An Extraordinary Listening Experience Any Time Of Day
919635
The Word Of Promise has released their new CD, New Testament NKJV published by Thomas Nelson.

Hear the Bible Come Alive in Dramatic Audio Theater!

This multi-voiced, scripted dramatization of the New King James Version (NKJV) features a star-studded cast of actors, an original music score, and incredible feature film quality sound effects. This world-class production creates a dramatic audio theater experience that makes you feel like you're really there with Jesus and His disciples. Listen in your car, on your MP3 player, or with your family or small group to gain a new perspective of the Bible.

The Bible was meant to be an auditory experience. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word Of God. We don't get to hear it enough. Thomas Nelson Publishers has fixed that problem for us. They have given us an audio theater experience that lets us hear the crowds and the sound effects of the waves, jingling of coins to make us feel that we are there. Michael York is the Narrator. Jim Caviezel portrays Jesus and a large star-studded cast portray all the other characters that fill the pages of the New Testament. Now we can redeem the drive to and from work. We can listen to it at home when we want to have a family Bible study or just some study time alone. This is high quality stuff that we will want to listen to over and over again. It will also make a great gift to give to friends and family so that they can listen to it as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this CD free from Thomas Nelson.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
4879391
Chichi Peralta delivers a live concert album that's rare and magical in several ways.  First, the live setting allows the artist to embellish his sound and lyrics while entertaining an appreciative Dominican audience in a way that makes each song sound fresher than ever.  Second, like any truly superior live recording, the crowd contributes a sense of "connection" with the artist that is usually reserved for a Bruce Springsteen concert. You can almost see the audience on its feet, sharing an intimacy, a genuine musical moment, that we can all relate to but which is often lacking in concert productions.  As a document of an incredible singer-songwriter at his glorious best, "En Vivo" is a major success!  It's clear Peralta is fulfilling a life-long dream; he's exuberant throughout, and his classic song "Amor Narcotico" becomes a metaphor for music as the universal drug of choice...the listener not only feels like they are part of the show, but also realizes they're experiencing each track in new, unexpected ways.  Adding to the disc's pleasures are superb production values throughout, and Peralta's sweet, affecting vocals -- especially on tracks like "Amor Narcotico" (when the crowd goes absolutely wild), "Sol de Verano" and "Me Enamore."  The artist is relaxed and confident - he tosses off ad-libbed lines to show his appreciation for the fans at just the right moment, adding to the listener's sense of being present and experiencing a singular moment in time.  On a great sound system, "En Vivo" becomes the next best thing to being in the audience, which for this listener at least, is a testament not just to Peralta, but also the superb musicians, arrangers and songwriters assembled here.
Part Juan Luis Guerra, part Beny More, part PT Barnum, yet completely original in his own right, Chichi Peralta has created a unique sound that transcends categorization.  "Ev Vivo" is a great introduction to the artist's top hits and his inimitable sound.  So - if you enjoy classic Caribbean sounds - salsa, merengue, afro-Cuban, son, bachata - this album is a MUST OWN.  Sopla Chichi!!!
499712
This book is pretty much impossible to describe well and truly, but anyone who truly loves music and has found themselves, through the course of life, frequently lost in the act of listening, or reminscing about the experience of hearing particular music, is urged to read this brilliant, imaginative, beautiful and moving work.

O'Brien's book about the experience of movie-going, "The Phantom Empire," estabished him as one of the great, unique movie viewers, and this one does the same for his listening.  And that is what this book is about, listening.  This is not about music, and that is an important distinction!  It's about the experience of listening, and how what we listen to is incorporated into our personal history.  But it's also about much more than that:  his chapter on American Folk Music is one of the most astonishingly brilliant pieces of critical thinking about music I have ever read, his section on ambient music is subtle, mysterious and extraordinary.

