Elastic

Elastic

ASIN: B000069DIX

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Following up their fine 2002 album as the cooperative Yaya3 trio, tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman, organist Sam Yahel, and drummer Brian Blade reconvene as Joshua Redman's Elastic Band for more soulful grooves and edgy interactions. With Yahel also playing electric piano and synthesizer, the music is more textured and, at times, more fusion-like. As agreeable as the trio's chemistry is--the group has performed on a regular basis at Smalls in New York--you again wish that Redman would be a little less elastic and a little more hard-knuckled. When he takes charge, as on the thrusting "Still Pushin' That Rock," the album comes to life in a way it doesn't when the trio is practicing democracy. Still, this is smart stuff, uncompromising in its own way with structure and harmony, and further evidence of Redman's dedication to avoiding formula. --Lloyd Sachs

Product Description
Joined with keyboardist Sam Yahel and long-time drummer Brian Blade in a jam-based electric trio that is the talk of Jazz. Includes exclusive video interview with Joshua. 2002.

Elastic,Joshua Redman,Warner Bros / Wea,Funk,Fusion,Jazz,Jazz Music,Modern Creative,Neo-Bop,Pop,Post-Bop

I Am an Elastic Firecracker
Average customer rating:

Certainly not perfect, but has its moments

Psychedelic Meets Harmony

One of the best

One of my favorites

their best album

I Am an Elastic Firecracker
Tripping Daisy
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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Tripping Daisy

ASIN: B000001E88
Release Date: 1995-06-20

Tracks:

Rocketpop
Bang
I Got A Girl
Piranha
Motivation
Same Dress New Day
Trip Along
Raindrop
Step Behind
Noose
Prick
High

Customer Reviews:

Certainly not perfect, but has its moments.......2005-09-16

Being "too young" to really follow that much music when this was out in 1995, it was like seven years later that I finally got to hear this band. And for almost three years, the only song I knew from them was "I Got a Girl". My friend got me into this band through this and "Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb". Not a bad album by any means, but the latter is certainly a better album.

I hate to say this about an artist I like a lot, but about half of the songs sound like they were required to be made by the record label. Additionally, it's a somewhat unfocused album, with songs like "Same Dress, New Day" and "Trip Along" which both don't fit well in the context and are a bit dated. Additionally there's a lot of stuff that you'll try to get yourself into rather than actually enjoy.

But why exactly is this a four-star album to me? Well, there are its fair share of pretty good tracks, and the bad could be a whole lot worse. But it's somewhat listenable, even. Originally I would have just given it three stars, but "Prick" is enough of a reason to buy the album. Nine minutes long and the closest thing to metal they've ever done, it's great. Still, they don't sacrifice the generally happy tone that's usually in Tim Delaughter's songs. It's the part after the guitar solo that I love so much, although this is a reason that some may miss the guitarist, Wes. He had a Billy Corgan-type quality to playing the guitar and this was his "Cherub Rock".

One other good thing here is some of the lyrics, like the melodic "Motivation". Elsewhere, "I Got a Girl", which you've probably heard, is really clever and still has not gotten old. Even if I wish people could acknowledge more from the band. I sort of like "Rocketpop", "Bang", "Piranha", and the catchy-yet-quirky "Raindrop". Also, I particularly enjoy "High", another track that shows the great guitar ability they had and Tim has a Brian Wilson-type falsetto here.

More of its strengths are in the last two tracks than anything else, and unfortunately there are a lot of tracks that are barely above average. I think I'd recommend "Jesus" over this if you like the Polyphonic Spree and would like to hear what Tim did in Tripping Daisy. However, for what it's worth, it's a nice blend of psychedelic and punk-pop with occasional other things.

Psychedelic Meets Harmony.......2005-03-07

Tripping Daisy was one of the more unique and original bands to come out of the 90s. I happened to pick up the CD in 1996 and it's been a cherished item in my collection since then.

The highlight of this CD for me has to be the track 'Prick'. An epic nine minute rock saga that covers the rage and sorrow of watching a brother wasting his life on drugs, the lyrics are backed up by screaming guitar riffs and a hard core drum beat that smashes relentlessly into the track.

Unfortunately the band's career was cut short by the death of the their guitarist Wes Berggren in 1999 at the age of 28.

For a glimpse of a band that had all the potential genius but none of the breaks, you can't go past "I am an Elastic Firecrack"

One of the best.......2005-01-25

This album sits right in the middle of my top ten albums of all time. Musically, the guitar playing, drumming, and vocals are all top notch and give you plenty to aspire towards. While at times some of the guitar lines are nothing technically amazing, they are creative and fit perfectly with the song. The drumming is the gem on this album and I love every minute of it. The vocals are uniquely Tripping Daisy's own and make this band stand out from the crowd.

Part pop, part hard rock, and mostly a perfect blend of the two, this album provides you with enough types of sound to keep you interested, but keeps them woven together so that it does not sound out of place.

