatic tendencies often overwhelmed me. Sometimes, I even found myself recoiling as he floated freely in the ether, conveying a part of his spirit that eluded me entirely. Until I understood this aspect of his art, I knew I was unqualified to review his music, but "So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley" has taught me how to listen.
The problem I had with most all previous product by Buckley - and I've heard most of them -is that they presumed you to understand Buckley's genius. "Live at Sin-e" "and "Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk" both overwhelmed me, for very different reasons. "...Sin-e" is concise, but it puts Buckley on display as a performer, and left me wondering if he was emotionally attached to the songs, or simply in love with the sound of his own voice. "...Drunk" was an embarrassment of riches, with way too much material for me to digest, especially since most of it was left unfinished in the wake of Buckley's untimely death. Only "Grace" conveyed a full picture of the man as a fully developed artist, and even that record demanded that you understand and accept his strange welding of Van Morrison's spirit with Robert Plant's histrionics.
"So Real" is by far the best place for a person to discover the beauty of Buckley's music. By culling the best bits of his recorded output and distributing them intelligently over one exceptional disk, it serves as a roadmap into the soul of an extremely gifted performer. Parts of this collection are merely brilliant; other parts are revelatory. The "Grace" selections sound every bit as good today as they did back in '94, while songs like "Forget Her" and "Eternal Life" (both from posthumous releases) are frighteningly intense and emotionally stunning. For reasons similar to those I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I recently indulged myself in the music of Leonard Cohen and I now find myself with a respect for his artistry that borders on awe. Re-hearing Buckley's version of Cohen's "Hallelujah" makes it obvious that this is a definitive performance, as if sung by a fallen angel who embraces the sanctity of this mortal coil. There are still moments of excess, but instead of histrionics, I now hear an artist utilizing every ounce of his ability to convey something that is spiritual and ethereal, but also `so real'. I know I waited too long to truly hear the elegance and raw emotion in Jeff Buckley's music. I hope you don't make the same mistake. A- Tom Ryan

Excellent CD for new and old J Buckley fans!!.......2007-05-29

This CD proves again that Jeff Buckley is the greatest musician that has ever recorded music. Not only does this CD give its reader an excellent mixture of some his best tunes but also adds two unreleased songs that are truly rare and excellent in choice. His version of "I Know It's Over" can send chills down anyone's spine and will make you stop and listen to each word. You will find yourself playing this song over and over, realizing what a beautiful voice he had and how he could take any song and make it his own. If you are new to Jeff Buckley and are wondering if this CD is a good choice, it does a wonderful job of introducing you to a rare talent that has yet to be mastered from anyone else in the music industry. And if you are new, after this CD, you will definitely become a Jeff Buckley fan. To the already Jeff Buckley fan, I highly recommend it and believe me, it is NOT a waste of money - it is worth every penny and more!

So Real Quite a Gem.......2007-05-27

It has been said this CD is especially good for newbies discovering Jeff Buckley's music. That would include me, as I only discovered Buckley and his music a few months ago. I heard my first Buckley song 'Hallelujah' on a TV show, since then I have bought everything I could get my hands on that Buckley recorded. For those of you who think, it is just the same old thing, don't buy it, but thank goodness his music is still being put out there for all of us like me who have only just discovered Jeff Buckley. I thank his mom and Sony for continuing their hard work to get his music to the public. I counted the days waiting for this CD to be released. It is just as wonderful as I hoped it would be. SO REAL is worth every penny and more, especially for 'I KNOW IT'S OVER'. That song is quite a gem.

Here we go again........2007-05-27

The same old songs regurgitated once more so Mary Guibert can make another quick buck off of the talent of her dead son. For shame.

