Afterlife [Live]

Product Description
The original Joe Jackson Band - Joe Jackson (vocals and keyboards), Graham Maby (bass), Gary Sanford (guitar) and Dave Houghton (drums) - has re-united after 23 years to bring you AFTERLIFE, a collection of live tracks which include classic Joe Jackson hits as well as four tracks from Volume 4, Joe9s latest original album. The album was recorded at the tail end of the band9s successful 2003 North American tour in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego. AFTERLIFE documents a stunning live comeback for one of the classic bands of the post-punk era.

Afterlife,Joe Jackson Band,Rykodisc,Album Rock,Bass (Electric),Britain,Drums,Guitar (Electric),New Wave,Piano,Pop,Post-Punk,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter,Vocals,Vocals (Background)

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Afterlife [Live]

Average customer rating: Get away from it all!!! Blissfull Times Can you dance...in a prone position? simply chillin good! Insanely beautiful

Speck of Gold Afterlife Manufacturer: Bar De Lune Boxes ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Afterlife Simplicity Two Thousand Pure Chill The Nine Worlds Le Spa Sonique ASIN: B0001MQKU6 Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

1. Speck of Gold
2. Clear Blue Sky
3. Shine
4. Like Prana
5. How Does It Feel
6. On The Inside
7. Still
8. Smooch
9. Rood Beatz
10. Ozo
11. Miracle
12. Sunrise (DJ Thunda and the K20 Allstars Mix)

Tracks:

1. Take Me Inside (Christophe Goze Mix)
2. Shine (Chris Coco Mix)
3. Miracle (Cantoma Mix)
4. Clear Blue Sky (James Bright Mix)
5. Sunrise (Roger Sanchez Mix)

Album Description

Steve Miller is the writer, producer, and remixer behind the blissful grooves of Afterlife. Having been represented on virtually every Café Del Mar volumes, Afterlife are the mainstay artists of the successful series.

Four years has passed since Afterlife's debut album, Steve Miller has finally agreed the release for the second Afterlife album on Bar de Lune.

Speck of Gold is summed up by its title track - emotional, soulful, sensual, and breathtaking. Original vocalist Rachel Lloyd is featured here alongside many guest voices - former Ibiza resident Cathy Battistessa, plus Melanie Williams, Angela Neve, Calladine, Rood Chakra and Chris Coco. The album also includes a second CD, crammed with remixes and extras from Roger Sanchez, Christophe Goze, and more (including a Danni Minogue collaboration). This is downtempo at its best - enjoy!

Customer Reviews:

Get away from it all!!!.......2005-08-12

This CD has the ability to take you away from your thoughts. It will provide a mental vacation to those who need it and don't get me wrong it is not going to put you to sleep at all!!!

Blissfull Times.......2005-05-23

I love this album... I was fortunate for discovering Afterlife when I started listening to the Cafe Del Mar series.... I loved their song Breather 2000, Falling, and Makes Me Feel so I looked for an album.... I saw Speck of Gold as an import at a CD store and it was pricey but SO WORTH IT. It is a beautifully crafted gem of music that is melodic, blissful, and made for enjoying nature and company with. Feel good, emotionally driven music. I need to find more albums like this!

Can you dance...in a prone position?.......2005-04-03

I'm shocked!!...only a few reviews for this one?? All those who bought Simplicity 2000 (and loved it!)...should surely get THIS one!! Lay-back lounge it is indeed...but you can also...well..I'll get to THAT later.

The nuvo-bossa that predominated Simplicity 2000 is kicked up a notch or two here...it's less new-age and more SAMBA-SAMBA, BABY! What do you get when you combine Nu-soul, ambient and bossa??...you get a sensual, smooth confection of sweet nothing named "Smooch". Tito Puente type Congas...synthesizers...female chanting...it's fantastic...it's called "Ozo"! The ballads (Miracle & Speck of Gold) are dreamy/creamy, pass the mimosa perfect...but then on Disc 2...the incredible Cantoma remixes "Miracle", replaces the cream with some added rhythm rum and with his acoustic guitar, takes the whole thing to Ibiza land around 2:47 AM. By the way...if you can get your hands on the CANTOMA CD, don't make the mistake I did and lend it out...I can be a total idiot! One more piece of advice...don't sleep on SOLARIUM/TAPIS ROUGE by Cirque Du Soleil...it has another fabulous remix by Cantoma ("Gamelan") and a percussive, sexy, Middle-Eastern styled remix by Afterlife ("Ombra").

