Lost & Found

Lost & Found

ASIN: B000008K20

Track Listings

1. Big Iron - Michael Martin Murphey, Marty Robbins

2. Texas I Love You

3. I Need You to Hold Me Together

4. Til Hell Freezes Over

5. Sometimes Love

6. Our Last Goodbye

7. Old Friend Misses You

8. Beginning of Goodbye

9. Twenty Dollar Jim

10. Favorite Song

11. Sweet Country Music

Tracks:

Lost Highway
Summertime
Make a Memory
Whole Lot Of Leaving
We Got It Going On
Any Other Day
Seat Next To You
Everybody's Broken
Stranger (feat. Leann Rimes)
The Last Night
One Step Closer
I Love This Town

Amazon.com

Given the chart success of their Grammy-winning country single "Who Says You Can't Go Home," it's no surprise Bon Jovi upped the ante by recording an entire album paying homage to Nashville. In some ways, it's amazing they didn't do this sooner, given the way Keith Urban in particular is blurring country-pop lines, much as Garth Brooks and others did in the 1990s. To their credit, you won't find predictably shallow invocations of past country icons or any self-conscious, in-your-face down-home twang added strictly to remind the listener of the musical premise. In fact, Lost Highway isn't "Bon Jovi goes country" so much as a meaningful tribute to the Nashville ethos done on their own terms. They honor the spirit of the town through 12 simple, direct originals. The intimate, smoldering "(You Want To) Make a Memory," the ballad "Seat Next To You," "Lost Highway" and its roaring celebration of freedom, and "Stranger," an effective duet with LeAnn Rimes, all invoke country's spirit, and "I Love This Town," an eloquent nod to Nashville itself, ties it together admirably. --Rich Kienzle

Album Description

"Artistic freedom made this record possible," says Jon Bon Jovi. "Musical freedom to explore--and emotional freedom to express what was in our hearts."

The result of that freedom is Lost Highway, an album Jon describes as "a Bon Jovi record influenced by Nashville."

Bon Jovi explains. "Nashville is all about songs and songwriters. If you're someone like me who loves songs and hanging out with songwriters, Nashville is the place. I thrive on that feeling and I'm inspired by that creative ambience."

The result, a haunting set of 12 new and original sounding songs, is a stunning, multi-layered look into the nature of love and life in all its glory. Love, like life, is lost, found, forgotten and reclaimed in this collection.

The moods are many, but the core feeling is pure Bon Jovi.

"Writing this record with Jon was deeply cathartic," says Richie Sambora, who collaborated on ten of the songs. "I was going through emotional changes that were new for me. An ailing father. A painful divorce. The start of a new chapter in my life. I poured everything I had into this project, every last bit of soul at my command."

"For over twenty years now," Jon explains, "Richie and I have been close collaborators. Even when our songs create fictional stories, they reveal our states of mind. To a large degree, Lost Highway focuses on the light that love brings. When you shine the light on love, you see the chinks in the armor. You see every crevice, every crack. And that's all right".

Lost Highway is Bon Jovi's tenth studio album since the band formed in the early eighties. One hundred and twenty million albums and 2500 concerts in over 50 countries later, Bon Jovi is enjoying the greatest popularity in their history.

Customer Reviews:

Always a winner Bon Jovi.......2007-07-08

Love it as I do everything they have done, I just believe they are very talented..and they dont look so bad either..:)

The Evolution of Jon.......2007-07-08

Love every song. I want to not like the newer JON Bon Jovi, the guy with his pricey Kenneth Cole clothes, sycophant worship of Al Gore, a fancy Vipor and his new 26 million dollar penthouse in NYC, but, I put on my big girl panties and dealth with it....It's BON JOVI, the band, that I still love!
With age comes growth. I think as Bon Jovi ages, they are showing what true musicians and writers they are. They are not just rockers. Bon Jovi's direction may have been very calculated, however, it proved to be a great decision. The evolution of Bon Jovi proves that the band can progress and still be great. The musical training and background of each member proves that when their differences are combined, they are great musicians...no label needed.
Although the duet with Rimes has Jon "contorting" his lyrics a bit too much, as if to prove he can do country twang, overall, I love this cd. Like other Bon Jovi CD's, it's a great "sing along" in the car!

Bon Jovi is Lost on this CD.......2007-07-08

I've been a Bon Jovi fan since the beginning. My expectations were very low upon hearing they were recording a country crossover cd.

I listened to many cd's in my time by far this is one of the worst in my collection and the worst studio record ever in Bon Jovi's career.

It's very sad to see what this group is becoming.

One song on this cd is ok, that being "Memory", even this song falls short of the group's best ballads. I'd give this song a rating of a 6 out of a 10.

As for the other songs (garbage) on this cd they all rate a 1 out of a 10. I'd give them a 1 just for the effort other than that don't waste your time buying this cd.

This cd is not even GOOD for a country cd. I can't find anything else on this cd worth listening to only than Memory.

This band needs to realize that they are a rock band!

Look at slippery when wet, how many records did that sell? Over 10 million?

Fans want that type of music. They should go back to that style of music. We've seen glimpses of it with songs like "Have A Nice Day", Everyday" and "It's my Life".

This cd has no direction other than it belongs in the garbage can. They should have never released this. I can't believe how bad the lyrics are and the sound of this cd is awful.

This band seems a lot like Def Leppard these days, once a great melodic rock band now a bubble gum band.

Don't get me wrong I still love this band. This cd just should have been trashed and started over.

Go back to your roots and give us true rock fans the music we want. Give us another melodic record!!

Look at their first five records all great, since then they have taken different directions. At least giving us some good songs on the next records.

Again, this record title sums it up.

They are on a lost highway!

This isn't even close to a ok country record. They are completely lost somewhere down a highway looking how to make some great music again.

What a relief ! Not country at all !!.......2007-07-08

I have been a fan of Bon Jovi since before Slippery came out. Saw them on the Slippery tour. Have bought every album since, with diminishing enthusiasm. I love 70's classic rock. So what was I to make of this so-called "Country" album ?

I hate country music and I pretty much hate "Have a Nice Day", "Crush" and most of "Bounce", not because Bon Jovi lost their talent, but the direction was all wrong and seeminly manufactured. The decline started with "It's My Life" in my book - just a concocted slab of trying to be hip.

The box set on the other hand was fabulous, full of little gems of songwriting genius that still proved the band had it. I had to scratch my head and wonder why so many of the great recent songs on the box set had not made the recent studio albums.

Well, I plugged the CD into the car stereo, not really expecting much other than to be massively disapointed. But hey ! What a great opener, Lost Highway is classic Bon Jovi, by which I don't mean late-80's rock, it's just good time, good message, great vibe, rock'n'roll !

After that, each and every song on the album was for the most part, enjoyable and not a single country song in sight.

My god, what a relief. This album is NOT COUNTRY.

I love the album "Blaze of Glory" and don't recall anybody describing that as a country album. This is, in some ways, a similar style of music. It's americana if you like, but certainly not country, twangy and depressing.

It's definitely not Slippery When Wet, but when was the last time you listened to that album anyway ? It's a great album for today, and I believe truely reflects everything good about this band, without rehashing old ideas, or trying to be the latest trend. This is real music, and really good music.

Not quite a 5-star effort, but miles better than I had hoped for.

Recommended. Best since "These Days" !!

Cheesy.......2007-07-07

I had to listen to this out of curiosity. What a waste of time! Bon Jovi and their big hair sucked back in the eighties, and they suck almost as bad as a country band. Won't this guy ever go away? If you want to hear some real rock, try Zeppeln, Purple, Sabbath or Motorhead. If you want some real country, try Johnny Cash, Willie, Merle, Robert Earl Keen, Emmylou, Steve Earle, Billy Joe Shaver, The Flatlanders, etc. There are plenty of good artists in both categories. Bon Jovi is pathetic!! He needs to go back to Jersey and clean some recording studios. Did another reveiwer compare him to Springsteen? Gimme a break.