Average customer rating: Amazing CD...AMAZING! Not Great but So Good My Favorite CD of 2004 Upbeat! its rare for me to give out this many stars,

So Jealous Tegan and Sara , and Tegan & Sara Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | 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 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: More Adventurous Show Your Bones Plans Begin to Hope Grey's Anatomy ASIN: B0002MSCBK Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

1. You Wouldn't Like Me
2. Take Me Anywhere
3. I Bet It Stung
4. I Know I Know I Know
5. Where Does The Good Go?
6. Downtown
7. I Won't Be Left
8. Walking Wth A Ghost
9. So Jealous
10. Speak Slow
11. Wake Up Exhausted
12. We Didn't Do It
13. Fix You Up
14. I Can't Take It

Amazon.com

Three albums into Tegan & Sara's career, it's still somehow necessary to get a couple of facts about them out of the way before diving into their latest offering. They are, yes, identical twin lesbians, and they do occupy the space--more like a vacuum, really--between the riot-grrl menace of Sleater-Kinney and the un-fun folk of Indigo Girls. That out of the way, So Jealous is the duo's best disc yet, meriting more than the mainstream notice that has so far evaded it. All the components are in place: a beyond synthy, full-throttle band, including John Collins and David Carswell of New Pornographers, and songwriting so honest as to make a person--any person--check to make sure no one has been snooping in her diary ("I won't mistake you for problems with me/I won't let my moods ruin this you'll see," from "I Won't Be Left"). The vibe is early-80s pop-punky (Tegan & Sara's singing can sound like Missing Persons' minus the squeals) spiked with a rock'n'roll edge--if the title track were noisier, it might sound at home on a Yeah Yeah Yeahs disc. Destined for hugeness, if only in indie circles for now, Tegan & Sara provide something crucial for pop princesses to be So Jealous of, and that's genuine talent. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

SO JEALOUS is the follow up to Tegan and Sara's critically acclaimed 2002 release IF IT WAS YOU. The band toured with Ryan Adams, Ben Folds, and Hot Hot Heat, were featured on MTV's YOU HEAR IT FIRST and hosted 120 Minutes and generated a huge press buzz.

SO JEALOUS is the next musical evolution for Tegan and Sara and finds them delving into new musical territory. Tracks such as "Walking With A Ghost," "I Bet It Stung," "We Didn't Do It," and "Speak Slow" find the girls hitting a new level of maturity in their songwriting. A special enhanced portion features a behind-the-scenes documentary.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing CD...AMAZING!.......2007-07-06

Honestly you will be singing almost every song on this CD driving to work, taking a shower, or cooking a meal. This CD is a great CD, every track is not only listenable, but very enjoyable. The title track "so jealous" might take an extra one or two listens to enjoy, but every other song is a flawless transfer into the other. You listen to the whole CD, and when its over, you just hit play again. Pop the CD in your computer, and watch a video of tegan and sara in the studio making the the CD. Sit back, relax, and listen to two canadian twin sisters making amazing catchy songs. Noted Tracks "Wake Up Exhausted" "Take me Anywhere" "I know I know I know" "I Bet it Stung" "Downtown" "Speak Slow" "Walking With the Ghost"

Not Great but So Good.......2007-04-12

I love these girls and apparantly I'm not the only one as their songs keep popping up on TV shows and commercials. That's not to say that Tegan & Sara are selling out, I just think today's television producers are a tad more hipper than they used to be. So Jealous actually came out a few years ago but it's taken me this long to decide I had to have it. The album isn't as consistently enjoyable as If It Was You, their last effort but where So Jealous is good, it's very good. The opening "You Wouldn't Like Me" with its chugging guitar and the self loathing lyrics are typical T&S. So Jealous takes all of the greatness that is the sisters and keeps the momentum going. The ambiguous misery of the lyrics is so catchy and enjoyable you can't help but sing and strut along. "Take Me Anywhere" , "Where Does The Good Go" and the single "Walking With A Ghost" are just as good as anything on If It Was You. The grinding guitars, hip drum beats and the awesome harmonies and vocals are a nice distraction from anyone's own problems. Let's hope Tegan & Sara get back to the studio very soon. And if you haven't yet discovered these girls get yourself a copy now!

