In Focus

In Focus

ASIN: B00004W5CE

Track Listings

1. Momentum

2. Grant's Tune

3. D and B

4. Smile

5. One Bedroom Blues

6. Time for Love

7. Highest Mountain

Tracks:

Focus & Activate The Mind: Vc Con No.3 in G, K 216: Allegro - Takako Nishizaki
Focus & Activate The Mind: Sym No.13 in F, K 112: Andante - Nicholas Ward
Focus & Activate The Mind: Son in F, K 376: Allegro - Takako Nishizaki
Focus & Activate The Mind: Sym No.8 in D, K 48: Andante - Nicholas Ward
Focus & Activate The Mind: Son No.11 in G, K 379: Andantino Cantabile - Takako Nishizaki
Focus & Activate The Mind: Son in B flat, K 379: Andantino Sostenuto E Cantabile - Takako Nishizaki
Focus & Activate The Mind: Sym No.4 in D, K 19: Andante - Nicholas Ward
Focus & Activate The Mind: Vn Con No.5 in A, K 219: Tempo Di Menuetto - Takako Nishizaki
Focus & Activate The Mind: Son in D, K 448: Allegro Con Spirito - Nadine Palmier

Tracks:

Clarity & Restful Attention: Cassination in B flat, K 99: Andante - Harald Nerat
Clarity & Restful Attention: Sym No.27 in G, K 199/161b: Andante Grazioso - Capella Istropolitana
Clarity & Restful Attention: Ser in D, K 250: Andante - Capella Istropolitana
Clarity & Restful Attention: Qt No.23 in F, K 590: Andante (Allegretto) - Eder Quartet
Clarity & Restful Attention: Ser in D, K 250: Andante - Takako Nishizaki/Capella Istropolitana/Johannes Wildner
Clarity & Restful Attention: Con No.20 in d, K 466: Romance - Jeno Jando/Concentus Hungaricus/Andras Ligeti
Clarity & Restful Attention: Divert in D, K 131: Allgretto - Capella Istropolitana/Harald Nerat
Clarity & Restful Attention: Vn Son No.2 in E flat, K 302: Rondeau: Andante Grazioso - Takako Nishizaki/Jeno Jando

Customer Reviews:

Mozart effective.......2007-04-07

I love classical music, bought this for my child who has attention difficulties, he enjoys hearing it in the background as he completes his homework assignments.

Mozart is #1!.......2007-02-20

I tried this cd when I studied for math and physics to improve my grades and it sounds kind of crazy but the very first time I listened to this about a week before my trigonometry exam, I made the highest grade on it than ever before. There is something truley amazing with these volumes of the mozart effect, im going to get volumes 1-5 because it really helps me with math. I actually look forward to doing my math homework now..its brilliant! One of my favorite songs out all the albums is on this one..its song #3 on the focus cd,its awesome! Preview it and you will see what I mean.

must have for ADHD.......2006-03-09

I ordered this cd set for both my son and husband who have ADHD. It absolutely has a calming effect on both. My husband has the cd on his IPOD and sleeps through the night. My son listens to the cds while doing homework and to fall asleep.
If you have a child w/ADD/ADHD, this cd set is worth a try.

Average customer rating:

Hi-Fi in Focus Plus
Chet Atkins
Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Eclectic Guitar

ASIN: B000OCZ1QW
Release Date: 2007-04-23

Tracks:

Cumbanchero
Ain't Misbehavin'
Shadow Waltz
Anna
Yesterdays
Portuguese Washerwoman
Tiger Rag
Walk Don't Run
Tara's Theme
Johnson Rag
Lullaby Of The Leaves
Bourree
Avorada
Hidden Charm
Tricky
Martinique
Dig These Blues
Colonial Ballroom
August Mon
Red Leaves Of Autumn
It's About Time
Don't Tease My Heart
Fascinating Melody
Saw Mill River Road
Delightful Interlude
Head Over Heels
I Must Be Losing My Heart
I Won't Cry Anymore
When It's Cherry Blossom Time

