Still remembered primarily for the catchy, but ultimately forgettable single "Barely Breathing" off his self-titled debut record, Duncan Sheik's Phantom Moon continues down the same, increasingly melancholic road he began to chart in earnest on his 1998 sophomore effort, Humming. Here, Sheik slows everything down and wrings bittersweet romance from these songs, which feature lyrics written by New York playwright Steven Sater. Embellished with pianos, strings, and occasional, understated drum work, the music Sheik puts around Sater's poetic stories is moody but not acutely passionate. While his expression is heartfelt, it always feels like he's just passing through these sentiments. Songs like "Mouth on Fire," while lovely and sonically intriguing, never attain those touches of intense individuality that mark the best troubadours. Nevertheless, Moon is a solid effort, and it shows off Sheik's growing musical prowess and confidence. Perhaps he simply needs life to throw him a few more low balls before his work finds the sad, brilliant heart it, for now, only alludes to. --Matthew Cooke
Phantom Moon,Duncan Sheik,Nonesuch,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter
Phantom Moon
Average customer rating:
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Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000850IS6 Release Date: 2005-05-03 |
Tracks:
- Star Wars and The Revenge Of The Sith
- Anakin's Dream
- Battle Of The Heroes
- Anakin's Betrayal
- General Grievous
- Palpatine's Teachings
- Grievous and the Droids
- Padme's Ruminations
- Anakin vs. Obi-Wan
- Anakin's Dark Deeds
- Enter Lord Vader
- The Immolation Scene
- Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious
- The Birth Of The Twins and Padme's Destiny
- A New Hope and End Credits
Amazon.com
John Williams' lovely and moving score for the sixth Star Wars film brings thirty years of collaborating on George Lucas' beyond-popular intergalactic franchise to a close. (Is this really the end of Star Wars? Can't Lucas and Williams work together on a prequel to these prequels? Let us hope so, and that Jar Jar Binks is nowhere near it.) As this music accompanies the most exciting Star Wars film in many a moon, the soundtrack itself is more fun, more evil, more nasty and bumpy. Many of the heroic, anthemic themes woven throughout Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith will necessarily be familiar to any fan of the series, from the "Imperial March" to the main theme. It's remarkable how stirring the latter can be, no matter how many times you've heard it, and even for those who do not have all their money invested in S.W. memorabilia. There is a lot of new music here, and the lush, extensive range of both Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra is on display, most notably in the menacing, percolating "General Grievous" and the rousing "New Hope" end theme. --Mike McGonigal
The Force Is Also with:
Star Wars Trilogy soundtrack box set |
Star Wars Episode II sountrack |
Star Wars Episode II, Attack of the Clones |
Star Wars Episode I, The Phantom Menace |
Star Wars Trilogy on DVD |
Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |
Customer Reviews:
Star Wars: A Musical Journey (2005) (V).......2007-06-21
The bonus dvd with this soundtrack was the reason I purchased. I enjoy film soundtracks, and science fiction, but this dvd was a real highlight for me. I got the soundtrack cd out of the local library. The cd was missing from the case, but I found this wonderful dvd instead that I went out to purchase later.
With optional segments of dialog from Ian McDiarmid, this film is a stunning visual and musical overview of the full epic story of episodes I-VI of Star Wars. For those of us who felt that eps. IV-VI fell short of our expectations, this film presents them well as parts of the whole story. The Musical Journey also stands as a summary of the entire SW opus for someone who is not familiar with the Star Wars characters and plot. Highly recommended.
Options: no subtitles or other options.
Not one of his bests, but very close.......2007-05-21
My favorite tracks are "Battle of the Heroes," "Anakin's Betrayal," Palpatine's teachings, "Anakin vs. Obi-Wan," and the "Immolation Scene."
The others are very good as well, but these are especially nice. "Battle of the Heroes" is Dual of the Fates for Revenge of the Sith. "Anakin's Betrayal" is a very sad track that is, in my opinion, one of William's most powerful pieces. "Palpatine's Teachings" is really, really neat. It's very dark and moody, a perfect piece for the evil emperor. The only weird thing is the end. "Anakin vs. Obi-Wan" is the action piece that plays during the battles of Anakin and Obi-Wan, and Yoda and the Emperor. Finally, "The Immolation Scene" is another sad piece, even more so than "Anakin's Betrayal."
