Records [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
As concise a collection as one could ask for, distilling the essence of late '70s/early '80s hard rock into 10 strong doses, Records explains Foreigner better than any of their regular studio albums ever could. Essentially the work of ex-Spooky Tooth guitarist Mick Jones and singer Lou Gramm, Foreigner understood what it took to deliver loud, guitar-driven rock to FM radio. Their hooks were evident from the get-go with "Cold As Ice" and "Feels Like the First Time" and only grew stronger over time with "Jukebox Hero" and "Hot Blooded." By the time of "Waiting for a Girl Like You," Foreigner were beginning to lean harder on adult-contemporary pop, which sent them in another direction. --Rob O'Connor

Records,Foreigner,Atlantic / Wea,Album Rock,Arena Rock,Hard Rock,Pop,Pop/Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Records [Original recording remastered]

Average customer rating: What a Musical! Awesome Soundtrack FABULOUS FUN! I couldnt believe it... A New Classic

Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture) Manufacturer: New Line Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast) The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast) Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) High School Musical 2 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast) ASIN: B000PUAID4 Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

1. "GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE" - Nikki Blonsky
2. "THE NICEST KIDS IN TOWN" - James Marsden
3. "IT TAKES TWO" - Zac Efron
4. "(THE LEGEND OF) MISS BALTIMORE CRABS" - Michelle Pfeiffer
5. "I CAN HEAR THE BELLS" - Nikki Blonsky
6. "LADIES' CHOICE" - Zac Efron
7. "THE NEW GIRL IN TOWN" - Brittany Snow
8. "WELCOME TO THE 60's" - Nikki Blonsky & John Travolta
9. "RUN AND TELL THAT" - Elijah Kelley
10. "BIG, BLONDE & BEAUTIFUL" - Queen Latifah
11. "BIG, BLONDE & BEAUTIFUL reprise" - John Travolta & Michelle Pfeiffer
12. "(YOU'RE) TIMELESS TO ME" - John Travolta & Christopher Walken
13. "I KNOW WHERE I'VE BEEN" - Queen Latifah
14. "WITHOUT LOVE" - Zac Efron, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelley & Amanda Bynes
15. "(IT'S) HAIRSPRAY" - James Marsden
16. "YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT" - Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes,
17. "COME SO FAR (GOT SO FAR TO GO)" - Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Zac
18. "COOTIES" - Aimee Allen
19. "MAMA, I'M A BIG GIRL NOW" - Nikki Blonsky, Marissa Jaret Winokur & Rikki Lake

Amazon.com

What fun! This soundtrack of the film adaptation of the Broadway musical overflows with glossy, ol' fashioned '60s-style pep. It won't win any awards for innovation, but it may well be one of the most feel-good releases of the year. While not quite as super-energetic as the original Broadway cast, the new crew ain't too shabby: Nikki Blonsky delivers as Tracy Turnblad and Zac Efron (High School Musical) makes for a devoted boyfriend, and the supporting cast gleefully embraces the show's silly-but-generous spirit. John Travolta (who gets to utter the particularly ironic line "it's been years since someone asked me to dance") goes drag as Tracy's mom, Edna, while Michelle Pfeiffer's slight stiffness is appropriate for her uptight character, especially on the cha-cha "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs." After Mama Morton in Chicago, Queen Latifah puts in another brassy turn as Motormouth Maybelle ("Big, Blonde and Beautiful," which is then reprised by Travolta and Pfeiffer). The show's authors, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, have written three new numbers for the movie: the rollicking (and first single) "Ladies' Choice," "New Girl in Town" and "Come So Far." In addition, the CD also includes two tracks that aren't in the film but were in the show: "Cooties," sung by Aimee Allen, and "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now," sung by all three Tracy Turnblads: Blonsky, Ricki Lake (from the source movie) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (from the original Broadway cast). --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

The Hairspray soundtrack will feature 17 songs from the film, including three original numbers that were created specifically for the film version of the hit Broadway musical - "Ladies' Choice," "New Girl In Town," and "Come So Far." Also featured on the soundtrack are the songs "Good Morning Baltimore," "Welcome to the `60s," "Nicest Kids In Town," and "You Can't Stop The Beat." The songs are performed by cast members John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow and Elijah Kelley among others.

The Hairspray soundtrack is produced by Marc Shaiman and features music by Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. It features tracks mixed by Ed Cherney (Rolling Stones, Bette Midler) and Peter Mokran (Pussycat Dolls, Christina Aguilera).

Sixteen years after the release of the original film, New Line Cinema is bringing a feature film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Hairspray to life. Featuring new and original material based on John Waters' 1988 cult classic about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show, the comedy features a remarkable collection of talent including John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Allison Janney, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago), and director Adam Shankman (Bringing Down The House). The new screenplay for Hairspray was written by Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday, Outrageous Fortune).

Customer Reviews:

What a Musical!.......2007-07-25

Great soundtrack and great movie! I would give it 10 stars if I could.

Awesome Soundtrack.......2007-07-24

I had to write and share my thoughts on this soundtrack. I am a bit of a musical snob. I have seen the original movie, saw Hairspray on Broadway three times (with Harvey Fierstein-awesome) and was really excited for the movie's opening night. It was beyond awesome and I had already ordered the soundtrack. I am extremely impressed with this movie. It can't be compared to the stage musical because they are both perfect in their own ways. I was not looking forward to John Travolta's take on Edna Turnblad, because I liked Harvey's so much, but he blew me away and should absolutely be nominated for an Academy Award for this role, as should Queen Latifah. She is an even better singer than I had guessed. She was exceptional in this role-Broadway quality voice (and that is a big compliment coming from me). Zac Efron was excellent (although I would have loved to have seen more of him-my daughters wanted to see more of him too!!!! We're High School Musical fans). Everyone else was great, too, but those were my favorites. I also love the version of "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now" with all three Tracys (GREAT IDEA)!!! Great soundtrack and great movie.

FABULOUS FUN!.......2007-07-24

Here are TEN, ok, 11 reasons to see the film and buy the soundtrack:

1. John Travolta is a hoot...he should be nominated for an Academy Award.

2. Queen Latifah reigns in her justifiable glory..she is truly a major star. Her presence in the movie and soundtrack INSURES the message of the movie is delivered with grace and purpose.

3. Michelle Pfeiffer is PERFECT in her role. She plays sordid and evil so very well.

4. Zac Efron IS Luke...he is just too cool..and those eyes!

5. Elijah Kelley is brilliant..what a great talent! He sings, he dances, he acts...he rocks.

6. Nicki Blonsky is the LIVING TRACEY TURNBLAT...what a wonderful new talent. She was born for the role.

7. James Marsden is brilliantly smarmy.

8. The music is uplifting and just plain fun.

9. The sets and costumes are worthy of Academy nomination, and perhaps award.

10. The choreography is exciting, energetic, and exuberant.

And

11. Well...simply stated...you can't sit in the theater without tapping your foot, and you can't leave the theater without feeling real good and humming a song!

I couldnt believe it..........2007-07-24

I have never seen any previous Hairspray and I went to the movie with my mother and little sister on July 22nd and I went to this movie thinking "Oh, Great, Another chick flick". I was in the theater watching this movie and I started bopping my head and that was just to the first song. Further in the movie I started liking it...A LOT. And by the end of the movie with the song "You Can't Stop The Beat" I had become completely hooked. I mean this movie and soundtrack was absolutely phenomenal. I mean I left the theater practically dancing.

