Blitzkrieg Pop [Enhanced]

Blitzkrieg Pop [Enhanced]

ASIN: B000A2H7CW

Editorial Reviews
Product Description

T. Raumschmiere returns in 2005 with a brand new album, his second for novamute, Blitzkrieg Pop. Recorded in late 2004 and early 2005 in Berlin, Blitzkrieg Pop sees T. Raumschmiere build upon his hybrid of punk rock and electronic music uleashed on the masses in the form of his 2003 album Radio Blackout.

Containing more apparent punk rock, twisted rock and ambient influences as well as his own vocals on the first single "Sick Like Me" and the album track "Blitzkrieg Pop," T. Raumschmiere also entlisted the help of his friends Ellen Allien on "Diving in Whiskey," Quasimodo Jones on "A Mess," Sandra Nasic (from Guano Apes) on "A Very Loud Lullaby" plus French newcomer Judith Juillerat on "3 Minutes Happiness."

Tracks:

Icky Thump
You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)
300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
Conquest
Bone Broke
Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn
St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)
Little Cream Soda
Rag And Bone
I'm Slowly Turning Into You
A Martyr For My Love For You
Catch Hell Blues
Effect and Cause

Amazon.com

Bagpipes, a song written as the soundtrack to a Michel Gondry music video, Patti Page's musical shadow, and Jack and Meg co-narrating a scavenger's rummages: It must be time for Icky Thump, the many-flavored riposte to 2006's Get Behind Me Satan. The duo starts big with the title track--Jack's fast-tumbling, falsetto-tinged lyrics jagging on hyper keyboard-sounding segues and Meg's pounding drums. They rarely shy from an idea, invoking acoustic Bob Dylan to frame "300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues," but interjecting a series of distortion-laden guitar paroxysms for good measure. The end of Icky, on "Effect and Cause," is where Jack's trademark vocal warble and spare, quick acoustic strums meet Meg's single-minded beats. Everywhere on Icky giant riffs leap and shout, with Flamenco horns and those eerie bagpipes and rhythmic shifts and Jack's impatient vocal kinetics, marking new territories even as the White Stripes again populate them with vintage ideas. --Andrew Bartlett

Album Description

The White Stripes are back with the most bombastic album they've ever produced! While revealing the band's roots in American folk music, Icky Thump is an explosive, revolutionary assault that brings together garage rock, every blues style of the past 100 years, nouveau, and flamenco. This is truly a modern rock and roll masterpiece!

Customer Reviews:

Icky? No. Thump? Yes! (4 1/2 stars).......2007-07-10

Counting this album, I own the last three White stripes albums, and this one is my second favorite, after Elephant.

What I like about this band is that they aren't afraid to experiment. What other popular band do you know would use a trumpeter from a mariachi band for a Patti Page cover song? Or use bagpipes on not one, but TWO songs?! None -- except the White Stripes!

My favorite song, and the one I can't get enough of is the title track. The only bad song on the album is "Saint Andrew (This Battle is in the Air)". The instuments are so loud, they drown out Meg's voice and you can't hear what she's saying, so I took off half a star for that song.

Jack White is a good songwriter, and this album is no exception. My favorite lyric on the whole album: "You can't take the effect/and make it the cause"!

Overall, this is the loudest, thump-iest White Stripes album ever. Old and new Stripes fans will like this album, so buy it!

Bringing the Fire Back.......2007-07-10

Back when Elephant came out in 2003, The White Stripes renewed my faith in popular music. From then on I began to listen to (and love) more music than ever before, and The White Stripes led that train.
After a while (and after Get Behind Me Satan) I sort of tuned out to The White Stripes. While I really did (and still do) like GBMS, it just didn't fulfill my expectations: a whole CD in the rock style of what the first single Blue Orchid promised.
And then there was a bump, on my trunk, on the wagon to Mexico -

Icky Thump!

I have now fallen in love with The White Stripes again. I won't bore you (like I just have with my intro) with descriptions of all the songs, because other reviewers do that. What really needs to be taken from this review is that Icky Thump has the nice sounding folkiness that De Stijl owned (Bound To Pack it Up), the simple brilliant brashness of White Blood Cells (Fell in Love With a Girl), and the matured sound of Elephant (Seven Nation Army) all rolled into one album. This is not simply a "compilation" type album, but instead has the feeling a Led Zeppelin album brings of hearing a song that sounds familiar, but in some mysterious way seems totally new.

Jack and Meg do just that with Icky Thump. They remind us who they are, intertwine some of the quirkiness of their last album, and sprinkle it all with dabs of ingenious to make what might have been a mediocre song, something that is worthy of the term "Rock and roll".

Now I'm back on the wagon (to Mexico apparently) with Jack and Meg. 'Cause they've definitely got me hooked again. There's no doubt.

Incredible.......2007-07-08

I thought this cd would be heavy but it is a little more bluesy. Still it is in my top five favorite CD's and always will be.

Another exceptional release by the heroic Jack & Meg!.......2007-07-07

I have to say that The White Stripes are one of the most interesting acts in the music business currently. Jack always finds a way to make the Stripes sounds different with each forthcoming album and there are few acts that can boast of that. Jack's unique vocals, writing skills, and multi-instrumental talents coupled with Meg's drum skills always make for a superb affair. I would even venture to say that The White Stripes couldn't make a bad album if they wanted to. Sure, ICKY THUMP is different than perhaps the more critically lauded GET BEHIND ME SATAN (which I must say sometimes gets a bad wrap despite being exceptional as any other Stripes release), but it is different in a good respect. To be honest, Icky Thump rocks more than GET BEHIND ME SATAN ever did with it's country, piano (and marimba) driven tendencies. Aside from particulars, ICKY THUMP is a welcome addition to the White Stripes's discography. I'm sure than the Grammy for best Alternative Music Album will once again go to ICKY THUMP as it went to both ELEPHANT and GET BEHIND ME SATAN. Here's a brief rundown of the tracks:

1. Icky Thump - 4/5: an exceptional first single; I love the vocal performance by Jack here in particular. This is clearly going down as a Stripes classic.

2. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)- 4/5: Another brilliant performance that rocks pretty hard. The guitars are anthemic in timbre and Jack sounds top-rate here. I particularly like the refrain here.

3. 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues- 4/5: Lengthy, but worth the duration. The acoustic guitars work exceptionally well here coupled with traces of electric guitars and Meg's drumming, which has never sounded better (I promise I'm not being sarcastic!).

4. Conquest- 5/5: Perhaps my favorite Stripes track to date? Hard to believe that Jack didn't pen this track.

5. Bone Broke- 4/5: some sick guitar work in this one! Rocks hard!

6. Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn- 4/5: Not my favorite, but top-rate nonetheless. The "Scottish" feel is quite unique and the drum groove is infectious with the emphasis of on the beats with the bass drum (Go Meg!).

7. St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)- a continuation of "Prickly Thorn..."

8. Little Cream Soda- 4.5/5: Can you say exceptional?! This one is mostly instrumental with a couple of choice lyrics. Can't miss this awesome track.

9. Rag And Bone- 4/5: A fun track; I love how playful the Stripes are here.. this certainly wouldn't have fit on GET BEHIND ME SATAN. Again the groove and guitars are phenomenal.

10. I'm Slowly Turning Into You- 4.5/5: Another favorite of mine - the groove won't leave you. You'll keep humming this one after hearing it.

11. A Martyr For My Love For You- 3.5/5: 100% solid, just not my favorite
12. Catch Hell Blues- 4/5: Superb
13. Effect and Cause- 3.5/5 Solid

Overall, ICKY THUMP is one of 2007's best and I'm sure the 2008 Grammys will showcase that. 4 stars from me.

Another stellar from rock and roll's greatest duo.......2007-07-07

I will admit that I have been really nervous the past couple of years. With the success of the Raconteurs and Jack and Meg moving to completely different parts of the country I was afraid that the beginning of the end of the White Stripes had commenced. And who knows, perhaps it has. But Jack's new band commitments and their new places of residence certainly hasn't impacted the quality of their work together. My fear was that Jack might keep some of his "A" material for his new band and that the overall quality of ICKY THUMP might suffer as a result. But it is clear from this album that Jack either has an awful lot of "A" material or that he is giving the Raconteurs his "B" material. ICKY THUMP is simply a brilliant album, definitely as good or better than GET BEHIND ME SATAN and at spots as good as anything before that (though ELEPHANT remains my favorite White Stripes album).

Although I like this album more than GET BEHIND ME SATAN, they are definitely kindred affairs. Both have the same kind of eclecticism and almost any song on the one album could have been fit onto the other. I personally find Jack White to be one of the wonders of music. While I confess to nursing a sizable crush on Meg White, hers is a supporting role to Jack. I find him to be one of the most innovative guitarists in rock, with a seemingly endless supply of new and interesting musical ideas. His guitar toolkit is a bit larger than those of most other guitarists. The same can be said for his song writing as well.

If there is a criticism that can be made of the album, it is that the first half is stronger than the second half. Though perhaps that should be amended to say that the first two-thirds is better than the final third. This distinction allows me to include the absolutely delightful "Rag and Bone" and the hard-driving "Little Cream Soda" with the best part of the album. But none of the final songs are actually bad or even below average. "A Martyr for My Love for You" is a good enough song, with some fairly pedestrian hooks, but the point is that it isn't quite up there with the earlier songs. The album starts off with a vengeance, with the superb title track followed by "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told), which is in turn followed by the marvelously long winded "300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues." Then follows the lone song on the album not written by White, the country classic "Conquest," which under his reinterpretation is certainly no longer country.

All in all, this is one of the most enjoyable albums of the year. I know that some White Stripes fans tend to specialize in either early or late albums; they prefer either the rock purity of DE STIJL or the eclecticism of GET BEHIND ME SATAN or the sheer power of ELEPHANT. Well, forgive me if I like it all. I don't get people who want performers to never evolve or change. I've been delighted with the White Stripes because they have never stayed stuck in one place. They've continued to grow and evolve. I can't wait until their next album. Let's just hope that their changing personal lives and professional obligations don't prevent a "next." But as great as Jack White is, he is never as good when he and his "sister" Meg crank it.

Finally, Jack and Meg have always been interesting to look at on stage. They've always worn interesting outfits, but their psychedelic suits on the front cover of the CD is the most bracing that I've seen worn since the days of the Flying Burrito Brothers GILDED PALACE OF SIN.

Average customer rating:

FLASHBACK
Sorry folks....
Great
5 stars plus 2... 7 stars on 7/7/07
Contemporary with a vintage sound

Back to Black
Amy Winehouse
Manufacturer: Republic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Introducing Joss Stone
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West

ASIN: B000N2G3RY
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

Rehab
You Know I'm No Good
Me & Mr. Jones
Just Friends
Back To Black
Love Is A Losing Game
Tears Dry On Their Own
Wake Up Alone
Some Unholy War
He Can Only Hold Her
Bonus Track 1

From Amazon.co.uk

Amy Winehouse's second album, Back to Black, is one of the finest soul albums, British or otherwise, to come out for years. Frank, her first album, was a sparse and stripped-down affair; Back to Black, meanwhile, is neither of these things. This time around, she's taken her inspiration from some of the classic 1960's girl groups like the Supremes and the Shangri-Las, a sound particularly suited to her textured vocal delivery, while adding a contemporary songwriting sensibility. With the help of producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, "Rehab" becomes a gospel-tinged stomp, while the title track (and album highlight) is a heartbreaking musical tribute to Phil Spector, with it's echoey bass drum, rhythmic piano, chimes, saxophone and close harmonies. Best of all, though, is the fact that Back to Black bucks the current trend in R&B by being unabashedly grown-up in both style and content. Winehouse's lyrics deal with relationships from a grown-up perspective, and are honest, direct and, often, complicated: on "You Know I'm No Good", she's unapologetic about her unfaithfulness. But she can also be witty, as on "Me & Mrs Jones" when she berates a boyfriend with "You made me miss the Slick Rick gig". Back to Black is a refreshingly mature soul album, the best of its kind for years. --Ted Kord

Album Description

Hailed by Newsweek Magazine as a cross between Billie Holiday and Lauryn Hill, British soul singer Amy Winehouse's U.S. debut, Back To Black hits the US amid a flurry of accolades, radio and TV buzz unprecedented in recent years for a young siren.

