Zen

Zen

ASIN: B00005MLVF

Editorial Reviews
From URB Magazine
The 1999 Miles Davis tribute, Panthalassa: The Remixes, was a moment of truth. For each piece of industry hypethat designates a techno or hip-hop artist as "the next John Coltrane," there's a musician forced to contend with a legacy ill-suitedto their own worthy (if not always timeless) art. But while other Panthalassa remixers drove stakes through the heart of Miles' liveevil, DJ Krush managed to transport "Black Satin" into a serene hip-hop context without leaving a single smudge on its finish.

But that's not surprising. Japan's Krush is a hip-hop wonder twin seemingly capable of tag-teaming with anyone, from Milesand Kazufumi Kodama (on trumpet) or Mos Def to Zap Mama (on the mic). He can drop heavy solo instrumental records(Kakusei), but his ability to work a cohesive album out of individual collaborations - on Milight and now Zen - is unrivaled.Holding the project together is Zen's production: equal parts Permier's boom-bap and the Soulquarians' incensusal jazz tapping.Get aggro with the lead-pipe swang of Company Flow's "Vision of Art," smile while you're crying to the warbling guitar on"Candle Chant (A Tribute)," then lurk in instrumental psychedelic murk with ?uestlove on "Endless Railway." Krush's album hasall the controlled weight and organic intensity of a bonsai garden: the perfect balance of thick, heavy rhythmic roots with delicateleafy ambience. I won't succumb to the same hyperbole that got day-tripping-hoppers trying to outshine "In a Silent Way" andproclaim Krush another Miles Davis, but I will call him miles ahead.

Daniel Chamberlin

Product Description
On this release he teams up with Black Thought & ?uestlove, from The Roots. Additional artists include Zap Mama and N'Dea Davenport. 13 tracks including, 'Danger Of Love', 'Duck Chase', 'Vision Of Art', 'With Grace' and the bonus track 'Final Home' (Remix By Mista Sinista). 2001 Red Ink release.

Tracks:

Something I Learned Today
Broken Home, Broken Heart
Never Talking To You Again
Chartered Trips
Dreams Reoccurring
Indecision Time
Hare Krsna
Beyond The Threshold
Pride
I'll Never Forget You
The Biggest Lie
What's Going On
Masochism World
Standing By The Sea
Somewhere
One Step At A Time
Pink Turns To Blue
Newest Industry
Monday Will Never Be The Same
Whatever
The Tooth Fairy And The Princess
Turn On The News
Reoccurring Dreams

Amazon.com essential recording

Even when this Minneapolis trio dabbled in familiar sounds, such as the strummed folk of "Never Talking to You Again" or the Bo Diddley-style R&B of "Hare Krsna," what came out on this swirling 1984 double album was clenched, emotional, and intense. Over 23 short songs that helped define the still-thriving punk subgenre known as hardcore, leaders Grant Hart and Bob Mould screamed their alienation in the fastest language they could possibly produce. Though Mould is the more personal songwriter, lashing out at liars and (presumably) lovers, both Hüsker heads come up with psycho-depression choruses like "What's going on inside my head?" --Steve Knopper

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They didn't yet have terms like "alternative rock" when Minneapolis's Husker Du made their mark as one of the 1980's most influential bands. With two skilled songwriters--guitarist Bob Mould and drummer Grant Hart--the genre-bending trio (bassist Greg Norton completed the lineup) juxtaposed hardcore punk speed and aggression with pop-leaning melodies. Add their uniformly thoughtful, introspective lyrics, and you've got this stunning 1984 double-length release, a semi-concept album about youthful rites of passage. It includes such memorable tracks as Mould's "Broken Home, Broken Heart" Hart's "Never Talking to You Again," and the evocative 14-minute instrumental closer, "Reocurring Dreams." --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews:

"I've made my world of happiness to combat your neglect.".......2007-06-13

1984 was a great year for punk, boasting such seminal releases as The Replacements' Let It Be, Black Flag's My War, the Minutemen's Double Nickels on the Dime and the Meat Puppet's Meat Puppets II. Yet the finest exponent of the year's riches, Hüsker Dü's Zen Arcade, was also its most contradistinctive.

The double L.P. format, the concept, the piano interludes, the dreamy fourteen-minute closer, all stood as the very antithesis of hardcore simplicity. The Minneapolis trio's refusal to adhere to rock/punk/hardcore ground rules is what made them so influential.

Recorded and mixed in one 85-hour stretch, all but two of Zen Arcade's twenty-three tracks ('Something I Learned Today' & 'Newest Industry') were first-take recordings. Whilst many tracks feature the Hüsker's signature whirlwind pace, they avoid hardcore cliché, leaning more toward local rivals The Replacements' LSD-infused rockist sound than Minor Threat's straight-edge punk.

The album's concept deals with its protagonist running away from home to escape his rowing parents ('Broken Home, Broken Heart') and deadbeat friends ('Never Talking to You Again'), only to be overwhelmed by the horrors of the outside world. Although something of an allegory for the lives of many hardcore kids, the most profound statement Zen Arcade makes is in its conclusion: there is none. The fact that it was all a nightmare offers the listener no resolution.

The album is often credited with ushering in a new era of 'post-punk' in American music, and due to its sheer scope, signalling the demise of the hardcore genre.

Troubled and Brilliant.......2007-06-05

In 1985 I was searching for something and Husker Du helped me find it. I was bored with cheesy metal bands and classic rock. Then I discovered college radio - what would later go by name, Alternative. College radio beat the hell out of Top 40 and Album rock of the day but still sometimes lacked the intensity I was seeking....until they played Husker Du! My first exposure to Husker Du was from Flip Your Wig and then later I purchased New Day Rising and Zen Arcade. I love all three but Zen Arcade has always been the most difficult for me to love. There is so much of everything that Husker Du was capable of that it sometimes seems cluttered with the unnecessary. The brilliance of the band and the strength of the songs overcomes any weaknesses. Zen Arcade has it all - acoustic guitars, mind tearing speed punk, a splash of piano, and several songs that are clearly the genesis of alternative and punk music to follow. Stand out tracks are Never Talking to You Again, the truly amazing I'll Never Forget You and of course the prophetic Newest Industry. Zen Arcade is the seeming troubled child of the pre-Warner releases. As such it requires more attention for it's genius to be appreciated but it is certainly there.

It's 1985, Summer Camp-and everything I ever knew about music was about to change..........2007-04-23

My friend Dan gave me a cassette of Zen Arcade. He told me: Listen to it a few times before you pass judgement...best advice ever...

I had no idea who the Du were...were they a bunch of Hare Krishnas? Were they some cult? What the hell was that sound the guitar was making-why was the drumming so fast and how in G-d's name could that bass line get any thumpier (is "thumpier" even a word?)