Average customer rating:

an original mind
Toothless Tiger
What a song writer.
To Be Older (Is to Be Sober, Is to Be Focused)
Heartbreaker's rebellious teenage lovechild

Easy Tiger
Ryan Adams
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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New Moon

ASIN: B000P29B1W
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

goodnight rose
two
everybody knows
halloween head
two hearts
tears of gold
the sun also sets
off broadway
rip off
oh my god, whatever, etc.
pearls on a string
these girls
i taught myself how to grow old

Amazon.com

Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams's ninth solo studio album, is a return to form in every way. He's already shown that he can bash out three albums in one year--not to mention the hilarious fake hip-hop records posted for free on his Web site--and that he can sound as much like the Grateful Dead as he wants to in his constant subsequent touring. Backed once again by the Cardinals, Adams synthesizes and refines his approach to smooth, gorgeous country-pop. "Tears of Gold" is one of the best songs he's written in ages, while "Two" is a slowly percolating, sweet little number that recalls Sean Hayes in its soulful folksiness (someone named Sheryl Crow accompanies Adams on vocals). One of the greatest treats of this languorous, twangy album is the subtle ways that genre gets played with. "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old" is the best Harvest outtake Neil Young never wrote, while the treated, synth-sounding guitar solo on the druggy, chooglin' "Halloweenhead" sounds like it comes straight out of Journey. And "The Sun Also Sets" sounds more than a little like Rufus Wainwright covering Fred McDowell's "Write Me a Few of Your Lines." It bursts with enough melodrama as to border on musical theater. But, as is clear on these songs of love and loss, Adams has always been at his best when giving into his most mellow, dramatic side. --Mike McGonigal

Ryan Adams Photos

More Ryan Adams

Heartbreaker
Gold
Love Is Hell

Album Description

I think there are really only two kinds of pop music CDs these days. There are the ones you listen to only once or twice, maybe downloading the single good song to your iPod or computer; then there are others that grow stronger, sweeter, and more necessary each time you play them. Gold was that way; Cold Roses was that way; so was Jacksonville City Nights. I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young...but I won't say he isn't, either. What I know is there has never been a Ryan Adams record quite as strong and together as Easy Tiger; it's got enough blue-eyed, blue-steel soul (with the faintest country tinge) to make me think of both Marvin Gaye and the Righteous Brothers. Probably ridiculous, but true. And the songs themselves are beautiful--the lyrics tightly focused and brief, the feeling one of melancholy calm that will probably be a revelation to fans that remember the old, sometimes angry Ryan Adams.

Now there's this, maybe the best Ryan Adams CD ever. And I know you want to listen to it right away. But slow down. Take your time. This album asks for that, and it will reward your full attention.

In other words--easy, Tiger.

--Stephen King

Customer Reviews:

an original mind.......2007-07-09

passionate, emotionally twisting tunes that seem to tell different stories that are all somehow interconnected by a magical mind and a unique voice. In a world overwhelmed by male singer/songwriters, this one is truly distinguished, with a style all his own. I discovered this guy through the recommendations (via a retail compilation) of Lucinda Williams and have been thankful ever since. A real original.

Look forward to his future.

Toothless Tiger.......2007-07-09

I bought this while on vacation, and I expected a lot from it since it was the only CD in my rental car. After numerous end to end playings, I can only bring two songs immediately to mind: "Two" is not breaking new ground, but is as achingly beautiful as any song he's done. "Halloween Head" is raucus and catchy, but sounds like a mailed in version of the obligatory "talented artist who just sobered up" song. Give me "Detox Mansion" every time. When you compare it to other Ryan Adams / Whiskeytown albums of the same ilk it sounds unconvincing. It's nice to listen to, but it lacks any passion.

What a song writer........2007-07-09

Very good album and I like this alot. I have all of his and this one really sinks it's teeth into me at this point in my life.

very insightful, and always such a good artist. A few of the lines in the songs really speak to me lately.

This one is no Ripoff.!!

To Be Older (Is to Be Sober, Is to Be Focused).......2007-07-08

Whatever Ryan Adams' stylistic whim over the past seven years--alt-country, AOR, country, dour Brit pop, folk, garage rock--nearly every album held two things in common: more than a few staggeringly brilliant songs that would make any songwriter envious (Rock'n'Roll and 29 being the exceptions) and enough certifiable duds that would leave you wondering how someone with Adams' remarkable talent could display such spotty quality control.

Easy Tiger, Adams' first release in over a year (an epic drought by his standards) isn't his best album, but it his most consistent, offering some moments of splendid songcraft without the weight of a lot of filler. Backed by the latest lineup of The Cardinals (they're not billed on the album cover), Adams concentrates on straightforward, acoustic-based songs and various flavors of country. "Halloweenhead," the album's lone musical departure, boasts a catchy melody and offers some self-deprecating humor, but the near Spinal Tap homage, replete with bells, storm noises, and the shout of "Guitar solo!," sounds decidedly out of place. The sunny bluegrass number "Pearls on a String" fares much better, providing a fun, top-tapping tune while retaining the instrumental textures common to the album.

The album opens with "Goodnight Rose," a staggered, twangy rocker reminiscent of Cold Roses but downshifts into a subdued, melancholy tone with the first single, "Two." Complimented by Sheryl Crow's harmonies, Adams' ache-tinged tenor buoys even the most pedestrian of lines: "'Cause it's cold in here/And I wish it was hot/The sink's broke, it's leaking from the faucet."

Not surprisingly, Adams' trademark elegiac tales of broken relationships, crushed ambition, and transient youth permeate the album. He fails, though, when he tries too emphatically to convey heartbreak. With a tinny acoustic guitar doubling the vocal melody, "Off Broadway," a reworked tune originally recorded during the Suicide Handbook sessions, suffers from an insipid and painfully repetitive chorus as Adams loses his way home after spotting an ex-lover: "I don't know where that is anymore/I don't know where that is anymore/I don't know where that is anymore/Used to be off Broadway." Someone help the man home already! And, on "The Sun Also Sets," he mars an otherwise solid song with a strained, overwrought vocal delivery, which culminates with him channeling what sounds like the voice of Grover right before the final chorus.

More often, however, Adams strikes the right balance of sadness and subtlety. On the breezy "Two Hearts" he foresees the inevitable collapse of a relationship ("Two hearts/One of them will break/Like bad ideas on a beautiful day/Two figures moving through the dark/ Three words is all it takes to break your heart in two") while on the beautiful "Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.," he wearily surrenders to listlessness: "But the light of the moon leads the way/Towards the morning, and the sun/The sun's well on it's way too soon/But oh, oh my God, whatever, etc."

That sort of self-reflection lies at the heart of quite a few tracks. To be sure, there are some "young gal did me bad" moments, but they're tempered by Adams' acknowledgment of his own failings, whether he's admitting the difficulty of commitment--"I make these promises/But all these promises hurt/It's like they never get a lift off" ("Rip Off")--or confessing his weakness for anxious "late night girls" on "These Girls"--"It's so sad but when they smile/God, I've been had"--arriving at the conclusion that "These girls are better off in my head."

Easy Tiger shows Ryan Adams can be focused and accessible, but it's fair to say that at times it sounds a bit too tame, too easy. With the album's heavy dose of balladry, there are few traces of his customary reckless energy or swagger. Maybe next time around he'll manage to infuse those elements into his maturing sound--chances are we won't have to wait long to find out. Still, Adams' talent as a songwriter is undeniable--"Oh My God, Whatever, Etc." "Goodnight Rose," and "These Girls" stand with the best in his extensive catalog--and not having to lunge for the skip button too often while listening to the album is a welcome change.

Heartbreaker's rebellious teenage lovechild.......2007-07-06

Heartbreaker had such an impact on many of us that it has been difficult to accept Adams's later works. Despite a love for Whiskeytown songs, Heartbreaker instantly blew us away. There are definite gems in Adams's post Heartbreaker catalog. Gold and Love is Hell Pt. 1 were solid efforts. However, many maintain a Heartbreaker bias when checking out Adams's new works. Adams has the ability to bang out a number of Heartbreakers, but chooses to let his own style develop wherever he feels like exploring. Lost Highway is an excellent label that backs Adams's endeavors. Easy Tiger is a manifestation of Adams's past, present, and future. He pushes the envelope with his voice and writing. The Cardinals (Ryan's band) do a great job of balancing the adventurous efforts to create some fantastic colorful mixtures.

When I first hit play my reaction was, "Who's singing on this?" I flipped through trying to ignore the initial Heartbreaker expectations, and was taken aback during the first go around. There were new sounds, characteristic elements that have found new territory, some vintage Adams, and a variety that had everything but the kitchen sink. This left my a bit confused as I tried to formulate my opinion of the work. After a few more rounds, I still couldn't make a definitive decision about the adventurous album. That is until I found myself craving a few tracks like "Two Hearts", "Halloweenhead", "The Sun Also Sets", and "Goodnight Rose". Adams's work always deserves respect because of the ingenuity and fearlessness that he applies when making his records. However, that doesn't always translate to fans enjoying certain albums. As I gradually found myself looking forward to a growing number of Easy Tiger songs, I realized that this record carried a certain weight to it that Gold, Rock n Roll, and Jacksonville City Nights didn't have. The exploratory styles, stabilizing instrumentation, and the standard brilliant lyrics that make up Easy Tiger have a sense of validity and unique panache that can't be found anywhere else. This album will not instantly knock you over the head or bump out one of your top ten favorites like Heartbreaker did, but it will win you over. Easy Tiger posses some very addictive songs and is a one of a kind album that will be fun to revisit for years.

