Amber

Amber

ASIN: B00001IVAB

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Netherlands-born singer Amber's (a.k.a. Marie-Claire Cremers) self-titled album finds an open seat in the school of dance-pop classics. Produced by the Berman Brothers responsible for the overly formulaic Real McCoy album Another Night, this CD reveals the brothers' more inventive potential. The tracks on Amber build out of a classic disco framework, adding currents of trance ("Sexual [Li Da Di]") or techno punctuations ("Don't Wanna Stop"). Occasional acoustic-guitar licks add an organic element to "Above the Clouds" and the dance-mix cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind." Amber digs deep to evoke the R&B soul that flavors her vocals, at her funkiest, emulating Taylor Dayne. She sings of love, peace, and unity with a ring-around-the-roses lyrical simplicity, but hey, this is dance music, not Dylan. Casual fans of Erasure, the Pet Shop Boys, Crystal Waters, or Sunscreem will eat this up. --Beth Massa

Tracks:

Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix
Blow Me Away - Breaking Benjamin
Peril
Ghosts Of Reach
Follow (1st Movement Of The Odyssey) - Incubus
Heretic, Hero
Flawed Legacy
Impend
Never Surrender - Nile Rodgers
Ancient Machine
2nd Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus
In Amber Clad
The Last Spartan
Orbit Of Glass
3rd Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus
Heavy Price Paid
Earth City
High Charity
4th Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus
Remembrance
Connected - Hoobastank

Amazon.com

Further proof that the 15-year-old male is the nexus of contemporary popular entertainment, this anthology of music from and "inspired by" the sequel to the earth-conquering Halo saga also showcases how capably the video game industry can trump even Hollywood's vaunted production values. The original synth-heavy underscore by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori is filled with enough brooding, mock-Goth atmospherics, and pulsing exotica of indeterminate ethnicity to give the Hans Zimmer stable a run for their money, while a slate of (mostly) worthy rock star guest turns give it a welcome edge. Legendary axe-slinger Steve Vai's sinewy riffing punches up the reworked main theme and "Never Surrender," while alt.metal contenders Breaking Benjamin serve up the suitably dramatic inspired-by cut "Blow Me Away." But it's Incubus' four-part "Odyssey" suite that's the centerpiece, bridging 1970s prog and modern rock with its moody aura and evocative musical dramatics. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

BUY! BUY! BUY!.......2007-03-05

This CD stayed in my truck's CD player for months before getting tired of it. Enough said.

Great game - great music.......2007-01-10

My son wanted this Cd. I had never sat long enough to listen to the music when he played Halo, so I didn't have a clue what I was buying. He let me listen to some of the tracks once it arrived and I had to "borrow" it from him so I could download the cd onto my pc. Needless to say I bought volume 2 and the original Halo soundtrack cd as well. They may belong to my son, but I love these cds too!

Hug your pillows girls.......2006-08-06

THe only reason I am writing anything about this album is because it contains the Odyssey by Incubus, and its probably some of their best work and will go down as their most unnoticed. While the rest of your nerds are huggin your pillows at night thinking about your video games and the "gnarly instrumentals" on this album you sit there and bash Incubus' work. The first track by them, Follow, is not all that great however it was re-released on an additional cd with their Alive at Red Rocks DVD and it sounds sooooooo much better on that cd (with some real lyrics) But after listening to the Odyssey I was really hoping this to be a new direction for Incubus, a more proggressive/conceptual sound. Whether this is the direction they go on with their new album is yet to be heard. Its a shame that this work will go unnoticed, and the only reason it will be that way because a bunch of losers decide to try and impress people with (what they think) is a sense of music just because its of a classical nature. Yes, the rest of the music on the album is amazing, and I give big ups to its composition, but come on people, show some love to good music when its presented to your faces.

best video game soundtrack ever........2006-08-03

i understand that many people are a bit angry with breaking benjamin and hoobastank being in here. i'm not particularly happy myself with the last track, but i think contemporary music is appropriate here, albeit lyrics may not be the greatest form of expressing the mysterious feeling behind everything. i think o'donnel and salvatori have what it takes to compose a score of music, but it's not a score, it's a soundtrack. i found that if you don't like them you can just skip them. the second to last track is a great way to end the soundtrack.

classical music listeners stop complaining.......2006-05-10

The worst part of this album was songs with lyrics (breaking benjamin, techno, hoobastank)...i dont understand then why people are upset with the incubus - follow has one word the whole song (two if you count "yeah") and their instrumental songs are brilliant, floyd-esque at times. for those of you reading others criticizing this album, ignore them, ignore the three bad songs on this album, and purchase it and enjoy it.

Average customer rating:

Good, Solid Follow-up
Amazing.
It is a nice comfortable step from their previous efforts
FANTASTIC

Truth in Sincerity (CD/DVD)
Amber Pacific
Manufacturer: Hopeless Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Lies for the Liars
Southern Weather
Santi
Punk Goes Acoustic 2
Secrets Keep You Sick

ASIN: B000OHZJQO
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

Rule #76
Summer (In B)
Temporary
You're Only Young Once
Living Proof
Follow Your Dreams, Forget The Scene
Take Me Fro This Place
Fall Back Into My Life
We Think We're Hardcore, Cause Well, We Are
Runaway
Watching Over Me
Dear___ This Has Always Been About Standing Up For What You Believe In.

Album Description

Almost two years after their hugely successful debut full-length, The Possibility And The Promise, comes Truth In Sincerity. Amber Pacific brings you into their world through an instantly appealing, yet deep pop-punk style. While delivering infectious hooks and unforgettable melodies, the band communicates the realities of life and the idea that there's always brightness in the world.

