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Some background on BB&A's "Superstition"
Overall, I'd rate "BB&A" a good album and worth having. Other readers about my age may recall the following story of the band's recording of "Superstition." Jeff had just helped Stevie Wonder record "Talking Book" - preceeding by a few decades the pairing of Eddie Van Halen and Michael Jackson on "Thriller." To return the favor (or so the story goes), Stevie wrote "Superstition" for Jeff to release as the single from "BB&A." But before Jeff could release it as his single, Steve decided he'd release it as his own to help push "Talking Book," and we all know how huge a hit that was for Stevie. We can only listen to both versions and wonder what might have been ... | 23 stars
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Buy This CD!!!! NOW!!!!
If I were only able to buy one CD for my entire life, I would have to say that it would be this one. Although I have to say that the Beatles are actually my favorite band, you can never listen to this album too many times. Black Sabbath were at their peak when they created this work of art. Everything from the haunting lyrics of "Who Are You", to the ripping guitar riffs in "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" and "Killing Yourself To Live" are masterfully done. If you like good Rock 'n' Roll, this is the CD for you. | 45 stars
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Outstanding Jazz Recorded Live
I am very happy that I purchased this box-set. It is rare to find exceptional audio engineering and exceptional performance in one package. There are no weaknesses here. Oscar Peterson's talent and virtuosity really comes through - he is agile, fast and furious and he has incredible sensitivity. Listening to him - one just goes for a joy ride with the rest of the group Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Bobby Durham - it all comes together. These live performances at the Blue Note are recorded with great skill - the transparency, detail and the dynamics are captured with very low floor-noise. Oscar Peterson really makes the grand piano breathe which again has been miked with great skill. The recording shows a 3-D soundstage with ambiance which BTW is not overdone. The emphasis is on the instruments and the listener has front-row seating. This is the best recording I have heard from Telarc and they deserve as much credit as the performers - making this product available to jazz fans everywhere. | 45 stars
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My First Intro to Jazz
This album was recommended to me to satisfy my interest in Jazz. It certainly did that. I'm more into Rock than anything, but the music on this CD simply grabbed me and sucked me in. Love it! | 45 stars
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Great CD
Thank goodness for the American Milestones series - remastering classic country recordings and cleaning up the sound to a beautiful degree.My buying this CD was influenced by listening to another country musician, Don Walser, who always finds space for a few Robbins covers on his releases. There were several classics on this CD that I remembered from my youth (Big Iron, El Paso, Cool Water), and I caught myself singing along quite a bit, reliving the times I listened to old-school country on my grandfather's homemade radio.If only today's country stations and their listeners had a clue. Sometimes you just have to go back to the basics. | 45 stars
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You'll Listen Once And Put it Away
I have Civil War, Chance to Cut and also this CD, The Rose Has Teeth or whatever.I spend a lot of time and money chasing down engaging new music but everything by Matmos leaves me cold. The title track of Rose is fairly cool but the CD coasts from there on. I've seen Matmos live a few times with So Percussion in New York and their whole cooler-than-thou-gay-San-Francisco-performance-artist jive is so tired.I like the new bands from LA's Smell club scene, like HEALTH. | 01 star
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Good Jungle !
yup!!!!!!!!gOOD jUNGLE TO aDD TO your cOLLECTIONCheck out the other album jointsCONCORD DAWN & DISTURBANCE | 45 stars
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Simply Amazing!
This is one of my favorite cd's. I recently went to their concert here in Atlanta when Elton John made a guest appearance... powerful stuff. The songs that are played on the radio are great, but songs like "Spies", "High Speed", and "Everything's Not Lost" are just as good if not better. Downloading music on the internet for free is tempting, but cd's like this are worth buying. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys music. | 45 stars
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This album makes me wanna......
Almost every endearing word under the sun has been used to describe this album "0" including 'Spectacular', 'Sublime', 'Mesmerizing', 'Magical', 'Wow' and the list goes on....However, if this album has done anything at all , it would be to add the final nail in the coffin and confirm my decision I had been trying to make for a very long time. And that is whether to go to Vegas to see the live show. After a listen to this cd, the choice was easy because this album makes be wanna drop everything, pack my bags and run away with the magic that is Cirque Du Soleil.This album is the pinnacle of perfection thanks to the great ingenuity of composer Benoit Jutras. There is a common theme and consistency that flows through this album from start to finish. You can almost visualize the picture the music is trying to paint and there is a great sense of emotion that eminates from the sentiment created by both the muscicians and singers. There is a consistant theme and style of music that the composers are obviously trying to follow and this is what makes it such a great album. Benoit Jutras does not ever lose track or drift too far away from the fundamental sound he is trying to create for the show and together with the way he ties the beginning to the ending to complete this masterpiece is just magnificent.The highlights include tracks 1, 4, 5, and 6 which are uplifting tracks that give you a sense of joy and emancipation. The errie and lamenting 'Nostalgie' is just brilliant as are the more upbeat tracks like 'Tzelma', 'Mer noire' and 'Simcha' which just makes you wanna get up and dance. Toumany Kouyate's vocals are nothing short of amazing especially in 'Africa'.In all, a remarkable and stunning effort from Benoit Jutras and his creative team. "0" is simply magnificent and has to take top honours for the best Cirque cd to date.And in case you were wondering why I only rated this album 5 stars, it's only because I couldn't fit in a million. | 45 stars
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It Does Help
Having recently started working graveyard shift I needed some help getting a nap before the workweek started since I need a less than normal amount of sleep and cannot go to sleep in the middle of the day.Speed Sleep seemed like a reasonable risk.After using this product for 2 months I found that the 30 minute power nap portion was only waking me up about half the time at the completion of the 30 minutes, I do wake up 'clean' and even though it is not an exact substitute for a full nights sleep, it does get me through the next night shift.Because I used it most often to get a nap Sunday afternoon when I was not necessarily tired I find that I can get a least a 1 hour sleep in when using the normal sleep program.I do use the relaxation techniques every morning to help get to sleep fast, and they have been very effective.Overall, if you have special sleep needs this can be effective for you, and I recommend giving it a try. | 34 stars
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3 strikes and he is definitely not out
His third holiday/Christmas album is great. It has at the end, the Freedom Mix of "Auld Lang Syne" which sends chills up my spine as President Bush comforts the American people after the situation in 2001 with Kenny G playing the song. It is a wonderful album, but the last song can be a little depressing. The album is as good as the other two of Kenny G's. They are all albums to add to Christmas music collections around the world. | 45 stars
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8 Track is Coming Back!
I loved the first album so rest assured I'm not anti-NJ. I am extremely disappointed in this offering. The sound quality is awful, awful, awful. It stinks. Next time, rent a studio...Too country. Enough said.No snap. No zest. She's like 23? This album sounds like she's already bored with the whole singing career thing....In summary. If you live in a small town where the local bar sometimes has live music, this CD will remind you of that experience....you know, the CDs they hawk when they go on breaks? The ones neatly stacked on the piano? Well here you go except they ain't 5 bucks.... | 12 stars
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That crack of time
I was in my late teens early twenties during that crack of time when the promise of the 1960s faded for a new commercial reality, when urban decay gave way to urban gentrification, and when flower power music turned into disco. Joy Division and Nick Cave, among many others, were seminal groups around this time.For me, Room of Lights by Crime & the City Solution is a quintessential and intelligent example from that era. Melodic, poetic, musical and dark, it continues to evoke in me a sense of how wonderful it all was.Highly recommended. | 45 stars
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Enjoy it with dinner
This disk, by one of the less prominent jazz bands, consists largely of predictable song choices (Our Love is Here to Stay, It Had to Be You, Singing in the Rain), but they are well performed and very pleasant to listen to. The full hour of music is nice, too; increasingly, it seems, music disks are no more than 40 minutes long. | 45 stars
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Experience a Symphonic Masterpiece
This is one of those albums which lives up to the hype. I had gotten a scratchy copy of this on vinyl from the library in the 1970s then tried to buy a copy only to find it was out of print. Many years later, it finally showed up on CD. It was worth the wait. This is even better than I remember it. This is one of those rare special albums which you must experience and feel rather than merely listen to. It's really hard to describe in words, but I'll try with the advance warning that words fall far short. Imagine Jean-Michelle Jarre's synthesizer sound combined with incredible melodic electric guitar, bagpipes, and other folksy instruments performed with Celtic, African, and World influences. A series of seamlessly blended, ever-changing, ever-evolving beautiful melodies are woven together with the numerous intruments weaving in and out of the mix at various times, all building upon each other to create 2 grand symphonic suites. To descibe this as "new-agey" would be an insult as it in no way resembles the light-airey-soft-modern-jazz-soulless-elevator-music quality of most new age music. It's just great, timeless music which sounds as fresh, interesting, and exciting as it did almost 30 years ago when I was lucky enough to experience it for the first time. | 45 stars
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Suddenly Ariazona Doesn't seem so lame.
