Amazon.com

Franz Ferdinand is an unrelentingly smart, fluffy, and fun debut. This Scottish four-piece plays vaguely angular, guitar-heavy post-pop that makes you want to dance around the room while playing air guitar. It's the ideal hipster guilty-pleasure music for 2004. This is what the Rapture and Interpol would sound like if they wrote songs half as good as those they rip off, or the Strokes if their parents had sent them to art school instead of the fashion academy. Every song on here is so blatantly derivative it sounds almost original, like a modern Blur without the gloomy hangover. It's too early yet to tell if this is just a band for the moment or one for the ages--but who really cares with pop music, anyway? Songs like "Darts of Pleasure," "Come on Home," "Take Me Out," and "Cheating on You" are so good they will surely appeal to those without slanty, messy haircuts. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (126)

ok this album is pretty damn ok...
franz ferdinand are like this year's britney spears of "indie" rock. last year was yeah yeah yeahs, and the year before was the strokes. i love all these bands and own all the music they have put out, but these bands are far too derivative to be "saving" rock n roll, or making any real mark in music other than the fact that they are all pretty ok and are somewhat popular (shock! decent music selling records?!?)and they are being hailed as rock messiahs in a britney-ruled music world. which i guess is a bit of a feat. hmmmmm. ok im rambling. this album is pretty great, they sound like stripped-down, less distorted vocals strokes. its good stuff. "michael" is f***ing great. so i guess buy it. these guys deserve your money more than britney or sum 41. and hey, they get indie cred by being great friends with belle and sebastian. and one last thing... how come "take me out" starts out AWESOME, then gets really lame?

Rock Out
Length - 38:45
Let me start off by saying that this album doesn't really present any exceptional new sound, groundbreaking material or brilliant rehashings of The Beatles. Nonetheless, it's a damn good album, and I'm quite glad that I bought it. As far as the music goes, I think The Strokes comparisons that are being made are valid to some extent. The vocals are strikingly similar on some tracks, the chords and bass sound alike, and the overall energy and exuberance of Franz is comparable to The Strokes. Contrastingly, I think Franz is more exciting, easier to dance to, and the songs are a bit more variegated (I have a hard time distinguishing between most of the tracks on Room On Fire). Another great part about this album is that there aren't any bad songs. There are at least two songs I skip on both Strokes records each time I listen to them. But Franz, solid straight through. In a word, if you're into The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand will be a fine purchase for you. If you care, my favorite tracks include the jaunty Tell Her Tonight, the manic Take Me Out and the brilliant, hypnotic closer, 40'.

wooo---ROCK!
All the songs in this album are fantastic!! Franz Ferdinand is an incredibly talented band that creates fearless music! They respect many different genres of music and they aren't (...) enough to say so. So, you see, you dimwitted metal rock punktards, you don't have to publicly hate pop music to be successful. No fear!!! wooo! music! wooo! WOOO!!! WOOOOOOO!!!

Franz Ferdinand kicks ass!!
okay where do i start this is the greastest alt rock alblum ever enough said

If I could only have one CD for the rest of my life...
Okay, well, who knows what my taste will be like when I'm an old person? But, I know what I like at this phase in my life, and it is precisely what Franz Ferdinand dishes out: unabashed, fun, get-up-and-dance rock music. From start to finish, this album is highly listenable. It's one of those discs that you can have on in the background and not get sick of it on repeat for a few hours, AND you can sit and listen to the lyrics and still appreciate it. People who say they dislike FF seem to have lost all ability to laugh and have fun without pretension. While music elitists seem rather disappointed that this band has achieved a wide fan base in a short time, the rest of us will be enjoying ourselves on the dance floor. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Few songwriters are as cinematic as Robert Earl Keen. In the tradition of Keen's classic "The Road Goes on Forever" and "Merry Christmas from the Family," his eleventh album finds the Texas troubadour transforming indelible characters, vivid description, and narrative drive into movies for the ear. He delves into the surreal with "The Great Hank," a spoken-word barroom vignette that features Hank Williams in a time warp (and in drag). He turns a fable about animals into a tale as dark and twisted as film noir in "Mr. Wolf and Mama Bear," and enlists a vocal cameo from Ray Price and a serenade from Mariachi Estrella to provide the soundtrack for the droll story of cantina overindulgence in "A Border Tragedy." Even the tender title song, about the touring musician missing his wife, shows his eye for evocative detail, with one of Keen's warmest vocals to date. Produced by his bandleader/guitarist Rich Brotherton, the album's musically expansive arrangements match the ambition of the storytelling, with guest banjo from the Bad Livers' Danny Barnes, a lovely soprano sax by John Mills on the title cut, and Celtic pipes from E.J. Jones on "The Traveling Storm." Keen may well expand his audience along with his musical range, as the uptempo "The Wild Ones" could pass as a John Hiatt cut, while "Broken End of Love" has an echo of Tom Petty. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Great American Songwriter, Singer and Performer
I bought this cd at a recent live show by REK that I attended and have to say this one's a good one.He performed some of the songs on the cd at the show and everyone there was very accepting, especially when he sang the Hank song.REK is one of America's treasures, a great songwriter, performer and vocalist.Get this one, you will not be disappointed.

A MUST HAVE
This is REK's finest album yet.Some instant classics that will be must plays at all of his concerts - For Love, What I Really Mean and Broken End of Love.The whole album from start to end is a winner.Buy it now!You will not want to take it out of your cd player.

REK returns to form
I cant tell you how happy I was when I first listened to this CD.
REK is back in good form. good songs and good production. Highly recommend it.
This is a very happy surprise after his last 2 releases.
Gravitational Forces had BAD production and decent songs.
Farm Fresh Onions had BAD production AND Bad songs.

yeeehaahes back and Im loving it

REK you did it!!!!!!!!!!!
FANTASTIC!!!! BUY THIS ALBUM!! Ever sInce Gringo Honeymoon REK has been working. Searching. Trying different things. I applaud his efforts and have always loved the music, but let me say Robert Earl Keen has finally done it. This album is fantastic. This is the first album I have listened to each track TWICE before moving on to the next song. His songwriting is superb. This CD has the old school REK that we all fell in love with but with that twist he has been working towards for nearly 10 years. He is NOT the pluck pluck yuk yuk performer that he was afraid of becoming. Superb. You just gotta buy this CD. Sit back with a cold one and enjoy. What I really mean is this possibly the best REK album yet!

What I Really Mean is Buy This CD
I have been listening to an advance copy of this album for almost two months. I have played it so often that my wife wants me to leave the house. She thinks I have a weird sickness for REK music, which I probably do. That said, I can tell you that this is an amazing CD and probably the best effort of Robert's long career. I think it could be the break out album for the premier singer songwriter from Texas.

Although I liked Farm Fresh Onions, I am really a bigger fan of some of his earlier stuff. Several songs off Bigger Piece of Sky, especially Paint the Town Beige and Crazy Cowboy Dream have always been my favorite REK tunes. I still listen to Picnic often. My favorite songs on it are: Over The Waterfall, Running With The Night and 4th of July.