I was 16, a CIT at an arts camp in Connecticut and a NY City kid just gave me a tape that would change my life...

On the third listen I heard the melodies and lyrics through the wall of sound.

Sure I already loved the Beatles, Hendrix, basic punk (Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols) and New Wave including Bowie & the Cure...but this-oh man-this was so freakin' different.

Hearing the story line, the bouncing from ballad to hardcore at its purest-this album changed me. Soon every cent I had went to buying every cassette of Husker Du I could-and I was not disappointed.

I saw them that fall in 1985 and OH MAN-the stage at Irving Plaza in Manhattan was full of energy...a nearly introverted Mould turned into an extroverted Mould once the feedback was full-on; then came Norton jumping all over stage-he was crazier on stage than Townshend in his best of days-finally the long-haired hippy drummer Hart who alternated vocals with Mould and his bare feet pounding the hi-hat and bass drum at insane speeds...

I'd seem them that winter in 1986 and again a few times before the imploded in 1987...

I remember running to the store to get Candy Apple Grey the Tuesday it came out on Warner Bros. (My friend Ari, as a lark, even plagiarized the lyrics for "Too Far Down" for his creative writing class in 12th grade causing the teacher to speak to him after class to make sure "things were okay and that he wasn't going to do anything to himself..." but I digress).

Anyway-this album is even better than the hype.

Listen to it 3 times-the third time is really the charm...and you'll hear a masterpiece, a true diamond in the rough...a seminal album about a runaway and a band on a runaway train (okay so I saw Soul Asylum open for Husker Du-and also Dwight Yokum...)

Oh the songs----Pink Turns to Blue may be the best song of a hooker on junk ever written-and you just want to sing along...Dreams Recurring and Recurring Dreams-maybe the first and last punk jam-and highly listenable if you have the time...Something I Learned Today-gets the album started-and Never Talking to You Again---maybe an ode from Hart to Mould...ironically they played it on stage one last time in 2004...

Anyway-that's all for now-buy this album!!!!!

must-have punk rock classic........2007-03-05

first off, let's thank modern technology for this album. talented as these 3 young lads were, despite their vision, they could not have made this music with lutes and harpsichords. no sir. walls of beserk electric guitar were just the ticket to get their creativity across. a pure adrenaline rush assaults the listener, making one wonder "how much strong coffee were they drinking in the studio?" it actually took about 4 listens before the brilliance of this record sunk into my heart and skull, and i will insist that listening on headphones is the best way to experience this beast of a cd ( there are many nuances and subtleties within this onslaught of aggression and anger that are picked up easier through headphones. and bob mould's incredible guitar mayhem placed straight into your head is a blast!). a classic punk album. angst, alienation, cathartic wailing, all swirling within a rush of mighty sound. must-have music for all rock and roll collections.

Greatest Concept Album Ever Made.......2006-12-04

Punk music has become difficult to fully define. It's often labeled "fast" (think Dead Kennedy's "Buzz bomb"), loud (think Black Flag's "My War") and angry (again, "My War"), but these labels overlook the variety and depth of feeling many punk bands were capable of. Husker Du is no exception. Zen Arcade's "Pride" is the typical punk song but more like the first Monet; it is so purely punk that it is beautiful. They're actually throwing folding chairs in the recording room at the end of the song just to add to the chaos! Where "Pride" and "I'll Never Forget You" are your typical punk scorchers, the band takes punk in directions that deepen the expression.

First, Zen Arcade is a concept album. In sum, the story is about an unhappy teen who leaves home with a "Broken Home, Broken Heart", enjoys drugs on his "Chartered Trips" brushes against the "Hare Krishna" street religion, discovers himself sexually conflicted in a "Masochism World" then realizes that his dream of freedom and success may be in vain as he has to return home amidst the "Biggest Lie". The concept ends with the kid waking up at the end of the album by the "Tooth Fairy and Princess" realizing the entire experience was one of many "Reoccurring Dreams". Unlike the Beatle's Sergeant Pepper's, this concept album is strongly cohesive from start to finish yet still manages to avoid loosing it's musicality along the way as Pink Floyd's the Wall did.

I first heard the album in the late 80's and then, as now, was blown away by a few numbers on the albums. As far as generic punk goes, I think Pride and I Will Never Forget You are the genre's Shakespeare. They are bold, fast and scorching but most importantly, they're honest. They do not pose to be chaotic- they are chaotic, but somehow remaining fun and raw. I still can't get over the idea of chair throwing as a musical instrument. It seems more sincere and heartfelt than say Pete Townsend and his hordes of followers who've dashed a guitar in mock anger, or whatever it is they're dashing guitars for. Aside from these, other stand out songs include:

Hare Krishna. A little repetitive after a minute or so yet effective in blending an inane chant with western, punk-a-billy rock and guitar work that is what any guitar player can only hope to spit out- fast, berserk, original, simple and powerful.

Chartered Trips: Beautiful lyrics (as usual). Mould's voice seems like a child struggling to express the most important thing in his life as it nearly cracks. The guitar paints an even, up-beat canvas along steady, simple drums.

Where "Pride" scorches "Beyond the Threshold" tackles the frustration of small town isolationism and grinding routine perfectly.

There were only a handful of labels that supported punk acts, SST records being one of the biggest. Due to that, Husker Du were able to borrow one of the lead singers from Black Flag (Dez) to write one of the best party songs since "Six Pack". "What's Going On" captures the same football anthem, party feel but at the same time it is more philosophical. The singer recognizes, in his own confusion, that the problem isn't so much the outside world as his own perspective; a great "WTF am I doing?" song, like when you look for a leak in the roof and accidentally fall through the ceiling.

Masochism World- Mould's simple, repetitive guitar rhythms along with heavy echo vocal effects create a wall of sound that is beautifully punctuated with angelic female vocals in the center contrasting with his screaming. A true 'battel of the sexes' in punk duet form. Frank Black of the Pixies is often quoted for his ad he attracted Kim Deal by. I really think this song was what he had in mind when he wrote that ad. It just kicks.

The Tooth Fairy and the Princess- pure childlike psychedelic meets punk. Repetitive along the lines of Hare Krishna, but still beautiful and daring.

Dreams Reoccuring/Reoccuring Dreams: Two songs, the first which helps open this concept album and the later which closes with 14 minutes of instrumental work. The first (Dreams Reoccurring) splices a forward track with back masking of the same, providing a dream-like sense of misdirection, as if to suggest the main character is in a dream. The second is straight-forward power rock, with solos by everyone along a consistent, fast beat. Reoccurring Dreams is really the gutsiest piece on the album, or perhaps, of any album made in the last 20 years- but some might find it self-indulgent egotism. Here, Mould plays everything he feels and everyone backs him up as though they were a seasoned jazz trio. At one point he hits a note and allows the feedback to run for over a minute like an air raid siren. One minute of SOLID FEEDBACK! For guitarists, this is a dream. Metal heads will always have Van Halen's "Eruption", but true punks will always have Reoccurring Dreams.