"I Got a Girl" is of course the "hit" from the album, and by all means is the only reason I heard of this band in the first place. But I must say, "I Got a Girl" is the worst song on the album even though it has its moments instrumentally speaking. My favorites are "Motivation" - much quiter than most songs on the album but just beautiful in every way, "Step Behind" - very fun catchy song, but unique in its structure/arrangment, "Prick" - long prog rock style song with sick guitar riffs and some of the most amazing drumming on the album, and "High" - a nice peaceful song with some beautiful guitar lines which I have been told, although cannot confirm, was not originally a song to be on the album, but just a bit of a jam in the studio that was caught on tape, who knows (the lyrics to this song are the only ones missing in the album notes)?

That being said, every song is worth listening to and I have played this album start to finish in entirety hundreds of times. Other Tripping Daisy albums are good and worth listening to, but none of them capture the mix of hard rock, pop, and psychedelic sounds like this one does.

One of my favorites.......2004-08-31

I'm buying this album again, because my sister lost mine. I bought this when it first came out and listened to it non-stop for a long time. It's one of the very few albums that I can listen to all the way through and not skip songs. I love it!

their best album.......2004-07-25

if your new to tripping daisy, then this is the album you should probably start with, its the most common of all the tripping daisy albums, you can probably find it at most used cd stores, and it is the most popular. don't let the popularity of the single "I Got a Girl" make you think the rest of the album is just like it. each of the songs have their own character and feel to them. it mixes their early hardcore rock from Bill, with their latter psychedelic rock from Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb, making it their best album, and the one that defines who tripping daisy really is. my personal favorite is "Motivation", a song i think is genius, as well as the song "Piranha", which is the ultimate tripping daisy song, that adds all of the their styles into one really good and catchy song. I am an Elastic Firecracker is an album you should defintley look into, if not buy, and start your way into the realm of tripping daisy

Average customer rating:

Just ok
Momentum
BUY THIS If You Like Jazz!
Wonder What Your Listening To?
Lost his jazz soul.

Momentum
Joshua Redman Elastic Band
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Elastic
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ASIN: B0006TL9I2
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Tracks:

Soundcheck
Sweet Nasty
Just A Moment
Shut Your Mouth
The Crunge
Riverwide
Greasy G
Lonely Woman
Swunk
Blowing Changes
Double Jeopardy
Put It In Your Pocket
Showtime

Album Description

Since the release of his chart-topping, self-titled debut in 1993, which heralded the arrival of perhaps the most prodigiously gifted and charismatic young jazz talent of the decade, saxophonist Joshua Redman has always tried to capture "the spirit of the moment" in his live and recorded work. No project better illustrates this guiding ethos than the Elastic Band, his ongoing collaboration with organist Sam Yahel.

Customer Reviews:

Just ok.......2007-05-03

Joshua,s cd was just so so. I would not recomend this cd needs better arrangements & better material.

Momentum.......2007-03-01

This outing the the Elastic Band lacks the stretch I was hoping for the band. Overall the tunes are put together well, but they have the preditable feel of R&B solos. I didn't hear any "real" progression with this band moving into unchartered territory. This would be a good CD to introduce your R&B friends into Jazz.

BUY THIS If You Like Jazz!.......2007-02-22

This is by far my favorite of Joshua Redmans albums. I can play it over and over without tiring of it. It's definitely not as traditional sounding as his other projects, but I think it's a great step. This is a very creative album with no duds. I like to see artists evolve and try different things. Imagine is Sting were still doing top 40 pop tunes like the early days. It would get tiresome after a while. (But then again, I think top 40 music is tiresome before it begins)

There's a lot of great groove and funky stuff on this album. Kind of like Down To The Bone's stuff, but not repetitive. I personally haven't noticed the short length of the songs. I usually play it on my home stereo while doing something else, so I'm not faced with the track times like I would be on the computer.

Unless you hate jazz you should definitely own this album.

Wonder What Your Listening To?.......2006-12-21

This is the first Joshua Redman CD I've had the opportunity to hear. Man, this guy's got it. I read some of the other reviews and a couple mentioned this is not as good as other CDs he has released. I absolutely can not imagine it getting any better than this.

This cat reminds me of Monk, Byrd, Hancock, the Headhunters, and Cannonball all wrapped up in one. It is a throwback with great respect for the masters. It is a grand relief from the blind purchases I have made of so-called new artist whose work sound as scripted and redundant as a Broadway play.

This cat can improvise, he is versatile, and the short cuts leave you begging for more. If he is smart, he would take those very same short cuts and develop them to full length on a future CD.

But since others say this is not as good as other releases, I am compelled to order the older releases to see for myself. If they are correct, then I can only say it will be money well spent!