If you share my love for those early songs, you are really going to like What I Really Mean. The song writing is vintage REK, and the band is excellent. Rich Brotherton may be the most under rated guitar player in the world. The rhythm section is as solid (game) as always on every song. The addition of Danny Barnes on banjo adds nicely to the sound of several tracks.

My favorite cuts on the CD are the title track with its catchy sax, banjo and wonderfully descriptive lyrics. I also love Broken End of Love. Even Bob Dylan hasn't written a song that uses the word metamorphosis. I also like the last cut, Ride, with its bouncy kind of rhythm and great lyrics.My 3-year-old daughter, who is a huge REK fan, likes Ride the best, along with Mama Bear.

If you are already a fan or just curious about Robert's music, you need to buy this CD. You will not be disappointed. Buy it and tell a friend. ... Read more

Reviews (218)

The Postal Service -- Give Up | Junkmedia.org Review
...

Dntel's Jimmy Tamborello and Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard knew they were on to something good as soon as they finished collaborating on the track "(This is) the Dream of Evan and Chan." That compelling combination of Tamborello's melodic knob-twiddling and Gibbard's literate vocals and forlorn delivery was the triumph of Dntel's acclaimed 2001 release Life Is Full of Possibilities. Not long after that first collaboration, The Postal Service was born. The relative strangers began recording in December 2001, swapping tracks on CD-Rs through the mail.

Listening to the act's debut brings back the same sort of giddiness inspired in me by New Order's Low Life when I first picked it up a decade-and-a-half ago. The Postal Service expertly channels that adolescent spirit with an awkward blend of dance beats and melodic songwriting. However, the duo has updated the sound for the millennial set, pleasantly mixing Depeche Mode beats and bass lines, Pet Shop Boys melodies and Warp Records-styled twinkling tones and clicks. Orchestral samples and pseudo horns add an unusual flavor to "Clark Gable." Chunky, monophonic Casio-sounding keys tie the vocals to the beat in "Nothing Better."

Two of the album's highlights appear right at the front end of the record. The first song, "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight," leads with brooding organ, before beats saunter in and steadily cruise through the first verse and chorus to a clean, ringing guitar riff. A second chorus pumps even harder and defies you to not sing along. This despite a characteristically bumming realization repeated by Gibbard: "I am finally seeing why I was the one worth leaving" (Christ, Benny, just stick a fork through my heart, why don't you?). Track two, "Such Great Heights," has already been released as a single. The catchy number apes Rod Stewart's "Young Turks," especially the beat and understated arrangement, albeit in an electro fashion.

The remainder of Give Up is solid, though Gibbard's lyrics are less potent by the middle of the record, and Tamborello burrows perhaps a little too deeply into some of the thinner sounds of the cold '80s era that inspires him. "Sleeping In" stumbles a bit with Gibbard's trite invocation of the JFK assassination, but the murmured chorus, "Don't wake me, I plan on sleeping in," that drapes over a quiet acoustic guitar phrase is strong enough to carry the entire song.

Perhaps the only shortcoming of Give Up is that the adherence to pop shuts out some of the more interesting electronic elements explored on Life Is Full of Possibilities. "Natural Anthem" is probably the most adventurous Postal Service tune, utilizing a relatively heavy break-beat, a looping string sample and more aggressive production, but clearly the duo's strengths are geared more toward hit-making than trailblazing. So, while the record isn't necessarily an instant classic, the unabashed embrace of simple pop sensibilities, both old and new, make it a record that is hard to stop listening to.

Jay Breitling

Electronica redeemed...?
This album of dancy electronic pop hasn't left my MP3 player since I bought it. It's like finding a lost and prescient New Order album circa 1985, filled with compelling and instantly memorable melodies. The lyrics are quite wordy, but they are also quite good, like on the melancholic opener, a guy going to visit his ex in a new city:

"Smeared black ink...Your palms are sweaty and I'm barely listening to last demands...I'm staring at the asphalt wondering what's buried underneath: There I am. Wear my badge--a vinyl sticker with big black letters adhering to my chest. Tells your new friends I am a visitor here, I am not permanent..And the only thing keeping me dry is: You seem so out of context in this gaudy apartment complex/I'm a stranger with a doorkey explaining that I'm just visiting/I am finally seeing why I was the one worth leaving."

"Give Up" is an excellent, warm and human example of a genre in which one's connection can sometimes get lost amongst the bleeps and blips of synths and Casios. One of last year's best!

Perfect Balance
I have never been a fan of electronic music... and to be quite honest I probably won't convert anytime soon. I've always felt that the music never had an heart or substance to it; it was just too cold. So when one of my friends gave me this CD to listen to, I was worried and immediately the electronic bleeps and blurps made me tune out. But then I listened a bit more, to the lyrics and the melody and how perfectly they combined. This CD is amazing because you take the amazing emo-esque lyrics (honest, heart breaking... I love "I am finally seeing why I was the one worth leaving") and combine it with the most peppy and catchy music ever. I actually got to see them in concert (lucky me!!!) and I was worried how the album would translate but it was even better than the cd. This amazing little project is must for anyone, period; no matter what style of music you like.

lovely
i have to say, i really enjoyed listening to this album. To be honest, one may get tired of the seemingly redundant pop/synthesizer beats but my that is hard to say, because this album altogether is just heavenly. My favorites are such great heights and brand new colony. i am looking forward to purchasing a few death cab cds also...

Gorgeous in every aspect
Wow what a great album. Benjamin Gibbard is one of my favorite artists of all time, so I bought this with high hopes. I had never heard of Tamborello, but hey, my focus was Gibbard. When I first listened to it, i really did try to keep an open mind, and then I ended up hating it. About a month later, I popped it in again after listening to every single Death Cab for Cutie album, and all of a sudden i was tapping my feet and flipping through the lyric book rapidly. How could i have ever thought this bad??!!

As always Gibbard delivers with sharp, smart, and epic lyrics, turning what is obviously small events into the most important thing the world. The electronica takes some getting used to, but by the time you get past it, you see how perfect with the melancholic perfection of Gibbard.

The standout tracks are #2, Such Great Heights, all for its lyrics, "i am thinking its a sign that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images and when we kiss they're perfectly aligned; #4, which is a duet played out like a tense and pleading conversation between Gibbard and a girl who is leaving him; and #8, This Place is a Prison, which is an extremely mournful song rife with touching lyrics.