Here are some disclaimers so you won't be so alarmed. The most notable aspect that differentiates this album is Adams's vocals. He is definitely making a statement of versatility, audacity, and enjoyment. There is a lot of Neil Young and at times even Jeff Buckley in Ryan's voice. A lot of the vocals resemble the voice Adams uses on certain Whiskeytown tracks (ie "Reasons to Lie") and he applies that sound to some varied and at times extreme situations. Do not be alarmed because despite the initial skepticism the vocals really fit well with the songs. The vocals create an endearing element to the lyrics and give the tracks so much raw character.

The album has some Heartbreaker in it with songs like "Oh my God, Whatever, etc.", "These Girls", and "Off Broadway". That helps counterbalance the raw adventure that some other songs take you on like "Halloweenhead". There are some finite stylistic tracks like "Pearls on a String" which is an unmistakable bluegrass jolt. The music of the whole album does a fantastic job of balancing and highlighting Easy Tiger's bold elements. The Cardinals really help make this album. The instrumentation adds an expanding effect to songs like "Goodnight Rose" and "Halloweenhead". The arrangements also add swagger, necessary characteristics, and a full bodied sound to songs like "Tears of Gold", "Two Hearts", and The Sun Also Sets". The music creates such a delicious musical statement when paired with Adams's overall creative vision.

This album may be Heartbreaker's rebellious teenage lovechild but is an absolute gem of a record. Cheers to Adams for pushing the envelope and putting his unique stamp on it. It takes balls to explore uncharted territory and try to maintain your exclusive touch. Adams has not only done that with this record, but has done it while having to maintain a reputation.

Average customer rating:

Very disappointed....
Good; not great
Alt-country emo??
Still the Angel of Ensanguined Love
West

West
Lucinda Williams
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection

ASIN: B000LXHGFI
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

Are You Alright?
Mama You Sweet
Learning How To Live
Fancy Funeral
Unsuffer Me
Everything Has Changed
Come On
Where Is My Love?
Rescue
What If
Wrap My Head Around That
Words
West

Amazon.com

Though the arrangements stray from Lucinda Williams's motherlode blend of blues, country, and folk, West may well be her best album. It is easily her most musically adventurous, and often her most lyrically inspired. Williams's singing has never sounded better, from the aching tenderness of "Where Is My Love?" to the ravaged catharsis of "Unsuffer Me." New York producer Hal Willner, who has worked with artists such as Marianne Faithful and Lou Reed, enlists the support of eclectic progressives like guitarist Bill Frisell, keyboardist Bob Burger, and violinist Jenny Scheinman, along with harmonies from the Jayhawks' Gary Louris, to weave a subtly rich sonic tapestry. Much of the material was inspired by the death of Williams's beloved mother ("Mama You Sweet," "Fancy Funeral") and the bitter breakup of a relationship (the jagged-edged emasculation of "Come On," the repetitive incantation of "Wrap My Head Around That"), though "Are You Alright?," "Learning How to Live," and "Everything Has Changed" could reflect the aftermath of both. Other highlights include "Rescue," with a languid subtlety and ambient pulse reminiscent of Beth Orton, and the dreamy, wistful title track. Where Williams's music has long cut close to the bone, the best of West slices right through it. --Don McLeese

Lucinda Wiliams Photos

More Lucinda Williams

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
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Customer Reviews:

Very disappointed...........2007-07-08

that's that I was when I heard this record. Even in concert, Lucinda just seems like such a drag anymore. I know, her mom died recently, but this whole record is such a downer, and her voice just drones on and on and on.

Give me Lucinda's self titled CD any day over her last 2 records...

Good; not great.......2007-07-07

She has a couple of excellent tracks on this CD. I especially like "Are You Alright", but the overall work seems uninspired. I find it a bit of a downer, in the main (and, yes, I understand the inspiration.) I recognize her artistry as a songwriter, but her voice on this CD -- after a while, its nasal quality begins to grate; she doesn't do that as well as Tracy Chapman.

Alt-country emo??.......2007-06-18

No, really--I love Lucinda Williams. I've liked her earlier albums and I like her voice; it's a nice change in a music genre that often seems to idealize baby-voiced vocalists like Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, and Iris DeMent (all of whom are fine singers, of course, but it's unusual to hear a female singer with Williams' deep, husky, voice).

I found this album musically monotonous. Really monotonous. Like, sleep-inducing. I could chalk that up to personal taste and forgive it if more of the songs had lyrics that were interesting or meaningful beyond fairly standard pop fare. Too many of these, as much as I hate to think it, were warmed-over rhymes and old themes with no new insight.

Get Car Wheels instead.

Still the Angel of Ensanguined Love.......2007-06-09

I bought this CD a week ago, and yes, Lucinda Williams is still the greatest living songwriter (though I might say she possibly currently shares that honor with Ryan Adams). The most visceral portrayal of heartbreak in verse and song ever, ever...Lucinda you are still the angel of ensanguined love.

West.......2007-06-07

Notwithstanding the hit-making assembly line of Nashville, country music will always bring me back to the idea of wandering, a sense of nomadic drift brought about by pain, heartbreak and loss. The tradition dates back nearly a century to the Carter Family, whose songs may sound dated but whose lyrics of leaving heartache to wander away from home and into the grave ring surprisingly true today. After all, our emotions and our natural reactions to them have stood the test of time, even as society has evolved tremendously since the Carter Family first laid down their music on wax.

To look at Lucinda Williams on the cover of West is to see a woman who has lived through enough pain for three people, as she turns her back on the world with a frustrated yet resigned sigh. The country singer/songwriter has spent the last year of her life wandering in the most literal sense, making a pilgrimage to Los Angeles in response to her mother's death and a turbulent relationship that likely ended with lots of tears and thrown kitchenware. Like it or not, Williams' first studio offering in four years is inspired by exactly those two things and little more. Suffice to say that West is a monumental downer--the starkest and bleakest album in a line of stark, bleak albums that began with Essence in 2001.

It's an approach that leaves West somewhat flat and one-dimensional when viewed from a distance, but for Williams, God is--and has always been--in the details. Far from being the instrumental knockout that was 1998's Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, West has the studio musicians wisely stepping back to plant the focus squarely on Williams, whose torchy, weathered voice can make even trite lyrics like "The days ahead will never be the same / for you I would have changed my name" quake with sorrow. "Unsuffer Me," in which Williams prays for someone to relieve her of years of abuse, is downright painful to hear, not necessarily because of what she sings, but because she sings it in repetitive vocal droops that evoke consecutive blows to the head in slow motion. Quiet is the new loud here; the final track, "West," is simultaneously simmering and shattering, making great use of empty space that mimics the void upon which she now gazes.

Williams remains the talented songwriter she's always been, but she's constrained a bit by the limitations of West's subject matter. There are only so many ways one can describe a breakup. "Everything has changed / Everything has changed," she sings on "Everything Has Changed." Well, yeah. Williams also has trouble pulling off anger in an album that has every right to be fraught with it. She only takes a few stabs, preferring instead to stay esconsed in her own gloomy universe, but all fall short. Consider "Come On," the album's only bona-fide rocker, whose rough electric guitars, crashing drums and high-pitched violin fizzle when they should explode, and whose weak double entendres ("You didn't even make me...come on!") would elicit snickers from anyone who's ever heard Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville.

While "Come On" has proven to be a consistent turkey in the eyes of the critics, the best song here, "Words," has the misfortune of landing in the penultimate slot where it's guaranteed to be passed over. For a precious brief moment, "Words" switches things up; the song is about mustering strength, not accepting renunciation ("My words enjoy the feel of the paper/ better than mingling with your consonants/ once they get going, they never waver/ and they slip in between your ifs, ands, and buts"), and the guitars and drums percolate plaintively, even hopefully. But this isn't an uplifting album by any stretch of the imagination; it's a breakup record if ever there were one, a record for those down-in-the-mouth moments before you can even begin to think about taking the next step. Clearly, Williams isn't ready for that yet.

All of this prompts the question: Can we really fault her for churning out such an oppressively dreary record? Far be it from me to invalidate anyone's feelings, and Williams convinces us of her depressive state through the honesty of her lyrics and her sobering, somber arrangements. Yet, perhaps the album's release was a bit premature. Williams' best friend and worst enemy has always been her own staunch perfectionism; there might be a several-year gap between her albums, but until now, the wait has been entirely worth it. She took three full years just to record Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, but her adherence to the integrity of the final product made it one of country music's contemporary watersheds. Her Live at the Fillmore album in 2005 bought her enough time so that she could have waited one or two more years to release something, possibly during her reemergence from the doldrums. But now we have West, and a bummer is a bummer, especially for those who don't have the time, energy or desire to meet Williams halfway.

Average customer rating:

Flames of cardboard
Paradise isn't lost on this album.
Fantastic 21st-Century Neoclassical Metal
Unbelievable
Great Expectations?!

