Astounding debut album
592915
This album gets 4 stars because the engineers tried too hard to drown out Mr. Potts in the second selection.  I also wish there had been at least one more real opera hit.  "Nessun Dorma" is sung really well, including a small chorus in the interlude of the aria.  The balance of the album is Italian (or Spanish) schlock.  Good schlock, please understand, but standard pop stuff.  Sort of a solo version of "Il Divo."

The difference here is Potts himself.  His voice is ever so slightly reedy.  He does have the timbre and size of voice to pull off his signature tune, "Nessun Dorma", but I'd hate to see him try the entire opera.  Unlike say Mario Lanza, when he tackles the more intimate songs, he lets the focus shift away from all-out operatic singing.  yet he never gets the "microphone" voice that Boccelli uses at times.  Potts is just able to tune his sound to the material at hand.  He is always connected emotionally, too, which some greater singers than he is can't say.  I have many complete operas in my collection, and yet I bought this album because I found his performing to be quite moving.  Pity Paul Potts?  Never!  He is a real singer and not the product of some over processed sound machine.
1648679
Savage Garden's debut album is the best album you will ever own.  From the edgy "Break Me Shake Me" which is the more rock track to "To the Moon and Back" that just gives you a sense of calmness to the  precise sounding but the "make you think and wonder" words of  "Promises".  The softer side comes out in tracks like  "Truly, Madly, Deeply" and "Universe".  This album  blends several types of music genres and shows Savage Garden's versatility.  Darren Hayes has a  Michael Jackson like voice (in "Tears of  Pearls"), but it's still unique and almost perfect.  And Daniel Jones  has great guitar and keyboard playing especially in "Tears of  Pearls" (my personal favorite).  If anyone is comtemplating getting  this album, believe me like I said it's the best. (Their follow up album,  Affirmation, is also great.)
436969
There are no words to describe how AMAZING this album is. From the beginning all its way through the end the music you find here is an unforgettable experience. Before I jump into conclusions with some of the songs let me tell you that this girl is so talented on her own terms. The production of the album is stunning and the arrangements of the instruments flow in such an incredible way and natural form that you might believe that perfection is what you hear. A piano here, an Arp there (such a beautiful inclusion to this record), an electric and acoustic guitar every now and then make the songs come up with their own personality.

"Dogs days are over", "I'm not calling you a liar" and "Drumming song" fight againts the traditional way of a song structure... there's a point where you don't know what you're listening and yet, you can't stop tapping your foot on the floor at the rythm of the music. Great songs for sure. "Rabbit heart (raise it up)" (of course!!!), "Kiss with a fist" and "You've got the love" are meant to be the commercial ones??? on the record... not that they're less impressive because of this 'cause once you hear the first one you fall in love with it right away. To point out one of tem in particular, I find "My boy builds coffins" a masterpiece. For some reason everything falls right in place here.