All in all a brilliant and lasting album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A side project doesn¹t usually hit gold, especially when said project is a quirky virtual collective fronted by cartoon characters. But the first, self-titled album by Gorillaz--the brainchild of illustrator Jamie Hewlett and Blur frontman Damon Albarn--actually hit platinum and turned into a surprise worldwide hit. Naturally expectations were a lot higher for Gorillaz's sophomore effort, but Demon Days actually is even better than its predecessor. With producer Dan "the Automator" Nakamura gone, Albarn, a.k.a. 2D, has paired up with DJ Danger Mouse (responsible for the infamous Grey Album that illegally mixed the Beatles and Jay-Z) to steer the musical ship, while a whole new slew of guests enlivens the proceedings. Albarn has described Demon Days as being darker, but there's a real kooky dance-party vibe coursing through the CD. Despite its somber tone, "Kids with Guns" is lifted by a killer bass line, for instance, while the catchy first single, "Feel Good Inc," is augmented by an appealing contribution from De La Soul. Other noteworthy guests include Roots Manuva and Tricky collaborator Martina Topley-Bird on the dubby "All Alone" and Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder on the bouncy "DARE." And yet it's a 69-year-old actor who gets to deliver the most baffling contribution--just listen to Dennis Hopper's spoken-word narrative on "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head." Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Best Album So Far This Year
This is definitely the best album I have heard this year, although my exposure to today's music isn't exactly all encompassing.As other people have said, this second album is different than the Gorillaz' first one. The absence of Del really hurts the rap segments in this second album.This is not to say the hip hop is bad, it's just that in the first album, Del WAS Russell and it's now hard to separate the two.As a long time Blur fan though, I like Damon's voice which is (as usual) found throughout the album.The beginning tracks and the end ones are the strongest.The middle ones are not bad, just weaker than the other parts.However, the album is really cohesive and looking at the pictures and the lyrics (found online) you can really see a message.

As for the people trying to rip the tracks off the CD, I had no problem using abcde on my NetBSD box to convert the tracks to .ogg files (in fact there are already two CDDB entries for the CD, meaning people have been ripping the CD).It could just be a Windows thing, which sucks for you guys, because I can listen to the songs on my iRiver.Also there is a pretty cool remix of Feel Good Inc and Cake's Never There online.Just google "gorillaz cake feel good" and you'll find it.

An amazing album, despite its little quirks.
Note, before you read on, just know that I myself do not like the Rap genre. It doesn't appeal to me and I just never really liked it.

Even with that though, I completely LOVE this Album. One of its quirks being that there was an over usage of rap in "Demon Days" as opposed to their first CD, but even with that, this Album executes everything greatly.

Unlike the first CD, alot of the songs go right into the other. It gives the CD a great flow and it's very enjoyable when listening to it on your car or CD player.

The only thing that really stopped me from giving this CD 5 stars is the poorly executed rap, mainly in the song "Dirty Harry". I don't have any problem with the rap in the songs (Feel Good Inc., November has Come, All Alone) but in Dirty Harry, it was just so unnecessary.The song length is 3:43, for the first two minutes, you hear this great beat, a great song. Then the rapping starts and it just sounds so out of place. It kind of ruined the flow since if it's skipped, Feel Good Inc. starts up, and "Dirty Harry" plays into "Feel Good Inc."

That and the loss of Miho Hatori (Vocally, at least), at times you kind of lost the feeling of listening to the Gorillaz and it felt more like a CD with Damon Albarn and special guests.

Overall, it's a great CD, a real accomplishment for the Gorillaz, but just little things that prevent it from being a truly great Album.

Copy protection prevents enjoyment on iPods and Windows XP
If you enjoy listening to music on your iPod or Windows XP based computer then this is not the album for you. Virgin Records America appears to have decided to copy protect the release of Gorillaz 'Demon Days'. The disc will not play when inserted into a Windows XP based computer (i.e. when browsing to the disc from your My Computer icon the disc appears to be blank).

This album is ideal for your car, home audio cd player, or portable cd player if your playback device is compatible with the copy protection contained within this release.

One should also note that there is no notice of copy protection nor compatibility requirements anywhere on the packaging of the Gorillaz 'Demon Days' album.

If you have purchased this CD and wish to contact Virgin Records then do not bother attempting to e-mail their web master from the Virgin Records web site: all e-mails bounce back as being undeliverable. A more appropriate title for this album would have been "Paying Customers are Thieves".

all-in-one-album
First I have to say I was spinning holes in my floor waiting for the new album from Gorillaz.Ever since he left Blur, everything Damon Albarn has touched has turned into gold from my point of view!

When I got the disc I was very excited and awfully afraid that the follow-up was going to be mediocre.But no Sir!From "last Living souls" with it's oldschool and childish discorhythms via Roots Manuvas punching word-spitting performance on "all alone" to the finalizing three-track tale with Dennis Hopper's trustgiving voice and Heavenly London Community Gospel Choir shouting me right into the center of Gorillaz' weird and wonderful world of playful artistic anarchy!

The melodies on this disc are pure popmusic-art.And the wrapping is ever-changing with all kinds of styles thrown together and with twists and brakes and surprising bridges around every corner.

My most pleasent surprise was the amount of oldskool sounds.Some of the tracks give me associations to the swedish underground synthpopband The Knife.

Buy it!

Great Band ..... Poor Label
Everything that needs to be said about the sheer greatness of Gorillaz has been said.Demon Days is surely one of the albums of the year.
However , one little (it's actually huge).... Has anyone been able to rip Demon Days onto their computer? I'm having enormous problems doing so. If anyone has had problems yet was able to rip, can you please advise on this website or....email me at 'cortez-the-raven@hotmail.com'.
Cheers

P.S. The album is bananas!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The warm melancholy of Gary Lightbody's voice makes for a versatile instrument on Snow Patrol's Final Straw, artfully balancing bright anthemic rock with disparate reference points like Belle and Sebastianand My Bloody Valentine. Aching with loves both lost and leaving, it's a voice that producer Garrett Lee uses as a jumping off point, dropping fat guitars, electronic noise, and eclectic instrumentation in with Lightbody's breathy, moody depth. The band plays around with wild shifts of texture; "Gleaming Auction" veers in seconds from a relaxed shuffle to a shoegazing crunch, while a blanket of fuzzbox swagger calls forth the ghost of T. Rexon "Tiny Little Fractures." But just when you're ready to throw the record on random shuffle with Electric Warrior or maybe Heaven Tonight, the band lays down a pastoral ballad like "Same." Somehow it holds together beautifully, stuffed with songs that reward repeat listens and ear candy that keeps you full for days. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Most unique sound in years!
Snow patrol's third effort final straw just completely blows the previous two out of the water! Every song is wonderful and has its own sound. I first heard snow patrol when their single Run was featured on the season finale of one tree hill on the WB, and then I was hooked I bought the album about a week ago and now I can say that this is the best album yet this year. From the amazing opening How to be dead, to the fantastic Same, this album has something for everyone. Wow continues the album and throws everything at you. The next two tracks gleaming auction and whatevers left get better with each listen, and then comes the slam. Spitting games, chocolate, and Run best every other song on the album, and are some of the best in recent memory. The beautful Run, however, rises above everything else. Then comes grazed knees, the albums low point. It's a good song, but after the three big hits, it's just kind of a letdown. However, way's and means delivers to bring the album back up and then comes the fantastic tiny little fractures and the absorbing Somewhere a clock is ticking, and then finally the amazing same caps off the album in a excellent piece of music that reminds me of matchbox 20. All the songs are wonderful, however, there is one flaw. The order of the songs. The first four are exactly where they should be, but then comes the problem. After that should have followed Grazed knees, ways and means, tiny little fractures, and somewhere a clock is ticking,not Spitting games, chocolate, and run. Run should have been the final track. The rest hardly matters as long as the first track is how to be dead. Run gets you up into this emotional spot and then drops you back to the harder stuff.If grazed knees had been track five, played before the three best, the album would be without a low point. Oh well, great album just the same.