Paradise Lost
Symphony X
Manufacturer: inside out
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000I8ON6Q
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Oculus Ex Inferni
Set The World On Fire (The Lie Of Lies)
Domination
The Serpentís Kiss
Paradise Lost
Eve Of Seduction
The Walls Of Babylon
Seven
The Sacrifice
Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia)

Album Description

The masters of Symphonic Power Metal are back!

Symphony X are recognized by-and-large as one the most important acts in the worldwide metal scene. After the release of their hugely successful CD, The Odyssey - and after nearly five years - Michael Romeo and his band have returned with what is already being praised as their best work to date. Paradise Lost has all the trademarks that have come to be associated with Symphony X: Incredibly intricate and powerful, yet-melodic compositions that showcase every member's unrivaled technical skill as instrumentalists. However, once again it must be said that the spotlight is squarely on the ferocious vocal force of singer Russell Allen and the almost inhuman pyrotechnics of guitarist Michael Romeo.

The North American version of Paradise Lost features a fantastic foldout and diecut digipack that was designed by Warren Flanagan, who has done art-direction for major motion picture blockbusters such as I Robot, X-Men and Blade.

This is thee guitar release of the summer!

Customer Reviews:

Flames of cardboard.......2007-07-09

Music is good..Flames of cardboard ?????
The designer of the cd packaging should be slapped with a dirty ,stinky salmon fish and hung upside down.The quality of the packaging is low budget and low imagination........ouch!!!!!!!

Paradise isn't lost on this album........2007-07-09

Symphony X has been a big part of the progressive metal movement. While not as popular as other bands in the genre, like Dream Theater, Opeth, Therion, Symphony X has still been able to make a name for themselves with their neo-classical style of playing, the superb vocals of Russell Allen, and the mesmerizing guitar work of Michael Romeo.

Symphony X has released a concept album based on the classic poem by John Milton, Paradise Lost. The album is being hyped as one of the darkest and edgiest albums Symphony X has ever made.

"Oculus Ex Inferni"
This song is an instrumental that sets the album's mood and tenor for the rest of the album. The instrumental successfully builds tension as the listener hears an epic choir.

"Set the World on Fire!"
This song is blazing fast, with precise drumming and shredding riffs and keyboards. The chorus is good. The song dives into a brilliant unison solo between Romeo and Pinnella before ending with a tremendous riff.

"Domination"
This song starts off with a bass solo before the whole band joins in. The sound continues in the style of the last track. Russell Allen gets a special mention in this track as he almost sounds crazed in a few sections of this song, with his growling vocals really taking form. The middle section of "Domination" is highlighted by another spectacular Romeo solo and some great keyboard work by Pinnella.

"Serpent's Kiss"
This song starts off a bit slow, the opening riff is slow and straight ahead. The song does pick up speed. The song, while not having the same impact as the last two tracks, is a solid track that leads into the first ballad of the album.

"Paradise Lost"
This song is the first of two ballads that help to show the softer side of Symphony X. "Paradise Lost" starts off with superb piano and acoustic guitar. The song picks up and the piano and acoustic guitar drive the melody throughout the track. Russell Allen is finally able to really sing. Mention should be made to Pinnella. While his influences on the past couple of songs haven't been as strong as in the past, he is still able to stand out with his keyboard playing.

"Eve of Seduction"
This song brings back the frantic pace from the first half of the album. Romeo has an opening solo that would make any other metal guitarist proud. The song is fast, yet brings some groove and melody to the chorus by slowing the track down a bit. Romeo pulls out one of his craziest solos on the album so far and that helps to make the track stand on the album.

"The Walls of Babylon"
This song is over eight minutes long and is the first of three epic tracks. The song is so epic that the vocals don't even come in until the second half of the song! A choir of voices is used in the first half, which helps to make the track sound very creepy. The instrumental section isn't fast, but it is very technical, with some good riff changes and bass playing. The second half is not as spectacular as the first half, but the guitar work is solid and the vocals are full of power and rage.

"Seven"
This song which is the 8th track, is the second epic, at a bit over seven minutes. The song is one of the heaviest on the album, and also has the best interlude on the album, which goes on for over two minutes. The highlight of this interlude is two Romeo solos, the return of the creepy choir, and a superb bass section.

"The Sacrifice"
This song is the second ballad and is 1 heck of a ballad. Piano and acoustic guitars are the flavor of the song. However, the acoustic guitars are more of a stand out in this track than "Paradise Lost." Allen puts in his best vocal performance of the album with an emotional performance. Romeo even gets a chance to show off his acoustic skills at the end of the track, when he plays a forty second solo with the an acoustic guitar. I feel this ballad is much better than the title track, but both are very good and short enough to not be repetitive.

"Revelations (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia)"
This song is the last epic track, and the longest track on the album, clocking in nearly the nine and a half minute mark. Starting with an epic sounding guitar introduction, the track shows off the band's progressive nature. Romeo plays a fast riff while Pinnella plays a piano in the background. Eventually, Allen's vocals come in and the song picks up in intensity, but the piano is continued to be played in the background. The song changes pace about two minutes in, slowing down to let the band show off their technical playing ability. The interlude comes out of nowhere, with keyboards taking over. Pinnella keyboard skills are in full form in the interlude, as he gets the chance to let loose on the piano and keyboard. Romeo, of course, gets in a great solo before the band slows down yet again. The pace picks up for its exceptional conclusion, where a lonely acoustic guitar and piano fade out as a choir sings of the apocalypse, which is a good end to Paradise Lost.

I feel this album is one of the strongest releases in 2007. The darker music makes for some interesting riffs and song ideas. While some songs don't stand out as much as others, and there is no defining epic track. Paradise Lost still stands out in the progressive metal field.

Fantastic 21st-Century Neoclassical Metal.......2007-07-08

Symphony X have single-handedly reinvented and re-energized a genre first pioneered by Yngwie Malmsteen, and brought neoclassical-style metal into a new generation. Others have covered similiar ground, but no where near as effectively and confidently, while adding progressive elements as well as a heavier, more modern style and edge.

"Paradise Lost" is a guitar-lover's dream, as guitar guru Michael Romeo turns this album into an absolute riff-fest; his ultra-heavy, complex and odd-metered riffs and fills are quite exhilarating, and this album is full of amazing solos and harmonized instrumental sections that add a sense of urgency and intesity to the entire disc.

There is no weak link in the band whatsoever, as singer Russell Allen delivers dynamic, powerful vocals, and the atmospheric and melodic keyboards are interlaced with Romeo's guitar work seamlessly, giving the album an epic, fantastic feel. Add superb and creative packaging and artwork and you have one of the best metal albums in years, yet alone in a year of other great metal releases. Well worth the wait....I can't keep this out of my CD player. Highest recommendation for any metal fan.

Unbelievable.......2007-07-07

First off, I am not going to say this cd is better than the Odyssey, TDWOT, or V because the fact is that all of those cds are incredible. Is this cd on par with those, absolutely. This cd is amazing. Unbelievable musicianship paired with incredible songwriting. Michael Romeo turns in an inhuman performance on the guitar with mindboggling rhythm work and leads that will make your head spin. The other musicians provide virtuoso performances as well, but the guitar is up front on this one. Michael Pinnela's keys though complement this one more so than on the Odyssey. He has some of his best leads and tradeoffs to date on a few of these tracks.
I will now address a few ridiculous statements by some other reviewers (notice I did not call them fans of this band because if you give this cd anything less than 4 stars; you are either deaf or accidently ordered this instead of a Bonnie Raitt cd). One reviewer would have you to believe that Symphony X is now prog's Morbid Angel or Deicide. This cd is not Satanic. It is a darker themed cd that tells stories. If that offends you, then go buy a Stryper cd. The other criticism I read is over vocals. Apparently, that person didn't listen to the cd either. There are no "death metal" vocals on this cd. Russell Allen provides quite a bit of a more aggressive tone, but he also uses his higher tone on the lighter songs. If anything, he shows diversity that we have not seen before. I count that as a plus. As a matter of fact, there is a lot of diversity on this cd that we have not seen before which makes the negative reviews on this one so puzzling to me. In addition to still getting the orchestration, different time changes, symphonic choruses and everything that makes Symphony X; we also get more bass and drum solos, even an acoustic, classical style solo. What more do you want from this band? If V or the Odyssey are so unattainable, then go listen to those cds. I will enjoy the newest masterpiece by the band.

In summary, this cd is amazing. If you listen to the naysayers, you will miss out on the best metal release of the year from the best metal band around period. It took them 5 years to put it together, and the results show despite what some have written. Thank you Symphony X. I hope to see you on tour.

