It's all Subjective. But IMOA, it's Incredibly Unique
593360
I just Bought this album about a week ago. And Like I was saying....it's all subjective. A previous reviewer was saying how 'The Battle of Epping Forest' was an inferior peice of music from 'Moonlit Night' and 'Cinema Show'. Ironically, I get a unique pleasure listening to "The Battle". It's got a very interesting structure to it. And some very picturesk lyrics...though not always pleasant("with a chain flyin' round his head). And there is just something cool(and unique) about the way it repeats the "Picnic" part after coming from the strange interlude about a Preist(which I still don't understand). But...I will in time I am sure. The Weakest track for me is the "More Fool me" cut. BTW...here's how I'd rate them...

Dancing with the Moonlit Night:  5/5

(hard to describe how good this one is... I especially like the strange sounds and note choices on the outro section...very timeless...alluring and beautiful...just hard to describe)

I know what I like in your Wardrobe:  5/5

(I love the white noise sound it begins with...it sounds like the sun beating down :) very unique...therefore hard to describe. The lyrics are funny and very affective. "had to thank old miss Mort for schooling a failure", "Keep them Mowing Blades Sharp", "Me, I'm just a lawnmower, you can tell me by the way I walk".

Firth of Fifth  5/5(This contains one of the best Guitar sections I have ever heard and also some of the best chord changes/lyrics and melodies I have heard: Paino Prelude, March, Slow down, March,  Piano(with siren sound), flute section, Brilliant change to piano, whole bad joins to play reprise of Piano Intro, brilliant change to a restrained guitar solo, a reprise back to flute solo in brilliant fashion(played with guiar this time), back to march...then ends brilliantly the way it started(sound a tad warped).

More Fool Me:  3.5/5 (A unique love song...but it's just not my style..I don't skip it though)

Battle of Epping Forest:  5/5(hmmm, where do I start? Too long for me to explain...just listen to it several times. I just love when they repeat "Got me framed" in high pitch, then how they repeat the picnic part so far from oneanother(this is some unique songwriting). And also the repition of "here come the calvalry" just seems so unique yet appropriate. The interlude explaining the priest still baffles me, but I still like it(I love how he talks some of the lines and the rest of the music seems like it's off synch on purpose...it just sounds so unique and alluring). And the part when the battle is over is just brilliant. You must listen to this one the most to understand it(I still don't understand it all).

After the Ordeal:  4.5/5

(starts slow(approprietly) but picks up mid-way with some nice harmonies ...gotta love that guitar harmony it ends with)

The Cinema Show:  5/5

(very unique vocal melodies. brilliant progressions with synth solo)

The Asle of Plenty:  5/5(short but poweful reprise back to beginning and to a vocal mood piece...very unique).

Ok, I think I am done. That was too much for me too type. I think that's all I need to say.
4228043
Independent reviewers can be asked to review some strange and wonderful works, but Wonderworld is the most unusual independent project to cross my desk.  I'm not even sure what to call it: there is a book, but there is also a YouTube video, and an audio-book musical, and songs to be downloaded.  And it's all  well  wonderful.

Wonderworld is the story of Max, a boy who has difficulty relating to the real world.  He prefers his fantasy world, the world he creates in his art.  Max could be a lot of the students I used to work with: maybe he has an anxiety disorder, maybe he is on the autism spectrum, maybe he's just really shy, but it doesn't really matter.  Authors/composers/artists Brett Scheiber and Tree (aka the musical duo Arcanum) and illustrator Simona Poteska have meshed words, music and art to bring Max and his difficulties to life in a way that children and adults can both understand.  The story isn't told in a complicated way (but neither are Max's fears and feelings diminished); the songs have straightforward messages and are easy to learn, but aren't cutsey children's songs, and the artwork captures Max and his fears in style that is neither too dark nor too upbeat, but that fits the mood of the story perfectly.

This is a story about overcoming fears and obstacles, about believing in yourself and your talents.  It could be argued that this process is simplified in Wonderworld, but no more so than the story of the redeeming power of faith and love is simplified in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  Were I still working in education, I can think of a dozen situations where I'd have used Wonderworld in both classroom and individual situations.