My Favorite CD of 2004.......2007-03-30

This is an astonishingly good album, resembling a greatest hits package more than a general release. Tegan has one of the most original-sounding voices.

"You Wouldn't Like Me" really blows me away: beginning with some six-string strumming and just a single voice, the song builds up until in the end it resembles a pop triumph.

The great thing about Tegan & Sara is that they come up with great melodies and then stay on melody. No extra trills or frills.

The contributions from New Pornographers' members just make this disc all the more interesting.

If you like more obscure folk pop, the kind you just might not hear while shopping at your favorite natural health foods store, you owe it to yourself to search this out.

Upbeat!.......2007-03-09

I bought this CD because one of the songs was in the show Grey's Anatomy and caught my attention. Not normally something I would buy, but I LOVE it!

its rare for me to give out this many stars,.......2007-03-01

but I feel justified in doing so. I adore these two women, but I do not condone lesbianism. Hence, the 4 stars.

Average customer rating: peter gabriel hits the big time Former Genesis frontman Gabriel's arguable finest hour as a solo artist 20 plus years later not only popular but excellent Be sure to get the Remastered version! Great album again from PG

So Peter Gabriel Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Us Peter Gabriel 3: Melt Security Shaking the Tree: 16 Golden Greats Peter Gabriel 2: Scratch ASIN: B000065VA1 Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

1. Red Rain
2. Sledgehammer
3. Don't Give Up
4. That Voice Again
5. Mercy Street
6. Big Time
7. We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)
8. This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)
9. In Your Eyes

Amazon.com essential recording

So is generally regarded as a peak in Peter Gabriel's recording career, notable both for its solid set of songs and lush production. For Gabriel, who'd been putting his music in theatrical contexts ever since his days with Genesis, the modern sound of So (coproduced with Daniel Lanois) was a dramatic conceit that effectively played off the organic roots of many of its songs. The album's big hit was "Sledgehammer," the English rocker's somewhat stilted take on the Stax/Volt style of rhythm & blues. Gabriel is much more powerful on his own art-rock songs, such as "Red Rain," which evokes nuclear ruin with its cascading rush of guitars and synthesizers. "Don't Give Up" is perhaps Gabriel's best ballad, with Kate Bush's heavenly second vocal enough to give anybody encouragement. But the song that best exploits So's blend of technology and soul is "In Your Eyes," a beguiling rhythmic tapestry in which Gabriel duets with Youssou N'Dour. --John Milward

Customer Reviews:

peter gabriel hits the big time.......2007-07-07

peter gabriel's so is his most successful album. the hit songs are sledgehammer at#1,big time at#7,and in your eyes in the top20. other good songs are red rain,don't give up,this is the picture,mercy street,that voice again,and we do what we're told. i have enjoyed listening to this album again,thanks peter. ed wilson

Former Genesis frontman Gabriel's arguable finest hour as a solo artist 20 plus years later.......2007-06-22