Album Description

2007 reissue of this 1957 album by the guitar great, now more than doubled in length with the addition of 16 bonus tracks recorded the same year. The term 'Hi-Fi' was a buzz word of the music business during the '50s and many artists of that era recorded albums using the most advanced technologies of the time in order to put the qualities of the `modern stereo systems' to the test. Of all the albums that were recorded in this manner, HI-FI In Focus was particularly effective; the sounds of the guitar were crystalline and the tracks are among Atkins best. In fact, many consider this to be Atkins finest recording period. From Classical and Jazz to Country and Pop, Chet was able to play any style with conviction and that is more than evident on this CD. Universe.

Album Details

The Term "hi-fi" was a Buzz Word of the Music Biz During the 1950s and Many Artists of that Era Recorded Albums Using the Most Advanced Technologies of the Time in Order to Put the Qualities of the 'modern Stereo Systems' to the Test. Of all the Albums that were Recorded in this Manner, "hi-fi in Focus" was Particularly Effective; The Sounds of the Guitar were Crystalline and the Tracks Are Among Atkins Best. In Addition to the Album's 13 Original Tracks, We have Included 16 Bonus Tracks, all Recorded in 1957. Don't Miss It!

Average customer rating:

Definitely one of the best jazz piano players !
Monk in the style of Monk

In the Key of Monk
Jessica Williams
Manufacturer: Jazz Focus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Live At Yoshi's, Vol. 1
Live at Yoshi's, Vol. 2
Jessica's Blues
All Alone
This Side Up

ASIN: B00000I0XB
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

Bemsha Swing
Just A Gigolo
Reflections
I Love You Sweetheart Of All My Dreams
Monk's Mood/Crepuscule With Nellie
Monk's Hat
San Francisco Holiday
I Remember Monk
The House That Rouse Built
Pannonica
Ask Me Now
Blues Five Spot

Album Description

This solo piano tribute to Thelonious Monk is one of Jessica Williams' best live performances. She establishes her own voice right away with a playful approach, throwing Monk-like twists into her interpretation of his favorite standards.

Customer Reviews:

Definitely one of the best jazz piano players !.......2005-01-20

MaryLou Williams,Erroll Garner,Duke Ellington,Ahmad Jamal,Earl Hines,and Thelonious Monk;I think here are some of the most important influences in Jessica Williams' playing.Not too bad,isn't it? And the result is that this Lady simply is one of the top jazz piano players of this young 21th century;I mean,certainly one of the six best piano players,with Hank Jones,Kenny Barron,Ahmad Jamal and Randy Weston,and Abdullah Ibrahim.
Each record she makes is a gem,and this dedication to Thelonious Monk's music is a real masterpiece.Recorded live in Calgary,Canada,May 31,1997,this essential solo effort includes great tunes written by Thelonious ("Bemsha swing","Reflections","Monk's mood","crepuscule with Nellie","San Francisco holiday","Pannonica","Ask me now" and "Blues five spot"),two oldies that Monk loved to play ("Just a gigolo" and "I love you,sweetheart of all my dreams") and three tunes written by Jessica ("Monk's hat","I remember Monk" and "the house that Rouse built",dedicated to Monk's devoted tenor sax player,the great Charlie Rouse,who died the same day that Baronness Nica De Koenigswarter,who's home became Thelonious and Nellie Monk's last home).
If Thelonious Monk's musical universe is yours,then you will treasure this very great tribute to his musical genius.Do you remember Thelonious playing "Lulu's back in town" or "I love you,sweetheart of all my dreams"? Did you treasure his interpretations of these old tunes? So listen first to Jessica's incredible version of "sweetheart"(track 4):here is the essence of swing,here is that good old stride,the Harlem's trademark,here is time to tap your feet and shout.Who else (but Kenny Barron) could have play it that way? Then,jump to "ask me now",or "blues Five Spot","Reflections" or "San Francisco holiday";you'll listen to very great music,played by an immense artist,one of the greatest piano players in the history of jazz,like her underrated colleague,and homonym,miss MaryLou Williams (1910-1981),who happened to be a definitive influence on...Thelonious Monk.

