Home Group

Home Group

ASIN: B00008J27I

Track Listings

1. Serenity Prayer

2. Song for the Life

3. You Must Believe in Spring

4. Come to Me

5. Footprints

6. Hold Me Now

7. Shepard of Life

8. Peace I Leave With You

9. Sisters of Mercy

10. Always on my Mind

11. Evening Prayer

12. I Will Not Be Shaken

13. You Are Mine

14. The Lord's Prayer

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
"Home Group" refers not only to the hometown musicians (Regina, SK, Canada) that have recorded this CD but also defines a group of courageous people in a 12 step recovery program who meet regularly to support one another. Its members are a diverse group of people who come together once a week to share with each other their experience, strength, and hope.

Product Description
"Home Group" CD is a collection of songs that reflect the spirituality of renewed life - the spirituality contained within each of the 12 steps known to those who are acquainted with a 12 step program. Some listeners have even claimed that it is like being at a meeting where, in music, you progress along the steps. But you don't have to be in a 12 step program to enjoy the journey. Through a variety of styles of music, the journey will lead the listener along the path of hope, toward a fuller understanding of oneself and others, and a deeper relationship with God.

Tracks:

Intro
Inna Citi Life
Livin' Proof
Serious Rap Shit
Suspended In Time
Sacrifice
Up Against The Wal
4 Give My Sins
Baby Pa
2 Thousand
Supa Star
Up Against Tha Wall
Tha Realness

Customer Reviews:

'95 Was Theirs, But Where Are They In 2 Thousand? (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 stars).......2007-03-13

If I had to give a "Where Are They Now" award, Group Home would probably receive it. Group Home's debut CD "Livin' Proof" was a rememerable CD back in late 1995. I first heard these guys on Gang Starr's "Hard To Earn" LP. What grabbed my attention to get this LP was that everybody said that this was some of DJ Premier's best production. Heck, it's a blessing to have a couple of tracks produced by Primer, let alone an entire album. I have to say this is the best production I heard comming from the East Coast in a good minute. If you heard the beats to "Serious Rap Sh..." and "Up Against The Wall" (and thats just some of the songs here with awesome production). It seemed like Premo just held back his production from Gang Starr and and Jeru, and gave them to Group Home. A lot of people wondered if he gave those same beats to artists like Nas or Jeru The Damaja what would the results would be. Hell, if he gave the beats to the wackest rapper out right now, it would almost sound like a second comming of Illmatic or such. They're THAT good.

As for Group Home (Melachi the Nutcracker & Lil' Dap), they don't do a bad job holding down the rhymes. In fact that is the only inferior in this album. I've heard better rhymes, but I've also heard way worse. Especially with all the music comming out today, they make this duo sound like lyrical masters. "Suspended In Time" would be a good song from a lyrical standpoint. Another excellent song is "2 Thousand" (hence my review title) with some good rhymes. Guru and Big Shug comes in for the song "Serious Rap Sh..", as well as Jack The Ripper and Smiley The Ghetto Child rhyme on the song "The Realness". Jeru The Damaja talks at the end of one of the tracks as well.

So this album is excellent for fans of Gang Starr and Primo's production. This album has some of the best beats that he has made in his career. Although Lil' Dap and Melachi's rhyme skills aren't that great, they don't make this CD a waste. If possible, search for the instrumentals for this LP, because you'll be glad that you did. But this album is also a keeper. They followed up with another album in 1999, that I will check out as well.

Lyrics: C+
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A-
Overall: B+

Favorite Tracks: Livin' Proof, Serious Rap Sh.., Suspended In Time, Sacrifice, Up Against The Wall (both mixes), 2 Thousand, Supa Star, The Realness

Peace Everyone!!!

1995 pure premo dope.......2007-01-27

A dope disc of smooth beats by DJ Premiere and hard rhymes by lil dap and the nutcracker. It takes you back to better times. The lyrics are not graduate level but overall it hits the mark. If you enjoy 90's gritty hip hop, get it fast before it goes out of print.

Mind-blowing beats, borderline awful lyrics.......2007-01-24

In the early to mid-90's, DJ Premier could do no wrong. Building on his legendary production work on Gang Starr's "Daily Operation" (1992) and "Hard to Earn" (1994), Jeru's classic "The Sun Rises In the East" (1994), and Nas' seminal "Illmatic" (1994), he released perhaps his last classic effort with Group Home's "Livin' Proof". Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker were the last of the Gang Starr Foundation to release a record (Big Shug was also member, but he seemed to get lost in the shuffle), and it seems that Primo kept some of his best beats for last. Songs like "Supastar", "Tha Realness", "Suspended In Time", and "Livin' Proof" prove that nobody could touch him in the arena of gritty NYC boom-bap.

Unfortunately, the vocals can't match the production. Dap's lyrics are mediocre but tolerable, mainly thanks to his unique voice. Melachi's verses are, for the most part, terrible. But this album gets over on beats alone, and none of the lyrics are bad enough to make songs unlistenable. If you're a DJ Premier fan, you must own this. If you're an MC, find the album's instrumental, throw it on your Tech 12's and start freestyling. Enjoy one of the last great albums released before Puff Daddy changed NYC production forever with Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa" and the remix of "One More Chance".

real underground Hip Hop.......2006-09-28

This is one of the nmost underground hh crew !!! This is dope and classic!