It was four thirty in the morning sometime last summer, when I first herd my first Format song played on a alt-rock tv station. I with out haste, jumped out of bed and ordered the album. My good God, this band is awesome, The Format are truely pioneers, they have blended Jangle Pop, Indie, and many other Genera's into one fantastic undertaking. You must buy this CD it has everything. If you want to rock out and dance there are tracks like, the first single(cause a scene, and Sore thumb. If your sad and want to vent you've got On your pourch, A Mess to be made, and A save stituation. Not often would you ever give a new artist five stars but damn these guys are good. | 45 stars
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Grab your Jim Beam and let's go to church!
Banjos, accordions, layered vocals, and the fear of God-Sixteen Horsepower can help us all experience the feel of a good ol' fashioned revival meeting. From dirges to reels and everywhere in-between, they tell us stories of forbidden lust, true love, agony and ecstasy. The religious spirit prevails, but it's spritual rather than bible-thumping. Grab your bottle and meet 'em down by the river. (Catch 'em live if you can!) | 34 stars
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Where's all the chart hits?
The first Back To The Future CD was a hit, along with the theme tune, the CD provided hit singles such as 'The Power Of Love' by Huey Lewis and that rock classic 'Jonny B. Goode', preformed by Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox's character in the movie, although the actual vocals were provided by Mark Cambell).But in CD-Part II, it is just orchestra music and theme tunes from the film, going for a sort of 'Star Wars' style CD. Don't let me put you off, the music is great, but it probably would have done better with the other music in it. Songs like 'Jonny B. Goode' or the hit Michael Jackson single 'Beat It' are not featured in it, but why? Even thought the CD does well as it is, it would have been much better with the other songs on there, just like the first CD. But still, it is a fair buy.If you are a fan about the 'Back To the Future' trilogy and its music, then buy it, but if you just want that fantastic Michael Jackson song, then look elsewhere (like 'Thriller' ir 'HIStory') | 23 stars
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Pachelbel's Canon in D
This is a very good CD to play for relaxation and hear different variations of this Canon. For those of you aspiring to be songwriters and musicians, you may want to get this particular CD since it displays different composition arrangements of this Canon in D. | 45 stars
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Born for this is the most beautiful song
This song was originally sang by Stephanie on the BeBe Winans, "Live Up Close and Personal" soundtrack. It is such a beautiful song. My very good friend learned the song for my wedding and sang it. Everyone was in tears. The song has such a beautiful message. I have not heard Stephanie's new CD...but that one song alone is worth purchasing the CD. All I can say is Amazing. The woman has a gift. Hope this helps someone. | 45 stars
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just cause its main stream doesnt' make it bad
hey "music fan from silence"---this is a review of Dark Side of the Moon, not a plug for all the bands that no one listens to but you. I don't think quiet sun compares to floyd; i've actually heard them.DSOTM is filled with creativity and lyrics that explore the human condition, they inivite you to go further. If you've never heard it, imagine something most akin to sgt pepper in the visual terms that it presents. Number one always and forever | 45 stars
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A truly awesome punk rock album
Although it took me a few listens to appreciate the greatness of Insomniac, I now would consider the album to be very skillfully structured and likely Green Day's best punk rock CD. Right from the top there is an admirable melodic factor with the upbeat song "Armatage Shanks", and later on there are such gems as "Brain Stew" and "Bab's Uvula Who". "Brain Stew", one of the few successful hits on this album, features a chromatically descending chord progression similar to the one on the later song "Hitchin' A Ride" as well as peculiar lyrics and the occasional all-out instrumental jam. "Bab's Uvula Who", although not a hit track, is one of my favorite Green Day songs. This piece has energetic guitar patterns, very catchy lyrics, and a fitting brevity. Unfortunately, the mild simplicity of many other tracks on Insomniac cause them not to be quite as stunning as the typical Green Day song. "Walking Contradiction" also seems to indicate the first sign of repetition in Green Day's history, bearing many similarities to the early song "16" from the album 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours. Overall, however, Insomniac is very likeable for its addicting punk rock sound and (as usual) the appeal of the lyrics and rhythms. I would recommend this album greatly, especially to fans of the band who do not yet own it. | 45 stars
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Solid from beginning to end!
If you're already a Dishwalla fan, it's clearly evident that all three of their albums are significantly different. Opaline is a great album with enough variety to please any listener. Unlike previous albums, the main focus here is on the song itself. Don't expect the stinging guitar licks and riffs you'll hear on pet your friends, or the synchopated stop and go parts as done in previous albums. JR Richards has hands down the best vocals in modern rock, and believe it or not, his vocals are at its best on Opaline. The addition of Pete Maloney's drumming (Tonic, etc.) is awesome, he really adds a totally new dimension with subtle complex beats. He even creates a heavy groove on the slow songs. 11 tracks, at most you'll find yourself skipping one or two tracks if any. the songs are definitely mellowed out compared to the dishwalla we've come to know over the years, but that doesn't mean these songs are not great. Give opaline a shot, you will not be disappointed! ... also, try to catch them live because they are simply amazing live. | 45 stars
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A Few Differant Songs Still The $hit!!!!!
Well I bought this Cd, even though I had the other version of Afroholic, because the first 1 was so good. I got this 1 and again was not dissapointed in any way. Its well worth the money 2 buy the both of them, and if I had 2 choose 1 of them, well I couldnt they r both the best Cd's I bought since NWA greatest hits. Im tellin ya go out and buy atleast 1, I garentee u will own them both within 2 weeks. And if u already own the first 1 go but this 1 there is like 11 diferant songs on it, and I espescially like Gansta Sound, check it out!!! | 45 stars
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DO NOT buy this item
I just have to say that the copy I recived is a fake one.Sad but true.So, do not buy this item.That is all. | 01 star
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Supertramp??? NOT!!!
I'm a big Supertramp fan and I have been for years. I have just about every album from Crime of the Century onward (well, I drew the line after Free as a Bird). However, for some reason, I did not have this particular album so I went ahead I bought it. Well, now I know why I did not have it. It's because this album has nothing to do with the Supertramp band we know (and love). Honestly? If you want Supertramp-like albums, I recommend Roger Hodgson's solo efforts. If you think you'll have another Supertramp album, you will be disappointed big time. The sound is as far as it can be from the "classic" Supertramp sound. The songs are melodically weak and boring (although they were written by Hodgson). No catchy tunes here. So, unless you are dying to spend some money and don't know where to, I'd not get close to this album. | 01 star
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UK's prelude to the future...