Monk in the style of Monk.......2000-07-04

In the last few years many jazz musicians have recorded Monk tunes. Jessica Williams is the only piano player I have heard who can play in a style that is an extension of Monk's original style. This is one of her many interesting CDs but this one is essential for any Monk fan. Ms. Williams manages to hold your interest from beginning to end on solo piano.

Average customer rating:

Off to a good start
The best songs are on the best of cd
Dated sounding first album
A group at odds with their time
Un incipiente y convincente Focus

In and Out of Focus
Focus
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Focus III
Moving Waves
Mother Focus
Hamburger Concerto
Ship of Memories

ASIN: B00005B363
Release Date: 2001-02-19

Tracks:

Focus (Vocal)
Black Beauty
Sugar Island
Anonymus
House Of The King
Happy Nightmare (Mescalin
Why Dream
Focus (Instrumental)

Album Description

Reissue of 1970 debut album for Dutch progressive rock act best known for their 1973 hit single 'Hocus Pocus'. 2001 release. Standard jewel case.

Album Details

Digitally remastered version!

Customer Reviews:

Off to a good start .......2006-06-16

Released in 1970, this debut by the Dutch prog band Focus is fairly well developed and many of the elements of the classic Focus sound are in place - a sound that would come to glorious fruition on the excellent Moving Waves (1971) and Focus III (1972). Featured prominently on this album are the incredible talents of virtuoso guitarist Jan Akkerman and flautist/keyboardist Thijs van Leer (love the Hammond organ work and his flute work is killer). Let us just say that their playing is impressive even at this early stage. Supporting them is a solid bass player and an excellent drummer. Come to think of it, Focus always had good drummers. With respect to the vocals, they are actually pretty good and fit well with the material.

What sets this album apart from their definitive works however, are tinges of 1960's psychedelia, which can be heard to varying degrees on Black Beauty, Why Dream, and especially on the perky, chirpy tune Sugar Island (an anti-Fidel Castro track). I suppose the psychedelia makes sense however - this was 1970 after all. Other tracks, while extremely enjoyable, show evidence of growing pains such as the Jethro-Tull inflected House of the King, along with the jazzy (and mellotron heavy) Happy Nightmare (Jan rips it up on this tune). Because I have no imagination whatsoever, my favorite tracks include those that sound just like classic Focus - the opening track Focus (vocal), the blistering instrumental jam Anonymous, which features excellent solos by Jan and Thijs (although I could have done without the not-so-hot bass solo), and the awesome closing instrumental track Focus. I guess it is worth noting that iterations of the tracks Focus and Anonymous would turn up on subsequent albums (e.g. Focus II and III, and Anonymous II).

Although this album has been (supposedly) remastered by Red Bullet (2001) and features excellent sound quality that is about it - there are no liner notes or photos whatsoever.

All in all this is a great debut by a fantastic prog rock band and is highly recommended along with Moving Waves and Focus III.

The best songs are on the best of cd.......2005-01-26

I (as i said in my review of Mother Focus) am a huge Focus fan. However, nothing makes me cringe more than when they try to sing. None of the band members have ever sang very well. The only vocal tracks in their history that are not cringeworthy are La Cathedrale De Strausbourg & Focus (Vocal) which the latter is on this album.