A focused masterpiece.......2006-08-24

Group Home's 1995 debut album "Livin' Proof" is a gorgeous and beautiful hip hop album that is certainly very underappreciated. This album teams the MC duo Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker, two talented and unknown teenage rappers from New York, with the legendary DJ Premier on the mixing boards, arguably the greatest hip hop producer of all time. The result is a truly special and unique masterpiece. The majority of the enjoyment in "Livin' Proof" comes from the production, which is the most diverse and my favorite of his entire career. His sound is very focused, and the theme of "low budget environment" is played very well. Premo's beats sound less polished than on a Gang Starr record, and instead of his usual horns and instrumentals, he often uses heavy, creative sampling, and a simple drumkit and keyboard to make simple, beautiful beats. His music has a very nostalgic feel to it, and this production is experimental without sounding at all futuristic. His music really is capable of evoking a lot of feelings and emotions. Lyrically I am impressed with Dap and Melachi, and I really can't begin to comprehend the three and four star ratings bashing these two rappers. I guess in 1995 people were only used to hearing Guru and Jeru the Damaja over Premier beats, and granted Dap and Melachi are not quite on their level, but they really do a phenomenal job on the mic. Despite their young age, they have a very worldly intelligence, and they speak of life in an often depressed, downcast tone that comes from living in such abject poverty. Despite their tough situations, though, they continue to look forward. "Livin' Proof" is an amazing rap album that is really unlike any other I've heard, and I recommend it highly to all types of music listeners.

The album begins with a 40-second intro that displays why DJ Premier is one of the top producers of all time. With just a piano and drumset, he makes one of the coolest little beats I've ever heard, and it just eases you into the album so well. "Inna City Life" introduces Dap and Melachi, both dropping some raw philosophy gained from years in the ghetto, and Premo's simple, staticky beat is hard and gritty. The beat to "Livin' Proof" is raw but attractive, simple and ear-catching, and Melachi and Dap establish themselves as new young truth-kicking rappers. The chorus samples Wu-Tang and Nas in Premo's signature two-bar fashion. "Serious Rap S..." has an electronic, ultra-funky beat that will make your head bob instantly, the raps show great flow. A highlight of the disc is "Suspended in Time," a very nostalgically and thoughtfully produced track with verses to match. "Sacrifice" has cool guitars on the production, and harder raps than usual. "Up Against tha Wall (Low Budget Mix)" has bouncy vibes and my favorite lyrics on the album, expressing the depressed and pessimistic view of inner city life. "4 Give My Sins" has some muted horns and a simple beat, with introspective lyrics. Premo steals the show on "Baby Pa," making not one but two completely dope beats on this track. I love "2 Thousand," with its winding deep piano and great chorus ("95 is yours, 2000 is mine, and we walkin' through the ghetto and the feeling is fine..."). It's followed by "Supa Star," another classic single. My favorite song on the whole album is "Up Against tha Wall (Getaway Car Mix)." It's another mix to the song earlier on the album, but Premo's slower, simple piano lined-beat is absolutely perfect, and he engineers a nice chorus for this mix. The album ends with the tough song "Tha Realness."

"Livin' Proof" is an album so exceptional and musical that I don't think you'd have to be a rap fan to enjoy it. In my mind, it showed the world that the legendary Premier didn't need Guru or Jeru to make an awesome record, and I think this is maybe his greatest musical accomplishment. It is really unlike a Gang Starr album in every way, but Gang Starr fans will probably enjoy it immeasurably as well. I could not praise or recommend "Livin' Proof" any higher, this is really a one-of-a-kind type of album.

Average customer rating:

Collective Soul
Live? eh.
Awesome! -Love CS. Using youth as back-up-Brilliant
Collective Soul Home
Way better than I expected

Home
Collective Soul
Manufacturer: El Music Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid
Music in High Places - Collective Soul (Live from Morocco)
Collective Soul
Dosage
7even Year Itch: Collective Soul Greatest Hits 1994-2001

ASIN: B000CS441Q
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Tracks:

Orchestral Intro
Counting the Days
Listen
December
Compliment
Precious Declaration
Needs
Heavy
Run
World I Know
Pretty Donna
Youth

Tracks:

Crown
Under Heavens Skies
She Said
Home
Gel
How Do You Love
Better Now
Satellite
Shine
Burn [*]
How Do You Love [Multimedia Track]
Home [DVD]

Album Description

Multi-platinum recording artists release their first-ever live DVD. Recorded in April 2005, the shows were filmed in the band's hometown of Atlanta during two special sold-out performances featuring the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. The 20-song collection spans ninety minutes and encompasses hits from Collective Soul's seven studio albums, including their latest release, "Youth". DVD special features include behind the scenes footage and documentary, and the CD is enhanced with video, never before released music, and more. Recording in an orchestral setting enabled the group to reinterpret their hits. Songs such as "Shine", "December", "The World I Know", and "Precious Declaration" have all been given a new twist.

Customer Reviews:

Collective Soul.......2007-06-13

Love the album if I could listen to it completely. there is a nice scratch in the middle of the cd. I love Collective Soul and have seen them several times in concert just a shame I got a crappy cd.

Live? eh........2007-03-09

There are way better live bands out there but this is cool because it features orchestra music from the youth orchestra. Collective Soul's "Blender" album is much better, as well as some other recorded albums.

Awesome! -Love CS. Using youth as back-up-Brilliant.......2007-03-02

I have all CS's records and this is the only one in my car. A solid record. Sound is great! The usage of the youth orchestra is really cool - and they're good! The only downfall I thought was the "flow" of the set. I thought some songs should follow others and a bigger "bang" at the end of the concert. It ended kinda weak. But the beginning made up for it. Keep rocking Roland!

