this is HEAVENLY pop music
342238
In a few words : don't miss a cd of this group.
Each one of them is a little diamond.
Heavenly female vocals with sweet guitar tunes.
Not U.S.A.
Not British
Just Sueden pop at it's best !!!
2528983
I can't stop playing this gorgeously recorded and crisply performed music. It gets labeled as lounge/exotica, and you can hear why, but there's no faux Polynesia in it; the music is knowingly straight-faced, continually morphing, always groovy, and unspeakably beautiful at times.
328494
I bought this CD 2 months ago, and it has spent very little time outside my CD player. It's like Burt Bacharach, Barry White and Chris Isaak got together and jammed. It's bluesy, jazzy, dark and sweet with a glorious lounge-singer, lava-lamp, velvet-and-dark-chocolate feel with brilliant, romantic and sometimes sarcastic lyrics. It's like nothing else out there right now. Everyone can relate to the sentiments expressed; they're universal and yet original (take "Wish You Were Her," for instance). The music is superb, the lyrics are sheer genius, and yes, my God, that voice...
4952916
I seriously can't listen to this album enough times. Each song is exquisitely arranged, and I hear vintage electronic instruments and synthesizers that I haven't heard in non-synth-electro-pop songs in years. Lyrically, each song addresses some aspect about the path to true love, especially the dead ends which make for more interesting songs, anyway.

"Little Games" (track 1) is driven by a cheap synth drum pattern with sounds of old electronic games from the 1980s that turns into a drums and percussion (electronic) tour de force, all while he sings (ironically?) about how he won't get conned into playing "little games" with a lover.

"The Way I Pictured You" (track 2) continues the drum machine sounds balanced with acoustic guitars as Jay sings about how the girl never thought of him as someone with whom she'd fall in love. Then the song tumbles into orchestral chaos with strings and brass all going their separate ways only to eventually come together in harmony.

"Open Sea" (track 3) is the magnum opus metaphor song comparing one man's sea-faring journey seeking a new world to the search for absolute true love without compromises. The 12-minute length goes by so fast, but if you love Brian Wilson's (Beach Boys) orchestral pop style, you will appreciate this track.

"Junior High Slow Song" (track 4) is a kind of meta-parody of all those cheesy 1970s classic rock and 1980s power ballads that were (and probably still are) played at junior high dances.  Here, though, the people in the song are miscreants sneaking into a junior high dance only to fall in love while trying to escape the evil vice-principal chasing them. LOTS of fun musical cues and quotes to pick out, if you're familiar with your classic rock.

"Amy Says" (track 5) is a short, fun, poppy piano-driven song about a female siren who lures men on the Internet only to leave them dangling and wanting more. One of those songs where the lyrics are circular, meaning the answer to the question asked at the end of the song is at the beginning of the song. Very clever songwriting :)

"mellow, ambiguous, and vivid" (track 6) is an instrumental that kind of reminded me of any Radiohead song (with a blazing guitar solo in reverse) until the songs gets its electro-funk on at the end with another guitar solo and Simmons electronic drum fills. Remember those drums? Another nod to the 1980s New Wave.

"Comet" (track 7, last track) ends the album perfectly with a goodbye note from Jay to his lover with whom he just broke up saying that maybe, like a comet, they will meet again in the future. The funny part being that comets only visit but once every 100 to 1,000 years or so. But musicially this song has everything going for it, building to a climax where even the kitchen sink gets involved: swelling strings, electric piano solo, vintage late '70s drum machine sounds, swirling space noises that sound like a comet swooshing by. All-in-all, a joy to listen to multiple times just to escape into that world.

I guess "escaping" into this world is the best way to put it. The whole album clocks in at just under 40 minutes, just like a classic vinyl LP record would.

Very highly recommended :)
2928424
This is a cd that I will probably by playing in my car for the next six months at a very loud volume. Pop at its finest. Adam's vocal abilities never cease to amaze me.

The stand out tracks for me so far are: The Light - I can't sit still with that beat, and I love the soaring way it's sung. Heavy Fire - a slow burn, with pure artistry in the way he bends the notes on the last word of each verse. The Original High - a summertime happy song, the joyous falsetto gives me wings.  The bonus track After Hours - I put it on repeat when I just want to chill out. (KCRW should be playing this song.)

