This is my first Hilary Weeks CD. Can't praise ...
343879
This is my first Hilary Weeks CD. Can't praise it enough. Her music brings peace and uplifts at the same time. Why did I wait so long to buy this?!
2619391
I have never been a huge Styx fan. I actually heard them for the first time when "Show Me The Way" was released. I didn't listen to any of their songs much before 1996, but one of my best friends is a long-time supporter of Styx, so I've been checking out all their songs. I've recently started to gain enthusiasm regarding Styx and was elated to hear "Styxworld" was being released. I was a little disappointed to hear it was yet another live recording, but I was still optimistic... Then I bought the album. There are some great moments on this CD ("Criminal Mind" & "Crystal Ball"), however, for the most part I was thoroughly disappointed. This will echo previous reviews somewhat, but I will start with "High Enough" and "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough." I was looking forward to these songs SO much - they were even featured on the sticker on the front of the CD... How can anyone justify FEATURING songs that consist of 1 verse and the chorus of each... The versions sounded great for what was there, but it's an insult to the fans to sell "us" short like that. Why couldn't more room have been made by cutting "Come Sail Away" or "Miss America" - how many live versions of these songs do we need to hear??? Do we really need to know how James Youngs' vocals have deteriorated to the point where he sounds pre-pubescent when he screeches "WHERE ARE YOU Miss America" - ??? It sounds terrible. He does seem to do much better on his other tracks (Lorelei, Half Penny-Two Penny), but I think Styx needs to remember who their primary vocalist should be. Oh wait, Dennis DeYoung is no longer in the band... Hmm... Well, maybe "equal time" is the best way to go with the "New Styx." In addition to all this, several other songs ("Sing For The Day" for example) are incomplete/missing verses. I just expected more from this classy/classic group. I really hope their awaited studio release will deliver what this excuse for "music" fails to. *2* stars is generous.
3014244
Rats.  I don't know what came over me; I must have been nostalgic for the AM radio of my childhood, and remember the group more fondly than my reaction upon listening to this "best of" recently.  If this is  the best, I'm not sure I want to dive in any further.  This is pretty  wimpy, twerpy stuff--impeccably produced, of course.  I really like the  funky, spare groove of "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You", but then  the disc time warps to the breathy easy-listening sounds of "Eye in  the Sky", "Time", "Don't Let it Show" and the  incredibly laughable "Pyramania".  Just what complex concepts are  APP trying to relate to me with claptrap like "Psychobabble"?  I  don't get it--it reminds me of songs I composed when I was in junior high.  The instrumentals included are repetitive and simplistic to boot.  I will  say that not everything they did that I have heard is dreck--"Don't  Answer Me" is lovely, and they stick to the simple lyrical conceit of  a broken relationship--and it was released too late to make it on this CD.  I tried to trade this CD in for credit at my favorite store and even they  wouldn't take it!  Joke's on me!
3383359
First, let me say that Mr. Mitnick's review here almost turned me off from the cd.  Who knew so much politics could be wedged into a cd of old standards.  The presidential debate seems to be pushed into every nook someone can find....now I have to think of that everytime I listen to these great songs. I don't really care about Tony's politics, and I care even less about some random music reviewer's political perspective.

Now, on to the music itself.  All well done in Tony's normal great style, with a good selection of singers to join him.  I just wish he would broaden his selection of songs.  They are of course all great standards, but so many seem to be just lifted off previous cd's of his.  There are lots of great standards out there that I wish he would add to the mix.
6003
My favorite of Hilary Weeks' albums...thus far, anyway (as of 11/2014, when I bought several of her albums).
1676206
I heard the song Vera on a radio show spotlighting Connecticut groups and was blown away by the powerful vocal by Angela Piccoli.  Listening to the CD, I was very disappointed to hear that she only does the vocals on a couple of songs.  This is good but not really remarkable prog rock.  It's hard to understand how the group could fail to take better advantage of their most potent weapon.  Here's hoping they correct this on their next cd.
1137664
I purchased this cd today along with a Dwele cd. I love his CD her's not so much. I don't think I liked one track. I'm normally not hard on artists and PLUS I wanted to try someone new. I love mostly Jazz and Old School R&B.

I also like Neo-Soul. I have no idea WHAT this cd falls under but it has to go back to Best Buy. Sorry Ledisi...
2227466
Such an amazing CD.

Angela Johnson is so underrated! gave this to my mother for Mother's Day this year and she can't stop raving about the CD!