Wonderworld has been produced with artistic integrity and professionalism. I'd also say it's been produced with great love and deep empathy.  I'm giving it 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
746438
Granted, it's not for everyone but it does not deserve the low star rating it currently has. This movie is for mature people who want something more than just pure escapist films - there are plenty of those around. This film offers a unique perspective on life and death and everything in between.
2659784
Hi bb,

Even on first listen I was struck by the vast scope and overall production of this incredibly creative, multi-layered work. Each piece is larger than the sum of its parts and has to be considered in a unified way like a painting. Lyric really owns the songs. She's lived there and it comes through so transparently. The music is not merely supportive but is also transformative. I was amazed by how Robby created the visual and aural imagery of "My Heart is the Sun." It was like being in a 4D movie. You could feel the warmth of the first morning rays. It reminded me of a book I used to love to read to Hannah and Eli called "My Secret Sunise" by Jasper Tompkins. Like the book this piece is a truly joyous experience.

I would think this CD will be well-received by a hugely diverse audience as it incorporates so many genres and sounds appealingly cross-over to span many time zones. I look forward to hearing what Eli, Hannah and Suzanne think after they have a chance to listen.

Kudos to you and to all the Bensons for this collaboration of love (and other strong emotions from what you've told me).

Joe
3573367
Anne Sophie will sell many copies of this album, true. The interpretation is shocking, unorthodox, true. The playing is very strong, especially for baroque, true. Are these reasons to hate this album? Perhaps, but that's not even a mater of opinion, rather merely of politics. Any way you slice it, this recording is unique. It's certainly not a particularly authentic or faithful rendition of Vivaldi's work, but it is certainly different from everything else out there. Moreover, the playing is good, precise, and the recording is well balanced and technically well done. I personally have multiple recordings of the 4 Seasons, precisely because each of them brings something different to the work. Authentic performances highlight different parts of the scoring and ornamentation, and modern orchestras simply have technologically superior violins with fuller, lush sound, and create performances with more force and expressiveness. Anne Sophie's recording is all new, it's living music. At times, it's raw and forceful, and at times it's serene, and in many regards exceeds the levels of both that other recordings achive. Some may think it goes too far at times, and I would almost include myself among those folk. I've listened to it several times, but I'm not going to buy it--it doesn't add much more for me to the 3 recordings I already have (one authentic performance, one really good modern performance with a chamber orchestra, and one with a really good soloist), since each of the three I have include passages that are particularly aggressive, particularly serene, or particularly well played. I commend the recording, however, and I'm glad I heard it.
Additionally, I would point out that Europa Galante just released an authentic instrument performance of not just the 4 seasons, but the entire Cimenta dell'armonia e dell'inventione, the larger work that the seasons concerti are part of.  The performance is nuanced and innovative, quite unlike any other reading.
4100038
It's a bit different from the usual stuff you hear from Really Slow Motion, but it's good nonetheless.  It does have a very obvious dubstep and electronic feel throughout, so if you don't like that genre, I'd probably say this isn't exactly worth your time.  The tracks blend full orchestras with this electronic stuff, which makes for a very interesting and unique combination.