Collective Soul Home.......2007-01-04

Since I didn't have any Cd's by CS, I was looking for a greatest hits CD.
Their greatest hits CD was a few years old and came before Youth which had several songs including Better Now which is my favorite song of the year.Home came out at the perfect time.I wasn't sure how CS would sound live but bought it anyways and it just blew me away.The combination of CS
and the Symphony Orchestra was fantastic.I got goose bumps when I heard Better Now with the crowd singing along.I liked the CD so much I bought the DVD so I can really crank it up on my home theater system.

Way better than I expected.......2006-07-12

I have been to quite a few CS concerts and I always leave happy. I was a little hesitant to buy this cd because I couldn't be at the actual concert and I normally am not a fan of live recordings. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy this cd and love to play it in my car. For some reason I like the feeling of remembering seeing them in concert. The symphony was a great addition minus a couple songs that didn't really fit. A few of CS songs are made to be played with a symphony like Run, Shine, She Said, Compliment and Home and they delivered well above expectations. If you are a big fan of CS and can visualize them in concert, this cd is a great addition to your collection.

Average customer rating:

Music That Stands The Test of Time
An underrated recording.
PMG Remastered editions sound superior, but misses on extras
If this is "elevator music" let me go to the top floor with it
A Spiritual Journey ...

Letter from Home
Pat Metheny Group
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Brazil | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music

Brazilian Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Still Life (Talking)
The Road to You: Recorded Live in Europe
We Live Here
First Circle
Watercolors

ASIN: B000CZ0Q6G
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Tracks:

Have You Heard
Every Summer Night
Better Days Ahead
Spring Ain't Here
45/8
5-5-7
Beat 70
Dream of the Return
Are We There Yet
Vidala
Slip Away
Letter From Home

Album Description

A trio of Grammy Award-winning albums by the Pat Metheny Group return to the artists's active discography on Nonesuch. Still Life (Talking (1987), Letter from Home (1989), and The Road To You (1993) are the first in a series of remastered reissues of Geffen Records titles.

Customer Reviews:

Music That Stands The Test of Time.......2007-06-03

I purchased this CD back in 1990 and I still listen to it on a regular basis. This PMG release is by far my favorite. The song Letter From Home is a masterpiece. The first time I made love to my wife I remember holding her in my arms afterwards listening to this song. It was the perfect song for the time and it brought tears of joy to my eyes. I agree with one of the other reviewers that this is music that takes you on a spiritual journey. This is not elevator music, this is finely crafted art.

An underrated recording. .......2007-04-10

This album was very popular when released. The music is very melodic. It was played on Smooth Jazz stations in edited formats (they cut out parts that didn't fit the smooth jazz format). That would make some classify this as smooth jazz. They are sadly mistaken.

This recording is underrated and filled with so much subtlety that the point would be missed by many. Contained here is recording that contains some excellent pieces which are melodic, but effectively convey a vibe, with excellent soloing and arrangements.

Pat's displays a virtuosity in his playing without running away with himself. This recording's influence is world beat. First class world beat seamless woven throught the Mays/Metheny conciousness.

"Have You Heard" is simply one of the best pieces the group has composed and performed. It has aged well over the years. It has one of Pat's very best solos and some impressive vocal work by Pedro Aznar who holds an impossibly long note toward the end. Pedro has to perform these difficult octave leaps throughout and he does so in good voice.

"Spring Ain't Here is one of the pieces where the subtlety factor comes in. Pat's solo here is excellent. His he so beautifully embellishes the melody and also makes great use of space. This one has an intangible element for me that I can't lend words to. It so effectively conjures not a relaxed mood as more an introspective inspiration.

45/8 is this short little piece that so effectively conveys a South American feel that you wish that it had been much longer just to see what they would've done with it.

5-5-7 is also is also another elegant piece which has an arrangment anchored by Steve Rodby's amazing bass playing which fuels Metheny's imagination throughout. Pat's lead here is remarkable.

"Are We There Yet/Vidala" is amazing the way they tie a modern electric piece to a folkloric and plaintive piece. They do this seamlessly and to perfection. "Are We There Yet" is for you Guitar Synth fans of Pat's. The interplay between Pat and Lyle is if full force here. It's one of those quirky pieces whose pacing makes it somewhat unique. The segue portion is ethereal.

"Dream of the Return" is unique in that Pat rarely features a vocal with words. Aznar is the composer of these lyrics and they are thankfully, thoughtful. Good lyrics are hard to come by and often in instances where instrumental groups attempt them, they usually are pretty goofy. Not in this case though. This one has that patented tension and releast thing that the group does so well. A moving piece of music.

My one complaint is that Pat tends to use the vocables a tad too much on certain songs like "Better Days Ahead" and "Every Summer Night" a bit too much, when the pieces don't need them at all. Pedro Aznar is a talented multi-instrumentalist. Perhaps one of these other talents could've been lent to these same pieces. He has a very good voice, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

The group showed yet another fact of themselves and of a particular aspect of their exploration of world-beat themes. This one different than the preceding "Still Life (Talking)" and "First Circle" both of which are excellent, which embraced similar but distinct themes.