What makes this album a treasure, along with all great albums, is that we get so much from the artist. While Husker Du may label it a concept album, it is very difficult to disassociate the main character with the band itself- thus within a single album they capture the full spectrum of teenage triumph, aspiration, dreams, remorse, regret, pain and beauty. True, they take two albums (23 songs) to do it, but again, it's one very cohesive work. If many bands owe a debt to Nirvana and Nirvana owes a debt to the Pixies, then even more owe a long unrecognized debt to Husker Du who put out a gutsy, beautiful statement that stands the test of time better than the punk labels they were tagged with.

Average customer rating:

Stillness and motion
Good stuff!
My Favorite "Plinky" Music CD
Wonderful, Relaxing, Uplifting
I have it playing right now.....EXCEPTIONAL!!

Sanctuary: Music from a Zen Garden
Riley Lee
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Music for Zen Meditation

ASIN: B00004U90V
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Tracks:

Evening Mist
In The Monastery Garden
Moon Shadows
Moon Flowers
Wintry Wind
Morning Calm

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As peaceful and enchanting as a sunset's afterglow on a cloudless summer evening, the gentle music of Riley Lee (playing shakuhachi flute, an instrument traditionally used by Japanese monks) and Bert Moon (on koto, a 13-string zither) stirs a warm, caressing breeze that calms the spirit and stills the mind. Lee, an Australian, is one of the few non-Japanese musicians to be acknowledged as a dai shihan (grand master) of the shakuhachi, a fairly primitive flute made from a bamboo root. His talents are artfully displayed on this tranquil assortment of improvisational duets with Moon, recorded in 1984 and first released in 1991 as a meditative cassette titled Evening Mist. Lee's elegant, prolonged tones are gentle to the point of weightlessness, residing in comfortable low and middle ranges without sounding a shrill note. Moon, though not credited on the recording's front cover, admirably handles an egalitarian role throughout the disc's 61 minutes, handsomely complementing Lee's cerebral textures with dignified, unobtrusive accents. Listeners raised on Occidental music will find little alien about Lee and Moon's graceful, unhurried duets, ideal for periods of restfulness or contemplation. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Stillness and motion.......2005-02-23

An interesting series of interpretations; evocative, occasionally and (somewhat ironically) intense; rich with soaring emphasis. A string of adjectives is pointless since this is one of those special collections which has precisely the meaning that you bring to it. The pace and timing is exceptional - most notably the intensity of the silences that have been artfully bracketed in a way that is a wonderful metaphor for the visual textures of the 'Zen Garden' that is the album's namesake. One of the most rewarding aspects of the album is the duality of the listening experience. It lends itself to active listening - if you are in the mood for (say) meditative visualisation, while being equally good for providing a landscape or background for a centring exercise where the goal is stillness.It is HIGHLY recommended that you listen to an original and not an MP3 or some other ersatz reproduction which will lose all spaciousness and simply will not do the work justice. Check out your local library (yay Libraries!). It was a librarian that pointed me to the album 'Rainforest Reverie' - also by Riley Lee - which is much better than the title suggests and is a worthwhile companion to 'Sanctuary'. It is also interesting to note that other reviewers have found this album useful in combination with Yoga. Personally, I'd suggest that unless your Yoga is moderately advanced (in which case why would you need music?) you'll find it a distraction and at best it will detract from the intensity of focus necessary for a truly rewarding Yoga session.

Good stuff!.......2004-06-29

I love this CD in the background -- it's there when I'm driving the kids, picking up toys, flipping through the newspaper during a free moment. So it isn't music I focus on front and center, but it enhances my life while I'm involved in other activities. It's serene, it's calming without being engaging. Good stuff!

My Favorite "Plinky" Music CD.......2003-07-05

This is my favorite CD for relaxing, doing yoga, or just playing for background music. As one of my friends say, "It's just about the best plinky music CD around!"

Wonderful, Relaxing, Uplifting.......2002-01-28

This is a wonderful CD for meditation or spiritual study. Very centering and peaceful. I'm glad I found it.

I have it playing right now.....EXCEPTIONAL!!.......2001-11-29

"Sanctuary: Music from a Zen Garden" by Riley Lee is a rare gift. I usually play this when I am on the Internet working and I am rewarded with a working environment that is pleasant, toned down, moderate. Not gentle, boring, sleepy, just relaxed and casual. I am still able to concentrate on my work without distraction but am not bombarded by unpleasantness.

A KAYCEYGIRL AUDIO LIBRARY MASTERPIECE!!

Industrial Zen
Average customer rating:

Something fantastic

The Waiting Was The Hardest Part

Wow!

John returns to electronic jazz

generic compositions with too much generic jazz influence instead of exotic steam and spice

Industrial Zen
John McLaughlin
Manufacturer: Verve Fontana
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000F5Z6RC
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Tracks:

For Jaco
New Blues Old Bruise
Wayne's Way
Just So Only More So
To Bop Or Not To Be
Dear Dalai Lama
Senor C.S.
Mother Nature

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McLaughlin develops an intensely contemporary take on fusion here, combining with some fresh musicians while paying tribute to his fellow founders of the idiom. Updating his Mahavishnu Orchestra, the guitarist mixes electric jazz and Indian rhythms and scales with current synth and drum programming, creating a. maze of rapid lines that weave through a minefield of percolating electronics and percussion. Along with tributes to Carlos Santana and Michael Brecker, bassist Hadrien Feraud is prominent on "For Jaco," and Ada Novelli's soprano sax invokes Weather Report-era Shorter on "Wayne's Way," but all the music bears McLaughlin's trademark group virtuosity, the musicians moving fluidly in and out of complex patterns. "To Bop or Not To Be" stands out, flying atop the dense rhythmic dialogue of drummers Zakir Hussain and Dennis Chambers and bassist Matthew Garrison. There's a certain electronic sheen here, but strong personalities --McLaughlin, Feraud, and saxophonist Bill Evans--regularly break through to create intense moments. --Stuart Broomer

Album Details

Since the 1970's John Mclaughlin's Long Career Has Always Taken Mysical Turns, from the Mahavishnu Orchestra to Shakti. Here on "Industrial Zen", Mclaughlin Turns his Well Honed Skills to Jazz Fusion. He is Joined by Many Names that Brought Power-house Jazz Fusion to the Frontline During the '90's, Including Bill Evans, Gary Husband, Mark Mondesir, Vinnie Colauta and Dennis Chambers as Well as Texas Guitar Legend Eric Johnson.