Customer Reviews:

Good, Solid Follow-up.......2007-06-17

What I find most impressive about Amber Pacific's new album, Truth in Sincerity, is how close they stuck to their original sound and still sounded new. When listening to this album, you will find that Amber Pacific still has all the energy The Possibility and the Promise had, but with a few changes, such as a guitar solo here or there. The guitar solos are not incredible, but they are definitely entertaining. If you liked their first CD, and are in the mood for more, definitely buy this album!

Amazing........2007-06-09

I first found out about these guys back in 2004. I love them so much. They are one of my favorites. This cd is NO disappointment. It has amazing songs and each one has a different sound than the previous. I listened to this cd all night last night after I bought it..:)

I can't wait to see my boys @ Warped Tour...July 18th!

It is a nice comfortable step from their previous efforts.......2007-05-31

Amber Pacific has molded a respectable sound. Truth In Sincerity succeeds in being very approachable, not to slow and dreary that it wards off listeners, and not to hard that it attracts a different crowd- yet manages to sound very familiar. In the past few years, I have contained a fairly sour outlook to mainstream rock, and the pop radio-friendly music you hear flooding the media. There are countless "one hit wonder" bands, and they excel at creating a single catchy single- and fading into obscurity. I am not necessarily saying that Amber Pacific is doomed to follow this inevitable route, but they remain too safe and secure with their two, albeit interesting but generic albums.

They are talented musicians, and should be labelled as such, but Amber Pacific's growth to their second album remains rather concrete. Sure, songs like "Watching Over Me," and "Fall Back into My life" contain that rythmically balanced and attractive sound witnessed in their previous efforts, it fails to push the boundary of music in any way.

Perhaps those expectations are entirely too high. Truth In Sincerity is short, it's sweet, and I would suspect it will achieve, or has already achieved, the task which it was set out to do.

Here is to hoping Amber Pacific can devise a sound which is a little less rough around the edges, and return in the not too distant future with the album which runs them to the mainstream thoroughly. As for now, I can not help but think that Truth In Sincerity is just a stepping stone or an opening to Amber Pacific's true capabilities as a band.

FANTASTIC.......2007-05-27

I went to buy this CD the day it came out.. and I gotta say... It is GREAT!!! The song "Your Only Young Once" is my favorite in the midst of a cd that does not have even one bad song. Even the instrumental "We Think We're Hardcore" shows further advancement in muscianship by the band. I could sit here all night and write about 1 million good things about this CD.. but instead I'm just gonna say... GO AND BUY THIS... IT ROCKS!!!

Average customer rating:

amazing
best album ever
great cd
Such a good cd :)
Excellent!

The Possibility and the Promise
Amber Pacific
Manufacturer: Hopeless Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Sleepwalker
Things Aren't So Beautiful Now
Louder Now
Don't You Fake It
This Is Where You Belong

ASIN: B0007ZB9OO
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Tracks:

Everything We Were Has Become What We Are
Poetically Pathetic
Gone So Young
Save Me From Me
Postcards
For What It's Worth
The Right To Write Me Off
The Sky Could Fall Tonight
Falling Away
Always You (Good Times)
If I Fall
Can't Hold Back

Customer Reviews:

amazing.......2007-06-14

like ' we dont need to whisper' by angels and airwaves, this is one of the very few cds where you enjoy every song on it. this is a very good album by amber pacific.

best album ever.......2007-03-14

this cd is worth ever penny...it's a must have. if you haven't heard it, you should deff. do so!

great cd.......2006-08-12

The cd is great. The lyrics and music are awesome.I Love it! Its a great mix of very touching lyrics with great music.

Such a good cd :).......2006-06-07

This cd is awesome. Not even being a rock fan (rap fanatic lol) i would give this 5 stars no doubt. I don't give 5 stars to many albums and it has 2 be somehting real special but this is. Highly recomended

Top 5:

Poetically Pathetic
If I Fall
Falling Away
Gone So Young
Save Me From Me

Excellent! .......2006-05-03

Heard the first LP from a friend and enjoyed the limited selection of songs. But this new CD really does it for me. Give it a shot

Average customer rating:

Little Amber Bottles
Blanche
Manufacturer: Vinyl Junkie Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Icky Thump
Easy Tiger
Blanche from the heart
Sky Blue Sky
Twelve

ASIN: B000LE1F4K
Release Date: 2007-06-25

Tracks:

I'm Sure of It
Last Years Leaves
Year from Now
No Matter Where You Go
What This Town Needs
Child of the Moon
Little Amber Bottles
World I Used to Be Afraid Of
O Death, Where Is Thy Sting
I Can't Sit Down
Exordium
Worlds Largest Crucifix
Scar Beneath the Skin

Album Description

2007 sophomore album from the Gothic Folk revivalists, best known for helping back Loretta Lynn on her Jack White-produced comeback album Van Leer Rose. 12 tracks including 'I'm Sure Of It', 'No Matter Where You Go' (featuring Isobel Campbell) and 'Last Year's Leaves'. Loose.

Average customer rating:

Fab!
The cd is perfect for people who love pop music.
BORING SOFT POP DROWNS THIS ONE
PURE DANCE RECORD.
A good collection of hi-nrg songs

Amber
Amber
Manufacturer: Rhino / Ada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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

Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

This Is Your Night
My Kind of World
Sexual (Li Da Di)
Becstasy
Who Needs Guitars Anyway?