When the movie was over I went to the store and bought the soundtrack. It exceeded my expectations big time. I am not much of "Musical" liking guy but Oh My Goodness. It was amazing. John Travolta was sheer hilarity and I couldn't believe he pulled off playing a woman. But he did. I don't just recommend you see this movie. I sincerely urge and insist you go. I had to practically hold my knees from jumping up and dancing. I have listened to it countless times already. Don't Be Square, See some Hair(spray)

A New Classic.......2007-07-23

During the course of my 57 years on this planet I've had the opportunity to listen to literally hundreds of movie soundtracks. So I tend to be somewhat jaded because the classics ("Sound of Music", "Camelot", "Lion King", etc.) have set the bar so high that I'm condidtioned to approach anything new with a jaundiced eye. So imagine my thrill when I heard the soundtrack of "Hairspray" and felt that there was a new jewel to add to my short list. Marc Shaiman is a genius. I saw the show on the Broadway stage and loved it but I must say that this endeavor stands on its own. The perfect blend of exciting, spirited music and brilliantly funny and rollicking lyrics performed by a top notch cast that hits every note with the fun, wit and irony that Shaiman (and Scott Whitman) intended. I heartedly recommend this album to anyone who'd like to have a great time listening to music that will surely outlive us all.

Average customer rating: NOT My December we reviewed this.... Little bit of a let-down Trash Not commercial, but still good

My December Kelly Clarkson Manufacturer: RCA Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Lost Highway It Won't Be Soon Before Long Wild Hope Daughtry Good Girl Gone Bad ASIN: B000QFAJ7S Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

1. Never Again
2. One Minute
3. Hole
4. Sober
5. Don't Waste Your Time
6. Judas
7. Haunted
8. Be Still
9. Maybe
10. How I Feel
11. Yeah
12. Can I Have A Kiss
13. Irvine

Amazon.com

Judging by the themes of anger and betrayal that dominate Kelly Clarkson's third disc, My December, perhaps 'Jagged Little Idol' would have been a more telling title. According to interviews, the massively successful artist wanted more creative control with her music going forward; as a result, unlike her previous CDs, Clarkson contributes as a songwriter on every track. The final product is not nearly as catchy as Breakaway, but is far more introspective and honest. My December's overall sound brings a harder musical style than fans might expect, with acerbic lyrics to match; the disc's first single "Never Again"--a dark rock song slamming her ex-boyfriend--is certainly a tip-off. The compelling chorus of "Hole" finds Clarkson singing "There's a hole/inside of me/it's so damn cold/slowly killing me" over a melody that is far more Tool than top-40. "Haunted" and "Judas" are wrought-over tracks that veer into Evanescence territory, while the wonderfully sparse "Maybe" is a highlight within which Clarkson's pleading voice is perfectly showcased. My December's final listed track, "Irvine" (prior to the hidden bluesy acoustic ballad "Chivas") sounds far more Cat Power-meets-Corinne Bailey Rae than Clarkson, but it is certainly one of the most captivating songs on the disc, and serves as yet another reminder of just how versatile her voice is. Fans of her previous radio-friendly releases may well be divided on her new direction, but it appears to be the path Clarkson is likely to continue to travel. --Denise Sheppard

More from Kelly Clarkson

Breakaway

Thankful

Since U Been Gone

Customer Reviews:

NOT My December.......2007-07-26

Did not like this cd at all. Loved the first two cds. Each track sounded the same on this cd. Go back to Breakaway and Thankful and regroup!

we reviewed this...........2007-07-26

We rated this album.... as part of a camp project at St. Ives Camp near New York City. We did a poll to choose everyone's favorite album of the summer.... and the winner .... is an album called + EURO CLUB HITS VOL. 1 + which is downloadable from iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, etc...... (it's not on Amazon yet)......it was a close race between many albums.... everyone in the camp (200+ kids!) is now going to vote again on Amazon & iTunes... and please add your vote also!! Thanks!

Little bit of a let-down.......2007-07-26

I am a big Kelly Clarkson fan, however, I found the CD overall to be somewhat understated. There are a few good tunes, but I don't think this will be a big seller. I wanted to love it, unfortunately, it was just an okay CD. I hope the next one will be better.

Trash.......2007-07-26

Disappointed in CD. If you were expecting something like her first CD, don't buy this one. I threw it in the trash.

Not commercial, but still good.......2007-07-25

I've always been a fan of Kelly Clarkson. Since her much deserved win as the first Idol she has taken the music world by storm delivering heart-pumping pop-rock a la Breakaway, her second record which became one of the best-selling albums in recent history by a female artist. However, after reading about the rumored rift between Clarkson and Davis (RCA's head man with "the golden ears") I was worried about the much-anticipated third release from this talented siren. It was rumored Davis did not approve of the material Clarkson had co-written for what would later become My December, and had even offered her an astounding $10 million to replace four more commercial and hit-worthy tracks. Let's make one point clear: I LOVED BREAKAWAY. To me, it was the perfect combination of pop and rock elements all rolled into a delicious and extremely consistent full-length listening dessert. So hearing Davis claiming that Kelly's new album lacked hit potential somewhat frightened me: Oh please, I begged, let him be wrong! I had an inkling to pick up a copy of My December when it hit stores on opening day (solely for the fact I found its lead single, the charging angst rock tune "Never Again," to be likable enough to merit the disc's purchase, and because I supported Clarkson's defiance against the Top 40 hit-making machine that Davis is), but decided to hold out from buying it until I made sure it was worth the price tag. I had purchased via iTunes the song "Never Again," and although I was a little disappointed after the first few listens, each subsequent one garnered new admiration from me for the song and Clarkson's newer, darker musical direction. Then I streamed "Sober" and decided, heck, this song and "Never Again" are worth the price of the CD alone. So, was Davis correct in saying it lacks as much commercial appeal as Breakaway? Yes. Though Kelly sounds terrific as ever and the album plays rather well consistency-wise, there are no real standouts on My December like its predecessor possessed. However, that's not to say that it packs no potential radio-friendly singles: "Never Again" was a brilliant marketing move for Clarkson as she broke free from commercial radio's restraints and flew off on her own and in her own chosen musical direction. The song is full of interesting lyrics, powerful choruses and great musicality. The aforementioned "Sober" is also another highlight; although it is softer and less radio-friendly than other Clarkson ballads have been in the past, its raw sincerity and real emotion make up for its lack of an undeniably catchy hook (I recommend listening to the ending of the song when Clarkson sings her heart out and takes the chorus up an octave). "One Minute" has a heart-pumping lyric with a catchy hook; the delightfully jilted "Judas" confronts a hypocrite and liar; "Irvine" (one of the most touching tracks here) is coffeehouse songwriting at its best. Even though it's a definite departure from the commercialism found on Breakaway, My December is always a respectable attempt and chock full of great tunes even if not one song packs as much mass appeal punch as Kelly's previous release. Clive: So you were right in some aspects...but you were also wrong.

Average customer rating: My boyfriend thought I was nuts.... we reviewed this.... LOVE IT!!!! Different, but not. It's a creeper!

It Won't Be Soon Before Long Maroon 5 Manufacturer: A&M / Octone Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Songs About Jane Minutes to Midnight Call Me Irresponsible Daughtry Lost Highway ASIN: B000P2A256 Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

1. If I Never See Your Face Again
2. Makes Me Wonder
3. Little of Your Time
4. Wake Up Call
5. Won't Go Home Without You
6. Nothing Lasts Forever
7. Can't Stop
8. Goodnight Goodnight
9. Not Falling Apart
10. Kiwi
11. Better That We Break
12. Back At Your Door

Amazon.com

Sometimes it's O.K.--even important--to put aside your reluctance to embrace artists who make teenage girls scream. It happened in 2006, when Justin Timberlake scraped the sludge off pop and left something shiny behind, and it's happening again in 2007 with Maroon 5. It Won't Be Soon Before Long, the L.A. band's sophomore studio disc, rode in on a crest of hype and crumpled expectations--fan reports had it that Adam Levine & Co. scrapped their signature pop-soul sound for something harder and darker. Not so. Shades of Prince, Hall & Oates, and Sting still color the Maroon sound (check out the spectacularly fizzy "Little of Your Time," as well as the first single, "Makes Me Wonder," a song catchier than fire), but they're made ever fainter here by the clamping down of five guys on what is essentially the most distinctive pop sound to emerge from a single band since the Bee Gees squealed into the mid-'70s. It Won't Be Soon squares hip-hop sensibilities ("Wake Up Call") with rock ones ("If I Never See Your Face Again") and stormy moods ("Can't Stop") with bittersweet ballads ("Better That We Break"). It's a disc destined to defy detractors and go on to greatness, elevating the credibility of teenage girls for years to come. --Tammy La Gorce

Amazon.com

Global neo-soul rock superstars Maroon 5 are back with their much-anticipated sophomore album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long. The follow-up to the 10x platinum, Grammy-winning Songs About Jane will be "sexier and stronger," according to frontman Adam Levine, who looked to '80s icons such as Prince, Michael Jackson, and Talking Heads for inspiration. Recorded at home in Los Angeles with producers Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Eminem), Mark "Spike" Stent (Bjork, Keane, Gwen Stefani), Mark Endert (Madonna, Fiona Apple), and Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Nickel Creek), the album promises to be a louder take on the pop sounds of their first effort. "It's definitely aggressive, upbeat and pounding," says Levine.