Can you dance in a prone position??...Of course you can...so invite that special someone, hold them close...and one suggestion, SPECK OF GOLD should be playing in the background...but uh, turn the volume UP!

simply chillin good!.......2005-03-15

The great tunes definitely far outweigh the few skippable tunes. Really there is only one song that should be scratched (How Does It Feel). Some depeche mode sounding guy sings on it which is like sandpaper rubbing against my eardrums, but other than that this rocks and I hope they keep making more. Glad I tracked this group down after discovering them on Ambient Lounge 3.

Insanely beautiful .......2004-11-22

This is one of music's best kept secrets. This CD is absolutely fascinating. I have absolutely no idea why others don't know about it or I haven't heard of this group/singer before. If you can find one pick it up. It is a quiet giant.

Average customer rating: Pulverizing! this collection could have been better The boys are back in town - but we are not! Joe Jackson Sounds Reinvigorated In The Afterlife! A Happy Joe is a Rockin' Joe

Afterlife Joe Jackson Band Manufacturer: Rykodisc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Live Albums | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Volume 4 Two Rainy Nights: Live in Seattle & Portland Summer in the City: Live in New York Live 1980/86 Beat Crazy ASIN: B0001EMVF2 Release Date: 2004-03-16

Tracks:

1. Steppin' Out
2. One More Time
3. Tae It Like A Man
4. Awkward Age
5. Look Sharp!
6. Down To London
7. Beat Crazy
8. Fools In Love
9. Love At First Light
10. Fairy Dust
11. Sunday Papers
12. Don't Wanna Be Like That
13. Got The Time

Album Description

The original Joe Jackson Band - Joe Jackson (vocals and keyboards), Graham Maby (bass), Gary Sanford (guitar) and Dave Houghton (drums) - has re-united after 23 years to bring you AFTERLIFE, a collection of live tracks which include classic Joe Jackson hits as well as four tracks from Volume 4, Joe9s latest original album. The album was recorded at the tail end of the band9s successful 2003 North American tour in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego. AFTERLIFE documents a stunning live comeback for one of the classic bands of the post-punk era.

Customer Reviews:

Pulverizing!.......2007-07-07

Fantastic comeback by the boys who get it done. Meticulous, well thought out and played magnificently. Looking sharp as usual, Joe and company roll out the hits (new and old). If ya wanna look sharp, get this CD. You will not be disappointed. "Beat crazy" "fools in love" and "fairy dust" are worth the price of admission alone. Operators are standing by.

this collection could have been better.......2006-09-14

i saw this tour twice and loved the show both times the performance is energenic and bright .the last time i saw this show the song selection was far better than the first.and this was a short tour so they should have waited to include more classic jj like SLOW SONG and HOME TOWN.But overall this is a pretty good taste of what the shortly reunited original JOE JACKSON BAND sounded like live.

The boys are back in town - but we are not!.......2005-01-31

Every live album of JJ must be compared with the early 1981-86 live album. So... the old album is better in every aspect. The band brings us the same old punk music from the late 70's, that seems today old and almost boring. I have dusty vynil copies of all their old albums, and that CD won't change my mind, that JJ made the right desicion to leave the band behind, and to strart his solo career. By the way, don't offer me the band's new studio album.