Customer Reviews:

Something fantastic.......2007-04-26

I just got this and can't get enough of this vibe. Excellent stuff here.

I don't have any other McLaughlin besides his team work with Santana but this makes me want to get more.

The band is excellent.

The Waiting Was The Hardest Part.......2007-02-20

The 1980s and 1990s was mostly a recording rut for John McLaughlin, as he seemed to have grown weary creatively. But there was always that one or two cuts that would keep the hopes up for fans that he had at least one more classic album to issue.

The wait is over, as Industrial Zen is that CD.

With tributes to a variety of artists - Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker and Carlos Santana - and a great cast of musicians, McLaughlin takes a retrospective look at his career while (finally) forging a sound artistic path for the future.

For Jaco (Jaco Pastorius) picks up where the Trio of Doom - McLaughlin, Pastorius and Tony Williams - left off in their much too brief existence, as Hadrian Feraud's fretless bass and the percussion of Mark Mondesir & Gary Husband propels the rhythm.

The brilliant colors painted by electronica in New Blues, Old Bruise are sparked by a sizzling introduction by guitarist Eric Johnson. To Bop Or Not To Be (Michael Brecker) highlights the synthesizers and keyboards of Otmaro Ruiz and Gery Husband, respectively, and the outstanding work from Paul Chambers (d) and Zakir Hussain (tabla).

Dear Dalai Llama starts with the excellent vocals of Shankar Mahadevan & tenor sax of Ada Rouvatti and then it's off to a sound explosion that would easily be at home on the 1978's Electric Guitarist, arguably the last important release from that era's fusion movement.

I hope the obvious energy from the sessions that resulted in Industrial Zen will spur McLaughlin to forge ahead musically instead of stumbling around near the back of the field.

Wow!.......2007-02-02

This CD is a look backward and a summing up of his career and influences, very much as Miles Davis did in his "Your Under Arrest" recording. It was great to hear him play like he did with the Mahavishnu Orchestra on the first cut and his tribute to Wayne Shorter had some nice echoes of Weather Report. The compostions and playing are all on a very high level. I have always enjoyed the complexity of his music. It is very stimulating to the mind.

John returns to electronic jazz.......2007-01-10

I have quite enjoyed John's "acoustic" albums as of lately, but decided that I would give this new release a try. It's a bit of a return to John's previous experiments with electronic jazz, and not a bad one at that, but I prefer his more acoustic side. If you like Industrial John, then give it a whirl!

generic compositions with too much generic jazz influence instead of exotic steam and spice.......2006-12-27

McLaughlin. Who is he and why are his new recordings anticipated eagerly? Answer: He's a true living legend and mysterious continuing saga in music, one of the most influential guitarists and a serious artist. Why? Because he has somehow managed to create many diverse kinds of high-quality, intense and often quite extended glimpses into states of ecstasy and grace belonging to the transcendent-beyond through highly skilled and subtle manipulation of the art form of music in its many incarnations.

What are these indestructible and time-tested creations?

"Extrapolation" (1969) (progressive jazz with awesome `60s ambience),
"Where Fortune Smiles" (1970) (free-jazz with Dave Holland, John Surman & Karl Berger)
"My Goal's Beyond" (1970)- The birth of both new age and world music in their best and least diluted incarnations
Mahavishnu Orchestra Mark 1 - "Inner Mounting Flame," "Cleveland 1972," "Hunter College Live," "Birds of Fire," "Between Nothingness & Eternity," "Trident Sessions" etc. The fastest, most intense and loudest band on the planet that somehow managed to be intelligent and compositionally brilliant also courtesy of Mr. McLaughlin.
Santana / McLaughlin - Love, Devotion, Surrender / Chicago Concert
Mahavishnu Mark II - "Visions of the Emerald Beyond" "Live in Montreux" - Super Intense though more pretentious and less organically punkified than Mark I -
Shakti with John McLaughlin / Handful of Beauty / Natural Elements - Firebreathing acoustic world music that also manages to be sublimely meditative and subtle, east meets west
Friday Night in San Franciso / Passion, Grace & Fire - McLaughlin switched into a more flamenco-influenced mode and became 1/3 of the land speed record of acoustic guitar albums with virtuoso pals
"Music Spoken Here" - McLaughlin fused the flamenco-influence with progressive jazz to create a unique concoction
"Live At Royal Festival Hall" - McLaughlin took his new flamenco-influenced acoustic progressive jazz and fused it back into a more energetic version of Shakti-style Indian music once again through the percussion artistry of Trilok Gurtu and the lyrical bass artistry of Kai Eckhardt.
"Remember Shakti" Box Set - McLaughlin re-visits the Shakti-style fusion with new and different Indian musicians but this time with his jazz guitar. After a very uneven output throughout the 80s and 90s, a whole box of classic concerts came as a very pleasant surprise to fans
"Montreux Concerts" - 16 great concerts from McLaughlin's career that sit with great sound quality next to the many legendary but flawed sound quality 1970s bootlegs to fan the flames of the McLaughlin legend for many generations to come
"Live in Paris" - a mellower but highly satisfying return to Jazz-Rock fusion

All this track record makes people wonder: how did McLaughlin do it & why was he so much more inconsistent in the 80s and 90s as opposed to the 1970s? The McLaughlin blueprint of 1969 still works when all the elements are gracefully balanced. One of the hallmarks of McLaughlin is that just when people are writing him off he comes up with something classic once-again.

So is "Industrial Zen," McLaughlin's highly anticipated, self-proclaimed new fusion with house-music and acid-jazz one of these classic surprises? Far from it. It is more like "Adventures in Radioland" Part II

Is the playing virtuosic? Yes but that's routine on all McLaughlin albums since only the cream of the crop need apply. In the case of this album it is mostly just your standard fusion virtuosity with no real passion, mainly because the compositions, though complex and complicated to be sure, come off as mostly generic prog jazz and uninspired. If they had been playing the classics of the McLaughlin catalog you would have definitely heard some serious passion. Here they go limp no matter how hard they try to get it up. The exceptions that possess some viagra are "For Jaco" and "Senor C.S." Bill Evans on Sax and Hadrien Feraud on Bass are the most inspired players. McLaughlin himself should completely re-think his improvisational approach and once again play like he doesn't know how to play as Miles Davis advised him. Every time he starts a solo here he sounds like a generic jazz guitarist trying to do his best McLaughlin impression. Mac should try to do his best Ben Monder impression instead to see what it sounds like.

How about the acid-jazz/house fuse, where is it? Answer: nowhere to be found except the last track which sounds like a standard ambient groove with Indian style singing, corny English lyrics and some light McLaughlin guitar doodling in the back. It's a good track if a little unhip but this kind of stuff has been done to ultra-hip perfection on the classic Trilok Gurtu / Robert Miles album of a few years back.