More Maroon 5

Songs About Jane

Live Friday the 13th

1.22.03.Acoustic

Maroon 5 Photos

Customer Reviews:

My boyfriend thought I was nuts...........2007-07-26

He thought I had lost my mind when he saw that I purchased this album, neither of us being mainstream-pop loving music fans. At all. Plus, I absolutely hated their song "She Will Be Loved" from the last album due to overplay on the radio and because of the whiny vocals so I can't say why I bought this cd, other than I liked the cover and wanted something new. In any case, while I don't love it, I do like it. It's oddly upbeat for such normally depressing subjects (the usual I-lost-my-love or cheated-on-them teen angsty stuff) but overall it's catchy and inoffensive. I listen to it a lot at work. Not sure I'm going to be a long-term fan, because pop really isn't my style, but it's honestly not bad for what it is.

we reviewed this...........2007-07-26

We rated this album.... as part of a camp project at St. Ives Camp near New York City. We did a poll to choose everyone's favorite album of the summer.... and the winner .... is an album called + EURO CLUB HITS VOL. 1 + which is downloadable from iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, etc...... (it's not on Amazon yet)......it was a close race between many albums.... everyone in the camp (200+ kids!) is now going to vote again on Amazon & iTunes... and please add your vote also!! Thanks!

LOVE IT!!!!.......2007-07-25

This is one of my favorite cds ever!!!! I absolutely love it and listen to in driving home from work like everyday of the week!!! Every song is good not like most cds where you have a couple of good songs and then mostly fillers!!!! Amazing would definitely recommend!!!

Different, but not........2007-07-24

While I have never really considered myself a big Maroon 5 "fan", I have really enjoyed "Songs About Jane" and was looking forward to this release. Upon hearing the first single "Makes Me Wonder", I was wondering 'should I even bother taking the chance'. Honestly, I wasn't going to buy it, but iTunes had a great deal with presale concert tickets, so I took the plunge.

After more than half a dozen listens, this album has REALLY grown on me. I was hoping for something like "Songs About Jane", but this was something really different, yet distinctly Maroon 5. I have heard the comparisons to some of the smooth-rock/pop icons from the 70's and 80's, and I totally agree, in a good way. This album is a bit more Pop than SAJ, every song still carries the signatures of Maroon 5; groovy bass lines, a good hook, angst vs. love lyrics, and beautiful harmony between the lyrics and music. Of course not every song is gold, but I think there is something here to satisfy a variety of casual and die-hard fans.

There's enough here that I finally have to declare myself a true fan.

It's a creeper!.......2007-07-21

This is my pick for best new album of 2007. To date at least. Initially, I wasn't a big fan, certainly didn't think much of the first single, but I love it now! The album has it's trademark up tempo songs and not to forget, the wonderful ballads of love and heartache.

Standouts for me are "Back at your Door", a cruisy, bluesy awesome track, "Not Falling Apart", "Little of your Time", "Can't Stop", "Until You're Over Me" (bonus track on Australian release) "Infatuation" (another bonus track) and I have to say, "Makes Me Wonder" has really grown on me too.

There is a song here for everyone to relate to, and a song for every mood. I haven't stopped listening to it since it's release. I love it!

Do yourself a favour and buy it :-)

Average customer rating: Stunning Not more of the same Interpol it pains me to do this... Incredible! i'M AMAZED!

Our Love to Admire Interpol Manufacturer: Capitol Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Icky Thump Zeitgeist An End Has a Start Favourite Worst Nightmare Easy Tiger ASIN: B000PY32CO Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

1. Pioneer To the Falls
2. No I In Threesome
3. The Scale
4. The Heinrich Maneuver
5. Mammoth
6. Pace Is the Trick
7. All Fired Up
8. Rest My Chemistry
9. Who Do You Think
10. Wrecking Ball
11. The Lighthouse

Amazon.com

Moving up to a major label has hardly lifted Interpol's spirits. This is a good thing. Even with the twisted Wild Kingdom album cover and bassist Carlos Dengler's unexpected Wild West makeover, on its third studio album the black-clad New York quartet still sounds inflexibly menacing, grasping tighter than ever to its doomy post-punk influences and delving further into frontman Paul Banks's emotional unrest. Everything sounds a little bigger and brighter, sure, but at their core songs like "Rest My Chemistry" and "Wrecking Ball" are heroically sinister, goaded on by prickly riffs and slow-bleeding rhythms. The group briefly jumps to life on the buzzing "Heinrich Manouver" and exhibits an unexpected dash of humor on "No I in Threesome," but it's the closing "Lighthouse" that best defines the set--a late-night lament that simply steals away into the dark. --Aidin Vaziri

Amazon.com

Our Love To Admire is at once unmistakably Interpol and undeniably new. The witty and perverse "No I In Threesome" is an upbeat ode to shaking up a staid relationship propelled by Carlos D's peerless bass melody while the tenderly observant "Pace Is the Trick" proves that the band are still the masters of the dramatic - check the painful pause right before the sinfully satisfying return of Sam's thundering drums and Daniel's ringing lead guitar. The band's impressively seductive evolution is obvious all over the record, but never more so than on tracks like "Mammoth," "Who Do You Think" and on the album's lyrical centerpiece, the ghostly "Rest My Chemistry." While Daniel is understandably proud of the song he cautions against reading too much autobiography into its lyrics. "We always leave the interpretation to the listener," he says. "I mean, you shouldn't watch a movie for the first time listening to the director's commentary!"

Our Love to Admire closes with "The Lighthouse," a funereal dirge that is among the most unexpected and memorable songs ever recorded by the band. Almost entirely percussion-free, the song is constructed around Daniel's mournful guitar and Paul's sparten lyrics. Not only is it one of their finest moments to date, it provides the album's most goose-bump inducing moment, the very same reflex shivers that make Interpol live shows such an exhilarating experience. As the very last song the band recorded for the album it was, they say, the hardest to play. The hypnotic guitar part was played on a 50-year-old guitar that had toxins on the strings, providing Daniel with a blistering and painful sensation in his fingers. The band weren't even sure the track would make it out of the studio, but once they heard Paul's remarkable vocals they were floored. The song - and the album - doesn't so much end as it bleeds to a close with a long, echoey coda filled with feedback and strings. A fittingly dramatic end to a stunning and emotional journey. Interpol is back, every bit as good as before but charged with a new spirit, a new direction, a new label and, most of all, a new confidence.

Interpol Photos

More from Interpol

Antics

Turn on the Bright Lights

The Black EP

Customer Reviews:

Stunning.......2007-07-25

The long expected return of Interpol topped all expectations I had. Simply the album of the year in my humble opinion. Most of the songs gives you that thrilling sensation down your spine, especially the ending of it. They have done an outstanding job and musically they have been developing through the albums. AMAZING. Our love to admire makes you feel like listening over and over again.