Great Expectations?!.......2007-07-07

Let's establish a few points here right off the bat so there will be no disillusionment. Point one: Symphony X is a progressive power metal band. (Yes boys and girls....that's three discriptive words there) Point two: It's taken SymX almost 10 years to get enough recognition from the critics to allow for monsterous touring schedules here in the US as well as abroad. That annonimity left them with much more time on their hands to write new material and produce new CD's. So it took them five years.....these have been some busy boys. Just take the time to look at all the stuff they've been involved with in that time period.
That being said......Paradise Lost is a mind blowing work of art that incorporates all the qualities that fans have come to love about SymX with some new twists to boot. If you want every song to sound like "Communion" off the V album.....then go buy an Allen Parsen's Project CD. If you only want songs like "The Accoldade"...then go pull out your old Kansas CD's and have a blast from the past. These boys are cutting-edge and raising the bar for all metal bands who dare to call themselves "prog". Paradise Lost is definitely not for the faint hearted, it's full of power, dark themes, beautiful melodies, and mind-blowing musicianship. Russell Allen has more voices than Rich Little and uses them effectively on each and every song. If you don't like a little grit and growl from a vocalist....go buy Clay Akin's CD. I read the reviews on this CD from so-called fans of SymX and am appaled at how much they want to squeeze them into a box that fits their taste. The thing I ALWAYS love about these guys is that they are fresh, creative and never repeat themselves. Sure it was a shock to the senses when I first hear Paradise Lost.....but it was a shock to the senses on every prior SymX CD as well. That's the thrill....that's what made me a fan in the first place. If you like your music over the top, these guys wrote this CD just for you. If you like your music predictable and redundant as if stamped out of a mold, then don't waste your money. (most metal acts have been waisting your money for years) This is a masterpiece of progressive power metal (damn, there's those three little words again) that proves that Symphony X is truely the premier metal act on the whole globe. Just an opinion.......

Average customer rating:

Last of the Breed - Well Done
The Title Says It All
The rocks of this kins of music .
Better in theory than in practice
Oldies but goodies

Last of the Breed
Willie Nelson , Ray Price , and Merle Haggard
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
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Waking Up Laughing

ASIN: B000NA1ZLA
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Tracks:

My Life's Been A Pleasure
My Mary
Back To Earth
Heartaches By The Number
Mom And Dad's Waltz
Some Other World
Why Me Lord
Lost Highway
I Love You A Thousand Ways
Please Don't Leave Me Any More Darlin'
I Gotta Have My Baby Back

Tracks:

Goin' Away Party
If I Ever Get Lucky
Sweet Memories
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
I Love You Because
Sweet Jesus
Still Water Runs The Deepest
I Love You So Much It Hurts
That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine
I'll Keep On Loving You
Night Watch

Amazon.com

Once an Outlaw, later a Highwayman, now an elder statesman, Willie Nelson joins forces with Merle Haggard and Ray Price (both of whom have recorded duet albums with Nelson) in a celebration of the classic country song. Everything about this is defiantly old school, from the production by veteran Fred Foster and the musical support from steel guitarist Buddy Emmons and Texas Playboy fiddler Johnny Gimble and vocal backing from the Jordanaires to songs from the likes of Harlan Howard, Leon Payne, and Lefty Frizzell. For all of the artists' generational ties, their differences are what distinguish the project: Nelson is the reediest and most conversational vocalist, Haggard the bluesiest; and Price remains the quintessential countrypolitan crooner. Whether they're harmonizing on Mickey Newbury's "Sweet Memories" or trading verses on Howard's "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," the vocal blend suggests old friends having the time of their musical lives. Guests include Vince Gill (on "Heartaches by the Number") and Kris Kristofferson (on his Why Me Lord"), but a trio like this doesn't need much outside assistance. --Don McLeese

Album Description

Let's be clear: Last of the Breed is a story - actually, a novel, if not an epic - unto itself. The title sums it up pretty well: On these two discs three classic performers, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard, band together on songs they've known and loved for years.

Their contributions don't need elaboration. Each is a legend. All three hark back to a time that's in some ways gone. When you consider the lives they've lived, the world that formed them as artists, and even the landscapes they knew as they began playing in beer joints and backwater clubs long ago, then the truth of those four words, Last of the Breed, comes clear.

Look a little closer, and they take on another reference, to the songs as well as to the giants who celebrate them here. Whether drawn from deep in the tradition, back from the well of Gene Autry, Lefty Frizzell, and Floyd Tillman, or picked from the more recent catalogs, this music conveys a feeling that might be mistaken for nostalgia but is in fact a timeless eloquence.

They don't write or sing `em like this anymore.

Customer Reviews:

Last of the Breed - Well Done.......2007-07-03

This CD is a well rounded selection of music with three of the best artists to deliver it. When it comes to Country music, these three artists can give you the best there is. The production is first class and this is a big part of the sound. If you haven't purchased this album, do so. You'll love it.

The Title Says It All.......2007-06-28

Last of the Breed is the best of the best. The songs, words, music, and especially Willie, Merle & Ray you will simply & totally enjoy.

The rocks of this kins of music . .......2007-06-28

ANYTIME willie and ray have ever gotten together to record it has been a TREASURE for your ears . WILLIES VOICE WORKS WELL with any ray price style music . And vice versa . many a people will say oh waylon/ willie were the best together . And yeah they were very good . But for some reason these two know when to let the other shine and when it is time to carry a part in any given song .BETTER then any other two singers in any music format . Then THERE IS merle who is so good at what he does that people dont realize it is the music behind him that has made him shine .He knows so well how to use the band behind him it is awesome .Anytime you get a recording of merle you will see he knows how to use every bit player around him so well that it seems each are enjoying themself s so much that it just has to be great . But this IS ALMOST the last of the breed . This would have been the last of a breed if the three artists that were left out at least made a little showing on this recording. yes the other three that would have made this release complete would have been the 3 top guys left . GEORGE JONES / HANK JR / GENE WATSON . and these 6 are the last of the best of the best left touring . THIS LIST IS THE LIST OF ARTISTs THAT NO ONE WILL EVER FILL THIER SHOES .

Better in theory than in practice.......2007-06-23

What's not to like about this album? Great singers, old familiar songs, it seems like just my cup of tea. But, for whatever reason, this music just didn't "click" with me. After just a couple of listens, I found myself skipping over these CDs in my CD player. I realize that this review might not be very helpful to others because I can't manage to put my finger on what it is I didn't like about these CD - I just didn't. If you don't already know and love the individual material of all three of the artists, I suggest you try and listen to it before you buy it.

Oldies but goodies.......2007-06-12

You have to at least appreciate Lone Ranger on radio to fully appreciate Ray Price. While I don't claim to be a long-standing fan, I recently saw the boys in concert and for what amounts to being an old guy, he still packs a whale of a voice. Willie is well, Willie, and what more needs said? Last of the Breed

Average customer rating:

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
MORE OF AN IMPULSE PURCHASE FOR ME
A real cheer-me-up CD
Great Listening
For everyone who loved the movie

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Various Artists - Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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General | Compilations | Folk | Styles | Music

Country Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

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Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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2000s | By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Bluegrass | Compilations | Country | Styles | Music

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O Brother, Where Art Thou?
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ASIN: B00004XQ83
Release Date: 2000-12-05

Tracks:

Po Lazarus - J. Carter & Prisoners
Big Rock Candy Mountain - Harry McLintock
You Are My Sunshine - Norman Blake
Down In The River To Pray - Alison Krauss
I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow - The Soggy Bottom Boys featuring Dan Tyminski
Hard Time Killing Floor Blues - Chris Thomas King
Man Of Constant Sorrow (Instrumental) - Norman Blake
Keep On The Sunny Side - The Whites
I'll Fly Away - Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss
Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby - Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss & Emmylou Harris
In The Highways - The Peasall Sisters
I Am Weary - The Cox Family
I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow (Instrumental) - John Hartford
O Death - Ralph Stanley
In The Jailhouse Now - The Soggy Bottom Boys featuring Tim Blake Nelson
I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow (With band) - The Soggy Bottom Boys featuring Dan Tyminski
Indian War Whoop (Instrumental) - John Hartford
Lonesome Valley - The Fairfield Four
Angel Band - The Stanley Brothers

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The best soundtracks are like movies for the ears, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? joins the likes of Saturday Night Fever and The Harder They Come as cinematic pinnacles of song. The music from the Coen brothers' Depression-era film taps into the source from which the purest strains of country, blues, bluegrass, folk, and gospel music flow. Producer T Bone Burnett enlists the voices of Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and kindred spirits for performances of traditional material, in arrangements that are either a cappella or feature bare-bones accompaniment. Highlights range from the aching purity of Krauss's "Down to the River to Pray" to the plainspoken faith of the Whites' "Keep on the Sunny Side" to Stanley's chillingly plaintive "O Death." The album's spiritual centerpiece finds Krauss, Welch, and Harris harmonizing on "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby," a gospel lullaby that sounds like a chorus of Appalachian angels. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

O Brother, Where Art Thou?.......2007-05-28

My 1-year old grandson goes to sleep listening to some of the songs on the album, unless he is bouncing up and down to the faster numbers. I have therefore listened to the songs many, many times, and enjoy them every time. They are easy to listen to, to sing along with and to rock the baby with!