Should you buy the album? Yes, if only for the 2 fully erect tracks I mentioned and to hear Bill Evans and Hadrien Feraud burn. My advice would be to buy, burn a copy and sell it back on e-bay or amazon. Then take the money and buy Gurtu-Miles which is the already established classic for acid-jazz/ house/ jazz-fusion fusion. Then if you want to hear some insane and wildly inspired playing check out more McLaughlin disciples outdoing the master on the Jonas Hellborg/ Paul Hanson/ Jeff Sipe album (not available on amazon for some reason but attainable at the abstractlogix site). When you're done with that do not forget to check out the excellent "Mondo Garaj" album by Garaj Mahal, ex-johnny-mac bassist Kai Eckhardt's band with guitar-wiz Fareed Haque who himself put out a brilliant CD recently called "Cosmic Hug" which is the second best ever fusion of Acid-Jazz/House with Fusion after the Gurtu / Miles album.

Average customer rating:

Brilliantly conceived, and arranged meditate music...
Wonderful, Relaxing & Soothing
Wonderful, Relaxing Music
surprising rich and wonderful
Sooths the Savage Beast

Music for Zen Meditation
Tony Scott
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000047D6
Release Date: 1997-07-29

Tracks:

Is Not All One?
The Murmuring Of The Mountain Stream
A Quivering Leaf, Ask The Wind
After The Snow, The Fragrance
To Drift Like Clouds
Za-zen (Meditation)
Prajna-Paramita-Hridaya Sutra (Sutra Chant)
San-zen (Moment Of Truth)
Satori (Enlightenment)

Amazon.com

A celebrated jazz clarinetist in the 1950s, Tony Scott started collaborating with Japanese artists on a trip he made to the country in 1959. He returned in 1964 to teach classes in American jazz and ended up collaborating with koto player Shinichi Yuize and shakuhachi flute player Hozan Yamamoto on a dozen improvised collaborations. Based on the Zen concept of beginner's mind, a state of openness that leads to exploration, the Scott-led pieces predate the more modern concept of "ambient" by a good couple of decades--but, as music descended from temples and designed to ease the mind to a state of higher consciousness, it follows many of the same directives. The gentle clarinet is complemented by the flute, with the koto--a 13-stringed zither--providing a comfortable contrast, though all three musicians appear on only a single track, the opening "Is Not All One?" --Randy Silver

Customer Reviews:

Brilliantly conceived, and arranged meditate music..........2007-05-11

An intriguing album, this one......"Tony Scott", a celebrated Be-Bop clarinet player, with a string of jazz albums to his name, decides to purse his personal ongoing interest in Far Eastern culture, and link up with several renowned Japanese instrumentalists ("Shinichi Yuize" & "Hozan Yamamoto"), and develop and create, a traditional Eastern-sounding album, that focuses on the Cerebral, Self-conscious and introspective nature of typically classic- oriental derived music.

Strangely, considering Tony's strong background in jazz, this sounds far removed for any of his previous works, and whether it's through an affinity for classic oriental music, or desire to produce something more elegant or organic....he convincingly succeeds in achieving his goal. If you wasn't already aware of the fact, that this was created by a non-oriental musician, you'd be hard pressed to notice, that this isn't arranged by a non-oriental musician. The mood is one of contemplative moods, and serene arrangements, with the music taking on the form of what seems like initially simple, and largely uncluttered music, that skilfully mixes the minimal melodic tension of the instrumentation, and creates a calming effect, which effectively draws the listener into the overall mood of the mostly improvisational nature of the music. Scott's clarinet weaves in-and-out beautifully with the bamboo flute and Japanese zither, of `Shinichi' and `Hozan's' impeccable performances.

It retains a studied ambience, that will impress those looking for music to actually unwind or indeed relax to, and although I haven't tried to actually meditate to this album, it's not too hard to imagine that achieving some inner-peace, whilst meditating to this, wouldn't be entirely possible . In fact this feels a little like it was intended for use into Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies. It's one of those albums, that can work differently for each listener...some may find this album to be a remarkably focused and poignant collection of tunes with an overall elegant mood and stance. Others with find that it can be an incredibly relaxing and soothing record, and as tranquil as a Japanese tea garden. While someone else (such as myself), will find this merely perfect music to unwind and relieve tension, or a long day after work, when you just need to come down several notches. And of course, there will be those that probably use if for it's initial intention, to meditate, work or study to.....such is the wide ranging series of expressions, that this album invokes.

I've have to assume that those of you that are reading these reviews are actually considering picking this album up, and you haven't just stumbled across this album (ironic, as that's how I found out about this...reading an Amazon readers `List of recommendations'). This album does exactly what it was intended to do, which is to relax and entertain in equal measures. It's extremely powerful music, impeccably performed, wonderfully emotional, hypnotic in the best possible way, and impressively powerful...in a strangely quiet way. Anyone considering this album...comes with a very high recommendation from myself (and by the other reviewers, judging by their ratings), should buy with confidence...in what is one of the most beautifully honest albums, I've heard in a while.

Wonderful, Relaxing & Soothing.......2007-04-13

This was the first meditation/spa cd I have ever purchased.... and Wow I am so very glad that I took the plunge. It's beautiful!

Wonderful, Relaxing Music.......2006-07-10

I absolutely love this album. I do not meditate to it, however I love to listen to it in the evening as a way to relax and ease into sleep.

I brought a few cds with me to the hospital for the birth of our son and this was the only one I wanted to listen to throughout the whole labor (over and over) Everything else drove me crazy. I guess it was kind of a meditative aid during that time. It helped me to focus outside my body instead of on the contractions. I would actually count on the next note to appear just before it did. I don't know if I could even do that now. So, this was the first music my son ever heard in his world outside the womb.

My husband uses it now to rock/walk our son to sleep each night.

surprising rich and wonderful.......2005-12-26

The CD title is silly, the song titles too for that matter, but this is a great CD. I've listened to it for years. Like a lot of practictioners, silence is the only meditation music for me. I'm sure there are those who like music in the background, who knows. What matters is that the music on this disc sets a standard that's not been equalled in New Age music. Tony Scott's jazz background gives him a rare originality and freedom, and these players find an authentic musical unity in a disc of rare improvisation. Koto master Shinichi Yuize and shakuhachi player Hozan Yamamoto share full measure in making a lasting recording that never tires, and asks nothing it doesnt return ten fold. Once you hear this recording, you'll want it always nearby. It's a real treat.(4/07 note: musician Tony Scott passed away last month. THANKS for a great CD, Tony!)

