And now for something completely different...
922275
As the title suggests, this is a collection of 24 short films of the artistic and experimental genre, ranging from about 10 to 35 minutes in length, and each one quite different from the other.  Some of them have a story that you can follow, while others are meant to be visual expressions of moods and feelings, but all of them are of a high standard and quality, and there is bound to be something to suit most tastes in this eclectic collection.  My first impression was that these short films - most of them silent - have a powerful effect on the senses, not in the least due to the exceptionally good musical accompaniment by the best composers in the business.  Overall, watching these films had a calming and almost hypnotic effect on me, which no doubt was often intended.  Some of the highlights for me were the longer, more complex films such as "The Life and Death of 9413 - a Hollywood Extra", "Lot in Sodom" (which has been previously released by Image Entertainment with Oscar Wilde's "Salome") and "La Glace a Trois Faces" (The three-sided mirror) which contain a definite message as well as being poignantly expressive visually.  Then there are themes and subjects focussing on nature, weather, architecture, and a few experiments with tricks and animation.  In other words; never a dull moment - unless you are looking for the usual story film with customary action and editing, in which case this collection might not be your cup of tea.  But for anyone interested in artistic expression in films, the history and development of film, or just for something entirely different, this is an excellent set.  There are good notes on each film on the discs themselves so that you can easily read them first before viewing each film (which will help to understand and appreciate the film and its message) or whichever way you like.  In any case, this is surely an important contribution to film history, and thanks to Kino Video for providing such a fascinating ride through the bizarre and compelling art movements of the 20s and 30s.
2693132
Released in 1989, this is almost the kind of Shamen most fans know and love. Therefore it's a radical change they made with this album. Throwing away the psychedelic indie rock they had used on the album Drop. And what a difference! Whereas Drop was more of the usual dour indie rock that you get no matter where you go. This, at the time, was something slightly different. It also showed that the band had a sense of humour. Admittedly you may want to have your sense of humour completely black. It's amazing to hear televangelists sounding completely unhinged to the point of being insane ( " GOD WILL DESTROY RUSSIA " ) - admittedly such hatred was understandable but there are some people who take things too far....! And for anyone who moans about getting biased reports from TV and newspapers, Misinformation will surely give you a chuckle. In fact, despite some of its politics being completely dated ( Russia, The Cold War etc. ) there are elements that surely hit home to some disenchanted people.

But it's not all doom and gloom - there are songs to lift you up and make you feel good. They wanted to change from being politics to partying.....but again at the time of these raves that were going on, these were intensely political statements itself. So it's funny, the album comes across as a really big political statement even though the songs about partying and drugs seem......well they seem normal these days....the edge has been taken off them slightly.

Most Shamen fans will see this as a transitional album to bigger and better things. And while some tracks do feel a bit off ( the start of Yellow Cellophane Day really doesn't do anything ), there are many delights to be found here that won't disappoint.
4134979
Oh, wow. This is a really different book. It took a bit on a magic side, combined with mystery and love story, and an HEA. Beautiful. The premise really left me wondering and intrigued. What is this story, what happened to her, how the story unfold... well, you should read it to understand. It really is a short story, not even a novella. A bit expensive for a short story, but as it really good, I'm not really complaining (though I'd prefer lower price for a story this short). So be warned, it is a short story. I finished it in an hour and a half.
4879789
Now this is something totally different and new to me, I love his voice
4953931
A hell of a story.  Different than I've read, and I've read hundreds.
629075
Eccentric, original, distinct and fun. Yet, spectacular 'tis not.

It goes down easy, especially at thirty minutes. It's headstrong in its peculiar style, and has an odd obsession with brass -- listen to that fanfare motif hiding under "Bottle Rocket"!.. just wonderful -- and harmonicas (?!). The vocals are as unique as anything I've heard, and generally speaking for the better, providing a musical experience that, in all, damned, honesty, I cannot compare to anything I've heard before. That, when I think about it, is a pretty extraordinary feat.

But it ain't all radiant goodness, friends. While it's little else than good times while it's rolling about with glee, it abruptly ends. And then it's done. Over. Gone. "What, is that it?" And, mind you, this question pops up every time I listen to it, so I predict I've allowed myself the due time to absorb it properly. None of the tunes are particularly striking, sans my favorite on the disc, the freaking ENCHANTING 'Huddle Formation', which is surely one of the most offbeat, giddy pieces of music I've heard in a decade. From my experience, most the people I've happily showcased the gem for have been either weirded out or confusingly unimpressed, but I shun them for such distaste, as is the correct thing to do. Moving on, the nature of the album elaborated, barely... The first track, "Panther Dash", pretty striking, with dazzling hooks and the introduction of the oft revisited harmonica. Yet, in only three minutes, it practically outstays its welcome, bringing forth little new ideas after the one minute mark; not a good sign. Then, on the other side of the spectrum, you've got a tune like "Feel good by Numbers", a waste of time and devoid of any spark even some of the more moderately amusing songs possess. When you release an album as short as thirty minutes, and end up throwing a song of such dreck in the mix (even if it's only two minutes), the more negative implications begin to shine forth.