MORE OF AN IMPULSE PURCHASE FOR ME.......2007-05-26

I regretted buying this after listening to it once. I haven't listened to it since and that's about three months ago. Simply put, without the movie to provide a context, the music itself doesn't sell itself. There are four cuts of 'I'm a Man of Constant Sorrow", two by the same artists which goes a long way to proving my point. I haven't seen the movie in a few years and I'm sure there's a logical reason for the song being repeated in the soundtrack that many times, but I can't remember what it is. Sometimes I like roots music with clear acoustic instrumental sounds and soulful voices. But as for an introduction to this type of music for a general listener, this is not the CD to get. It's mostly for the already converted.

A real cheer-me-up CD.......2007-05-22

Couldn't feel bad while listening to this soundtrack - skipped over the serious stuff and just played "Happy"!!

Great Listening.......2007-05-12

What a wonderful alternative to todays so called music. I never tire of the great variety of down home melodies.

For everyone who loved the movie.......2007-05-12

Oh Brother if you liked the movie you will love this CD, a great blend of poignant, funny and foot-tapping music.

Average customer rating:

My favorite Johnny Cash cd
Johnny Cash is classic.
Best of the American Series
this CD turned me into a Johny cash fan...
American IV : The Man Comes Around

American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00006L7XQ
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

The Man Comes Around
Hurt
Give My Love To Rose
Bridge Over Troubled Water
I Hung My Head
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Personal Jesus
In My Life
Sam Hall
Danny Boy
Desperado
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Tear Stained Letter
Streets of Laredo
We'll Meet Again

Amazon.com

On first thought, the idea of the Man in Black recording such covers as "Bridge over Troubled Water," "Danny Boy," and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" might seem odd, even for an artist who's been able to put his personal stamp on just about everything. But American IV: The Man Comes Around, which also draws on Cash's original songs as well as those by Nine Inch Nails ("Hurt"), Sting ("I Hung My Head"), and Depeche Mode ("Personal Jesus"), may be one of the most autobiographical albums of the 70-year-old singer-songwriter's career. Nearly every tune seems chosen to afford the ailing giant of popular music a chance to reflect on his life, and look ahead to what's around the corner. From the opening track--Cash's own "The Man Comes Around," filled with frightening images of Armageddon--the album, produced by Rick Rubin, advances a quiet power and pathos, built around spare arrangements and unflinching honesty in performance and subject. In 15 songs, Cash moves through dark, haunted meditations on death and destruction, poignant farewells, testaments to everlasting love, and hopeful salutes to redemption. He sounds as if he means every word, his baritone-bass, frequently frayed and ravaged, taking on a weary beauty. By the time he gets to the Beatles' "In My Life," you'll very nearly cry. Go ahead. He sounds as if he's about to, too. Unforgettable. --Alanna Nash

Album Description

UK special edition reissue of The Man In Black's brilliant 2002 album includes two bonus tracks, 'Big Iron' (previously vinyl only) & 'Hurt' (video). American Recordings. 2003.

Album Details

"the Man Comes Around" is the Fourth in the Legendary Singer's American Recordings Series and Boasts Some of his Most Interesting Work to Date, Including his First (And Some Say his Best) Compositions in Many Years. Other Material Includes Cover Versions of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus", Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", the Eagles' "Desperado" and a Rumbling Version of "Danny Boy". This Special Edition Includes an Added Audio Track of "Big Iron" and the Enhanced Video of his Cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt".

Customer Reviews:

My favorite Johnny Cash cd .......2007-07-04

I honestly can't say I like country music. I just don't care for most of the genre. The only artist from this genre that I do listen to is Johnny Cash. Of all of the American recordings Johnny has worked on with record producer Rick Rubin, American IV: The Man Comes Around" is easily my personal favorite. As much as I like Johnny's last album American V, I just didn't think the material held up as well as the fourth volume.

What I love about American IV: The Man Comes Around is the sparse, haunting melodies that lingers through out the album. Secondly I love Johnny's deep baritone vocals on this cd especially on his covers of "Hurt" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". One of my personal favorite tracks is Johnny's cover of the Nine Inch Nails' track "Hurt". The emotions he puts into the song really moved me. I also loved the Sting song "I Hung My Head". Johnny does a great job at storytelling through this song. His voice is so warm and deep on this track. Johnny's duet with Nick Cave on the Hank Williams' classic "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry" is absolutely stunning. Both men really compliment each other with their own deep vocals.

While I do like Johnny's other American recordings, they weren't as perfect to me as American IV: The Man Comes Around is. I can listen to this cd without skipping a single track.

Johnny Cash is classic. .......2007-06-26

I popped this CD in on the way to Vegas from Los Angeles in the middle of the night. Johnny's haunting voice came booming through the speakers like a soundtrack to the desert. Full of stories and vivid descriptions this CD cant be described as anything less than epic. Moving along like a Steam Train up hill the music gains momentum and impresses more with each bar sung. If youre looking for a little dark night, outlaw country Johnny Cash's American IV: The Man Comes Around is just what you need.

Best of the American Series.......2007-06-26

I've got the last two American series recordings that Johnny Cash did and this one is way better than his last. I love them both, but if you have neither, get this one first. His cover of "Hurt" is outstanding. You can see the video on YouTube of both his cover and the original by Nine Inch Nails. It's amazing just how much better he does this song, its as if it was written just for him.

Note: I am not generally a Country Western fan, and yet this series hits a strong note in me.

this CD turned me into a Johny cash fan..........2007-06-08

Ive never really was into country music, but last week Ive bought 2 Cash CD's . One of them, the American V , is an instant pleasure, no need to adjust. Its WARM, acoustic, filling, emotional, calm. Great CD!

American IV : The Man Comes Around.......2007-05-12

I have always liked Johnny Cash but had none of his CDs. This CD shows the difference between a performer and an artist. This CD is true art. The whole Cd has a very deep message, if you listen and then think of what Johnny is saying. The 1st song "The Man Comes Around" is maybe the BEST SONG I HAVE EVER HEARD, but certainly one of the best.

Average customer rating:

Goodbye Old Friend
Fabulous Farewell Album
A hundred highways
Johnny Cash was "The Man"...
Cash is king

American V: A Hundred Highways
Johnny Cash
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
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Modern Times

ASIN: B0002W18MU
Release Date: 2006-07-04

Tracks:

Help Me
God's Gonna Cut You Down
Like The 309 (the last song Johnny wrote & recorded)
If You Could Read My Mind
Further On Up the Road
The Evening Train
I Came To Believe
Love's Been Good To Me
A Legend In My Time
Rose Of My Heart
Four Strong Winds
I'm Free From The Chain Gang Now

Amazon.com

The ethical questions surrounding this final album in the American Recordings series are as unavoidable as they are, ultimately, peripheral. While the vocal tracks were recorded in the months just prior to Johnny Cash's passing in September 2003, the arrangements weren't undertaken until two years later. And though producer Rick Rubin had become a trusted friend, the Man in Black wasn't around to approve or disapprove, let alone guide, the final sessions. However, if the pure power of these recordings doesn't quiet the skeptics, nothing will. With Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench and slide guitar session pro Smokey Hormel on board (all three of whom appear on earlier Cash albums), along with guitarists Matt Sweeney and Johnny Polansky, the sound is stately and acoustic, but rarely staid, even as the dynamics of earlier recordings in the series are absent. Instead, the songs have a measured, elegiac intensity, the sound of musicians choosing their notes carefully and making just the right choices.

The songs Cash sings are, unsurprisingly, confessional and reflective: his mortality and his mistakes, his maker and his salvation, and the loss of his wife June and the end of his career may have weighed on his mind, but in these songs he both embodies and transcends his personal history. On "God's Gonna Cut You Down," as the musicians clap and stomp behind him, his voice cuts through the air like that same avenging hand. On the new original "Like the 309"--the last song Cash ever wrote--he cops to being short of breath, and that voice becomes a metaphor for what each of us will one day face. On Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Read My Mind," Rubin flirts with overwhelming the damp bittersweetness of Cash's phrasing in tasteful atmospherics, but the voice is implacable, hitting and finding notes one never expected he'd have the will to find. Likewise, it's hard to believe this is his first recording of Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds"; the elemental narrative seems to have been written for him. Two songs, however, Cash has recorded before: the born-again hymn "I Came to Believe" and the final spiritual, "I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now." The latter especially is a definitive testament, as is his version of Bruce Springsteen's "Further On (Up the Road)." "One sunny morning we'll rise, I know / And I'll meet you further on up the road," he sings. If only, John, if only. --Roy Kasten

More Cash

At Folsom Prison
American Recordings
At San Quentin

American IV: The Man Comes Around
The Legend
The Complete Sun Recordings 1955-1958

Customer Reviews:

Goodbye Old Friend.......2007-06-27

If you like Johnny Cash, then you have to have this CD. It's a chance to say goodbye to an old friend. No, I never met the Man In Black, but I did see him in concert, I have read his books, I have watched his rare TV and theatrical movie performances, I have enjoyed his television show - and I have listened to his music. Goodbye John . . . and Thanks.