Snow Patrol's bittersweet sound
'Final Straw' basically combines catchy melodic Britpop with the fuzzy-guitar sounds of a My Bloody Valentine or Six By Seven. Not necessarily white-noise, rather leaning towards the chunky riffs of Blur's self-titled album with a bit more rhythm. The vocals almost seem like a more muted Chris Martin, spacey and brooding. Occasionally you'll hear a more delicate touch, typical of countrymen Belle And Sebastian and Reindeer Section, but overall Snow Patrol has a energetic, catchy, brash sound. The CD basically infuses elements of fuzz-rock with UK indie-pop creating something a little different. Although 'Final Straw' won't exactly score points for musical innovation, it's not bad, and should capture the attention of listeners/media...for a little while anyways.

Anti-Climactic Greatness
I just graduated college and I'm looking for jobs, so you know what that means... I'm broke. Who am I kidding, I don't buy half the music I used to simply because I can't afford it and I know my way around a computer better than most. But I bought this cd, and thank God I did. It's the only cd I've purchased in months, and well worth it.
Their single "Spitting Games" is definitely the most radio friendly track, but by no means their best song on the album. Songs like "Run" and "Somewhere a Clock is Ticking" have raw emotion that's soft but very soulful. The songs express feelings through the great lyrics and music. You'll find no teenage angst screaming or whaling guitars on this album; just honest well done music. When I first heard the album it brought me back to a lot of the soul searching and alternative bands of the 90's like collective soul, gin blossoms, nada surf, but with a new twist. Kind of like Jimmy Eats World meets Collective Soul.
Overall it's a refreshing and relaxing rock album that's full of good lyrics, vocals and music. It's an album that grows more and more on you as you listen to it.

one of the best cds i've ever bought
perfectly thought out sums it up. there is not a song i don't like. every one is as good as the next. i get so sick and tired of listening to bands that sound the same but snow patrol differs. their sound is calming and at the same time you can still rock out to it (if that makes any sense). i heard like 5 seconds of the first couple of songs and bought the cd and there has not been a day where i didn't play it at least once. anyway i highly recommend this cd to everyone even the rednecks i live around.

Wow, Run to the store and get this album..
or rather, "add to cart" on Amazon.com.

I first heard about Snow Patrol in an article about possible summer 2004 anthems. I listened to the recommended song "Run", and was immediately struck by the chords and vocals. The song's sound is reminiscent of Coldplay's Yellow, but Snow Patrol are definitely not copycats; for one, they're catchier and brighter. In fact, the whole album is very very catchy. Don't be surprised to discover new favorites on every listen!

Well, summer's almost halfway over and it appears less talented acts like Avril are still somehow dominating the airwaves. Do yourself a favor and check out this gem of an album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While the cocktail lounge fad has seen more than a few musicians climbaboard as a career move, the members of Pink Martini are no bandwagon-ridingaficionados. Fronted by pianist Thomas Lauderdale, Pink Martini is the real article--aband that approaches the music with unwavering seriousness yet never forgets the fun atthe heart of it.Sympathique, the band's debut album reveals an incrediblydiverse musical vocabulary on the part of frontman Lauderdale. And what singer ChinaForbes lacks in range and dynamics, she more than compensates for in attack, approach,and a clear understanding of the material. While most of the songs are upbeat, in thehands of Lauderdale and Forbes, "Qué será será," with its dark atmospherics should berechristened "Qué será noir." --Wayne Pernu ... Read more

Reviews (132)

Sympathique, Fantastique!
Pink Martini is a Portland based band and therefore, I am already biased. However, if you enjoy truly great music by truly talented people, this CD is for you. Do you like old French clasics or just music that gets your soul moving? Then listend to some tracks and place your order!
"Bolero" is absolutely beautiful! You can tell it's the original song, but their added and updated alternations of this piece makes it a new classic of their own. The cello intro is deep and throaty and when the piano moves in, you actually FEEL like you're in a different country, touring the vinyard hillsides...
The lead female vocalist (China Forbes) has a wonderful voice and allows songs like "Amando Mio" to ring out and demand attention...again, listening to Thomas Lauderdale's fingers work magic on the piano allows this song to be one of their top pieces. And if that's not enough, both of these musicians graduated cum laude from Harvard University.
This CD is almost 5 years old and their 2nd CD has been postponed for a couple years, sending the Portland crowd into a frenzy on the much anticipated next albulm due spring of 2003. The male lead vocalist is no longer with the band (Pepe Raphael on "Donde Estas Yolanda"), but his first solo albulm is excellent, respectively as well (Pepe and the Bottle Blondes) which turns out some great Spanish influenced songs that make you want to jump up and yell "Cha-Cha!!!"

Still one of my favorites!
I bought this CD when it came out years ago -- frontman Thomas Lauderdale is an old friend of mine. Call me biased, but this CD is still one of my favorites! The music has universal appeal, blending big band, latin beats, campy lounge-lizard music, and classical pieces into a groovy and infectious package. I would have expected nothing less from Thomas. These songs have popped up as background music on the "Sopranos," in a Lexus commercial, and in several coffeehouses I've visited -- it's so cool to see Pink Martini getting the exposure and raves they so richly deserve!

I just saw them live the other night, and they are even better in person. Unfortunately, CDs just can't record the sheer joie de vivre this group has -- they love what they do, and it shows. They opened with "Bolero," which was amazing, powerful, and breathtaking, and closed their encore with "Acuarela de Brazil," which brought people to their feet (it's hard to sit still to this music!)

Those who love this CD would be happy to hear that the next CD is anticipated next year (one of the band members told me it was 2/3 in the can). They busted out a few new songs at the concert I attended, and, like "Sympathique," they ranged from lush classical renditions to clever tongue-in-cheek ditties. Pink Martini throws in a generous splash of international flavoring to create refreshingly original material (over the course of the night, lead singer China Forbes sang in Japanese, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Croatian), and finds inspiration in unexpected places. The "Song of the Black Lizard" was an homage to a Japanese drag queen; one new tune performed at the concert was inspired by a classic Heinz ketchup ad.

Get this CD -- and try to see them live if you can!