Sooths the Savage Beast.......2005-08-30

I had this album in vinyl in the 60' or 70's. A person came into my house and was pacing like a caged tiger. He was very agitated, so I walked over ot my stereo and put this album on. Within a few minutes, he took a deep breath and just sat down and relaxed! It was amazing. The compositions are marvelous for meditating or just relaxing. It's old music, but fits right into the "new age" genre. I highly recommend this album! I love it!

Average customer rating:

Music for Zen Meditation
Riley Lee
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sanctuary: Music from a Zen Garden
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Quiet Heart/Spirit Wind
Music for Zen Meditation

ASIN: B00008PX92
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

Sea Breeze
Under The Stars
Spiritus Lenis/Gentle Breath
Divine Ecstasy
Dulcet Rhythm
Serenity Flows
Tranquil Resonations
Stillpoint
Profound Elixir
Elemental Contemplation
Inner Quiet

Tracks:

Whispers Of Eternity
In Time Suspended
Echo Of The Scared
Dance-The Angels Of Light
Between The Stillness
Soaring With The Eagles
Fragment Of Memory
Journey Across The Night
The Tree Of Sadness
Cascade
Breathe The Fragrance Of Forever
Deep Night Blues
Silk Thread To The Cosmos
Divine Mystery
Merging With The Infinite

Average customer rating:

Robert Plant Returns To His Zeppelin Roots Here

Now & Zen
Robert Plant
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Principle of Moments
Pictures at Eleven
Manic Nirvana
Fate of Nations
Shaken 'N Stirred

ASIN: B000HWZ5WY
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

Heaven Knows
Dance On My Own
Tall Cool One
The Way I Feel
Helen Of Troy
Billy's Revenge
Ship Of Fools
Why
White, Clean And Neat
Walking Towards Paradise
Billy's Revenge
Ship Of Fools
Tall Cool One

Album Description

The Expanded & Remastered version of Robert Plant's album, Now And Zen, finds Plant charting new musical territory. Marking his first collaboration with keyboardist Phil Johnstone, the album's classic tracks include "Heaven Knows," "Ship Of Fools," and the smash hit "Tall Cool One." Three bonus rarities include live versions of "Tall Cool One," "Billy's Revenge," and "Ship Of Fools."

Customer Reviews:

Robert Plant Returns To His Zeppelin Roots Here.......2007-05-06

With NOW AND ZEN, Robert Plant returns to his Led Zeppelin roots, working with Jimmy Page on two songs ("Heaven Knows" and "Tall Cool One"). The other songs continue to move him forward in the direction Led Zeppelin might very well have taken had drummer John Bonham not died in an alcohol-related choking incident in 1980.

Quiet Fire: Zen Moods for the Spa Experience

Average customer rating:

Not just for the Spa
Spiritual Rhythms
Dialogue of Enlightenment
Deep Relaxation
Fabulous CD

Quiet Fire: Zen Moods for the Spa Experience
Quiet Fire
Manufacturer: White Swan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Spa Lounge
Sounds of Spa: Tranquility
Sounds of Spa: Serenity
Call of the Mystic
Pacific Moon

ASIN: B0002R2518
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

Land of Snows
Xiao Messenger at Midnight
River of Heaven
Night Dreamers
Stars Over Sedona
Stone Garden
Water Mystery
Future Primitive
Sea of Clouds
Quiet Fire

Album Description

QUIET FIRE marks the first meeting of three remarkable artists, each distinguished for shaping (and reshaping) the face of contemporary world music. The woodwinds of master flautist Gary Stroutsos; William Eaton's handcrafted stringed instruments; pan-global percussion by Will Clipman—disparate elements fused together in a meditative celebration of newfound common ground.

More than an exchange between musical minds, however, QUIET FIRE represents a new nexus of sound. Koto-harp guitar, Chinese bamboo Xiao flute, water drums, udu and other exotic instruments don't just mingle; they merge. The result: earfuls of open sky and whispering willows, a natural sound to unwind the mind and pacify the soul.

Attuned to the soothing hum of well-being, QUIET FIRE is a musical journey impelled by an innate sensitivity. To luxuriate in its depth is to gaze into the reflecting pool of the heart. The view will ignite your imagination and restore your spirit.

Customer Reviews:

Not just for the Spa.......2004-09-07

This is just about the most sensual sound track ever recorded. Stroutsos will take the Xiao from Chinese antiquity to bedrooms everywhere. (Yes, you can meditate to it as well.) Even if you have heard Eaton before, you have never heard him like this --Koto-harp guitar, incredible! He balances Stroutsos perfectly while Clipman glues the trio together with everything from Water Drums to Udu. These three have made a unique contribution to world music that will live for years to come. This is a Grammy lock. If these guys ever play near you, it would be worth driving three states just to hear them. In the meantime, buy this CD.

Spiritual Rhythms.......2004-08-25

Believe these wonderful musicians produced this CD with a true caress Heart and a deepest musical sense of love and harmony. No doubt, this is a must have CD. Just take my word for it.

Dialogue of Enlightenment.......2004-08-17

Quiet Fire is a recording so tight, so pure and so beautifully gorgeous sounding - Stroutsos, Eaton and Clipman have produced a lyrical vision that shines from the mountaintop. This unique recording of love compels one to listen over and over in order to absorb the elegant and sophisticated nuances bouncing off the dynamic interplay between these three masters. White Swan Records is to be commended for the superb packaging and production. An evergreen title for years to come, Quiet Fire is deserving of a Grammy Nomination in the World Music category. We hope to hear more from this excellent acoustic jazz trio.

Deep Relaxation.......2004-08-12

This CD is a fusion of a variety of cultural sounds. It is intriguing as well as deeply soothing. It allows the listener to float through the melodic variations of this blend of flute, percussion and guitar. Just when you think you have it figured out it twists and turns and develops another thematic mode. Truly unique and comforting. I'd recommend it highly!

Fabulous CD.......2004-08-11

This is a wonderful new CD - one of the best of 2004. I am amazed that this is the first time these three very talented musicians - Stroutsos, Clipman, and Eaton - have recorded together. Let's support the genre - buy lots of their CDs and hope they record another soon. Each plays wonderfully and the range and blending of instruments is unique: Koto-harp guitar, Chinese bamboo Xiao flute, water drums, udu and other exotic instruments. The music has a great range in tempos and moods. I've seen Gary Stroutsos in concert - WOW! He is fabulous - I hope the three will go on tour soon. Thanks for a totally enjoyable CD that is one of the best in my large world music collection!!!