ASIN: B00001IVAB
Release Date: 1999-09-21

Tracks:

Above The Clouds
Love One Another
Spiritual Virginity
Object Of Your Desire
Sexual (La Da Di)
Without You
I Found Myself In You
If I'm Not The One
Let's Do It For Love
Don't Wanna Stop
If You Could Read My Mind
How Can I Tell You
I'm Free
Sexual (La Da Di) (Remix)

Amazon.com

Netherlands-born singer Amber's (a.k.a. Marie-Claire Cremers) self-titled album finds an open seat in the school of dance-pop classics. Produced by the Berman Brothers responsible for the overly formulaic Real McCoy album Another Night, this CD reveals the brothers' more inventive potential. The tracks on Amber build out of a classic disco framework, adding currents of trance ("Sexual [Li Da Di]") or techno punctuations ("Don't Wanna Stop"). Occasional acoustic-guitar licks add an organic element to "Above the Clouds" and the dance-mix cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind." Amber digs deep to evoke the R&B soul that flavors her vocals, at her funkiest, emulating Taylor Dayne. She sings of love, peace, and unity with a ring-around-the-roses lyrical simplicity, but hey, this is dance music, not Dylan. Casual fans of Erasure, the Pet Shop Boys, Crystal Waters, or Sunscreem will eat this up. --Beth Massa

Customer Reviews:

Fab!.......2005-12-14

I LOVE this album! In this, her second album, we sit back and listen as Amber works her magic yet again, and even experiments with growth. As opposed to her debut album, this one is not entirely devoted to bouncy, house tunes. We actually get to hear some pretty wonderful pop tunes and start to realize that she is not just a one trick pony. The major single off of this album is of course the catchy "Sexual (Li Da Di)". Anyone who is breathing knows this song, if not by name then by sound. I remember it getting massive airplay and being a favorite of clubs everywhere. Two versions of the song is available on the cd, both the original (which I prefer for it's more sexual driven beats) and the Thunderpuss mix (which is most likely the version you have heard). Other singles are the unbelievably gay anthem, "Above the Clouds", the song-with-a-message, "Love One Another" (which was remade by yet another gay-friendly icon, Cher) and of course "If You Could Read My Mind" which was featured on the 54 soundtrack. Aside from these, I think my favorite song would have to be the closing track "I'm Free". It has awesome lyrics and showcases Amber vocal talents. This is one that HAS to be owned (especially if you are a gay male).

The cd is perfect for people who love pop music........2005-08-12

This cd, I just bought a few days ago, is very good, it really is. I originally bought it for her song Sexual on it, but the other songs, they are good too. There are two versions of Sexual on the cd, both are sweet.

BORING SOFT POP DROWNS THIS ONE.......2004-10-16

I really got excited when this CD was released and loved the single "SEXUAL".I was so excited. I was expecting it to be better than her first.'ABOVE THE CLOUDS" was an ok song." LOVE ONE ANOTHER" was pretty good and had a nice message.after the second song things get a little messy.The third song " SPIRITUAL VIRGINITY" is a silly pop song that lacks in every way imaginable."OBJECT OF YOUR DESIRE" follows with another song that sounds too soft for the same woman who sings the next song "SEXUAL". An exciting turn that doesnt last long. Song after song is slow, boring and unenjoyable. Track 9 finally picks up the pace a little with it's somewhat catchy "Don't wanna stop"." IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND" a track that is the only second highlight of the album. Not suprising, the track that follows is a boring silly pop song. "IM FREE" has a good message that I enjoyed hearing,but Amber could have done it better. Only worth buying for 2 tracks.

PURE DANCE RECORD........2004-07-10

I don't understand why someone will expect an pure essential dance album to have pretty deep lyrics. That's not a parameter of judgement for an album like "AMBER" that truthfully achieves what it offers, a party stomper muzik with lyrcis related mostly to loved and everything surrounding the matter. The highlights in this album are evidence of not average production cos S.....LI DA DI it's one of the most original and enchanting dancing track to come from years. ABOVE THE CLOUDS it's not as haunting, but it's uplifiting, IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND is a pretty mainstream POP DANCE track that is a superb collaboration by those days TOP CLUB DIVAS Ultra Nate, Jocelyn Enriquez and of course Miss Amber....VIRGINTY is a odd number but still works. After all this is an album that has good track, some fillers, but it's good enough to keep you tune and difficult to skip tracks, it's a great done CLUB album.

A good collection of hi-nrg songs.......2004-04-23

I once was a big fan of hi-nrg music. The music was catchy and fun to crank up to. I still love dance music today but I am a bigger fan of The Crystal Method, BT, Moby, Basement Jaxx, George Acosta, and Sandra Collins. That sort of dance music interests me more than the infectious hi-nrg melodies of Eiffel 65, Aqua, and Amber. I still enjoy Amber's music but I have rather outgrown her music. My favorite Amber cd is her second self-titled album. As good as her first album was, I thought "Amber" was better. I love the catchy hooks of "Love One Another", "Without You", and "If You Could Read My Mind". My biggest problem with the cd is the silly lyrics. I'm sorry but dance music and spirituality goes together as much as oil and water. "Spiritual Virginity" was a bit too much for me lyrically. I thought the lyrics were the silliest lyrics I had ever heard (next to Captain and Tennille's "Muskrat Love"). Same with "Sexual (Li Da Di)" but at least this song was catchy and had a good beat, unlike the latter. I do think Amber had the best intentions with some of the songs but in the end, spirituality in dance music turned out to be unintentionally funny, if not corny. The ballads were ok but I preferred the uptempo songs in the long run. "Amber" isn't perfect but it's a good pop-dance album.