Without a doubt, my favorite CD in my collection
Simply put, this graceful compellation of sounds is my most favorite in my collection of over 600 albums. These Oregonians reach to all ends of the earth for musical inspiration and then brilliantly synthesize it into something entirely fresh. This CD is perfect for pleasing all generations of listeners, and if you get the chance, Pink Martini is fantastic in concert...nothing is done to their sound in a studio...all of the talent on all of the instruments is God given.

Simply Fantastic
Went to Oregon for a friend's wedding and discovered this CD (they used part of the music at their reception) and immediately fell in love with it--cannot stop playing it! The title track is simplly fantastic, as are the other tracks on this album. Some are upbeat, others haunting, still others evoke a sense of poignant wistfulness that is irresistible. And the reinterpretation of Que Sera Sera is brilliant. If Pink Martini is reading this PLEASE--put out another album--your fans are waiting!

It's all been said
So many people have written reviews on this cd that describe just how infectious it is, that I need say no more. My only comment is WHEN oh, WHEN is Pink Martini going to put out another album?!!! I'm beginning to lose hope. Thankfully I will probably never tire of this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Is it too early for a Britpop revival? Not on the watch of Leeds quintet Kaiser Chiefs, who just a decade after the release of Blur's scene-making 1994 album, Parklife, offer a striking follow-up. They've hired the same producer--Stephen Street. They've studied the same influences--the Buzzcocks, the Jam, the Kinks. They've even picked up the same English slice-of-life themes--"I wanna wear my clothes tight/Matching jackets and a fistful of notes/New sneakers and a fresh pack of smokes," goes "Saturday Night." The resulting album, Employment, is just as catchy and captivating as you might expect, swinging from the stormy social commentary of "I Predict A Riot" to the shouty insouciance of "Oh My God." A Trainspotting sequel can't be far off. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (54)

"Modernized" old-school pop/punk?
Rarely will I buy an album based on one song, but after hearing "I Predict a Riot" on the radio, and hearing good things about the band, I chanced it - glad I did too.

You can definitely tell the guys have a great sense of humor (also something kinda missing in mainstream rock for much of the 90's and very early 2000's) right down to the CD booklet itself -- where it says, "How to play EMPLOYMENT. Some of the songs go a little like this", then the lyrics begin.

In general, I'd describe their sound as mainstream punk, but not AT ALL on the level of Simple Plan/Good Charlotte/Blink 182, etc. Like those guys, they do use alot of humor in their songs, as stated above, but have much more of a classic punk influence. Imagine the punk of the late 70's, in a more "accessible" pop direction, updated for 2005 and somewhat in the vein of 80's new wave-inspired bands like the Killers. That's a general idea of this album's sound.

"Everyday I Love You Less and Less" starts out with electric, video game-type sound effects. A very humorous "falling out of love" song - Ricky Wilson's British accent only adds to the old-school punk charm, IMO.

The current big hit "I Predict a Riot", is an upbeat, satirical story of big city violence and chaos going on. Almost sounds like vintage 1977-era Clash or Ramones.

After that, though, the album takes a turn into more of a slow direction - say, along the lines of a less synthezied, slower version of HOT FUSS. A couple highlights include "Born to Be a Dancer", which starts with a piano and, despite the typical humor, has a certain dark element to it, and "What did I ever Give You", which is also in that vein, but slow all the way through. However, not really a ballad, per se.

In short, while the opening two songs are clearly the best (and worth the price for alone!), this is still a band to watch in the future! Maybe the other songs will grow on me more after repeated listens. :)

Fun fresh album!
Well this is the debut album by the New Brit-Pop group Kaiser Chiefs, filled with fun tracks to bop along with. Now let me start by saying you shouldn't take this group too seriously. From their mindless random yelling in every other song, to their ridiculous lyrics (It makes me sick to think of you undressed), it's not a very deep album. Still it is very good, suny by Ricky Wilson! What's great is that there are original, inco-orporating electro synthesisers into their rock
1. Everyday I love you less and less (3.37)- This is my favourite track with very cool electro-rock in there, funny lyrics and a great song to dance to. One of those where they randomly start yelling 11/10
2. I predict a riot (3.53) - Another silly yelling song, the chorus is sung in an oldies style, and has a rather spooky bridge 9/10
3. Modern Way (4.03)- Quite a serious song for a change, quite gentle singing. It's slow tempoed but I love it 10/10
4. Na na na na naa (3.01) - Um this one is interesting. The most silliest song, where they basically half chant/sing "Na na na na naa!" It kinda doesn't make sense but it's still funny! A faced paced song, almost like a beach-style song 8/10
5. You Can Have It All (4.35) - Another gentle song, sung almost like an oldies slow rock song. It's so cute this song! Practially no guitars but bass, pianos, gentle drumming and a high techno instrument 9/10
6. Oh My God (3.35) - Yay, what a great song! Not as fast as the first track, but half-way gentle, and half-way silly. Ricky Wilson yells in this one, just before the chorus. The music is pretty funky, like a heavy chanting guitar riffs. 10/10
7. Born To Be A Dancer (3.30) - Another half gentle, half-silly song, but venturing to more silly. Strong guitar electro-rock in this song. A really cool spooky bridge in included in this, where the band members join in chorus going "ahhh, ahhh" 9/10
8. Saturday Night (3.27) - Very heavy in the electro bass line. This is almost as funny as Na na na na naa, where Ricky is practically shouting the words. 8/10
9. What Did I ever give you? (4.09) - Not such a good song, but tolerable. It's a bit silly, with a pretty cool chorus. Quite a 'lazy' song. 7/10
10. Time Honoured Tradition (2.45) - Although it has been placed at number 10, I think it's a pretty good song. Quite funny when he sings "and that is the end of that", but the best part is the chorus where it goes quite rocky and chanty "oh oh oh oh, ho-oh" repeated several times in quite a pyschotic chant! 9/10
11. Caroline, Yes (4.12) - Quite a slow sleepy one, a nice song to listen to if you're in a mellow mood. This sound like a Dandy Warhols song, so if you like them, you love this. Cool sleepy guitars 8/10
12. Team Mate (3.24) - The slowest track, with miminal music, just a tambourine here and then, and pianos, and strings. Not such a strong way to end the album, but it's ok 7/10
The album is very good to get to get into a feel good mood. The songs are sufficiently long enough (The Hives songs are like 2 minutes!), and worth buying :)

The scale only goes from 1 to 5 stars but I want to give a 0
yeah I really don't like this CD, it wasn't at all what I was expecting. After the first listen of the cd I tried to give the cd away but no one wants it. I mean this cd is so bad my girlfriend dumped me because I own it; my friends don't talk to me any more, and my family is kicking me out of the house and changing their last name - no one wants any association with me since learning I own this cd. I even tried to give the cd away to a homeless man but he took one look at the cd and started to throw cats at me.

benefits
an invigorating and fresh dose of rock that gives hope to the legions of new rockers who wear their influences on their sleeves. Just like Placebo reveals such influences as Pixies and Smiths with every breath - while maintaining a constant flair for originality and unique brilliance - Kaiser Chiefs give new life to old sounds; draw inspiration from familiar chords; and more importantly, bring back all the raw, unbridled energy that once defined the pop music world but is now so freakin' rare.