Of the instrumental cuts, definately what they excelled at doing, they rock good and hard. Focus (Instrumental) is an almost 10 minutes of great prog rock. One of the long ones they did that was NOT repetitave. This was the first of 6 "Focus" songs. Thijs Van Leer had a Focus theme and this was technically part one. The last reviewer is incorrect. They do not rework it on later albums. Focus II, III, IV & V are all VERY different from each other and this one. As for the other 2 tunes. Anonymus is better here than in its longer jazzier version on the album Focus 3. It rocks more in this version. As for House of the King. THIS LINEUP DID IT, if i had a dollar for every person who crapped on the cd release of Focus 3 for not including it I'd be rich. House of the King was only included on the US version of Focus 3. It was a non-lp single in 1970. This is where it truly belongs.

As for the vocals. Happy Nightmare, Focus (vocal) and Why Dream are the better ones. But all the vocals drag my rating down. Thankfully they realized this and did almost ALL instrumentals on subsequent albums.

If you want to complete your Focus collection, Buy it. If you are exploring them, buy the album Best of Focus (Hocus Pocus) for a good 16 track sampler of their career.

Please rate all my reviews

Dated sounding first album.......2004-12-20

This Focus's first album. In Europe, it was originally released with a purple and violet polka dot cover. In the US, it was released with a cheesy looking cover that had an advertisement on the back for the band (calling Jan Akkerman the best guitarist in the world). When Focus's second album, Moving Waves became a hit, In And Out Of... was reissued with a new cover, the one used for this CD. The Japanese version of the CD has the original European cover (which is unusual...Japanese CD's usually use the American covers).

This CD is 36 minutes long (like the original European LP). The American LP had one song missing, House of the King. The track order was also different than the European album.

House of the King, with a slightly different mixing, was also included on both the US and European LP versions of Focus 3 (I know, becuase I have both). But, it was not included on most CD versions of Focus 3 (only the Japanese version has it).

This album sounds very dated, especially for 1970. It is like the first album from many progressive rock acts, like Caravan, Pink Floyd and others.

This album has three vocal tracks that sound like typical late sixties British rock. Not like the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, but like the groovy music you would hear in the mod movies. These tracks are not very good. After this album, Focus mostly gave up on vocal tracks and stuck mostly to instrumentals, for good reason.

There are two very good, extended instrumental tracks, Anonymous and Focus. But, the sound quality is a little thin and tinny, giving these tracks a dated feel, also. Later Focus albums will have a much richer sound.

This is a good album, but Focus would rework most of this material on later albums. Nearly every Focus album has a variation on the instrumental composition called Focus. Anonymous is redone on the album Focus III and is 20 minutes longer.

I don't know if I would recommend this CD, even if you already had everything else by Focus. It is only 36 minutes long and it is only a slight variation from what you can get on other Focus albums. I certainly wouldn't buy it for the rare vocal tracks.

Focus would go through many personnel changes, with Jan Akkerman leaving after the fifth studio album. Focus would only record 4 studio albums and 1 live album in this style. The fifth studio Focus album (Mother Focus) would be light jazz fusion. The sixth would feature a pop singer and be blues oriented. After that, the group broke up for almost 20 years. Tjis Van Leer has reformed Focus with members of tribute band and recorded Focus 8 and some live CD's released with several different names.

A group at odds with their time.......2004-06-11

For the most part, Focus was a jazz duo consisting of Jan Akkerman on guitar and Thijs Van Leer on flute and keys. The rhythm section tended to vary from album to album, with Akkerman doing some of the bass himself. The prog i.d. was added by virtue of tracks like "Anonymous", which used the staple guitar and organ arrangements imitative of ELP, bracketed fore and aft by a Renaissance woodwind theme. A much later 1980s Mercury release called "Focus: Jan Akkerman & Thijs Van Leer" doesn't seem to be available here--it goes deeper into their jazz roots than the original three releases. Back then they didn't have that liberty while they were targeting British and American prog audiences. Certain concessions to culture had to be made, such as the song "Happy Nightmare (Mescaline)". This is a very good jazz number given a dope-oriented title to draw stoner attention. The moral here is: if you know the sound, don't let a badly-chosen title throw you. There's a definite Syd Barret-era Pink Floyd sound to "Why Dream" and Van Leer does a good enough Ian Anderson flute imitation in "House Of the King" that I mistook the song for a Jethro Tull instrumental on an FM prog station. Then I got this album after having bought and loved the second "Moving Waves" release and stumbled on the song by accident. Which I guess is a corollary to the title versus sound hypothesis. It's the latter that matters.