Joe Jackson Sounds Reinvigorated In The Afterlife!.......2004-05-04

This CD starts out with Joe Jackson performing "Steppin' Out" as a slow ballad, with only his piano for musical accompaniment. However, this is no unplugged concert. The band joins in for a scorching version of the next song, "One More Time," sounding as solid as they did back in the seventies. "Awkward Age," with its unusual melody and syncopation, fares the best of all the new songs in this concert. "Look Sharp!" and "Beat Crazy" feature strong playing by Gary Sanford (lead guitar), Graham Maby (bass guitar) and Dave Houghton (drums). "Down To London" is a melodic masterpiece, featuring Joe's keyboards and British sensibilities. The subject matter of "Sunday Papers" doesn't sound dated at all, and neither does the band, especially when they speed up the song for its frenzied ending. They barely slow down for a powerful rendition of "Don't Wanna Be Like That." The band warp into overdrive for the final song, "Got The Time," before crashing in a blaze of glory and feedback. The clarity of this live recording is remarkable. Be careful you don't blow out your speakers when you crank this album up, which is the only way to listen to it!

A Happy Joe is a Rockin' Joe.......2004-04-09

I've seen almost all of Joe's concert tours over the years, and this album is the result of the tour that was the happiest, liveliest and purest of all. The great sound and great vibes come through loud and clear on this album. Essential for all of us devotees. Congrats to Joe and the guys. Can't wait for the next album/tour.

Average customer rating: Chillout Defined!! Where have you been all my life! One of my favorite albums Just doesn't do it.... Why isn't there more music like this???

Simplicity Two Thousand Afterlife Manufacturer: Import [Generic] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Computer | Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Afterlife Speck of Gold Hed Kandi: Serve Chilled Pursuit of Happiness When It Falls ASIN: B00004XN2T Release Date: 2002-07-09

Tracks:

1. Dub in Ya Mind [Blue Water Mix]
2. Never Before
3. Show You Something
4. Cry [Brown Bear Mix]
5. 5th and Avenida
6. Deeper (Into Places)
7. Borneo Is Burning
8. Glide
9. Breather [Original Version]
10. Nina
11. Blue Bar
12. Cry [Original Version]

Tracks:

1. Dub in Ya Mind [Insatiable Mix]
2. Makes Me Feel
3. Falling
4. Show You Something [Chris Coco Balearic Beats Mix]
5. Lo Delta
6. Breather 2000 [Arithunda Mix]
7. Cry [Sunset Dream Remix]
8. Deeper (Into Places) [Silk Spinner Remix]
9. Cry [Spoon Wizard Mix]
10. Show You Something [Ambient Mix]

Album Description

Reissue of their 1999 album with a ten track bonus disc. Instantly accessible and superbly crafted 'Simplicity' is a deliciously chilled work of art. From the delicate vocals and flamenco guitar of 'Cry' to the deliciously cool 'Dub In Ya Mind' (featured on Cafe Del Mar 6) this is one album that sits neatly between Groove Armada and Morcheeba. Bonus tracks, 'Show You Something' (Chris Coco Balearic Beats Mix & Ambient Mix), 'Breather 2000' (Arithunda Mix), 'Cry' (Sunset Dream Remix & Spoon Wizard Mix), 'Dub In Ya Mind' (The Insatiable Mix), 'Falling' (new track), 'Lo Delta' (new track), 'Makes Me Feel' and 'Deeper-Into Places' (Silk Spinner Remix). Hed Kandi 2000 release. Double digipak.

Album Details

From the delicate vocals and flamenco guitar of 'Cry' to the deliciously cool 'Dub In Ya Mind', this is one album that fits neatly between Groove Armada and Morcheeba.

Customer Reviews:

Chillout Defined!!.......2006-10-23

The CD - Great album sleve, design and song arrangement. The Afterlife has perfected chillout to its max........strecthing the limits to chord changes, electronic downtempo beats and vocals. Believe me when I say that it took me forever to find and buy this CD. It's a gem!

The music - Great drum and electronic beats. Check out "Dub in ya Mind" and "Blue Bar" on CD01. Rest of the songs are just as good.......which features great female vocals and remixes. I just don't know how to put it - this music is like nothing I've ever heard before - very cool, relaxing and clean. It's almost angelic if you ask me. Please do the chillout/ ambient genre a favour by buying this CD asap!

To sum (CD01)- The use of female vocals are incredible!! Great well composed/arranged beats!! The ultimate in Chillout!!