Most of his listening, at least in this book, is of pop music, jazz, rock and other popular forms.  But regardless of your listening habits, this book will be a pleasure and a beautiful companion to your own love of music.
1245237
This, the latest aural therapy from Alison Krauss and Union Station, surpassed my already high expectations.  Play with great caution in your car- this is far more distracting than a cell-phone call.  Alison and the band take flight on a seamless, magic-carpet ride of magical picking and singing that flows like a river full of longing, loss, and hope.  It's all here, from bluegrass drive to perfectly fingerpicked folk to Ron Block's glorious acoustic gospel ("A Living Prayer"), and all of it utterly mesmerizing.  If, as I did, you find you want more, the only alternative is to play it again.  Believe me, it holds up well to repeated listening.
3647025
(Dear reader, please note: this is a review for the audiobook, not the printed version :))

I bought this audiobook yesterday, motivated by my unadulterated admiration for the inimitable Michael Emerson, who narrates the story.  The reviews for the book itself were a mixed bag but I figured "12 straight hours of Emerson's voice? Yes, please!" and went ahead and bought it.

As it was late in the evening when I got around to starting it, I initially intended to listen to it an hour or two before going to sleep.  Six hours later I was still wide awake, unable to tear myself away from the intoxicating world I had walked into.

Passionate though I am about the past, the history of the United States was never a topic that interested me much, and thus 'The Amalgamation Polka' is not the sort of book I would normally go for; but from the beginning I found myself genuinely absorbed by the author's ability to create such a thoroughly believable and interesting world of yesteryear's Haves and Have Nots; characters so realistic, so un-contrived, that one instantly forgets they are fictional.

The brilliant narrator's extensive range of accents-- perfectly breathing life into each and every one, from the aging slave to the Cockney pirate to the posh English rose-- contributed enormously to the experience and had me thoroughly hooked throughout.  The heavy scenes are read with solemn gravity, making you feel like an invisible witness to the goings on.  But there is plenty of humour to be found throughout, and if you're as tickled by cantankerous curmudgeons drawling old-timey expressions as I am, you will no doubt find yourself laughing out loud in parts.

The attention to detail, both on the part of the author and the narrator, are what make this audiobook such a gem.  The use of language and the dialogues are just delicious and make this work so effortlessly captivating to the listener.  This is without a doubt a fascinating slice of the past I will be enjoying again and again.
2247647
there's not much more anyone can say about this recording, those of us who like it really like it and probably continue talking it up.

i owned the vinyl copy, without the additions, and that's how i grew accustomed to listening to it as a total piece of music. the cd copy left on the player playing the additional pieces becomes a new listening experience, one i don't really appreciate.

i also have a cassette copy, without the additions. not too long ago i was on a beach with headphones, listening to sketches of spain, while watching the water of the sound as it flowed in from the ocean against the blue sky, filled with seagulls and the sun shining. a very pleasurable listening experience of sketches of spain. i doubt any other piece of music would had made the day so pleasurable.
2089834
I was pulling into my driveway late one night when this album began playing on a late-night new age show on the radio.  I was immediately entranced and ended up listening to the album in its entirety, right there in my car, sitting in the driveway.  I found it on Amazon and ordered my own copy, and since it has grown to be one of my favorite albums.

These tracks are not for everyone, and I only say that because the depth and variation of the music is incredible.  If it had to fit into a category it would most likely be "new age", but only new age in the incredibly broad, "worldly" sense.  Kingfisher's music doesn't follow any particular genre; instead, each song is simply its own unique creation, crafted in the mind of someone who obviously knows music very intimately.  The compositions are beautiful and haunting, and during a song such as "Bird Dreams" absolutely joyful.  Kingfisher's voice is very rich and beautiful-- traits I don't normally associate with male vocalists.