I've listened myself to Angela for years and I continue to be amazed by her voice!
2375048
It's Heather Nova without the soul. Breed is one of those CDs I won't leave home without. I have had it for years and never gotten a bit tired of it. So I thought this was a sure bet. The edginess is there, but the delivery just wasn't developed yet and it comes off as bland. There are so many feelings there, but they don't hit like in Breed. The true test of an ablum, for me, is how long it takes me to start singing along to it. Though I've tried to get into this one, I just can't do it. My advice would be to listen to a couple of tracks off it first, but definately don't think you know what to expect out of Lauren Christy without hearing anything off the CD.
I guess it's all a matter of taste. Breed is my taste, this is not. I have to give her some credit because so many artists go along without ever evolving.
4361695
I do not like teen pop.  I never have, I never will but, when I heard her sing Beautiful, I thought hmmmmm, sounds like she is growing up.  This whole CD is well written and different.  Different meaning that her voice takes on as many pitches as Mariah Carey.  To buy the CD, I had to get past the part that she is half naked on the cover.  I thought maybe she was confirming many peoples' view that she is [loose], but when I listened to this "outspoken" CD I realized that she is nothing like her first CD. She literally has "Stripped" herself of what Teen-idol producers want. Christina has become a woman in all aspects.  This CD will probably be in almost every womans CD collection, or at least it should be.  It's empowering to us.
4292104
I just recently got this CD and popped it in my CD player almost immediately. I am a HUGE fan of Little Things and I was really excited to see what Toby had in store. I was also excited when I saw Bill Botrell's name on it. (He produced Sheryl Crow's AMAZING Tuesday Night Music Club album.) As I listened,however, I became increasingly disappointed. There were tracks such as Alone,Slippin, and Don't Wake Me that really popped out, but  there were many others whose melodies were no different than any other generic pop artist. I really enjoyed Little Things because of the unique melodies, so it was a bit of a let down. However, Toby's voice is in fine form on this album. Also, the use of the organ on most of the songs is quite fun to listen to. The lyrics aren't the deepest, but neither were her lyrics on her first album so I wasn't really surprised. This is a first listen, so maybe I'll find better things on the album in time.
3723960
Wow. That is the best word to describe this cd. But since that gives you no feel for the songs at all, I'll rate them.
  1. Deep Water. This is such a cool song. It has a great sad/spiritual sound. and its kinda funny (making love to wall; your heart like grape gum on the ground)5 stars (out of ten)
  2. What's Simple Is True. This song is really beautiful! It's not one of my favorites, but I love the way she sings the word "pierced." 4 1/2 stars.
  3. Hands. I think this was her first release? An absolutely gorgeous song with so much meaning. The first lines. Yeah. 5 stars
  4. Kiss The Flame. I don't like this song so much. I would give it 2 1/2 stars.
  5. Down So Long. A really cool song that I think is perfect for a road trip with your friends. 5 stars.
  6. Innocence Maintained. Wow. This song is my second favorite of all. It has great meaning and sound to it. 5 stars.
  7. Jupiter. This song is so cute! I don't like it as much as some, but it is adorable! 4 stars.
  8. Fat Boy. I don't like this song very much. It's pretty and meaningful, but thats it. 2 1/2 stars.
  9. Enter From The East. This song is really pretty, and makes the most of her amazing voice. 4 1/2 stars.
  10. Barcelona. This song is great! Really heavy, but pretty. 4 stars.
  11. Life Uncommon. My favorite song on this cd! It is amazing, the words and everything. It's just so so awesome. My favorite song in the world. 10 million stars.
  12. Do You. A great song somewhat reminiscent of her first cd. Kinda like "Who Will Save Your Soul." Not at all really but 5 stars.
  13. Absence Of Fear. A good, kinda scary song. 4 1/2 stars. Hope that helps!!!!
1247962
The beats are catchy and grow on you. For being her first cd, it could be worse. The lyrics and tunes are worth the money for the cd, or at least the effort to download it. She has talent, but its raw....she definetly needs work on tone and keys.
  But, is it just me or do some songs sound disturbingly similar to each other?
2315277
This CD didn't touch my soul. All I hear is Groban's excellent voice and impeccable technique, but I can't hear any feelings or passion in the performance. Is this new direction really the good one for him? When you sing what you like or what's within your soul, you're supposed to show the passion.
3460750
I usually can listen to the more Avant-garde side of hardcore and metal (things such as Blood Brothers (their older stuff), Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, and almost anything with Mike Patton in it) but i cant seem to get myself to like this. A friend of mine gave me this cd as a gift, and i've tried to like it, but it just won't grow on me. The music is good, its basically fast as hell over blast beats, and the songs are only an average of 60 seconds in length. Unfortunatly it never really draws me in. I am glad to see that there is still originality left in music but this isn't my cup-o-tea.
2596999
She is no Christina Aguilera. Her only decent song is "Don't Cry Out Loud," yet the performance of that song is not consistent. Sometimes she's good, other times she's horrendous. No originality, no creativity. Maybe she'll improve as she gets older.
1184241
I wanted her to win Sunday's Best so badly but she lost, as for this CD I don't know why they picked the songs they did when it is apparent that this young lady has a gift of voice and can sing,  I hate this cd, their is not one song that I liked.  If this was designed for failure then the recording label accomplished that.  If she does another cd I will purchase it just on what she shared about her life and the fact that she had no say so as to the songs that she sang for this cd. She did what she had to do, Best Wishes.
Shanda
Newark, NJ