Although I really like this CD, there are some things that are missing (as usual). First, the whole sequence where the droids are looking for Obi-Wan after he was shot. You see Obi-Wan in his ship with Senator Organa on the Hologram (or whatever it is), and Obi-Wan says that his clones turned on him. That was some pretty awesome music that OF COURSE was left out of the CD. Then there was Dual of the Fates in the movie, but completely absent from the CD. And probably the most annoying was that whole piece of music before Obi-Wan and Anakin fight. It was so touching and sad and I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY LEFT IT OUT! Absolutely amazing. Also, did anyone notice that some little bits were cut out? For example, in Anakin vs. Obi Wan, they cut out about a second or two of choir. What?! What the heck is with that? It's when Anakin is running on the long thing and jumps on the droid on the lava. Also, there was some pretty cool drumming when you see Yoda and the Emperor fighting, and you can see the whole stadium (the big room). There's also drumming in "Enter Lord Vader" that is muted in the soundtrack.
Oh well...if I'm going to collect movie scores, I'm going to have to get used to the fact that in almost all cases there's not going to be every bit of music. I've experienced this in both Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park I (there was very little left out on this score), and almost everything else. At the moment, I'm just waiting for the 22nd, for the Pirates of the Caribbean 3 soundtrack. It's gonna be amazing.
See Yu
John Williams' finest work.......2007-04-20
Having said that, I will say that few soundtracks have ever so perfectly captured the underlying emotional currents of their respective movie; in the case of ROTS, the contemporaneous tragedies of Anakin's fall to the Dark Side, the extermination of the Jedi, and the rise of the oppressive Empire. The listener is confronted with the depth and totality of the evil that has beset the entire galaxy to a degree that the film could not reach in only 2 hours.
Bravo, Dan Mohr, and BRAVO John Williams!
A Great Conclusion to the Prequel Trilogy.......2007-04-07
Williams is slumming it.......2007-04-01
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The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002IZE Release Date: 1994-08-30 |
Tracks:
- Le Cid: O Souverain, O Juge, O Pere
- Maravilla: Amor, Vida De Mi Vida
- Werther: Pourquoi Me Reveiller
- Spring Is Here: With a Song In My Heart
- Granada
- Non Ti Scordar Di Me
- 'A Tribute to Hollywood': My Way
- Tribute To Hollywood: Moon River
- Tribute To Hollywood: Because
- 'A Tribute to Hollywood': Singin' In the Rain
- Tu, Ca Nun Chiagne
- Pagliacci: Vesti la Giubba
- Turondat: Nessun Dorma!
- 'Around the World': America
- 'Around the World': All I Ask Of You
- 'Around the World': Funiculi, Funicula
- 'Around the World': Sous Les Ponts De Paris
- 'Around the World': Brazil
- 'Around the World': Be My Love
- 'Around the World': Marechiare
- 'Around the World': Lippen Schweigen
- 'Around the World': Santa Lucia Luntana
- 'Around the World': Those Were the Days
- 'Around the World': Te Quiero Dijiste
- 'Around the World': Torna A Surriento
- Encores: La Donna E Mobile
- Encores: Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici
Amazon.com
It's not opera; it's not a pop concert; it's not Broadway. It's all of these and none of them. Once you accept the fact that this sequel to the original blockbuster concert recording is less about music and more about entertainment and the power of musical personalities, you can appreciate what you're hearing as an event--phenomenal and bizarre, momentous and frivolous. This is an occasion to celebrate the voices and egos of three huge superstars, and to have fun listening as Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras interact, bouncing lines off each other and playing to the overwhelmingly enthusiastic audience. Much of the fun and flavor of the concert is dependent on seeing the action, though, and without the visuals you notice flaws in the singing much more. Domingo comes off as the more solid performer, and his voice is in far better shape than the other two. But if you crave big, high, and loud--and you don't take your opera too seriously--you'll love this disc. --David VernierCustomer Reviews:
Un gran concierto.......2005-07-19
Give em a 3.5.......2004-01-25
This event, like the first one in Rome, has a magnificent setting but, like Rome, the show was marketed mainly to the American audience. They still include the dreadful "Maria" with the hilarious pronunciation and even added "With a Song In My Heart" (or, as Carreras is wont to sing, "Weeth a Soeeng een My Haht"). Though some may deride the choice of encores, they were almost perfect. The Three Tenors, despite their prior celebrity, are creations of our culture of entertainment in ways that Caruso could only dream about.