CD02 pretty much features the same songs but remixed differently. Well, the downside of this whole album would be CD02. It has more uptempo chillout beats which one can find repetitive at times.

To sum (CD02) - Great remixes by Chris Co Co and Arithunda. Great uptempo chill with blissful beats. Not a good companion to CD01 but great sampler.

The Artist - Well, what can I say: The Afterlife rules! Their music is not only inspiring but well put together. Very cool and classy. If you are still unfamiliar with the group - just let me say that I've seen the artist appear in most chillout compilations (mostly in the Ministry of Sound chillout and Cafe Del Mar CD series). This should pretty much tell you how well recieved the Afterlife is. If you are unable to get this album (which is close to impossible), try getting the artist's other albums which are the "Afterlife Lounge", "Speck of Gold" and "Journey" - which are all masterpieces!!

CD good for - 1)Studying, 2)Chilling alone, 3)Chilling with your "lover", 4)Before bed, 5)Writing, 7)Wind and Cheese parties and, 6)Just about anything cool and relaxing!!

OK E-Nuff said - "The Afterlife is the dub master of chill!!"

Where have you been all my life!.......2006-07-01

WOW! This is incredible! The absolute ultimate chill-out/down-tempo album.
This music will get in the mood fast.

One of my favorite albums.......2005-12-06

This review is more just a backing up of someone before who said that they have friends who appreciate music from a wide range of genres asking for copies of the CD. I too play this when people are around and get the same reaction, whehter it's from someone who likes Mushroomhead and all types of hard metal to another who loves Damien Rice and other more acoustic acts. While the people that have asked for this album to be passed on to them are musically open-minded, they are still not usually the type of people you'd expect to listen to chilled music such as Afterlife. Almost every song on the album is great for relaxing to more sophisticated, mature, and smooth sounds. There is nothing abrubt to the album and it is a great addition to any musically intelligent collection.

Just doesn't do it...........2004-09-22

I'm a big Stephane Pompougnac fan, and when I started looking around some of amazon's recommended artists, I came across a whole article on lounge/after hours music, with this CD at the top of its list, so it looked promising. I tried it and found the loops are waaaaay too repetitive, and there is no musical skill here at all; everything is rhythm. I will say disc 2 is better than disc 1. If you sample this album and don't like it much either, try Hotel Costes 4 and 5 for smooth, cool European tones.

Why isn't there more music like this???.......2004-08-26

Yes, it was an adventure, in itself, just to find this!

My Partner suprised me with a copy, just yesterday, and even though I haven't fully given it the time I know I will, it has already intoxicated me, in a way, very few CD's, in their entirety, rarerly succeed!

All I have read, has NOT been hyped words, but the true feelings inspired by AfterLife. And "feeling" is the word that these songs send off, especially vocally, which this genre of music always seems to benefit from.

Average customer rating:

Afterlife Afterlife Manufacturer: Ilabel ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Simplicity Two Thousand Hed Kandi: Serve Chilled Speck of Gold Versions Chillounge ASIN: B000FVQN9G Release Date: 2006-06-12

Tracks:

1. Let It Go
2. Lovedub - Afterlife, Afterlife
3. Breakfast at Benirras
4. Souk Rok
5. Return to Margin [Afterlife Mix] - Coldcut
6. Alkemyst - Afterlife, Afterlife, Dos Hombres
7. Jello
8. Bacalao
9. Home - Afterlife, Afterlife, Chris Coco
10. China Flowers - Afterlife, Afterlife
11. S'Estanol - Afterlife, Afterlife, Dos Hombres
12. Sleazebag
13. Let It Go [RKW Mix]

Album Details

Steve Miller's Warm and Welcoming "Afterlife Lounge" Delivers an Exact Album of Premier Deluxe Chillout, Reaching that Cool but Loyal Market that Just Grows and Grows. Each Successive Visit Yields Greater Pleasures Time and Time Again as the Experience Just Gets Better. The Set List features Stunning Collaborations with Chris Coco (Radio 1), Phil Mison (Cantoma, Real Ibiza) as Dos Hombres, Pete Gooding (Café Mambo) as No Logo, James Bright as Lux and Brendan Huston as Kid Stone. It Showcases the Soaring Vocal Talents of Ibiza Icon Cathy Battistessa, as Well as a Special Afterlife Lounge Exclusive Remix of the Coldcut Classic, "Return to Margin". It's Pure Audio Bliss and Includes the Phenomenal Must-have Bonus Track, the Sought-after Rkw Remix of Battistessa's "Let it Go".