Her brassy mix of emotive vocals tinged with 60's girl-group stylings, sly funk, and anguished jazz, sparked the New York Daily News to crown Back To Black a "marvelous debut that would do Etta James proud" while New Yorker Magazine called her "a fierce English performer whose voice combines the smoky depths of a jazz chanteuse with the heated passion of a soul singer," and Spin Magazine affirming "there's never been A British star quite like her."

Back To Black smolders with a bristling fusion of old school doo-wop/soul inflected uprisings, (the charismatic singer/songwriter wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album) brewing instant classics such as the Shirley Ellis influenced "Rehab," the Supremes tinged title song "Back To Black," the aching "Wake Up Alone," and the album's closer, "Addicted."

Album Details

Ivor Novello Award Winner, Mercury Music Prize and Triple Brit Nominee Amy Winehouse, Follows the Release of her New Single "rehab" and Recent Sell-out Mini-uk Tour, with the Hugely Anticipated Release on October 30th of her New Album "back to Black". On "back to Black", the Follow-up to her Platinum Debut "frank" which Established her as One of the Most Exciting and Challenging Artists in Pop Music, Amy Confirms, Beyond Any Reasonable Or Unreasonable Doubt, What a Truly Remarkable Talent She Is.

Customer Reviews:

FLASHBACK.......2007-07-10

THIS ALBUM IS PRETTY GOOD. A VERY SOULFUL ALBUM. IT TAKES YOU BACK. TO ME ITS AN ALBUM THAT I HAVE TO BE IN THE MOOD TO LISTEN TO. HER HIT SONG "REHAB" I CAN LISTEN TO ANY DAY.

Sorry folks...........2007-07-08

Don't see (or hear) the hype about this one. Actually, I'm not sorry.Too many of these non singing folks who are just here for a minute. We need to hear more Amel, More Jill, More Goapele(?). Talented folks who can sing. BTW, Where is MAXWELL? What's he doing? Tyrese SURPRISED me! Brova' can sing! And Ac k t (as Marisa Tomei says in My Cousin Vinny).

Great.......2007-07-08

Amy Winehouse is very refreshing. She reminded me of a young Timi Yuro with the runchyness of Milli Jackson. I cannot wait to here what next she has available.

5 stars plus 2... 7 stars on 7/7/07.......2007-07-08

This is by far the best CD I have purchased in a long time. I saw her on David Letterman...I love the hair do ...throw back to the 60's. I sampled the CD on Amazon... purchased it and have not stopped listening to it. I have to hear it every day. Don't think about it...JUST GET IT... you will love it

Contemporary with a vintage sound.......2007-07-07

A friend gave me this album, and it sat in my car for a week. I decided to listen to it (not having heard anything by her at all, just knowing she had some song about rehab...) and immediately loved it. Normally I don't go for stuff played on top 40 radio stations, but I think her fame is a misnomer, for lack of a better word.
this album is catchy the whole way through. If you enjoy The Crystals, The Supremes, and other Wall of sound/girl groups/Motown of the 60's, and can handle "adult subject matter," this album is for you!
People on here are constantly complaining about her and calling her a copy cat, but I say bring it on! I hope more people start singing and producing like this again. I have a lot of 60's soul, and I love it, it's refreshing to hear this sound again.
I usually don't like modern female singers very much, but Ms. Winehouse does it for me! Key tracks are obviously the singles, and I really really like "He can only hold her." The other songs are all stellar too, I get into a different one every time I listen to her.

Average customer rating:

Always a winner Bon Jovi
The Evolution of Jon
Bon Jovi is Lost on this CD
What a relief ! Not country at all !!
Cheesy

Lost Highway
Bon Jovi
Manufacturer: Mercury Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

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My December
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ASIN: B000P2A24W
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

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

Album Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Again, this record title sums it up.

They are on a lost highway!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recommended. Best since "These Days" !!

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

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

Average customer rating:

Hope for popular music
Nice Try
No Radio Hooks? What Album did Clive Listen To?
If You Like Bubble Gum, Don't Buy This...
Honest Review

My December
Kelly Clarkson
Manufacturer: RCA Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

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The Best Damn Thing [CLEAN]

ASIN: B000QFAJ7S
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Never Again
One Minute
Hole
Sober
Don't Waste Your Time
Judas
Haunted
Be Still
Maybe
How I Feel
Yeah
Can I Have A Kiss
Irvine

Amazon.com

Judging by the themes of anger and betrayal that dominate Kelly Clarkson's third disc, My December, perhaps 'Jagged Little Idol' would have been a more telling title. According to interviews, the massively successful artist wanted more creative control with her music going forward; as a result, unlike her previous CDs, Clarkson contributes as a songwriter on every track. The final product is not nearly as catchy as Breakaway, but is far more introspective and honest. My December's overall sound brings a harder musical style than fans might expect, with acerbic lyrics to match; the disc's first single "Never Again"--a dark rock song slamming her ex-boyfriend--is certainly a tip-off. The compelling chorus of "Hole" finds Clarkson singing "There's a hole/inside of me/it's so damn cold/slowly killing me" over a melody that is far more Tool than top-40. "Haunted" and "Judas" are wrought-over tracks that veer into Evanescence territory, while the wonderfully sparse "Maybe" is a highlight within which Clarkson's pleading voice is perfectly showcased. My December's final listed track, "Irvine" (prior to the hidden bluesy acoustic ballad "Chivas") sounds far more Cat Power-meets-Corinne Bailey Rae than Clarkson, but it is certainly one of the most captivating songs on the disc, and serves as yet another reminder of just how versatile her voice is. Fans of her previous radio-friendly releases may well be divided on her new direction, but it appears to be the path Clarkson is likely to continue to travel. --Denise Sheppard

More from Kelly Clarkson

Breakaway

Thankful

Since U Been Gone

Customer Reviews:

Hope for popular music.......2007-07-10

A few listens into this album and it hit me: This is the best pop record in a long time, particularly by a female. The variety is its strength. Just when you think you've figued out what this album is "about", an unexpected turn hits you out of nowhere and redirects your perceptions. I've listned to it about 10 times through, and it's STILL happening.

