Fantastic album from Vedres Csaba's (ex-After Crying) Townsc
349464
The band leader is Vedres Csaba, who is an ex-member of After Crying. The lyrics meet the high standard of After Crying lyrics with the help of Egervri Gbor, who is a present song writer (and flute,...) from After Crying. The style of the music is similar to A.C. with some unique  elements. A masterpiece of Hungarian progressiv rock music, I can recommend  it to anyone familiar with this style. If you like this album, you should  try some After Crying albums, for example De Profundis, 6 or Fold es Eg.  Visit extra.hu/after-crying where you can read about Townscream too.
3340745
Follow up to her first album "Drive", which is the biggest selling album by a local artist in New Zealand, Bic's second album, Beautiful Collision, is a stunning, groundbreaking, beautiful (of course), that combines sweetness of life, clever lyrics, and work its way to your heart after a few listens to it.
Produced by the same producer who produced Coldplay, this is an extraordinary album that you will never want to put it away at any occasion. It features the 1st and 2nd single, "get Some Sleep" and "Something Good", and check out "Election Night", another superb song that leaves you wishing for more.
I have been listening to this album for more than 3 months now, and it is still on my Top 3 CD list........!!!
1084076
I stumbled across this album while looking for something else. I was familiar with Ken Peplowski's work and of course I remembered Tommy Newsom from the Carson Tonight Show (more on that later). After listening to the samples, I knew I had to have it. The arrangements here remind me so much of the classic recordings by Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, which I could listen to for hours on end. That's why I call this album a throwback -- they just don't make many records like this anymore. The combination of Tin Pan Alley standards and a swinging style give this album a truly classic feel. I especially enjoyed Tommy's and Ken's take on Horace Silver's "Opus de Funk," Tommy's own "Titter Pipes," and the dreamy Buddy Kaye/Billy Reid ballad "I'll Close My Eyes."
A personal note about Tommy Newsom: Not only is he a top-notch musician and arranger, but he's also a very nice man. Way too many years ago, when the Carson show was taped in New York, my girlfriend and I (on our high school senior trip) were in the lobby of 30 Rock after the show was over. Being musicians, we wanted to meet some of the band members, particularly Doc Severinsen, Ed Shaugnessy, and Tommy. We got our wish, but Tommy actually took a few minutes to chat with a couple of starry-eyed teenagers when I'm sure all he wanted to do was go home and eat dinner. Tommy, if you read this, we appreciated your kindness and remember it to this day.
There's no new ground broken on this album, but who cares? The joy is in listening to Tommy Newsom and Ken Peplowski play off of each other and their bandmates. Enjoy!
1683898
I bought this CD on a gamble, having only heard a little snippet that I really liked, and, being familiar with Basia's music, I thought it was a good risk. I wasn't dissapointed. I don't know anything at all about 'Matt Bianco'. But whoever the male singer is and the other musicians that make up this music, they really have an infectious groove going on.  Basia, who is the polish singer who has had a great deal of success in the contemporary pop genre, shares the singing on almost every track here, and the effect is very complementary. The songs would fit very well on any of her earlier albums, particularly the Sweetest Illusion (1994). I say that because the instrumentation on that album was just killer, and so is this. It's slick, it's listenable. It's ear candy. I've been listening to this recording off and on for several months and still enjoy it immensely.

The album really mixes up a nice blend of creative tunes that really defy categorization, although there are several that are quite brazilian in their feel (latin, bossa nova, samba) yet they seem to create a flavor all their own. The singing is really augmented when combined with the extraordinary vocal talents of Basia, as the two (male/female) together create a really nice balance of textured vocal sound.