Lost his jazz soul........2006-09-06

In the early 1990s, when he first gained acclaim, Joshua Redman was one of the bright hopes of jazz. He played with a fresh energy and fire, yet maintained touch with the jazz tradition in a way that all music fans could appreciate. In the last five years, however, he seems to have lost his moorings, and this latest overhyped album is merely another sad example of his musical drifting -- and our loss. I'm astonished by the rave reviews other reviewers here and elsewhere have given Redman's latest. This record is little more than rehashed funk, with a saxophone overlay that is miles short of the ability and inventiveness Redman displayed when he was playing so-called "old-fashioned" acoustic jazz. The tunes are nothing special, the thumping electronic rhythmic accompaniment is boring and heavy-handed, and Redman seems to have nothing interesting to say. Here's one (former) fan who hopes Redman will find his way back, if not to mainstream jazz, at least to credibility.

Average customer rating:

Virtuoso Players Gild the Lilly
Keep looking - there is much better stuff than this
Diasppointed
This album is an absolute disaster
Take My Advice, I'm Only Tryin' to School Ya -

Bagpipes & Brass

Manufacturer: Klavier
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005AAZ6
Release Date: 2000-10-01

Tracks:

Highland Cathedral
Scotland the Brave
Girl I Left Behind Me
Hector the Hero
Far and Away
Green Hills of Tyrol/When the Battle Is Over
Lament for Jef AR Oenven/An Dro
Murray's Fancy
I Love My Love
Cabar Feidh/Farewell to Nigg
Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon
Henry the Fifth Overture
Amazing Grace

Customer Reviews:

Virtuoso Players Gild the Lilly.......2007-04-19

Reviewers who write that these are fine musicians playing lousy arrangements are correct. That's it exactly. The slower cuts are better than the up-tempo ones. Apparently this CD is a big hit with bagpipe tooters. So be it. The rest of us should pass it by or purchase it used.

Keep looking - there is much better stuff than this.......2005-10-05

This album is a perfect example of how a bad arrangement can ruin great music despite the best efforts of great musicians. Everything about this recording is right; selection, performers, sound engineering. Except that the tracks are horribly over-arranged with all sorts of distracting, subtracting variations and trite bridging passages.

Diasppointed.......2005-07-12

I am not saying the music is bad or the quality is lacking, because it is not. If you are looking for traditional music played in the traditional way, then this CD is not for you. It is like listening to everyone's interpretation when they sing the "Star Spangled Banner". There is no need to jazz things up that were not written to be. The titles are old but the variations on the score have a lot to be desired if you wanted to hear these songs played the way they were meant to be played.

This album is an absolute disaster.......2005-06-08

It's said that music soothes the savage beast, but bagpipes will do just the opposite. They will make the hair on your neck stand on end, your blood pressure go through the roof and prepare you to go to war. This album does neither.

The one piece which should most strongly produce the desired result is Scotland the Brave. In this album it is three minutes and twenty seven seconds, the first minute an ten of which are dedicated to fanfare. After that an orchestra plays some stylized version and, I think, I can detect a hint of bagpipes in there somewhere. When one has heard it done "correctly", one can recognize this as a total disaster.

Amazing Grace by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards has a version that is just about right. (And that selection gives one the ability to listen to a sample. I can see why this one doesn't!)

Take My Advice, I'm Only Tryin' to School Ya -.......2004-07-07

I bought this album based on the rave reports of the other reviewers, and could NOT be more pleased with the result. Although not Scottish, I am a long-time bagpipe lover, and this album evokes visions of the Black Watch and other highland pipers moving through their intricate paces. The music is an aural feast, and the sound quality is excellent. I keep it in the CD player in the car and find that a quick drive or a long commute both become pleasures when I'm listening to it. Take my advice - if you have even a slight interest in pipes, drums or brass, you're going to love this album. (This is the first time I have ever written a review; it's a very compelling album!)

Average customer rating:

My all time favourite
Smooth Funk
Redman for president
Look behind the funk!
This is the funky jazz bomb!!!

Elastic
Joshua Redman
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000069DIX
Release Date: 2002-09-10

Tracks:

Molten Soul
Jazz Crimes
The Long Way Home
Oumou
Still Pushin' That Rock
Can A Good Thing Last Forever?
Boogielastic
Unknowing
News From The Front
Letting Go
The Birthday Song
The Birthday Song

Amazon.com

Following up their fine 2002 album as the cooperative Yaya3 trio, tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman, organist Sam Yahel, and drummer Brian Blade reconvene as Joshua Redman's Elastic Band for more soulful grooves and edgy interactions. With Yahel also playing electric piano and synthesizer, the music is more textured and, at times, more fusion-like. As agreeable as the trio's chemistry is--the group has performed on a regular basis at Smalls in New York--you again wish that Redman would be a little less elastic and a little more hard-knuckled. When he takes charge, as on the thrusting "Still Pushin' That Rock," the album comes to life in a way it doesn't when the trio is practicing democracy. Still, this is smart stuff, uncompromising in its own way with structure and harmony, and further evidence of Redman's dedication to avoiding formula. --Lloyd Sachs

Album Description

Joined with keyboardist Sam Yahel and long-time drummer Brian Blade in a jam-based electric trio that is the talk of Jazz. Includes exclusive video interview with Joshua. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

My all time favourite.......2006-10-06

I owned this CD since it first came out in 2002. Four years later, I still play it when I go for a long drive or oversea trip. The music is so funky and soulful.