PMG Remastered editions sound superior, but misses on extras.......2007-02-21

The new Nonesuch remasters of the Pat Metheny catalog have a significant, if not incredibly different, sound improvement over the original Geffen CDs. Simply stated, the sound is much "brighter" and clearer, and depending on the tracks, instruments have a better balance, and in some cases stand out better in the mix than the original. Since most of these albums were originaly recorded with exceptional skill in the age of digital audio technology (mid 1980's to present), the truth is that the original CDs can stand out just as good in terms of sound quality. This is not like some remasters of 60s, and 70s albums where the sound difference is huge. With the exception of Song X(X), the remasters feature no pluses. It would have been nice to have some extra tracks, new or restored artwork, PMG in the studio photos, essays or something. So if you are not a PatMetheniac fan and have the original CDs, stick with them. If you have never had the pleasure of having these great works of art, don't wait any longer and get them. This is some of the greatest music ever recorded. Now, if the original ECM releases were remastered...

If this is "elevator music" let me go to the top floor with it.......2007-01-13

By far, this is probably one of the finest albums PMG have recorded in its extensive career. I wouldn't be surprised if this work turns out to be a true contemporary jazz classic a few years down the line. Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays deliver powerful solos, some may say too long but personally I can't get enough of them. Technically perfect, they sound "easy" in a very complex set up, musically speaking. "Beat 70" displays one of the best Pat's solos I've ever heard. Lyle plays wonderfully in many tracks but "Better Days Ahead" stands out. Even when this is one of the most "commercial" albums PMG have conceived, there's an ethereal aura surrounding the songs. "Spring Ain't Here" and "Slip Away" are clearly vivid examples of that. Pedro Aznar's voice is a major contribution to achieve it as well as the rock solid work of Paul Wertico, Steve Rodby and Armando Marcal on the rythym section. In simple words; it's hard to believe someone could call this "elevator music". If that, I take this elevator day in day out.

A Spiritual Journey ..........2006-12-21

There is something very spiritual about this record. It seems to sing to my soul more than my ears. I can't explain it any other way than to say that it's a special record and one of Pat Metheny's best studio recorded albums. The song _Dream of the Return_, _Slip Away_ and _Vidala_ are the very best on the record. Pedro Aznar's beautiful vocal arrangements are showcased on these songs. The wonderful _Have you Heard_, Letter from Home_ and _Beat 70_ are also on this recording. Pat Metheny and Lyle Mayes provide some of their most wonderful and inspired musical collaborations on this recording. Eric Jordan's review is far off base. Elevator music, this is not! I highly recommend this album with 5 stars!

Average customer rating:

The Peasall Sisters
Wonderful
1/3 Dixie chicks, 1/3 Andrew Sisters, 1/3 original
Strangely ... it's wonderful
Awesome CD

Home to You
The Peasall Sisters
Manufacturer: Dualtone Music Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Old-Time Country | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Country Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

First Offering
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
Church in the Wildwood: Cherished Hymns
Cherryholmes
Weather and Water

ASIN: B000A7Q1RE
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

Home To You
Rushing Around
Freight Train Blues
Logtown
Gray County Line
Angel Band
I Never Will Marry
The Old Church Yard
Fair And Tender ladies
The Old Account
Carrick Fergus
Where No One Stands Alone

Product Description

1. Home to You
2. Rushing Around
3. Freight Train Blues
4. Log Town
5. Gray County Line
6. Angel Band
7. I Never Will Marry
8. The Old Church Yard
9. Fair and Tender Ladies
10. The Old Account
11. Carrick Fergus
12. Where No One Stands Alone

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Old-time country music just doesn't get much younger than this, though the Peasall Sisters have practically become seasoned veterans over the five years since their childhood breakthrough on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Sarah (now 18), Hannah (14), and Leah (12) may belong to a generation that has never known life without computers and cell phones, but they channel the inspiration of the Carter Family and conjure an era when some rural fans of the music didn't even have indoor plumbing. Though the results sometimes fail to distinguish between the timeless and the cloyingly quaint (the world hardly needs another version of the traditional "Angel Band" or A.P. Carter's "I Never Will Marry," especially renditions this mawkish), the spiritual material that opens and closes--the title track and the a cappella "Where No One Stands Alone"--finds the trio in truly transcendent harmony. It bodes well that what is arguably the best track here, "Gray County Line," is one of the album's three originals, while the production by John Carter Cash shows good ears as well as strong bloodlines. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

The Peasall Sisters.......2007-01-18

I discovered these young ladies through the movie O Brother Where Art Thou? and was immediately charmed by their youth, talent, and angelic voices. This CD is full of beautiful songs full of love that (whether you're a big bluegrass fan or not) you will develope a nostalgia for. Their harmonies are lovely, their voices are sweet, and their words are meaningful. Not to mention, they are all accomplished musicians!

Wonderful .......2007-01-05

I heard most of these songs on the documentary DVD about these girls and their family put out by Franklin Springs Media. I just fell in love with their sound. These songs are so soothing, and their story is inspiring. I recommend this CD and their DVD.

1/3 Dixie chicks, 1/3 Andrew Sisters, 1/3 original.......2006-12-12

The first time I saw and heard them was on KY tv. Their sound is 1/3 Dixie chicks, 1/3 Andrew Sisters, 1/3 original and they sometimes had their father on base. Perfect! .... But there's a problem, they only have two albums.... Bummer!
Hopefully another one will be coming out soon. I think a Christmas album would be nice :o)

Strangely ... it's wonderful.......2006-11-15

The was an accidental purchase. I was listening to pandora and it played one of the songs on this album and at the time the only way to look at the album was to click "Buy from Amazon" but it looked to have too much of a southern christian slant for my tastes.

Amazon left it in my "cart" and when I did the next set of purchases I didn't even notice it was still there in the cart. I can't think of a single song on the album that isn't a pleasure to listen to.