Average customer rating:

Major break through on 1988, sounds dated in 2007
A slight change of direction for Plant
Here we go again....
Hasn't Forgotten Zep Past
Now and Zen

Now & Zen
Robert Plant
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Principle of Moments
Manic Nirvana
Pictures at Eleven
Fate of Nations
Shaken 'N Stirred

ASIN: B000002JLX
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Heaven Knows
Dance On My Own
Tall Cool One
The Way I Feel
Helen Of Troy
Billy's Revenge
Ship Of Fools
Why
White, Clean And Neat
Walking Towards Paradise (Bonus Track)

Customer Reviews:

Major break through on 1988, sounds dated in 2007.......2007-04-02

Released in 1988, this was Robert Plant's fourth solo album (not including the Honeydrippers). It is 47 minutes long and the sound quality is very good. It is now available in a remastered version (I don't think the sound needed fixing) with some bonus tracks.

When this was released, it received rave reviews from the music press, especially Rolling Stone. While his earlier albums sold well, they did not get much respect. Now and Zen was the best received album both critically and in sales, hitting number 6 on the Billboard 200.

On this album, Plant partnered with keyboardist Phil Johnstone for the first. Johnstone has a very heavy influence on the sound.

This CD sounds very much like it came from the late eighties. It is as if you crossed Led Zepplin with later day disco, new wave and punk.

It is lively, energetic and has a crystal clear sound. It has that clean digital sound that most of the best sounding CD's had in the early days of the technology. It reminds me of Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms or Pete Townshend's White City.

The CD has some great songs on it, like Tall Cool One, Heaven Knows and the bluesy Ship of Fools.

However, the CD does have that late eighties sound, and it can sound a little dated now. You listen to it, and you know right off it was a product of the eighties. But, it is still very entertaining and one of the good things to come out of the eighties, before Grunge took over.

A slight change of direction for Plant.......2006-05-04

This album marks a departure from his the kind of music Plant was putting forth on his first two solo discs. It is very cleanly recorded with very restrained, almost fragile, instrumentation in parts. The poppier direction of some of the tunes and the increased use of atmospherics via keyboards may not please all the fans of his earlier solo pieces but the quality of the backing musicians means that, for me at least, things still hang together quite well.

In terms of actual songs, personal faves would be Heaven Knows, Ship of Fools and the stop/start Helen of Troy. This record is a testament to Plants refusal to stand still and his evolution as an artist with integrity and the ability to come up with consistently good material.

A worthy release any Plant fan should get themselves acquanted with.

Here we go again...........2006-01-22

Nevermind the great songwriting and performances from an amazing group of musicians (notably Doug Boyle), it is still no Zeppelin, right? It appears that Robert Plant will never live down his halcyon days in the eyes of some of his "fans". Shame. It is my right to enjoy this record as it is your right not to. But please, don't compare "Now and Zen" to Zeppelin. That was a different band entirely.

Hasn't Forgotten Zep Past.......2005-10-06

Here's something most Plant fans probably haven't thought about - the CD covers. Check me out and tell me if I'm correct.

Zep I - Hindenburg blowing up; there is a fire on the right side of the cover.
Pictures at Eleven - Plant's picture is on fire (on the right side) and he's smoking while leaning against a wall

Zep II - a silhouette of the Hindenburg blowing up with an imposed picture of the band.
The Principle of Moments - black and white photo of Plant leaning against a wall.

Zep III - psychedelic cover
Shaken N' Stirred - psychedelic cover

Zep 4 - four symbols and a guest (Sandy Denny) who also gets a symbol
Now and Zen - four symbols and a guest (Jimmy Page) who also has a symbol.

Now and Zen.......2005-07-27

Robert Plant's Now and Zen is an interesting album. It is nothing like the Zeppelin days, for its more easy listening. However, Tall Cool One, Heaven Knows, And Ship of Fools are great tracks. If you are a fan of Plant, this is a must have album. Just don't expect Zeppelin rock here. And of course, late 80's, so Robert made a pop rockish album. Buy it though, the musicianship is spectacular. Great quitar, great vocals, good lyrics. It is a soothing album after a stressful day.

Average customer rating:

Flawless beautiful ambi-cultural music

Chicano Zen
Charanga Cakewalk
Manufacturer: Triloka Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Loteria de la Cumbia Lounge
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ASIN: B000EBFWQM
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Tracks:

Chicano Zen
La Miga Hormiga
Melodica
Amor Profundo
No Soy Feliz
La Mimosa
El Cine
Vida Magica
Gloria
La Corriente
El Ballad de Jose Campos Torres

Amazon.com

Austin-based Miguel Ramos has created one of the most incongruous chill grooves ever. Who could have imagined that cumbia, merengue, Tejano and even flamenco-from-afar, when tossed with Caribbean rhythms plus electronica and beats, could still burn, but like dry ice? Traditional instruments like accordion, Celso Duarte's glorious harp, and Max Baca's baja sexto (twelve-string bass), plus other plucked strings and assorted shakers merge with Spanish-language vocals, the latter provided by Mexican superstar Lila Downs, Ruben "El Gato Negro" Ramos, folk-rocker Patty Griffin, Martha Gonzalez from the group Quetzal, and Texas singer-songwriter Davíd Garza. But these are underpinned by subtle drum 'n' bass and assorted lounge interpolations. Although sufficiently hip to enchant the most exacting club denizen, the tunes retain a festive playfulness and defiantly un-cool degree of passion; only in Brazil have such wildly disparate elements been so successfully fused with no loss of integrity on either side. The subject matter ranges from Morricone-laced memories of childhood cinema excursions, to a Lawrence-Welk-like polka tribute to the bandleader's mother, to an elegy for a deceased victim of police brutality, but the album flows like a hallucinatory, edgy-cozy tone poem. --Christina Roden

Album Description

Charanga Cakewalk and Michael Ramos follow up their critically acclaimed debut album LOTERIA DE LA CUMBIA LOUNGE with the new and exciting sounds of CHICANO ZEN. With its unique fusion of Cumbia, Bolero, Dance and cinematic sounds - and featuring guest stars Lila Downs, Patty Griffin, Martha Gonzalez (of `Quetzal') and Ruben Ramos - Charanga Cakewalk once again delivers an album full of charm-filled musical gems.

Customer Reviews:

Flawless beautiful ambi-cultural music .......2006-05-13

The last track a thing of beauty and up beat tempo in memory of a political murder involving a 17 year old man and a border that should never have been. However listening to this innocent of liner notes and/or review, you will have an ineffable pleasant musical experience without a hint of the harder stuff. Even people I know who really don't care for music, as such, are quite taken by this CD.

Average customer rating:

Take the time to check it out...
A CD WITH A DVD IS A FAN'S DREAM FROM THE GROUP BUSH
Good buy....lacks audio
Curious combo but lots of great music on the live CD
Every Bush fan should own this...

