As good as Singles can get
937514
I don't buy singles very much at all...but I believe this is one of the best singles that are available.  This is the only single where I can honestly say I like all the songs on it.  "Alive",  "Once", and "Wash" are wonderful songs.  But if you've  already heard "Alive" and liked it, I would recommend buying  their full-length CD "Ten" instead, because lots of songs on it  are good.
3058734
James' eleventh studio album, their last one with frontman Tim Booth, is, well...it's okay. Just okay.
There are two standout tracks: "Give It Away" is a charming three-minute number - great melody, nice lyrics ("You have so many friends cheering you along/Don't turn a deaf ear to their song"), simply James doing what they do best.
The other standout is the first (and only) single, "Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)". Smart lyrics, catchy chorus, good lively tune. Obvious choice for a single.
Of the remaining eleven tracks, ones worth listening to include "The Shining", "Gaudi" and "Space". "What Is It Good For" and "Pleased To Meet You" are ones to miss.
The album sometimes borders on dance/electronica, which James often try their hand at. "Gaudi" would be an example of this, although traces of it can be found throughout.
Overall, while "Pleased To Meet You" is worth listening to, it always leaves me longing for 1999's sublime "Millionaires". Still, it's a decent if inconsistent effort from the underrated Manchester septet.
1311164
I heard this band performing on XM radio. I bought this album after hearing them, and after listening to the entire album I must say, I think every single song is really good, how rare, I usually only buy singles because most artists only have 1 or 2 songs on an album that I'll like, not worth buying the whole album.  I don't think I had a favorite on this, they're all good.  Glad I bought this.
2148228
This is a very good single. And yes, it is somewhat unfortunate that the best track on APB's latest album is a cover. However, as in the past, Stefan is great at picking the songs to add his touches. In the past he's made other excellent choices whether as singles, album tracks, b-sides or live: The Cure's "A Strange Day", Metallica's "Fade To Black", DM's "Enjoy The Silence", and the list goes on.

With "Shine On" Stefan has chosen a House of Love masterpiece. "Shine On" not only was a great song, I believe it to be one of the great lesser known alternative pop singles ever written; see also The Bolshoi's "A Way". HOL is also a very underappreciated band - very cool of APB to pluck this diamond that is not nearly as widely known as it deserves. Just to add, HOL had 1 other unrecognized gem with "Christine" off of their brilliant debut which I think is out of print... anyway, it's very had to find their albums since their were all just self-titled (wacky, ain't it?). APB has chosen to remake "SO" as a melodic industrial metal track as opposed to shimmering alt-rock. The result is very good falling slightly short of excellent. The original is better but this is a great twist.

Given the lameness of the album from which this single is culled, I was very surprised by the quality of these b-sides. "Black Pawn" is a soothing minimalistic dance track with a catchy, trademark Stefan vocals; sounds like it could have been a single from his side-project Fairlight Children. "Freindly Fire" is also good but the background melody sounds almost exactly like the what he used behind his "Fade To Black" cover - take a listen. The "According To Phillip Remix" od "You Keep Me From Breaking Apart" is somewhat similar to "Black Pawn" with its alluring minimal approach... it's basically a simple, slow arpeggiated synth bass backing some very nice vox. The final trcak is my least favorite reminding a bit of "OK Amp..." with a big beat but little else.

Anyway, a very good single worth owning. I enjoy it far more than the actual album.

Note: this review applies to the version with 5 tracks not 2.
1840338
I think this single is FANTASTIC!,a real worth while single as it has 3 songs which do not feature on any other c.d.the title song,life goes on is simply beautiful & filled with such happieness (again a subtle hip hop beat & hard rock).if ever you feel a bit down,this is the song for you.it really makes any one light up.this single is a rare piece of work as all songs are as good as each other.snowscape & be with you (sung by drummer (makoto sakurai).The thing i really enjoy about this c.d is like i said before,it doesn't feature on anything thing else,that's how good dragon ash are,they have 5 albums & 2 mini albums yet kj has enough brilliant material to do a single only songs,instead of just filling time up on a album (maybe harvest)  BUT they don't because they are filled with idea after idea.
4926158
A while back, I was handed one of the best demos I've heard in a long time.  It was by a band called Ellsworth; a tight outfit which now goes by the name of Bixby.