Average customer rating:

i HEART amber
A fun, catchy pop album
The Best Dance Album Ever!!!!
ONE MORE NIGHT SHOW ME THINGS THAT I NEVER KNEW...
Very Good Dance/Pop.... a Club Classic from Germany

This Is Your Night
Amber
Manufacturer: Tommy Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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

Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

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

My Kind of World
Becstasy
Another Night
Sweet Dreams
Planet Pop

ASIN: B000000HLL
Release Date: 1997-01-28

Tracks:

This Is Your Night
Move Your Body
Colour Of Love
You Are The One
One More Night
Push It To The Limit
Being With You
Hold My Body Tight
Can You Feel The Love
Losing Myself In Your Love
Let It Rain
This Is The Right Time
This Is Your Night (House Mix)
Colour Of Love (House Mix)

Customer Reviews:

i HEART amber.......2006-02-28

Any debut album is almost always gonna be slightly awkward, and when it comes from someone who is now a powerhouse comparison is just brutal. However, this album is still really good. The album starts us off right away with the single which sent Amber into the public's eye and gets us moving. There are numerous cutesy pop songs on here and you just can't help but smile and bounce with them. I highly recommend getting this because the world sometimes just needs to get cute and bubbly every now and again! And there is nothing cuter or bubblier than "Color of Love", my favorite song of the album.

A fun, catchy pop album.......2004-11-26

Back in the mid to late '90s when I was still in college, I was a big fan of euro-pop music. One of my favorite euro-pop artists was Amber. I loved her first two albums. Her debut album "This is Your Night" was an album chockful of some of the catchiest pop songs I had ever heard. I especially loved the singles "This is Your Night" (which was found all over various dance compilations at the time) and "Colour of "Love". I especially loved the second single "Colour of Love", probably because it didn't get as much as airplay as "This is Your Night" which quickly got overplayed. "This is Your Night" isn't completely flawless. Some of the songs were really silly lyrically like "Move Your Body", "Push It to the Limit", and "Hold My Body Tight". If the silly, cheesy lyrics weren't enough, I wasn't that big of the songs that had a more of an r&b influence like "Move Your Body" but then again I did like "One More Night". My favorite song on the cd has to be "Can You Feel the Love". I just love the synthesized beats and the melody of the song. It still remains as one of my favorite songs by Amber to this very day. Even though my taste in music has changed, I still enjoy listening to Amber from time to time to break the monotony.

The Best Dance Album Ever!!!!.......2004-10-03

I first got wind of this CD durring my freshman year of high school. To this day it remains my fav album in my endless music library. I'm the sort of guy who loves music with loads of guitars. This album does have that, however it is hiden very well benieth the over sampled pop melody and Ambers' sultry vocals. For me personally it's a great CD for anyone who wants to turn down his/her blinds and dance aroud their room like ideots. Also, it does have those overly romantic ballads that I am a sucker for. Sample lyric from "One More Night" One more night this time/I hold your hold your body very close to mine. Other choice cuts include the overly sexed up ballad "Let It Rain", and the dancy title track "this is Your Night". In sum if you want a great CD to totally dance out to or get intimately close to that special someone, this album is for you.

ONE MORE NIGHT SHOW ME THINGS THAT I NEVER KNEW..........2004-08-14

Amber's debut album was a clear example of how can a dance album could be consistent and provocative well done. Produced mainly by The Berman Brothers, "This Is Your Night" became a cherish house dance album for any club lover. The best track are the ones that falls in the cliche of topic song in club anthemic tracks like "This Is Your Night" the title track has become one of the representers of the 90's dance music, almost available in any dance collection that it's out there. It's obvious what the hit was all about, the thing is that the song, worked, works, and will work, a great dance tune, "Colour Of Love" was a more pop in tune oriented, very cheesy, but still danceable, "One More Night" sad that the hit dance version it's not available in the album, since it's one of the best hits of Amber. The slower ballad soulful version it's included here, not bad, but not good. Still the lyrcis own that magical message. "Push It To The Limit" it's a euro-dance track repetitive but it just infatuates you, great tune. "Being With You" it's another pop tune, average. "This Is The Right Time" Junior Vasquez put his hands on this, a great midtempo dance track, "Let It Rain" very nice slow jam, a very emotional one. Above all Amber debut album feature a moving dance club reacord, that would be remember as a move foward to Amber since she keep a consistent career in the dance club after this album, and is one of the most recognized voices in America's joints.

Very Good Dance/Pop.... a Club Classic from Germany.......2004-02-19

Thanx to this Musical Blockbuster, her voice is forever engraved in my mind, and what a Great Voice it is.

It's a Club/Dance album, and a well crafted Pop album at the same time. Songs here have Irresistible Melody Hooks, Beats, and Nice Synths; Lyrics are sometimes a little simplistic being about Love, and a bit Repetitive.

This album had quite a rotation on my CD player in mid 90's and my repeat button was working some overitme on many tracks here! So this album always takes me back to that time.

This album was produced by Berman Brothers (who produced Real McCoy, and She Moves). Most songs here were written by them and Amber MC Cremers.

Songs range from Fast EuroDance songs with great Techno Beats, typical Berman Brothers stuff at that time. These are:

1. "This is Your Night"
2. "Move Your Body"
8. "Hold My Body tight"
9. "Can You Feel The Love"
3. "Color Of Love"
6. "Push It to the Limit"

The two remixes were nothing special though.

Now there are also some really nice slower songs on this one, and these are very Soulful:

4. "You are the one".
5. "One More Night" - a Beautiful slower song, for a slower dance.
10. "Losing Myself In Your Love"- written by Joel kipnis.
12. "This is the Right Time" - prduced by Junior Vasquez

And there are also some covers on this CD that are OK:
"Being with You"
"Let It Rain"

Overall this is a Great, Melodic, and Soulful album that will pick up your spirits anytime. A Must-Have, if you like Commercial dance music!

