Loudon knows how to do it
345635
First of all, I don't think Mr. Himes is a big musical expert, if he's saying Loud is a bad guitarist and singer. He is a brilliant singer and guitarist, perfectly in tune with his songwriting skills. Second: I don't see how everybody sees him as a merely *funny* guy. I think he's not *funny* (in the classic sorta way) at all; he's more on the sarcastic side, which *is* funny, but at the same time hardweighty painful. Take One Man Guy as an example; you can't say it is a funny song, do ya? It's bitterly sarcastic, I'd say. Anyway, this CD is great. I strongly recommend it.
4881809
Armando Morabito is bringing something bigger than just great music to the table.  His composing style and finesse takes on a near-ethereal quality with this album and given the wide range of quality in relation to productions from this particular genre; it's refreshing to hear someone at the top of their game and clearly here to stay.
388387
I came upon Jamie Myerson through being a huge fan of Paul Oakenfold.  Oakey has used many of Jamie's tracks in his sets from way back to his Perfecto Fluoro (Track 26 Revisions) and his Live in Olso (Music for the..).
Most of the tracks consist of smooth guitar or piano riffs over intelligent drum and bass mixing.  No vocals, just "chilled-out" instrumentals with nice beats.  It's not the type of drum & bass that keeps you on the edge of your seat, or makes you want to dance, there is no "agro" flavour in this whatsoever.  The sounds he uses are non-aggressive, well blended, and very mellow.  I would recommend this album for anyone who needs a good CD to wash away any stress.  The only reason I don't give the CD the full 5 stars is that the album lacks variety. However, I still highly recommend it.  Sky City would help take the "edge" off of anyone's day.
549205
I installed this muffler in the late summer of 2012, and went to finish up my exhaust this late winter/early spring (2013). The muffler adds a heck of a low rumble when idling, and roars when you take off from the line. Unlike Flowmaster, Magnaflow's straight through design gives you the overall package: glass pack flow for performance, but not as "tin can" sounding. Yeah, you do get the highway drone from 2000-2500 RPMS, but without the baffles that typically break up the drone, you get the better exhaust flow.

My ONLY complaint has to do with how easily the outer shell of the muffler rusted. After only one winter, it has that rat-rod heavy rust patina to it. For a muffler that was sold as "stainless", I would have expected it to withstand a Michigan road salted winter at least once more before the color started to change. But, my truck is going through a process for performance, not show.

Overall, great product, and the internals of the muffler are holding strong.
4507709
The three volume work is well done and was written by one who knows his subject. He approaches each topic with an organized process and was easy to follow,even for a beginner, which I am. I have just finished the first two volumes with one to go. I like the way he works in his cautions about turning ,with humor and not preaching. I know I'll re read sections a second and third time as the need arises. The work is complete and much more than I expected. Happy I made the purchase.
2106480
While a large portion of Strange Weirdos was done for the soundtrack of the film Knocked Up, it works brilliantly as an album. Loudon continues to write in his own unique style that can be quirky one moment and lovingly tender the next. His partnership with Joe Henry works a treat.
197968
Another insightful and entertaining leadership take from Herron.
4645706
I know it's naughty of me to keep vouching for the new-school, revisionist philosophy of Beethoven symphonies that insist on keeping to his marked speeds. I know that I shouldn't push for performances in hurry-sick, rush-hour mode that might make listeners die of cardiac arrest and coronary thrombosis. I know that the old school conductors were better able to make the moment last with their moment-by-moment renditions rather than the moment-to-moment renditions that characterise lots of modern renditions of these symphonies. That said I have found Chailly's Beethoven cycle one of the most arresting cycles of recent times.

The CD that couples the first two symphonies is a strong entry in the cycle. In this CD the Eroica and the Fourth are harnessed together. Chailly's fastidious, aggressive approach suits the Eroica slightly better than the Fourth.

Any Beethoven cycle stands or fails on the quality of the great middle period symphonies and the great choral Ninth. Chailly offers up wonderful, well-characterised performances of these big works despite an overemphasis on the brusqueness in the Fourth.