Scot Rock: Again?
I picked up Employment with some other new releases after getting a glimpse of "I Predict A Riot."What I got was a few catchy singles and, good, rock songs that were all filler no killer.Talented musicians, yes, but the music on the record wasn't a branch away from albums that have already been done.

It seems that with the new year we lacked the new Franz Ferdinand album-insert the Kaiser Chiefs here.The songs are enjoyable, but lacking the depth that make more than a hit but a classic.I'll admit the band has the sketchy, upbeat, blatant rock down, but what was so unique last year is not as catchy the second time around.It is to be expected when a new sound hits the scene, good bands ride on the coat tail of the originals' success.

Don't get me wrong, the Kaiser Chiefs have potential, a few nice songs, and a good deal of talent.If they can perfect their sound on their next record they could have a fine career on their hands.On the Rolling Stones "Top 10 to Watch for 2005" I'd have to for once agree, though not one of my favorite records this year definitely a band you need to keep your eye on, I feel they have more up their sleeve.

Employment earns
A Bliss of 6 ... Read more

Amazon.com

After Scarlet's Walk, Tori Amos' 2002 ambitious sonic travelogue that took her to all 50 states, penning love letters to America along the way, the fiery earth-sprite has fashioned another high-minded concept album, tying her 19 songs--and one not-so-hidden track--into a garden motif that's part a retelling of Alice In Wonderland, another A Little Shop of Horrors. The Beekeeper chronicles her rather autobiographical protagonist's journey through what seems to be an overgrown labyrinth of the subconscious as she experiences a series of life-altering events and emotions. In addition, living in Cornwall for the past decade has certainly had an effect on Amos, she even takes inspiration from Daphne Du Maurier's classic novel Jamaica Inn, which takes place on that rugged seacoast, but the greatest change is the grit in her voice; on a song like "Hoochie Woman," she sounds like she's channeling Chrissie Hynde--a welcome change from some of the preciousness of her earlier work. She also surprises with the steely, eloquent resolve on a song like "Goodbye Pisces" one of the better break-up songs in recent memory.The Beekeeper returns the quirky singer to the same whimsical terrain of 1992's Little Earthquakes, but with much stronger storylines, and a much more assured and nuanced voice. Her best yet. --Jaan Uhelszki

Recommended Tori-phernalia

Tori Amos: Piece by Piece	Tori Amos - Welcome to Sunny Florida	Little Earthquakes
Under the Pink	Tales of a Librarian	Scarlet's Walk

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Reviews (248)

Can't get enough of Tori!
I love Tori. What more can I say? Seriously, though, it's not my favorite ablbum, but a great one none-the-less.

Consider it her 'stagnet' genius.
Tori 'n' I go back...
Sunset Blvd.. Gazarris.. Selma...
This record disapoints.
Complaintaincy? Husband? Tash...
Is it the end?
Remember the hardwood floor my friend,
Sprout an earthquake again!

Devon

One of Tori's Best.
The CD starts with 'Parasol,' a straight forward track that doesn't waste anytime in showing what the album is about, in most cases the album seems, to me, more upbeat than her previous records. Almost every track is performed with a full band - in fact the beautiful 'Original Sinsuality' is the only song to just feature Tori and a borsfendor.

Each song the album is different, though one can see the logic for Tori's Garden categorizations upon hearing the tracks. There are many moods represented here on the album. One can bop along to tracks like 'General Joy' and 'Cars and Guitars' or be entranced by the blissful serenity of 'The Beekeeper' and yet still not have full grasp of what can be found on the rest of the Album.

This album is a great addition to the Tori catalogue especially as a parallel to her earlier, sometimes down-trotten (but brilliant) albums. Another exciting progression is Tori's use of the Organ, which lends a new energy not explored on many of her previous albums. (I had the honour of seeing Tori in concert a few weeks ago - just her a Piano, a keyboard and and Organ. Brilliant.) Tori has made a brilliant album that has taken progressive steps in her sound while maintaining the songwritings standard that had made her one of my favourite artists.

Lacking passion, but full of quirk
As has been thoroughly noted, "The Beekeeper" as a whole lacks punch. Tori's words sounds angry, but her music sounds subdued. A woman scorned does not sing like that. Her voice is generally lacking passion on this CD.

It's often lyrically and musically predictable. Take this line from the first single, Sleeps with Butterflies: "Are you having regrets about last night? I'm not." Do you want more lyrics from other songs? Are you sure? Okay, how about "Take a walk down memory lane, past a watermelon stand on the way" or "The sexiest thing is trust." I cringed at many of the lyrics, which were repetitive and obvious.

Musically, it's got a little jazz, a little funk, a little gospel, which shows that she's not done taking risks. I'm not sure if all the risks worked out for her this time, though. "Sweet the Sting" is a gorgeous, groovy song, one of the best on the album. But on other songs like "Cars and Guitars" and "Ireland" she makes some weird noises like she's impersonating musical instruments like ,"ch ch ch cha" and "shnanana." It's a little awkward. Both those songs could easily be put in a car or travel commercial.

Other songs are completely forgettable, like "Mother Revolution" and "Ribbons Undone." She could have made this 19-track album a little more tolerable with a little editing. Many songs were also overproduced - and Tori is best straight-forward and raw.

Still, those who are ready to toss her out because she's no longer the feminist icon that she was in the early 90's are really missing something. She's matured, changed, yes, but her songs are still weird and at times mesmorizing. The title track, "The Beekeeper," is a complete masterpiece. For those unsure whether to invest in this album, I would recommend downloading the title song and "Sweet the Sting." If you 'get' the songs, try "Parasol," "Marys of the Sea" and "Witness." If you're feeling particularly weird, try "The Power of Orange Knickers," which despite its odd title is pretty smart.

Anything else I need to say? Hm... the album is divided up in six parts from "elixirs and herbs" to "rock garden." I have no idea what that means. I guess that's why it's a concept album, though it screams pretentious to me. I also heard that the six parts represent the six sides of a honeycomb and six parts of femininity. Huh? She's still in her own world, that's for sure.

Pages From A Cornish Scholar's Diary
Feb. 27th [2005]. Gretchen came down. Brought The Beekeeper with the supplies from London. Fresh salmon frying and the tide rolling in.

Feb 28th. Sat up late with The Beekeeper. Quite pleasant, you know. 'Barons of Suburbia' a bit like 'Carbon,' isn't it? 'Toast' a bit like 'Gold Dust,' isn't it?

March 2nd. While at darts last evening, the boys at the Umber Lion [were] all over The Beekeeper. Bertie says Amos has "lost her poignancy." Davy tried to convinced Old Simon that The Beekeeper is among Amos' best. I concurred.

Too much ale. Hammering from the tin mines kept us awake until dawn.