Again, I can't recommend this album to everyone.  It is incredibly unique, and the only way to know whether you will enjoy it is to experience it.  My only sorrow is that such a skilled composer would remain so very unnoticed.  I wish greatly that there were a way to get a hold of more music like this, but I can't seem to find any.  But at least I can enjoy this fantastic album, and hopefully someday Kingfisher will begin to get the recognition he deserves.
3369952
Mind-altering sounds arose from my CD-player when I listened to this talented and, in its very own way, subtle piece of art.  Dream Theatre has taken instrumental and progressive rock to new, utmost heights (or depths - how could I know for sure?) of mesmerising and disturbing virtuosity.
The leading song is, no doubt, 'Strange dj vu'.  However, it does not come alone, for the whole disc is a great continuum of themes which do not tend to conclude until the story itself does.
Because this album tells a story.  And my advice is to learn about it in a quiet, gloomy room, having plenty of time and preparing to feel a rare set of sensations as this awesome opus comes to an end.
206271
I walked into Rasella's, an Ethiopian Restaurant and Jazz Club in San Francisco, and struggled my way through the crowded room to find a spot to stand as I came thirty minutes into her show and there were no more seats  available. Her presence immediately engulfed me into a trance that far  exceeded my expectations. All I could hear was her voice. I was  experiencing music on a different level- it was spellbinding. The band was  captivating and Ledisi's voice was hypnotic. She went from high notes to  low notes harmoniously and tunefully, scatting a difficult arrangement of  tunes like no other. It was a "religious" experience, bringing tears to my  eyes while singing jazzy ballads like, "My Funny Valentine." There was a  passion from her heart that exuded her love for music and the entranced  audience, with "bobbing heads" and all were receiving from her the art of  singing in its truest form. Ledisi's voice is a rare instrument with many  compositions yet to be played. Anibade, her band is invigorating and master  their talents.
The CD, "Soulsinger," is original and is a tool for music  lovers to gauge out of it the art of song composition. Her live  performances are the illuminated versions of the "story" behind the music.  Don't forget to put this CD in the shopping cart- it is a true value for  what you'll get out of it.
3654365
Laurie Freelove is an artist that - sadly - not many people have heard, at least in terms of widespread radio play and the sort of promotion that the major labels do on behalf of their artists. This is certainly not because of any lack of talent or creativity on her part - her work is simply amazing - but rather due to the fact that she has chosen wisely to remain independent, releasing her recordings on her own, at her own pace. She is thus free to create and perform as her spirit guides her, and the results are extraordinary. She has a number of recordings available as CD-Rs, along with some 'regular' cd releases.
SONGS FROM THE NINELINE is made up of 'live' recordings made from 1990-1996, mostly intended for broadcast on various radio stations in the US and Europe. The recording quality throughout the disc is exceptional -- and the 'live' aspect of the performances allows the listener an excellent opportunity to hear what this incredible artist can accomplish in performance, without the 'benefits' of studio gadgetry and after-the-fact tweaking. The musicians that accompany Laurie are extremely talented - and obviously familiar with her work. Their contributions are tasteful and supportive, never overshadowing the singer or the songs.
The singer and the songs. In the most outstanding examples of the singer-songwriter in our world, they are inseparable - and that is most certainly the case here. Laurie's music and words cut right to the heart of her subject matter - and of the listener. She writes and sings of the things that touch our souls, colored by her own unique vision and experience - but while many of these songs are obviously written from a deeply personal aspect, their meaning and appeal are universal. These are things that we have all experienced, and being allowed to view them from the perspective of an artist as talented as this is a gift and a blessing. These songs are deeply moving and philosophical without ever coming across as heavy-handed or self-centered - and their honesty will take your breath away.
Laurie's voice is strong and confident - and her musical imagination is astounding, allowing her to meld lyrics and melody into compositions that remain in my mind and heart long after the cd has finished. This is a recording I have found myself returning to again and again - it's one that is timeless in the finest way.
I've only been fortunate to hear Laurie Freelove perform in person once - but it's an experience I'll never forget, and one that I hope I'll be able to repeat one day. In the meantime, I have this recording - and others - to enjoy time and time again.
1669030
This album constantly surprises with an eclectic range of sounds and moods, pulling you through trances, awakenings and everything in between - DM really pushed this album to another level - they've grown in such an organic way - it's new ground for them and for the listener - mind-bending at times, thrilling at others, it's breathtaking from start to finish
1381509
I listen to this CD on my way to and from work, just about anytime I need to adjust my view of this earthly existence.  Each time I listen, his words begin to make sense, and I allow them into my everyday thoughts. I seem to understand NOT to make this incarnation so difficult.  "You are not in the world, the world is in You.", as Deepak so deeply expresses.

