God Rest Ye Merry, Mark Kozelek
599055
I love Mark Kozelek! This album is great! If you are a fan I can't imagine you not loving it as well. Long time in the coming. Not as depressing as Low's Christmas album and crystal clear, absolutely lovely. Hit's that somber sweet spot that only a few can (and Kozelek seems to nail it every time), somewhere between a cold rainy/snowy day under warm, preferably down, covers and sweet oblivion.

(Written by a guy on his wife's Amazon account)
1037811
Sometimes you kind of know what to expect, and sometimes you haven't got a clue. So, taking a look at the back of the book, you think you see everything coming, right? NOT!! When you thought you'd seen the last of her, Judge Cynthia Baker-Kline, (known to Randy Singer fans as Ichabod) is BACK! AAAAHHHHH!!! But taking her on is Thomas Hammond, and HIS manger scene. And if you enjoyed "Dying Declaration" and you loved little Tiger and Stinky, they're back as well! YEAH! BUT... oh yes, there is a but in this little, but powerful taste of Christmas. That would be Jasmine, "Jazz" Woodfaulk, a girl getting ready to graduate law school.

So, what does this do, put Christ back in Christmas? Uh, yeah. We're given doses of Ichabod's vicious onslaughts, Thomas Hammond simply not giving in, and even a little hard-core, hip-hop basketball! In all seriousness, this book even gives you a few hard looks about Christmas. It gives a big witness about loving your neighbor, even though you may want to cuss them out. This is also a message of not giving in, and hanging in there, even when you want to just up and quit.

Randy Singer challenges us, and that's a good thing. This lights a new candle for this Christmas season. It packs in a few well needed laughs, and then levels it off with some somber moments, along with some love.

My personal challenge would simply be this. Take 2 words out of your vocabulary this Christmas season. Those 2 words are "happy holidays". Replace them. And say it loud, like you mean it. Say it because God loved you enough to send His son, Jesus Christ, to be born in a manger. The least you can do is say "Merry Christmas". But here's how I say it...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
2592990
A good tale, well told. It gets a little thick near the end. Life rarely harmonizes so well. But it entertains as only Clancy could. Rest in peace, Tom Clancy. I will miss you.
950242
Mark Kozelek's guitar playing continues to grow more and more accomplished and delicate - but most importantly it breathes life into songs without distracting the listener.  There are 2 qualities to Mark Kozelek's skills that anyone listening to his career will already be familiar with, but for the sake of this short review they must be mentioned.  His song writing is nearly bar-none to nearly everyone, effortless and free-flowing; the stories Mark tells are a joy to be pulled into.  The second important quality is his uncanny musicianship; composing and arranging small instrumental playing only to further the listener's experience and thrill.
2553606
After several years of Christmas WITHOUT a (LOST) treasured recording made from a equally treasured worn out LP, (I no longer have a turntable, though I have all of the original K.T. recordings--many autographed) I feel I have Christmas again.  It was the ONLY thing on my "want" list this year (I had NO IDEA it was available), and when our son (who purchased a copy for himself as well) sent it and DEMANDED we open it EARLY Christmas Eve, I felt a sense of hope.  When I opened it, I felt delight. When I listened to it, I cried: For two and one half play-throughs. It wasn't receiving a gift:  It was receiving Christmas.
4115257
As a Pastor for three decades I want to just grab this man and hug him to pieces ... with Miss Kay's approval, that is.  I know he's plain spoken but that is a large part of his charm.  You don't have to agree with someone to listen to their opinions.  But you do need to know what others are thinking.  Sometimes our chatter needs to be challenged.  OPEN your mind, buy this book, sit back and be ready to hear honesty and be entertained by a life you probably will never experience.  NOW, that's cookin' with peanut oil!!
431394
What a wonderful collection of profound, thought provoking songs.  Mark King's album One Man inspires one to relax and reflect on their own lives.  Mark King can stand alone without the screech of Mike Lindup.  I believe the absense of Mike's soprano like voice gives this album a more sultry yet calming feel.  I've been a fan for many, many years.  The states miss you, Mark!  Level 42 has been revamped and is touring again in Europe.  They still have MANY die hard fans in the U.S.  Please consider expanding your tour agenda to include America.
I've just purchased my second copy of the album.  I love it.  Bravo!
3836361
I have known Mark since my days at Roncalli High School in Omaha.  Mark was every bit of a true genuine kind person in high school as I see in him at reunions.  Even though our lives took us to different cities and careers that approachable  'genuineness' Mark has always had has never escaped him.  I am proud to call Mark a friend who I truly enjoy being around even if it is random blessing of reuniting with high school friends at a Roncalli reunion.  His book sheds light on the burden our law enforcement community bears day in and day out. It also shows the commitment and compassion these men and women have for others to grind through the day to day roller coaster of emotions, physical peril and the greater good that shines brighter than the sun's reflection off a proud officer's badge on a sunny beautiful Omaha day!  God bless these selfless public servants and God bless you Mark for letting us ride along with you for the 20+years inside the front to back covers of this special book!  Thank you my friend. Chris Owens
783366
I bought this book because I heard of the senseless death of a man who sought to protect us all. I am praying for his family. May he rest in peace.
748883
The music from this CD tickles my cortical neurons all the way to my hair roots. Makes me close my eyes, smile, and feel that life is good. Mark and Gary's voices marry to perfection, and their tempo... is my tempo. Slow and swell. I thought for a second about using 4 stars instead of 5, because the quality of the sound on some of the tracks is not as good as what one would expect in 2010. Seems like the bass goes a bit in overdrive in a few songs.
2183209
You'll know within a minute of the opening track whether this overcast vein of indie rock is for you. Immediately, I sensed a combination of Sun Kil Moon and "Flaws"-era Bombay Bicycle Club.