This CD was my introduction to Joshua Redman and the incredible drumming of Brian Blade. I have become a fan of both of them eversince.

Smooth Funk.......2006-09-07

This is a fantastic jazz album that shows great attempts (successful ones) by Redman and the gang to pioneer some very new ground in a jazz setting. It reminds me somewhat of Brad Mehldau's much maligned "Largo" although I don't consider this as much an instant classic as Largo. But very much in the same vein. Brian Blade is one of the most creative and interesting drummers I've ever heard. And he really gets to groove on this album. After hearing him swing most of the time it's nice to hear him finally get a chance to get FUNKED. Sam Yahel does some very cool stuff on keys. Nothing breathtaking, but always complimentary to the song and always interesting. And of course, Mr. Redman is down-right ridiculous on that sax. My only beef about the album would be that at times the sound selections make the material veer dangersously close to "smooth jazz". Note to JR: "PUT THE SOPRANO SAXOPHONE DOWN!!" Soprano may once have been cool, but since Kenny G, Boney James, Dave Koz et all, it is now the kiss of death to good jazz in my opinion.

Check out this album. It's excellent. There's also a great live version of Jazz Crimes on Youtube.

Redman for president.......2005-10-26

When my chauffeur Jan is behind the wheel he always plays Redman. One day I aked Jan why? He told me the Redman was the saxman. Later that day he gave me this album. Since that day i listen to it always and I want to learn more about the redman.
So checking with Jan he pointed me to splendor of amazon.com. I listened....

I really wanted to write a review too. This album is that good. Check Jan and me on route A1. Swinging long vehicle going thru soundbarrier. The album is that good.

But when I read the woodcountreview I knew all was told.
The artist play are really good. They sound like they had fun recording these songs. The compositions are funky and of high standard.

Look behind the funk!.......2005-10-26

Because I couldn't decide about giving this album 4 or 5 stars I listened to it very closely. With an album that's pretty funky that's not something I do very often. That kind of music must get to you, without paying too much attention.
Elastic proved that attitude to be wrong. This jazz/funk/fusion-album yields it's hidden secrets when you really start to listen.
Two important reasons for the five stars I decided to give:

1. There's a combination of some of the worlds finest musicians in jazz on this album: Redman, Yahel and Brian Blade (I know there are some other descent musicians on the face of the earth, but they just don't play on this album...). They play together very well, great breaks and accents, shared solo's, drumsolo's in the break etc. For those who miss the bassplayer easily when he's not around: the organ takes over the bassplaying, sometimes sounding like Marcus Miller or T.O.P.
Joshua Redman's playing has two sides: he can be fast and his virtuosity is great but his personal style is a bit slow (by a guitarist that's called a slowhand?). Sometimes that keeps the swing/funk from getting loose. Good or bad? Decide for yourself.
Sam Yahel plays piano, Hammond, Fender Rhodes etc. on this album. He really isn't a dull player, wich sometimes happens when there is an organ involved. Where he starts playing, solo or background, there's something good going on. He uses a lot of different sounds.
Brian Blade is maybe the best drummer I've seen play live. He can do almost everything with his drums and he can really fill every space the rythm of a tune gives him. What he does here is a bit different: he's not so very prominently prescent. I believe that's an important quality for a drummer, Blade has shown before with his own Fellowship, where he leaves a lot of space for composition and other players.

2. The composition of the songs on the album and the way they build up is very good. The only song that's not really working for me is the first one. It's a typical fusion-thang with a big slow theme that get's repeated over and over. The second song (Jazz Crimes) is a six star tune tough. It starts of with a fast and freaky riddle being in contrast with the second, sentimental, part of the theme. After Yahel's solo runs smoothly over into the theme again, Blade and Redman go for it! At the end of the tune the organ has slowly filled up all the space around Redman's saxophone. But where not there yet. Between fast breaks there's some space for a short drum-thing and than the theme starts over again. It get's a little freaky and...it stops.
The third song is a ballad that evolves into something different than a ballad. The organ's from outher space here and Redman does some good things on his saxophone. At the end there's not so much left of the ballad.
Omou is song number four and it's an intelligent little thing that start of with sax and organ but suddenly Blade rolls a very nice beat under it. I don't know why, but this tune fascinates me. Maybe because at the end of the short tune it let's itself roll away slowly to dissapear into nothing.
Still Pushin' That Rock has a lot to offer, but what I really like is that after a few minutes the song collapses. In a lot of songs that's not good. Here it's done very good. There's less going on for a little while, but it sounds like there's still something building up.
Can A Good Thing Last Forever starts of with a poppy-piano. Once again there's a big theme and it builds up to climax, but the song is a little boring, but very usefull as a last song for the break for popbands wanting to steal the show with an instrumental.
In the seventh song (Boogielastic) to the duel or team-work (I cannot decide) between the sax and the organ. There's some great breaks in this song.
Unknowing has something special. Maybe the way the drums are recorded and definitly because of the sudden ending.
Number nine hits the T.O.P.-bass. The way it get's silent after the 'storm' is done very good!
The ballad Letting Go builds up very very very subtlely and slowly builds up and stops exactly at the climax.
At the end of the album there's a little freeness running into somewhat of a popsong that nicely ripples away.