Un incipiente y convincente Focus.......2004-02-25

Uno de los grupos más importantes de Europa continental, Focus inicia su vida con este L.P, menos ambicioso que sus futuros trabajos y por ello interesante de oir fuera del ámbito estrictamente progresivo. Probando distintos estilos y mostrando una sólida base musical con Thijs van Leer en flauta y teclados y Jan Akkerman en guitarra, los holandeses supieron ganarse un considerable respeto y hasta lograr cierta popularidad en Estados Unidos.

Tracks:

Cinema Paradiso (Tema de Amor de Cinema Paradiso)
A Rose Among Thorns (The Mission)
Renascer (Moses)
No Ano Que Vem (Come Maddalena)
Your Love (Once Upon A Time In The West)
Ama Por Amor
Nosso Mar (Metti una sera a cena)
Antiga Palavra
Luz Prodigiosa (La Luz Prodigiosa)
The Ballad Of Sacco And Vanzetti (Sacco E Vanzetti)
Someone You Once Knew (Per Le Antiche Scale)
Voo
I Girasoli
House Of No Regrets (Chi Mai)
Barco Abandonado (Per Le Antiche Scale)

Album Description

2003 album features the work of the world-renowned film composer as interpreted by the Portuguese singing star. 15 tracks. Universal.

Customer Reviews:

A perfect merge between Pontes and Morricone.......2005-06-11

This is one of the best albums I've ever heard.
Ennio Morricone had known Dulce Pontes for many years, but he refused to work with her saying that her voice wasn't ripe.
Now we can see why... Morricone is a genious and managed to get the best out of Dulce.
It is an album full of emotions, either by the greatness of Morricone's music, either by the feeling that Pontes managed to transmit with her voice.
My favorite song is called "Amor a Portugal". It's a portuguese version of the "Your love", included in the portuguese edition as an extra track (number 16). It could become the Portuguese National Anthem.
As for the comment of one other review comparing Dulce Pontes with Celine Dion, I tottaly can't agree with that. At all.
Dulce Pontes is only showing the maturity in her voice.
And she's great doing that...

Pontes fan disappointed.......2004-06-16

I have listened in amazement to Pontes pushing the boundaries of fado and folk genres on her prior CDs with her unique delivery and fantastic voice. Here she leaves those boundaries behind and goes off into Celine Dion territory--show off all your technical ability and the entire extent of your range in every single song. Kind of exhausting. On the other hand, if you like fireworks in every song, this one's for you.

Beyond earthly realms.......2004-03-05

As cliched as it might sound, there are no words to describe either the talent of Dulce Pontes or the quality of this recording. This is one breathtaking singer, approximating the status of divinity on "FOCUS". For those lucky enough to understand the Portuguese lyrics, what a blessing; you may as well have discovered a new planet, a new world, particularly with regards to "Renascer" and "Voo". The inclusion of songs in English and Italian is a bonus.Dulce is so much more than a singer on this disc - she is life itself, in all its magical strains, in all its tortuous twists. Listen to "No Ano Que Vem" and you'll know what I'm talking about. No wonder that the album has done so brilliantly in Portugal and is now infiltrating countries such as Greece, Spain, Italy and Japan. Focus is a universal event, a celebration of that exquisite beauty which for so many of us remains a mere longing. Along Dulce's short career, this is the moment we've all waited for - now the world needs to discover it also. When I first heard this masterpiece, I felt that I was transcending, re-emerging, beginning to live all over again. Inevitably, Ennio Morricone must be mentioned - a great genius! The passion of his compositions remains unequalled - "A Rose Among Thorns" is testimony to the brilliance of both composer and singer. Through Dulce's miraculous imterpretation, Ennio Morricone's music must perforce become the new standard. I have been listening to the album for three days... and I feel like buying it again! Bravo, to two magical human beings perfectly poised on the wings of a wonder!