"Lungs" is by far one the best records of this year and for sure will be one of the best in the first decade of the 2000's. Because of projects like Florence + the machine and Bat for lashes (I must say), we know that if this kind of music is coming up from such young girls, we can expect a bright future for music itself. It is ok that we have ALL kinds of music: the bubblegum one (with all the annoying scene in the US), abstract one (a la Radiohead) and commercial-respected one (R.E.M., U2, Muse or even Placebo). But if we didn't have the independent one and all the UK scene going on, the whole music universe would be so predictable.
4622486
People listening to this CD for the first time shrug their shoulders and say: Yep, that's how pop music sounded back in 1972. Hold on! I will be the first to declare that later Dan albums sounded better and better, but don't  let that keep you from buying this one.
It is a debut album, and  probably the best debut album in the history of recorded music. There is  not a single stinker on it. All compositions are highly creative, the  lyrics already have that special trademark Steely Dan ring to them, Fagen's  singing is right on the mark, and the playing, the sheer musicianship is  there, even when these guys weren't studio cracks.
This album rocks, 28  years after it has been born. Can't buy a Thrill? Yes you can! You can buy  this CD and be thrilled.
1708497
First off, the Melody is an absoulutely amazing record and it was definitely worth the long wait (almost 5 months since I first heard the single Cold...but I'm still here). It greatly exceeded all expectations I had about this band, the CD has been spinning non-stop in my player for two days already. Matisyn's voice is so passionate yet intense, and the whole vibe of the album is so rich musically with layers of different sounds. I'm still blown away by it, I will write a more in-depth review for each track whenever I'm finally able to catch my breath.
803261
Incredible album. You should give it a listen!
752193
I was never quite sure why Carly's debut album was criticized for not living up to the standard of its leadoff single, the classic "That's The Way I've Always Heard It should Be." Indeed that song is quite an epic, and this album only begins to tap into the depths of Simon's persona. However, this is a beautiful debut and Carly displays herself as an ample interpreter of numerous styles, from country and blues, to ballads and folk.
"Alone" and "One More Time" are very strong in melody, with the former exuding an aching wale and the latter a bluesy resonance. "The Best Thing" is a beautiful piano-based ballad that is perhaps the second strongest performance on the album after the opening song. The mild rock edge of "Another Door" and the folkish, autobiographical "Reunions" continues the stylistic range of Carly's musicality. "Rolling Down The Hills" is the closest Carly ever comes to being a "hippie-chick" and it works surprisingly well, given that it seems quite uncharacteristic of her, both in this album and in her later efforts. "The Love's Still Growing," is the album's brooding closer that matches the sonic tone of ANTICIPATION'S "Three Days," despite the fact this was one song she didn't pen. Tracks on this album that I don't particularly care for are "Just A Sinner" and "Dan, My Fling." "Sinner" for some reason doesn't work for Carly, maybe because it's too hard core in its attempts to portray her rock 'n' roll side and "Dan" just doesn't fit into well into the album's overall flow. Nevertheless, this is a strong debut from Carly Simon that deserves a reevaluation. After all, she WAS just starting out and it's rare if you ask me for an artist's later work to be on a par with her debut. I mean, people do evolve.
2145735
Owning all of their previous self-released albums/EP, I have to say I am totally impressed with this major label debut!  Marty Casey & his band Lovehammers give to this album the true rock star feel:  Songs that make you want to turn this disc up, grab a sport car (black preferably, and a convertible) and drive really FAST!  Crank it up to the powerful vocals on Clinic.  Take the hairpin turns on Straight As An Arrow and Eyes Can't See and Call of Distress.  Cruise in the sun to Clouds.  Sing along with your friends to Trees, Casualty, and The Riddle.  And crank it up through the tunnels to Tunnel. This is pure, unapologetic Rock n' Roll.

This is a grand major label debut that will leave you wondering why you didn't meet this band much sooner. Casey's vocals are impressive, the guitar work is tight, the drums are killer, and the bass playful and strong. The legendary Steve Albini (Pixies) engineered Straight As An Arrow and you can hear not only the power of the song, but the power of Albini's talent in knowing how to engineer a killer recording.

Buy it, you will LOVE IT!

And if you enjoy an absolutely spectacular live show, Marty Casey & Lovehammers ARE NOT TO BE MISSED!  Coming soon to an amphitheatre near you...
857011
This album has so much to offer in so few tracks -- if somehow you don't like it, surely someone you know will. Be sure to check out the music videos, they'll blow your mind. Which will have already been blown by this album...
2650825
I was a 16-year-old junior in high school when Led Zeppelin's debut exploded onto the music scene in January of 1969. At that time, my taste in music had been shaped by the British Invasion. I grew up on a steady diet of the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, the Kinks; nothing prepared me for the sonic blast of the lead track "Good Times Bad Times" and the rest of the album opened my ears to the notion that there was more to contemporary music than Top 40 radio. The band would have only one Top 10 single (1969's "Whole Lotta Love" reached No. 4). However, they are among an elite group of artists that have sold more than 250 million units.

Over the next decade, Led Zeppelin would be both an enormous critical as well as commercial success. However, my favorite album remains their debut. There is not a weak track to be found and the bonus live disc makes this a must-have purchase regardless of how many previous times you have purchased this album. While the live disc--from an October 1969 show at The Olympia in Paris--features a handful of tracks from their yet-to-be released follow-up album ("Heartbreaker," "Moby Dick," "Bring It on Home"), the bulk of the show provides stunning live versions from their debut allowing the band to stretch out on several songs. "You Shook Me" and "Dazed and Confused" double in length from their studio versions, and "Black Mountain Side" (which clocked in at 2:12 on the studio album) becomes a nine-minute tour de force for Jimmy Page.