Not more of the same Interpol.......2007-07-24

When I heard Antics I liked it but it was just a continuation of the first album. When Our Love to Admire came out I bought it thinking "What else can these guys do?" I have my answer. OLTA is Interpol but different. They kept the Interpol sound but did different things with it, some of it more upbeat and some not. I am a satisfied customer. It gets better with every listening.

it pains me to do this..........2007-07-21

a major let down, from one of my favorites,
so close, if they would of just inched a bit closer to that edge,
and they did on a few numbers "pioneer" is great, as is "the lighthouse" and "wrecking ball",
sadly the rest ranges from average to very subpar
"threesome" "h. manuver" "chemistry" and "mammoth" are very by the numbers interpol
the remaining 4 are total clunkers...
i will go and see them on this tour, as they are great live (except at festivals and larger shows) but i will pray and hope the rebound from this
honestly, i am not trying to slag on them, but it makes me so sad i wanted this to be so good

Incredible!.......2007-07-20

All of these people who are complaining are either deaf, dumb, or both. This is a killer album, and every single song is excellent. This is a great band, and I don't care who they sound like, or who sounds like them...neither Joy Division, nor She Wants Revenge are as good of a band as Interpol. Yeah, I said it!!!

i'M AMAZED!.......2007-07-20

This is my first Interpol album, and I am amazed!!! I knew that they were verry simulur to Joy Division because that's what all of the critics and fans say...but even though they may not be the absolutel most original band in the world.......I really like what they do. This album is so beautiful, and so damm good. Good, good, good!!! I love it!!

Average customer rating: Something is missing Make time for Time On Earth. If There is Hell on Earth - There Must Be a Heaven Too Crowded House returns... Finn with Crowdie Flavor

Time on Earth Crowded House Manufacturer: Ato Records / Red ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Farewell to the World Easy Tiger Beauty & Crime Sweet Warrior Our Love to Admire ASIN: B000Q9OD7G Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

1. Nobody Wants To
2. Don't Stop Now
3. She Called Up
4. Say That Again
5. Pour Le Monde
6. Even A Child
7. Heaven That I'm Making
8. A Sigh
9. Silent House
10. English Trees
11. Walked Her Way Down
12. Transit Lounge
13. You Are The One To Make Me Cry
14. People Are Like Suns

Amazon.com

Fourteen years, a live CD/DVD, some solo albums, and one tragic suicide after Crowded House's last release comes this highly anticipated reunion. Singer/songwriter Neil Finn and bassist Nick Seymour reunited after the 2005 death of drummer Paul Hester, brought in a new member and two producers (Ethan Johns and Steve Lillywhite) to replace longtime cohort Mitchell Froom, and the impressive result is a logical and overdue addition to the band's previous four albums. Finn's knack for a melodic ballad remains firmly in place as Time on Earth coasts on his dreamy voice and introspective, hook-laden pop choruses. However, this is a more reflective collection that requires a few spins to fully reveal its charms. Finn co-writes "Even a Child" with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, and that and the frisky "She Called Up" are the most buoyant tracks on this predominantly pensive disc. Finn has generally shaded towards a darker edge and this hour-long set might have benefited from more of the lighter touch he applies to "Transit Lounge," a song enhanced by Beth Rowley's lovely and startling wordless vocals along with jazzy electric piano and even airport sound effects. Strings, sitar, and intricate production add subtle elements that bolster the timeless musical qualities Finn has always reveled in. The ominous, even brooding "Silent House," a co-write with all three Dixie Chicks, is another highlight that sounds like nothing either has done before as it floats along on fuzz guitar and hurdy-gurdy, both courtesy of Johns. Trimming some weaker cuts would have made this a more focused listen, but Time on Earth is a worthy successor to Crowded House's existing catalog--a high compliment indeed. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews:

Something is missing.......2007-07-26

I say this as one of the biggest Crowdies in the world. I have been a huge fan of every Finn project from the start, but something is missing from this album. To me this is not Crowded House. I will give it 5 stars as an amazing Neil Finn and Friends album, but not CH. I relate my experience listening to this album as I did Warren Zevon's The Wind. The musicianship is still there. Neil's lyrics are as poignant and haunting as ever, but the fun is gone. The magic that was Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, and Paul Hester is sadly missing.

I think this is a fitting tribute to Paul and I understand the reasons for reforming Crowded House, but Paul's absence is palpable. With all that being said, this is a beautiful and haunting album that every CH and Finn fan should own. You won't be disappointed with the album at all. I want to make that clear. You will, however, feel a sense of loss I think. This is as cathartic an album as you will find in some ways. Buy it, enjoy it, love it, but remember the good ol' times in your heart.

I respect your wishes Paul, but we miss you.

Make time for Time On Earth........2007-07-24

Things in the world these days tend to be geared towards providing instant gratification. Pop music these days is disposable - instantly catchy (annoyingly so in most cases), played to death for a few weeks and then forgotten about. It's almost like there is too much music and too many bands around.
So what a delight it is to have Crowded House back together again to give us this album which can be enjoyed at a much more relaxing and rewarding pace. That's the thing about Neil Finn - he writes melodies that don't instantly reveal their true beauty - they take their time to hit home. And this is the case with Time On Earth. On first listen it sounds pleasant and inoffensive and just kind of "pretty good". I'll admit I was left slightly disappointed on the first hearing. But sit with this album and give it a few plays and like a polaroid photograph all it's colours, lights and shades are gradually revealed. I have a new favourite every time I hear the album now and as the songs become more familiar to me I find myself humming and singing them to myself during the day. This is a drawn out pleasure and is all the more rewarding for it. An album that will actually give you something back if you take the time to appreciate it. Who'd have thought it in this day and age!?

All good songs here - not a duffer among them. Early favourites for me were 'Pour Le Monde','Silent House' and 'Nobody Wants To' and then the others arrived at different times. At the moment I'm stuck on 'People Are Like Suns' a stunning emotional closer and it's obvious that the loss of Paul Hester has coloured the writing of the songs on Time On Earth.

Neil Finn is a master of his craft. Great album.

If There is Hell on Earth - There Must Be a Heaven Too.......2007-07-24

I struggled with a 3 or 4 star rating. The disk surely deserves 3.5, but the question was to round up or down. I opted for up.

Unlike the other four Crowded House disks, this one is spotty, and I hate saying that. But 14 years and an incomplete original roster doesn't necessarily make it a 'Crowded House' disk in my book.

There is some great material on here ("Walked Her Way Down"), some really good material ("Nobody Wants To", "Even a Child", "Don't Stop Now", "Heaven that I'm Making" & "Say That Again").

But there is some really bad material too. "She Called Up" starts promising enough - and different too. But then it falls into a 'la la la la' chorus that makes the Carpenters' "Sing" sound like musical genius. I am not a fan of "A Sigh" either.

There is some good, but borderline marginal music here - and that's the hardest part to swallow. I don't like marginal Neil Finn. "Silent House" is ok, but I think the Dixie Chicks covered it better. "Pour Le Monde" sounds like something that didn't make John Lennon's 'Double Fantasy' disk - and the rest of the songs are too bland to comment on. Nothing sticks out - good or bad.

Yes, I stick with my four-star rating, but it is based on that the good material is strong and Neil Finn has a pretty good at-bat record. Had it been a lesser artist, I would have gone to three.

Crowded House returns..........2007-07-24

It's been very interesting watching (hearing) Neil Finn's progression as a songwriter. He's always had what we've called a dark side and that's been refelctive in each CH and solo albums. For me he is the most human songwriter I have ever heard.

I must admit, after a few listens, that in whole this album makes me feel a bit sad and somber. There are some great songs on here, though! "Don't Stop Now" and "Pour Le Monde" are my immediate favorites.

As a whole I find this one closer to Neil's 1st solo CD "Try Whistling This".

Finn with Crowdie Flavor.......2007-07-24

While a huge CH fan, I've always liked Neil's solo and Finn Brothers material better -- a bit more mature and groundbreaking. In fact, I was a bit disappointed to hear that Neil's solo album had morphed into a CH album.