Synopsis: Carreras stands out, Domingo substitutes volume for quality and Pavarotti soars when he doesn't have to.
The Most Enjoyable Evening IN !!!!!!!!!!!.......2003-05-01
Hmmmm...........2002-04-21
Last Encore of songs missing off C.D........2002-02-06
Many thanks for your time,
With kind regards,
Pam Sargeant.
Average customer rating:
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Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00064ADMK Release Date: 2004-10-19 |
Tracks:
- Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
- Swanee- Al Jolson
- When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
- A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
- My Man- Fanny Brice
- Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
- If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
- Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
- Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
- Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
- Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
- Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
- Body And Soul- Libby Holman
- Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
- Night And Day- Fred Astaire
- Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
- You're The Top- Ethel Merman
- Summertime- Anne Brown
- September Song- Walter Huston
- My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
- It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
- Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
- Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
- Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake
Tracks:
- New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
- If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
- Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
- There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
- How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
- Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
- Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
- Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
- Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
- Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
- Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
- Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
- Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
- Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
- Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
- Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
- Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
- I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
- Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
- The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
- Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
- Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence
Tracks:
- Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
- I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
- Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
- My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
- Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
- Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
- Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
- Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
- I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
- The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
- Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
- What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
- As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
- Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
- People- Barbra Streisand
- Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
- If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
- Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
- The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
- If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
- Open a New Window- from Mame Voice
Tracks:
- Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
- Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
- I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
- The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
- Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
- I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
- I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
- We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
- Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
- Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
- Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
- One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
- All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
- Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
- Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
- Come Follow The Band
- Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
- And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
- The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia
Tracks:
- Memory- Betty Buckley
- I Am What I Am- George Hearn
- Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
- Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
- The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
- You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
- The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
- Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
- With One Look- Glenn Close
- On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
- Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
- Seasons Of Love-
- Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
- I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
- Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
- Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
- Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
- I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
- Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30
Top Shelf.......2007-01-04
TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23
Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14
Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17
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Pavarotti & Friends 2
Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000004272 Release Date: 1995-06-06 |
Tracks:
- Chitarrra romana
- Moon River
- All I Ask Of You
- Mattinata
- Santa Lucia luntana
- Night Fire Dance
- Verranno a te
- Please Forgive Me
- Who Wants To Live Forever
- Notte 'e piscatore
- O Silver Moon
- 'O Sole mio
- Ave maria, dolce Maria
- All For Love
- Brindisi
Customer Reviews:
Artifice not art.......2005-04-20
Live Audience, Variety=Enjoyable Listening Experience.......2002-09-12
audience, and the knowledge that the event was performed for charity, all add up to a very enjoyable listening experience.
Fun.......2002-02-07
Excellent live album.......2001-11-08
torture.......2001-09-25
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Very Best Of Moon Martin
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00002DEXF Release Date: 2005-02-08 |
Tracks:
- Hot Nite In Dallas
- Victim Of Romance
- Cadillac Walk
- Bad Case Of Lovin' You
- Nite Thoughts
- I've Got A Reason
- She Made A Fool Of Me
- Dreamer
- Hot House Baby
- Rolene
- No Chance
- Five Days Of Fever
- Signal For Help
- Pushed Around
- Love Gone Bad
- Breakout Tonight
- Bad News
- Whispers
- Cross Your Fingers
- Paid The Price
- Don't You Double (Cross Me Baby)
- Aces With You
Album Description
Import exclusive 22-track best of collection for one of the more curious characters of the new wave movement. Capitol. 2004.Album Details
Hit Collection Compiled in Sweden! Moody Pop Artist Sounds Like Warren Zevon.Customer Reviews:
Great response.......2005-07-08
The best of a great song writter........2005-05-10
I'm glad Moon didn't join the Eagles because I would have never heard these great songs. Moon Martin ia usually known (if at all) for writting Robert Palmers hit "Bad Case Of Loving You" and Willie "Mink" DeVille's "Cadallac Walk". Buy this CD and you can hear the original versions.
I first became aware of him when he opened for ROCKPILE at the Ritz Club in NYC in the early 80's. Moon recorded four albums for Capitol Records in the late seventies early eighties. This is a compilation of those four albums. Moon' albums always sound more like professional song demos than finished projects. At first you may think this sounds a little strange, but as time passes you realize that the simplicity of these arrangements make you really appreciate the great writting. There are no blazing guitar or keyboard solos-just simple songs with catchy great lyrics and catchy melodies that you can't get out of your head.