March 4th. A puffin defecated on my head while [I was] bringing in the mail. Father Callaghan says it brings luck. Rain all day. Wrote for five hours without interruption.

March 5th. 'The Power of Orange Knickers,' 'Ireland.' Each different from anything Amos has previously done. Therein lie their appeal.

Biddy Early stopped in to listen to 'Garlands' on my DVD. Proclaimed it the best thing on [The] Beekeeper. Said it's typical Amos--keeping the best tracks off the albums. Had me play it over and over until she could confidently hum the melody. I watched her from the doorway until she disappeared over the hill, her vegetable basket swinging on her arm.

The well dry again. Shall I get a bird to keep Bishop and me company? A parrot, a pair of finches, a myra bird?

March 10th. Colin and Martin shouting "Who knew the Middle of the Road was located in Cornwall?" while walking through the village. Laughter, astonished looks. A man I didn't recognize yelled after them in Gaelic, "Cornish waters are not that shallow!"

'Jamaica Inn' a bit like 'Martha's Foolish Ginger,' isn't it?

March 13th. Played The Beekeeper for Mrs. O'Casey, the charwoman. Somber reflections on better days as the peat crackled. Christina, Mrs. O'Casey's young daughter, quoted an Amazon reviewer: "The Beekeeper sounds like a CD you'd find in your mother's SUV."I said, "Oh, no, not at all, not at all." But the three of us fell asleep during 'Ribbons Undone.' When we awoke, it was after three a.m. Mrs. O'Casey was embarrassed no end.

March 17th.Stopped in at Mawnan Churchyard at twilight. Copious notetaking. John Curtin, the sexton, has a theory. He says that seven of The Beekeeper tracks sound like children's songs, more or less. Thinks Amos is unconsciously writing for children, due to her daughter's presence in her life. Aleister, the grave digger, shouted over, "Frothy and accessible pop songs are not what Amos' constituency require. Look what happened to Joni Mitchell after Mingus." During confession, elderly Father Dwyer whispered through the screen, "The Beekeeper has no teeth."

Trying to put my mind on other things. The hammer [has] gone missing again. In a dream I asked for cabbage, and the clerk said, "Sir, it's sold out." What could it mean?

March 19th.Another tourist believes he has spotted Mowgawr off the coast. Craning necks aplenty. The chimney's blocked up [for] the third time this season.

Bishop caught a hare by the rocks.

Little Christina playing Candy Land in the courtyard with the local urchins. "The songs on The Beekeeper hopscotch all over the place like the squares on this game board," I heard her say as we passed. I found myself staring down at the linear path of colored cubes, entranced.

March 20th. Finished the chapter on piskies while playing Bach, Satie, and Wizz Jones. The Beekeeper. No catharsis. Johnny Kelly the sheep herder calls it "formulaic." There is not one thing in life to make it bearable.

March 22nd. Gretchen here. I said, "I am convinced The Beekeeper has already surrendered all its secrets." Gretchen: "They were few, anyway."

I ran into old Michael Barrett down by the culvert. He called 'Sweet The Sting,' 'Witness,' and 'Hoochie Woman' "pastiches." He predicts a late spring.

I thought Thomas would get a mug of ale thrown in his face when he called 'Goodbye Pisces' "merely pretty" at the Lion last night. But Kate Cloran only yawned, and Mary Creevy said she still had a morning's washing to do.

March 24th. A sense of coitus interruptus in 'Sweet The Sting,' when surely a sense of inflagrante delecto is what's required? The climax of 'Barons of Suburbia' falls flat--why does the narrator say she "is piecing a potion"? And concerning "she is risen"--has "she" risen because the potion has been pieced? It's a muddle.

Played Under The Pink and Boys For Pele through. Instantly transported. Then 'Cooling,' 'Purple People,' 'Playboy Mommy,' 'Lust,' 'Strange,' 'Indian Summer.' Gretchen asked for 'Tombigbee.' We made love on the hard wood floor.

March 26th. The stained-glass widow on the north side has a substantial crack in one pane. The wind coming in. Thatch in my corn flakes this morning. Positive word from Thames and Hudson. 'Parasol' a bit like 'Amber Waves,' isn't it?

Something in The Times about Amos and "granola feminism." Gretchen got a jolly laugh over that. Bishop did his business over the thing before I was able to finish [it].

I dreamed I climbed the ladder to the attic and found "Come back, Kate, all is forgiven" scrawled across the east wall. What could it mean?

March 27th. Patrick O'Hagan borrowed the Saab for a trip to Ireland while the Beekeeper was in the deck. Shall I have Gretchen send down another [copy]? No. I can hum the better tracks, and I still have 'Garlands' in the DVD, which sounds a bit like 'Yes, Anastasia,' doesn't it?

There was some kind of a ruckus in the village. Gretchen passed some of the locals burning a figure in effigy. Nasty business.

Sat up late reading Strindberg's Ghost Sonata. So good, some parts.

[Here the record ends]
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The Daredevil soundtrack provided a nice boost for this previously unknown quartet from Little Rock, Arkansas. Evanescence’s songs "My Immortal" and the imposing "Bring Me to Life" are clear standouts in the film, mainly because they work so well with the dramatic, eerie undertones of the storyline. They reappear here on the band’s debut, alongside a selection of similarly brooding tracks that evoke pensive artists like Tori Amos and the Cranberries. Vocalist Amy Lee has the kind of voice that can cause weeks of insomnia, but on songs like "Tourniquet" and "Haunted" she belies the music’s sinister mood with evenhanded spirituality, thoughtfully letting some light shine through the tempest. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (2018)

Something for Everyone...I guess. (4.5 Stars)
I'm bad at headers, please forgive me.

Evanescence was arguably the biggest breakout band of 2003. Now they're sold-out hitmakers that are loved by gothic teenagers, middle-aged women and music critics alike. (I'm naming these from personal experiences) ..now how does Evanescence measure up?

You've already heard the most worthy songs on the CD. "Bring Me To Life" "Going Under" and "My Immortal" are the three best songs on the CD, so if you expect a CD full of beautiful "My Immortals" please search elsewhere.

The rest of the CD is woven with pretty much alternating faster and slower songs. As far as standouts go? Aside from the singles, we also have "Everybody's Fool" which is lacking in lyrics but makes up for that in melody, and "Torniquet" which is full circle above-average but nothing spectacular. For lyrical depth, try "Hello" ..

Amy Lee's voice is tolerable at worst. Her fashion sense may be a bit off-key, but her voice remains lovely and distinctive, and always matches the background (or vice versa, who knows where manufacturing may be lurking..?)

If no one you know is buying this CD, you A) Live in a Ghost Town or B) Know nobody!..
This album remains in the top 5 on the album charts after a year of being on it, selling upwards of 100,000 a week. Nice, right? One of those customers includes my lovely mother. Way to go Mom, you saved me fifteen bucks.

I enjoyed it. It's worthy of removing forty minutes of your life.