Don't worry either way, though. Neil has always been the front man, and the bottom line is -- the album is amazing. It has the elements of a great Neil solo album, but you can definitely feel the influence of Mark Hart and Nick Seymour, which gives it a more upbeat Crowdie flavor. The songs are smart, Beatlesque with inventive arrangements, moving and haunting lyrics. Definitely more mature (and more melancholy) than most of the Crowdie material from years past. But Neil has a way of doing it without sounding melodramatic or shallow.

The cuts get better with more listens, which is the sign of truly rich material. The album could have stood trimming of 2 or 3 songs, but overall it's a great effort and real tribute to the effect Hester had on the band and Neil over the years. Add it with no regrets.

Average customer rating: Surprisingly Similar to the Best of Gimme Fiction Ga ga over Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Showing a different side 3 and 1/2 No Rock and Roll sensibility

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Limited Edition Bonus Disc) Spoon Manufacturer: Merge Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Our Love to Admire Icky Thump Easy Tiger Sky Blue Sky The Reminder ASIN: B000RGSOQO Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

1. Don't Make Me A Target
2. Ghost Of You Lingers, The
3. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
4. Don't You Evah
5. Rhythm And Soul
6. Eddie's Ragga
7. Underdog, The
8. My Little Japanese Cigarette Case
9. Finer Feelings
10. Black Like Me

Amazon.com

Something happened to Spoon between records five and six--they got big. It's not as if these unprepossessing Texans were unpopular before, but after Gimme Fiction, their music was everywhere. There was Britt Daniel, who has since moved to Oregon, singing karaoke on cult favorite Veronica Mars, there was his soundtrack for deadpan Will Ferrell vehicle Stranger Than Fiction, and then there were the countless times their tunes, especially 2002's "The Way We Get By," appeared in other movies and TV shows. The irony is that they hadn't signed to a major label (they tried that in the 1990s; it didn't take). Nor had they given their sound a major overhaul. Maybe it was a change of publicist, or maybe the times had simply caught up with these "faux punks/gentlemen dudes." In any case, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is the mark of men confident enough to give their album one of the world's goofiest titles (at least it's an improvement over Queen's "Radio Ga Ga"). If Gimme Fiction was a transitional work, record number six moves even further away from the angularity of Wire and other early influences. "The Ghost of You Lingers," for instance, is downright dreamy, while "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" is brass-bedecked power-pop (with chimes!). Open-minded listeners will surely find this Beatlesque song cycle irresistible. Fans of the Spoon's darker, more dramatic material might want to check their expectations at the door. They'll be glad they did. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Album Description

This record starts with "Don't Make Me A Target", a song that builds on Spoon's familiar minimal rhythmic piano/guitar vamp popularized on earlier hits like "Small Stakes" or "The Way We Get By". The album quickly moves into uncharted territory with the atmospheric "The Ghost Of You Lingers" and moves through several different stylistic changes from the explosive "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" to the wall-of-sound horns of radio single "The Underdog". Their most heartfelt batch of songs since 2001's "Girls Can Tell".

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly Similar to the Best of Gimme Fiction.......2007-07-25

I don't know the Spoon before Gimme Fiction. Maybe I should, who knows. But I loved Gimme Fiction, and it seems like this album takes the best of what was good in their previous album.

Apparently it payed off. Mr. Daniel's eerily simple vocals are still one of the most important features in the music. With simple single note guitar riffs mixed into quick keyboard chord play, all of the tunes are catchy and definite sing alongs.

But the songs that stand out are very much like some of the songs you hear on "Gimme Fiction". The band's sound hasn't changed. What made "Gimme Fiction" good is what makes this album good. It doesn't really feel like the band has moved forward, except perhaps in terms of popularity.

Of course this doesn't mean that it's not a good compilation. The catchy song titles match the catchy songs, but it feels like the band didn't achieve anything new. This album could have been a double disc with "Gimme Fiction" and it would have worked.

However, if you're new to Spoon, go check it out. This band is definitely worth your time. It's a sound you won't quickly forget, and might influence the rest of your musical listening career.

Ga ga over Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.......2007-07-19

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga might not be Spoon's best album, but it certainly is their most challenging. Gone are the easy guitar riffs and hooks from Kill the Moonlight and Gimme Fiction. Instead what you find on this album is a wide variety of layered sounds (horns, chimes, etc.) that signals the band is maturing and definitely moving in a new direction. It takes a few listens to get into the groove of their new sound, but once you do the album gets better with each listen. The album flows well and except for "The Ghost of You Lingers" (which seems better suited for the bonus b-sides disc) all the songs are good, just don't be expecting to have your camera turned on. Recommended.

Showing a different side.......2007-07-18

I am liking this cd for the mere fact that it sounds like what I "expected." Nothing mind-blowing, like Gimmie Fiction or Series of Sneaks, but nonetheless, a solid Spoon-like sound. Safe songs that are radio-friendly (The Underdog, Don't make me a target), the few songs that are without a doubt Spoon showing us a different side of them (Eddie's Ragga, My Little Japanese Cigarette Case,etc.), and of course my least favorites, The Ghosts Of You Lingers and of course Yr Cherry Bomb, which to me sounds like it should be on a "Supremes" album.

**In my opinion, buy this album if you truly like Spoon's music, (not the OC soundtracks) and you will not be disappointed.

3 and 1/2.......2007-07-17

I have to say this is maybe my least favorite Spoon album so far. Weird as it is, that's not really a bad thing. I feel Spoon is typically so good that anything lesser by comparison, is most likely still pretty good...Does that read as stupid as I think?

Anyway, I won't go over the songs individualy, since several people already have. However, I will list it with the other Spoon albums in order from favorite to least favorite to give an idea of how I categorized it.

1. Girls Can Tell - the first Spoon album for me, and still the strongest all the way through.

2. A Series of Sneaks - This album, to me, is almost as good as GCT, but it doesn't flow quite as well.

3. Gimme Fiction - I think this album would be my favorite if it stayed as strong as it started. The last few songs feel repetitive, and not in the good Spoon way.

4. Kill The Moonlight - Great songs, but it feels more like a singles collection than a proper album. Very brief too.

5. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - This one has a bit of the issue that Gimme Fiction has. Fairly strong start with a weak finish. Except the last song picks it back up. With more time, I may feel differently.

6. Telephono - I like it alot, but they hadn't quite gotten their own style yet. Good songs, though.

If I was to throw any EP's in there, I would probably put Soft Effects between 5 & 6 and I would place Love Ways between 1 & 2.

No Rock and Roll sensibility.......2007-07-17

I agree with Black Griffin. And I know that Pitchfork gave this album an 8.5 out of 10. And I know that they called this album a "grower". And I know that that implies that those of us who "don't get it" will be called shortsighted and unfeeling ignoramuses. But there's not much to this album. Nothing has the Rock and Roll energy on this record that is found on "Gimmie Fiction", "Kill the Moonlight", or "Series of Sneaks". But maybe that's what they were going for... Maybe their idea of becoming more experimental this year means lilting around on half hearted riffs and singing words that are entirely replacable over and over again. If that's the case, then yes, this album is experimental, but I hope that for their next release they get back their Rock and Roll sensibility and put out something Good.