What I appreciate most about the album is the actual song structures and instrumentation arrangements. I have several favorite tracks on here: 'I never meant to' is a wonderful laid back tune that has a killer hook in it. Basia's backing vocal of 'ha haha hahaha' are sweet and soft and create a wonderful 'cushion' that fits perfectly with the male lead vocals. 'Golden Days' is quite infectious. I defy anyone to sit still listening to this. Upbeat, postivie and feel good stuff. Great changes and creative arrangement, the song is built around a great energetic piano riff that hits the off beats. Very cool. 'Slip and Sliding' is also very addictive to listen to, and just continues with it's own momentum.

The most unusual track on the album is the last one: 'Matts Mood III', and it has got to be my favorite. It's another energetic, kinda 'techno' piece, this time all instrumental. It's built on a great little 'rhodes' electric piano riff with a bit of delay and layered against a canvass of sound that builds bit by bit full of ear candy I've never heard before, but it all works in a wonderful way. In fact, it's downright addictive! With each cycle, new bits of free form and very creative improvisation is introduced. I just love it.

This album will delight fans of Basia and anyone else who really appreciates sophisticated pop/jazz music. I highly recommend it.
2530852
I simply adore this album because i adore cher, i met her wirth shoop shoop song and adore her changes of style, though not always good ! :o)
i was so glad she came back with such a hit as believe and wondered what would happen then... the new single of the album is the music's no good without you. i loved it first cause it's sad lyrics and dance music, not simply dance and sing get up and do your thing ! ans the album didn't disappoint me : great tunes, sounds like a best of as almost all songs are great ! and if u got to hear only one, check "real love", my fav !
can't wait to get the single in usa, with so many mixes as the former singles from believe album got !
579051
For me the Give Them The Right album by Cydric Myton was surprisingly good and I was interested in The Congos again. Bought some hard to get albums like Image Of Africa and Face The Music wich are classics and  went to see them live. They gave away an amazing show with a lot of tracks from the Swinging Bridge album. Nice to see that the original line up of the singers are back. This album exists of some new tracks and some already existing reggae tunes. I think it's one of the better Congos albums in years. Trust me you are going to enjoy it!
174624
One of the greatest albums i have ever heard, I heard of dream theater from word of mouth, and wasn't really sure what to expect, but i did hear good things and decided to purchase an album, scenes from a memory did not dissapoint, Not only is this one of my favorite cd's but i became a huge fan after listening to it, I have listened to previous albums that they have made and though the songs are quite good i feel it doesnt match up with the quality of scenes from a memory, James LaBries voice has such a wide range that i could picture him singing ballads on his own, Not that there isn't power ballads on this album, which i find amazing, John Petrucci's guitar work is top notch, with some really amazing guitar solos, Mike Portnay is who really stands out on the album with some really sick drumming, some of the best i have ever heard, John Myung and Jordan Rudess also add their skill to their kick ass sound, Not only would i reccomend this album but i would hope you will pick up their DVD with it, to experience their live show which proves they can play in front of a crowd just as well as they can in the studio, This album goes through so many different sounds that it puts the listener in many different moods, but it works and the whole cd flows very well like a story (which it is), Go buy it! DT rox!
1460842
The Moody Blues 1971 album release "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" was recorded at the very peak of the band's unique molodic rock sound and creativity.  Their consistent formula for success continues here, with each band member contributing to songwriting, and singing lead vocals to their own songs.  The opening track "Procession" (written by all five members) is an mesmerizing journey thru the evolution of communication and music, cross fading nicely into the only classic single to be released from this album, namely Justin Hayward's "The Story In Your Eyes".  Next cut from flautist Ray Thomas, "Our Guessing Game", is wonderfully overdubbed with dueling vocals.  John Lodge's "Emily's Song", written for his daughter when she was born, is very pretty, which gives way to drummer Graeme Edge's great rocker "After You Came".  Dueling vocals return in the next track in John Lodge's "One More Time To Live".  I consider the next track "Nice To Be Here" (written by Thomas) to be one of the best cuts on the album, a whimsical story of different animals in the forest making music with an assorted batch of rustic instruments, like cooking utensils!  Yeah, it may sound corny, but the song is very catchy and effective. Justin Hayward's "You Can Never Go Home" is classic Hayward vocals and guitar, before mellotronist Michael Pinder's haunting contribution "My Song" closes out the album.