Zen X Four + Bonus dvd
Bush
Manufacturer: Kirtland Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of '94 - '99
Distort Yourself
Deconstructed
Razorblade Suitcase
Golden State

ASIN: B000BDGW4E
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

Comedown acoustic
Glycerine acoustic
Everything Zen acoustic
Machinehead
Everything Zen
Comedown
Bomb
Glycerine
Little Things

Album Description

Bush was one of the biggest bands of the '90s, selling more than 11 million albums. The band also scaled the top of the Modern Rock charts with four #1 singles and garnered 15 Top 40 hit singles. On November 1 Bush will release their first-ever combination DVD and live CD on Kirtland Records. Zen x Four will feature all of Bush's hit videos - available for the first time on DVD - along with an exclusive CD of previously unreleased live and acoustic material recorded on the bands 1995 tour. The CD will contain over 50 minutes of music.

CONTAINS BOTH DVD + CD

Customer Reviews:

Take the time to check it out..........2006-10-09

When I first saw this Zen x 4 disc and the Greatest hits disc out on the shelves I just wrote them off as jokes. I already own all the albums plus the 1994//1999 import DVD so why would I bother needing the same stuff re-released in new packaging? After I looked at the greatest hits package I felt the same way, the bonus disc is just the audio from the much superior 1994//1999 DVD included concert. No big win for fans who already own both. Like I sais, just the same old stuff in new packaging. However, when I looked at the Zen x 4 collection I was happily surprised to find the complete radio recordings of the band which have never been released together in a single package. I have some of the songs from internet bootlegs but the quality on the disc is FAR better. The tracks are all standout rare recordings, from very intimate U.S. sets. The DVD has the video for "Cold Contagious" which was not included on the 1994//1999 DVD (although the 1994//1999 DVD has the Alleys and Motorways special feature not included on the Zen x 4 set), other than that the two are identical, both containing the same special features. This release is not a huge bang for the fan who already has the previous CD's and DVD's but the rare recordings and bonus video are both excellent and worth owning.

A CD WITH A DVD IS A FAN'S DREAM FROM THE GROUP BUSH.......2006-06-19

THE GROUP BUSH WAS ONE OF THE BEST ROCK/GRUNGE/ALTERNATIVE BANDS TO COME OUT OF THE 1990'S.
THIS CD/DVD PACKAGE SHOWS WHY THEY RULED THE AIR~WAVES AND MTV IN THE EARLY 90'S.THIS HAS ALL THE VIDEO'S THAT WERE PLAYED 100X A DAY ON MTV;AND HELPED MTV RISE TO THE FAME IT IS TODAY.
THESE SONG'S WERE HIT MAKING CHART TOPPERS AND WERE PLAYED AT THE
WOODSTOCK 1994 CONCERT EVENT;AND ON RADIO STATIONS ACROSS AMERICA ON A DAILY BASIS.
NOW ALL THESE GREAT SONG'S AND VIDEO'S ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU TO ENJOY IN ONE PERFECT PACKAGE;THAT IS ABOUT THE SAME PRICE AS A DVD ALONE.IT'S ALMOST LIKE GETTING 2 FOR THE PRICE OF 1.
THE SOUND & PICTURE QUALITY ON THE DVD IS GREAT. IT MAKES YOUR SPEAKERS SCREAM AND THE VISION ON THE T.V. SCREEN MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE THERE.
ALL THE SONG'S ON THE DVD ARE ORIGINAL AND THE SOUND IS THE STUDIO VERSION.THE CD IS LIVE ACOUSTIC VERSION'S BUT IT IS DONE WITH SUCH STYLE IT SOUND'S LIKE THE ORIGINAL ALBUM VERSION'S.
THIS IS A CD/DVD PACKAGE YOU WILL ENJOY FOR YEARS TO COME.
PUT THE CD & DVD IN YOUR PLAYERS AND TURN THE VOLUME ON MAX.AND IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE YOU TAKE THEM OUT.
{ROME,NEW YORK}/[HOME OF WOODSTOCK 1999]

Good buy....lacks audio.......2006-05-20

I'll admit right off the bat that I hesitated purchasing this album to due to lack of audio tracks presented here. It's their really good early stuff but can I get more than 9 tracks? It's always great to hear new or re-recorded versions of old favorite, but it's still not enough. With that said, the recordings sound good.

The DVD is almost worth the price itself. All the great videos including the rarely-seen and my personal favorite, "Letting the Cables Sleep". It was cool to see all the older videos that MTV hasn't shown since they were big.

My only complaint is that the DVD audio mix isn't in sorround, only advanced stereo. Oh well.

Bottom line: I can't reccomend this to anyone but diehard Bush fans. I think anyone other than that wouldn't get a good look at how great this band was.

Curious combo but lots of great music on the live CD.......2006-05-14

I will admit to being a great fan of the "Sixteen Stone" album, one of the major albums of the 1990s grunge era. The following album "Razorblade Suitcase" was not bad either, but then things spiraled downwards pretty quickly. Bush went out with a whimper when guitarist Nigel Pulsford left the band a couple of years ago, shortly after their last album "The Golden State" bombed.

Now comes "Zen x Four" a DVD-CD combo. The DVD (13 tracks; 56 min.) compiles the 11 videos from Bush's first three album. There are some great ones, and some ridiculous ones too. Writes Nigel Pulsford in the entertaining liner notes: "Low point was being up as a baby, placed in a womb and covered in goo for the "Greedy Fly" video by some crazy German director", haha! There is also an unnecessary "making of" segment on the Chemicals Between Us video and the Science of Things album.

The CD (9 tracks; 49 min.) is a very interesting collection of live tracks. (And, contrary to what the Spotlight reviewer states, the track listing here on Amazon in 100% correct.) The initial 3 tracks are acoustic, live radio-show tracks, in particular "Comedown" shines. The remaining 6 tracks are from the December 1995 "KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas" concert. It shows Bush at their peak: theu have by then toured the "Sixteen Stone" songs to no end, and sound very tight. There is no weak track here, and the energy is amazing. Check out the 7+ min. version of "Bomb", but also "Machinehead" and closer "Little Things" are outstanding. Please note that all tracks on here are from the first album only.

An obscure outfit called Kirkland Records issued this combo and with it, one gap in the Bush catalogue (a live CD) has been more or less taken care of, but it is incomprehensible that there still is no proper greatest hits compilation on Bush. The Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, even Nirvana, all have their "Greatest Hits" album. When will Bush issue theirs?

Every Bush fan should own this..........2006-01-16

Its one of my favorite dvd's/cd's and besides the Institute cd this was the only thing that tempered the sting of knowing there was no more Bush! In fact I'm going to go watch and listen again! :) I highly recommend Zen X Four with the Bonus DVD! What I need now is an acoustic Bush performance on DVD!

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