The songs on that demo were (basically) the same as those on this album.  They are remarkable for their confidence.  For an indie band (a Cali indie band no less!) to have the ability to meld influences into a coherent statement is an achievement unto itself; but to do it with such swagger is a minor triumph.

The music swings with a pulse usually reserved for latin artists or jazz outfits.  But make no mistake - the rhythm is the star here - and it's doled out in loads.  The best track - #1, is unrelenting in it's upbeat, head-in-the clouds euphoria.  It's some rousing stuff.

Bands like this are a diamond in the rough, and who knows if they'll ever get their just due. But I know one thing: Ellsworth, er, Bixby, is going to be a staple in my expansive CD collection for a long time.
753397
For me, four stars translates as "excellent, but not a classic." That said, if Lovesexy is not one of Prince's five best records, it is certainly a top-notch record and one that fans of Prince will be sure to enjoy. Indeed, in some respects, Lovesexy's position in the Prince catalogue is similar to that of With the Beatles for the Fabs. While both albums are consistent, hold together well, and boast few clunkers (Lovesexy, for its part, has no duds), neither album has a moment of pure transcendence that ranks with the artist's, say, top twenty songs.
"Alphabet St." was Lovesexy's lone hit and its single best track, but several other tracks also stand out: "I Wish U Heaven" (a pretty pop ballad), "when 2 R in Love" (a sinuous R&B slow jam), "Glam Slam" (dreamy, psychedlic pop), and "Eye No" (an infectious jam).
694670
Much of this is a bit derivative, and a lot of it harkens back to the Beatles, Bowie and other classic rock artists.  But that's a good thing. It still sounds pretty fresh, and that's no small feat for a group that's been around for damn near twenty years.  The lyrics are pretty clever, the riffs are good, there are plenty of hooks, and the production is crisp. And best of all, it gets better the more you hear it.  The deluxe edition features some nifty extra cuts and is worth the price.  Best cuts IMHO: Between The Lines ("You always were my favorite drug, even when we used to take drugs"), Hickory Dichotomy, Cinnamon, Fast As I Can ("Ain't no chance she loves you like you before; she won't even take you to the mall"), and First Kiss On Mars.  It's all good.
4736300
Most b-side compilations are unlistenable for the sound of the barrel being scraped, but the Clash have shown the world further evidence of their greatness by releasing this compilation. I purchased this CD over this sight itself, and am listening to a tape of it now, having sold the CD version. It shows their progress just as well as their studio albums. The tracks are universally greaT with a few exception: Mick Jones' girlish backing vocals (although he has been known to sing well), the dance remixes, Mustapha Dance and The Magnificent Dance, and the abominable 1-2 Crush On You, which should be shot into the sun. Even the instrumentals are engaging, but it has only recieved 4 stars because I only give 5 stars to all-time classics and because of its bent songs.
PS- In the title I refer to my opinion that this compilation is superior to 'Rope and possibly Combat Rock.
PPS- I still have not found Cut the Crap anywhere.....
1133642
My initial reaction after the first three singles came out was...these are good. Much better than you'd have any right to expect from a group that never really planned on being a group in the first place and was pretty much nonexistent as a recording entity for most of the past 45 or so years. "Me and Magdalena" is getting some praise for good harmonies and a beautifully gentle melody -- both true, but it scores bonus points with me for its genuinely thoughtful lyrics -- "Everything lost will be recovered when we drift into the arms of the undiscovered." That's on a Monkees record?! What a stunning line.