Average customer rating: Buy this version!!!!! Joe at the top

Afterlife Joe Jackson Manufacturer: Rykodisk Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Live Albums | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ultimate Collection Beat Crazy Mike's Murder Volume 4 Dusk and Summer ASIN: B00022FPLU Release Date: 2004-04-05

Tracks:

1. Steppin' Out
2. One More Time
3. Take It Like a Man
4. Awkward Age
5. Look Sharp!
6. Down to London
7. Beat Crazy
8. Fools in Love
9. Love at First Light
10. Fairy Dust
11. Sunday Papers
12. Don't Wanna Be Like That
13. Got the Time

Tracks:

1. Introduction
2. Look Sharp!
3. Take It Like a Man
4. Awkward Age
5. Fools in Love/For Your Love
6. Obvious
7. Friday
8. Is She Really Going Out With Him?
9. Love at First Light
10. Be My Number Two
11. Girl
12. Steppin' Out
13. Thugz 'R' Us
14. Don't Wanna Be Like That
15. Got the Time
16. Beat Crazy
17. It's Different for Girls
18. I'm the Man

Customer Reviews:

Buy this version!!!!!.......2004-10-27

I've had this for 4-5 months now and it's hardly ever out of my car CD player. The Amsterdam CD has songs NOT on the standard Afterlife CD due to the live versions of those songs on the Volume 4 Bonus CD. The versions here are fairly close to the originals (Steppin' Out excluded) and rock much harder!!!! Totally killer band!!! When is the DVD coming out!!!! I want More, Please!!!! :-)

Joe at the top.......2004-09-10

Excellent, excellent, excellent
This is the best live album by Mr. Jackson.
Joe is one of the greatest musicians of our time.
Por que no vienes a tocar a México Joe Jackson?

Average customer rating: Some Decent Ideas Amazing Fahey Cover Best Urban Commute Music My Exquisite Replica Of A Comment Not necessarily for everyone, BUT...

Upgrade & Afterlife Gastr del Sol Manufacturer: Drag City ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Math Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Camoufleur The Serpentine Similar Mirror Repair EP Halfway to a Threeway Insignificance ASIN: B0000019RU Release Date: 1996-06-17

Tracks:

1. Our Exquisite Replica Of 'Eternity'
2. Rebecca Sylvester
3. The Sea Incertain
4. Hello Spiral
5. The Relay
6. Crappie Tactics
7. Dry Bones In The Valley (I Saw The Light Come Shining...)

Customer Reviews:

Some Decent Ideas.......2006-05-29

...Of course, that's an understatement and a crack at one of the previous reviewers' "lack of ideas" comment. Are you kidding? Every Gastr release is a different sort of experiment, deconstructing and reconstructing influences and standards. And, like much good art lambasted as "pretentious," it and they don't care if you don't get it, because some folks will, and they are the audience. This is NOT pop music: it is not supposed to appeal to mainstream tastes.

This particular experiment is the Surrealist/Dadaist chance meanings/cut-and-paste piece, a la William S. Burroughs, Byron Gysin, and Surrealist "exquisite corpse" drawings. Doubt it? How about that cover art...and Grubbs' extremely visual lyrics ("The Relay" is my favorite: Cooked corn in formaldehyde/popcorn in an airtight jar/cornflakes under glass...Dali would not have painted it better)...and the combination of found sounds and naked influences (Cage, Fahey, Conrad). The album is spacious, a hypnotic but minimal soundscape that functions more like a single composition than a collection of songs (that's the next album). Found music-concrete-like noise bursts through moments of percussionless piano, acoustic guitar, droning noise. "Hello Spiral" is the track that best encompasses the album's goals and provides a dramatic, compressed early climax, and "The Sea Incertain" combines piano with some lovely O'Rourkian tape-loop treatments, but it all coalesces to the Fahey cover at the close. This cd is not a minute too long and is precisely sequenced and arranged, contributing to the "entire composition" feel. Like most exciting and interesting art, it will keep rewarding you if you let it intrigue you.