This is a whole new way to experience "life", it is something that must be listened to over and over again to allow his explainations sink into our thoughts.
2928515
When I first heard a cut from SERIOUS TAM, I told my wife that this is  what the Beatles would have sounded like today had they been allowed to  live and to evolve from the 1970's to the 2000's.
Curiously, the liner  notes reveal that George Telek loves the music of the Beatles, and his  initial stop when visiting England for the first time was at that famous  Abbey Road crosshatch, where he had his photo snapped.
Each of the  sixteen songs here has a hook, just as most of the Beatles' hits, and each  builds a distinctive soundscape from its unique collection of instruments  (including the impressive bass drumming of a pounded split log which  reverbs like God's foot-taps into your living room!) and melodics, many of  which involve the New Guinean snake-like weaving of a third voice among two  fixed harmonies. The result is danceable, joyous, and the most compelling  World Music I've heard this year.
The diversity of lyric experimentation  on SERIOUS TAM makes it a CD which one can listen to again and again  without getting bored, always finding a new layer while enjoying the  already noticed ones.
Telek supposedly chewed betel nuts as a child, and  the ensuing mystical experiences helped make him a mystical songsmith.  Betel nuts or not, Telek is a superbly talented musician whose songs will  bring you energy and joy. Highly recommended!
2632058
A magnificent album in which the art of turtablelism and the powerfull sound of the double bass intertwine beautifully to produce some of the best tracks I have heard in a while. The skills are incredible and the result hypnotic. Some tracks will be a bit surprising and you may dislike them at first but with a few listenings one learns to appreciate the music for the talent and genious involved and then the music sounds completly different. Start with track 2,3,7,11 and 22 and then work your way to the others. It is an album you never get tired of listening to for its is filled with things that you discover each time over and over again, detecting sounds and skills. I never fail to be amaised at some of the scratching or sampling and most of all by the incredible sneaky.
Buy it!!! its incredible
4359038
An exquisite recording of extremely beautiful music.
1727050
Renee Flemings' latest highly anticipated recording, Strauss Heriones is indeed a fascinating and unique listening experience.  Fleming proves herself worthly of being noted as THE Strauss soprano of today.  The  lyrical creaminess of her exceptional soprano, along with her marvleous  acting ability and great sensitivity to Strass' women protagonists and  their psychological underpinings, makes her ideal in this repertoire.  She  is without a doubt the best exponent of this repertoire since Kiri ti  Kanawa, (whom I had the opportunity to see in the PBS telecast of Der  Rosenkavelier). However, Fleming's sharp interpretative skills far surpass  Te Kanawa's, (who was more the singer than the actress).
  In this CD,  Fleming is also fortunate to have two experienced Strauss singers,  mezzo-soprano, Susan Graham and soprano, Barbara Bonney teamed with her.  Each with equally good presence and  complete understanding of their  characters.  Graham sings an alluring and passionate Octavian with a  gloriously rich mezzo, and Bonney sings a particularly sweet Sophie and an  endearing Zdenka. Hearing these outstanding three performing so well  together, one's appetite is wetted to hear them perform these  Strauss  masterpieces in their entireties--particularly Der Rosenkavelier.
  Highlights for me on this magnigicent disc were the final trio of Der  Rosenkavelier,(the gem of the entire recording)and the closing scene of  Capriccio.  The hauntingly beautiful final trio is representative of three  outstanding passionate artists who love their music and who are giving it  all through the heart.  This concept is also significant in the Cappricco  performance.  In the booklet of the CD, Fleming remarked that this was her  favorite piece on the CD; and you can tell this very plainly by hearing her  completely passionate performance as the Countess--a role she has not yet  sung on stage, and a role in which she will most certainly triumph in in  the near future.  This is a truly remarkable recording.
1394796
a pleasure to listen to, a easy, magical way to change your life