"Ambulance" doesn't deviate very often but its subtle changes take on greater gravity the more you spin it. A complaint can be made about the sameness of tone and tempo, though these eight songs certainly form a mood-piece. And when you're in the right frame of mind, "Ambulance" sustains that molasses-slow rush of melancholy. So, if you think Mark Kozelek's ego has ruined his songwriting, look no further.
649417
If you have never heard Chris Isaak or OF him (I can't imagine) then I would highly suggest you start your salad bar right here.  That's why I've chosen to review this CD and not any of the others, although every one is excellent in content and rates 4 or 5 stars themselves.
This CD is not as full of woe as Heart Shaped World, the tempo on the collection is just a little bit more moving, and his anguish just a little more sonic.
I first met Chris, as with so many other fans, on Twin Peaks, a heady television show that seemed to fit Isaak's music perfect to the "T".  There is a spooky resonance to his material that will haunt you and keep you playing his music over and over.
There is not one track on this album which would let you down, he carries you along with his heart to the very end, from the pleading yet accusatory You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love to the rhythmic finale Waiting For The Rain To Fall.
His cover of The Yardbirds is even better than the original, seemingly written for his voice and just waiting for him to arise and eschew every note with the Heartful vigor that only a singer of his calibre could carry over.
And then there is Blue Hotel.  From the first note to final Orbison guitar exit, this man, like every critic here feels, brings The King and James Dean to life.  This is a landmark song, a signature that says "I Am Chris Isaak!"  His voice has the clarity and emotion of Roy Orbison, the power and delivery of Elvis, and certainly the sad and haunting attitude of Dean.
By the time you hear the gentle ghostly Lie To Me all the way through, if you are not sold on Chris Isaak you better just shut off the CD player and go back to watching American Idol.  Chris is no "pop" star, he is truely devoted to his music and sound, whether he is rocking out "Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing", doing a Bayou Boogie like "Voodoo", or Bo Diddleying, his sound is one of a kind, not retro, not modern, just simply a heart full of soul!
1425436
This is to replace my record album from when I was little.  Love, love the koledies.  Thank you for this.  Love my Polish Christmas memories.
3160739
A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the few Christmas shows that actually got it right. The music that Vince Guaraldi recorded for it has taken on a life of its own.  Christmas Time Is Here has become a standard now and  deserves to be. Sadly, Vince left us in the mid 70's before the cartoon and  the music really became a cherished classic and I hope he knows how special  this recording is to me and many, many others. Skating is like a 3 minute  trip to another world and his version of The Christmas Song is among my top  3 favorite versions.  This is the most relaxing beautiful Christmas music  you could ever want to hear. You can forget about the overblown tripe that  the so called "music elite" puts out now, this is the real  deal.
And please, everyone remember Charles Schulz, the creator of the  Peanuts gang, in your prayers tonight.  He was recently diagnosed with  cancer and needs our support.  Get well soon Sparky.
2843176
I really appreciate Jim Pepper. You know, I first heard Pepper's Pow Wow on a friend's car stereo in the early 90s, just after Jim Pepper had died. On the peyote chant, Witchi Tai To, he sang: "water spirit feelings springing round my head, makes me feel glad that I'm not dead", and my friend pointed out "This guy just DIED, man." He cared about Jim Pepper; in the room in his house where I was staying, there was a small shrine with a photograph of Jim (playing his sax), and a votive candle. This man had a radio show on a jazz station once a week, and did a memorial show on Jim Pepper, actually knew Jim Pepper's family, and all they were able to provide him with was a tape of a tape of a tape off a tape, from a scratchy old copy of Pepper's Pow Wow. This he used on the radio.

That is how lost this great, powerful music had become.

Through a series of fortunate developments, an excellent documentary, also entitled Peppers Pow Wow (Sandy Osawa, Upstream Productions), a posthumous lifetime aboriginal achievement award in music, and the re-release of Peppers Pow Wow on cd (hooray!), a sufficient audience has developed so that a number of exceedingly rare albums are now possible to find. Jim only recorded four studio albums as bandleader: Peppers Pow Wow, Comin and Goin, Dakota Song and The Path. I now have all four. (Some great, posthumously released live albums out there, as well).

Which brings me to the review at hand: how do I like the album?

Let me put it this way: Jim is playing in a more traditional, acoustic style setting here, mixing original compositions with jazz standards. It's stripped down, mature, old school acoustic jazz, but with Jim's sax sometimes doing extraordinary things (yet with a certain subtle restraint). At first I thought "well, this is nice, similar (on the surface) to The Path (which I already knew), glad I got it, now after all these years I actually have all four...") or thoughts to that effect. Then I started to realize something. Honestly, as I listened, I started to feel...good. At peace. (This is by no means the usual case for a "worry wart" such as yours truly). What more can I say? There is true beauty to be found here. Very highly recommended.
1593938
I remember reading Mr Royko's column years ago so when I found a compilation of his musings, I HAD to have it.  He does not disappoint!  I bought the kindle edition and sometimes it's hard to read as the kindle is shaking from me laughing so hard.  Take a break and relax (and laugh a LOT) with Mike Royko!!
4655168
What a great "final gift" to all of us who loved to read Rakoff's excellent works! I read it from cover to cover in one night. I'm reading it again for the second time already and enjoying it all the more the second time around. What a creative piece of work. David was one of a kind and I will miss his beautiful way with words. Farewell and rest in peace. NAMASTE.