With the departure of Bruford and Holdsworth, one was to wonder what UK really was on this one...Bozzio on drums (great but not Bruford) and no guitar replacement...and what we got was a great UK effort after all! After growing attached to the UK debut, I was very cynical of this one, as the 'heavy' prog rock sound has been stripped down, with only a few songs like the title and 'Carrying no Cross' hanging on to the UK-debut sound...The good news is that UK made a GREAT prog rock effort here, as they hit some pop moments as well as the classic long-song-intense-instrumental stuff all wrapped into one, something the debut failed at. Songs like 'Rendevous 602','Nothing to lose' and 'Ceasars Palace Blues' are clear statements of where the prog pop was to go (thanks to ASIA and Wetton). However the balance offered in this CD shows what prog rock should be, and serves as a great example of what to do and not to do. Noodling here and there, yes, but the general 'sound' of the non-pop tunes displays great structure and theme, adopted later by today's prog rock bands like Spock's Beard and Dream Theater.A slice of history worthy in any prog rock fans collection... | 45 stars
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Just a gorgeous as V1 - Music for your soul
My very first thought when i played this CD was one of slight disappointment. Volume one was so incredible on the first listen and absolutely blew me away. This was the style of salsa that i had been looking for and the thrill of finding a double CD of brilliant tracks was overwhelming at the time (I still love volume 1 and listen to it alot).But then i soon realised that this double CD is just as magical and the lack of an initial thrill was more due to me being (now) familiar with hector's style than anything lacking musically.As the other reviewer mentioned, you can consider this release to be disk 3 & 4 of the first set. Once again listening to this CD is incredibily rewarding. The way Hector and his musicians can make music that is both amazing complex and yet subtle at the same time never cease to amaze, even after many listens.The music on both Vol 1 and Vol 2 just doesnt seem to age. Hard to believe that they are more than 10 years old.You are once again taken on a musical journey through salsa. There is plenty of diversity on this CD and is absolutely worth buying if you like to dance or listen to cuban style salsa - gorgeous stuff - music and movement for your spirit and soul.If you liked Vol 1 then you will love this CD as well.Hector's untimely death is a great loss to all lovers of salsa. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! | 45 stars
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excellent return to straight ahead jazz
I don't know why this title is out of print, or why it has become an $80-90 rarity. I bought it on vinyl when it came out and although I'd be hard pressed to make a case for spending $80 for a rare version of the CD, it remains the first and my favorite Tony Williams album when he returned to Blue Note in the 1980s. There are a few odd moments when Tony seems to be struggling with leaving fusion behind -- some synth drum intros here and there. But that aside, Foreign Intrigue, Life of the Party and Arboretum are great cuts -- full of energy and inventiveness. And for this return to Blue Note, Williams enlisted fellow Blue Note post-bopper Bobby Hutcherson on vibes (and Ron Carter on bass). Unfortunately, it was the last time he used Hutcherson -- for the rest of his Blue Note albums he kept a quintet (and a good one, at that -- I just never felt as excited by it as I did by this first group). Hutcherson's solos, Carter's accompaniment, and Williams playing and compositions, make this one of the best in Tony Williams late period. It's a shame he's gone too soon and a shame this release has become such a rarity. | 45 stars
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James last gentleman of music
Unquestionaley the best of james last...an excelant production with the best music he has ever produced. | 45 stars
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The Renaissance of Modern Music
Jazz, R&B;, Rock, Soul, Funk, and Pop music had all existed before 1982, but when this album came out, it literally combined all the elements and paved the way for what music is today. From recordings to performances to worldwide sales and recognition, Jackson set the standards for it all. Hundreds of years from now, this will still be looked back on as quite possibly one of the finest albums ever recorded.While Quincy maintained his masterful touch on all the recordings, Jackson lent his to the timeless compositions of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Beat It", and "Billie Jean", songs that have literally become signature songs of the 1980s, and showed the world just how musical Michael could be. Aside from those recordings, master songwriter Rod Temperton ("Rock with You", "Off the Wall", "Always and Forever") and R&B; soulman James Ingram contributed their own unique tracks, as well. From "Thriller" to "P.Y.T.", every song here literally changed the course of music as a whole.While some have maintained that there are far better albums in music history's catalogue, I have yet to come across any with as much quality, energy, diversity, and versatility as this one. A masterpiece. | 45 stars
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30 years later....
30 years ago today, I rec'd ALL THINGS MUST PASS for my 14th birthday. Today I got it for myself and my 44th birthday. 30 years make many changes, but yet things are the same. The songs on this album are powerful, as are the musicians. A most interesting aspect about this re-issue is the packaging. As we do in life, the cover photo goes thru some changes. The liner notes are very interesting, thanking people 30 years later for their contribution to the record, much like we sometimes do in life. George thanks his friends and remembers those who are no longer with us. He questions the neccesity of the wall of sound, but yet this remaster brings it out, and then George thanks Phil Spector for it.I remember listening to this 30 years ago for the first time on vinyl. This was an era where real musicians played real instruments. Many years later I bought the CD. Now I have this version and it is awesome! The brightness of the sound is immediately noticable. Of course there's My Sweet Lord and What Is Life?; two epic classics, but many listeners will find other songs may be their favorites. The great chord structure of Beware Of Darkenss and the haunting aura of Isn't It A Pity? are sure to be favorites. There are so many songs to choose from. The My Sweet Lord 2000 is a nice remake, with dramatic differences from the original, but yet not that far from it,complete with samples. The more things change, the more they are the same 30 years later.If you like the original ALL THINGS MUST PASS, you'll LOVE this one. | 45 stars
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DJ Kicks Series Again Proves Reliable
When it comes to buying Mix CDs, one should look no further than the DJ Kicks collection. Andrea Parker slices and dices with the best of them with fairly brooding and dark undercurrents. She opens with her (very good) mix of Depeche Mode's It's No Good and slides seamlessly into Dr. Octogan's Earth People...and it all seems perfectly appropriate and ecletic. Other times, transitions come off choppy. Parker's DJ Kicks lacks the overall sweeping collective of DJ Kicks contributions from Kruder & Dorfmeister and Thievery Corporation. Nonetheless, it is a fine body of work, that any electronic music listener would like to have. | 34 stars
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~It grew on me~
when i first listen to this c.d. a couple of times i found the c.d. somewhat depressing and annoying but then after i listened to it a couple more times i enjoyed it....it's JUST an okay c.d. | 34 stars
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A great CD, but RELEASE YOUR LIVE MATERIAL!
This is a great CD for new LedZep fans. It has most of, but not all, of their good songs for their first four CDs. If you want all of their early good songs, get all of Led Zeppelin's first four albums. Everything but Hats Off to Harper is good. If you like those, get Physical Graffiti,HOTH, Presence and ITTOD. Then wait for Jimmy Page & Co. to release some more live stuff. Let's see... it took 28 yrs. for BBC Sessions to be released, if they release more live stuff at this rate (which is likely right now), we'll get the Royal Albert Hall video by 2025... So until then, you'll just have to be satisfied with this and all their other CDs... | 45 stars
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A great value!
This collection of operas is a great introduction to opera and a great value for the price. Every title comes with the complete libretto and synopsis, too.The production of Cosi Fan Tutte in this set launched my own love of opera. I think it's still hard to beat!Highly recommended! | 45 stars
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Live Rock and Roll
The sound quality is lacking but the spirit of the music is fantastic rock and roll. If you can put up with Husker Du's "Land Speed Record," this should be a breeze. Sloppy but magnificent. | 23 stars
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I really didn't enjoy the soundtrack.
I'm sorry to those people who really loved the soundtrack but I did the show with some really great people and we could have wiped the floor with the Broadway people. The music is still great and I love the storyline but jeez, couldn't they have cast the show better? Kim | 12 stars
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Lose some hair
I prefer this sound to the 80's hair metal production of their ealrier albums. | 45 stars
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Simply stunning
Those of you who are kind of non-plussed by the concept of a Vivaldi opera, of all things! - don't hesitate! This is utterly and amazingly stunning. As others have said, the cast is great. Garanca is the next superstar of singing. Contrary to some other reviews here I think the DVD is equally awesome, especially for anyone even vaguely interested in singing. To watch the technique and the involvement and the playing! Great! | 45 stars
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Just as flawed as the day it came out...