The Eroica offers up a highly-charged rendition in its outer movements and highlights Beethoven's sense of daring in composing a work of this kind. Again we hear Chailly bringing out the strong punches and the sforzandos in the first movement. It is good to know that he sustains the tempo and allows the energy to concentrate in the build-up to climaxes. The Funeral March is well-sculpted and sustained. I note that like many performances Chailly pushes along with the fugue. I love the way he highlights the anticipation of the Fifth Symphony motto in the horns and the numbness towards the end is particularly telling. The horns are strong and lusty in the ensuing Scherzo. As for the Finale, I know that it comes across as a mad dash in Beethoven's marked speeds (as Chailly shows here) but it is an exciting cavalry charge nevertheless.

The Fourth fares slightly less well than the Eroica. As a milder-tempered symphony it would have been good if the aggressive approach of the Eroica had been slightly pared down. I'm not implying that we need to go back to the bad old days of proto-Wagnerian tempo modifications. Rather it would be better if this rendition had struck a better balance between momentum and grace. It is light-footed nevertheless but it would have been better if Chailly toned down the brusqueness and still had room to articulate its graceful qualities. The slow movement might be a bit forced and rushed for the dotted rhythm to articulate itself in a winsome way. Other conductors like Antonini, Mackerras and Gardiner, have all struck the right balance between the dotted rhythm and the melody at the top while beating time in larger units. Here is one case where Chailly's rendition has outpaced Gardiner and Mackerras. Elsewhere I have no problem with the performance. The two outer movements and the Trio of the Scherzo are light-footed and spirited. In the first movement I particularly love the way that the winds play a canonic game with the motif at figure C.

Despite my concerns about the Fourth, this CD is still worth having for Chailly's highly-charged rendition of the Eroica.
4529852
Over a year has passed since Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper of Caer Dallben, helped to defeat the Horned King of Annuvin. But Tarans troubles aren't over yet  Arawn, the Horned Kings boss of sorts, has been using his Black Cauldron to reanimate the dead into his own personal army. Taran joins old friends, like Gwydion, Doli, and Fflewddur, and a few new acquaintances, like the wise bard Adaon and the arrogant prince Ellidyr, in a quest to find and destroy the Black Cauldron. And although Eilonwy and Gurgi weren't exactly invited, they insist on tagging along as well.

But soon after they arrive at Annuvin, the band discovers that the Black Cauldron has been stolen. They split up in order to find it, but will the Hunters of Annuvin and a threesome of sorceresses keep them from reaching their goal?

Although The Black Cauldron has plenty of action and derring-do, the real strength of this book is in the relationships between the characters. Ellidyrs pride and jealousy and Tarans struggles in keeping his temper when dealing with the insufferable prince are great examples of the constant battle to be better than ones foes. Eilonwys practical advice and bracing pep talks are often what keep Taran going; I think theres a romance in the offing for these two, and its developing wonderfully. And who could keep from loving Gurgi, with his crunchings and munchings, or Doli, who will become invisible to save his friends even though it hurts his ears terribly?

I cant wait to see what comes next for the heroes of Prydain. Good thing I have The Castle of Llyr sitting right on my side table, waiting to be read.
4721068
This is L. E. Modesitt Jr. at his best.  You get to see the polish that comes from writing the recluse and ecolitan series.

I just wish I hadn't bought it for a year or two as now I can't wait for the second book in the series.  Write faster!
4488011
I'm a big Goldings fan to start with; he does wonders with both pop and jazz on both Hammond B3 and piano.  This purposely low-budget album strives to achieve the sounds and feel of Goldings playing for himself in his room, and succeeds.  On three different pianos (I guess meant to simulate different levels of room affluence) Larry shows his versatility on all manner of songs, including some truly unique originals with duct tape over the strings.  Love to listen to it in my room, or anywhere else!
2067972
The sound on this recording is absolutely lovely.  Yefim Bronfman has a wide dynamic range, and nowhere in it here does he make an ugly sound.  The engineers have done him justice, and his balance with the orchestra seems ideal: at those places where the piano is contributing to a tutti passage, you can hear it in a natural relation.  The orchestra is the Philharmonia, the venue is Abbey Road (!) in 1990, when Bronfman, at 32, was just a year out from his debut at Carnegie Hall -- and the orchestra sounds great.  The winds are just a sheer pleasure to hear.  So why only four stars?  I tend to blame Salonen.  Santa Fe Listener, in his review, calls the performance uncommitted, and while that seems a bit harsh, I know what he means.  It's just a bit too well-behaved, as if Salonen is determined to show that these concertos aren't just vulgar showpieces.  But if you listen to a conductor who savors the drama -- Antal Dorati, in his recording with Byron Janis, from about 1960 -- you hear something more enlivening. and there's nothing vulgar about it.  Janis's piano is a bit nearer in the aural mix than Bronfman's is here, and that creates its own excitement -- but he can sound a bit bright in the loud high reaches, whereas Bronfman always sounds beautiful.