Sure, "My December" is not as immediately endearing as "Breakaway" was; but it is a far better record. Buy it; give it a chance. You'll be glad you did.

Nice Try.......2007-07-10

I only listened to the sample tracks but from what I've heard, I will not buy the album because...

Kelly has two types of songs on her album:
1. fast,yelling angsty (tracks 1,2,3,5,6,7,10,12)
2. slow, moaning angsty (4,8,9,11)

I like Irvine - has a different vibe. Otherwise, all the songs sound the same to me.

Not bad for a first attempt at writing some of her own songs. But they aren't good enough. Just because she has the fame doesn't mean she can use her career as anger management. All her songs sound like they are in the same key, as well. Her second album is still her best.

No Radio Hooks? What Album did Clive Listen To?.......2007-07-09

I hate to admit it, but I was hesitant after hearing how "uncommercial" this album was. I wondered if Kelly had become spoiled after becoming so successful with her "Breakaway" album. Then I thought, maybe this is one of those albums that really grows on you after a while, but it might take a few listens to really appreciate it. Then I bought it, listened to it, and was completely and utterly blown away by it. I honestly can't believe Mr. Owen didn't like this album. Yes, it's different from Breakaway, but songs like "One Minute," "Hole," and "Yeah" have plenty of hooks on them, and other songs are so vocally impressive that I automatically hit the replay button. ("Sober" starts out so slow and moody and grows into an explosion of emotion that i was completely unprepared for). All in all, you won't find another "Since U Been Gone" on this album, but all this talk about it being a total flop and uncommercial is ridiculous. After only two listens, I like this album WAY more than Breakaway, and Kelly Clarkson has become the first official American Idol winner to show true artistry.

If You Like Bubble Gum, Don't Buy This..........2007-07-09

My December definitely shows growth and depth in an artist. The album is a book - the songs, chapters. Clarkson's writing is so intimate that I feel guilty - as though I am peeking in to a diary left out on the coffee table.

I love the gentle sounds of "Sober" and "Be Still", the fun ride of "How I Feel", the hard vibes of "Hole" and "Never Again" and the endearing exposure braved in "Irvine".

Despite all of the attention surrounding the release of this CD, it is apparent that Clarkson chose her path and rightfully so. The journey is one of raw personal honesty and substance - not of manufactured experience and empty calories.

Honest Review.......2007-07-09

I am a huge fan of Kellys...but I made sure to not let this cloud my judgment when I was listening to her new CD, My December. And I can honestly say that not only is this CD just as good as her Breakaway CD...but I believe, this CD is BETTER. I am a vocalist and have been studying music since about the age of ten to now, a senior in college, majoring in music. I LOVE all types of music...but to be able to find a singer that can give me chills simply by opening his or her mouth and hitting a note is rare and amazing...and Kelly does just that every time she sings. (Not that I'm saying I have some amazing ears or that I know *tons* about music...because I don't) :-) I'm just saying that I truly feel that listening to Kelly's voice is a gift from God. Many artists do not write their own songs. Not that they should be required to...they're singers - and they get paid for sharing their gift with us. But for an artist to write a song and share something so personal with his or her audience is amazing. I've written plenty of songs before...and simply having to sing them in front of my class and my professor is terrifying. I'm used to singing in front of people...but to share something so personal makes you feel pretty vulnerable. To share a song that you've written with everyone in AMERICA is absolutely amazing. In My December, Kelly wrote EVERY SONG...which is simply outstanding. Not only did she write every song, but each lyric tugs at the heart and touches the soul. I think this CD is for anyone...because no matter who you are, what music you like, or where you've come from...ANYONE can relate to various songs on this CD. I was afraid that this CD would be all drama and little or no pop; but Kelly did an EXCELLENT job balancing out this CD. My December has jumps around from slow ballads, to hard rock songs, to some hilarious, fun, catchy songs. I've listened to this CD on repeat ever since I got it on June 26th! Excellent job Kelly!! (As ALWAYS!) I hate that you had to cancel your tour...but please know that you have SO many fans (including myself OFCOURSE) on your side that know that you are guided by God and your family and friends...and you have and will always make the best decision for you and your fans! God Bless!!

Average customer rating:

A Joke Turned To Gold
Thank You, Olivia Harrison
Great
Legends at work and play! One of the best buys of the year!
A Long Overdue Re-Issue

Traveling Wilburys (2 CD / 1 DVD)
The Traveling Wilburys
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Memory Almost Full [Deluxe Limited Edition]
Memory Almost Full
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Live In Dublin
Icky Thump

ASIN: B000P0J024
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

Handle With Care
Dirty World
Rattled
Last Night
Not Alone Any More
Congratulations
Heading For the Light
Margarita
Tweeter And the Monkey Man
End Of the Line
Maxine - (previously unreleased, Bonus Track)
Like A Ship - (alternate take, Bonus Track)

Tracks:

She's My Baby
Inside Out
If You Belonged To Me
Devil's Been Busy, The
7 Deadly Sins
Poor House
Where Were You Last Night?
Cool Dry Place
New Blue Moon
You Took My Breath Away
Wilbury Twist
Nobody's Child - (Bonus Track)
Runaway - (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