Average customer rating: The best so far? She's Like A Fine Wine, She Gets Better With Age Arrest this Woman! - More Pointless Music from Vega Better than ever Sounds Better With every Listen

Beauty & Crime Suzanne Vega Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Similar Items: Time on Earth Theology Courage Breakfast in Bed Are You Listening ASIN: B000H6SU9A Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

1. Zephyr & I
2. Ludlow Street
3. New York Is a Woman
4. Pornoghrapher's Dream
5. Frank & Ava
6. Edith Wharton's Figurine
7. Bound
8. Unbound
9. As You Are Now
10. Angel's Doorway
11. Anniversary

Amazon.com

With a career spanning more than two decades, Suzanne Vega has long stressed quality over quantity. It's no surprise, therefore, that her first release in six years is more than worth the wait. Her eye for detail, laconic vocal cool, and thematic focus on New York City continue to distinguish her artistry, but the sonic sheen applied by British producer/multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Hogarth sparks a musical renewal. Crisp guitar riffing recalls the streetwise work of fellow New York chronicler Lou Reed, while chamber strings, electronic atmospherics, and multitracked background vocals lift the results well beyond the folk realm. Vega writes from a perspective of memory and maturity, recalling the New York of old on "Zephyr & I" and "Ludlow Street," showing the musical sophistication of bittersweet seduction on "New York Is a Woman," applying a musical Brazilian wax to "Pornographer's Dream," and contemplating her life as a wife on "Bound" and as a mother on the lullaby "As You Are Now." The results are richly satisfying throughout. --Don McLeese

Amazon.com

On Beauty & Crime, Suzanne Vega's Blue Note Records debut, the Manhattan native uses New York City as the backdrop for a collection of eleven new songs that juxtapose acoustic guitar-driven melodies with coolly synthesized beats; intensely personal lyrics with compelling, short story-like narratives; images of today's scarred cityscape with memories of Vega's old Upper West Side 'hood and Lower East Side haunts. The past commingles with the present, the public with the private, familiar sounds with the utterly new, just like the city itself. Making her first new studio album in six years, Vega says, "I feel like I really stretched my limits. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone--to sing in keys I wouldn't have sung in before, to work with different textures, to be unafraid of doing what ever sounded good to me. I wanted to make a modern classic."

Suzanne Vega Photos

Album Description

2007 album produced by Jimmy Hogarth. She is accompanied by an eclectic group including Will Malone, Gerry Leonard, Lee Renaldo, Mike Visceglia and Doub Yowell. EMI.

Customer Reviews:

The best so far?.......2007-07-22

Trying to objectively assess any record a matter of weeks after its release is difficult, particularly when it's from such a complex artist as Suzanne Vega - as her previous albums show, her inherently "catchy" songs need time register for their underlying strength and hidden depths to be revealed... but, with time, it's quite possible that this could well prove to be the best release from this supremely gifted artist.

Why? Well, first off, "Beauty & Crime" once again confirms that for sheer songwriting skills she's extremely hard to beat. As with most of her previous output it's infused with great tunes, disarmingly sincere lyrics and clever production, all of which combine to make it not only instantly "likeable" but a record that just grows on you with every repeat playing. Few, if any, artists have delivered this type of eclectic combination with such consistency and now, over 20 years from her debut, it further establishes her status as the most under-rated female singer/songwriter out there.

And, compared to her previous albums? Well the bad news is that, as with her last release, "Songs in Red and Gray", there's not much innovation here... bad news because as she showed on her 90's recordings her style is perfectly suited for more adventurous production, taking her out from the comfort of folk/rock into more challenging areas. But that's clearly not where she wants to be... "Beauty & Crime" is what she wants us to hear and the good news is that it's not only a stunning return to form but a quite beautiful record that's packed full of hauntingly memorable songs. Sure, the edginess of standout tracks on her early albums such as "Left of Centre", "Neighbourhood Girls", Luka" & "Solitude Standing" may be missing but it's been replaced with something equally good: the maturity & reflection that comes with age - check out "Zephyr And I" and "Ludlow Street" to see how good this can be.

Time will tell where this stands in her already brilliant discography but, in the meantime, sit back and enjoy another pure 5 star outing.

She's Like A Fine Wine, She Gets Better With Age.......2007-07-20

When I picked up Suzanne Vega's seventh studio release "Beauty & Crime", I did what a lot of people do these days - I ripped MP3 files for my computer. When I saw that the total time of the songs was only 34 minutes, I was a little disappointed because I have waited 6 years for her follow-up to the terrific "Songs in Red and Gray". But then I played the songs. Wow! The lady still has the magic. Although the songs are pretty short (only one exceeds 4 minutes and I actually think that song - "Bound" - drags on a little too long), they pack a punch. Personal favorites are "Edith Wharton's Figurines", "Unbound" and the one everyone seems to like, "New York is a Woman", which is about a suburban man's first trip to New York City. As a suburban man who will soon take his first trip to New York, I feel like Suzanne just gave me a tour!

I thought the CD was great and I hope she sees enough success with it that we'll hear from her again, hopefully sooner than 6 years from now. I'm looking forward to seeing her for the first time live later this year.

Arrest this Woman! - More Pointless Music from Vega.......2007-07-20

You know, I love acoustic female singer-songwriters as much as the next person (which isn't saying a whole lot), but I also know trash when I listen to it. This, unfortunately, falls into the latter category. I had highly anticipated this release, alongwith the new Sinead O'Connor record, but Sinead eventually let me down with her tepid double album of a release. Vega somehow manages to outdo her with this certifiable doozy of an album, which is a pity, since her last studio album was rather pretty.

"Beauty & Crime" (Suzanne evidently has very little of the former, and she has committed the latter here), is Suzanne's "Ode to New York" (did we really need another one?). I think Tori Amos did it best when she limited her political consciousness to one song about New York on her "I Can't See New York" from the "Scarlet's Walk" album. Well, this album is no "Scarlet's Walk". In fact, its not even "99.9F", which is amongst the weakest of the Vega albums. On its own, its an oddity with no definable purpose - which is OK if the music was great. But when the recently mangled Bjork record has more replay value than this monstrosity, I don't know what to say.

Lets consider the track "Ludlow Street". Even if you're a Vega fan put aside your love for this woman for an instant. On this track, her songwriting abilities are on par with lets say, Lindsay Lohan or Jojo. I kid you not. Here is a sample:

L"ove is the only thing that matters.
Love is the only thing that's real.
I know we hear this every day.
It's still the hardest thing to feel."

And thats just the FIRST VERSE!

Things only get worse on "Pornographers' Dream", which as a tune is acceptable enough (but then again, so were "The Garbage Pail Kids"). Here, Suzanne is apparently talking about a mans' pornographic muse or something - it isn't especially clear (or interesting):

"Bettie Page is still the rage
with her legs and leather;
she turns to tease the camera, and please us at home,
and we let her."

The problem then, if we turn from the lyrics, is the abject disrespect that Vega has for the listening audience. Granted, her tinny voice isn't exactly a selling point, but she is known for making harmlessly average folk-pop songs. What she's done here however, is bewildering. Even if you're a past fan, or a lover of music by Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann etc, theres nothing here of any worth, really.

Whats even worse is the cover photo that does nothing to elevate this beyond a vanity project of the most ill conception. I hate getting personal about artists, but in this case, one has to wonder how the record company could greenlight something so abjectly pedestrian. Its Vega after all, so its not like we expected anything groundbreaking (how could we?), but still - this is beyond whatever low expectations you had coming in.

"Frank and Ava" is a song that is again a mis-step. I have to wonder, is THIS the New York that Vega is observing? Its not terribly inviting. At best, this is like someone took the concept of sitting in a cozy Starbucks drinking a cup of coffee, and reverse engineered it on the premise of "how bad could we do this". I kid you not.

People, there have been only three great albums this year. "American Doll Posse" by Tori Amos, "Release the Stars" by Rufus Wainwright, and "Paige Aufhammer" by Paige Aufhammer. This record is nowhere near the top (read the critical reviews), and I would advise Vega from avoiding the recording room like the plague, in the future. This woman is not a musician, has no right recording music, and her place can be taken by someone more deserving. Sorry, but thats the truth.

Worst female album of the Year. Avoid.

Better than ever.......2007-07-19

Loved it from the first note. So reminiscent of her first album...yet modern at the same time. Marvelous.

Sounds Better With every Listen.......2007-07-19

This is the kind of music that seems to get better the more it's listened to. While I'm a big fan of Suzanne Vega and her music is instantly recognizable to me, I had hoped for a trailblazer. All of the songs are very reminiscent of something she's recorded before. Perhaps this is due to the small group she's using which can easily perform everything live on the road. The accordion was a nice touch on a previous CD. Maybe she can throw in a brass section (a la The Beatles, "Got to Get You into My Life" ) or use a few more exotic instruments, e.g., a sitar, on future projects.