Amazing Fahey Cover.......2006-05-02

Regardless of whether you love the folky/noise collage-styled songs that precede it, the final song (Dry Bones In The Valley) is simply astounding. It is the best Fahey cover I have ever heard, easily. So simple and beautiful as Tony Conrad's violin drones eventually (over the course of 13 minutes) become a wash of gorgeous sound. A stunning close to a very good, if slightly forgettable album.

Best Urban Commute Music.......2005-11-15

Gastr del Sol's fractured soundscapes are the perfect complement to the morning urban commute experience. I was listening to Upgrade & Afterlife yesterday morning on the way in to work, and it took me an hour to claw my way out of the dream-like haze.

The compositions are detached, yet oddly empathetic; they wreak of a sort of post-apocalyptic solitude, propelled forward by deliberate, sparse piano/acoustic guitar explorations and punctuated on occasion by bursts of electric static. As I listened and looked around, I saw a landscape where we were all out of phase with one another and our surroundings. We co-existed temporarily in the same space - the subway, the street - but as voyeurs, passive additions, adding nothing to the whole. Eyes bored straight ahead or skimmed over the scenery, and eyes never met other eyes. Everything was gray. And the electro-acoustic interplay enhanced the feeling that there was something both deeply human and strangely inhuman going on.

My Exquisite Replica Of A Comment.......2003-06-25

Gastr del Sol created wonderful music for several years. Contrary to popular opinion, David Grubbs was the primary creative influence in the "group," which was a revolving door facility including full-time (usually) member John McIntyre and eventually the super-hyped persona of Jim O'Rourke. The early Gastr del Sol records are excellent and CROOKT, CRACKT, OR FLY and THE SERPENTINE SIMILAR (sans O'Rourke) are certainly accessible and lovely in exquisite ways. MIRROR REPAIR stakes its claim along with Pavement's WATERY, DOMESTIC, Bedhead's THE DARK AGES, and O'Rourke's own HALFWAY TO A THREEWAY, as one of the great modern indie EPs. CAMOUFLEUR is certainly an essential part of any respectable collection of inventive pop albums. All this said, UPGRADE AND AFTERLIFE is Gastr del Sol's masterpiece. It is a remarkable work of musical genius, the fruits of a well-planned (if a little pretentious) effort at a masterpiece. "Rebecca Sylvester" would be the crown jewel of the album, were it not that moments mattered so much in this work. The Gastr del Sol players/producers make music out of notes, looped sounds, self-generated noise, and the occasional and always perfect voice that softly proclaims meaningful or meaningless parables. With a nod to methodic minimalists Tony Conrad and Shellac, Gastr del Sol well represent the notion that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This album will be described in the future as "avant-garde" and driven by the genius of Jim O'Rourke. I disagree. Much like the music that makes it a masterpiece, the whole of the ensemble is greater than the sum of its parts. And, incidentally, recall that O'Rourke made a name for himself as a producer by mixing Melt-Banana and U.S. Maple records; those bands would tend to make any producer look like a genius. O'Rourke's associations with Sonic Youth and Wilco further lend to his aura. But if you first listen to O'Rourke's solo work, then subsequently listen to Grubbs' solo work, and then finally listen to UPGRADE AND AFTERLIFE, you will realize what the two primary writers' respective solo efforts miss the most -- the respective other. UPGRADE AND AFTERLIFE is a strange sort of pop, and well worth the time required for appreciation.

Not necessarily for everyone, BUT..........2003-04-21

This is not Gastr's most accessible album (that would be Camofleur). U&A provides a more challenging listening experience, and if you are expecting pop songs, you might steer clear. However, I find the juxtaposition of strange amorphous drones, harsh static, and passages of beautiful melody quite interesting. There is some very lovely guitar playing: unusual, almost unidentifiable manipulations of sound: surreal bits of lyric thrown in here and there... If you have an ear for contemporary experimental music, I highly recommend Upgrade & Afterlife, and really most anything by Gastr del Sol.