Too much talent!.......2004-02-29

This is an impressive album where Dulce Pontes turned cinematic themes from the Morricone repertoire into songs in English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, and she is breathtaking in most of them. Dulce Pontes embellishes Morricone's compositions with an epic grandeur that few other singers could have achieved. Her voice is very potent and playful, subtle when necessary, blends gracefully with the music, and succeeds in recreating the absurdity, the nuances, and the overwhelming beauty of Morricone's eccentric musical temperament. My favorite songs are those in English, particularly "Your Love" (with music from Once Upon a Time in the West). Dulce's elegant venture into a Brazilian arrangement makes "Nosso Mar" another favorite of mine. Her best achievement, however, is probably "No Ano Que Vem", a song inspired by Jerusalem and set to the strangely upbeat music from the film Maddalena. Focus is a superb accomplishment in Dulce's career. In the end, one could not possibly deny her the classical stature of Ennio Morricone.

Beautiful.......2004-01-21

I listened this album over and over. I really loved all the songs, one of my favorites is "Cinema Paradiso", is absolutly beautiful. The voice of Dulce Pontes I think is one of the bigest voices. I really enjoyed this album, i hope you will enjoy this like me.

Average customer rating:

In and Out of Focus
Focus
Manufacturer: Sire
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Little Games

ASIN: B000K2VGCO
Release Date: 2007-01-01

Tracks:

Focus [Vocal Version]
Black Beauty
Sugar Island
Anonymus
House of the King
Happy Nightmare (Mescaline)
Why Dream
Focus [Instrumental]

Album Description

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. Victor. 2007.

Album Details

K2 Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition Special Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating:

Brainwave Symphony: Energize & Focus

Manufacturer: Relaxation
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Awakened Mind System 2.0
Theta Meditation System: Let Go of Stress, Renew Your Spirit, Gain Insight, and Intuition

ASIN: B00008IALQ
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

Concerto in D for 2 Trumpets, Strings, And Continuo
Sonata in D for 2 Trumpets, Strings, And Continuo
Violin Concerto in a Minor, BWV 104 First Movement
Cello Concerto in C, Moderato
Oboe Concerto in B-Flat, Op. 7, No. 6 Allegros I and II
Oboe Concerto in D Major, Op. 7, No. 6 Allegros I and II
Oboe Concerto in D Major, F VII 10 RV. 453 Allegro, Largo, Allegro
Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 Andante
Basset Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 Allegro

Album Description

BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO TECHNOLOGY BASED ON YOUR NATURAL BRAINWAVES

Throughout the ages music has accompanied men and women in their search for knowledge, balance and healing. Now, modern research has revealed music's ability to significantly effect us in our daily lives.

BRAINWAVE SYMPHONY - BETA combines carefully selected Western music from the Baroque and Classical eras with breakthrough audio technology to give you the best of classical wisdom and modern science.

ORCHESTRATE YOUR STATE OF MIND

We all experience many states of consciousness, from ordinary waking and sleeping states to extraordinary states in which we are more at peace, particularly aware, or unusually creative. Each of these states has a unique pattern of brainwaves that can be measured and mapped. The genius of BRAINWAVE SYMPHONY - BETA is the use of subtle pulses of sound, based on these brain maps, to trigger your brain to produce states of Heightened Focus, Enhanced Concentration and Peak Performance.

The combination of this powerful new technology with the works of Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi and other masters is a beautiful and unique listening experience as well as a powerful tool for personal transformation.