I love WAR. They made lots of good music in the 70's and early 80's. It's sad that they've been represented for so long by such a lame compilation as this. Its flaws are multiple and have already been listed many times here. Do yourself a favor - spring for _Grooves and Messages_ or Rhino's _Anthology_ (in the black slipcase). Either one will provide you a far better view of the band (the recently released _Very Best of War_ has too many edited versions to really be helpful). | 23 stars
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This is not a review of the album
I cannot review this album as the seller never sent it to me. They stated it was out or on backorder when I originally purchased it | 01 star
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a compelling look at life on both sides of the border
Given dowadiddi's farce of an analysis, a more balanced review of "Tex-Mex - Music of the Texas Mexican Borderlands" is long overdue. This DVD is an entertaining and informative look into the Tex-Mex experience. On the Mexican side of the border, the roots of Tex-Mex music are explored, going back to the Mexican Revolution. The unlikely influence of Mariachi's German roots are even probed. Performances and interviews are enjoyed by choice artists such as Lydia Mendoza, the 'Queen of Tejano Music.' The influence of Mexican cowboys are documented. At one point, the audience witnesses a Mexican rodeo. On the American side of the border, most time is spent in San Antonio. Between both sides of the border, performances happen at night clubs, living rooms, crop fields, festivals, back porches and concerts. Like all DVDs in the 'Beats of the Heart' series, music is not examined in isolation. Rather music is a barometer that expresses people's aspirations and experiences. Along these lines, "Tex-Mex" spends a good deal of time on illegal immigration. Originally released in 1982, such a film could today be painfully dated. Eventually, however, the social and economic aspects may be more relevant today. Indeed, those seeking to better understand today's immigration debate should consider this essential viewing. As expected, the audience meets songwriters and performers who translate the migration experience into music. While the video and audio is good, it should have been remastered for the DVD transfer. "Tex-Mex - Music of the Texas Mexican Borderlands" will appeal to those with an interest in borderlands music and the Mexican-American experience. | 34 stars
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"GOD'S SON"
RITE,I OWN EVERY RELEASED JAY-Z AND NAS ALBUM TO DATE.I CAN HONESTLY SAY FROM A NEUTRAL PERSPECTIVE NAS IS THE ULTIMATE KING OF NEW YORK!WITH HIS WITTY LYRICS WHICH ACTUALLY MEAN SOMETHING UNLIKE THE ONCE GREAT SNOOP DOGG WHO NOW LIES ABOUT BEING A GANGSTER AND PIMPING!NAS IS PROBARLY "THE LAST REAL ... ALIVE" AND THIS ALBUM SHOWS IT.THIS LP IS ON EQUAL TERMS WITH ILLMATIC.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK NAS!!!!!ALSO CHECK OUT "ILLMATIC","STILLMATIC" AND "IT WAS WRITTEN"WHICH ARE OTHER NAS CLASSICS!! | 34 stars
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Pretty good, but Thompson has done much better
Any fan will want this in the collection, if for no other reason than the concert staples it contains ("When the Spell is Broken", "She Twists the Knife Again", "Ghosts in the Wind"). There are plenty of other fine songs here, as well, but I find the overall sound of this album to be a bit flat and tired (perhaps this is why RT switched producers after this one). Most of these songs just don't grab me the way Thompson's best stuff does.The quality of RT's large catalog has set the bar very high, so while this album is certainly good, in the context of Thompson's other work it rates as only average. I would recommend "Hand of Kindnes", "Mock Tudor", "Shoot Out The Lights" or "Pour Down Like Silver", among others, far ahead of this one. | 23 stars
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Quite a few good songs here.
Not a bad little disc. She got a couple of really good dance songs - "The Right Stuff" and "(He's Got) The Look", but it's the ballads that shine. "Dreamin'" was the hit song, but "Darlin' I", "Can This Be Real" and "Whatever Happens" are all excellent. I saw in an old interview where Ms. Williams said that she wanted a rawness on "Darlin' I" where the listener could hear her voice stretched to the limits - it's there, and sounds great. This is a release I had on tape and sought out on CD a couple of years ago. | 34 stars
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Un nuevo comienzo
¿Cuanta gente pensó a finales de los 60 que Elvis Presley había ya escrito todas sus mejores paginas? ¿Los mismos que hoy admiten que este disco esta entre sus 3 mejores de siempre?, y eso que dentro de este disco no esta suspicious minds una de sus mejores canciones grabada por entonces también.Este disco es uno de sus mejores trabajos, cantado con la fuerza de sus primeros años, y con su mejor capacidad expresiva. Yo, personalmente, si me tuviera que quedar solo con un disco de Elvis sería con este.Excelentes canciones desde el principio (Wearin' That Loved On Look o Only The Strong Survive) hasta el final (Any Day Now o In The Ghetto) que Elvis hace suyas y engrandece su mito y su ya de por si gran repertorio.Este disco es un 10 de 10, recomendable para todo fan de la musica pop, rock de siempre. | 45 stars
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Question (Asking and Answering)
First, to the reviewer who liked the track in Volume 1 that is heard when Uma cuts off Sophie's arm. That is 'Death Rides A Horse' by Ennio Morricone and is available on his 'Legendary Italian Westerns' CD.My question. Does anybody know the track in Volume 2 when that is playing after Uma escaped the coffin and is walking through the desert to Budd's place?The actual Cd is good and should not disappoint fans of Tarantino's soundtracks. Sure there are soime tracks missing but it is still a good buy if you loved the movie. | 45 stars
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GREAT GROUP SINGING AND GOOD SOUND
I would have given this title 5 stars, but the person who picked the songs did not do a good job. They left out THE SANTA FEE FREELINE, one of their best. What they did was take some material from each of their albums, instead of selecting the best, even if most are from one release. I know that this group probably has many more good tunes then heard here. However, I counted about 11 excellent cuts: A SONG OF HOPE, FRIENDS, THE ROAD, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE, FREEDOM BIRD, LET'S GET TOGETHER, SAME OL' HUCKLEBERRY FINN, HAND ME DOWN THINGS, LONG TIME AGO, THE FAR SIDE OF THE HILL, and RIVERBOAT DAYS. That's a lot of great listening, by a group with maybe the best harmony ever. Just listen to THE ROAD: MAGNIFICENT!! Randy Sparks wrote most of their stuff: what a talent! It is too bad that his outstanding act never got a chance for airplay. The crap from England in the mid 60s did them in. So, buy this, and maybe someone will release all their albums on CD, or do a box. | 34 stars
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great story line
I liked this ballet, every young man goes through this story at some timein his life, deciding what his sexuality will be, weaning himself from his mother, etc. The dancing is fine. The story is fine also, I disagree with the high brow attitudes of some dance people, just watch the ballet and enjoy it, you don't have to be an expert or be so picky. The dancers in this ballet are good, don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Why be so critical and negative? These people worked hard to create this ballet.I think they deserve some credit. | 45 stars
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A great storyteller; A fantastic performer
This DVD is a must for Morissette fans, and lovers of rock music in general will also appreciate Morissette's brand of confessional writing mixed with the hard rock sounds and gentle melodies her band offers throughout the show. The whole backdrop and aura of this show is very intimate, also psychedelic as Morissette was involved in projecting an image of peace and spiritual harmony during this point of her career. The song list is a rich blend of radio hits off Jagged Little Pill with deep cuts from Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. Some highlights include Alanis playing a flute solo in "That I Would Be Good," the greatest and most driving performance of "You Oughta Know" I've scene to date, and concluding with a brilliant performance of "Still"(Dogma)where Alanis reveals in storytelling format "This is my take on what God is." And if that isn't enough, the bonus features include performances of her classic "Head Over Feet," and then "Uninvited," which will leave viewers blown away and proves Morissette is one singer who knows how to rock. | 45 stars
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Energetic Christian Pop
Zoegirl has come out with another album with some very good songs. Their sound has changed a bit from their first album. It has less of a dance sound to it. I think the music has more substance to it. The lyrics continue to be positive and have a Christian message throughout.There are several very good songs. Two of my favorites are 'Beautiful Name' and 'You Get Me'.This is a pleasant album overall. I recommend it for anyone wanting a gift for teenage girls. They love the sound and the lyrics are very good. This is an enjoyable album even for those of us who have teenage children. | 34 stars
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Still no 16 stone
yah yah, I'm stuck in the past....I loved 16 stone, but since radio killed them, it's been hard for me to love them that much again. I loved "Swallowed" off the last album, but I just can't like "Chemicals between us" nearly as much for several reasons...first of all, it's almost techno sounding...& they're supposed to be a rock band. 2nd of all, I heard it's about Gwen Stefani, & I can't stand her. There's still a few good tracks on here, but just still no measure up to their first one. So listen b4 buying. | 23 stars
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Simply aping the classics, nothing more than that
Listening to wholly derivative albums like this one depresses me. I get into this funk in which I keep thinking, "Are there no genuinely new, exciting, worthwhile ideas in popular music anymore?"New ideas -- and most importantly, new ideas that are actually worth listening to -- seem to be woefully few and far between these days. Jet has none. They are the music equivalent of a Xerox machine: They scan all the originals, copy them, and the copies always come out more faded and less perfect than the originals.I had a thought the other day about how today's bands continue to cop from '60s and '70s classic rock, aping (or worse, simply directly sampling) the originals, bludgeoning them in the process. And I thought, how interesting that today's bands copy from music that was new 30 to 40 years ago. But back in the '60 and '70s, were pop bands copying from music of the '20s and '30s? Of course not. Heck, even within the same decade, there were vast musical changes -- the popular music of '68 is oceans away from that of '60, or even that of '64. Conclusion? These people were CREATING.Advice to new bands: Absorb all of your influences, go ahead and use them as foundations, but then BUILD something genuinely new and unique from there. | 01 star
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Amazingly Brave and Talented
These girls are awesome! First off, they're an openly lesbian group. That's brave. Plus, their music is outstanding! I mainly listen to metal (MuDvAyNe, Disturbed, Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Bile, Murderdolls, Metallica, and others) and even I love this group. This is definitely a must have for anyone into music on any scale. | 45 stars
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Fun, with some interesting surprises
My husband and I are 40-somethings who just finished an intro West-coast swing class. We were looking for something a little different for practicing our new moves, even though we love the standards. This collection has some truly unusual twists on the swing genre, with a variety of tempo and mood that make for interesting repeat listenings. My only complaint is that I would trade one more of the English-language tracks for something more exotic. | 34 stars
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graet but underatted
so good and so cheap. love having all the discs of the bands i love. this is the longest review i ever had to do | 45 stars
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A great collection!