Average customer rating:

Afterlife Bliss Manufacturer: Music for Dreams ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bliss Bliss: They Made History Quiet Letters Afterlife Khamsa: Presented by Claude Challe ASIN: B0007ULBCE Release Date: 2005-03-29

Tracks:

1. Lento
2. If Heaven Closes
3. Lost Soul [Hew Mix]
4. Suns of Afterlife
5. Long Life
6. Whispering Sea
7. Moon of Langa
8. Blissful Moment
9. Remember My Name
10. Arapapa

Average customer rating: the lyrics on this album are awesome! So they added a 7-string guitar... so? quit yer cryin! As close to Power Metal perfection you'll likely ever hear.. As close to power metal perfection you'll likely ever hear Fantastic Effort, Fantastic Results

Afterlife Nocturnal Rites Manufacturer: Century Media ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Shadowland The Sacred Talisman New World Messiah Grand Illusion Tales of Mystery and Imagination ASIN: B00004WFJI Release Date: 2000-08-29

Tracks:

1. Afterlife
2. Wake Up Dead
3. The Sinners Cross
4. Hell And Back
5. The Sign
6. The Devil's Child
7. Genetic Distortion Sequence
8. Sacrifice
9. Temple Of The Dead
10. Hellenium

Customer Reviews:

the lyrics on this album are awesome!.......2004-07-08

not your typical power metal lyrics, this is their best lyric writing right here. it's dark, edgy, and very "grim" for this style of music. i can tell that a lot of power mteal bands don't really know much about death metal or any other kind of metal by some of the reviews here. not all death metal bands talk about hating god and stuff. and just beause you got heavy guitars doesn't make you brutal or not power metal.

I would say this is maybe my personal favorite NC cd but shadowland and new world messiah are both really good too so i'm not sure. BUt the riffs on this cd are pretty good and heavy, very memorable. While not as catchy as the two cds after this one, it is still catch with shorter song structers so you won't get bored.

The production isn't very clear. I mean, it's LOUD. You don't have to turn your cd player up a thousand notches to hear it or anything but it's muffled, kinda like someone with a pillow over their face screaming at the tops of their lungs. maybe it's just that i'm used to shadowland and NWM having awesome production, i dunno. but i'm not taking any points away for it.

Their singer is that power metallish here as he is on the next two releases. I wold actually say this cd is more standard metal than power metal. but oh well, i like all metal so i don't care. I haven't heawrd their first two cds so i can't compare but compared to their one after this, it's a worth addition to your metal catolog. bye.

So they added a 7-string guitar... so? quit yer cryin!.......2001-11-26

Ok, as other's pointed out, it's a lot heavier than the previous 2 albums, and a little less lead work. But all in all it's not THAT much different. A 7 string really does make a difference in the sound, but it's about the same pace as it was before, all i really find different is the extra string and the less cheesy lyrics. It's basically the same, but i think better because of the deeper tone of the guitars. Not too much new to say here that other reviewer's haven't already said. I think some people are being silly be deciding they don't like it because of one little string. Also whoever said this was death metalish is being ignorant. Go listen to a sound clip from a Cryptosy record. THAT's death metal, this isn't even remotely related in the world of metal.

As close to Power Metal perfection you'll likely ever hear.........2001-06-20

It's very easy for power metal bands to be seen as too self-important. While their last two CD's ("Tales of Mystery and Imagination" and "The Sacred Talisman") were enjoyable, they failed to connect with the listener on a personal level. (Songs about kings with all the Dungeons and Dragons imagery usually come off sounding pompous and, well, bloated. HammerFall suffers from this affliction worse than most.) That said, power metal is in danger of becoming a parody of itself. Thankfully, Nocturnal Rites saw this and made the necessary changes. Paramount changes being new singer Johnny Linqvist, and a streamlined, more modern approach to songcraft. These changes have yielded a power metal masterpiece that actually focuses on the "power" aspect of power metal. Too many power metal bands rely on elaborate, keyboard-drenched instrumental flourishes to make their statement. However, like Lefay, Angel Dust and Hades, Nocturnal Rites prefer to pummel you with dirty sounding riffs, devastating rhythms and mature subject matter. As a metal journalist, I've heard nearly all of the new power metal releases. My conclusion? Afterlife is very possibly the best metal album of non-American descent to come along since Iron Maiden's grandest statement, the almighty "Piece Of Mind" from 1983.