Music Selected and Sequenced by Pat Moffitt Cook, MM, Ph.Dc., AMI Fellow

Brainwave Frequencies Scored by Dr. Jeffrey Thompson

Beating a Dead Horse
Average customer rating:

quit being cheap and buy the record

Beating a Dead Horse

Manufacturer: Collekt
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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Direction for Children

ASIN: B00067ZFE8
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Tracks:

Life is Cartoons
Always Drunk
Panhandling
Growing Pains (Feat. Angle and Aeon Grey)
Take a Few
The Aftertaste
Round and Round (Feat. Supastition)
Precursor
Another Design
Hot Freestyle
Anger Management
Breathe Deep
Dumb Down
Beer Hunter (Feat. Jayvee)
Bottom Feeder
Night Shift

Product Description

This is pure corn-fed discontent. Former Iowa resident Arecee releases his second record, "Beating a Dead Horse", under NYC's Collekt Records in Brooklyn, New York. His dark melodic beats and thick delivery are a refreshing alternative to today's bubblegum thug rap and purist hip-hop. On the track titled 'Breathe Deep' we hear a glimpse of a tragic past romance gone sour while the up-beat 'Round and Round' features hip-hop heavyweight Supastition. In 'Life is Cartoons,' Arecee proclaims that "hip-hop is stupid"; after watching MTV, I couldn't agree more. Lush self produced beats and deeply personal lyrics make this release a breath of fresh air in today's copycat music industry. Arecee's first release, "Direction for Children" featuring Sage francis, is currently in stores.

Customer Reviews:

quit being cheap and buy the record.......2004-11-12

if it walks, talks, and quacks like good hiphop well it must be. don't even think about it. just buy it. arecee's second official release shows what hard work and dedication bring to the struggling sound of current hip POP. if you need respite from the inexplicable crap flooding the scene and stinkin up the charts, this is your album.
prizm the nvzbl sez "Support Your Local Rapper"

Average customer rating:

Another typical chick pop
magdalen rocks!
Well worth listening to
Blue Jean Online by Mary Zachmeyer, age 17
What a great CD!!

Fire
Magdalen Hsu-Li
Manufacturer: Chickpop Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Smashing The Ceiling
Evolution

ASIN: B00005R0AG
Release Date: 2001-09-03

Tracks:

Redefinition
Laramie
So Far Gone
Compassion
Aiko and I
Fire
As I Am
Mother
City of Angels
Winter Is Cruel
Carry You
Chink

Album Description

"Magdalen Hsu-Li's "Fire" is an exquisitely furious, beautiful, exciting record. From the piano driven opener "Redefinition," Hsu-Li comes out swinging…most of the record is made up of gorgeous slow to mid-tempo songs that range from pop to jazz to R&B in their influence and tastes. Fire grooves, rocks, croons and howls. It cries out from past pain, yearns for future pleasure, and arraigns past wrongs. Hsu Li's elusive, liquid melodies are well supported by her impassioned piano playing and her quick-witted, well-honed rhythm section. Her lyrics, straightforward and brutally honest, range from social wrongs to familial injustices and come across as honest as a diary" ~ ~ PERFORMING SONGWRITER MAGAZINE:

Customer Reviews:

Another typical chick pop.......2005-01-15

Unfortunately, the hype surrounding Magdalen Hsu-Li exceeds the musical quality and contents of her work. Standard chords, tried and tired rhymes, cliche ideas. More power to her for expressing herself, but musically the songs are absolutely predictable. If you want something new and fresh, this is not the CD to get.

magdalen rocks!.......2003-12-24

Fire is such an awesome soundtrack. I'd never heard of Magdalen until I saw her perform live on campus. Her voice is beautifal, lyrics deep and powerful. The piano and percussion fits in perfectly with her voice and lyrics. She sings about a range of topics, from being an Chink in the south to taking political/social action. Her music sends out a message, not in a forceful way, but with meaning and hope. You've just got to listen to her and see a live performance if you can (..) She definitely draws you in with her spunk and energy. Can't wait for more of her music to come out.