I liked the Second concerto better than the Third on this disc -- it seems to have a bit more expressive variety to it.  But don't get me wrong -- in both concertos the sound is lovely and the playing is superb.  I listened to these pieces with much pleasure, and I can understand a listener preferring them to Janis or Ashkenazy.  If you value refinement over drama, don't hesitate.  You won't be disappointed.
3806469
Finally on CD in a nicely packaged 2 CD set. If you know Loudon from his 'Dead Skunk' or maybe his more current work you need to buy this. If you owned these on vinyl you need to buy this. If you never heard anything from LW III you should start here. I was unaware of the critical bashing that T Shirt took back in 1976. I bought it back then and I loved it, so who knew. Anyway he is in great form, his band and guests are in great form. Wonderful, wonderful stuff ! (not many artists can rhyme nembutal and alcohol and make it seem natural, LOL).
3489682
This is a spoiler-free review of ALL FIVE of the Adrien English books.

I'd heard a lot of praise for Josh Lanyon's prose, so I started the first book in the Adrien English series expecting something flowery.  And, yes, when Lanyon waxes poetic his writing is vivid and visceral in a way that seems to bypass your eyes and just make images explode in your brain, but that's not what's remarkable about his writing.  It's how well he shifts gears - he can be a very efficient writer, economical with words, keeping the pace trotting briskly ahead.  He can be funny, with an eye for human foibles and a gift for witty dialogue.  And he balances that with an ability to drench the page with emotion, sweet, searing, bittersweet, sexy.  He does the hot stuff very well indeed.

The Adrien English series consists of five books that must be read in order.  Written in first person.  The protagonist, Adrien English, owns a bookstore specializing in mysteries and writes mysteries on the side.  (Making a list of all the things that Lanyon does well would be tedious, but here's one: I generally dislike writer characters in novels, but Lanyon handles it with humor and a minimum of posturing.)

The first book sets the pattern for the rest.  In it, Adrien is caught up in an actual murder investigation when his employee turns up dead.  Since the cops - including closet-case detective Jake Riordan - seem content to pin the crime on Adrien, he decides to be pro-active about finding the real murderer.  By the end, we know whodunit and Adrien and Jake have launched a relationship of sorts.

In each subsequent book in the series, there's a new crime and more development of Adrien and Riordan's relationship.  Adrien, as an amateur sleuth, is realistically hurt and wearied by this close contact with violent death.  He has a heart condition which makes him both reckless and fragile.  Likewise, Adrien's relationship with Riordan ebbs and wanes realistically.  Riordan's stuck in the closet and he's selfishly willing to hurt a lot of people in order to live a lie.

There were times that I hated Riordan, but I rooted for him too.  All the characters are amazingly well drawn.  You can see them, you know who they are, they feel real.  The mysteries are pretty decent, and for every book where I guessed the murderer early there was another where Lanyon had me fooled.

These books are fantastic reads.  I started the first book and before long I was sucked under.  I didn't come up for breath, I didn't feel the time pass.  When I finished one book, I moved immediately on to the next - I was happy to lose myself in them.  Highly, highly recommended.
4197508
Yello has to be one of the most underrated bands, at least in the US.  Throughout the years they have consistently produced unique, quirky techno mixed with acid jazz with a theatrical feel.  This is not an exception here.  Great work.
1831179
Richard's a successful guy and his story is an interesting read. I've been watching Fast 'n Loud on demand from season one recently. It's not just about fixing cars but the risks he took to grow his business. I first saw Richard on Misfit Garage where he always rides in like the know-it-all genius and harasses the guys. All American story the way he's built his empire over the past 5 years.
910827
A true Bad Boy... Sounds great and LOUD... A must have if you're looking to have that unique and high-class honk that makes you stand out