As close to power metal perfection you'll likely ever hear.......2001-06-19

Yes, you read that title right. I personally can not say enough good things about these guys. While I did like "The Sacred Talisman" and "Tales Of Mystery And Imagination," those albums are TOO characteristic of power metal and lacked any real effort to try to connect with the listener on a personal level. Thus placing Nocturnal Rites in danger of becoming a parody of itself. (HammerFall suffers from this same affliction.) Thankfully, Nocturnal Rites also saw this and made the necessary changes. Those changes (New vocalist Jonny Linkvist and a leaner, more modern approach to songcraft) have resulted in a stunning album that combines the best elements all of today's truly great power metal bands (Hades, Angel Dust, Lefay) currently possess. I'm probably in the minority here, but as a metal journalist (www.harderbeat.com), I've heard damn near all of the new power metal. In this respect, Nocturnal Rites has assumed the mantle of true greatness the likes of which hasn't been seen since Iron Maiden's mighty "Piece Of Mind" opus in 1983.

Fantastic Effort, Fantastic Results.......2001-02-24

Yeah, yeah -- you could say that this is quite different from its past two albums but a band changes and matures as it is supposed to! People who believe contrary are listening to hard rock and mainstream metal which are extremely confining and run across a thin line -- they break no barriers.

This is a fantastic album! There are always omnipresent, great melodies, its never dull and with excellent production on top of it! It has been called a masterpiece and a failure in the underground metal community -- I call this a MASTERPIECE. A Buy-Or-Die purchase -- Go get it!!!

Average customer rating: Enjoy this masterpiece

Afterlife Shortino , and Northrup Manufacturer: Mtm Music & Publish ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Back on Track Rough Cutt/Rough Cutt Wants You! ASIN: B00020PVWU Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

1. Here I Am
2. Afterlife
3. Like a Stone
4. Crazy Mind
5. Feel Again
6. Crossfire
7. Slave
8. Gypsy Soul
9. Mark My Words [Instrumental]
10. As I Fall
11. Prisoner

Customer Reviews:

Enjoy this masterpiece.......2006-03-10

This one most definitively deserves a review, so I'm delivering one for you. This is a very smooth album which features some very find performances ex-Rough Cutt vocalist Paul Shortino and Jeff Northrup. The songs are very melodic and highly memorable and given true emotional validity with some extremely emotional and powerful vocals. Couple these elements with a highly polished sound and a great production, which makes Afterlife a very enjoyable melodic rock release. This is their second release, a ten year plus gap between a collaborative effort by this two man team and IMHO is one of the best releases of 2004.Mellower, smoother and rolling with some refreshingly moody melodic tunes that is a cool tonic for a stressful day. Its breezy simplicity is a plus, as well as the darkened lyrics that seem ripped right from the personal life of the pen of guitarist, Jeff Northrup, himself. With its polished surface shine, and Shortino's typical raspy vocal delivery, it's a pleasure to settle down with and just seep in the feelings melting within, whether it's a cushy ballad, a rollicking rocker or a mid-tempo angst fest.

Average customer rating:

Afterlife ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Bliss: They Made History Quiet Letters Bliss A Posteriori The Lost Art of the Idle Moment ASIN: B000AA7HOW Release Date: 2005-07-05

Album Description

Features 10 total tracks including 'The Suns Of Afterlife', 'Blissful Moment', 'Arapapa', 'Remember My Name' & 'Lost Soul' (new mix). High Note. 2005.

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6. Bach Meets the Beatles: Revisited
7. Broken Promises
8. Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Directives
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10. Business Casual [Enhanced]

Rap Music

rap music

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