Former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel released his fifth studio solo album So in May of 1986.
1986 was the year of Genesis past and present. Ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett released his hit collaboration with Yes guitarist Steve Howe called GTR's self-titled album. Also, Hackett and Gabriel's ex-colleages which were the rest of Genesis (Phil collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford) released the hugely successful Invisible Touch under the Genesis moniker.
A month before Invisible Touch, Gabriel released So which was a year in the making but was well worth the time it took to create this now classic to rock history.
Gabriel and his supreme team of session players, including the reliable Tony Levin on bass, David Rhodes on guitar plus Police drummer Stewart Copeland and drummers Manu Katche and Rick Marotta.
The thunderous "Red Rain" is a stellar opener to this album and is possibly his best solo track. Next is the smash hit "Sledgehammer" (with Gabriel going a bit funky on the R&B thing) and was rightfully a #1 hit. Ironically, it KO-ed his ex-bandmembers' "Invisible Touch" single out of #1 in the US. Also this track's video was groundbreaking with its animation effects. Next is the excellent duet with Kate Bush called "Don't Give Up" (w/ Kate Bush) which is a stellar song and one of the best duets I ever heard. we end the first half with the atmospheric sounding "That Voice Again" which was a rock radio hit yet didn't get released to pop radio.
"Mercy Street" starts the second half off (it was "In Your Eyes" but Gabriel changed the CD tracklisting for the remaster) and is a nice piece. We follow with another big hit called "Big Time" which featured Stewart Copeland on drums and was also known for its classic video. The original vinyl album's closer "We Do What Were Told" is reminiscent of Gabriel's darker material. It's brief, lyrically simple, but very, very haunting. The original CD and cassette closer "This Is The Picture" is a terrific, light-groove collaboration with avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson which combined singing with spoken word, and the funky guitar of Nile Rodgers. The original album's second half opener and now album closer "In Your Eyes" is the album's most well known hit. This track was a #1 on US rock radio and is a nice love song and featured The Call's Michael Been and Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr on backing vocals plus African singer Y'oussor N'Dour helping out at the end.
So became peter gabriel's biggest selling solo album reaching #2 on the Billboard album charts and has sold FIVE million copies to date in the US alone. The album was nominated for the Grammy for Album Of The Year, but it lost to Paul Simon's Graceland (why in the Blue Hell was this dude still winning Grammies when he was past his prime). However, Gabriel did win Video of the Year for "Sledgehammer" which ironically beat his old Genesis mates' "Land of Confusion" video. Aside sales, So proved Peter Gabriel was a force to be recoked with.
RECOMMENDED!

not only popular but excellent.......2007-06-17

Luis Mejia (son)- Peter Gabriel have shown us that he can stay on the map even after quiting a band such famous as Genesis, and this album shout that on every song. This album has everything; Rock pieces like Red Rain, a song full of emotions about a dream of swimming on red water, pop songs like Sledgehammer, an incredibly famous song with a stunning music video whic won 6 prices on the MTV music awards of that time, Don't Give Up, that is also on the vocals with Kate Bush, In Your Eyes, his most famous love song, Mercy Street, Big Time, a catchy, fun and cheerful song alike with Sledgehammer; the album also contains new experimentations seen before in Security (The Family And The Fishing Net, San Jacinto) like We Do What We're Told (Milgram 37) about the famous experiment of Stanley Milgram, That Voice Again and This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds).

It has everything and the album will be frozen in time as Peter Gabriel's best album.

Be sure to get the Remastered version!.......2007-05-28

GABRIEL'S BLOCKBUSTER ALBUM.
RUINED BY MEDIOCRE SOUND QUALITY, KNOCKING A FIVE STAR CLASSIC DOWN TO THREE STARS. DO NOT BUY THE ORIGINAL, BUT GET THE REMASTERED VERSION INSTEAD.

Released in 1986, this was Gabriel's blockbuster album. And it deserved it. This is just great from beginning to end. It features great collaborations with Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson.

Unfortunately, coming out in 1986, the CD sound quality was mediocre. This was very suprising for Gabriel who had embraced digital technology years earlier. The sound is flat with limited dynamic range.

Many of the early CD's had mediocre sound quality, which gave rise to the vinyl snobs who thought CD's could never sound as good as LP's. But, it was just a bad translation to the digital technoology. Today, CD's sound much better than they did 20 years ago. Which is why you see so many "remaatered" CD's today. That includes the complete Gabriel catalog.

Not only being the most popular Gabriel CD, it is his best. That is saying a lot since, he has had many very good CD's.

Great album again from PG.......2007-03-15

The very good tracks on this cd are "Red Rain" and "Mercy Street"
Great commercial success with "Sledgehammer", "Don't give up", "In your eyes" and "Big Time"..These four songs have been heard to often maybe, but still good occasionnaly to listen to. Two weak songs close the album, "We do what we're told" and "This is the picture", I go with four star for this album.