Awesome CD.......2006-02-21

This is one of the best CD's I have!!! The harmony is incredible!!!! The Peasall sisters will go far, as they are so multi-talented. Will be a treasured CD.

Average customer rating:

terrible album
real underground Hip Hop
A Classic ... High Class of Muzic !!
Real Hip Hop
A noticeable falloff

A Tear for the Ghetto
Group Home
Manufacturer: Replay
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Livin' Proof
Ghetto Millionaire
The Rude Awakening
The Natural
Industry Shakedown

ASIN: B00000J7GV
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

Tear Shit Down
Da Real GH
Stupid Mf's
Street Life
Sun For A Reason
The Legacy
Run For You Life
Make It In Life
A Train X-press
Be Like That
Dial-A-Thug
Politic All Night
Keep Rising
We Can Do This
12 O'Clock
Oh Sweet America
Breaker 1-9
Beefin' For Rap
Game Recognize Game
Life Ain't Shit

Customer Reviews:

terrible album.......2006-12-15

This album sucked badly. I didn't like it at all and Melachi The Nutcracker didn't rap that much on any of the songs. It sounded like a Lil Dap solo album LOL.

real underground Hip Hop.......2006-09-28

One of the best Hip Hop undeground album !!! The golden years of Hip Hop are more or less the same : 93/94/95/96 (few till 1999 are still good,but...)

A Classic ... High Class of Muzic !!.......2005-02-22

One of tha best in tha game !!!! Respect to them..

Real Hip Hop.......2005-02-01

The best hip-hop recording since "Criminal Minded". I love the references to RASTAFARI.

A noticeable falloff.......2004-03-02

For as amazing as the first "Livin' Proof" release was, I expected a whole lot more. This release really disappoints if you liked the debut.

And if you'd never heard the debut before, you wouldn't be impressed at all by this one.

And this is probably due to one missing piece: DJ Premier. With DJ Premier producing, he could even make me sound respectable!

Tracks:

Have You Heard
Every Summer Night
Better Days Ahead
Spring Ain't Here
45/8
5-5-7
Beat 70
Dream Of The Return
Are We There Yet
Vidala
Slip Away
Letter From Home

Amazon.com

A jazz-fusion classic from Pat Metheny's mid-30s, steeped in joy and sensuality. The guitarist's singing, soaring, shimmering sound is tinged with yearning, occasionally sadness--that's a crucial, overlooked aspect of his musical voice. The talented lineup flies assuredly with the brilliant leader, who mans several varieties of acoustic, electric, and synthesized guitars. The electronics of keyboardist Lyle Mays, straight from American front parlors and chapels, brings just the right amount of twist to Metheny's lacings of folk and rock. More shadings and fire come from Mays's accordion and trumpet, and the versatile Pedro Aznar's vocals, marimba, vibes, charango, melodica, and percussion. All but two tracks are by Metheny. His ability to write complex but accessible tunes is undeniable, and his arrangements are inspired. --Peter Monaghan

Customer Reviews:

Superb...opened a whole new world for me.......2006-12-08

This is a lengthy review, as it attempts to cover not just this album, but also what makes the PMG itself such a unique and outstanding musical experience in all of their releases. The review assumes you are new to the PMG. If you're already a fan, you don't need to read much further. Suffice to say that this is one of the best of the best of all the PMG's efforts, and it needs to become part of your collection. Skip down to the end if you want for a song-by-song summary of my thoughts. However, if you are new to the PMG, I highly recommend this album as an excellent starting place...and encourage you to read the whole review for some thoughts about why this group deserves your attention.

In 1991, I was thumbing through the CDs in the jazz section of a public library in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where I lived at the time. The selection wasn't all that great and I came across this CD with a strange, busy-looking collage of thumbnail photos and foreign symbols. I was vaguely familiar with the name "Pat Metheny" but didn't even know what instrument he played. In spite of the adage, "don't judge a book by its cover," I was fully expecting something very avante garde and highly improvisational - short on melody and long on the bizarre. Honestly, it was mainly out of curiosity that I checked out the CD and I had very low expectations.

But once I pushed the Play button on this CD, it was all over. Out of perhaps 3 life-changing experiences related to music in my life, this was one of them. Now, I realize that sounds melodramatic, but it's the absolute truth. I became an instant devotee of this guy and his music. I could listen to it hundreds of times (and I have) and enjoy it just as much the 999th time as the first time.

I now own 8 of his CDs and I like them all, but this one remains very near the top of the list for me, due in equal parts to the music itself and also the fond memories it evokes from a period of my life when I was so full of optimism.

From the moment I pushed the Play button, I knew what I was hearing was in a class by itself. Jazz, yes...but neither the traditional stuff (which I like), nor the more pop-oriented mass-appeal stuff that has since become synonymous with the so-called "smooth jazz" genre (of which I'm not too fond...you know, that smarmy Kenny G stuff). To be honest, at that time I would have been hard-pressed to articulate what it was I liked about the music, or why I felt these guys were a cut above the rest of pack in so many respects. I simply knew that I liked - no, make that loved - what I was hearing.

As I write this review, more than 15 years later, my thoughts are no doubt colored by the volume and variety of Metheny music I've listened to in the intervening years, but I'll try to limit them to what I remember from my earliest listening experiences and why I did - and still do - find them to be head and shoulders above so much else that is out there. First, and most important, is the collaboration between Metheny and keyboardist Lyle Mays. Like the cliche "1+1=3," the sum of their collaboration is so much more than the individual talents they bring. I'm so glad these guys found one another, and I'm so glad that Mays has remained the one unchanging member of the PMG along with Pat himself since the group was born in 1978. It just wouldn't be the PMG without Mays.