If you like the genre, TrailerMusicNew.com is a fantas"tic website that keeps you up to date on the latest releases. Enjoy!
1961453
This is one of the more unique calendars I have ever seen.  Ok, ok, yes the girls are as smoking hot as everyone seems to review about it, but honestly what really struck me about this calendar is how different it is from all the others out there.  Not only do you get to see 12 women from 12 different parts of Asia, but they also list all the major Asian holidays which I've never seen in this type of calendar before.  It's definitely worth the $12.99
1848010
Doesn't look like it but it's extremely addictive.
4951970
FIRST OF ALL, THE CONCEPT IS JUST SO UNIQUE. SECOND OF ALL, I LOVE IT, LIKE A LOT LOT.
3720148
Rarely does an album come out that is a genre all its own.  Owners of records by Taz DiGregorio, the Robbie Jay Band, Los Lonely Boys, etc. will understand what I am saying.  Something so truely unique that it is its own thing, but so downright awesome that you'll love it and your friends that listen to all completely different genres will love it too.  If you are in the central Ohio area, catch a show.  You won't regret it.
2494468
I was a kickstarter backer, so I bought into the idea and then waited for the delayed gratification of finally experiencing it. That being said, it delivers on the idea with simplicity as well as complexity. I think they've taken something perhaps unremarkable and turned it into an idea space, or a field of opportunity. I really think the product itself is art; it poses interesting questions about music and the acoustic resonance of the earth itself. It's really not just a toy. It also isn't exactly an expert musician's tool right out of the box. It takes some time and thought to come up with what you want to do with it, that's half the fun. It also sounds great.
3015265
A unique sound, impossible to pigeon-hole this music as a particular genre.  It combines influences from difference sources into a one-of-a-kind musical experience.  The enthusiasm of these exceptionally talented performers was abundantly clear when I saw them perform live, and this recording brings backs the excitement of that evening for me everty time I listen to it.  Just amazing.
81653
Love of topic/surfing, surreal use of the miraculous/super-natural, characters that are easy to love/hate, it's VERY human, and it has an outstanding sound track
2065372
Whether you're reading this because you like Frou Frou, saw Garden State, or heard Imogen on the O.C., you're here because you're not afraid of bold and unusual music.  Imogen's is a highly unusual voice, and "Speak For Yourself" echoes that quality in its composition.

Imogen truly does speak for herself on this album, writing, singing, and producing each track herself, lending her talents, emotions, and artistic interpretation to all aspects of the album.  As a result, the lyrics are interesting, the vocals are breathtaking, the musical arrangements are staggering, and the sound production is unstoppable.  Imogen creates compositions worthy of a symphony with the strangest array of synthesized vocals and distortions, weaving them together to create songs that, while following a standard verse chorus verse pattern, are constantly building and changing in logical and satisfying, yet unpredictable ways.  Such evolutions in each track make every second more interesting than every second that came before it.

This is a must have for anyone looking for a fresh new album to listen to from start to finish.  Many of the tracks have serious single potential (Headlock, Goodnight and Go, Have You Got It In You, Hide and Seek, Clear the Area, The Walk) but the songs all flow together best as a coherent album, with strong emotional and musical themes running throughout.  This isn't Frou Frou, and it definitely isn't I Megaphone, but it's absolutely worth a listen.
2478908
I don't think that I can offer an educated or truly informed review. I've never had any formal music training. But as a lifelong classical listener along with quite a few other genres, I feel like I can give a 'layman's' perspective on this album. The variety of vocal techniques and 'stories' that are told have no equal in anything else I've ever listened to, save something like an oratorio. Favorites would be "Baby," "Wailers," and "Messages." Beautiful lyrics in "Baby" especially. I know that this album was compiled from many, many different voices and a few instruments mixed together in studio but it feels natural and unrehearsed, as it were. Open and flowing would be one way to describe it and it's an experience that I return to time and time again.
3131564
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is the definitive indie album. It is simply incredible. It is not, however, for anyone who isn't willing to invest him or herself just a little.

Every indie music fan who has heard this album lists it as one of the best. It has it all: Deeply introspective and interpretable and even slightly confusing lyrics. Lo-Fi recording that opens up, intensifying and building on simple sounds instead of using production tricks for easy emotional payoffs. Hum-along melodies so engrossing that you don't even mind if the songs are stuck in your head for weeks. In short, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is both striking and beautiful, and should be considered by anyone who expects more from music.

Unfortunately, some of the defining qualities of the album keep casual listeners away, such as the production and vocals. What some see as honesty, others see as poorly recorded and executed. The only thing I'd say to anyone who doesn't initially see the beauty in this album is that it is totally worth the investment.
2841614
Two sisters have collaborated to create what is perhaps one of the most unique musical projects i've come across in quite a while. Their music, while touching the outer edges of trip hop, ambient and flapper-era jazz, could hardly be described as such because i believe that they've written their own, new genre into the musical fold. Both sisters lend their voices to the lush musical landscapes they paint with deep baritones and high soprannos not to mention everything in between. Fans of artists like Bjork, Mister Scruff and Tricky would be well rewarded by checking this release out.

The album, when listened to as a whole continuous unit is a mind trip like no other visiting the vast spectra of emotional planes that for many people could be largely unexplored.  After listening, one might ask "Why isn't there more music like this?"