Well, in conclusion: I would agree with a more critical review maybe. I know that sometimes there's too much theme and repeating without adding something and there are never real strange things happening but for a slowfunk/jazz-album there's so much going on here that it just wouldn't be fair to give less than 5 stars.

This is the funky jazz bomb!!!.......2005-07-30

If you love your jazz funky (and I'm not talking about what they call "smooth Jazz" and radio friendly stuff), then you'll love this one. If you are a drummer, then this album is a must to check out, as Brian Blade gets as funky as funky gets. The keyboards are all organic. Lots of Rhodes, Wurly, Hammond organ, and some really cool vintage synths being used on the album. The songs are really well crafted with funky hooks. If you're looking for swinging jazz, then don't pick this one up. If you want to get one of the great instrumental funk albums of all time, then check this one out. I got lucky and picked it up for $3 used somewhere in downtown NYC. Ironic that it's become one of my personal favorites.

Average customer rating:

Great...like all their CD's
Love it!

(Godzilla's) Eatin' Dust
Fu Manchu
Manufacturer: Elastic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0006J01ZY
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Tracks:

Eatin' Dust
Shift Kicker
Orbiter
Mongoose
Pigeon Toe
Module Overload
Living Legend
Godzilla

Customer Reviews:

Great...like all their CD's.......2006-07-07

These songs were co-produced by Josh Homme, and recorded right after the release of "The Action is Go," Fu's best CD in my opinion, and these songs are just an extension of that CD. Buy it--you won't be sorry.

Included are an early demo of "Mongoose," a track later refined and polished for "California Crossing," and a cover of Blue Oyster Cult's "Godzilla," one of the greatest hard rock songs of the 70's. The other tracks are vintage Fu.

I love this band's music so much...I have everything they've ever done. I just ordered "Start the Machine" which is their newest release (2004?)...I haven't heard it yet, but I'm sure it's a winner, too. Unfortunately, the guys are getting older, and their sound has begun to change. There are a few songs on Crossing that I don't really care for, but from 1990 up until the release of "King of the Road," this band scorched the amps, tore holes in the drum skins, and left guitar strings in a ball of metallic twine. No one rocked the 90's as hard or as stoned as these guys. Get everything they released before "California Crossing," including Action, "In search Of...," "King of the Road," "Daredevil" and their first CD, "No One Rides for Free." All of them are 5 Stars in my opinion.

Love it! .......2004-12-23

I have the recently re-issued copy of this with the alternate cover. I had read some reviews about the original release that weren't all that encouraging. But being a big Fu fan, and seeing how this album was hard to get for a while, I went for it. IMO the band sounds more raw and punishing. Kind of like they just went for it in the studio. Don't know if it is the recording quality or what but I like it! A few of the tunes are earlier, different versions of songs they released on later albums (i.e Mongoose). So if you have a lot of their albums chances are they aren't all new songs to you. But it's cool to hear how those songs have evolved to their present states. Definitely worth it if you are into the Fu!

Average customer rating:

Sometimes Even Plastic is Elastic

Demonstrates Plastic And Elastic
The Violet Burning
Manufacturer: Northern Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000BY7P1
Release Date: 2000-06-24

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Moon Radio
Berlin Kitty
She Says Electric
I'm No Superman
Oceana
Sugarlight U.S.A.
Ilaria
Robot Fluide Robot
Gorgeous
We Close Our Eyes
Seamonster

Customer Reviews:

Sometimes Even Plastic is Elastic.......2003-12-28

The Violet Burning's "Demonstrates Plastic and Elastic," a sneak-up-on-you and amazing classic may not work for everbody, but I believe that anybody who gives it a chance and time will eventually see it work its way into your life few like few other musical offerings can even begin to. The Violet Burning's fourth full length release, builds on and transcends all that went before: "Chosen"'s groundbreaking passion; "Strength," the first and finest modern worship album (only eight years ahead of its time), and the self-titled CD's grungy, gut-wrenching (and guitar-wrenching), brutally honest psalms and heartbreak.