It's refreshing when a pop singer can actually sing.
4238110
This is not the kind of music I listen to most of the time, but these catchy pop tunes really caught my ear and I like what I hear. Madison Marie has a great voice for this kind of music and the lyrics and production values are first rate. All in all a great collection of great songs that you will really enjoy. I only wish this thing was available as a REAL CD.
4239391
It is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.
2636708
This album is full of amazing harmony and lively tempos. This is music that you will not want to turn off.
2382399
This is, hands down, the best, most beautiful music that has ever been created.  End of story.  There's just an amazing amount of passion and soul wedged into every little nook and cranny of this amazing music.  Lots of synth sounds, but they're not overpowering, and fit into the orchestra perfectly.  There's even a little bit of dubstep influence in some of the later songs, and it's amazing.
1564370
I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT.  THE PERFECTION OF THIS POP COLLECTION IS SO SLICK, IT'S LIKE RIDING A ROLLER COASTER THROUGH A FUN HOUSE.  BY THE TIME YOU'RE GETTING TO ENJOY THE RIDE ON SONGS LIKE THE FUNKY ANOTHER PART OF ME OR EXPERIMENTAL SPEED DEMON THE RIDE IS OVER.  BUT, YOU WILL WANT TO JUMP ON AGAIN TO HEAR THE CUTS DIRTY DIANA, MAN IN THE MIRROR AND OF COURSE LIBERIAN GIRL.
3518063
11th album from this iconic Scottish band who play gorgeously addictive, top-of-the-line, gently melodic pop with ringing guitar chords and beautiful vocal harmonies.  Some of the songs are fleshed out with the addition of trumpet, cello, harp and violin.  All of the songs project a subtle, hum-along melodic strength that will put a smile on your face and a tap in your toes.  Reminiscent of bands like Velvet Crush, Ultimate Painting, Almost Charlie, Tranquility, The Byrds, Nada Surf. Here is simply the sound of perfect pop music, a satisfying and relaxing moment to share with a friend.  Recommended to all pop lovers.
3999817
This is a great CD.  The songs feel much more modern than on Light Years but feel more 70's disco than Body Language.  She creates a electric sound that will get you on the dance floor in a matter of minutes even without your concent.  This is expertly crafted pop.  In Your Eyes is one of the, if not the, best pop songs I've ever heard.  From begining to end it's hot.  An amazing CD.  Don't pass up your chance to listen to this gem.

The Key Tracks Are:  In Your Eyes, More More More, LOve Affair, Love at First Sight, Can't Get You Out Of My Head, Give It To Me, and the bonus japan verson track Tightrope.
1390000
A Fine Frenzy represents what good pop music should be. Compelling, appealing, emotional. Alison Sudol's voice is smoky and mature, and the musical accompaniment actually complements what she's doing vocally, unlike so many mainstream artists who tend to hide their voice inside a bass-laden beat. Combine this with lyrics that represent stunning complexity yet touch on the common experiences we all share as humans, and you've got the formula A Cell in the Sea draws on for its fourteen tracks.

There's a lot to like about this album. So much, in fact, that any negatives are really just nit-picks. It does seem that Sudol pushes her voice too far in many of the tracks, which lends a touch of unexpected rawness to the recording. At times this adds to the experience, but every so often it takes away from the otherwise excellent quality of the music.

The highpoint of the album is "Almost Lover", which is as stripped-down and haunting and lyrically complex as any song to come along in a good long while. And I think it's that stripped-down nature that makes the song so powerful, in contrast to tracks like "You Picked Me", whose arrangement has an orchestral sweep that is reminiscent of a movie soundtrack. That said, there really aren't any low points in this album, and the songs bleed seamlessly from one to another, creating a very relaxed, satisfying listening experience.

Overall this album reflects a much-needed change from the utterly disposable pop that permeates the culture right now. It's not quite folk, though there's certainly elements of that. Nor is it blues, or jazz, or indie-rock, but there's certainly some resemblance to all that too.

If you're looking for something light, something soothing, something to relax to, this is an album you should definitely check out. I'm glad I did.
3528092
this is happy music.i can't stay still when i hear it.if music can get you high,this is it.a family of youngsters from austrailia make up the band and that makes it richer for me.i heard them on the today show and knew then i'd search until i found some of their to keep for myself.
2970178
As a pop music fan, I've found in recent years that I usually have to venture overseas (musically speaking) to find quality, contemporary pop music.

Sam Sparro's album is probably the best pop album I've heard since Robyn's last album. It's fresh, it's fun, it's catchy, it's well produced, well sung, well written, and, unlike most American pop music, not an insult to your intelligence. When I first heard the intoxicating, slinky "Black and Gold" I was mesmerized. Although the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to that song's pop perfection, it is a quality sonic mash-up of classic funk, 80's synths, and 21-century pop.
1718116
Some music touches your heart in ways nothing else can. This CD contains just such music. This music is atmospheric and uplifting. Enya has a voice like fine crystal, pure and beyond compare. The most beautiful track on this CD is Athair Ar Nearmh - it has crystal clear beauty of such quality that you can only imagine the angels of heaven being capable of achieving it - you just need to close your eyes and feel the beauty of it. I am in complete awe ...
1461454
After sampling this album I thought I would give it a try.  I'm sooooo glad I did.  We are really enjoying it.  It's so nice to have something besides the same old Christmas music.  After all, this is a time when we should be rejoicing and having fun and Toby Mac nailed it!