In the late 80s and 90s Moon has had a number of CDs issued in Europe. If you like this Best of CD- search for these other import CD releases. They are all just as good.
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Harem World Tour: Live from Las Vegas
Sarah Brightman Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002VYPCG Release Date: 2004-09-28 |
Tracks:
- Kama Sutra
- Harem Overture (Cancao do Mar)
- It's a Beautiful Day
- Dust in the Wind
- Who Wants to Live Forever
- Anytime, Anywhere
- La Luna
- Nessun Dorma
- The War Is Over
- Free
- A Whiter Shade of Pale
- The Phantom of the Opera Suite
- WIshing You Were Somehow Here Again
- Time To Say Goodbye
- Question of Honor
- Snow on the Sahara (Bonus studio track)
Amazon.com
While the sales of Sarah Brightman's ambitious, Middle Eastern-themed 2003 album Harem may have fallen short of its predecessor, the veteran UK chanteuse's popularity as a live performer has only mushroomed. This live recording of her ambitious, sold-out Harem World Tour engagement at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Arena is testament to that appeal, begging the question: Will Brightman become the Grateful Dead of classical crossover? Indeed, abetted by the rich sonic textures of longtime producer/collaborator Frank Peterson, the worldbeat conceits of her recent studio recordings are folded into a larger, even more expansive live vision here. Brightman's overt dramatic instincts and oft-chaemeleonic vocal abilities drive a slate of material that stretches from the Arabian Nights/Madame Butterflypastiche of Harem's seductive "It's A Beautiful Day" through surprisingly effective classical/rock reinventions of Kansas' "Dust in the Wind" andSarah Brightman Photos
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More from Sarah Brightman
Time to Say Goodbye |
Classics |
Eden |
Diva: The Video Collection |
Live from Las Vegas |
La Luna (Live in Concert) |
Customer Reviews:
AMAZING! She is so much better live!.......2006-12-02
ALSO RECOMMENDED : Since there is so much Sarah Brightman to choose from, I also recommend EDEN, TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, LA LUNA, CLASSICS, and DIVA.
AMAZING! She is so much better live!.......2006-12-02
ALSO RECOMMENDED : Since there is so much Sarah Brightman to choose from, I also recommend EDEN, TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, LA LUNA, CLASSICS, and DIVA.
Inspiring, Beautiful and The Sweetest Voice!.......2005-08-21
We, the fans of this great artist finelly have in our hands a live album, and it's amazing:
-The voice is totaly live, she sang about 24 complete songs in the show, but the album only contains 15.
-Snow In The Sahara is a lovely song.
If you have the chase of get this alubum, don't doubt and get it; It wond disapoint you!
astounding performance.......2005-06-07
However, experiencing this epic and intensely mystical concert compelled me to realize the individual and unique glory of Sarah Brightman. Also, this concert is so phenomenally entertaining at many levels that I couldn't help but fall absolutely in love with the special magic of Sarah Brightman. Obviously, the expansive Middle Eastern milieu can accommodate more than one angelic vocalist!
I now consider Lisa Gerrard and Sarah Brightman to be geniuses who both warrant goddess status in the pantheon of lyrical greats. To see either one of them perform live is surely one of the most powerful and memorable sensory experiences one could ever have!