Well worth listening to.......2002-06-12

Another recommendation from Amazon which has come up trumps. Reminds me somewhat of a mixture between Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. However she has a distinctive enough style and voice of her own. You need to listen to the Songs a couple of times for them to stick in your head, but once they are there you wont be able to get them out.
Favourite tracks are Redefinition and City Of Angels.
Well worth listening to.

Blue Jean Online by Mary Zachmeyer, age 17.......2002-06-03

Blue Jean Online

When I first stuck this CD into my CD player, I didn't know what to expect. I had no idea who Magdalen Hsu-Li was, what kind of voice she had, or what kind of music it was. Afraid of the music being something that I didn't or couldn't relate to, I pressed play.

The first track-and the perfect track to be so-gave me goose bumps. Magdalen has a beautiful voice and her songs, all of which she either wrote or collaborated with someone on, have amazing lyrics. I have unusual taste in music compared to some-I enjoy songs that make me think, songs that make me feel better, and songs that have lyrics that relate to my personal songs. But most of all, I love music that doesn't conform to mainstream American pop.

Piano notes float gently through many of her tracks and sometimes they don't; her voice is sometimes husky and other times light and bright. Each song feels different than the one before it. The lyrics are so powerful you can't ignore them. One of my favorite songs, "So Far Gone," says in its definitive voice, "You said can't we just have this day/ don't try to make it more/ you leave me sad and reeling and impersonal/ ... don't even talk to me/ this year has been insane/ I didn't miss you much anyway/ and what did I do that was so wrong/ and how did you get so far gone? I couldn't tell you what went on inside my head this year."

It's hard to say exactly what gets me about her music. It's different, but it's the right kind of different. It's not pushy with the messages, but the messages are there and you know what they are. Another one of her songs, called "As I am," has a different way of saying, "I don't care what you think" from other singers out there. It's not just, "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman" kind of lyrics-they are modern and applicable to the real world: "The messages she heard inside were really loud and clear/ don't bother trying to be yourself/ just say what others want to hear 'cause when you start to compromise/ it's worse than living in a lie/ and I've made my choice and now I'm gonna say/ are you gonna take me as I am, gonna take me as I am."

Some of her songs deal with racism, a sensitive issue that she sings about without tiptoeing around any of the words. I love this CD all the more for that. If you are looking for something incredibly beautiful to listen to when you've had a bad day or when you feel like nothing is going right, listen-and love-this CD.

What a great CD!!.......2002-02-20

This CD is incredible!! Magdalen's style and skill have grown a great deal since the Evolution CD. Every song on this CD is worth listening to over and over. I highly recommend it to anyone who knows her music.

Average customer rating:

Original Latin and jazz-inspired guitar and mandolin

The Singing Moon
John Reischman & John Miller
Manufacturer: Corvus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004RDJ9
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Tracks:

Choro For Shadow
Noites Cariocas
The Singing Moon
La Isla Azul
Souvenir De Caracas
Possession
Tiptoes
Sicilienne
Hero's Welcome
Damien Miley

Customer Reviews:

Original Latin and jazz-inspired guitar and mandolin.......2002-04-14

The versatile Reischman wrote two originals ("Choro for Shadow" and "Damien Miley") which open and close this evocative project with John Miller called "The Singing Moon." Seven original instrumental offerings from finger-style guitarist John Miller, and one written by Bittencourt, fill out this album of rawboned guitar and mandolin on original Latin and jazz-inspired tunes. Sometimes, a listener just wants a smooth, dreamy, clean picked and relaxing sound. I found "The Singing Moon" to be just the answer for a morning or afternoon rush hour commute. Miller and Reischman's music together is truly a delight.
--by Joe Ross, moderator/reviewer for "Nwbluegrass"

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music