Tracks:

Prelude to Act I
Who Am I?
Peter's Tears
Shadow Dance
Flight to Neverland
Flying Music
Prelude to Act II=20
Pirate Song
Croc Music
Wendy's Entrance
Build My House
Scene Change
Neverland
Pirate's Song - reprise
Lagoon Fight
Scene Change
Peter Peter
Indian-Pirate Fight
Hook's Poison
Tink Sick - Tink Lives!
Captain Hook Soliloquy
Prelude to Act III
Crew Dance
Plank Round
Fight
Scene Change
Dream With Me
Underscore
Scene Change
Spring Will Come Again (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

Peter Pan is Leonard Bernstein's least-known musical--or at least chunk of a musical. Featuring four Bernstein songs, the show opened on Broadway in 1950; it starred Jean Arthur (then nearly 50!) as Peter Pan and Boris Karloff as Captain Hook. The show used Alec Wilder's underscore, but Bernstein had composed one as well, and his finally sees the light of day on this CD after years of research and restoration by conductor Alexander Frey. Was it worth the effort? Absolutely. Bernstein fans will of course crave the CD, but it should delight newcomers as well. The instrumental tracks display a wide stylistic palette, and the songs are simply wonderful. Just check out "Who Am I" (sung by Linda Eder) and you will hear a ballad as lovely as any‹cabaret singers in search of rare material would be well advised to look into it. Baritone Daniel Nardiccio does warm justice to Bernstein's near-operatic passages in "Pirate Song" and "Captain Hook's Soliloquy" (reminiscent of Candide). As if this weren't enough, the CD concludes with the wistful "Spring Will Come Again," which Bernstein had written for a possible musical adaptation of The Skin of Our Teeth. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

WORTHY RECORDING OF LITTLE-KNOWN BERNSTEIN MUSIC. .......2006-02-02

Please allow me to add a few comments about this recording for which Kevin Killian, Michael G. Brennan, Larry Moore and others have already written excellent reviews. I am in total agreement with most of their observations, and a say a hearty "Amen" to Mr. Moore's input regarding the lack of information in the liner notes.

This is not your ordinary PETER PAN, which you will see upon removing the disc from the case. You are now staring into the gaping jaws of a crocodile. Not nearly as popular as the Jule Styne/Betty Comden/Adolph Green version, and far darker, it's easy to understand why Bernstein's version is rarely staged. In fact, it's not really a musical, but rather a play with songs and incidental music. The handful of songs are all performed by Wendy, Captain Hook, and the pirates -- "none for Peter, none for Nana, none for John and Michael." Furthermore, two of the songs included on this recording ("Captain Hook's Soliloquy" and "Dream with Me") were dropped from the original production because they were too difficult for the stars. I guess Boris Karloff just didn't have the chops to sing Hook's "aria."

Bernstein's incidental music also never made it to Broadway, perhaps because of its complexity and challenge to the average Broadway pit orchestra. Instead, Alec Wilder wrote new incidental music for the play.

Alexander Frey conducts what is called the Amber Orchestra, which I assume is the orchestra of the Karlin Theater in Prague, Czechoslovakia, the ensemble he conducts as his "day job." Orchestra and conductor do great honor to the original orchestrations by Trude Rittman & Hershy Kay and also to the additional orchestrations of conductor Frey and others. But, like Larry Moore, I wish the liner notes would have told us who orchestrated what. (You can find all that information on archivmusic.com.) The voices were recorded in New York and later mixed with the orchestra. Broadway goes Eastern European! Similarly, not one, but two Eastern European orchestras ar heard on the recording of SHERRY: the Czech Philharmonic Chamber & the Bratislava Radio Symphony. Pity it's too costly to record orchestras in America.

When it comes to writing music for the theater, no one comes close to Leonard Bernstein. There are multiple recordings of ON THE TOWN, WONDERFUL TOWN, WEST SIDE STORY, & CANDIDE and now we have Alexander Frey and the folks at KOCH Classics to thank for resurrecting and preserving this little known Bernstein score. In addition to Bernstein's Broadway scores, I enthusiastically recommend "The White House Cantata" (assembled from the score of 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE), "The Chichester Psalms," the chamber opera "Trouble in Tahiti," and any of the fine recording of his songs.

I doubt if we'll ever see another composer who will write so beautifully for the American theatre.

A fabulous recording-beautifully sung, beautifully conducted.......2005-11-10

A fabulous recording-beautifully sung, beautifully conducted
This world premiere recording of Leonard Bernstein's Peter Pan should win a Grammy. With a steller cast led by Broadway superstars Linda Eder and Daniel Narducci, and fabulously conducted by Alexander Frey (who restored and brought this lost masterpiece to life), this great music sings and dances for the first time. I'm absolutely enchanted and you will be as well.

Eder over does it; Frey to be commended.......2005-10-22

For those familiar with the earlier recording of Bernstein's Peter Pan (Arthur/Karloff), the release of an expanded recording of this neglected Bernstein work is a real excitement. The tracks include an indepth study by Frey of the music score, in its wholistic beauty, including even small segments of under a minute. Other works are resurrected, originally cut from the final score; why they would cut "Dream of Me" is beyond me.

However, Eder cast as Wendy does not sit well. Timid, motherly Wendy is not synonymous with big, broadway star. What should be simple songs, as they are written as well as should be sung, are instead aggrandized broadway hits. Yes, Eder has a gorgeous voice, but here a bit misplaced. I much prefer the casting of Wendy in the original recording. However, in favor of Eder, the CD is not replicating the narrative and non-music portions as did the original CD, so the work may as well be a set of disjointed pieces, not a flowing piece of arias and spoken scenes. Therefore, her portrayal of Wendy as a whole is not as crucial had there been a script to read.