The Traveling Wilburys were one of the few supergroups that lived up to their promise, because they didn't try to. Things started inauspiciously when George Harrison, needing a B-side for a 1988 single, called in friends Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison for assistance. Two albums later--the second without Orbison, who had passed away shortly after the first was released--the loose-knit collective had recorded material that was as durable, and occasionally eclipsed, the participants' legendary solo work. The Wilburys succeeded due to a genial and contagious camaraderie that permeates both discs. What could have been a train wreck of ego clashes instead resulted in a frothy meeting of the minds. These guys are having a blast, trading lead vocals and harmonies on energetic folk-rock, quirky rockabilly, and Beatlesque pop that shimmers with the respect and esteem the members clearly hold for each other. Harrison and Lynne's rather slick production polishes off edges that might better have been left unvarnished, but there's no denying the loosey-goosey craftsmanship at work in tunes such as "Handle with Care," "End of the Line," and a striking Orbison performance on "Not Alone Anymore" that ranks with any of his finest. Both albums were million-sellers, but oddly went out of print for about a decade until Rhino resurrected them, adding two rare tracks per disc as well as a DVD of music videos and a band documentary. The resulting package is a comprehensive overview of a once--well, twice--in-a-lifetime project that, especially after Harrison's passing, will never be repeated. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

Featuring classics like "Handle With Care," "End Of The Line," and "Heading For The Light," super-group Traveling Wilbury's Collection highlights all of the band's music and previously unreleased bonus tracks through this re-mastered double album. The DVD features behind the scenes footage of the band writing and recording, along with their 5 video clips.

Customer Reviews:

A Joke Turned To Gold.......2007-07-10

There are many bands that tout themselves as super groups, but The Traveling Wilburys are one that actually lives up to the billing. George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and the late Roy Orbison originally got together to cut a song for a b-side to the "This Is Love" single off George Harrison's 1987 comeback album Cloud Nine. The song was "Handle With Care" and it was deemed to good to be just a b-side ("Breath Away From Heaven" ended up as the "This Is Love" b-side), so they decided to record a whole album to go along with the song. The resulting Volume I released in late 1988 is a fabulous collection of songs that contain some beautiful harmonies, flawless production and some sharp and witty writing. The guys are clearly having fun even going so far as to take on Wilbury pseudonyms (which for some reason were changed for the next album) and include a history of the band. Due to the sudden death of Mr. Orbison shortly after the album's release, a potential tour was scraped and it looked like the Wilburys would be a one time affair. But the group got back together for 1990's wryly titled Vol. 3. Though not as tight as Volume I, it offers many of same pleasures and has aged well over the years. The deluxe package combines both albums and a dvd and brings back these long out of print albums.

Thank You, Olivia Harrison.......2007-07-09

Thank you Olivia for allowing us to see this recording as a work in progress with the bonus DVD. The DVD that is included with this re-release, watching the "brothers" work their magic is priceless. Those of you who are on the fence wondering if this CD/DVD is worth buying, wonder no more. It's awesome.

Great .......2007-07-06

I read the other reviews, and really don't have much to add here as far as deep descriptions of the songs.
I just know one thing: I just got this CD set today and must have listened to it about 4 times already.
Need I say more?

Legends at work and play! One of the best buys of the year!.......2007-07-05

I had forgotten how good the Traveling Wilberrys first album was. It was a joy and revelation to hear it once again in great sound. All 12 songs are excellent plus you get two bonus tracks on each album which are keepers too. Just hearing Roy Orbison's god-given voice is worth the price of admission. You also have George Harrison singing lead on a few cuts and Dylan's "Tweeter and The Monkey Man" is as good as anything he's done the last 20 years plus Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne are all in great peak form too. What is enjoyable about this is that you can tell the boys were having fun doing this. There is a whimsical, laid-back, lighthearted good-feeling about this music. The egos don't get in the way and it seems there is genuine respect for each other's legendary talents. Jim Keltner, a premier session drummer is also aboard. Next, there is a 42 minute DVD showing how they got together and also shows the boys at work and play with videos of featured songs. The second CD is from the second album (Vol. 3) which is just as good as the first even though Mr. Orbison had passed away after the first one was released. This is the best purchase I've made this year as far as sheer enjoyment. 2 CD's = rated A+ = DVD = rated A. Like a fine wine, this release will only improve with age.

A Long Overdue Re-Issue.......2007-07-05

First, the problems:

Several of the videos have been altered. While I can understand why Milli Vanilli were removed from the original version of the "Wilbury Twist" video (although, if anything, their presence in such an anti-music video music video would only carry added weight), the version of "Inside Out," which is missing George Harrison's great rock star theatrics, makes no sense.

Second, Jeff Lynne's production sounds just as sugary as it did back in 1988/1990 (but not as over-produced as Tom Petty's ice cream headache-inducing "Full Moon Fever"). I wish there were acoustic-based "alternate" versions of these songs sitting around somewhere just waiting to be released, because they'd inevitably sound cleaner, crisper, and, well...better.

Lastly and leastly, none of the extra tracks are any where near as good as the albums (well, the "Runaway" cover is decent). Without these, both albums could have been put on a single disc, making the set a bit more affordable.

Nonetheless:

I LOVE these albums. Songs like "Heading for the Light," "Congratulations," "End of the Line," "Inside Out," "You Took My Breath Away," and "Wilbury Twist" are classics, perfect pop craftsmanship. They feature some of George Harrison's and Bob Dylan's warmest performances, and (of course) the ghost of Roy Orbison haunts the set - rarely do music legends go out in such a beautifully understated way.

Is it just me, or is the second album actually better than the first?

Average customer rating:

Another good one!
Not as catchy as Songs About Jane
I'm So Glad it's not SAJ Part II!
Maroon 5, It won't be soon before long
This is how you do it..