Average customer rating: Not quite as good as their first virtuous among us, walk among us..... So much better! So much better Extraordinary

You Could Have It So Much Better Franz Ferdinand Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Scotland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Franz Ferdinand First Impressions of Earth Get Behind Me Satan Extraordinary Machine Broken Boy Soldiers ASIN: B000B0WODA Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

1. The Fallen
2. Do You Want To
3. This Boy
4. Walk Away
5. Evil And A Heathen
6. You're The Reason I'm Leaving
7. Eleanor Put Your Boots On
8. Well That Was Easy
9. What You Meant
10. I'm Your Villian
11. You Could Have It So Much Better
12. Fade Together
13. Outsiders

Amazon.com

After more than a year spent on the road behind their breakthrough self-titled debut--just how many times can Alex Kapranos sing "Take Me Out" without getting his skinny tie into a knot, anyway?--you might expect the members of Franz Ferdinand to feel a little frayed around the edges. But if You Could Have It So Much Better was supposed to be a bloated sophomore album focusing on bad airline meals and cold hotel swimming pools, somebody forgot to tell the Mercury Music Prize winning Scottish quartet. Instead, the Franzies return with a disc packed with thrilling punk-pop treatises like the single "Do You Want To," political rabble-rousers such as opener "The Fallen," and lovely psychedelic ballads that explore the common ground between the Beatles and Bowie, like "Eleanor Put You Boots On" (about Eleanor Freidberger of the Fiery Furnaces, no less). It's a stunning, confident piece of work that suggests the band is merely getting started. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

Not quite as good as their first.......2007-06-27

Franz Ferdinand went downhill a bit with their sophomore album, but "Outsiders" is one of the best songs they've ever released so this album is still worthy of purchase.

virtuous among us, walk among us............2006-09-23

I have to admit, I REALLY like this album. I don't own the first album yet, but I can't imagine how it can be much better than this. It took me three tries to get fully embroiled in this album. Once that happened I have been playing it non-stop. There is definitely a punk base to all their songs, but there's something about the pace of their music (ever changing, pulsatile and jagged, then smooth...) that keeps you imbalanced yet wanting more. I can't wait to try the first album.

So much better!.......2006-08-05

Although I'll admit I like the eponymous album a little better, I find this album a breath of fresh air to my somewhat-jaded soul. I've seen FF on SNL and Austin City Limits; the lyrics blend very well with the music, and there's enough of the unexpected to keep me entertained. I look forward to hearing a lot more from these guys!

So much better.......2006-07-16

This album is amazing. The first 7 tracks are all good, and then there is a mix amongst the last half. To think of the career of Franz Ferdinand reminds me now of the path the Cure took with Boys Don't Cry. There is a great amount of structure to each song, and nothing beats the 3-4 hits such as This Boy and Walk Away.

Extraordinary.......2006-06-08

An extraordinary second album, it's even better than the homonymous.
Songs filled of intelligent lyrics about a group of people living in an industrial and decadent city. The stories are from Glasgow but, like all local stories, the identification is global.

Average customer rating: WHAT CAN I SAY? Rest in Peace Dear Bubbles (1929-July 2, 2007) two beautiful discs! Good example of the "Art of Beverly Sills" Claws

Art of Beverly Beverly Sills Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Beverly Sills The Great Recordings Beverly Sills: Made in America Beverly Sills Beverly Sills & Friends ASIN: B000075A7K Release Date: 2002-11-12

Tracks:

1. Mignon: Oui, Pour Ce Soir Je Suis Reine Des Fees...Je Suis Titania La Blonde
2. Manon: Allons! Il Le Faut-Adieu, Notre Petite Table
3. Manon: Je Marche Sur Tous Les Chemins-Obeissons Quand Leur Voix Appelle
4. Louise: Depuis Le Jour
5. Linda Di Chamounix: Ah! Tardai Troppo...O Luce Di Quest'Anima
6. Lucia Di Lammermoor: Regnava Nel Silenzio...Quando Rapito In Estasi
7. I Puritani: Fini...Me Lassa!
8. I Puritani: Vieni, Vieni Fra Queste Braccia
9. Roberto Devereux: L'amor Suo Mi Fe' Beata
10. Maria Stuarda: O Nube
11. Anna Bolena: Cielo A' Miei Lunghi Spasimi-Coppia Iniqua