Average customer rating: Robin Thicke- Greatest CD ever Love it! GREAT MUSIC FROM A GREAT ARTIST Soothing love music Robin Thicke's Evolution CD - Only Liked Half

Evolution of Robin Thicke Robin Thicke Manufacturer: Interscope Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music 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 Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: A Beautiful World Collaborations Once Again Luvanmusiq Introducing Joss Stone ASIN: B000M8NMV4 Release Date: 2007-02-09

Tracks:

1. Got 2 Be Down
2. Complicated
3. Would That Make U Love Me
4. Lost Without U
5. Ask Myself
6. All Night Long
7. Everything I Can't Have
8. Teach U A Lesson
9. I Need Love
10. Wanna Love U Girl
11. Can U Believe
12. Shooter - Lil' Wayne
13. Cocaine
14. 2 The Sky
15. Lonely World
16. Angels

Amazon.com

R&B with tempo: Justin Timberlake resurrected it, and it's proving way more influential than that other lost commodity--sexy--he claimed to be bringing back in 2006 on FutureSex/LoveSounds. Timberlake is to Robin Thicke what 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys were to a band like O-Town, in fact: he pretty much made it all possible. But even though it took one blue-eyed soulster with a hot look and an achy falsetto to bang down the door for another, Thicke presents a convincing case here that he had the goods to get us grooving all along: Evolution is a classy disc that tiptoes up to its listeners, first with an elegant duet with Faith Evans ("Got 2 Be Down"), next with a slick lament that wouldn't sound out of place on a Boyz II Men disc ("Complicated"), and then with a sweet plea that commands a finger-snap ("Would That Make U Love Me"). By the time we reach the long, sweeping lullaby that is the final track, "Angels," we've also had a taste of Thicke's swaggering side ("I Need Love," "Cocaine"), his hip-hop loving side ("All Night Long" and "Shooter," both with Lil Wayne), and the side that fantasizes about 1950s Latin ballrooms ("Everything I Can't Have," a hot tamale of a number that commands a visual if ever there was one: it's impossible to hear this song without imagining a raven-haired woman with a red rose between her teeth). Despite the range of moods on display, they're all in service to Thicke's inner R&B smoothie, and they all brush up against the ear with something like affection. Hard as it will be for listeners of a certain age to get past knowing that Thicke is the son of Alan Thicke, the actor who did his part to cheese up 1980s TV with the sitcom Growing Pains, they're going to have to: with his fan base swelling by the second, the evolution of Robin Thicke is going to be a deservedly loud one. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

NOTE: This deluxe edition features a ringtone of "Lost Without U," an autographed poster, and cell-phone wallpaper.

The Evolution of Robin Thicke is the second solo album from the critically acclaimed, Grammy award winning songwriter and producer of records for such artists as Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera. The album is a timeless work of art. With a voice of purity, passion and soulfulness, Robin brings to life the stories and emotions of the last two years of his life.

The album is filled with incandescent magic. It is an album that tells the tales of love, loss, temptation, redemption and finding hope when all the odds are against you. "My greatest desire with this album was to write songs that were completely honest and sing them with the emotion I was feeling when I wrote them, so that whoever listens to my music is brought as close to my experiences and life as possible."

Reflective, redemptive, passionate and etched with a soulfulness that is undeniable, The Evolution of Robin Thicke is an imaginative and heart-felt album that you cannot help but be moved by, bob your head to and smile throughout.

FEATURING GUEST APPEARANCES BY Faith Evans, Pharrell, and Lil' Wayne PRODUCTION BY The Neptunes

Customer Reviews:

Robin Thicke- Greatest CD ever.......2007-07-25

If you haven't purchased this c.d., you're definitely missing out. This is one of those c.d.s that come along every blue moon where you can listen to every track and enjoy it without skipping to the next. His voice is a voice you will definitely fall in love with. He made a great choice by collaborating with Lil' Wayne and Mary J. Blige on a few of the tracks. What I really enjoyed about the c.d. were the tracks with the bass guitar. I've recommended this c.d. to all my friends, and they love it as well. I recently purchased his first album- "A Beautiful World" and it's great as well. Get it now!!!!!!!!

Love it!.......2007-07-20

Well I just received this CD in the mail from Amazon and bought it because I saw Robin Thicke on Good Morning America where he sang "Lost Without You" which I love. The rest of the CD in most cases is excellent - with the exception of one or two songs on it I think it deserves to do very well. I also like the fact that he doesn't only sing falsetto, and he sings in very different styles which really shows his versatility.

GREAT MUSIC FROM A GREAT ARTIST.......2007-07-20

I have been a Robin Thicke fan since I saw the once long haired singer belting out "When I Get You Alone". Another early song to fall in love with is "Stupid Things". I have to admit that when I heard "Shooter" with Lil Wayne, I was not even thinking about getting this CD. I HATE THAT SONG!! But once I heard "Can U Believe", I ordered it, and have been listening to the entire CD everyday now. You won't be dissapointed!! I hope the rest of world learns to love him like I have been doing for a while now.

Soothing love music.......2007-07-15

I absolutely loved one or two of the songs but I found the album as a whole a bit bland. I did not really see the evolution but I do not know his earlier music.

Robin Thicke's Evolution CD - Only Liked Half.......2007-07-12

Robin Thicke is talented vocally and lyrically, unlike other people who sell CDs but cannot sing or people who write songs with incredibly boring, repetitive lyrics (i.e., Justin Timberlake). I like Robin's voice, but didn't like about half of this CD. Also, I thought the track about the "school girl" was in poor taste, given the focus on pedophiles and inappropriate advances by teachers toward students that have hit the news in the last five years. Would recommend CD to others with "conditions." Even so, I do like Robin Thicke and hope his fronting on tour for Beyonce goes well.

Average customer rating: we reviewed this album... A Sure Fire Hit!! Fergies Troubles good What a surprise...

The Dutchess Fergie Manufacturer: Interscope Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: FutureSex / LoveSounds The Sweet Escape Loose B'day Back to Basics ASIN: B000H4VV52 Release Date: 2006-09-19

Tracks:

1. Fergalicious (Featuring Will.I.Am)
2. Clumsy
3. All That I Got (The Make Up Song) Featuring Will.I.Am
4. London Bridge
5. Pedestal
6. Voodoo Doll
7. Glamorous (Featuring Ludacris)
8. Here I Come
9. Velvet
10. Big Girls Don’t Cry
11. Mary Jane Shoes (Featuring Rita Marley & The I-Three’S)
12. Losing My Ground
13. Finally

Amazon.com

If you thought Black Eyed Pea-sized bites of Fergie might be all you could handle--that a full plate of Fergie is possibly too much for any discerning musical palate--The Dutchess might change your mind. For here the lumpen lady throws caution to the wind and threads her pop needle with an ambitious ribbon of yet-to-be-conquered genres: reggae and ska on "Mary Jane Shoes," with Rita Marley; vintage soul on "Here I Come"; '80s hip-hop on "Fergalicious"; and sophisticated R&B on the John Legend-assisted "Finally." It's a tremendous and unpredictable expenditure of effort that mostly pays off--echoes of more talented vocalists like Pink, Beyoncé, and Christina Aguilera poke through in places. But while unbridled messing about can pay handsome artistic dividends (here, the guitar-propelled rock-like track "Big Girls Don't Cry" coughs them up), ultimately it's when Fergie's at her Peas-iest that she's most lovable; cases in point are the raunchily irresistible "London Bridge," which earned every week of its chart-topping success, and the will.i.am-assisted "Clumsy," a girl-group-styled bump-a-thon that showcases Fergie's coolest and most distinctive asset--her personality--to winning effect. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

we reviewed this album..........2007-07-26

We rated this album.... as part of a camp project at St. Ives Camp near New York City. We did a poll to choose everyone's favorite album of the summer.... and the winner .... is an album called + EURO CLUB HITS VOL. 1 + which is downloadable from iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, etc...... (it's not on Amazon yet)......it was a close race between many albums.... everyone in the camp (200+ kids!) is now going to vote again on Amazon & iTunes... and please add your vote also!! Thanks!