It Won't Be Soon Before Long
Maroon 5
Manufacturer: A&M / Octone Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Songs About Jane
Minutes to Midnight
Call Me Irresponsible
Introducing Joss Stone
Daughtry

ASIN: B000P2A256
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

If I Never See Your Face Again
Makes Me Wonder
Little of Your Time
Wake Up Call
Won't Go Home Without You
Nothing Lasts Forever
Can't Stop
Goodnight Goodnight
Not Falling Apart
Kiwi
Better That We Break
Back At Your Door

Amazon.com

Sometimes it's O.K.--even important--to put aside your reluctance to embrace artists who make teenage girls scream. It happened in 2006, when Justin Timberlake scraped the sludge off pop and left something shiny behind, and it's happening again in 2007 with Maroon 5. It Won't Be Soon Before Long, the L.A. band's sophomore studio disc, rode in on a crest of hype and crumpled expectations--fan reports had it that Adam Levine & Co. scrapped their signature pop-soul sound for something harder and darker. Not so. Shades of Prince, Hall & Oates, and Sting still color the Maroon sound (check out the spectacularly fizzy "Little of Your Time," as well as the first single, "Makes Me Wonder," a song catchier than fire), but they're made ever fainter here by the clamping down of five guys on what is essentially the most distinctive pop sound to emerge from a single band since the Bee Gees squealed into the mid-'70s. It Won't Be Soon squares hip-hop sensibilities ("Wake Up Call") with rock ones ("If I Never See Your Face Again") and stormy moods ("Can't Stop") with bittersweet ballads ("Better That We Break"). It's a disc destined to defy detractors and go on to greatness, elevating the credibility of teenage girls for years to come. --Tammy La Gorce

Amazon.com

Global neo-soul rock superstars Maroon 5 are back with their much-anticipated sophomore album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long. The follow-up to the 10x platinum, Grammy-winning Songs About Jane will be "sexier and stronger," according to frontman Adam Levine, who looked to '80s icons such as Prince, Michael Jackson, and Talking Heads for inspiration. Recorded at home in Los Angeles with producers Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Eminem), Mark "Spike" Stent (Bjork, Keane, Gwen Stefani), Mark Endert (Madonna, Fiona Apple), and Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Nickel Creek), the album promises to be a louder take on the pop sounds of their first effort. "It's definitely aggressive, upbeat and pounding," says Levine.

More Maroon 5

Songs About Jane
Live Friday the 13th
1.22.03.Acoustic

Maroon 5 Photos

Customer Reviews:

Another good one!.......2007-07-09

Once again Maroon 5 has kicked out another good CD. Not one bad song on there as far as I'm concerned!

Not as catchy as Songs About Jane.......2007-07-09

I absolutely loved Maroon 5's first album, but this one doesn't quite do it for me. The lyrics are great, however, the song itself lacks original beats. I think they should team up with Timberland or another producer to improve the sound of the album.

I'm So Glad it's not SAJ Part II!.......2007-07-07

I love having a "little secret band" -- the garage band with a small following or something like that -- but Maroon 5 is definitely not that anymore. Normally I hate when songs go single and are blasted all over the airways (Beyonce's "Irreplaceble" a prime example -- I loved that song until I heard it every other minute), but I've even set "Makes Me Wonder" as my ringtone and I'm STILL not tired of it. I love that song, along with just about every song on the CD.

If you want something Songs About Jane-esque, I wouldn't advise this CD. This one is a bit edgier, and there's nothing really romantic about this CD (their only contemporary song that is is "Infatuation," but it's left off the CD and I had to get it elsewhere.) It's a nice mix of slower, smoother tracks and really upbeat rock-soul tracks. This CD just solidified my love for Maroon 5, and anyone with an eclectic taste in music should be satisfied with it, too.

Maroon 5, It won't be soon before long .......2007-07-06

This albumn is the best!! Every song is good, especially track 5(I won't go home without you) It's Great for dancing and doing stuff around the house. I Love it!!

This is how you do it.........2007-07-06

This is what a new band should do(having only one previous album). They stuck with the formula giving their fans what they wanted more of. It is true that they, like every other musical act these days, took a long time to release new material. But now they can develop and progress the way they want to.
I am so tired of bands "maturing" out of nowhere, coming out with music that sounds bad and believing they have the right to come out with music that isnt worth the amount of time they took to make it.

Now they have a great chance and have earned the right to come out with a concept album or try anything else that they want. Well Done!

Average customer rating:

A Very Good Second Album
can somebody...
Far Better than it has the Right to Be
Fantastic!
Not for little kids

Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus
Hannah Montana , and Miley Cyrus
Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Disney | Children's Music | Styles | Music

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Hannah Montana - Pop Star Profile
High School Musical 2
Hannah Montana: 2-Disc Special Edition Soundtrack
Headstrong
High School Musical, The Concert - Extreme Access Pass

ASIN: B000OYC3L6
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

We Got the Party
Nobody's Perfect
Make Some Noise
Rock Star
Old Blue Jeans
Life's What You Make It
One in a Million
Bigger than Us
You and Me Together
True Friend

Tracks:

See You Again
East Northumberland High
Let's Dance
G.N.O. (Girl's Night Out)
Right Here
As I Am
Start All Over
Clear
Good and Broken
I Miss You

Amazon.com

Tweens aren't often heralded for their good judgment and excellent taste (Heelys--hello), but if any young starlet can redeem them, it's Hannah Montana. On this, the second soundtrack from the Disney Channel series, Miley Cyrus takes her cues from her TV alter ego, who has an alter ego of her own: Disc 1 features Miley as Hannah, hair-tossing pop princess by weekend, likable schoolgirl by weekday (see "Old Blue Jeans" and "True Friends" to get a sense of each episode's un-cloying sweetness). But disc 2 is the start of something new, as her friends over on the High School Musical set might say: Miley sings strictly as her spunky, truth-telling self. This yields a number of pepped-up pop tracks bound to vibrate through the walls of pink bedrooms everywhere--"See You Again" is a boy-centric song instantly relatable to anyone who's ever been in seventh grade and suffered a bout of bashfulness, "East Northumberland High" puts a punk spin on an I'm-just-not-into-you tale, and "Clear" bounces on a reggae beat while canceling any doubt about our heroine's ability to stand up for herself. Like Hannah before her, Miley makes the best of both worlds--this well-worth-it set, by turns rockin' and reflective, is a masterful example. --Tammy La Gorce

Hannah Montana Photos

Album Description

This 2-disc set features 10 all new Hannah Montana songs from the #1-rated Disney Channel series, as well as a 2nd CD including 10 brand-new original songs by Miley Cyrus!