Great, of course.......2005-03-18
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The Maury Yeston Songbook
Maury Yeston , Christine Andreas , Brent Barrett , Betty Buckley , Liz Callaway , Alice Ripley , Sutton Foster , Brian d'Arcy James , and Philip Chaffin Manufacturer: P.S. Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00008H2LJ Release Date: 2003-04-08 |
Tracks:
- Please Let's Not Even Say Hello - Alice Ripley
- Only with You - Brent Barrett
- I Want to Go to Hollywood - Sutton Foster
- Danglin' - Johnny Rodgers
- I Had a Dream About You - Betty Buckley
- My True Love - Philip Chaffin
- A Call from the Vatican - Alice Ripley
- Now and Then - Laura Benanti
- You're There Too - Christopher Fitzgerald
- Is Someone Out There? - Eden Espinosa
- New Words - Brent Barrett
- My Grandmother's Love Letters - Christine Ebersole
- By the River - Christine Andreas
- I Am Longing - Philip Chaffin
- Home - Laura Benanti & Robert Cuccioli
- Another Day in the Modern World - Michael Holland
- Simple - Liz Callaway
- Unusual Way - Brian d'Arcy James
- Be On Your Own - Betty Buckley
- No Moon - Howard McGillin
Amazon.com
Despite racking up Tony nominations and/or box-office success with Nine, Grand Hotel, and Titanic, Maury Yeston remains a relatively unknown Broadway auteur. And yet, what a fabulous songwriter he is. Listen to "Home," for instance: This excerpt from Phantom (the other adaptation of Phantom of the Opera) has great melodic hooks, along with natural sweep and unrestrained emotion. Like every song on this CD, it also has such dramatic drive that it easily stands on its own outside of its regular narrative frame. This collection of new recordings provides an excellent overview of Yeston's talent, juxtaposing numbers from his three best-known scores (though there's only one from Titanic) with rarities and a generous selection from his 1991 song cycle December Songs. Christine Ebersole, Liz Callaway, and Betty Buckley turn in expectedly strong performances, but watch also for Laura Benanti (the star of the 2003 revival of Nine), Christine Andreas, and Foster Sutton, who completely make the material theirs. --Elisabeth VincentelliDescription
The Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist -- who's given us the smash hit musicals Titanic, Phantom and Grand Hotel, and whose first stage show, Nine, is currently being revived in New York with Antonio Banderas -- is celebrated in song by the best stars oCustomer Reviews:
a wonderful surprise.......2007-07-22
The CD as a whole is beautifully recorded, with an intimacy and clarity that makes you feel like you're in the first row of a very small theatre. If you come across this and you're on the fence, take a chance. I bet that you'll be as pleasantly surprised and deeply moved as I've been.
What!? How is this possible?.......2007-01-20
Beauty and grace, charm and wit - Maury's got it all.......2006-11-14
"Phantom" was the only one of his scores that touched something other than distanced admiration in me. It was everything Sir Lloyd Webber's popera travesty could never quite aspire to - epic yet human, beautiful and touching, with songs that showed actual details and emotions. So it was with that in mind that I purchased this, figuring that maybe Maury could prove me wrong, shorn from the restrictions of a book musical format.
And by God, did he prove me right and then some.
Maybe it's the singers. Maybe it's the perfect orchestrations. Maybe it's just the absence of a plot to follow. More than likely, it's all three, but this is one of the most gorgeous, enjoyable, heartbreaking albums I've ever purchased. Yeston has assembled an impressive cast to give voice to his music - such heavy Broadway hitters as Alice Ripley, Brent Barrett, Betty Buckley, Christine Ebersole and Howard McGillin mix with up-and-comers like Eden Espinosa, Sutton Foster, and Brian d'Arcy James. But the most impressive turns are given by people I'd never heard of before - Johnny Rodgers (who?) has a voice spun from gold, and he's absolutely perfect in "Danglin'", a simple and powerful song despite some odd lyric choices by Yeston. Likewise Philip Chaffin in "My True Love" and "I Am Longing", and Michael Holland displays a warm and untrained performance of "Another Day in the Modern World". These three men, who I'd never heard of before, absolutely stole the show. It doesn't hurt that they're given some of the best songs from the album.
Of course, the rest of the ensemble uniformly turns in worthwhile performances. The professionalism of Broadway is gloriously evident here, each singer making their song uniquely theirs. Brent Barrett made me hear "Only With You" as if for the first time. Betty Buckley is surprisingly vulnerable in "I Had A Dream About You". Alice Ripley is her usual bundle of raw emotion in "Please Let's Not Even Say Hello", and turns in a rare comic performance in "Call From The Vatican" to great effect (listen to that surprise high note near the end! Wow, Alice!). Christine Ebersole is heartbroken, elated, vulnerable, and tough all in the course of "Grandmother's Love Letters"' 4 minutes.
There are some weak spots - Eden Espinosa is mostly one-note during her song, and while it's certainly a high note, it's nothing you haven't heard her do better elsewhere. Laura Benanti's "Now and Then" goes by without much notice, which is a shame for this talented actress. And Betty Buckley goes back to her usual high-volume stridence in "Be On Your Own", which despite its chilling music deserves a more nuanced performance than Buckley gives here. But these songs would be standouts on any other album, and it's only the company they keep that prevent them from being excellent.
Oh, and "Unusual Way", possibly Yeston's best-known song, is so beautifully performed here by Brian d'Arcy James and a three-piece band that I nearly cried hearing it. And that's quite a feat for a song that I swore never to listen to again after the seventeenth girl in a day auditioned with it (badly). But the gender swap works perfectly, and d'Arcy James' golden Irish tenor swings through the music effortlessly.