The "bonus track" reinstalled an appreciation for the thematic material of the second Chichester pslam. I'm left wondering if there are other restorations to be made from the abandonded "Skin of Our Teeth" project. Here, I have no qualms with Eder's interpretation; soft, delicate, flowing.

This is certainly a hallmark in Bernstein recordings. A must for any Bernstein fan.

A+ for Score, D for Sloppy scholarship.......2005-09-04

This recording is a valuable addition to the music of Leonard Bernstein, but rather an embarassment in the scholarship of assembling a lost show. On the plus side, the music is enchanting, Linda Eder truly stunning in a mix of musical innocence and sophistication, and it is conducted and played quite well. On the negative side, Daniel Narducci's soft baritone has neither enough menace or comedy.

As to reconstructing a lost score, the scholarship is not so hot: what actually existed from the original show and orchestrations? Who orchestrated what among the new pieces? As far as that goes, what of Trude Rittmann and Hershy Kay: who orchestrated what in the original? How does the size of the orchestra on the recording compare to the original production orchestration?

On the music not used in the original, what pieces exist in full and what choices were made in completing others? The recording's notes are woefully inept.

Why use the lovely, but over-inflated, arrangement of "Dream With Me" from the 1977 BY BERNSTEIN revue at the Chelsea Theatre instead of newly orchestrating the extant song sheet? The song, written for ON THE TOWN, needs to fit the song style of PETER PAN's incidental music and not turn into a concert number. In the original production, there were only two Mermaids singing "Neverland." Why a women's chorus with a bad top soprano?

I've always felt the Bernstein score should be available for productions of the play, but this "edition" needs some thought before it's published or made available for performance.

A beautiful and touching rendition of the classic story........2005-08-27

This album is a delightful pendant to the original cast recording with Jean Arthur and Boris Karloff, with the underscoring and orchestrations the true stars of the show, as this recording is their first hearing. Most of the songs are somewhat familiar to Bernstein fans, and much of Bernstein's rendering of Barrie's story is highly sophisticated. A few texts come across as a bit preachy, especially since they are supposed to be sung by a small child, but the overall mood of sweetness tinged with melancholy is exactly right, in keeping with the more serious aspects of the original book: it's all about growing up, and how painful the experience can be. Kudos to Alexander Frey for resurrecting this neglected minor masterpiece.

Linda Eder and Daniel Narducci perform beautifully, particularly Eder (who I've never heard before! There is a touch of Barbara Cook about her). Mr. Narducci's Captain Hook is a little too bland and soft-grained for my taste -- it's difficult to top the great Boris Karloff -- but he does well in Hook's aria (yes, it's a REAL aria). This piece itself, dropped from the original show, is defeated by a text that's too good to set to music, but it's interesting to hear what Peter Pan might have sounded like if it had been turned into an opera.

There are a few surprises in this score. Some of the fight music foreshadows sections of "West Side Story," a few portions may sound a bit like "Candide," but at the point where Tink comes back to life, the orchestra plays a section of the dances from "On The Town!"

My misgivings about the recording have to do with the liner notes. Daniel Felsenfeld refers to Bernstein's "Candide" as a forgotten show. (It has been making the rounds in the opera houses of the world for quite some time, thanks to Bernstein's final revisions; it even had a Broadway revival a few years back; the original cast album is still the best rendition of the score and readily available); also, the singers who make up the chorus, infrequent as their appearances are, remain uncredited (Perhaps it's better not to know who the ladies are. The Mermaid's Song is laden with vibrato and off-pitch sopranos. The gentlemen are great as the pirates); the photos of the recording session are uncredited, and the people in them unidentified (although Bernstein himself is pretty recognizable); Mr. Felsenfeld himself is a mystery -- there is nothing in the booklet to tell us what his part of the project was, if any.

Still, this is an excellent and important recording to have. Now that Bernstein's original music has been discovered and revealed, it's time for someone to stage it!

Average customer rating:

Heck yes!
Crazy good.
Great album!!!!!
Amatuer ? Not at all .
good but amatuer

Fading Days
Amber Pacific
Manufacturer: Hopeless Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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ASIN: B00020HAVA
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Tracks:

Thoughts Before Me
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The Last Time
Letters of Regret
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Customer Reviews:

Heck yes!.......2005-07-24

I first heard Amber Pacific at their CD release for Fading Days. It was at a church in Federal Way, WA. The lead singer of my band at the time was the previous lead singer for them (they used to have another name) and took me there. We ended up playing with them at their frat and another show, and I'd have to say that this band rocks! I haven't had a chance to pick up their new cd, but every track on Fading Days is good.

As mentioned in the review above, someone with 4000 mp3s is supposed to have no music sense; well i'm somewhere over 3000 (and I don't download) but I can safely say that Amber Pacific sticks out above most of the rest with ease. If you want a cd that you can listen to over and over without getting sick of it, buy this one (and probably their other as well).

Crazy good........2005-06-30

This is one of the BEST EP'S I have ever listened to. It's just amazing. <3

Great album!!!!!.......2004-10-22

I rank this album up there along with Finch, Taking Back Sunday and Hot Water Music.

An AWESOME album! I don't own it...YET, but I have put it in our CD player at work and played it through the whole store as a promo, and I plan on picking it up!

The vocals are great in this album, and the music really shines. It's very clean, and with that being said, it puts it a bit above Taking Back Sunday and Thursday for me, because those bands are a bit muddy, and the music CAN be confusing there, which, at times, hurts my ears.

