Do We Really Appreciate An Artist's Evolution Through Their Music?
350853
I've gone through and browsed more than a couple of reviews for this album.  This is the reason for the title of my review.  Without too many words amounting to what would boil down to my own opinion in the end.  I was challenged by this album to ask myself - do we really appreciate an artist's evolution through their music?

Do we really listen to what is happening to the artist when we hear the music, the voice?  Do we just want to have our minds numbed by the obvious and monotonous?  Are we looking for our own growth through the success of another's consciousness and liberation?

Whether a good album or bad album for someone, or just apathetic to it, this album definitely sparks food for thought.  I greatly appreciate Kendrick Lamar for being present within our generation, and actually SAYING SOMETHING.
1280911
Gotye is a very talented artist. And I mean that truly, he's an all around artist. His music is varied in what I guess is called "genre " ( an overused term I am sure) . He seems to have been influenced by many artists and styles of music and, thankfully, knew which ones to embrace. I recommend him for any of the  other old timers out there who thought about leaving the hope of music being any good behind and exiling themselves to the old vinyl that they have had for years. Give this guy a listen, he's interesting, fresh and has some depth.
1750189
As I have these albums on vinyl LP, I was already familiar with the songs.  But, as I rarely, if ever, listen anymore to 'record albums', I had not heard what was on them for years and years until I ordered the CD's.

I had forgotten how much I liked the songs on the albums.

And while characteristics of the Artists' 'cause celebre' may have changed significantly, the value of the Artists' music has not decreased at all.
2520779
DISCLAIMER: This is more an initial assessment than a review, I have only listened to the album twice so it's a bit early for a full review

There are a few of my favourite artists who are on their third go round and almost all of them have decided to do a 180 on their core fans. The 1st was Alicia Keys whose 3rd album was less soul and more pop/rock. Raphael Saadiq went Motown, Robin Thicke was all over the place and Ne-Yo toyed with the idea of going europop. It scares me to think what D'Angelo will do given that his sophomore effort was already way out there.

John Legend takes a page straight out of Alicia Key's book by going the pop route and to be honest I am not pleased. I applauded Alicia's effort because it was an evolution of sorts from talented girl to woman. In John's case he scores no points and as far as I'm concerned this is a regression not an evolution.

The world has enough artists doing the pop thing and we look to artists like John Legend, Raphael Saadiq and Robin Thicke to give us something else (pun intended). By including a Ne-Yo, Will. I.Am and a Pharell song (no offense to any of them) John has only thing in mind...and that is Radio (Trying not to be out done by his own artist, Estelle).

The duet with Brandy is good but it does not belong on a John Legend album. The Michael Jackson esque rallying call that closes out the standard version of the disc is right on the edge of corny (perfect for radio). I can understand why he might choose that direction, given how his last album performed, the critics loved it but radio wouldn't play it. I would counter that argument by saying that he just needs to look at the album sales which were nothing to laugh at.

With that said, I still have to admit that although I disagree with his direction, the album as a whole is quite well executed. You can still here that it has John's stamp all over it. He also sprinkled a few tracks that recall his previous album e.g. "Good Morning" and my current favourite "I Love, You Love". The reggae influenced tracks are also repeat worthy. I'm sure the rest of the album will grow on me as the other's have.
4226407
Thank you Joy for being yourself and standing up for what you believe in, your recent actions took incredible fortitude in your industry!  I have not heard of you or your music until now, I came here to listen to it and as others have mentioned, your music is a nice change to the monotony of today's similar sounds from GaGa and other clones.  Great music, great talent - please keep it up!
4293756
I appreciate an artist who is always evolving and growing.  The Truth has a similar Ledisi feel to it, but offers a different flavor.  Committed fans will love this album!
3930686
I borrowed this book from the library and knew I would have to get a copy for myself.  So many of these great artists were not given the accolades they richly deserved during their often too brief lifetimes.  This book offers both rare photos of them in private moments and very honest feelings from these artists about their wishes.  Sometimes I listen to a specific artist and read the comments from them while their music plays.  Many of the wishes are so thoughtful, some are playful and others make you want to cry--much like the amazing music they all created.  Beautiful.
4775793
This is an absolutely amazing album. It seems like when longtime fans of bands here any kind of change in "their" band they get all sour or something. This is actually the first album of theirs I ever heard. I have since bought every album of theirs and listened to all of them more times than I can count. I thought this album was at least interesting and at times great. Going back and listening to their old material gave me a better appreciation for this album. The evolution they're going through on this album is amazing and beautiful. A five star album as are the rest of em. Change is good people. This is a great band making great music. Enjoy it.....
2362668
i think it is less important to compare interpol with bands gone