Tracks:

1. Les Contes D'Hoffman: Les Oiseau Dans La Charmille
2. Les Contes D'Hoffman: Elle A Fui, La Tourterelle
3. Zaide: Ruhe Sanft, Mein Holdes Leben
4. Der Opernball: Im Chambre Separee
5. Die Lustige Witwe: Es Lebt' Eine Vilja
6. The Ballad Of Baby Doe: Gold Is A Fine Thing
7. Die Tote Stadt: Cluck, Das Mir Verblieb
8. Daphen: Was Blendet So...Ich Komme...Ich Komme
9. Sechs Lieder Op.19 No.2: Breit' uber Mein haupt Dein Schwarzes Haar

Customer Reviews:

WHAT CAN I SAY?.......2007-07-05

FOR THOSE WHO WANT A SAMPLER, IT IS THE BEST. YET, IT LEAVES YOU PINING FOR THE ITEMS SILLS NEVER RECORDED IN THEIR ENTIRETY. MORE STRAUSS, MORE OF EVERYTHING. A DEFINITIVE VOICE. HER LUCIA IS UNSURPASSED.

Rest in Peace Dear Bubbles (1929-July 2, 2007).......2007-07-03

I have always loved the flowing, plaintive music of bel canto, and no other singer perhaps captured the synthesis of fioritura and expression so perfectly as Beverly Sills. Callas may have been a supreme dramatist, but Beverly Sills had a better command of the fioritura that skyrocketed her career during the 60s and 70s. It is indeed sad that America has lost one of its national treasures yesterday when Beverly Sills passed away in Manhattan. She truly was one of the greatest. Just listen to her singing any one of Donizetti's three queens and you will know what I mean. She is exemplary not only in Donizetti though. Her Manon is still the best, her Violetta in par with Callas, her Louise the most idiomatic ever recorded, her Fille du Regiment a joy, Linda di Chamounix ecstatic, and Gilda a lesson in the art of light Verdi. She was a supreme painter of characters. Has there ever been a more brilliant Zerbinetta? And how many singers have been able to truly convey the youth of Elvira in Puritani? In Rossini, she was also unparalleled in L'Assedio di Corinto, the role that she made her La Scala debut in. Beverly Sills was one of a great many singers who belonged to a great golden age of singing, and I am thankful that I was born into the right time to hear her glorious work. This CD is a wonderful compilation of the brand of singing that she brought into the lives of many an opera fan for years and years to come.

I met this singer last fall in New York. A few months later, I saw her again hosting the opera quiz at the Met. Little did I know that about five months later, she would forever rest in the peace that she deserved for so long. Rest in peace Beverly. And brava...brava for the many years of wonderful singing that you gave us.