As for the band - there are no missteps here. Each song is given exactly what it needs, from the Romantic-with-a-capital-R string section on "Home", to the jazzy saxophone on "Letter From the Vatican", to "Be On Your Own", which is given a Herrmann-esque string section. Some particular touches stand out - that lovely acoustic guitar on "Danglin'", the simple piano line on "Modern World", and the sublime cello/piano outro in "Unusual Way" really stuck with me after the album stopped playing. And the recording is without fault - crisp, encompassing, personable and expansive as the mood requires. The whole album sounds fantastic.
There is such a wide range of style and substance here that each song would deserve purchasing individually. As a collection? It's bliss. If you're a fan of theater music, appreciate great vocals, or just need something to keep you company on long nights, this is required purchase.
A perfect marriage of music and lyrics.......2006-09-07
The Maury Yeston Songbook.......2006-08-30
which I consider his best work.(If possible try to listen to the
Australian Cast Recording with John Diedrich) I enjoy listening to artists like Alice Ripley, Brent Barrett, Sutton Foster,and my very favourite singer Liz Callaway. All in all a great CD to just sit back ,relax and enjoy Les Breen
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OHM: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music
Various Artists Manufacturer: Ellipsis Arts ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004T0FZ Release Date: 2000-04-25 |
Tracks:
- Valse Sentimentale - Clara Rockmore
- Oraison - Ens D'Ondes De Montreal
- Etude Aux Chemins De Fer - Pierre Schaeffer
- Williams Mix - John Cage
- Klangstudie II - Herbert Eimert/Robert Beyer
- Low Speed - Otto Luening
- Dripsody - Hugh Le Caine
- Forbidden Planet: Main Title - Louis Barron/Bebe Barron
- Elektronische Tanzste: Concertando Rubato - Oskar Sala
- Poem Electronique - Edgard Varese
- Sine Music (A Swarm Of Butterflies Encountered Over The Ocean) - Richard Maxfield
- Apocalypse-Part 2 - Tod Dockstader
- Kontakte - James Tenney/William Winant
- Wireless Fant - Vladimir Ussachevsky
- Philomel - Milton Babbitt
- Spacecraft - MEV
Tracks:
- Cindy Electronium - Raymond Scott
- Pendulum Music - Sonic Youth
- Bye Bye Butterfly - Pauline Oliveros
- Projection Esemplastic For White Noise - Joji Yuasa
- Silver Apples Of The Moon, Part 1 - Morton Subotnick
- Rainforest Version 1 - David Tudor
- Poppy Nogood - Terry Riley
- Boat-Woman-Song - Holger Czukay
- Music Promenade - Luc Ferrari
- Vibrations Composees: Rosace 3 - Francois Bayle
- Mutations - Jean-Claude Risset
- Hibiki-Hana-Ma - Iannis Xenakis
- Map Of 49's Dream The Two Systems Of Eleven Sets Of Galactic Intervals: Drift Study '31/69 c.... - La Monte Young
Tracks:
- He Destroyed Her Image - Charles Dodge
- Six Fants On A Poem By Thomas Campion: Her Song - Paul Lansky
- Appalachian Grove - Laurie Spiegel
- En Phase/Hors Phase - Bernard Parmegiani
- On The Other Ocean - David Behrman
- Stria - John Chowning
- Living Sound, Patent Pending Music For Sound-Joined Rooms Series - Maryanne Amacher
- Automatic Writing - Robert Ashley
- Canti Illuminati - Alvin Curran
- Music On A Long Thin Wire - Alvin Lucier
- Melange - Klaus Schulze
- Before And After Charm (La Notte) - Jon Hassell
- Unfamiliar Wind (Leeks Hills) - Brian Eno
Amazon.com
Opening with Clara Rockmore's reworking of Tchaikovsky with the theremin, and finishing with one of Brian Eno's ambient soundscapes, OHM artfully succeeds in its goal of giving a representative (as opposed to the impossible, comprehensive) overview of the first several decades of electronic music. Over 3 discs, 42 compositions, and 96 pages of notes and photos, OHM clearly illustrates the producers' and contributing writers' point that early electronic music is much of the foundation of contemporary music. Herein lies the connective tissue bridging musique concrète, 20th-century classical, electronic experimentation, and the theoretical avant-garde to psychedelia, ambient, dub, techno, electro, and synthpop and the globalization of sound. The groundbreaking uses of loops, sampling, drones, remixes, and cut-and-paste technology are put fully into context. The diversity of music included makes any sort of summation impossible, but that is also the point: electronic music is not really a genre, but an open field of endless possibility. From John Cage's famous "William's Mix" of tape snippets to Karkheinz Stockhausen's electronic orchestral compositions, from David Tudor and Holger Czukay's experiments in unrelated blendings of audio elements to David Behrman's supremely peaceful duet between computers and musicians, the aural renegades on OHM tread where none (save a few of their contemporaries) had gone before. The liner notes convey the incredible amount of hard work and experimentation it took to stitch together many of these pieces in the predigital era. Putting aside the inevitable quibbles about what's missing (much of it due to legal and/or logistical issues), a more complete collection of musical eggheads, eccentrics, and visionaries is hard to imagine. --Carl HanniCustomer Reviews:
excellent but uncomplete.......2006-11-12
(which was bigger than Koln's WDR studios) with Bruno Maderna, Luciano Berio and Luigi Nono.