Regardless of how you feel about Led Zeppelin or heavy metal/hard rock in general, this is an album that belongs in every serious music fan's collection. ESSENTIAL  [Disc 1 - 44:56; Disc 2 - 71:16]
1877748
This album is amazing, literally one of the best ones I've heard in a long time. The tracks are put together amazingly and full of great, meaningful lyrics with fantastic vocals to match. A great first album for Kendall and Dustin, no doubt that they'll make it far in the music industry.
855288
Absolutely the best debut album I have ever heard from any artist. Got instantly hooked to the bands sound after hearing the album. The way they make guitars sound like bag-pipes is totally awesome sounding! Love the songs In a Big Country, Fields of Fire, Lost Patrol, and my favorite song of all-time The Storm. 10 out of 10!
1903452
I think I mentioned this in a recent review (actually I know I did), but I love discovering new music.  When I got my hands on One eskimO's debut album the other day (I love these sales here) I was instantly smitten and wound up getting hold of their EP and their `Kandi' single as well.  Their self titled debut album really establishes their sound and will hopefully garner them a large fan base.  They already seem to have a legion of devoted fans, but their sound is very small and intimate, and that scares me in a way.  This is not the type of band that will demand attention and so I could see them getting swept away in the sea of great bands that fail to get recognition.

I only hope that I am wrong, for this solid debut effort deserves our attention.

Having toured with Tori Amos, the comparisons can be seen.  The have a similarly haunting sound, with ethereal qualities that seem to float into our eardrums, creating a dreamy cascade of sound.  Aside from Amos though, I see a lot of James Blunt influence here, especially on tracks like `Chosen One'; but I also see some Phil Collins and even Jason Mraz, albeit a much softer Mraz.  I even sense a little OneRepublic.

The album opens with `Hometime', a track that immediately lets you know that this is the story of an average man in an average neighborhood who goes to sleep.  The dreamlike atmosphere of the entire album plays to this initial concept.  `Hometime' has playful lyrics and soft vocals that help establish the focus of the album.  The next track, `Astronauts', is so sincere and just beautiful.  One reviewer mentioned that hearing this live brought her to tears.  There are few songs that beautiful, but `Astronauts' has the quality.  It has such depth and emotional fluency.

When I first heard `Kandi' I wasn't sure if I was going to really like it.  I absolutely LOVE it.  That whole `you think your relationship is perfect but you are oh-so-wrong' vibe that it captures is just magnificent, and the bouncy chorus brings an almost Motown flare to this track, with obvious jazz influences just milking all over the listener.

LOVE IT.

I like `Slip', but it doesn't have anything truly interesting about it to set it apart.  It can get a little lost in the rest of the album.  `Simple Day' is a simple song really, and that is both good and bad.  I like the idea behind the construction, the guitar picking and the Mraz-like rhyming, but it just doesn't pack the needed punch to make it work completely.  `Givin Up', on the other hand, works flawlessly.  It has an edge to it that I really soak up, and the airy vocals take on a serenely haunting quality that I just can't get enough of.

`Chocolate' and `All Balloons' are both very good tracks.  `Chocolate' has a nice smoothness to it, although the chorus seems a little too familiar to me (like it was ripped from one of their other songs).  `All Balloons' evokes a gentle happiness in me, so I really like the tone set here.  I even totally adore the whole "la la la" parts.

`Chosen One' is a little too James Blunt for me.  I mean, if I had heard it on the radio I would have thought it was him.

When I heard `UFO' for the first time, all I could think of was Phil Collins.  I has a very Genesis-vibe to it, and I love it.  It sounds very authentic and vintage rock.  I love the whole laid back, airy atmosphere to the song.  The closing track, `Amazing', is a nice way to close the album.  I'm not the biggest fan of the song as a whole, but the bouncy happy vibe is enticing and it shows another side to the band.  The lyrical message is endearing and charming and nicely constructed.  This also has a very Phil Collin's type sound to it.

So, I think it's obvious that I'm impressed.  This isn't the best debut I've heard recently, but it is certainly one of the most intriguing.  I can't wait to see what these guys do next!