The album isn't very long, that has to be my only complaint. I wish there were more songs!!!

Amatuer ? Not at all ........2004-10-03

This is why the internet destroyed music . Someone with 4000 mp3's will feel everything sounds the same . Anyhow , This is pretty melodic , lyrics are heartfelt and its enjoyable . You will sing along to these songs but with someone in the back of your head :) . Really , Its a pretty decent short cd . Ill be keeping an eye out with their next release .

good but amatuer.......2004-09-29

they have some good catchy tracks but the songs are just way too typical of emo/punk/pop rock. whatever you want to call it now days...
this basiaclly sounds like some preppy pop rock you'd hear on the beach. and can easily be compared to at least a couple dozen other bands that have already been out. most noteably really similar to Cauterize, Matchbook Romance, etc.. they really lack definition and a sound for their own plus variety in their music would really help.
no offense to them cause they dont sound bad for what they do, but if they had come out 2 or 3 years ago with theis cd then itd be different.. right now they are just putting out whats already been heard.

Average customer rating:

amber
A Super-Dance-Diva REWORKED!
from & by a music lover and a collector
Amber Rocks!
Amber is still moving on up!

My Kind of World
Amber
Manufacturer: Jmca Enterprises
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0002ZDW12
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Crucified Solitude
You Move Me
Voodoo
Same Old Paradise
Sacrificial Lamb
Private War
When A Love Grows Cold
Just Like That (Romeo And Juliet)
City Of Pain
Your Kind Of World
More Time For A Child
Don't Follow Me Home

Customer Reviews:

amber.......2006-10-16

wow she's changed from the dance tunes to something more serious which is good.

A Super-Dance-Diva REWORKED!.......2005-12-18

When one hears of singer-song writer Marie-Claire Cremers, popularly known as Amber, automatically what comes to mind is her well deserved reputation as a super dance diva, who amidst the atmosphere of teeny-bop recyclable dance music of Britney, N'Sync and the likes of them, hijacked the dance floor and delivered some groundbreaking, foot-moving material such as the hits: "This is Your Night" (1996), "Sexual" (1999), "Love One Another" (1999), and "Yes!" (2001). Continuing in that tradition, staying faithful to her dance roots, under the auspices of Tommy Boy Records, Amber never failed in delivering a highly successful dance album; she did precisely that with her still recent album "Naked". However, as we all well know, traditions are sometimes in need of renovation or reconstructing - and "My Kind of World" is precisely the embodiment of that reconstructing - it is Amer the Super Dance Diva completely and, may I say, brilliantly reworked! After all, who says that only Madonna can be reinvented? "My Kind of World" is certain evidence of Amber's metamorphosis. How is this album different, you might think - from her previous gems: "Naked", "Amber" and "This is Your Night"? For one thing it is definitely much more edgier and polished. Indignantly, "My Kind of World" seems to flirt throughout its twelve tracks with a more rockier sound, one which erupts in a crescendo of rockin' dance fury on hit-potentials like "Voodoo" and especially "Sacrificial Lamb" (my personal favorite). Although successfully reworked, and lounched from her own record label, JMCA Enterprises, "My Kind of World" is not entirely a departure from the good-old days of dance -moving hits. "You Move Me" and "Voodoo" supply the best shock of energy to this album and songs such as "Same Old Paradise" and "Just Like That" are reminiscent of previous Amber treats like "Object of Your Desire" (1999) and "Anyway" (2002). While magnificantly reworked, the album does seem to have one overbearing flaw - track after track, it seems like the theme of 'hurt' and 'suffering' and 'retribution' manages to be at times overwhelming if not a bit tacky. From listening to "My Kind of World" one undoubtedly gets the feeling that this lady has been hurt before - but after you hear it in the context of different lyrics, track after track after track, you sort of wish she was a little less honest.....Nevertheless, even this bit of information should not stop you from buying this CD: for true Amber fans this will be undoubtedly a pleasant treat and for the rest of you, it should be a great introducion to an artist who takes her job seriously and always delivers mature and sensual music. After purchasing "My Kind of World" also make sure to check out the "Voodoo (Ugly Doll Remix)" and "Just Like That (Jason Nevins Remix)" as they make great companions to this already hit-stuffed album. Here is my breakdown:
1) Crucified Solitude (3/5)
2) You Move Me (4/5)
3) Voodoo (5/5)
4) Same Old Paradise (5/5)
5) Sacrificial Lamb (7/5) (EXCELLENT!!!)
6) Private War (4/5)
7) When a Love Grows Cold (5/5)
8) Just Like That (5/5)
9) City of Pain (5/5)
10) Your Kind of World (4/5)
11) More Time for a Child (5/5)
12) Don't Follow Me Home (5/5)

from & by a music lover and a collector.......2005-11-30

ok, first of all, i am not a fan but a highly discerning and very selective music lover and a collector

i am even very picky just over every word of the lyrics also.

and Amber, i dont know if you will ever read this, but i am currently in love with just how you sing strong and forceful and oh so powerful and then the smile on your face comes on and then when you say 'baby, babe, yeah' your smile get's entirely wily, which, if i was a man, would probably be just about the sexiest thing i have ever heard, and i have never seen you but i can 'hear' your eyes twinkling in your voice and currently quite enamored with just the 'baby, babe, yeaaaah' part.

ok, i am sure my madness shall pass somehow eventually, and i will get better :), but i just had to try and see if i can somehow tell Amber, that Amber, i have no idea what the heck you were all worried about doing it 'differently' and 'venturing into something unlike previous Amber stuff', as in - i am listening and thinking this girl is even more amazing then i thought, having been loving Amber music and lyrics from the first song Amber has ever made known, and now i am thinking WOW and especially, why were you holding all that back to begin with ? i feel like you may have been short changing me all this time, Amber.

glad you finally got unconfused, and ok, there is a couple of tracks which i am skiping, which do not pass my 'pickiness filter' and thats just the way it goes as i have never in my life gotten a CD where i did not dislike at least half of the songs and the other half i listen to over and over and over and over and

i feel to have been posessed to come here and type it here in case Amber sees it ever. thanks Amber.

this is even the first ever 'review' i have ever posted, could even be the last. on amazon or anywhere.

