the best of two worlds
934121
actually my son loves it.  the best of two worlds, atvs and trains.  no brutal action just great chases.
3938205
blurred lines indeed!  on this wonderful compilation, east (sort of) meats west; old meets new.  an ambitious hybrid of styles is the result of this project.  the music is big, dramatic, and demands attention. electronics are mixed  effectively traditional music and create a pleasurable listening experience. the BALKAN  half of this experiment may sound eerily unfamiliar to some listeners, but the overall  impact is, nonetheless, impressive.  not every
piece is a complete success, but the very idea of recording such an album deserves tremendous credit. i find that second half of this cd is remarkable .  the intensity and passion of the performances are nothing short of.......WOW
4940691
I am from the south but now live in New York...this book gave me the best of both. Don't miss out on all the fun, read this book!
1954850
Finally I got my hands on this -- the last of Ashkenazy's three recordings (all for Decca) of this concerto.  It's fabulous, but then, so were the other two, and I don't feel compelled to do comparisons to decide a "best."  It's perhaps safe to say that it's the best accompanied and has the best sound.  The Concertgebouw is a great orchestra, and I haven't heard a recording from that venue that doesn't combine weight, warmth, and richness, and the engineers catch the textures of the solo instruments beautifully.  Haitink is a great conductor and accompanist, and he and Ashkenazy work together well expressively here.  The recording also does justice to Ashkenazy's coloristic abilities, and the slow movement and the slower passages in the final movement are as beautiful as I've heard them in any recording.  Neither Haitink nor Ashkenazy plays his cards too early -- the opening movement is steady and rich, but the expressive power of the second movement grows as it develops, and the third movement is an apt climax, whether in the passages that recall the second's expressiveness, the beautifully varied filigree playing, or the grandiose fun of the final measures. There are other great performances -- Argerich, Freire, Janis, Wang, Gutierrez, Vasary, and more -- but you won't regret hearing this one.
3472088
Of the two Gans biographies currently available, this is by far the superior tome and one that I would recommend unreservedly.

The Longest Fight uses the first Gans-Nelson bout as its centrepiece to tell the story of Joe Gans, the first African-American world boxing champion and an outstanding technical practitioner of The Sweet Science, a household name in his heyday who has disappeared from public view in the intervening century.  Hopefully this book will help remedy that.

The Longest Fight goes beyond boxing biography to examine the world that Gans existed in and the racial environment of the day.  It provides far more than just a solid read for the fight cognoscenti.  There is much to be learned here about turn of the century America which will be prove to be invaluable to anyone interested in the history of this period.

Gildea has a very engaging style of writing.  It is straightforward, to-the-point and lacks any pretension.  It is also poetic and evocative, not adjectives youd expect to use to describe the outpourings of a sportswriter.  But like his subject, Gildea defies stereotypes and proves that such writers are indeed capable of soaring prose.

The descriptions of turn-of-the-century Goldfield are particularly rich and vivid giving the reader a sense of being there, both in terms of the physicality of the place as well as the atmosphere created by its thronging humanity.

This book is far superior to the Aycock/Scott bio which I thought was childishly written (it even contains a bizarre chapter on the importance of ghosts to Gans successes).  Having said that, they have both contributed a fine essay on Gans in The First Black Boxing Champions: Essays on Fighters of the 1800s to the 1920s so perhaps they are better suited to the short essay form rather than a full length bio.  Whatever the reason, this essay serves as a fine companion to Gildeas masterful work.

I recommend picking up both this book and Aycock/Scott's essay to gain a solid understanding of Gans and his importance not just to boxing but to American culture as a whole.  The current climate may be very poor for quality contemporary boxing but it is rich in intellectually stimulating and rigorously researched boxing history.  Gildeas book is a shining example of this.
3317909
an inspiring cd with a full range of genres to enjoy
315437
I am a great fan of the Travelers' Tales series, which has added immeasurably to the pleasure of my travel, and to the recollection of those travels.  But this is my first review of one of their books; reviewing collections of short pieces is tough, because you must limit yourself to overall impressions, there isn't space to describe every piece.

So here's the bottom line:  This is still the best of the many Travelers' Tales books I've read, and I have read quite a few others, including a few of their "best of" compilations.

Some of the reason for this excellence seems to be that Thailand itself inspires great writing by westerners.  In any general collection of travelers' tales, SE Asia is often the setting of many of the finer pieces.  Thailand being the most visited of the SE Asian nations, it has produced an extraordinary outpouring of excellent literature.

The reasons for this are fairly obvious on reflection:  it is well visited, yet it remains utterly exotic to western eyes, the people are warm, the cultures are fascinating, and the food, the landscape, the cities, the wildlife, the spiritual traditions -- all provide so much to write about.

This book is beautifully transporting.  Many of the excellent pieces bring back to the reader the experience of a visit:  the sensory overload, the favorite activities, the languid sway of palm trees on Thailand's beaches, the smell of basil brewing in coconut milk, the insane chaos of Bangkok's congested streets.