Although recorded years ago with the genius of "the 6th Moody", Tony Clarke producing this album, "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" wonderfully captures classic music of a bygone era, and sounds as fresh as though it could have recorded yesterday.  Definitely worthy of 5 star status.

Now how about nominating The Moody Blues for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame???
2488301
As a long time Naz fan, I was delighted to see that the boyz had made another album.

Truth be told-- Boogaloo and Move Me were disappointments to me.  They had the guitar, but no Naz spirit, and some of those lyrics were just cringeworthy.

This album harkens back to the best of Naz, from their hard-rock days, to their more experimental 80's stuff, and even way back to some of their more folksy stuff.  It's an album full of surprises.

The guitar work is fantastic.  Jimmy Murrison has a distinctive style and sound when he plays, and it gives the album a lot more depth.

Dan sounds fantastic-- as good as ever. "Day at the Beach" is easily my favorite song-- it rocks and pops.

The lyrics are for "real", if you will.  They cover a bunch of different topics and nail the soon-to-be-ex President to the wall in "Liar".

Definitely the best album by Naz since Malice in Wonderland (and if you didn't like that, then No Mean City)
4064303
If you think Michael Ball is only good at showcasing big musical numbers and belting out high notes, you should listen to this album. The same Michael Ball will give you different feelings and you probably will re-look some of the songs that you've already known for a long time.  I have to say that Michael's singing is mesmerizing.  His exquisite vocal delivery and empathy with the songs contributed the best to the artistic appealing of this album.

For the first time Michael tried his voice in American country tunes, and it is surprisingly good.  Songs like  "If Tomorrow Never Comes", "The Dimming of the Day", and "The Dance" simply couldn't get better.  "You Bring the Best Out of Me", which is a song specifically written for Michael by Paul Carrack, is a song about the singer himself.  The words are very sincere and Michael sings it with such emotions and true feelings.  Michael co-authored two songs in the album.  They cannot be more different in their styles.  "Just When" is a touching romantic love song, flowing smoothly.  "Never Coming Back", with its story-telling approach and deep punchy rhythm, expresses the feelings of struggling and desperation.  A little surprise comes from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "No Matter What", for which Boyzone already set the standard with their version.  There is no doubt that Michael gave this song his unique charm by adding his personal touch in it.

This is an album that is well produced and packaged.  The orchestration, the sound mixing, and the recording are superb.  You won't regret for every penny you spend.  Please do yourself a favor after a whole day's of work: light the candles, get a glass of wine, and enjoy the wonderfulness Michael brings to you.
1055456
After seeing TTWS in concert this past July and hearing some of the songs from this album for the first time, I knew it was going to be great.  I think that in another time period, this album would have several radio hits.  "The Moment" is probably one of the most meaningful songs on New Constellation.  I think that it says a lot about how the band has come along recently.  Fear has always been a special TTWS album for me, but I think New Constellation is becoming my new favorite.  It is interesting that some of the best music these days is coming from bands who self-produce.  This album was helped along by fans with Kickstarter and it is fantastic.  If you are a TTWS fan, this album will not disappoint.  I'm so glad that they are still making new music.
3508298
Rips fans are cult-like and for good reason. The Rippingtons in the mid-90s were the Goliath of the smooth jazz or cool jazz craze. They were trend-setters, scaring the shit of 80-year-olds expecting Kenny G. Thy were LOUD live. They were one of the few groups in this scene who had a major following of musicians. Brave New World and Sahara are two of my favorite albums of any genre. I listen to them sometimes weekly.

Russ Freeman is a God-like producer, composer, and musician, one of the best Ive ever heard. He has earned the right to release whatever he wants by his point.