This is a big mistake. Milans studios were the biggest of europe and produced many important electroacoustic pieces.
If the collection aim to describe faithfully electronic music history, it should include this artists too.
To call it music may be a bit limiting. .......2006-10-24
A more successful way to approach such a broad and varied collection of audio experimentation is to think of it as curated sound. This isn't something to wash the dishes to, or to seduce someone to (although if you did manage to seduce someone with the recordings on this anthology, HOLD ON TO THAT PERSON, because they've got to be a keeper). These are unique sound textures that deserve a close, probably solitary listen, and I think if you're in the right frame of mind, it can be a very rewarding listen.
My main complaint is sequencing: each dicrete piece follows it's own internal logic, so there are more than a couple rough gear changes. However, since each piece is so different, and the collection is so varied, I'm not sure that you could totally escape that.
A worthwhile collection.......2006-01-11
It is unfair to mark this collection down due to the production quality and 'musicality' of its contents, to do so would be to staggeringly miss the point of the development of electronic music through the 20th Century. What this collection shows is the ideas behind those at the cutting edge of the genre before many could even conceive of such output. That said it is hard going at points, as experimental music can be.
Highlights for me are no doubt Olivier Messiaen's 'Oraison' on CD 1, David Tudor's 'Rainforest Version 1' on CD 2 and on CD 3 David Behrman's 'On the Other Ocean' and Maryanne Amacher's 'Living sound Patent Pending'.
OhMyGodHowDreadful.......2005-08-15
Kid Stockhausen.......2003-01-17
Admittedly, some of the songs are much more interesting to think about than they are to listen to. Some of the early pieces that were made through thosuands of hours of pains-taking tape-splicing could be made today in an afternoon with a digital audio editor and a few effects plug-ins.
It is a beautiful package, containing a 90 page booklet of essays, quotations from the featured artists, and photographs. What all music should be: an education in daring.
Average customer rating:
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Pianoforte Opus 5: Broadway
Christopher Peacock , Lionel Bart , Leonard Bernstein , George Gershwin , Andrew Lloyd Webber , Eduardo Toldra , Tommy Wolf , and Vincent Youmans Manufacturer: Pure & Simple ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000008S3V Release Date: 1996-09-24 |
Tracks:
- One Hand, One Heart/Somewhere from 'West Side Story'
- Memory from 'Cats'
- I Don't Know How To Love Him from 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
- Sun & Moon /Why God Why from 'Miss Saigon'
- Think Of Me from 'The Phantom Of The Opera'
- The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men from 'The Nervous Set'
- Love Changes Everything from 'Aspects Of Love'
- Without A Song from 'Great Day'
- Embraceable You/Summertime from 'Crazy For You And Porgy & Bess'
- Don't Cry For Me Argentina from 'Evita'
- Where Is Love from 'Oliver'
- With One Look from 'Sunset Blvd.'