Fabulous Farewell Album.......2007-06-21

Johnny Cash croons like a dying old man, and I mean that in the most endearing, Johnny Cash loving way. If you like Johnny, you must have this album. The emotion sung in this album is sincere and that of his last wishes! It's a must have for any Cash lover!

A hundred highways.......2007-05-20

I am by no means a fan of country music. Most of it does not interest me. One of the few artists I love and can proudly admit is Johnny Cash. Johnny has such a wonderfully rich, warm voice that always brings a tear to my eye. I recently came across his last album "American V: A Hundred Highways" at my local library. I didn't think he could outdo "American IV: The Man Who Came Around" but he did with this album. The twelve song album is a haunting reminder of the legendary singer/songwriter. I could hear in his voice that the man in black was coming towards the end of his life. I could hear the weariness in his voice. I mean that in a good way. I think his weariness added an emotional depth to each song that is rarely heard in music nowadays. Rick Rubin did a great job of maintaining an intimate, raw sound to the album. I felt like I was in the studio watching Johnny performing. I loved every song. Johnny sang with such heartfelt conviction that it broke my heart. May the man in black rest in peace. He will always be missed.

Johnny Cash was "The Man"..........2007-05-14

Great album, even if Johnny's vocals were added posthumously,,, honestly , you can't tell, they have done it so well. For an almost heart-rending look into the true soul of the man nearly on his deathbed, give this album a listen

Cash is king.......2007-05-08

I bought this for "God's gonna cut you down" which is a great song and I like most of the others as well.

Average customer rating:

Comments on a few favorite songs
My personal favorite
almost perfect moody blues album! 4.75 stars
House of 5 incredible musicians and songwriters
To Reach The Chord Is Our Life's Hope

In Search of the Lost Chord
The Moody Blues
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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On the Threshold of a Dream
To Our Children's Children's Children
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Question of Balance
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

ASIN: B000002GQG
Release Date: 1997-05-20

Tracks:

Departure
Ride My See-Saw
Dr. Livingstone, I Presume
House Of Four Doors
Legend Of A Mind
House Of Four Doors (Part 2)
Voices In The Sky
The Best Way To Travel
Visions Of Paradise
The Actor
The Word
Om

Customer Reviews:

Comments on a few favorite songs.......2007-06-06

I am not going to offer up a review of the entire album. There are MANY talented folks here who have done a much better job of it than I ever could hope to, so what's the point? I'd just like to offer up my 2 cents on my favorite songs from this great Moody Blues work.

First off is John Lodge's classic, feel-good rocker 'Ride My See-Saw'. (This tune and 'I'm Just a Singer' frequently trade places as my favorite Moodies song). I might as well admit it right now: I am a HUGE John Lodge fan and he is my fave Moody. That will become glaringly apparent if you read any more of my Moody Blues product reviews. Am I the least bit biased towards this living legend? Not at all! While I am not totally sure of the exact meaning of the lyrics, on the surface RMSS seems to be rife with double entendres and sexual innuendo, at least that's what I've read many times. But knowing of JL's deep religious beliefs, I strongly guess that that's not the case at all. This song is just plain fun to listen and sing along to. John and Justin's great guitar work ain't none too shabbily showcased either. RMSS is John Lodge at his rocking best.

I am also a big fan of Ray Thomas' often overlooked (and in my opinon) under-used talents. His ode to 'Dr. Livingstone' is a cheery, cute song that I could listen to all day long while having a goofy smile on my face. Ray's next offering, 'Legend of a Mind' is a legend of a song, and perfectly shows off this man's awesome vocal skills, not to mention the fact that he can blow the living tar out of a flute. This song has the best series of build-ups (for lack of a better word) and crescendos of any song I have ever heard. (You'll have to over-look the fact that I am not at all musical nor versed in music lingo, so that's the best description I could give. I hope most will understand what I'm talking about). I can literally listen to this song over and over w/o growing tired of it. The subject matter of this song doesn't matter to me one iota. The melody, the beat, the musicianship, and John's fabulous high note harmonies all combine to make this song a pure delight to my ears.

Next on my list is Lodge's 'House of Four Doors'. I'll spare you the details of how great I think this song is. I'll briefly just state that HOFD is hauntingly eerie and beautiful all at the same time. Maybe- just maybe- I could have done w/o 'some' of the sound effects of the creaking door, but hey John didn't ask me for my opinion before including them. It really doesn't affect my overall opinion of this great song. Yes, it's a John Lodge tune, and yes I darn well love it.

I am ending my little synopsis with two songs from the sublime Justin Hayward.(BTW, I like him, too. He's my 2nd fave Moody). Firstly is 'Voices in the Sky'. I have to admit that it took me a while to really love and appreciate this one (I don't exactly know why) but it is a truly lovely song. This song DOES make me wonder what the birds could say to me if they only could. As usual, Justin does a superb vocal and the song fits him and this album really well. But.... my favorite Hayward tune on this record is by far 'The Actor'. In fact, it's one of my all-time favorite songs of his. Both the lyrics and the sound of this song are as timeless today as when JH penned it many years ago. Something in this song really strikes a chord in me. Perhaps it's the fact that we all tend to put on a good front for the world and get caught up in playing our little roles? I heard Justin sing this song live recently and I have to say the man's voice sounds just as good as it did way back when. He truly is a gifted singer, guitarist and performer.

Well, I guess I'm just about through telling y'all (I'm from the South, after all) about my favorite songs from ISOTLC. I hope this "review" makes someone want to go and listen to these songs (or the entire album) anew- or better yet- hear them for the very first time. Either way, I do hope you enjoy!

My personal favorite.......2007-04-15

I own 14 Moody Blues albums and this is my favorite one . The band's ability to learn 37 different instument including Mike Pindar's mastery of the mellotron is remarkable all in and of itself . The album contains my favorite Moody Blues song , Voices In The Sky . While this album never received the critical acclaim that was given to Days Of Future Passed , it was more like the other 5 concept albums . Yes , the material is some what dated , but , this is the begining of the art rock era . Any one who likes the band should own this .

almost perfect moody blues album! 4.75 stars.......2007-03-19

Though it doesnt contain a song like the epic beautiful "nights in white satin" the Moodies second album from 1968 is their most pyschedelic and solid album of their career. This album segues nicely into a track by track tour of what the end of pyschedlia and the beginning of progrock sounded like. There isnt really a song i dislike and this fits in nicely with the best of the post summer of love albums. Lots of flute mellotron sitars and instruments played by the band themselves. Lost chord is a very strong followup to days of future passed and exceeds it in material for me. Great acoustic guitars and truly great singing all mingled in with LSD musical interludes( though apparantly without drugs). A few moments recall early Pink Floyd late Beatles etc but the Moody Blues were a special band for a time-1967-1972 in my humble opinion. Their first three albums are all excellent but this is the one to get. This one seems heavily influenced by George Harrison Ravi Shankar- with most of the album flaoting by a in a mellow transcendental state. Great for evening listens sunday mornings and for contemplation.

House of 5 incredible musicians and songwriters.......2007-01-30

Locked in a studio for a few weeks, the Moodies come up with an "orchestral" sounding album. It's a little dated at times, but it's wonderfully spacey and good.

To Reach The Chord Is Our Life's Hope.......2006-11-13

Terrific follow-up to Days Of Future Passed. It's all here again-the spoken word poems, the concept album; everything but the orchestra. But this is even more accesible than Days because of the shorter, more radio friendly songs. And "Ride My See Saw" literally rocks! Great album.