I first became acquainted with Lyle in the late '70s when he was still a student at North Texas State University and played in their jazz lab bands. I had one of their albums (ugly cover, but great music), and remember being intrigued by this Mays guy who played a large hand in all of the band's arrangements, while also being awed by the guy's obvious capabilities on his instruments of choice: keyboards. I remember thinking to myself (I was still in high school at the time), "now THIS is a guy who's going somewhere." It was with huge delight, many years later, that I discovered Mays was the keyboardist with the PMG. It was the same sense as having rediscovered a long lost friend.

Anyway, back to their collaboration. I can honestly say that there is something magical about the music these guys create. They have a flawless sense of melody...the melodies actually tell a story instead of just filling up space, and more times than not, the melody has an uncanny way of evoking exactly the emotions you would expect from the title of the song.

As one would expect, the melody is most often carried by Metheny, and until hearing his music for the first time, I had no idea a guitar could sound like this. Yes, I'd listened to guys like Wes Montgomery...and classical guitar as well. But Metheny was able to take the guitar to places it seems like it was never envisioned to go, with phrasing sometimes more like you would expect from a horn or sax, and a signature sound that was the epitome of "cool." In other places, his playing was so achingly beautiful that it seems as though the word "poignant" was created specifically to describe what I was hearing.

Another thing immediately apparent in PMG music is not just the mastery of the melodic, but also the rhythmic. These are guys who aren't afraid to venture outside the comfort zone of 4/4. They are all over the map with things that I sometimes can't even count myself...and I've got a reasonably good sense of rhythm. Weird stuff that sounds like 13/4 or 15/8 or whatever. But just like Brubeck was able to make 5/4 totally comfortable with his classic "Take 5", Pat and Co. navigate these unusual time signatures so fluidly that you never feel like you've left the interstate for an unpaved road. It's all smooth and you love every second of it because it's at once familiar and different. There's also a point / counterpoint thing that permeates the music. Never busy just for the sake of it...but not minimalist either. It's rich. Like a painting with beautiful use of color and texture, and when you look at it, you feel like you could stare for hours and still not take it all in. It isn't just music that's highly pleasing, it's *fascinating* music.

Chording and chord progressions are another aspect of the music that makes the PMG such a treat. There's just something about the way these songs can exhilarate, create an indefinable longing, descend into dissonance, or resolve in a way that makes you feel all is right with the world - all through the impeccable crafting of how these guys string chords together. Mays, in my opinion, is the unsung hero that makes so much of this possible. I have always loved his playing, but when paired with Metheny, it is hard to imagine anything more perfect. He's never overbearing or showy - he's just...there. Solid. Like a supporting actor that makes the star look that much better, never stealing the show. It's back to that 1+1=3 thing I mentioned earlier.

It would be impossible to talk about the PMG "sound" without also commenting on the way vocals are used. My jazz heritage exposed me to people like Ella Fitzgerald and others who would "scat" rather than sing lyrics. In the same way, the vocals in PMG music are almost never used for lyrics. But neither are they left to carry the melody on their own. Instead, they are more often layered with the melody of the guitar. It's a big part of what I can only call the PMG's signature sound - and it is an incredibly satisfying sound. Once you hear it, you want more.

As to the individual songs, here's a breakdown of my impressions:

> Have You Heard - As the first track, this was my first exposure to the PMG's music. And in hindsight, the title is so fitting. No, I haven't heard...but now that you've got my attention, I'll probably never stop listening. I remember thinking, "Wow...where have these guys been all my life?" This song epitomizes everything I love about the PMG...the deviation from the predictable 4/4 while being totally groovable...the way the vocals are stacked on the guitar and piano to create that signature sound...Pat's amazing solo work and runs that left my jaw on the floor...Lyle's orchestrations, punctuations, and chord progressions that are so exhilarating and just so...so right. And, the intricate cymbal work of master drummer Paul Wertico. It's all good. Very good.

> Every Summer Night - This song features what I think is the melodica (an accordian-like instrument that sounds a bit like a harmonica). The song's melody is best described as "friendly"...like a grinning kid with freckles...you just have to grin back. It's a great example of the acoustic piano sound that is quintessential Lyle Mays that then transitions to the Hammond organ which is equally tasty.

> Better Days Ahead - This song evokes exactly what you'd expect from the title: optimism. A pleasure to listen to. 'nuff said.

> Spring Ain't Here - A sound that's sort of a cross between George Shearing and Wes Montgomery...probably from Pedro Aznar on the vibes. Like so many PMG compositions, the vibes aren't treated as a solo instrument, but as just another layer of the melody with the guitar. For me, this song evokes feelings of warm nostalgia for some reason.

> 45/8 - Like I said earlier, the PMG isn't afraid to embrace some wild time signatures. It has a Peruvian feel to it, thanks to the panpipes played by Aznar. Very short song...more like a bridge...less than a minute in lenght.

> 5-5-7: Like the first track, this song blends all the things that to me are that quintessential PMG sound. But instead of vocals, something that sounds suspiciously like whistling is layered with the vibes and Methany's guitar...and a bit later Aznar's vocals are stacked on top as well. It's a cool sound. And this one explores some unusual time signatures. Sounds like a recipe that could get weird real fast, but trust me - it's tasty.