Certainly it's not out of the question that I'm being too harsh on the album, but despite all of its innovative vibes, I'd feel a spear of guilt stabbing my chest if I were to rate this anything higher than a three. Three and a half, maybe, but even that could be pushing it. By no means is this not worth hearing, and those more fixated on creative virtue than anything just might be in heaven, but I prefer a little more, lasting oomph to my music. Good stuff, but little more, me thinks.
3914022
It's hard to classify this sound. It's so new and different it's almost groundbreaking. It has great music, trippy almost techno pop-rock with some hip hop beats even great piano on one song (Lok at All the People) and even a bluesy track (Wasting My Time, from the 8 Mile soundtrack). It has bold lyrics such as "I won't break, I might bend but I won't break ... I will try, I might lose but I will try" (B4 It's 2 L8) The tones change from fun and a bit sexual (Crazy Love) to inspirations for the world (Left Side/Right Side). The three fun hit/hit bound songs on this album are The Wreckoning, Move On and Now Understand This. Overall it's really different and fun to listen to!
4376788
I listened to this album alongside a few other recent live releases from Phish, and it stands out in an interesting way.
I've also listened to some of the earliest shows that circulate.  This show is such a strange transition between the Phish that has become well known, and the Phish that was starting out.
The quality of the show is not up to par with the more recent releases, but it's entirely appropriate.  There's a very different atmosphere on this recording.  The band sounds alternately tight, and a little sloppier than they are now.  The arrangements are, in some cases, drastically different.  The version of ACDC Bag on this is really different - a whole lot more piano.
The other big difference here is that there's more banter than there is now.
I'm glad that they release this collection.  It's good, and worthwhile for most fans to be aware of.  I would never advise people new to Phish to use this as a starting point though.
1734639
Not tool, no, this is something definitely different; something unique, something of it's own. Good.

This is one of the few albums I keep in whole on all my SD-card enabled players, including my car. The songs are unique enough across the album not to bore me. The more I listen to it, the more songs grow on me. Right off the bat, Momma Sed was on my laid-back, just plain cool, play list. Great "yeah, that's right..." when I heard it popup on that TV show Terriers. Dozo is pretty bad ass - eclectic, love the random Japanese and the whole Takeshi Kitano yakuza vibe. The songs are eclectic and interesting. It's great mood music, a sound track to a laid back day.
2312381
With their last album not especially well-recieved and certainly controversial among fans, Tull seemed to stray into a particularly different direction with Roots to Branches, utilizing sounds from all around the world, and a free and creative approach to what they can (and perhaps once thought they can't) do.

The music on the album is certainly fitting to the artwork on the front and back covers (which are great, by the way)often very circular with it's roots deep and the earth, and still not afraid to give it that hard edge here and there.

I am surprised, though happy, not to see more distasteful reviews of this album, seeing as it is definitely very different than the archetype of Tull's sound, and certainly not what a lot of their fans expected. Which goes to say a lot, considering it was so different and yet so well recieved.

I would recommend this album to the average Tull fan who wants to journey into their "modern" sound (the album was released a while ago, but not a lot has been released since unfortunately). There are songs on this album that would no doubt impress any Tull fan, and usually and impressive Tull song is worth the money of the album, amirite?
3959410
Nothing about this book or the author is average. This is not a cookie cutter book following the same beaten to death story line. You know you want something different. And this is it!! It's so different you almost don't want to love it. It makes you pause, it makes you think. It's so unconventional. And it's utterly brilliant. Grab it, but it now, read it immediately. You won't regret it.
2754111
A good read.  A different plot for a change, for me, which I was looking for.  It seems that many of the novels I have chosen lately, and it could just be my choice, ... you just know from the beginning where it is going and how it will end.  So, occasionally I enjoy something "different" in the mix.  The Gold Finch was another novel I considered a break from the norm.
2118740
Ok, so this isn't the best sabbath album ever, but it is so incredibly different from all the others that it is fascinating. Some very good songs on there, including 'Dancing Queen', one of my favorite Sabbath songs. If you're curious, you gotta try it. I'd love to know the story though behind the last song of the album which is NOT sung by Ozzy.
1278172
A quick little read, and much different subject matter than I'm accustomed to with his work, but completely enjoyable, nonetheless.
768502
delightfuly different.......maybe like the real thing was
544538
I needed a change of pace and this is definitely different from what I usually read...It just isn't my genre of reading.
2958168
This was a surprise. I was expecting one thing and got something quite different. Although it did not meet my expectations, I think that is not the fault of the story or the writing.