Average customer rating:

Let it ride, let it roll, let it go
Accessible Yet True
With the Cardinals, Whiskeytown may be back...
Cold Roses
rewards multiple listens

Cold Roses
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jacksonville City Nights
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ASIN: B0007YMUZW
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Tracks:

Magnolia Mountain
Sweet Illusions
Meadowlake Street
When Will You Come Back Home?
Beautiful Sorta
Now That You're Gone
Cherry Lane
Mockingbirdsing
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Tracks:

Easy Plateau
Let It Ride
Rosebud
Cold Roses
If I Am A Stranger
Dance All Night
Blossom
Life Is Beautiful
Friends

Amazon.com

Sent reeling by the one-two punch Conor Oberst's Bright Eyes delivered with I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, Ryan Adams vowed to strike back in 2005 with three of his own releases. The first--a double album, no less--sees the attention-seeking former Whiskeytown singer casting off both the raucous guitars of 2003's Rock N Roll and the rainy-day ballads of the same year's Love Is Hell in favor of the more introspective moments and rustic textures of 2000's Heartbreaker. He's snuck in at least one epic with "Meadowlake Street" and one potential radio hit with the twangy "Let It Ride," while the rest of the set is mostly packed with bleary-eyed laments that feel all too mannered after spending the last few years revealing his naked pop ambition in full. No doubt Adams will make up for it with the next one. --Aidin Vaziri

Recommended Ryan Adams Discography

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From Amazon.ca

Here is the album that many fans have been hoping Ryan Adams would make since his much heralded emergence with Whiskeytown. Though Adams has been as eclectic (and erratic) as prolific over his solo career, this double-disc gem delineates the possibilities of alt-country in 2005 while transcending the limitations typically associated with the genre. The organic arrangements of his new band, the Cardinals, blend acoustic and electric strains, sparked by the interplay between J.P. Bowersock on guitar and Asleep at the Wheel alumna Cindy Cashdollar on pedal and lap steel. With the set-opening "Magnolia Mountain," Adams and band draw inspiration beyond the title from the era of Neil Young's "Sugar Mountain" and the Grateful Dead's "Sugar Magnolia," though much of what follows shares as much in spirit with Bright Eyes (or even the poppier side of Prince) as it does with retro country-rock. On "Mockingbird Street," Adams builds from the stripped-down intimacy of a heartbeat toward the majesty of an anthem. Except for the rock and roll swagger of "Beautiful Sorta," the material exposes an open-hearted vulnerability, emotions that range from the rapturously romantic ("Cherry Lane") to the tremulously tender ("Mockingbird") to the broodingly bittersweet ("Rosebud"). On the engagingly uptemo "Let It Ride," Adams confesses to "27 years of nothing but failure and promises that I couldn't keep." This release represents promise fulfilled. --Don McLeese

Album Description

Cold Roses is the first of three Ryan Adams releases this year on Lost Highway Records. September to hit this summer and 29 to hit this fall. The new release, a double CD, features Ryan's new band The Cardinals and was produced by Tom Schick. Ryan & The Cardinals recorded Cold Roses in two different sessions at Loho Studios. Ryan will be touring in the Spring, Summer and Fall. "Let It Ride" is the first single going to AAA in early April.

Customer Reviews:

Let it ride, let it roll, let it go.......2007-07-10

I wasn't always the biggest Ryan Adams fan, but I remember years before I bought Cold Roses a couple of friends catching a concert of his - one friend thanked the other for bringing her saying "it's good I got to see him now since he'll probably drink himself to death in a couple years." Well, despite his rock and roll lifestyle, he hasn't drank himself dead just yet, and part of the reason might be that Ryan Adams seems to be writing two songs for every drink he consumes. Cold Roses, a double disc (!) of alt-country tunes, is the best of the three (!!) albums Adams put out in 2005, and that's because, on the one hand, Adams clearly has talent to burn, but also because he's willing to turn whatever idea pops into his head into a conventional song structure, and luck was with him for most of Cold Roses' 18 songs. You can hear that sense of drunken and whimsical invention on songs like, for example, "Mockingbirdsing," an infectious song that makes the most of musta-been-brilliant-at-the-time lyrics like "Sing me what the lord was singing/ on the day he made the sky the color of the blues," or a rambling coming-to-at-7-in-the-morning number like "Meadowlake Street." Then, there are songs that are plain brilliant - "Let It Ride" or "Dance All Night" or "How Do You Keep Love Alive," any of which could be classics of its genre. They sit side by side with the songs that are a little more drunken and a little more inane ("Beautiful Sorta," "Sweet Illusions," "Cherry Lane"), but if there's one failing of Cold Roses, it's not Adams' wild ways, but his predictable ones. For all of its great creativity, Cold Roses suffers from aimlessness - for an album with the running time of this double disc, it's surprising that you could not use words to describe the album such as "sprawling" or "epic" or even "exhausting." The record ends in "Friends," a great sunset song as bittersweet as any of its kind, but you may feel at the end of it as though you've gone nowhere. As a collection of good to great songs, Cold Roses is amongst Adams' best work. As an album, it seems like just another night at the bar.

Accessible Yet True .......2007-06-08

Ryan Adams seems to produce two types of albums. Either you get the dark, misunderstood soul who showed-up on Love Is Hell or the melodic pop smith who showed up on Gold. Since then each record I have by Adams has danced between those two worlds with mixed results, 29 for example seemed like a rushed, unfocused effort, Rock N Roll kept things blasting but was clearly not in Adams normal wheelhouse of style.

On Cold Roses, Adams and his backing band The Cardinals stretch out comfortably in his varied styles in one of the most engaging efforts of Adams career. This album is neither too up to seem unrealistic of whom Adams is as an artist nor too down to be off-putting with melancholy laced diatribes. Instead the heartfelt, lovesick soul who has shown up before is now easy to listen to as Adams allows the Cardinals to create a lovely and rich alt-country backdrop throughout Cold Roses, which allows Adams to not veer off the path into self-indulgent territory.

Cold Roses presents 18 mostly realized efforts. Songs like Let It Ride best showcase this as richly played guitar hooks blast the song off in the right direction while Adams rides the energy into interesting places. Dance All Night is another example, with the lyrics dancing between happy and sad creating a wonderfully melodic slice of life tune that does not seem cheesy, all of a sudden the Bob Dylan comparisons that were applied to Adams can now morph into Neil Young comparisons.

Throughout Cold Roses Adams seems to be in a comfort zone that makes the record feel more complete, like a vision has been met. Each side of the record creates two different feels, but yet still remain a believable package. Sweet Illusion on the first side seems to best capture the sparseness Adams was looking to achieve, while If I Am Stranger is an example of the warmth on the second album.

With the huge number of Ryan Adams records out there one might wonder what one is the best showcase of his talent. Considering his back and forth prolific personality, Cold Roses seems like the best bet to explore as it best showcases all sides of Adams as a performer without veering into sub-standard territory. On Cold Roses, both the dark soul and merry popster appears, but with the help of The Cardinals, Adams allows both sides of himself to shine.

With the Cardinals, Whiskeytown may be back..........2007-04-13

Ryan Adams is a truely talented artist. Every album shows his depth in a variety of musical genres. His voice has an almost chameleon quality that lets him sound like a completely different artist from song to song. Influences from all over the musical spectrum show up in his music.

However....with the newly formed Cardinals, Adams seems to be harkening back to his Whiskeytown days. This album (and it's acutally a double album) has a much more alternative country feeling. This isn't a bad thing. He even adds to repetoire of musical diversity pulling from the Eagles (Easy Plateau) and Van Morrison (Dance all Night). I just personally think that he does his best work in the haunting melodies of albums like Demolitions, Gold, and Love is Hell. This is still a pretty good album and definately worth a buy for fans. This is the first of three albums he released in 2005. The flurry of work kind of shows and takes it's toll in this first one. The first half of this double album doesn't hold a candle to the second. I almost wish Amazon let you use half stars because the first half is 3 and the second a 4. All the real standout material like Easy Plateau, Let It Ride, If I Am A Stranger, and Dance All Night come from disc two. Don't let the mixed singles put you off. This is a good album with some real gems. Just don't expect Gold of Love Is Hell. Cold Roses is a very different album.

Cold Roses.......2007-02-06

Chameleon, charlatan, poseur, genius, prolific, derivative, alt-country poster boy, drunken fool and careerist, these and many more titles have been foisted upon singer songwriter Ryan Adams. The amazing thing is that most carry quite a bit of truth! Adams does so many things to engage, or enrage music fans, that he is fast approaching Dylan's level of being an enigmatic artist.

Say what you will about his past work, COLD ROSES is by far his best outing to date. With the luxury of the best backing band of his career, The Cardinals, Adams comes up with a solid set of tunes that stray into Deadhead territory. The album visits the spirit of Garcia, Lesh, Weir and Company's highwater marks, AMERICAN BEAUTY and WORKINGMAN'S DEAD, with surprisingly good results.

Highlights are many, including DANCE ALL NIGHT, CHERRY LANE, MAGNOLIA MOUNTAIN, EASY PLATEAU and LET IT RIDE. For an artist who throws out a ton of material, often without an eye towards overall quality, this one is very consistent. The only weak moment that I can spot is the irritating, faux NY Dolls intro to the otherwise solid BEAUTIFUL SORTA. That he was able to follow this up with two solid albums (29 and JACKSONVILLE CITY NIGHTS) in the same year is amazing.

I would not go as far as saying that COLD ROSES is a classic, but to my ears, it's the first time that Adams has hit one out of the park. Yes, it's derivative, but overall it's a well played and written set, that shows potential turning into results. I hope that it's a sign of things to come.

rewards multiple listens.......2006-09-25

a great, textured collection of music. it's almost too much to take in at once. listen to it several times, let the songs live inside you and you'll find that the music will open up and engulf you.

Album Review:

Album Review

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