BTW, if you can get your hands on the bonus track `Hi Low and In Between' then do that, since it is just plain beautiful.
2281681
This album is pretty amazing. At times you can easily think you're listening to an elaborate and evocative film score - such is the atmospheric moodiness that pervades this disc. On their debut album, Doves don't hold anything back. 'Lost Souls' may be classified as rock but their songs are lush and grand. This isn't music tailor made for Top 40 or Modern Rock, and thank heavens for small mercies. Think 'OK Computer', only without Radiohead's esoteric waffle. While Coldplay grab all the press (deservedly) here's another great album that somehow manages to sneak under everyone's guard.
1290709
This is definitely my favorite debut album of all time. Not only does Imani sing, she writes her own songs and plays some of the instruments. The song writing is very sophisticated and intricate, but totally unique and fun all at once. This is one of those cds where I can listen to it straight through. There isn't a single track I don't absolutely love.  She is also fairly eclectic in her writing, from the playful, upbeat fun of "I'm a tree", and "Soon (I like it)", to the  haunting "La da da". Keep an ear out for the hidden track at the end of track 11. You have to skip like 10 minutes of dead space to get to it, but it is so worth it. I wish she was a more popular artist because she is surely worth the attention, but then it is kind of nice to be one of the few people who know her, so it's almost like you can have her all to yourself. Please come out with another album soon Imani.....the world needs more artistry like yours.
3757548
This is a great debut album and it's not getting enough attention.  The band caught my attention after I listened to the song 'Pictures of You' on VH1.  After listening to the sample tracks I decided to buy the album and it's worth every penny.  Every single song on the album was very well made.  The more I listen to them, the more I like the album.  Beside 'Pictures of You, my other favorites are 'This is the Sound', 'Return to Me', and 'Incomplete'.  It's an awsome band!
4434338
This album is faaaaabulous. It took about 12 listenings to finally get the feel of it the new sounds, but it was well worth it. Contrary to many comments, I think there are many "hooks" on this release that can lodge in your head for days. I think the highlights are the following: "When the World Ends" is one of the catchiest tunes. It's a sexy little number has an unforgettable R&B backbeat between the choruses (Stefan's bass is very prominent and awe-inspiring on every song). The imagery is riveting and the sheer fun of hearing the whole band go "Your legs don't work cuz you want me so, you just lie spread to the wall..." is worth the album price alone. Additionally, Dave's voice, which is smooth and has amazing range on every track, seems to morph into those of other distinctive singers throughout the album, and in this tune, at times his voice sounds a lot like the appealing drawl of Soul Coughing's M. Doughty. "The Space Between" is a classic and catchy love song that will probably appeal to people of all ages. Some of the lyrics are truly beautiful, like "The space between your heart and mine is the space we fill with time." "Dreams of Our Fathers" has a great opening riff, kind of power-rock Def Leopard (in a good way), driving, intelligent, rythmic lyrics a melodic chorus. In the middle at the "Rain on me" part, it seems as though Dave somehow channeled Eddie Vedder with all the awesome angst-ridden glory comparable to Pearl Jam's "Black." "What you Are" will surely please fans of "The Last Stop" and possibly "Don't Drink the Water" from BTCS. It's an epic and intense song with a middle eastern flair and a charged, gristly, occasionally erotic, chorus. "Sleep to Dream Her" is phenomenal and quite different from the other songs (they are all distinct, but this one especially so). The turns of phrase ("I know I'll miss her later. Wish I could bend my love to hate her. Wish I could be her creator. To twist her arms now")are not only clever, but they rhyme and are puntuated by Dave's tinny plucking of the electic guitar and Carter's interesting drumming pattern. The chorus on this song affords more instrumental meandering of LeRoi's gorgeous sax and Boyd's haunting violin. The whole song has an intriguing and vaguely evil-lullaby feel to it. "Everyday" is the old-school DMB song on this album. The acoustic guitar returns and the has an irrisistable beat and gospel influence that creates the happy feet, throw your hands up in the air and rejoice feel like "The Best of What's Around." I think it will be an incredible, tears-of-joy-jerking show closer and the song you're most likely to catch yourself singing in the shower.