The first piece in the collection is an excellent overview:  It covers the sensuous (note, that's "sensuous," not "sexual") stimulations of Bangkok:  the humid heat that seems to tightly grip you by the arm, the honking of cars, the gazillion spices all clamoring for attention within a Thai broth, the shimmering golden roofs of the Grand Palace.

Other pieces deal straightforwardly and honestly with the hedonistic temptations that westerners find there (I remain innocent of these, yet I found these pieces fascinating reading).  A very insightful piece entitled "Fooling yourself for fun" meditates on the peculiar Thai way of enticing the temptable without the land sacrificing its own soul and self-respect.

I also loved the pieces that reminded me of things I had done there. "In the Andaman Sea" recollects a kayak trip that I took with Sea Canoe, a company that (at least when I was there) was just as marvelous as described in this book.  Another piece describes the joy of receiving a traditional Thai massage, lying on the floor of an open-air pavillion, at Wat Po, Bangkok's traditional school for such instruction.

Also wonderful are the pieces that remind the visitor of the warm hospitality and accepting philosophy of the people you meet there, the "mai pen rai" ("never mind") that you often hear, reassuring that everything is all right.

If you love Thailand, or if you think you would, this book is recommended without reservation.
3140276
I confess to a bit of nostalgia for Riccardo Muti's time in Philadelphia.  No slight intended to his successors, Sawallisch and Eschenbach, but there was a certain magic with Muti in some repertoire.

This recording is one of his best, and shows his partnership with the great Philadelphia Orchestra at its peak.  This is a sensuous Mahler First, with Muti emphasizing the work's red-blooded power and extreme mood changes.  Throughout however, the orchestra responds with equal intensity, and one could not ask for a more apt example of why this is one of the best ensembles in the world.

The sound is excellent -- not at the tip-top of the heap, but still marvelous.  If this recording lacks some of the crystal-clarity of more recent recordings (this one dates from the mid-1980's), the softer-grained texture is still ingratiating to the ear.

To my knowledge, Muti has not recorded any other Mahler symphonies but this one -- a shame.  This is an vibrant, life-affirming First, in a field crowded with good recordings.
4136463
The Best of the Best of these two.  The best was the best until they split up.  I am in the 60's 70's folk generation.  They made the crossover from folk to folk rock with no problem.  Good pick on this one.
1272541
Two of Pete's classics.  Two of my finest purchases.
334345
The best of the best. I use both, digital and analog, timer and word time for dual time. Cons: plastic holes can be broken easy, but mine still good.
2254409
From friends that have this line (D40) I knew what I was getting into. For years I was one of those into the light end digital camera end. Cannon, HP, and when my last camera broke I decided to get a real camera. The best part here is that it's the best of both worlds. I don't need to buy expensive film or process everything. The convenience of digital, throw away want you don't want. Although to me it seems a bit bulky (case and all) compared to the smaller digitals this kit offered what any novice could want. A great jump off point too. I'm thrilled with it and so is my family.
2054022
If I had to use only word in this review it would be "empowering".  What a wonderful book to read while pregnant and thinking about the birthday of your little one.  The title is spot on when it says "the best of both worlds".  Minimal intervention with the security of technology nearby, an idea that describes exactly what so many long for.  And having the practical advice in the form of a book makes it possible.  Every turn of the page, you become less fearful and more excited.  This is such a an interesting and easy read.
2272727
If you want a definitive version of both concerti,  this is it.  The Clarinet Concerto is superbly realised by Mr Brymer.  and I believe has rarely been equalled and never bettered,  The sound is warm and responsive  and the orchestra provides the right level of support.  Personally I love Gwydion Brooke's approach.  It is witty and warm and is full of good humour.  The cadenzas are really quite remarkable.  Beecham and the the Royal Philharmonic are at their best showcasing one concerto written early in Mozart's output and the other right at the end.  Get it!!!  You will be so glad you did.  A classic oldie,  but a goodie!
254775
From the first few seconds you know this is not like any other music on Earth. It draws from many traditions and seems to find the best in each and then blends them all together in to a delight that should please lovers of world, Arabic and Qawwali. In fact, this may be a gateway album for those not familiar with these rich traditions as the songs have some Western structures as well. Listen and love!
1902178
The recordings on this LP, and the cagey choice of works to feature together, are a lovely phenomenon. Perhaps best of all is the inclusion of a selection of Brahms' "Liebeslieder" watzes presented in orchestral garb, really (for these ears, at least) more agreeable fare than either the two-pianos or vocal ensemble versions of these exquisite dances.

Having the gorgeous Dvorak Nocturne and Elgar's Serenade for Strings together with those waltzes, plus some lovable Grieg, makes for one of the nicest programmes of works together on any LP or CD that I know of. The performances are among the best and warmest in spirit, too, that have been available over the years.

Hopefully, this eventually will make it to transfer on CD. Until then, folks, this is a vinyl disc to buy and to cherish, if one can find it.
1658465
Two all time favorites, and the music is the best!!!