Customer Reviews:

A Very Good Second Album .......2007-07-10

Miley/Hannah produce some catchy songs on this great follow-up to the first album. In many ways this two-disc set is better than the first Hannah Montana album (there is no filler from other groups or singers) and there are many age-appropriate songs that adults will find themselves singing along to. They have included so many songs that not every song is a winner (some of the slow ones are boring) and songs that Miley wrote show that she is still learning how to songwrite. She also oversings a couple tunes. But overall this is very good, well produced and recommended.

can somebody..........2007-07-07

scan these plzzz

-Fron Cover
-Booklet
-Back of the Booklet
-CD
-Other CD
-Back Cover
-Anything Else Inside

It would be REALLY helpful, thanx!!!

P.S.:
I only rate it 1 star becuz i don't have the cd...yet

Far Better than it has the Right to Be.......2007-07-06

Everyone above who is complaining that "this isn't real music" and that it is only a marketing ploy are people who haven't actually listened to the CD. The first disc (the "Hannah") side is completely how it is described. Just a boring collection of Disneyesque pop made to advertise a TV show. But somewhere along the way, someone let the album get good. The "Miley" disc is far, far better than it has any right to be. If it wasn't packaged with "Hannah Montana" it would be getting the rave reviews that follow fellow popsters Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani and Robyn, because it is just as good, if not better, then them all. Unfortunately too many people like to go on and on about the end of the music business and want to keep their street cred, so they fail to actually listen to music. Pop Music isn't a bad word, and this certainly isn't bad pop music. Hopefully Pitchforkmedia, long the perveyors of too-cool-for-you indie rock, but also champions of slick-as-hell pop music will catch wind and help out the cause.

Fantastic!.......2007-07-06

I just got a copy of this CD and can easily say I liked it. A lot of good beats and great singing. Certainly a good buy.

Best tracks (In my opinion)

1. We got the party
2. Good and broken
3. Start all over
4. Old blue jeans
5. Rockstar

Not for little kids.......2007-07-06

This album is too rocky for smaller kids under 10. I have this album along with the first hannah montana album. and kids at my house will only be allowed to listen to the first one. There are 3 songs from the show that are on this album that are ok, but that is all. then Miley has the song called "I miss you" and it's ok..

For any kids here at my house, i prefer mellow music until they are 11 or 12. the smaller kids under 10 or so will not be listening to this album.

Average customer rating:

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova Are Spectacular
Soundtrack for a great movie
Best Irish Singer
Fantastic music from the most original film of the year!
Movie musicals take a clever and fresh Celtic turn.

Once
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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The Cost
Release the Stars
Fitzcarraldo
The Reminder
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur

ASIN: B000PFU7OO
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

Falling Slowly
If You Want Me
Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy
When Your Minds Made Up
Lies
Gold
The Hill
Fallen from the Sky
Leave
Trying to Pull Myself Away
All the Way Down
Once
Say It to Me Now

Amazon.com

Even those allergic to musicals may be won over by Once, a tender-hearted Irish romance with songs by Czech Republic-born Markéta Irglová and Frames frontman Glen Hansard. (The film's director, John Carney, actually used to play bass in the group.) The trick here is that Irglová and Hansard also play the leads; because their characters are shown busking, writing music, or rehearsing, the songs are smoothly integrated in the film. The overall acoustic mood won't surprise fans of the Frames--some tracks ("Say It to Me," "When Your Mind's Made Up") have even popped up on the band's albums, though the arrangements are more pared-down here, befitting the scruffy, street-musician setting. Being the lesser-known entity, Irglová feels like a revelation; she sounds a bit like a folkie Björk on "If You Want Me," and her song "The Hill" is downright heartbreaking. Irglová and Hansard had already made the 2006 album The Swell Seasontogether, so their collaboration here feels really organic--they sound particularly good together on the title track, for instance. Now that's the kind of magic you want from musicals. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova Are Spectacular.......2007-07-07

After seeing the movie Once and being haunted by its beautiful, lyrical music, I had to buy the CD. The songs are simple, yet powerful, with folk and ballad undercurrents. Once is my favorite CD purchase of the year. Thank you Glen and Marketa for listenng to your muses!

Soundtrack for a great movie.......2007-07-07

See the movie - it's one of the best movies about musicians and music as romance. Once you've seen the movie, you'll want the soundtrack!

Best Irish Singer.......2007-07-05

This artist is excellent. Also can't wait till the movie comes out on dvd so I can purchase it.

Fantastic music from the most original film of the year!.......2007-07-04

Let me start out by saying that the whole singer/sonwriter genre does not usually appeal to me. That being said, I found myself blown away by this film and its integral soundtrack. Having never heard the Frames (or even seen The Commitments, for that matter) this is my first exposure to Hansard's work. The music features outstanding emotional delivery and execution with lyrical content that is both poignant and catchy. Irglova's voice is unique and hauntingly beautiful. The track "If You Want Me" where she provides the lead vocals was the highlight of the album for me. Even if you don't like singer/songwriter stuff, you may enjoy this one - i did.

Movie musicals take a clever and fresh Celtic turn........2007-07-04

You'll appreciate this CD even more if you see the movie. The sweet without being sappy love story told in the movie comes through and reverberates beautifully in these artfully rendered music and lyrics.