two beautiful discs!.......2007-02-18

Beverly Sills not only survived being a child prodigy - a rare enough thing among singing musicians - she triumphed in a big way. Her fertile and beautiful art is wonderfully represented on this double disc set from Deutsche Grammophon. I sense today a resurgence of appreciation for her art, and to call it well deserved is saying the least. The singing's jam packed with pure musicianship, attention to nuance, fidelity to composer and character - in a word, everything requisite to making the operatic art thrive, qualities in short enough supply today among many opera stars, and it makes this package even more attractive. Sills not only understood bel canto art, she accomplished it memorably. Highlights include 'Ah! Tardai troppo...' (Linda di Chamounix), &an unearthly 'Regnava nel silenzio...' (Lucia), which I might prefer to Sutherland's for its committment and munificence. The gone too soon Thomas Schippers conducts a great performance - how that man could possess whatever orchestra and score he worked with. Two arias from I Puritani - especially 'Vieni, vieni fra queste braccia' with the singing of the genius Nicolai Gedda as Arturo, and an opening to Anna Bolena's aria 'Cielo, a' miei lunghi spasimi' that wipes clean every memory of other versions. All that on disc 1! I had forgotten Sills' beautiful pianissimos, singing so musicianly and free of ego - her interpretation is always only her adherence to score and composer, and greater praise cant be given a classical singer. Disc 2 offers a definitive version of Korngold's 'Gluck, das mir verblieb' (Die Tote Stadt) among a number of fine versions out there. The slowest version available and I feel I'm hearing it for the first time, and with a true Viennese (Rudel) conducting! You can put this track alone on repeat and live out the day in freedom! If you dont know Sills' art, or dont remember it well and truly, this set is a fine place to begin what will become transfixion with a musical art that proves itself urgent and inextinguishable! Highest recommendation.

Good example of the "Art of Beverly Sills".......2007-01-27

Beverly Sills is one of the most well reputed coloratura sopranos of the past fifty years. This CD illustrates why she has attained such renown. First, it shows the range of her singing. While much of her work focused on Donizetti, Bellini, and Rossini, she sang about fifty roles in her career, before retiring in her late 40s. This 2 CD set provides a sense of the range of her work.

The first CD focuses on her operatic singing. The CD begins with a selection from Thomas' "Mignon," culminating in "Je suis Titania la blonde." Her voice is light and clear. She displays great agility. In the middle of this piece, she shows a decent but not great trill; she closes the "cut" with a series of terrific trills. Her ornamentation is nicely done.

Donizetti's "Linda di Chamounix" was another of Sills' characters. "Ah! Tardai troppo. . .O luce di quest'anima" features more clean vocalization. The florid singing is nicely done, with well sung high notes and additional sound trills. A very agile voice on display! From Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," Sills sings "Regnava nel silenzio. . .Quando rapito in estasi." Her voice is smooth. In the aria, she produces a set of trill after trill, each one well done, but in their totality almost overdone (I love trills, but there were almost too many!). "Quando rapito in estasi" is well sung, with much well done florid singing, with appoggiaturas, trills, and other ornamentation.

The remainder of the CD features selections from Bellini's "I Puritani," and Donizetti's "Roberto Devereux," "Maria Stuarda," and "Anna Bolena." I can say pretty much the same about these pieces as already stated before. Excellent technique, wonderful ornamentation.

The second CD begins with the redoubtable piece, sung by "Olympia," from Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann." Well done, with good vocal effects, catching the mechanical aspects of the music. Other pieces on this side come from Mozart, Heuberger, Moore, Korngold, and so on.

One piece worth mentioning, because it captures her approach to a lighter work, from Lehar's "The Merry Widow." She sings the song for what it is, and does not overwhelm it with her voice. Compare with what Richard Tucker did to the enjoyable but rather light song, "What Now My Love?", when he essayed singing pop tunes. Enjoyable for the thrill of his voice; pretty grisly in terms of his overwhelming the music itself. That does not happen here; there is a certain pathos in Sills' singing, as warranted by the song. It suggests the range of her singing.

All in all, a good sampling of "The Art of Beverly Sills." Hearing her voice again after many years reinforces my preexisting view that she ranks as one of the best coloratura sopranos of the past fifty years. There are terrific contemporary singers who sing the same repertoire and do it well. But Beverly Sills certainly compares very well with them. If interested in an introduction to Sillsiana, this is a good place to start.

Claws.......2003-11-16

I already wrote a great review of this collection. It is supreme artistry, and I find her high notes rather large and not shrill. My only question is about the cover photo. Those fingers look like something out of Edward Scissorhands or Nightmare on Elm Street! Does anyone else agree with me? Almost seems like someone must have done some false touch-ups to make them look like claws!

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