> Beat 70 - Probably one of my favorite PMG tunes. I'm not sure if it's the melodica or accordion on this one, or a synthesizer, but it again has a harmonica feel to it that's very satisfying. There's also a sweet steel drum thing going on just beneath the surface. Lots of transitioning between Lyle and Pat from keyboard solos to guitar and back again, like a baton being passed back and forth. The drums on this one are quintessential Wertico...lots of intricate and interesting cymbal work. There's a photo on Antonio Sanchez's website (he's since replaced Wertico as the PMG's drummer) that shows his setup for a typical PMG gig...I think there's like a dozen cymbals. It's insane. That pretty much tells the story...lots and lots of cymbals make up the rhythmic texture that is part of the overall PMG sound.

> Dream of The Return - One of the few songs with actual lyrics, sung in Spanish by Aznar. Methany first goes into a jazz guitar solo, followed by some nice acoustic piano by Mays, and later back to Methany again, this time with his synth guitar...which sometimes sounds good, but can also be a bit like the soprano sax when done to excess...grating. Methany doesn't overdo it on this song. Overall, nice, but not one of my favorites.

> Are We There Yet - The most dissonant of the bunch, but still melodic and not total free-form noise (but dang close in a few places). You have to be in the right mood for this one. Features more synth guitar from Pat. Seamlessly segues into the next song without a break in the music.

> Vidala - Another one featuring actual lyrics, this time in English by Aznar. Some nice panpipe stuff (yeah, I know that instrument conjures up images of easy listening "muzak" and Zamfir...but it isn't like that here). This song has an overall contemplative feel to it.

> Slip Away - A really nice 16-beat shuffle going on here. Wertico's phrasing gives it a distinctly locomotive rhythm. Signature PMG sound in full force...vibe/vocal/guitar layer going strong. Nice piano interlude from Mays and then transitioning back in a really nice crescendo to the 16-beat with a smooth Methany solo on jazz guitar.

> Letter from Home - In a word, poignant. This song evokes exactly the longing you'd expect with a letter from home, a bittersweet memory of the happy times left behind and the people you still love awaiting you there. It's a wonderful choice to end the album with. You find yourself wanting to audibly sigh at the end. A perfect end to a beautiful 60 minutes. I think this one has actually brought tears to my eyes more than once.

excellent.......2005-03-23

i think this is the best album ever of Pat methany.
classic and genious
these two words are enough to describe the album

i write this review 14 years after i first listened to this .......2004-11-25

i sincerely believe what i write below is honest and truthful.

i first heard this CD 14 years ago. loved it then and actually went to see him performed live with his band. in the last 14 years, my music taste changed from classical jazz to pop rock, to latin rock, to brasilian pagode, to samba, to bossa nova, back to american frank sinatra, to tony bennette, back to big band jazz of Duke and Count.... however, yesterday as i accidentally picked this music from my old collection, the music still sounds so fresh and new. it is just amazing that after all my other musical experiences, Metheny's music still stands its quality and depth. there are so many Pat's CDs i could recommend however, this one may be the most balance, most easy listened to and most versatile. you hardly know it was recorded 14 years ago... wow! i feel old.....nonetheless, this is truly great music. high art form i would say.

Pat's best ever.......2003-12-21

This record is a cross between brazilian music and smooth jazz. There is nothing bad all along the album. Pedro Aznar has a beautiful voice, Paul Wertico deals with binary rythm, but also with latin rythms and more traditional jazz rythms. Pat not only plays the guitar with his unique style, but he also plays the synclavier and this adds another dimension to his music. This is probably Pat's most emotional record and IMHO the best. If you like music played by bands such as Spyro Gyra or Joe Sample (of the Crusaders fame), you have to give a chance to 'Letter from home'.

classic PMG.......2003-09-16

This album continued Pat's flirtation with the musical flavors of Brazil, and it is readily accessible to a variety of listeners (those who liked "First Circle" and "Still Life" should also like this album). I remember hearing the poppish "Slip Away" on a local radio station and I knew this was an album to add to my collection of PMG material.

While the album claerly has a strong undercurrent of Brazilian rhythms and percussive accents, the songs do have character on their own. Pat, as usual, is in top form. His silky-smooth guitar emits improvisations so melodic that you'll find yourself whistling them in the shower. Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Pedro Aznar adds to the melodic flavor, and even sings a beautiful Spanish lead on "Dream of the Return" (check out the PMG website for lyrics and translation). Lyle Mays contributes a quirky (but eerily groovy) composition called "Are We There Yet?", which, if you listen carefully towards the end, cleverly incorporates sampled vocals from Aznar's lead vocal from "Dream".

Other highlights include "Better Days Ahead" (a percussion-laden tune with Pat on acoustic guitar) and the delicately short lullaby and title track, "Letter From Home". My only gripe is that Pat and Lyle seem to have run out of song titles for a couple of songs, as they simply named one spritely-sounding tune "5-5-7" for the number of beats per three measure sequence.

This album will stand the test of time, and you will enjoy listening to it ten years from now as much as you did the first time.

Welcome Home
Average customer rating:
Welcome Home
Mr V
Manufacturer: Hbd Label Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

In the House: Mixed by Dennis Ferrer

Those Things

Lust: A Personal Collection by Louie Vega

Coast 2 Coast: Kerri Chandler

Buzzin' Fly, Vol. 4

ASIN: B000OCZBVW
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

Welcome Home (Intro)
On Da Grind
Da Bump
Bring Your Rhythm
It's Broke (West London Bounce)
Somethin' (Wit' Jazz)
Wind Ya Body
Put Your Drink Down
V Get's Jazzy
Jus' Dance
Mr. Bongo (Hello Children)
Make Peace

Average customer rating:

+1/2 stars...Yes, You Can Go Home Again
Back Home Indeed!

