The Giraffes

Amazon.com
Though updated through forty subsequent years of increasingly heavy rock music, The Giraffes bear comparisons with The Who. Their instrumental line-up is the same and the roles of each player follows a similar path, with guitarist Damien Paris slashing chordal clusters, bassist John Rosenthal anchoring with musical chops that go way beyond what the genre calls for, and drummer Andrew Totolos flying off into deft flights of fancy. Vocalist Aaron Lazar is both a powerfully controlled screamer ("Wage Earner") and an impassioned, dramatic balladeer ("Honey Baby Child," more of a dirge than a ballad, rides off into the sunset with power to spare). High energy from start to finish, The Giraffes avoid the sameness that some of their compatriots fall into, by crafting solid songs from the outset. --David Greenberger

The Giraffes,The Giraffes,Razor & Tie,Alternative Pop/Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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The Giraffes

Average customer rating: Pretty stellar, hurry up and get it. TURN IT UP! Better with each listen!

The Giraffes The Giraffes Manufacturer: Razor & Tie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles The Days Are Filled with Years We Sweat Blood Wolfmother Blood Mountain ASIN: B0009VNBLU Release Date: 2005-07-12

Tracks:

1. Jr At His Worst
2. Wage Earner
3. Haunted Heaven
4. Man U.
5. Having Fun
6. Sugarbomb
7. Blckntwhtcstl
8. Million $ Man
9. 79 & Weightless
10. Honey Baby Child

Amazon.com

Though updated through forty subsequent years of increasingly heavy rock music, The Giraffes bear comparisons with The Who. Their instrumental line-up is the same and the roles of each player follows a similar path, with guitarist Damien Paris slashing chordal clusters, bassist John Rosenthal anchoring with musical chops that go way beyond what the genre calls for, and drummer Andrew Totolos flying off into deft flights of fancy. Vocalist Aaron Lazar is both a powerfully controlled screamer ("Wage Earner") and an impassioned, dramatic balladeer ("Honey Baby Child," more of a dirge than a ballad, rides off into the sunset with power to spare). High energy from start to finish, The Giraffes avoid the sameness that some of their compatriots fall into, by crafting solid songs from the outset. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

Pretty stellar, hurry up and get it........2005-08-04

I was watching fuel tv and they played a bit of the video for man u. with 2 guys punching each other in the gut (you can play the video on the band's website), and the sound was impressive. Well, the whole CD is impressive. As the other reviewer said, you'll find yourself happily singing along to what could actually be considered some dark lyrics. But they make it sound good. I hear a bit of Fu Manchu and maybe even some Monster Magnet in there, but, basically its rock. Not metal, but good ol' hard rock with some attitude to spare. Best new thing in terms of rock that I've heard in quite some time.

TURN IT UP!.......2005-08-03

I have been trying to find something that really rocks for a while now. And this is it. This CD simply ROCKS! Forget about all the comparisons with Mountain, Mahogany Rush, etc. Just buy it, turn it up and let it kick your butt!

Better with each listen!.......2005-07-14

The more I hear this CD, the more I absolutely love it.

Musically, the CD rocks hard. I've seen numerous comparisons to The Who in other reviews, but I have trouble hearing the similarities. If you had to place a label on them, group them more along the lines of Faith No More at their balls-out hardest, or perhaps Kings-X on crystal meth. There's a lot more going on here than a simple comparison to a 60's burnout band can imply.

Lyrically, the disc shines with phrases that I just can't seem to get out of my head. I've caught myself working "Having fun with a**holes" and "You're going home in a f***ing ambulance" into casual conversation. Thanks a lot, fellas.

If Motorhead, Queen and The Ramones whipped up a sperm milkshake and spewed it into the womb of Courtney Love, The Giraffes would be the bastard child.

Rock on, Giraffes!