I was somewhat worried that the rest of the tracks would pale compared to the first three singles, but there are some every bit equal to the calibre of these. Being a Harry Nilsson fan, I greatly enjoy "Good Times", and Harry and Micky sound terrific together. "Wasn't Born to Follow" may have Tork's best vocal performance ever and is another track with unexpected lyrical depth. "Gotta Give It Time" benefits from a catchy refrain -- sounds like an uncredited Nesmith there. Though not an immediate favorite, "Birth of an Accidental Hipster" is at the very least interesting and recalls the more experiments cuts on "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones Ltd."

What I like most about "Good Times!" is that it really doesn't, in and of itself, make any pretenses about who the Monkees are and what they do. They take the same material they knocked out of the park in the late '60s and do it again in 2016. They bring their self-aware maturity to a few songs of unusual depth and manage quite nicely with them, thanks. They stay away from contemporary gimmicks and in the process have come up with an album that is timeless.
344457
There really isn't a whole lot to say about this single, considering it's only two tracks long. "Wings Of A Butterfly/Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly" is of course the title track. Though it's probably the weakest track on Dark Light, it's still a pretty cool song.

The other song however is much better. "Poison Heart," which was originally a song by The Ramones, is the reason I spent the money to have this. Even as far as HIM covers go, this is very good. It's not as good as (Don't Fear) The Reaper, which was off thier first album Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666, but it's right up there.

Even though it's only got two tracks, I say buy it. Both of them are very good, and as of now, the only place to get both of these on a CD together is the Japanese version of Dark Light. Though I'd wait until the "Killing Loneliness" singles come out. One of those may offer Poison Heart, along with some other songs.
3699718
Saw them live in a small venue and Olly sounds just as good as on the album. One of the few bands that I can listen to constantly without getting tired.
767764
The entire album is well written, and is a whole album, not just different songs mashed into each other. The singles are great, but there are a few good acoustic songs as well.
300936
Going Out In Style continues on in quality, with nary a bad song in the bunch. "1953" makes for an inspirational love story. "Peg O' My Heart" is heartfelt and charming, not to mention featuring the much-hyped Springsteen cameo. "Climbing A Chair To Bed" is unbelievably catchy. "Broken Hymns" is sweet and haunting. I could go on and on, but honestly, the album is quality start to finish. There's nothing innovative here, per se, but what exactly did you want from the Dropkick Murphys? Oh, that's right: a party. This album is by turns thoughtful, introspective, catchy, and fun. If it doesn't make you want to clap your buddy on the back and buy the bar a round, go check your pulse.
1049802
This is a nice little single.  Drive Your Car is a great track and all the versions on the disc are good.  The original version has an intense club beat and funky keyboard hooks.  It gives the impression of flirting jet setters whose destination is always a dance floor.  Grovesnor sings like a pet shop boy with soul, selling the sweaty late night sentiments. Hot Chip brings an hypnotizing extended club mix with some signature percussion and vocals, but the real gem of the album is Grovesnor's Rebel Quarter Version. An easy listening bossanova beat and flamenco guitar transform the song from aloof infatuation to romantic ode, making it the most enjoyable mix on the single.  Any fans of Grovesnor or Hot Chip can purchase this album with confidence.  Electronic music fans and those who like 80's revivalist artists should find it a worthy acquisition as well.
3749704
What a single! It may take a couple of listens, but soon it becomes clear that Numbers is an absolute gem. An intense, electrifying song that ranks with their best, which is saying something. The extra tracks, as always with the Church, are also well worth hearing. Buy it and then get the new album which follows in February.
1938127
Frank Black is in my humble opinion America's finest song writer.  As much as I loved (and still love) the Pixies, his recent work as a solo artist has been nothing short of amazing.  His music has simply become warmer and more inviting and as I have gotten older, become a father and generally experienced more life, I find his solo material speaks to me like nothing else can.  The ballad "Sad Old World" is simply gorgeous, while "Kiss My Ring" and "Fitzgerald" are uptempo gems.  The highlight may be the cover of "Dirty Old Town" which sounds like Frank and the band were having the time of their life.  The production is a tad flat, and like most double albums it can be a bit indulgent, but that's just nitpicking.  Keep them coming Frank cause I'd pay to see you play the spoons while sitting in a rocking chair.