The pressing and practical problem for record-store folks is where to file this CD..which is precisely the genius and point of this offering. Is it rock or is it worship? Yes. Is it punk or ballad? Believe it or not; both/and! No contradiction; just paradox. Or maybe a contradiction..but who cares? But the real genre breakdown, and interpretive key to this layered and intriguing work is spelled out as early as the title ("Is this CD plastic or elastic?" "Yes, both, precisely)" Michael Pritzl, who basically "is" the Violets, was inspired to have his band cut this CD after returning from Berlin and seeing a sign reading "Plaste und Elaste"..that is, "Plastic and elastic." This sign triggered his thoughts that life, relationships, romance and faith are sometimes divided into "plastic" experiences and songs (fun, maybe superficial and throwaway party stuff), and "elastic" items (flexible, fluid, stretching, deep, profound, emotional to the max). So about half the songs are at heart "plastic": fun, rollicking rockers like "Moon Radio," "Berlin Kitty", "I'm No Superman".."new-wavish" songs and "single jingles" that stick like crazy in your head, and are all incredible on CD; and triply more so in concert; but songs I confess sometimes only preface the real treat of this disc: the "other half": the very "elastic" and ultimately astonishing, elongated, ethereal beautiful and at times almost-impossible to deal with emotive "feeling" songs; both in lyric and guitar. Like "She Says Electric" (a song about ..among other things, that is..remember that plastic "stretches" thematically) what a friend told Pritzl it feels like to be lost in worship": I am electric..face to the sun." Like "Oceana," (about ..on some listenings and levels anyway..how another friend leads him closer to God; and "Gorgeous" (most days my favorite song of basically, well..nothing less than all time..tied with "Goldmine" from the previous VB CD and "Song of the Harlot" from "Strength") ....a song I believe invokes how God feels about us: "I feel so much the distance in your eye..You won't catch me that way.. You're gorgeous".

But it's the last two songs, "We Close Our Eyes",the memorial to the band's former producer and mentor Chris Wimber (son of founding Vineyard pastor, John), taken from life at an all-too-early age. How could one truly listen and engage the promise of the hushed lyric and not believe it: "We're not alone..We're going to live forever." And I dare you not to take Pritzl literally when he recommends that "we close our eyes" while soaking up this song. Try on "Seamonster" (about God casting our sins in the deepest sea, and remembering them no more"; "eating" our sins like a seamonster..what?) that transport me even higher and deeper into Kingdom reality,and can move me to tears and hear-rending intercession and on-my-face worship....Indeed, I am electric and can't be interrupted when these two closing tracks unfurl, shimmer, build, swirl their way into me in an unhurried and other-worldly vibe, and in the words of bassist Herb Grimaud, Jr, "take you on a journey every time."

And what to do with one of the most discussed songs on the bands website:,"Ilaria." Frankly, I think every song in the VB catalog has an element of God talking to us in the lyrics(Even if it "seems" at first to be about a human relationship or event, or even a throway "plastic" moment) . In "Ilaria"'s line, "I kind of like it when you sway", I think this is directed to God. Pritzl has admitted being fascinated with a literal translation of the Hebrew of Genesis 1, where the Spirit is "swaying," "hovering" or "moving" over us. Much of this CD evokes for me what it may be like to sway and move with God, a place we don't often let our hearts take us. And the infectious "robotic dancing" of "Robot Fluide Robot" is a creative synthesis of "plastic" instrumentation and "elastic" lyric. "Sugarlight USA," perhaps another plastic/elastic combo, is arguably about addiction, David Bowie's "Major Thom" persona, a critique of American culture , alienation, television and (inevitably) our God-images ... all at once.

Fans of the earlier three CDs, and the three later CDs, will find this CD an indispensable crucible, landmark, and launching pad. A band captured on the rebound from an intense, heartbreaking season, full of joy..full of..well, plastic momnets where there is no shame or guilt in reckless abandonment to a (not really)disposable dance number...and glorious, evocative "elastic" pilgrimamges and pilgrimmages . The lyrics..of the elastic pieces, anyway,,are not inmediately accessible (a different animal altogether from some of the more recent worship and pop numbers) and are right-brain impressionistic invitations to explore life, God, ones own bare heart and relationships,..and like good art, will mean different things to different listeners..which of course is an "elastic" quality.

Opening with, and briefly closing with a worshipful pouring out of ones naked longing and vulnerability before God "Lay Your hands now on me..Let your love cover me".... first accomapanied with ear-splitting punk riffs, and finally with barely audible organ, purposefully frame this whole CD event as authentic, creative , and fresh worship, the like of which is found nowhere else I know.. For who else could weave plastic and elastic, let the twain creatively meet, and couch it in profound worship..even though some may note detect a note of worship until a third or fourth listen! I may be a sucker for ethereal guitars and extended vibe and drone (a genre the later Violets may not visit as much) , but to me, when fused with the uncompromisingly honest and pasionate heart of Michael Pritzl and company , I admit with no shame that such has midwifed many a holy moment with God and others in my life. Whether you like droning guitars or not, if you prayerfully let this CD into your life, including those dark soul-recesses, you'll likely find , in the langauge of "Fluide" , "we're all the same"...desperate vagabonds sniffing for , in the lyric of "Elaste", "something strong to fill our hole."