Average customer rating:

Another nice little ditty from Paul!
I Still Love Paul
Return to form!!!!!
Very, VERY disappointed
Give It Time

Memory Almost Full
Paul McCartney
Manufacturer: Hear Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Traveling Wilburys (2 CD / 1 DVD)
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It Won't Be Soon Before Long

ASIN: B000P2A242
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

Dance Tonight
Ever Present Past
See Your Sunshine
Only Mama Knows
You Tell Me
Mr. Bellamy
Gratitude
Vintage Clothes
That Was Me
Feet In The Clouds
House of Wax
The End Of The End
Nod Your Head

Amazon.com

"Many years from now" must have seemed like an understatement to 16-year-old Paul McCartney, wondering if he'd still be needed or fed at the age of 64. As it turned out, all doubt as to the latter had ceased by his 22nd birthday (though few could have predicted he'd end up washing down those meals with the liquid pride of Seattle). As to the former? Now that McCartney, as of the date of this album's release, has reached that mythic age, his greatest work is 40 years behind him, his solo peak over 30 years gone. Does the world need a new Paul McCartney album? The answer is yes, at least as much as it needs anything else that passes for music these days. With Memory Almost Full, Macca is back. No, it's not Ram or Band on the Run. It might not even be Flowers in the Dirt--in 1989, he had a full band, the support of Linda, and Elvis Costello as a collaborator. Here, he's on his own. Literally: on the majority of the tracks, everything but the strings is multi-instrumentalist Paul. But the surprise is that it's one of his freest, loosest affairs in years, sonically reminiscent of the Tug of War/Pipes of Peace era with nods to Abbey Road in the album-closing medley, McCartney's gravelly tones on "Gratitude," and 2007's version of "Her Majesty," the palate-cleansing "Nod Your Head." It's a surprise because of the album's inescapable sense of retrospection ("Ever Present Past," "Vintage Clothes," "That Was Me") and even a bit of weariness. The next-to-last song is "The End of the End," after all, in which McCartney tells us about what he'd like to happen "on the day that I die." (He wants "songs that were sung/to be hung out like blankets/that lovers have played on/and laid on while listening to songs that were sung," and will likely get his wish.) But it never gets overwhelming, for McCartney mostly resists his tendency to get plodding and maudlin. In fact, Memory Almost Full must be the most sanguine album made during the dissolution of a marriage since...well, ever. "What went out is coming back," he sings in "Vintage Clothes," and from the sound of things, that may not be just wishful thinking. What's past is prologue; if we're lucky, what to come may be McCartney's late renaissance. --Benjamin Lukoff

Album Description

The 13 new songs on Memory Almost Full are performed entirely by Paul McCartney (excluding strings) and produced by Grammy Award-winner David Kahne (The Strokes, Sublime, Bruce Springsteen and more).

More Paul McCartney

Band on the Run
Ram
Wingspan: Hits and History

Customer Reviews:

Another nice little ditty from Paul!.......2007-07-09

A CD worth buying for Paul and Beatle fans alike. A lot of reflection songs, but it is definately an upbeat CD. I have it in my car, and have listened to it over and over.

I Still Love Paul.......2007-07-08

I loved that first song the best. The whole album felt as if I were holding hands with a boyfriend of long ago that I had missed.

Return to form!!!!!.......2007-07-08

It is damn near impossible not to have high expectations when Macca puts out a new record. I'll admit that this one took a few spins to sink in for me. After the initial inclination to scrutinize every chord and overanalyze every lyric, I began to appreciate that fact that Paul has made great record.

The last couple of records (not counting the terrific oldies record, "Run Devil Run") seemed to be overwhelmed by their producers----"Flaming Pie" fared the best because it had someone musically simpatico at the helm---Jeff Lynne----also having some great tunes helped. "Driving Rain," produced by David Kahne, seemed to strain to sound modern and the songs were mostly forgettable mush. "Chaos and Creation" fared better than its predecessor, but Nigel Goodrich made the miscalculation of discouraging Paul to rock out--someone should have played "Run Devil Run" to the bugger---a recent example that he could still get it done.

The mention of David Kahne's involvement with this album made me blanch. I listened to "Driving Rain" again to make sure and it was even worse than I had remembered. My fears were unfounded. Kahne's influence is more subtle here (and not unwelcome). This is Paul's best solo album in over 30 years. He seems totally unselfconscious like he used to be pre-1977. The melodies, lyrics & rhythms seem to fit---they feel organic and the songs flow together very well. The songs seem "right" somehow. Most importantly, there's not a dud on the album. On paper some of the lyrics seem dreadful like "Dance Tonight." But when you LISTEN to that song, the music and the performance, with the mandolin and the quirky chords, it sounds like a eulogy evoking the spirit of George----there's a really cool tinge of melancholy.

Throughout the album he sings his heart out. His voice has aged to be sure but the shouting at the end of "That Was Me" is invigorating. The song itself sounds like a middle finger to his detractors---in singing about his former glories he seems to somehow reclaim them. He sings about his own death on "The End of the End" with that same genuine optimism that saw the Beatles through the end of the 1960's.

This is a great McCartney record. Inventively quirky rhythmically and melodically with impassioned singing and playing. If an alien just finishing up on Bob Dylan were to ask, "Who is this Paul McCartney that Dylan says is the only one he is STILL in awe of???," I would play them this record.

Very, VERY disappointed.......2007-07-07

I consider myself one of Sir Paul's staunchest champions - my career started because of the inspiration that he and the other Beatles brought to me when I was a very young boy. I have also defended him to those who would discount his abilities in comparison to Lennon's. Quite simply, I believe McCartney to be the greatest melodicist of the last fifty years. That being said, I regret purchasing this CD.

"Chaos and Creation...," Paul's 2005 release, featured some of the best work of recent years. As I read reviews of "Memory Almost Full," I thought, "He's DONE it - he's made a complete return to greatness!" Not so. I find the lyrics he wrote for this disc to be as insipid as his worst critics have always stated. If not for the richness of McCartney's voice and the consistency of his bass playing, "Memory" would be no better than the newest releases by any one of the countless, disposable artists of the day. A true shame.

Give It Time.......2007-07-07

When I first purchased this CD, I flipped through the tracks to see if any of the tunes would catch my ear. With the exception of the song "That Was Me" none did. In fact, my first impression was that the CD was awful. But then I just let it play and it began to grow on me. After a few runs, some of the tunes began to stick with me throughout the day. I am still not quite there with the songs "Gratitude" or to a lesser degree "Nod Your Head", but on the whole it is a good CD and I am glad I made the purchase.

Average customer rating:

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

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

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ASIN: B000P29B1W
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

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

Ryan Adams Photos

More Ryan Adams

Heartbreaker
Gold
Love Is Hell

Album Description

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

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

In other words--easy, Tiger.

--Stephen King

Customer Reviews:

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

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

Look forward to his future.

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

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

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

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

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

This one is no Ripoff.!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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