Average customer rating: Previn, Bonney and Fleming

André Previn - Diversions · Songs / Fleming · Bonney · Wiener Phil. · LSO · Previn André Previn , Renée Fleming , Barbara Bonney , Wiener Philharmoniker , and London Symphony Orchestra Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Previn, André | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music 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: Previn: From Ordinary Things: Cello Sonata, Four Songs, Two Remembrances, Vocalise ASIN: B00005AX5W Release Date: 2001-07-10

Tracks:

1. Diversions: I. Prologue - VPO/Andre Previn
2. Diversions: II. Passacaglia (Slow) - Peter Schmidl/Franz Bartolomey/Gunter Federsel
3. Diversions: III. (Fast) - Wolfgang Tombock Jr/Gotthard Eder
4. Diversions: IV. (Slowly) - Michael Werba/Martin Gabriel/Meinhart Neidermayr
5. Sallie Chisum Remembers Billy The Kid - Barbara Bonney/Moray Welsh
6. Vocalise - Barbara Bonney/Moray Welsh
7. The Giraffes Go To Hamburg - Renee Siebert
8. Three Dickinson Songs: I. As Imperceptibly As Grief - Renee Fleming/Andre Previn
9. Three Dickinson Songs: II. Will There Really Be A Morning - Renee Fleming/Andre Previn
10. Three Dickinson Songs: III. Good Morning Midnight - Renee Fleming/Andre Previn

Amazon.com

André Previn's long and distinguished career as a conductor has overshadowed his work as a composer and pianist, but this disc of "diversions" lifts the curtain, offering a fair sampling of Previn's output. The Diversions show his flair for colorful orchestration--in both scurrying, energetic writing and bitter-sweet lyrical material. Sallie Chisum Remembers Billy the Kid, a prostitute's account of the celebrated outlaw (with a text by The English Patient author Michael Ondaatje), is sung beautifully by Barbara Bonney, who is joined by cellist Moray Welsh for the haunting Vocalise. Renée Fleming, star of Previn's opera A Streetcar Named Desire, takes the honors in The Giraffes Go to Hamburg. It's a piece on animal suffering, whose quirkiness probably requires a Fleming to bring it off. She rounds off the disc with Previn at the piano for Three Dickinson Songs, notable as much as anything else for his sure feel for instrumental color. The third song, the beautiful and atmospheric Good Morning Midnight, makes a superb end to the program. If it leaves you wanting more, perhaps the record company will be a little more generous next time than the 56 minutes it gives us on this collection. --Keith Clarke

Customer Reviews:

Previn, Bonney and Fleming.......2001-11-12

To say that Andre Previn has had an eclectic musical career would be an understement. He has written movies scores ("Two for the Seesaw"), opera ("A Streetcar named Desire"), played jazz piano and composed symphonic music. In his "Diversions/Songs" he has written both a suite in four movements and 2 long songs: one, sung by Barbara Bonney based on Michael Ondaatje's poem about Billy the Kid and the other sung by Renee Fleming based on Isak Dinesen's "Out of Africa."
All of the music is quite beautiful and in the Suite in particular you can hear echoes of all his former musical lives: jazz, blues, etc. The Dinesen piece was written especially for Ms. Fleming and in it.. she shines. Her tone is bright yet very human and womanly....a little sexual even. Bonney also acquits herself well in the Billy the Kid piece. This is a perfect CD for those just beginning to appreciate Classical music: it's accessible on a very basic level because of it's surface beauty yet sophisticated, diverse and complicated enough to please those with a history of enjoying classical music.

Average customer rating: Nice mellow music Incredible stuff. Presidents of the USA, Jr. One Man Band

The Days Are Filled with Years The Giraffes Manufacturer: Orange Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Hand Me That Door The Giraffes Love Everybody Freaked Out & Small Pure Frosting ASIN: B00004TM0V Release Date: 2000-05-23

Tracks:

1. Giraffes In The Underworld
2. Kill The Cake
3. Black Shadow
4. Drunk On The Sweepings
5. Easy Phantom
6. Gone Again Gone
7. When She's Drunk
8. Bone Dry
9. Cypress Ghost
10. Mess Of Doubt
11. Room Forever
12. Burned By A Summer
13. Headphone Sunset

Customer Reviews:

Nice mellow music.......2004-11-02

Like the other Giraffes album, this one is mostly filled with irreverent somewhat wacky lyrics coupled with nice mellow music. This album, however seems much more mellow than "13 Other Dimensions", with a bit of introspection added in on a couple of the songs. Certainly a good album to listen to when you're feeling relaxed.

Incredible stuff........2001-03-12

This album is one of the best I have heard in a long time. The tunes are catchy, many times folk-like, but fun. The lyrics are wonderfully creative. It reminded me of a few tracks from Beck's "Odelay". Like the Presidents of the USA, but more accoustic, with ambient sounds. This is a must have for people who like mild, creative, relaxing music. Also, it's quiet and un-distracting enough for background music while working. Well done!