Some are hard to find. Great job to everyone producing this Album. Thanks! | 45 stars
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This music makes more sense than the words
I admire the musicianship that ties these songs together. I don't think that I need to know a story to hear these songs right. I started hearing some of these songs in February on the DVD that was released after the album had been recorded. Another song, "She Really Needs You," was available as a free music download at Amazon.com on the page for "The Forgotten Arm" before the CD release. Due to the small number of songs I download, my computer was inclined to repeat "She Really Needs You" whenever I was playing songs from my hard drive for weeks, and it seemed like the perfect preparation for the album, as stated in Chapter Nine, "That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart." The rhymes tend to be simple:And though the exit is crudeit saves me coming ungluedfor when you're not in the moodfor the gloves and the canvas floor.That's how I knew this story would break my heart ... when you wrote it.Such music clings to the logic that continues in Chapter Ten, "I Can't Help You Anymore." After singing a few hopeless laments, Chapter Eleven, "I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up for Christmas," gets a jaunty ragtime piano feel for the start, rocks with it for a chorus, dances around "the business of the prodigal son" and jumps onto some rhymes:Because I can't live loaded and I can't live sober,And I've been this way since the end of October,and I know enough to know: that baby, when it's over, it's over.And it's over. Because, baby, I'm done.The final verse has "And that, once upon a time, I believed it was a victimless crime" after "Tell you I'm sorry that I made you a witness to my moral decay."Chapter Twelve strikes me as being ironic. "Beautiful." There is a bit of "I'm dazzled by the view" and "I'm completely powerless" at the end. The first line, "You pulled up and parked your El Dorado" could be typical of a culture that I hardly take part in anymore. There might be an underwear line:And we stayed in our Calvins,and we swore we'd be best friends,and I looked through the zoom lens,and thought you were beautiful....sometimes it hurts me to feel so much tenderness.There might be some nice healthy relationships somewhere that keep people from participating in this kind of pathos, but artistic sensibility seems to be drawn toward emotional vulnerability that pours out of some situations that music seems to add meaning to as much as anything else could. Listening to this music ought to be evaluated as a learning curve, and the people who get the most out of it will probably listen the most. Some songs can be heard so often that people don't really listen to them anymore, but songs might also be waiting for some moment when they can be heard in a new way and surprise everybody. And there might be words in "She Really Wants You" that you did not hear the first time it played:Because the stray that you foundthat looked so cute at the poundnow has you putting her down as rabid.If it was badder than bad;well, then -- you ought to be gladyou can break it like another habit. | 45 stars
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NICKY DEPAOLA!!! GREAT BABY!!!
This CD is TOP OF THE LIST! Songs like "Angel Eyes", "Who can I turn to" and the best one I think "HOTEL HAPPINESS" are just GREAT! With Erine Watts on sax, Smooth as can be! "Uptown Mood" is so full of PASSION, That Nicky DePaola should be a household name soon! I saw him once in Reno and let me tell you, he put on on one of the BEST shows I've ever seen! His VOICE is so warm and full of Emotion. My kind of Entertainer!!!! | 45 stars
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Heavens me-o-my!!!
Pure DEAD delight. Every track is dynamite. A stellar show. Eyes of the world, especially...Thank you, Dick!!!! | 45 stars
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All the guitar lessons you will ever need on one cd
Listen to Nokie Edwards use the whammy bar, perform pull-offs and finger tricks just as Vanhalen did in 1978, Nokie can be heard here doing it in 1965. A great lead guitar album. | 45 stars
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Kanye sounds best on Vinyl
I was surprised to find vinyl Kanye West Lps still for sale at a reasonable price on Amazon.com! Very good album for collectors | 45 stars
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Mass Appeal
There is no doubt that this band would appeal to fans of bands that use the soft/loud dynamic style [or the misused shoegazing term], such as 'Ride', 'The Catherine Wheel' or 'Slowdive'. But I think fans of U.S. melodic post hardcore [emocore another misused term] bands like 'Sunny Day Real Estate' or 'Juno' will love this cd as well. It is both pretty and vicious in nature, in short it will rock your butt off. Oh and the guys from 'Placebo' should listen to it to hear what a real talented band sounds like. | 45 stars
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War's forgotton Word
The fourth studio release in the post-Burdon era, 1973's "Deliver The Word" gives War yet again, another gold record. The bands 3rd in a row. Thus putting to sleep once and for all any argument about why War missed Eric's vocal or face time. War had indeed become a much bigger splash than "Spill The Wine".War's sprawling epic "Gypsy Man" proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the band, being the veteran hit makers that they became, could compete on both sides of the Billboard charts. Although "Deliver The Word" (the title could be considered somewhat misleading) wasn't as politically charged as their first release, non-the-less parallels the "Fingers" LP to some degree."Deliver The Word" for obvious reasons, should considered War's forgotton gem. Why United Artists chose not to market this recording with the same intensity as their next studio release (the commercially successful "Why Can't We Be Friends?") is anyones guess. Any real War fan has this one.olofpalme63 | 34 stars
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The CD is slammin'
I got the CD today and I haven't stopped listening to it. I dont even buy CD's. But after hearing "GET AT ME DOG," "STOP BEING GREEDY," and "RUFF RYDER'S ANTHEM," I had to get his album. He's the best and "if you don't know by now then you slipping." He got his own unique style. All the songs on the album is phat. All hot enough to become singles. Trust me, the CD is slammin. Beats, lyrics, and everything else. You don't even have to know the lyrics, because the beat alone will have you so hyped, you'll forget about lyrics. Three record stores I went to, it was sold out. It took me forever to get this. Now I aint letting it out of my sight. Dark Man aint rappin' about brand name clothes, rolex, and all that mess like all them other rappers. He's just straight lettin you know what street n?**$% feel, cuz ya n?**$% want the real. Keep it up DMX, I LOVE YOU, that's my men and them. | 45 stars
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It Ain't Jazz, But It Ain't Bad
To my ears, Carmen Lundy is a pop singer who sometimes sings jazz, as opposed to a jazz singer who sometimes sings pop. If you are interested in the latter, you need go no further than Ms Lundy's "label mates" at Justin Time Records - Jeri Brown and Ranee Lee. But back to Ms Lundy....With the caviat that Ms Lundy is not a jazz singer per se, I've given "Good Morning Kiss" four stars. Ms Lundy has a wonderfully rich, resonant voice. The lady can sing and it's a pleasure to hear her. Here, backed by more people than I care to mention, (although the list includes Jon Faddis on trumpet and Steve Turre on trombone), she beats the ever lovin' stuffing out of a couple of standards and a fistful of originals, (although I confess that I can't stand her version of "Dindi" - or anybody else's for that matter - why oh why does EVERYBODY record this piece of schmaltz?).Justin Time has done an excellent job on the sonics: Clean and crisp.Bottom Line: "Good Morning Kiss," ain't jazz, but it ain't bad. | 34 stars
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Great Content But What's Up with the SACD?
I am currently using a DVD player hooked up to my stereo to play my CDs. This CD was not playable on my DVD player. I was able to burn a cdr of it on my pc and the cdr was playable on the DVD player, so it is not a total loss. The musical content of this CD is excellent, and I consider it an essential release for any stones fan. I don't consider it the best stones record, but it is definitely in the top 5. | 12 stars
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Guster does it again!