A Sure Fire Hit!!.......2007-07-26

This is one of the best "chick" CD's ever!!!! I bought it six weeks ago from Amazon and I haven't listened to anything else since it came in the mail!!! It's terrific and fresh sounding and Fergie is a real artist!

Fergies Troubles .......2007-07-25

While this CD has a lotta hip/hop R/B and pop music on it there is also some songs that seem to dig into her insecure/darker years.The ever famous "Fergalicious" "London Bridge" are fun songs to dance to as is the anonymous "Here I come". "Glamourous" Is a laid-back luxurious kind-of song. It makes me want to lay out in a raft in my pool with a chocolate martini in hand. "Pedestal" Talks about the papparazzi invading her privacy and online gossip sites pertaining to celebs."Vooodoo doll" Seems to talk about dealing with dark magic. Probably, about a bad decision she made(what i was getting at in the title)"Clumsy" about the downfalls of falling in love."All that I got" Confidently talks about her lover seeing through her MAC n Maybelline and into her heart and soul. "Velvet" One of the best songs on the CD in my opinion, is about her being in love basically. It's really romantic to put it bluntly."Big girls dont cry" I was really starting to get annoyed by this song cuz they played it on Kiss 108 like every week-day morning. But anyways it's about leaving a love that made her feel safe n' sound, which I'm sure we can all realate to."Mary jane shoes" Actually talks about the shoes and how she has like "childhood adventures" when she puts them on. "Losing my ground" Is about problems in her life that she cant run away from. "Finally" Talks about how she FINALLY achieved her dream of being a star and how she never thought she would. I find that it inspires me since I dream of being a singer someday.Well, that's about it I think. But if you are a parent skeptical of buying this for your child I would highly recommend doing so!Fergie is soo talented!And I think a great role-model. Just make sure to get the edited version. ;)
-K.F.

good.......2007-07-24

It is okay but i was hoping for more dance tunes and less slow jams

What a surprise..........2007-07-23

Okay, so I admit to being a bit naive when it comes to buying music. I saw the explicit lyrics warning but couldn't figure out why it was there, I'd heard the CD and it seemed okay to me. I looked through all the reviews, no one said there was a "clean" version. Well, now I have a CD that I can't really listen to with kids around and will probably have to list it on eBay to get rid of it.

When there are 2 versions of a CD (explicit vs. clean) it should be listed somewhere that there are 2. I like the CD. The music is upbeat and Fergie has a terrific voice but unless I'm by myself there is no way I can play this with a carfull of kids.

Average customer rating: excellent cd!!!!!!!!! Not up to her standard Her Finest Hour My Best Friend move, inspire and entertain

Children Running Through Patty Griffin Manufacturer: ATO Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Pop | 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 Similar Items: West Not Too Late The Calling A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection These Four Walls ASIN: B000LV63PO Release Date: 2007-02-06

Tracks:

1. You'll Remember
2. Stay On The Ride
3. Trapeze
4. Getting Ready
5. Burgundy Shoes
6. Heavenly Day
7. No Bad News
8. Railroad Wings
9. Up To The Mountains (MLK Song)
10. I Don't Ever Give Up
11. Someone Else's Tomorrow
12. Crying Over

Amazon.com

On her fifth studio CD, folk-rocker Patty Griffin employs three timeless themes--childhood, flight, and death--to craft her most musically diverse and accessible album yet. But while moving through jazz, beatnik, classic and modern folk, gospel R&B, Americana, and moody piano ballad, Griffin keeps her backing quiet and spare, all the more to showcase the power of her deft storytelling and the bell clarity of her unadorned soprano. On song after song, the characters who waft through her experience are on the move, chasing one thing and fleeing another--on trains, ships, buses, in cars, even on the aerialist's bar--ultimately trading an ending of one kind for a new beginning and transference. Sometimes--as on the Rickie Lee Jones-ish "Stay on the Ride," where an old man with no name answers an existential urge for going--they don't even know what it is. "Trapeze," the most resonant offering, follows an aging circus performer who'd rather work without a net than take her chances in love. Here, Emmylou Harris adds one of her most aching harmony lines to Griffin's exquisite, ethereal lead, while in the next track, "Getting Ready," the singer turns a 180, laying a sneering Dylanesque vocal over a fiercely scrubbed acoustic guitar and an occasional dissonant kiss-off. "Baby, baby, you were my drug/And I was just your cigarette," she drones knowingly. One suspects that particular object of her affections will soon regret it. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

excellent cd!!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-24

after purchasing my first patti g. cd(1000 kisses) a few months ago, i had to have another. after receiving this cd, i wondered where patti had been all of my life. trapeze and burgandy shoes give me chills from head to toe. i love to hold my baby girl and dance in the kitchen to heavenly day....makes me cry. can't stop listening to this cd!!!

Not up to her standard.......2007-07-23

First off, I have always liked Griffin's music, the haunting melodies, the piercing lyrics, the purity of her voice, all fantanstic.

Sadly, this cd is not up to her best. She seems to be trying to make a more 'upbeat' and accessible cd, but I feel that this approach has led her astray. Too often the lyrics are trite and obvious, and the melodies are lost in guitars being banged. Her wonderful voice is still strong, but too often she adopts the modern 'warbling' which cames across as unauthentic. Maybe she's trying to reach out to a wider audience and I guess from all the positive reviews she has succeeded to some extent.

But if you're a fan of her previous work, you're likely to be a little dissappointed here. Not once in listening to this cd did I get those rushes of emotion that I always get from her. The album sounds rushed to me, or maybe she didn't get proper help from a good producer. Eitherway, this is Griffin 'lite.' Sounds like her, but the punch just ain't there.

Her Finest Hour.......2007-07-10

I've always been a sorta-kinda fan of Patty Griffin, but each of her prior albums has suffered from a few (or more) dud songs, and moments where her voice struggles against notes that she just can't hit very well. Finally an album where these problems are nearly absent! It's amazing how gracefully she's aging; her voice has never sounded so good. A couple tracks took some time to grow on me, but now I can honestly say it's a pleasure for me to listen to this album from beginning to end without skipping a single track. And as for the standout tracks...I would name them, but there are about seven of them. (Though "No Bad News" and "Up to the Mountain" are among the best songs she's ever recorded.) I can't wait to hear her next album, but if Children Running Through ends up being her masterpiece, that's good enough for me.

My Best Friend.......2007-07-09

I wish I could square the 5 star rating. I was familiar with Patty Griffin's songs long before I heard her beautiful voice. She is a marvel. I normally need to warm up to new music before I start to enjoy it. This lovely collection was my current favorite the first time I heard it. Heavenly Day is now my "happy place" when I need one. I'd give Patty a hug if I could reach far enough. Thanks for the good times!

move, inspire and entertain.......2007-07-08

Patty Griffin is a storyteller. Rarely confessional or self-indulgent, she tells tales, assumes personas and takes the listener deep into the lives of her characters. Each persona has her or his own musical interpretation, deepening and strengthening the voice. In "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)," Griffin assumes the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and puts herself into to the head and heart of a man working for a vision and a dream. Hope seems to be a theme on this latest effort, as is travel. "Stay on the Ride" has a man riding the bus day in and day out because "it's gonna take me somewhere." Griffin takes some musical risks and periodically diverges from her comfortable style, as in the jazzier tones of the opening track, "You'll Remember," and the gospel-infused strains of "Heavenly Day" and "Up to the Mountain." "Trapeze" showcases a gorgeous duet with the master of harmonies, Emmylou Harris. Patty Griffin is an artist who has hit her stride and stayed there for years. This album proves her staying power and continued ability to move, inspire and entertain.

Rap Music:

1. Red House Painters 1
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5. Sideshow
6. Singles Round Up
7. Something for Rockets
8. Strange Bird [Enhanced]
9. Summers Kiss [EP]
10. Texas Flood [Extra tracks] [Original recording remastered] [SACD]

Rap Music

rap music

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