As for True Stories, I think the cover art is fantastic, captivating. A guy like Russ could have easily created an entire vibe, pulling from old films with this concept. I think it is the most compelling artwork since Black Diamond, and his fans are very passionate about the Jazz Cat who often sets the tone for the album with his antics.

I hate to be that guy with the cliche, the old stuff is better, but hear me out. Heres whats happening here:

a) passion- where is it? The songs are kind of boring. The older albums were so ballsy they couldn't be ignored. I understand things change but I feel like the powerful tracks from back in the day are kind of the signature element of The Rippingtons sound.

b) songwriting- Russ, you are a genius, I love your music, but this album sounds so dialed-in. I am dying to hear those amazing chord progressions and breathtaking solos.

c) derivative- not only does everything sound straight from the 90s, it sounds like Rippingtons songs that were on the cutting room floor from the 90s. I love everything about the 90s and Wild Tales and the title track are good efforts that are drenched in 90s production, but every other track seems like filler. Those two tracks kind of sound like unfinished ideas. The vocal track also seems to have some odd Autotune artifacts, unless he really sings like that.

d) safe- Brave New World is so amazing because of all of the risks Russ took. Ive never heard music like it before or since. This album is more like a soundtrack for a golf-course buffet, not a fist pumping tear-down-the-house album. Honestly even the production sounds like it is a step back from the 90s records, not sure why. Sundance sounds like it is overcompressed which is frankly unbelievable coming from someone with the capabilities of Russ Freeman. The drums sound boxy and limp to me and Im listening on Audeze LCD-XCs which are about as colorful as it gets.

Some pros- the intro to Flamenco Beach is pretty amazing, and that song has an Al DiMeola on Qualuudes feel that is very nice. Its a nicely done song. As I said, the first and last tunes are nice.

I guess when you set the bar so incredibly high, its hard to always reach it.

I listened to the album twice but I think Ive had my fill. I wish it could have made the same impact as the cover art. Youre still amazing Russ and I know they cant all be masterpieces so if you're reading this, please don't take it personally. You can write whatever you want and if it makes you happy and pleases most of your fans (who love this album) then Im really happy, and glad you are still out there keeping The Rips alive. I opened for the Rippingtons a few times in the Kashiwa/Stone/Kochanski days so I am overly passionate about those albums which may be my issue.
2466108
Like most Toad the Wet Sprocket fans, I loved them in the 90's and was disappointed when they stopped making music together.  Since they are one of my favorite bands, I purchased this album when it was released, but to be honest, I didn't have the highest expectations.  I'm a little picky about music, and I haven't really found a lot to be all that stellar in the past few years.  However, I LOVE this album.  I listened to it almost exclusively for 2 weeks straight, and it still remains in heavy rotation.  The lyrics, the music, the whole thing is outstanding.  My current favorite songs from the album are "The Moment" and "Rare Bird," but I truly enjoy the majority of the songs.  I would recommend this to any TTWS fan!
2022492
I can't really get into a detailed review since i don't want to come off as sounding pretentious like most Amazon reviews. All I have to say is that I'm a huge fan of The Beta Band, and the first King Biscuit album. This follow up to "No Style" expands upon that electro-trip-hop-spacey style Steve Mason is known for. This really is one of those beautiful listens from beginning to end. The melodies are just SO soothing and have a LOT of replay value. Steve Mason really has an ear for this kind of sound and you can tell he's not afraid to explore. "All Over You" is such an awesome tune, as is the rest of the album. The import price may be steep.. and I've seen it on Ebay going for much less. If you're a fan of Steve Mason/Beta Band.. i highly recommend this album. 5 stars.
4340712
It took me a while to adapt to this album but now that I've been listening to just this for the past four days, I can tell you that the whole album is like any other major trip. The sound is not as contemporary as I initially took it to but the artist has an amazing voice and the music production only makes it sounds like she knows what she is doing. DO NOT be mistaken by the album cover. Neko Case sounds like she was meant to do just this. The album perfectly syncs with my early morning loneliness and is also a great listen during times of irritability.