Another great album by one of the most amazing bands out there....All of the songs are good, especially "Amsterdam", which already has become one of my favorite songs of the year... I had the opportunity again to see Guster live (6/21/03), and in addition to adding this CD to your collection, if you get a chance to see them live, by all means, do so! | 45 stars
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This is Rock n roll
I don't know why some people don't like this one. For me it's a rock n roll masterpiece. Some may complain about the sound of this CD, but to me it makes the album very cool. I can't pick a song that isn't good on this album. | 45 stars
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The title says it all...
There really is more where that came from! The classic sounding first single "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" cannot prepare you for the beauty of this album. It's a great song....it sounds like something Dolly Parton may have recorded in the 70s. From the opening title track (which may be the best song-it has a lot of competition though) to the hidden track at the end, this album is a pure joy to listen to. There are two reasons behind this. The songs are so well written; the lyrical quality and emotional depth is unparalleled in country today. In addition, the music is beautifully done and well produced. There are absolutely no slow spots here-you can listen from beginning to end without boredom. As a long-time country fan, I have followed the ups and downs in music and at radio. This album fulfills the radio requirements of skilled writing and "traditional" sounding music. The great Ray Charles said that he loved country for "the stories". The stories found in "One's A Couple", "I May..", "Happiness", and every other song make this an essential country purchase in 2005, and what is sure to be hailed as one of the all-time great country albums. With these songs and LeeAnn's voice, there's no way you can go wrong with this one. | 45 stars
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wow im very disappointed..
i dont understand what the big hype was about with ashanti so i bought the cd not knowing what horrible songs are played on this disc..i didnt even enjoy rock wit u..umm i like the first 5 seconds of my sweet baby then the rest is just repetitive..rain on me is nicely sung and she sounds very passionate singing it...and the skit with her and her sis was cute shows how big of a pitch of her voice she can reach..nicely done but the rest of the cd was all the same 70s sound bad taste in background music and as she was singing it, it seems like she doesnt even like it herself..she just collected all this garbage and sold it out there and i dont like her front cover of the cd..ive seen many prettier pics of her in other photos..anyways...hope you come out with somethin better in the future and ashanti has got to be one of the worst rnb singers out there..monica, beyonce, brandy is ok, aree better then this styleless chick ..i dont even like her singing,,its annpoying daaaymmmm...get some talent and lose some weight ouch (had to squeeze that one in there) | 01 star
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Excellent CD, moderate sound quality
I hadn't heard of SD before his recent interview on Ken Wilbur's website, which is absolutely brilliant. I tracked down some of his CD's including this one and am quite impressed. The interview actually greatly enhances my appreciation for his music -- it's worth listening to. That would be worth putting out as a CD. In addition to great original work, he also does a great version of the Talking Head's And She Was on this -- I think he actually did it better than they did in terms of connecting to the lyrics. On the downside, the sound quality is only marginal. I wish someone would sign this guy to a real record deal so we could get better sound. Anyway, worth buying. | 45 stars
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'just another case' of a slept on group
For those of you that are scratching your head wondering who CRU is here's my 4-1-1. Personally i think they sound somewhere between the Lost Boyz and A Tribe Called Quest. They came out in 1997 and their reppin' the Bronx. They came out with a bang with their tracks "Pronto", "Just Another Case", and "Bubblin'". Hot 97 (NYC hiphop station) promoted this group in 'Battle of the Beats' CRU sang the opening theme for it... Dirty 30 came out and this group dissapeared unnoticed and that is very very SAD.Other than this album the ONLY other CRU appearances were on "Relax & Party remix" by Ivory. Violator Volume 1 had "Ohh Wee" by CRU, which was a fun jumpy party track. I peeped a couple MP3 sites for CRU songs and came across "What Cru is number one" and "Odd Couple".. but other than the mentioned songs I've yet to hear from these guys... and its sad to see a good hiphop group vanish because dormant hiphop heads... The rhythm blunt CRU had potential.anyway about Dirty 30, I think there's enough tracks in this CD to have your neighbors complaining about the noise. Practically every track has a nice beat to bump and Yogi and Chadeeo sound nice together over the mic. The 3 members had a great chemistry together and there's alot of shiners throughout the whole CD.....only downside to this whole CD is that some rhymes are very simplistic...but it doesn't really hurt the CD at all...On a side note though... even though they had a lot of playful songs, "Armageddon" seems a bit foreshadowing. The approach in that particular song is also playful, but it's talking about the 'DESTRUCTION OF HIPHOP'. I dunno what they were up to at the time, but check out all that garbage contaminating the radio waves now.... it kinda got me wondering...anyways just peep this CD if you listen to CRU or not. You'll probably be satisfied either way...I'm Out... Mind Power! | 45 stars
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SOLID!!!
Sure, there are only a few reviews for this album, and that would make any Black Metal fan skeptical of the brilliance therein. This is a very solid CD with zero filler, and speed! That is not to say there is no variation in tempo, there is. It just shifts from blinding speed to thrash, then back again, loaded with melodic guitar. The production is first rate and the muscianship is excellent. This makes a fine addition to any Black Metal collection. Highly recommended. | 34 stars
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hey yoko
why on earth did you allow them to add bonus tracks to this extraordinary record? aren't you supposed to be protecting the integrity of john's work? john's version ended with "my mummy's dead" - and unless you know for a fact that he would have preferred to have ended it with those two extra songs but couldn't because the original lp didn't allow for the extra length - then you shouldhave left it as john intended. | 45 stars
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hehehe
Did anyone watch the 31st music awards?hehehe This "band" was nominated for "best pop-rock"! And to make things even more humiliating, it got beaten by Speed Metal god Justin Timberlake! lolBut, i thought this "band" was something "new" because a female is the vocalist and because its "new wave goth" lolDid everyone also see them live? The singer is not that good live and the guitars seem sloppy.These guys are as fake as rubber dog sh_t and its a joke that they are this popular. Dont buy this cd, there are other bands out there with femals singers eg Nightwish. | 01 star
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my name is joe
I like his album it touches me and my favorite song is I wanna know it makes me think about me and my girl. | 45 stars
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He is the Measure of a MAN!
This Album is awesome! Measure of Man has a catchy beat, as well as Perfect Day. Invisible is fun. Touch has the best chance of getting radio play. Hearing This is the Night reminded me why this single was the best selling of 2003. I Survived you, an anthem to anyone who has had a broken heart. Shine is fun, uplifting. The Way, an awesome love song. (one of Clay's Favs too!) When You Say You Love Me, sounds a little country but good! Clay is absolutely incredible! I love you, CLAY! | 45 stars
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a wide variety of music
The music in this 2 cd set varies widely. It is basically easy listening but some music lends itself to daydreaming and others make you want to get up and move. There are a few that are too repetitive in style for me but others have become steadfast favorites. | 34 stars
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When the time stopped...
First time when I heard something from Art of Noise was a song mixed by Fatboy Slim, who is one of my fav artists. I thought the mix was so fine that I decided to find the original song. Man, never had I heard something like it, so I decided to go on for more songs by AoN.I found songs made by AoN and they had this Seduction of Claude Debussy written in them and then asked my friend, who was visiting the UK, to search for a cd called Art of Noise - Seduction of Claude Debussy. Well my friend found it, brought it to me and since then I've played the album every single day at least one time through.This is something for all electronic-music lovers and for people that like it experimental. I couldn't imagine just anyone to listen this type of music, but I think it's one of the rare cds that just take the control with its ambience and powerful melodies included with the type of touch that no normal human being could do in a lifetime. Though AoN did it.At the moment this is the very best album I've ever heard, taking the control all over again every day since then to the day to come. Get it. | 45 stars
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Pseudo-serious pop
The production is lush. Mr. Blunt has that kind of raspy tenor that sounds sincere and inoffensive at the same time. It's elevator music, the kind of music some people put on to chill. Kem, Norah Jones and a long list of others make this kind of candy. It sells because it fills a need. But is stuff like this memorable or profound? No. Look at the lyrics of this CD. It reads like bad high school poetry. Are the melodies particularly interesting? It's the kind of stuff someone with very modest musical talent can thump away on a piano or guitar.Why the hype for this CD? I have no idea. It's a pleasant enough listen and is well produced. It's decent enough music to smooch to. I can point to tens of CDs made this year that are of this ilk that haven't been selling nearly as well. Someone has to be anointed by the press, and this is James Blunt's turn. Lucky guy. He's won the lottery with rather ordinary music. | 12 stars
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not zepplin's greatest moment, but a fine hard rock album all the same.