Back Home in Sulphur Springs
Norman & Nancy Blake
Manufacturer: Dualtone Music Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Shacktown Road
Whiskey Before Breakfast
The Hobo's Last Ride
The Morning Glory Ramblers
The Fields of November/Old and New

ASIN: B000A7Q1RO
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Tracks:

More Good Women Gone Wrong
Columbus Stockade Blues
He's Coming To Us Dead
The Girl I Left In Sunny Tennessee
We Parted By The Riverside
Ella Ree
Happy Little Home In Arkansas
Back Home In Sulphur Springs
The Marmaid
Take Me Home Poor Julia
Seaboard Airline Rag
Star Spangled Banner
The Empress Of Ireland
Katy Cline

Product Description

1. More Good Women Gone Wrong
2. Columbus Stockade Blues
3. He's Coming To Us Dead
4. The Girl I Left In Sunny Tennessee
5. We Parted By The Riverside
6. Ella Ree
7. Happy Little Home In Arkansas
8. Back Home In Sulphur Springs
9. The Mermaid
10. Take Me Home Poor Julia
11. Seaboard Airline Rag
12. Star Spangled Banner
13. The Empress Of Ireland
14. Katy Cline

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

+1/2 stars...Yes, You Can Go Home Again.......2006-05-07

Thomas Wolfe said, "You can't go home again." But he never met Norman Blake. Thirty-three years after his critically acclaimed Rounder debut, BACK HOME IN SULPHUR SPRINGS, Norman and wife Nancy returned to record this 14-track album over the course of three days.

This is old time country music at its best. Nothing flashy or overproduced, just two musicians with acoustic instruments playing the music they love. Norman plays guitar, Dobro, fiddle and mandolin, while Nancy plays guitar, cello and mandolin. She also provides harmony vocals to Norman's understated vocals. Most of the songs are traditional, with a couple of Norman Blake originals (the title track and "Seaboard Airline Rag") and one track by good friend Patty Bryan ("The Empress of Ireland").

The only track that seems out of place is the uncredited bonus track, which bashes George W. on everything from the hanging chad debacle in Florida to the Iraq war. I don't disagree with his political views, it's just that as a general rule I don't like mixing politician-bashing and music-especially when it's not done with any degree of subtlety.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and very satisfying album. [Running Time - 53:44] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Back Home Indeed!.......2006-02-24

Let me preface my remarks by saying that I've been listening to Norman Blake for over thirty years, so I'm a BIG fan. I say this because when I tell you how good--how right--this record sounds, you may think I'm just gushing over another Blake record. Not so! This is one of Mr. Blake's best records, I think, because you can hear it's credibility. When the character in "The Girl I Left in Sunny Tennessee" sings, for example, he sings with more saddness than he (Blake) did the first time around, back on Whiskey before Breakfast. And Nancy's harmony vocals are plaintive and fit just right. If you're more used to Doc Watson singing "Columbus Stockade Blues," listen to the Blakes slow this one down and sing it more like a dirge. I mean, this is great stuff! Like old blues singers, credibility is everything, and the Blakes define that on this record.

Buy this record not for flashy flatpicking--Blake gave that up years ago--but for its sincerity. You won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

A Prairie Portrait
Umberto Giordano , Percy Grainger , Stan Jones , Daniel E. Kelley , Kelly , Eugene O'Brien , Spoken Word , Traditional , American Traditional , Various Composers , John Giordano , and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Dualtone Music Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Bard And The Balladeer: Live From Cowtown
A Western Jubilee: Songs and Stories of the American West
Elko! A Cowboy's Gathering
Songs of the Trail

ASIN: B0002IQLJY
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

Texas Trilogy (Yellow Rose Of Texas, Streets Of Laredo, Deep In The Heart of Texas)
Roundup In The Spring
Sage & Cedar I
Home On the Range
Commutin
Annie Laurie/Bad Half Hour
Irish Tune From County Derry (Danny Boy)
Santa Rose Serenade
Throwback
West Of Yesterday
(Ghost) Riders In the Sky
Horses, Dogs, And Cowboys
Cowboy Love Song
Sage And Cedar II
Shenandoah
Around the Campfire From A Prairie Portrait

Product Description

Tracks:

29 Ways To My Baby's Door
Cecilia
Brown Eyed Girl
Chances
At The Dark End Of The Street
Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)
El Paso
Until Forever's Gone
Scooby Doo, Where Are You (remix)
Long Black Train

Customer Reviews:

Great album!.......2007-06-22

I won this cd at a Christmas show that Tonic Sol-Fa had in my hometown. I would have to say that my favorite songs are Brown Eyed Girl (they do such an amazing job on this remake, it sounds like the original but with their melodies it's awesome!!) 29 Ways To My Baby's Door (their vocals together are perfect and i love the beat) and Sold. I find myself singing along to that in my car just smiling and laughing the whole time. The beat is a lot of fun and the way they can make their voices sound like that blows me away. I would definitely recommend this album. It even has Scooby Doo...I mean who doesn't love Scooby Doo? I'm sure kids would love it!

Amazing.......2007-02-23

I saw them live on their Christmas tour, I am now a devoted fan. No instruments, and never should be. They have a style all their own and show it! Must have CD and get all their CD's while your at it!

Album Review:

Album Review

Album Review