Presidents of the USA, Jr........2001-01-03

Basically, if you like the President's cds you'll like "The days are filled with years" CD. It is down and dirty. Simple, catchy tunes that are easy to sing and listen to.

If you like this CD you may also want to try out Beck's CD "One foot in the grave." (which is an older and hard to find CD)

Enjoy.

One Man Band.......2000-06-22

The Giraffes, one of the new projects by Chris Ballew of The Presidents, is a pure joy. Writing,producing and performing all the tracks on his home equipment, you feel like you're in the room with your most creative funny friend. There are many bouncy instrumental tracks between his usual crafty lyrics and puns. This is the future of Seattle music.

Average customer rating: Inside each animal is a prize... The Giraffes soothe the soul with chocalate dreams This is a must-have for any PUSA fans. Very creative; full of layered sounds and experimentation.

13 Other Dimensions The Giraffes Manufacturer: My Own Planet ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000006CCL Release Date: 1998-03-10

Tracks:

1. Chocolate Dimension
2. Lonely Chicken
3. Hopeless (Rub It In)
4. Every Crocodile
5. Comin' Around
6. Nuthin' 2 Looz
7. Brain on Yer Tung
8. Little Champion
9. Pale Moon
10. Ghost of a Bad Friend
11. Slow Slow Fly
12. Poodle Mouth
13. Wither Without You

Amazon.com

In the words of Chris Ballew--the former frontman of short-lived bubble-grunge kingpins The Presidents of the United States--he "got finished being a rock star" and decided to return to his basement-pop roots. Ballew actually recorded the whole 13-song set on his own, but you won't find his name anywhere on the disc, which is credited to a motley crew of stuffed animals led by a worn-looking giraffe. In terms of content, nothing here would have sounded entirely out of place on a Presidents record; songs range from silly ("Brain on Yer Tung") to sillier ("Chocolate Dimension") to silliest ("Lonely Chicken"). Don't expect the weirdo austerity of the Presidents, though: There are enough geegaws and doodads in the margins of the Giraffes' songs to keep lo-fi technophiles entranced for hours. --David Sprague

Customer Reviews:

Inside each animal is a prize..........1999-11-20

This album is totally addicting. Keep listening and you'll keep listening. For just goofing around in your basement- this guy has much to offer in the way of lyrics and music. The melodies are intriguing and loaded with hooks. The lyrics are hilarious and at the same time, they touch some "private" places.

The Giraffes soothe the soul with chocalate dreams.......1998-11-03

With much music being written in a cloud of angst and rage, it is refreshing to hear something so pure and happy as that of the The Giraffes. Goofy, yes. Boring, no. This album takes me back to my childhood of Sesame Street and stuffed animals, while making me want to dance about like a fool. I think the album embodies much of the wit of the Presidents of the United States. Granted I am less versed in their work, they strike a chord on my funny bone. For people who want a change from harsh guitar and repitative lyrics try the album. I think its worth whatever money and can be listen to many times. I personally have "Lonely Chicken" as a greeting on my answering machine and you should too. If they ever go on tour, which is highly unlikely, check them out as well. Cheers, Ian

This is a must-have for any PUSA fans........1998-07-07

An extra treat for those PUSA fans upset by the breakup, The Giraffes is a cute band comprised of six of Chris Ballew's childhood stuffed animals. Chickey plays the drums, Giraffe the lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Yoko Glick the piano, organ and clavinette, Munkey Jr. the horns and strings, Munkey Sr, the lead vibratto and wah-wah guitar and Barry Lowe the basitar. Actually, it is just Chris Ballew in his basement. But it is a feather plucking dream come true to anyone who loves PUSA's crazy lyrics and silly songs. If you are like me, you'll love it! I especially recommend "Lonely Chicken" and "Ghost of a Bad Friend."

Very creative; full of layered sounds and experimentation........1998-06-29

I like this album mostly because it is fun, and it sounds like the artist had a wonderful time creating it. I can hear the sound of The Presidents of the United States of America, but 13 Other Dimensions is mellower than their three albums. It is full of interesting subtlties and unexpected sounds. Brain on Yer Tongue and Little Champion are especially energetic and easy to listen to.