Having said and accoladed all that, in a sense, this disc is almost incomprehensible without the context of its predesssor, the self-titled CD ( a true masterpiece, a word I would not quite apply to "P and E"... though you noted I began this essay with an easy "classic" rating and 5 stars), because it is only most fully seen and tasted in the light of finding ones way back from near despair, and finding God blesses us with both plastic and elastic foretastes of unspeakable joy..which Michael Pritzl in an apostolic way can begin to articulate and speak for us.

Average customer rating:

Damn this is good
Honest
Honest
so lovely
haunting

How to Disappear
Laury Kranz
Manufacturer: Elastic Ruby
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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All This Time We Could Have Been Friends
Snow & Voices
Love in the Time of Science
In the Red
Baxter

ASIN: B00004RD7O
Release Date: 2000-03-07

Tracks:

Not Another Girl
Adam One Afternoon
Just Like Before
Lucky One
You are the Rain
I'm Still Yours
Does it Show
Someone Else's Hands
About You
Where Words Leave Off
Through the Skin

Album Description

'How to Disappear' is the debut effort from Lauri Kranz. It is an intimate album with moments both fragile (Not Another Girl) and vitriolic (Lucky One), mixing narcotic vocals withlayers of electric guitars, vintage keyboards, upright bass and drums - all together to create a sound which is both unique and comfortable, languid and edgy. All of these elements are showcased in the first single, 'Adam One Afternoon'.

Customer Reviews:

Damn this is good.......2000-08-30

Haven't listened to anything else for days ... I've been pressing it on my friends, we all agree - this record is a beautiful thing.

Honest.......2000-05-31

The most special thing about this record is not the beautiful voice, which is totally hypnotic, but the honesty in the lyrics. It's very rare to find music this good, this open, but that doesn't sound like a completely self indulgant therapy session. A great new talent.

Honest.......2000-05-31

so lovely.......2000-05-21

I bought this because of the great review in Mojo. And they weren't lying, it's the real thing. Just beautiful. Thank you.

haunting.......2000-04-15

this record is beautiful. it feels honest and fragile.

Grainger Edition Vol 13 - Works for Chamber Ensemble

Average customer rating:

Absolutely, Percy at his best.....
A delight!
More music of Percy Grainger

Grainger Edition Vol 13 - Works for Chamber Ensemble

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Grainger: Works for Wind Orchestra 2
Percy Grainger Edition, Vol. 1: Orchestral Works
Grainger Edition, Vol.6: Orchestral Works
The Grainger Edition Vol. 18: Works For Unaccompanied Chorus
Grainger: Works for Chamber Ensemble 2

ASIN: B00000K2FE
Release Date: 1999-09-21

Tracks:

Molly On The Shore
My Robin Is To The Greenwood Gone
Shepherd's Hey!
Harvest Hymn
Arrival Platform Humlet
Handel In The Strand
I. Swedish Air And Dance
II. Song Of Varmeland
III. Norwegian Polska
IV. Danish Melody
V. Air And Finale On Norwegian Dances
The Nightingale And The Two Sisters
The Maiden And The Frog
The Shoemaker From Jerusalem
Mock Morris
The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol
Themes And Variations
Youthful Rapture
Colonial Song

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely, Percy at his best............2006-07-15

For anyone who loves Merchant-Ivory films and recalls the background music for Howard's End (my favorite), Mock Morris has to keep playing over and over in one's head; but for me it's never annoying, only happy.

This ensemble enhances every composition - marvelous!

A delight!.......2000-08-12

This is one of the most delightful recordings of Grainger's works I have heard. If you're looking for Grainger or just enjoyable music, this is for you. It lifts my spirits and inspires me with the great performance as well as the wonderful, lyrical melodies.

More music of Percy Grainger.......1999-09-29

Chandos is certainly to be lauded for their wonderful Grainger project. This volume which features Grainger's chamber music is wonderful. The members of the Academy of St. Martin's in the Fields deliver a wonderful performance.

For those who love the music of Percy Grainger, this recording is a necessary one to have.

Elastic Rock/We'll Talk About It Later
Average customer rating:

How Jazz-Rock was Born. British anyways.

Great Music from a Forgotten Era

What a sound!

British underground jazz-rock

Elastic Rock/We'll Talk About It Later
Nucleus
Manufacturer: Bgo - Beat Goes on
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Live in Bremen

ASIN: B0000072M0
Release Date: 2002-02-15

Tracks:

1916
Elastic Rock
Striation
Taranaki
Twisted Track
Crude Blues, Pt. 1
Crude Blues, Pt. 2
1916 (Battle of Boogaloo)
Torrid Zone
Stonescape
Earth Mother
Speaking for Myself, Personally, In My Own Opinion, I Think...
Persephone's Jive

Tracks:

Song for the Bearded Lady
Sun Child
Lullaby for a Lonely Child
We'll Talk About It Later
Oasis
Ballad of Joe Pimp
Easter 1916

Album Description

UK two-fer for the British prog-rock act combines the 1970 albums, 'Elastic Rock' & 'We'll Talk About It Later', both are unavailable domestically. Beat Goes On Records. 1994.