Amber, just keep singing whatever comes to your mind, and makes you happy and makes you feel and your voice sound like the sexiest woman in the world. perhaps the better way to describe the nature of the lyrics is seemingly simple and every day ! at a first hear-see ! but then one should look up in the dictionary the word 'subtle' as in - if you dont pay good attention and are not just a little bit enlightened you will look right at things and still entirely miss them and you know what, that's just too bad thats exactly what 'sublety' is for.

Amber, you could loose some, you'll keep them mostly, if they liked you to begin with, and you will also find a whole bunch of new ones. to make up aplenty for the ones lost.

and dont you dare even think of stopping to sing or even just to slow down. i would like more, actually and as soon as you only can. please ?

ok, and i guess Amber would appeal more to the kind of a man with some outrageously high iq.

oh, and to anyone else reading this other then Amber, any time an artist starts saying something to the effect of 'i am finally creating what i have been wanting to be creating all along' thats exactly the best time to be buying any and all creations/products they are making available publicly, that only means they are about to get at least a whole bunch even better, if you liked them before, and if you did not like them much before, might just fall in love with them right about now.

Katrina S.

Amber Rocks!.......2005-11-14

This had to be one of the best CD's I have ever bought, Amber's previous CD's were great, but this one is just really, really good. I mean she has matured so much since her last album, I like the rock edge, especially since I am beginning to love rock music. ~.^ Anyway here is a rundown of the tracks:

(1.) Crucified Solitude: it starts out with some cool Middle Eastern sounds which are really cool, then she starts belting out this song like Christina Aguilera wishes she can. (5/5)

(2.) You Move Me: This is like Amber's old style, but a little more rock, which is a good thing. This was also deservedly a radio hit. (4.5/5)

(3.) Voodoo: I like the mysterious sound of this song, it is like almost spellbinding, I can see this becoming a hit for her.
(5/5)

(4.) Same Old Paradise: An R & B'sh, electronica ballad, It is not my favorite song on the album but it is nice to listen to.
(3.5/5)

(5.) Sacraficial Lamb: This is a very Kelly Clarkson song, but it is so much better than any of her songs, and this can be a hit for Amber, the chorus is great! (6/5)

(6.) Private War: a beautiful personal song, like a better version of Pink's "Family Portrait.". (4.5/5)

(7.) When a Love Grows Cold: Pretty similiar to "Same Old Paradise," only better, it is kind of boring but it is 'nice' to listen to. (4/5)

(8.) Just Like That: This song is kind of bland, but I like the electric guitar element. (2.5/5)

(9.) City of Pain: this song is simply amazing and makes up for the previous two songs, it reminds me of T.a.tu.'s "Stars." and some of Bjork's songs. I like the lyrics here and Amber sounds impassioned here. (7/5)

(10.) Your kind of World: another ballad here, it is better than "SOP." and "WALGC.", but it is kind of generic. (4.5/5)

(11.) More time for a child: meh, this song is similiar to "Just like that." and it never caught me as a listener, but still it's Amber. (2/5)

(12.) Don't follow me home: this is alot like "City of Pain." with it's spacy sounds, it is not as good as it, but it is still a good song with some jazzy elements. (6/5)

Overall I would estimate it being a 4.5 out of 5 album!

Amber is still moving on up!.......2005-05-22

I have been a huge fan of Amber since her first release. Each release keeps getting better and better. With this release, "My Kind of World," she has taken me further than I could ever imagine with songs such as "You Move Me", "Voodoo", and "Just Like That." Though this isn't the kind of dance cd fans are used to, Amber is not leaving her dance fans astray. The 1st single "You Move Me" had some very energetic club hoppers hopping all over the dance floor. Her 2nd single, "Voodoo," is set to be released in mid June. It is already causing a wild fire on dance stations and in clubs all over!!!! The album is very thought provoking, energetic, edgy, and the list goes on and on. "Sacrificial Lamb", one of the hard cuts, has the simple phrase "SET ME FREE!", which Im sure will be an anthem for those who are fed up with "past obsessed lovers" that cant seem to get a grip with reality that they arent wanted anymore..
"When a Love Grows Cold" happens to be my favorite on this cd... Just listen and you draw your own conclusion... I HIGHLY recommend this cd to anyone!!!

Average customer rating:

There is not a single bad track on the whole album.

Amber
Autechre
Manufacturer: Warp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0009NSDQG
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

Foil
Montreal
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Customer Reviews:

There is not a single bad track on the whole album. .......2007-03-03

in the profound creation of "habitable" ambience, this album is more accessible in autechre's discography than some others, all of which range stylistically and tolerably. amber represents for them, in my opinion, the creation of worlds that appear in your head or in your brainwaves (most of you should know what i mean). i'm not crazy, these phenomenological experiences actually make you feel emotions. that's pretty hard to do for a duo known to make robots explode in rhythmic cycles of decomposition.

just buy the album. next to tri repetae and AeG ("garbage") it is certainly one of their best.

Album Review:

Album Review

Album Review