by, however strong the inclination. what is important is...does

the music move you. as for me, i give a resounding yes. it took

me a number of listens to become enamored with this disc. but,

once under my skin, like scabies, it's never left. certain songs

stand out, yet, the album as a whole is magnificent. this of

course leads me to great expecations of their followup. i hope

my gut feeling is accurate.
2700364
Art and its offspring are less about creating something than about making visible that which has always existed but which has not been available to our senses.  Applied to the aural sphere, this music accomplishes exactly that: one gets the sense one has always "known" these works while realizing they are nevertheless "new," revealed by the skill Jack Andrews brings to this art.  A sense of pleasure at "recognizing" his music makes obtaining his album exciting and rewarding.  These "opera" remove me from the tedium of the constant repetition of daily life events and allow me to indulge in new spaces, new moments, new sensations as seasoned as Creation itself.  These are exciting children he has brought into my consciousness; yearning, fulfillment, pleasure, are all accessed thanks to his gift of musical revelation.  Hardly intrusive, decidedly satisfying, I'm delighted to have "rediscovered" the vibrations Jack has unveiled.  I thank him for his gift of this music.
1551032
I really like this box set, but probably for different reasons than most.  I have been a lifelong student of the creative process, and as such, I like to follow how works in progress evolve from something raw and primordial into refined and finished works through the process of extended collaboration and feedback from others.

Nirvana's "With the Lights Out" is like a little history lesson in how their music evolved from the dirty, nasty, garage sound in their beginnings in the mid-to-late 80s to their more familiar sound that defines a whole generation of music lovers.  For instance, I like switching back and forth between "Lithium" and "Polly" on their "Nevermind" CD and the demo versions recorded on "With the Lights Out" just to compare for myself and see what and how they changed over the years.  It gives me a sense of context and helps me to appreciate the finished product a little more than I would otherwise.

I would also imagine that this album will satisfy Nirvana's hard-core following with plenty of quirky versions of familiar fan favorites.  For those with interests similar to my own, they will appreciate how these recordings give a sense of history and evolution to the music of Nirvana, and perhaps gain a greater appreciation of their studio recordings because of it.
4549107
When I revisit Cyndi's work throughout the years, I think of music that is evolutionary, uncompromising, risk-taking, and artful.  This versatility, beauty, and vulnerability is also captured in "At Last."  Cyndi offers herself - heart and soul while delivering jazzy, contemporary, alternative, and latin flavors for all music lovers that can appreciate a work of art.  Cyndi's style in the songs such as "Unchained Melody," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "Stay," "Hymn To Love," and others are artistic classics performed using her true gifts and talent for music.  Her masterful voice and interpretation of the meanings behind the music captures the listener and doesn't let go.  The songs offered in "At Last" may have been sung before, but never in this passionate and vulnerable fashion.  "At Last" is yet another artistic evolution for Cyndi and listners are treated to a wonderful musical journey.  Buy it for someone you love!
4928556
I am an enormous fan of Danzig's work. I am impatiently awaiting Like a ravenous, blood thirsty, wolf of demonic origin, for Danzig Se7en. Glenn Danzig is and will be the only artist which deserves and receives my undivided respect for his originality and uniqueness. His unmistakable voice and musical talents have only gotten better with time. If you were to ask me, I would say that he is at his best at the present time.
  There is nothing that compares to his boundless talent (music, lyrics, visual arts, story lines, etc.) and his views regarding the existence that we are all aware of; in our own ways. I respect him for his straight-forward "no bull**it" attitude. I enjoy every last song from the beginning of his artistic journey with the Misfits up to the very last song on his Satans Child effort.
  BlackAciDevil was very different, but different does not mean that it is bad. I personally think that it is one of his most creative and intuitively modern efforts. I can't stand to hear people speak with disgust, and say that they used to be fans (up until that album), when it is mentioned. It seems that they are not true fans of the Man's artistic talents. It's like they selfishly want him to stay stuck in the past and produce the sound he had produced in the first 2 albums.
  It's amazing that they don't realize how the technology for the production of music has changed so dramatically and has offered endless options that cannot be ignored. I believe he took full advantage of this fact in the production of BlackAciDevil. That album is a perfect example of his straight-forward "I don't give a sh**" attitude that I admire. Just because others don't agree is no reason to not do what he wants.
  He stands STRONG about his beliefs and attitude toward life and HIS music. We are fortunate to have such a man sharing his take on reality with us on the planet. I Thank Glenn Danzig for all of the incredible contributions to my life by means of his music and related arts over the years.
^(-_-)^ EvilAlivE ^(-_-)^
Smage, the Godless Agnostic.
2888422
Fascinating evolution of Manns singing, musicianship & songwriting.  Starting with a new wave, indie pop style, but over the course of the three albums evolving into the Aimee Mann weve all come to know & love, but with the eighties production values (I would have hated to have been a drummer throughout that period).
4307723
Lots of nostalgia here. As I get up in years, older music has much more appeal to me because it is unpretentious, fun, and just a pleasure to listen to. I also think todays artists take talent, skill, and ability for granted when presenting their craft. That may be just my age  though.
2749340
What do you expect when you get good tunes by a great artist that has been around since the 80s!!
626699
The songs on this album vary from very good to average...but the intent and the feeling of each is real