Can I now talk about some songs that moved me? Tornado Loves You is a bold opener and gives one no idea about what's going to happen next. Track 2 is riveting, her voice sounds like an epiphany and the storytelling is beautiful.  Another favourite of mine is Polar Nettles because it holds you by the throat from the very first second.

MIDDLE CYCLONE requires compulsive listening and because of just how varied and charming each and every track seems, the album requires a lot of devotion which many a listener will thankfully give in to.

Although this album reminds me a lot of Extraordinary Machine, I have to say it I like it more than Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine. The title track, Middle Cyclone, is absolutely beautiful. A rhythmic mixture of acoustic blues with some twilight hope and heavenly vocals with meaningful lyrics....a music listener's dream.

I would have given this album five stars but it would be a little contrived to do so within four to five days of addiction to it. Do not be fooled by the album cover, Neko Case is no Lady Gaga and I thank mother earth for that. The music is thoughtful, moving, passionate, the lyrics are tearjerking at times while uplifting all the time. Albums of such caliber is hard to find and Neko Case has a fan for life in me.
2880975
I picked up a used copy of this album a few years ago based on the cover art alone. What a treat for anyone who loves good piano/keyboard/synthesizer music. I had never heard of Calvin Jones before but after listening to a couple of tracks in a store that sells used cds, movies, and video games I was hooked.

Songs on the album include:
1. Paradigm Shift- upbeat and uplifting
2. Movement of Love-gentle and uplifting (occasional vocals that blend beautifully)
3. Acoustic Passion-gorgeous slow emotion evoking (my favorite song on the CD)
4. Infant Dance-joyful and playful yet delicate as the name suggests
5. Passage to Paradise-upbeat (using a lot of synthesizer noises)
6. Eagle's Flight-upbeat and happy (occasional vocals)
7. Runnin' for the Prize-energetic and emotionally charged (again very fitting for the song name)
8. March of the Faithful-drums add a nice cadence
9. Compassion-soulful and slow (another favorite of mine)
10. Passage to Paradise-vocal version of #5
11. Rebuilding the Walls-joyful and celebratory
12. Remembrance-expressive and soulful

My favorite tracks include: #1, #2, #3, #7, #9, #12. Many times I listen to the song for which the album is named Acoustic Passion on repeat for hours. It is just that beautiful.

If you're a stranger to the music of Calvin Jones, I recommend that you search him out on Youtube or consider picking up a used copy of this CD. If you love instrumental music you won't be disappointed.
1998864
I am Michael Jackson's fans from Hong Kong.  This album "History Past, Present & Future Book 1" is excellent, it is the album of Michael you must have at home.  This album has two CDs, Disc 1 includes the old famous songs, such as Billie Jean, Beat It and etc....  Disc 2 includes all new songs, all the terrific good songs with messages, all about Michael's anger, anguish, accusation, sensation and his view.

Songs included:
- Stranger in Moscow (talks about his entertainment businss, suddenly falls from grace)

- You Are Not Alone (quite a sad, about lonely, with his 1st wife Lisa in the Music Video)

- Earth Song (something about enviromental protection)

- Childhood (about his loss in childhood and painful youth, very touching, you will burst into tears once you listen this song)

- They Don't Care About Us (the accusation for the people whom always set and sue him, the police abrutality, and etc...)

- D.S. (D.S. is a name, talk about the proscutor, during the child molestation case in 1993)

Other songs such as Scream, History, Money and etc...

This was the album that Michael made after his child molestation allegation in 1993; really an excellent and terrific album you must buy.

I suggest you should buy a CD not download from the website, as you can never get the package from download, especially the booklet inside, which is priceless and valuable.

Michael, you are always King of Pop, and your music never dies.