the two bookends to this album, "achilles last stand" and "tea for one," are outstanding, and could fit in somewhere on physical graffiti without diminishing that great albums worth. also, smack dab in the middle here, there's "nobody's fault but mine:" another fine song with a killer hook that could go on the graffiti album nicely. those three tracks alone clock in at something just over 26 minutes. so there's lots of good music on this thing. lots of tension in the sound, a powerful rhythmic drive throughout, and slightly quirky melodies wound-up tight. nice inventive guitar work from jimmy page, and john bonham's drumming is often as gonzo as that of keith moon's fiercest frenzied attacks on the skins. the other four tracks sandwiched in here (for your life/royal orleans/candy store rock/hots on for nowhere) are good enough, all zepplin fans should have 'em, but they are simply not quite up to par with the bands classic work. if you are a young thing and looking to get into zepplin, i would say start with their first album and just keep going. work your way up to this album. eventually you will want it, but their first 6 albums are better overall. if you are already familiar with zepplin's classic albums, and somehow missed this lesser known one, don't shy away from it. plenty of good stuff here. | 34 stars
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Bubba Sparxxx, almost the perfect CD
I say almost the perfect CD due to the absense of my 2 favorite Bubba Sparxxx songs, Handle of Beam and Kuntry Folks. The CD itself is most excellent. Tight beats, great rhymes and that backwoods country feel that only Bubba can convey in a rap. I just wish Handle of Beam and Kuntry Folks had been on this CD. That would have made it the perfect CD. Definately worth buying, even without my fav songs present. | 45 stars
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Three Guitarists Share Common Ground
I've listened to all three musicians on their own projects hearing those subtle chops and licks that declare their shared love for versatility on guitar. These guys reveal a true love for the guitar that won't allow them to be locked in one set style.The other common ground I hear is that Dente and King have been long time fans of Keaggy. Keaggy along with his band Glass Harp, recorded in Jimi Hendrix's studio back in late '69 and early 1970 on the Decca label. Keaggy has a history and gift that got hidden in the subculture of Christian music. Any "Christian guitarist" worth being the salt of the earth has learned and grown from Phil. If you dig into reviews of many major guitarists like Eric Johnson and Steve Morse, they also mention Phil Keaggy as an inspiration and wonder.My only frustration is that not one of these gifted players gets to reveal the fullness of their passion. Good songs, great playing, but there's that restraint of the studio I hear too often. The album is worth every penny, but I pray for the day these guys will give us their great stage performance on CD. | 34 stars
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This bird will have all of you humming these tunes!
OK, now I'm not the biggest R&B lover, but Tweet rally proves herself on her debut! I reccommend this CD to anyone (there's even some fast songs "Boogie 2Nite", "Smokin' Cigarettes", "Baby, Make Your Move" and the hidden track "Oops!, part 2")! | 34 stars
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Not (just) for teenyboppers
Hanson has always had a tough time convincing people that they're different than other child idol performers. The difference is huge, though, and these boys are blessed with real talent. They also seem to have some discretion because their albums are very tasteful and catchy. I'm starting this season's reviews by looking at all the good Christmas albums in my collection. I assure you, this is a quality piece. If you are biased against Hanson, but like Christmas music, why not give this one a try? It'll be in heavy rotation in my car stereo. Given that they play their own instruments, the production in the album is very good. They are supplemented by crack studio musicians, and the whole thing sounds real enough to avoid the plastic, cookie cutter sound of, say Hillary Duff (just one example). This sounds like a real band, which of course, it is. Vocals are tight and I especially recommend the cover of Stevie Wonders "that's what Cmas means to me" and the original "At Christmas." I'm seeing it listed at unbelievably cheap prices, so give it a try. Would give 4 and 1/2 stars if possible. Thanks for reading and have a great Christmas. | 34 stars
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ching gnihc!
i first heard of them at a big festival in wisconsin called Lifest. i found their sticker on the ground and i picked it up, kept it and found them online and was hooked. since then i have bought the cd and i love it to death. if it were a record...it would be dead by now :) check out the song Night Divine cause its a great song. | 45 stars
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For Fans Only...
Fortunatly I am not a fan. This album features all their hits and a song that was supposed to be on the album "Black and Blue". This album released October of 2001 debuted at 4 and only sold 1 million and the song "Drowning" which was supposed to be a cut for "Black and Blue" only hit 36. The future looks cloudy for the Backstreet Boys due to the fact I have heard nothing about any new releases nor that the group is still together. Otherwise this album is a good retrospective of their career of the late 1990s and early 2000s and will be good for nostalgic value when going into the future. | 01 star
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The only Flock of Seagulls album you'll ever need.
Yup. This is it. During their brief visit into our public consciousness, A Flock of Seagulls really made the most of it, didn't they? Almost anybody who was into music back then, can remember them now without any sort of hesitation.They had a distinctive, if limited, sound with a distinctive, but now horrifically dated, look.Their initial singles,nicely remastered here, were all over the radio in those early days of "new wave.""Telecommunication" (a song significant enough to be played twice during their early concerts), "Space Age Love Song" and the one everybody knows, "I Ran (So Far Away)" all sound just as great as they did more than twenty years ago. Propulsive beats, atmospheric synth washes and brittle linear guitar lines all servicing, and let's be honest here, some pretty decent melodies. Simple yes, but you know what? You can still sing/hum them with ease and pleasure. What else is good pop music for?I don't deny myself simple pleasures when they present themselves...this isn't Springsteen or U2 here. It's just stuff that sound great on your car radio, or playing from the stereo speakers during a busy party.Several additional songs from their first album are included, "Modern Love is Automatic" and the Grammy-winning instrumental (go ahead and laugh now) "DNA."Their subsequent, less successful singles are here too, "Wishing (I had a photograph of you)" and "Nightmares".Some samples of their more generic, less "Flock of Seagulls sounding" later work are also here. They simply prove that change isn't always necessarily a good thing.Amusing liner notes (it's not a fluff piece...he's not always kind) and photos can be found in the CD insert.Any music fan compiling songs from that era will need this disc. It's a splendid career summary, representing a very specific genre of music. | 45 stars
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Awesome CD
I so anticpated getting this CD delivered. I had lost my album years ago and was happy to finally replace it! The songs bring back a lot of memories for me. It was delivered quickly and in great conditon. I look forward to enjoying it for a very long time! | 45 stars
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2 pac all eyes on me
I think it was his best cd that ever came out by him but "better days" is a good cd to lata all | 45 stars
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i can see why this is a classic
first off let me say that no i have not heard the origanly let me tell ya what's going on. I always knew aoubt Pink Floyd but i never really heard any of their music until a friend i met over the summer was like "dude you GOT TO check out pink floyd" Finaly i was able to get myself to an FYE. now the only CD i knew was of course "dark side of the moon" and the guy was like "here ya go son here's the 30th annaverasry" so i got it and went home and let me tell you this CD is far out man. it's like all the songs are connected it makes for grat surround music let me tell ya the main tracks that i really like thoughtrack 2 breathe- this one is pretty cool the lyrics are alwasy and the lead guitar is pretty aswometrack 4 time-this is probaboy my favorite pink floyd song the lyrics rock and that david gilmore plays a mean guitartrakc 6 money-like i said that david plays a mean guitarya know what everything after money rocks so whatever look some people aren't going to like this kind of music in fact one of my friends to me "it's music that you kind of have to aquire a taste for" people that don't like pink floyd are "in my opion" people that just want somthing aswome here and now they can't just "wait until they see it" trust me it's a pretty cheap CD just buy it and after a few listins you're be hooked on them believe it | 45 stars
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Two Highly Idiosyncratic Views of Two Masterpieces