Album Details

2 CD Set

Customer Reviews:

How Jazz-Rock was Born. British anyways........2005-07-21

Nucleus's first two albums are some nice pieces of history in the field of jazz-rock. Elastic Rock is kind sounds like Nucleus rushed thought the pieces,but the album does has good rifts and solos mostly by Jenkins and Carr. Highlights on this album here are Twisted Track,an original by Speeding and Peter Brown, that features some nice country blues guitar by Speeding,Torrid Zone and Persephones Blues. Songs like Stonescape,Striantion and Speaking of Myself... are indulgent ideas. Next is a more polished,funk-filled We'll Talk About it Later. Song For a Bearded Lady is a classic and sounds a little better then Hazard Profile from Soft Machine inwhich had Jenkins and Marshall in it, but the song is a gritty funk number with some heavy distored wah-wah piano and slick guitar work. Sun Child follows the theme but with some of the most complex rhythm by Clyde and Mrshall. The gloomy Lullaby For a Lomesome Child is next with a basic rift and head but no solo. The Title Track is a disorganized piece with Speeding holding it together. The long Oasis is an odd piece,you can really get it in your head. Ballad of Joe Pimp is fun to listen to. The unknown singer and simple-minded lyrics get tedious kind of. Easter 1916 is a reprise off of Battle of Boogaloo with some gruff vocal lines making you think of Willam Shatner, but the end of the song is the best with Brian Smith and John Marshall going free-form on us, kind of like Jupiter by Coltrane. A highly recommended double set to own. Recommendation: Six by Soft Machine.

Great Music from a Forgotten Era.......2004-09-30

This CD reminds me that the In a Silent Way did not spring full blown from the forehead of Miles Davis. The first disc is an excellent example of In a Silent Way style modal jazz. It's no wonder from listening to this that the addition of 2 Englishmen made the Miles stuff leap so far ahead. The second disc is even better in my estimation. Some amazing guitar work from the underappreciated Chris Spedding. Great themes from Karl Jenkins and terrific playing from the whole ensemble. A worthwhile purchase for anyone who enjoys the music that Miles made in this era. The fact that the band is led by trumpeter Ian Carr only makes the comparisons more obvious. There's only one Miles, but this stuff holds its weight on its own merits.

What a sound!.......2004-08-21

Ian Carr & Nucleus is a genuine pioneer of British Jazz-Rock Fusion blending free-jazz with psychedelic improvisational rock elements. There is true spirit in their works, far from nowadays pathetic fusion music. Highly-recommended!!!

p.s.: You can see free MP3 file above on this page. Just stop trying to judge IC & Nucleus by it because it is the song of the completely different group with the same name. Amazon should correct this.

British underground jazz-rock.......2002-05-27

I'm quiet surprised to be the first to review this fantastic album. Led by trompetist Ian Carr, and supported by Karl Jenkins and John Marshall (before joining Soft Machine) this band just realized this two albums in 1971. I just can highly recommend this one to anyone who likes Soft Machine and those british jazz-rock bands.

Average customer rating:

Do these guys have a Conductor?

Percy Grainger: Famous Folk-Settings

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Octets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Percy Grainger Plays Grainger

ASIN: B000000A8X
Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

II. Rustic Dance
IV. Eastern Intermezzo
Free Ramble-On A Theme By J.S. Bach: 'Sheep May Safely Graze'
Spoon River
My Robin Is To The Greenwood Gone
Passacaglia On An English Folksong
Country Gardens
Mock Morris
Youthful Rapture For Solo Cello
Shepherd's Hey For Room-music Twelve-some
Walking Tune For Wind Five-some
Molly On The Shore-Irish Reel
Handel In The Strand-Clog Dance

Customer Reviews:

Do these guys have a Conductor?.......2002-05-31

I am a very hearty Percy Grainger fan, but I am very dissappointed with the quality of the pieces on this CD. While the strings and Phillip Martin on the piano seem to carry their weight fairly well (the recording of Mock Morris is very nice), the wind players leave much to be desired. Balance and stylistic problems plague this CD. The first trumpet plays decent but can't time his breaths worth anything and the low woodwinds and brass put out a pitiful amount of sound. The flute's interpretation in "Blithe Bells" is stylistically terrible. There is also a horrible electronically synthesized solo in "Green Bushes" (Imitating Bassoon maybe???) which completely destroys that piece. Overall I'm very unhappy with this CD. If you're looking for Grainger, purchase the Chandos Grainger Edition CD's with the Royal Northern College of Music Wind Ensemble. Those CD's are vastly superior to this poor attempt at Grainger.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music