Average customer rating:

Gentleman Never Tells Manufacturer: Apesauce Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CADLX6 Release Date: 2003-12-16

Average customer rating:

More Songs About the Reproductive Cycle Love Scream Manufacturer: Love Scream ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000294DRK Release Date: 2000-12-19

Tracks:

1. I Say Something
2. Down to a T
3. Don't Jump Marie
4. Laxative
5. Nothing
6. Jelingwits
7. Empty Canvas
8. Something About a Mindset
9. Contradiction
10. Personal Space
11. I Played the Drums So Well

Product Description

Energetic Power Pop for fake giraffes. A MUST listen for those who are inspired by the likes of Norm MacDonald and/or Weezer. Oh yeah, it RAWKS TOO. Love Scream has its roots in a very informal association of musicians, at college in Boston, who would get together to play the music of Josh Jesty (songwriter, singer, guitarist). After much experimentation the lineup was completed in the Fall of 99', when Jesty , Josh Kaler (guitarist, singer), and Owen Biddle (bassist, singer) teamed up with Dan Meath (drummer). For the next few months the four member group practiced a lot, and gigged a little. The chemistry that developed in that short time was very promising, and was strong enough to influence the four to make a go of it. However, the group needed to make a great recording if they were going to be noticed in the busy Boston music scene. In the late Fall of 2000, the band met accomplished producer/engineer Richard Mendelson. Rich believed in the vision of the group, and decided to work with them over the summer of 2000 to produce "More Songs About the Reproductive Cycle." The Band: Josh Jesty - vocals, guitar; Josh Kaler - guitar, vocals; Owen Biddle - bass, vocals; Dan Meath - drums; Track Listing: 1. I Say Something; 2. Down to a T; 3. Don't Jump Marie; 4. Laxative; 5. Nothing; 6. Jelingwits; 7. Empty Canvas; 8. Something About a Mindset; 9. Contradiction; 10. Personal Space; 11. I Played the Drums so Well.

Average customer rating:

Smattering Burning Giraffes Manufacturer: E Ticket Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000LFOTOM

Product Description

Tracks: 1. Crippled Inside 2. Dream Time 3. Will U 4. Prettiest Things

Average customer rating: Welcome to his nightmare

Days Are Filled With Years Giraffes Manufacturer: Orchard ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00004STMI Release Date: 2000-03-28

Customer Reviews:

Welcome to his nightmare.......2000-04-11

Dedicated to Mark Sandman, Chris Ballew's friend from the band Morphine who died last year, Chris delivers intimate recordings with slower tempos delving into darker subjects such as shadows, bones, ghosts, phantoms, alcohol, doubt, loneliness, sunsets ... and those words only refer to the songs' titles. The songs themselves expand further, yet the stories tell the lighter side of the dark side: like a Scooby-Doo cartoon with introspection and hangovers, for example.

However, with his playful use of language, wry observations and gift of sensible pop songwriting, it's virtually impossible for Ballew to make a truly depressing record, but here he makes an astute album on how life's realities interfere with your dreams, or at least slow your dreams down to a certain pace. The Days Are Filled With Years is yet another fascinating facet of a talented, prolific and dynamic artist who can just as well write songs about dune buggies, kitties and peaches and play in a rock band with Sir Mix-A-Lot.

Average customer rating: Let's hear more from Matthew Brubek!

Giraffes in a Hurry Brubeck , and Widelock Manufacturer: B & W (UK) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B000001MFR Release Date: 1994-10-04

Customer Reviews:

Let's hear more from Matthew Brubek!.......2000-03-10

Matthew has taken his inherited interests and talents from his father and made them contemporary with today's available jazz and musical options. He has opened his music up to some of the world's finest musical influences and created his own unique, deep and satisfying blend of sounds. I wish he'd go on tour again - having seen and visited with him in Winter Park, Florida in the 80's, so jazz fans everywhere can experience his electrical talents.

Average customer rating:

Helping You Help Yourself The Giraffes Manufacturer: Apesauce Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CA9YIM Release Date: 2002-10-22

Tracks:

1. It's You I Pity
2. Manchester United
3. Million Dollar Man
4. Lootin' In The A.M.
5. Stud 100
6. I'll Be Your Daddy
7. The Ballad of Sissyfist
8. After The Orgy

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7. Way We Are [Enhanced]
8. We're Only in It for the Money
9. Weightlifting
10. Where to Now [Original recording remastered]

Rap Music

rap music

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