Since both of these DVD's have been issued separately, I suppose this can be considered a marketing ploy for Arthaus although how successful it was (or will be) is a moot point. Both have strong selling points and both have features that almost undermine an outright recommendation. In common they both feature Bartoli, Harnoncourt and the Zurich Opernhaus orchestra and chorus. On a less starry level they both have Roumanian mezzo, Liliana Nikiteanu, tenor Roberto Sacca and baritone Oliver Widmar. Jugen Flimm is the director in both cases and while I have liked some of his work in the past I feel no affection for his handling of both works.For those who know the works from the many CD recordings (and I include remastering of the great LP issues)be prepared for some very outre tempi, either very fast or very slow. A major case in point is the Mi tradi. Ordinarily this is taken at a relatively "fast" tempo, certainly not allegro, but not at the funereal tempo that the maestro has chosen. Fortunately for Bartoli she has the resources to sustain phrases that surely were meant to be taken faster. But more important does it reveal something in the aria that is eluded when the more conventional tempo is chosen. I think not. The recitative preceding the aria is a parody of opera serie, e.g., thunderbolts, passion in the extreme. What happens when the aria begins outright? To my ears there is no emotional connection between the two. Earlier in the opera the "duet" between Ottavio and Anna is taken at a tempo that almost eludes the singers, only to slow down almost arbitrarily.In Cosi the Quintetto, Sento oddio is another example of a tempo that makes the singers sound vocally as if they were wading through molasses. This is followed by the heavenly trio Soave and one wonders what will Maestro Harnoncourt do at this point. He takes this at a much faster tempo than this listener has ever heard. This is a sublime moment in an opera filled with them. Surely it would have made more sense to reverse the tempos of these two ensembles.These are examples of the only the most egregious. I knew going in that Harnoncourt was marching to his own drumbeat. I have around a dozen Dons and this is far from the worst. What is more irritating is the mise-en-scene for both operas. Why hire a director who has a "concept" and then keep the lighting so dim as to make the sets almost extraneous. DG has many set changes it is logical that frequently these are only suggested; Jacobs "solved" the problem by playing many scenes in from of the curtain. Flimm has his characters illuminated but all else in the dark. Cosi has fewer changes and presents different problems. Taking a cue from the subtitle of the opera The School for Lovers, the setting is a school room; various props, etc., are brought in to indicate various locations. Again the opera would appear to be set in the dark. This is hardly outrageous as far as Regie productions go and even has a kind of logic, initially, but subsequently it strikes me as silly and arbitrary.As to the singing, the level is very high with only one major sticking point. Casting a mezzo as Elvira is hardly new and even the new ROH production features Joyce DiDonato. Klemperer cast Christa Ludwig and there are other examples. The Elvira I saw the most was Schwarzkopf. She has yet to be trumped, both vocally and dramatically. The role does not lie that high so tessitura is not really a consideration, but vocal posture (a phrase I remember from Irving Kolodin in the Saturday Review of Literature when reviewing an LP of Grace Bumbry singing soprano arias)is. I confess I do not understand casting both Elvira and Zerlina with mezzos; the lower (colored) voice strikes me as not connecting with the character. I do not have perfect pitch, nor do I have a score or a piano with which to confirm that Baroli is singing the the correct key. I have read no comment that any of the arias have been transposed so I will accept that she is singing in the key that Mozart wrote. With her technique the Come scoglio is a walk in the park, with triplets, runs and trills being tossed off with no effort. Per pieta is another case altogether. Here Harnoncourt has slowed down the tempo; Bartoli's technique again carries the day and because she has low notes that are not in the arsenal of most sopranos the aria succeeds in most part. Much has been made of the casting of three mezzos in Cosi and in a sense they are correct. It is my understanding that Mozart really wanted two sopranos for the sisters and only J.E. Gardiner opts for this casting. Casting lower voices does tend to bring the center of gravity down and fortunately the voices of Baltsa and Bartoli have their own sound that is identifiable. Nikiteanu though lovely of voice (and figure) is more generic. To the best of my knowledge Bartoli has abandoned this repertoire in favor of more arcane music--if CD releases are any indication.The weakest singing is reserved for the Ottavio and Fernando, Roberto Sacca. His repertoire is all over the map. The Count in the Barber, Bacchus in Ariadne and Germont fils. To my ears the voice is simply not right; I hesitate to call it ugly, but it is far from Mozartean. The competition is stiff and while he is superior to the early Glyndebourne entry and the Bieito set of the Liceu, he would not have been my choice.What of the Don? Well, Gilfrey is wonderful as is his mate Leporello. Both are among the best, short of Keenlyside, but very very good. I have probably given short schrift to the positive elements in both productions and don't feel shortchanged in spite of my criticisms. It is good to have one's opinion challenged; in the days of 78's this was rarely possible as multiple sets were not available (and yes I do go back to the days of 78's--near the end of that era). Today perhaps we have too many, muddying the waters for many listeners. No complaint from this listener/viewer however. | 23 stars
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This is a jam!
Funny how Amazon is pushing this (for sale) with the overrated "Contraband" by Velvet Revolver. This album (yes I know...dating myself) way outshines the experienced rockers of Velvet Revolver and take note of the raw difference production and creativity makes.The first tune I heard off this was "Mary Jane" and right off the bat, I was impressed. When I began researching these guys I saw something leading me to believe George Lynch was involved, then found out that just a few years ago, these guys were still in high school!Long live rock and F%#&*ing roll!It's nice to know that the new generations will keep raw talent and tube driven guitars alive. Everytime we get a new recording of some long gone band not living up to expectations, I get bummed. Then a bunch of punks come along in torn jeans and flannel shirts with a little attitude that says "wtf-let's just play some music" and I am left to feel good again.Thanks guys, good job and keep up the work. This is worth a listen if you haven't had the opportunity. You'll want to buy it like I did I'm sure afterward. | 45 stars
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Awesome - Worth the Wait
This is a great straight forward Rock n Roll album. Dosage was my favorite but it has now been replaced by Youth. CS fans will not be disappointed. All the songs are very strong - not a lame song on this album. | 45 stars
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Oh, so close to 5 stars (4.5 stars)
The Meat Puppets released Out My Way in 1986 as a six-song EP stopgap release between the albums Up On The Sun and Mirage. As on their previous albums, they continued to expand their horizons by adding funk and more traditional classic rock to their cowpunk roots. Cris Kirkwood's bass lines were also becoming very creative at this point which not only complemented his brother Curt's guitar work but also made them sound even more distinctive than they already were.Out My Way starts off with "She's Hot" and the title track which are both catchy and very funky proving the band could pretty much pull off any genre they try. "Other Kinds Of Love" is another great track with its mood swings sounding reminiscent of the material on Up On The Sun. "Not Swimming Ground" is an awesome song and arguably the best example of the musical interplay between the Kirkwood brothers. "Mountain Line" is a return to their cowpunk roots, possessing the fire that comprised their previous work but not sounding as rough. And speaking of rough, we get the loose and heavy version of "Good Golly Miss Holly" which is actually the weakest track of the original six that comprised the album. As with all of their earlier albums, several tracks have been added to the remastered version. However, the extra songs included here actually add to the release. "Burn The Honky Tonk Down" and "Boyhood Home" continue the band's country leanings while "Background Drums" shows the experimentation that would comprise their next album Mirage. "On The Move" is also another strong track. However, the best of the new tracks, and one of the best on the album period, is the 8 1/2-minute instrumental "Everything Is Green" which shows that the Meat Puppets can also be an awesome jam band if they so choose. Also included is another rough cover tune, this time it's "I Just Want To Make Love To You." The truth is, it's the rough cover versions of this and "Good Golly Miss Molly" which prevent this from being one of their classic albums. Still, it's a great release and definitely worth picking up. | 34 stars
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With this you never need any thing else from them.
This is one of the best examples of a "complete" 60's collection I've ever seen. They went all out to goet everything that Status Quo did, even their Spectres and Traffic Jam stuff. The songs are really good, and you get a great mixture. I definatley suggest it for anyone. | 45 stars
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Bumpy & Grindy
This album fits the bill if you're looking for some catchy alternative rock in today's polished, superficial music world. The Kills exhibit skilled, art-type rock that is melodic and yet abrasive.NO WOW starts out with lots of WOW on the song "No Wow", shifts into poppy-type overdrive on "Lve Is a Deserter" and "Rodeotown", a single ("Good Ones") and "I Hate the Way You Love". Those are some highlights, but the album pulls you into playing through the entirety. Enjoy it for the ride it is! | 45 stars
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EXCELENT ALBUM
THIS ALBUM IS THE BEST!!! I LIKE ALL THE SONGS, IN SPECCIALLY, "NO,NO,NO" FEAT AVENTURA, I THINKS THAT IS THE BEST SONG OF THE YEAR. UN ALMA SENTENCIADA AND OLVIDAME IS THE BEST BALLAD FOR THIS DISC. AND SEDUCCION IS GREAT TOO. I THINKS THAT THIIS IS THE BEST ALBUM FROM YEAR | 45 stars
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