Customer Reviews:
Pianoforte Opus 5: Broadway Delight!.......2007-03-20
Music that is great to accompany any quiet project or event........1998-09-27
Average customer rating:
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Phantom Moon
Duncan Sheik Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000059LYY Release Date: 2001-02-27 |
Tracks:
- The Wilderness (Prelude)
- Longing Town
- Mr. Chess
- The Winds That Blow
- Mouth On Fire
- Sad Stephen's Song
- Time And Good Fortune
- Far Way
- This Is How My Heart Heard
- A Mirror In The Heart
- Lo And Behold
- Requiescat
- The Wilderness
Amazon.com
Still remembered primarily for the catchy, but ultimately forgettable single "Barely Breathing" off his self-titled debut record, Duncan Sheik's Phantom Moon continues down the same, increasingly melancholic road he began to chart in earnest on his 1998 sophomore effort, Humming. Here, Sheik slows everything down and wrings bittersweet romance from these songs, which feature lyrics written by New York playwright Steven Sater. Embellished with pianos, strings, and occasional, understated drum work, the music Sheik puts around Sater's poetic stories is moody but not acutely passionate. While his expression is heartfelt, it always feels like he's just passing through these sentiments. Songs like "Mouth on Fire," while lovely and sonically intriguing, never attain those touches of intense individuality that mark the best troubadours. Nevertheless, Moon is a solid effort, and it shows off Sheik's growing musical prowess and confidence. Perhaps he simply needs life to throw him a few more low balls before his work finds the sad, brilliant heart it, for now, only alludes to. --Matthew CookeCustomer Reviews:
I don't know who I'm kidding, imagining you'll care, but...........2006-02-17
I realize that Amazon is not a forum for readers to argue with each other, but I just can't let that one pass.
There is no sense in dismissing "Barely Breathing" just because it is popular, any more than there is sense in overvalueing Sheik's successive work because it is not. While it certainly does not hold that "good" music will always succeed while "bad" music will always submerge into obscurity (actually I often think the opposite is true), in this case the song hit because it really was good. In other words, it has resonance because it resonated. That is why I still hear it on the radio, and rightly so.
One of my favorite writers, George Orwell, wrote that the best books tell you what you already know. What he really meant, of course, was that the best books tell you what you already felt, but were unable to bring into words yourself. The same goes for songs and song lyrics. Think about it:
I know what you're doing
I see it all to clear
I only taste the same when i kiss away your tears
You really had me going wishing on a star
But the black holes that surrounded you are heavier by far
I believed in your confusion you were so completely torn
It must've been that yesterday was the day that i was born
There's not much to examine there's nothing left to hide
You really can't be serious you hafta ask me why
I say goodbye...?
Cause I am barely breathing
And I can't find the air
Don't know who I'm kidding
Imagining you care
And I could stand here waiting
A fool for another day
I don't suppose it's worth the price worth the price
The price that I would pay
(But I'm thinking it over anyway)
Everyone keeps asking what's it all about?
I used to be so certain and I can't figure out
What is this attraction? I only feel the pain
There's nothing left to reason and only you to blame
Will it ever change?
Is there person alive that hasn't experienced this for themselves in their own love life? I sure as hell have. And obviously Sheik has too: what make it special is way he communicates that common experience. He knows he's a fool; he knows he should leave; it's ridiculous to pay such a price; yet he is "thinking it over, anyway." And after all this, "I've come to find/I may never know/your changing mind/is it friend or foe?/I rise above/or sink below/every time/you come and go/please don't come and go." Again, he expresses the thought we all have from time to time, that the person we're sharing our bed with is in the end a complete stranger to us; and that the power we voluntarily give to those we love can be used for pain as much as pleasure.
And that, my fellow fans, is not "forgettable."
Here endeth the rant.
Phantom Moon Soars.......2004-07-27
A rare album that can touch spiritually/emotionally.......2004-02-25
The sculptures of the arrangements are worth many a listen alone. Incredible use of various instruments,voicings and layers of orchestral sound. Great open tuning guitar work and feeling.Duncans vocals are so powerful on Simeon...the song brought me to my knees. Whatever you did my friend I hope you can stay with it and be an integral part of more music with this type of depth,power and soul..
a balance of beauty and melancholy.......2003-11-29
Wow! So Profoundly Original it is shocking!.......2002-07-17
Rap Music:
- Pink Pearl
- Playin' It Cool
- Pure
- Remedy
- Returning Jesus
- Rhythm Rhyme & Truth
- Rockin' All over the World [Original recording remastered] [Import]
- Seventeen Days [DualDisc]
- Sin City: The Very Best of the Flying Burrito Brothers [Original recording remastered]
- Singles & More [Import]
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Electro-Shock Therapy Compilation
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