BOTTOM LINE: Good. Something everyone would enjoy.
GRADE: A-

Blew me away....
I just recently discovered Evanescence by mistake after visiting a friend's web site and clicking a link for Evanescence - Hello. I absolutely LOVED the track and, having friends who were obsessed with the album and the band, naturally decided to borrow/buy the album. A friend lent it to me, and here I am, listening, several days after becoming obsessed with it myself. I just cannot stop listening to it... Amy Lee's voice is so much more polished and mature than anyone else in her age group of singers, such as Avril Lavigne, Brittany Spears, etc. It's like an angel from heaven has come down to bless us with her talent, and it's no wonder why the song "Bring Me To Life" attracted so many fans to this small Arkansas band and singer! And, without further ado, onto the ratings... Going Under - This song is not my favorite, but nonetheless, it is a great song. The rock beat really strikes my fancy, and the lyrics are well-polished. 9.5/10 Bring Me To Life - The song that inspired Evanescence's fan base, and it's really easy to see why! The lyrics are great, the tune is wonderful, and it's really easy to pick up. It's haunting and rocking at the same time, and overall a great song. It has its shortcomings, however, as it will become really repetetive after a while of listening to it because it is so awesome! 9.5/10 Everybody's Fool - A great song, but it's basically repeating the same thing, merely in different words, through the entire song. 9.5/10 My Immortal - After listening to all of the album and Hello before it, this was my new favorite song. As another reviewer put it, it may be what heaven really sounds like. This is one of the band's songs that you hear everywhere, like Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi, and you just instantly love it, but you just never know who the artist is... then you find out, get the album, listen to the song and the rest of it, and become obsessesed instantaneously! Its haunting lyrics and beautiful piano make this an instant classic, not to be missed. 10/10 Haunted - Amy Lee sang the heck out of this one, and because of it, it's great. It's not quite at bloody as Tourniquet, but creepy all the same, and in this reviewer's eyes, creepy = good. 10/10 Touniquet- This song really makes you brood over death. Amy really convinces you that she's in serious pain when she sings so soulfully, and it makes you so sorry for her, that you just can't help but like the song. However, I'm not really one for the morbid-type, so marks down for the gruesome details. Don't get me wrong though; this song is still great. 9/10 Imaginary - Amy describes how she retreats into her own world to escape the horrors of this one, but she can't decide which one she likes better. Very soulful, just like all of the other songs on the album, and one of my personal favorites. 10/10 Taking Over Me - It seems like Amy is willing to drop everything and find her true love, who has taken over her soul and now is morunful for him because he left. The lyrics are great, and the entire song has a very catchy beat. 9.5/10 Hello - This is the song that got me hooked on Evanescence. Haunting and beautiful lyrics, Amy's beautiful voice that will keep you awake (and slightly insane because of sadness and other factors) for weeks to come, and absolutely haunting melody on the piano, this is my personal favorite song on this album. It maintains the sad note of Haunted and Tourniquet, but with much less violence. She doesn't know if she's sleeping or not, and then she realizes that death really does exist, and that nothing will ever be the same. Let me scream for a moment: I LOVE THIS SONG!! 10/10 My Last Breath - When I listened to this, the first time, I got the lyrics stuck in my head because Amy sung them so beautifully! The beat is catchy and fun, and the lyrics are great. Overall, a great song. 9.5/10 Whisper - This song is probably the worst one on the CD, though don't get me wrong; I still love it, but it just isn't up to par with the others. I do, however, love the Latin at the end; Amy translated it roughly to "Save us from danger, save us from evil," and it really fits the mood of the song. It gets pretty slow at the end, so that turned me off of it a little bit. Still a good song nonetheless. 8.5/10 Overall, this album is one of the most polished I've ever heard in years, and it really got me hooked on the goth/rocky genre. I simply can't wait for the next one! Keep up the good work guys!

Blew me away...
I just recently discovered Evanescence by mistake after visiting a friend's web site and clicking a link for Evanescence - Hello. I absolutely LOVED the track and, having friends who were obsessed with the album and the band, naturally decided to borrow/buy the album. A friend lent it to me, and here I am, listening, several days after becoming obsessed with it myself. I just cannot stop listening to it... Amy Lee's voice is so much more polished and mature than anyone else in her age group of singers, such as Avril Lavigne, Brittany Spears, etc. It's like an angel from heaven has come down to bless us with her talent, and it's no wonder why the song "Bring Me To Life" attracted so many fans to this small Arkansas band and singer! And, without further ado, onto the ratings... Going Under - This song is not my favorite, but nonetheless, it is a great song. The rock beat really strikes my fancy, and the lyrics are well-polished. 9.5/10 Bring Me To Life - The song that inspired Evanescence's fan base, and it's really easy to see why! The lyrics are great, the tune is wonderful, and it's really easy to pick up. It's haunting and rocking at the same time, and overall a great song. It has its shortcomings, however, as it will become really repetetive after a while of listening to it because it is so awesome! 9.5/10 Everybody's Fool - A great song, but it's basically repeating the same thing, merely in different words, through the entire song. 9.5/10 My Immortal - After listening to all of the album and Hello before it, this was my new favorite song. As another reviewer put it, it may be what heaven really sounds like. This is one of the band's songs that you hear everywhere, like Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi, and you just instantly love it, but you just never know who the artist is... then you find out, get the album, listen to the song and the rest of it, and become obsessesed instantaneously! Its haunting lyrics and beautiful piano make this an instant classic, not to be missed. 10/10 Haunted - Amy Lee sang the heck out of this one, and because of it, it's great. It's not quite at bloody as Tourniquet, but creepy all the same, and in this reviewer's eyes, creepy = good. 9/10 Touniquet- This song really makes you brood over death. Amy really convinces you that she's in serious pain when she sings so soulfully, and it makes you so sorry for her, that you just can't help but like the song. However, I'm not really one for the morbid-type, so marks down for the gruesome details. Don't get me wrong though; this song is still great. 9/10 Imaginary - Amy describes how she retreats into her own world to escape the horrors of this one, but she can't decide which one she likes better. Very soulful, just like all of the other songs on the album. 9/10 Taking Over Me - It seems like Amy is willing to drop everything and find her true love, who has taken over her soul and now is morunful for him because he left. The lyrics are great, and the entire song has a very catchy beat. 9.5/10 Hello - This is the song that got me hooked on Evanescence. Haunting and beautiful lyrics, Amy's beautiful voice that will keep you awake (and slightly insane because of sadness and other factors) for weeks to come, and absolutely haunting melody on the piano, this is my personal favorite song on this album. It maintains the sad note of Haunted and Tourniquet, but with much less violence. She doesn't know if she's sleeping or not, and then she realizes that death really does exist, and that nothing will ever be the same. Let me scream for a moment: I LOVE THIS SONG!! 10/10 My Last Breath - When I listened to this, the first time, I got the lyrics stuck in my head because Amy sung them so beautifully! The beat is catchy and fun, and the lyrics are great. Overall, a great song. 9.5/10 Whisper - This song is probably the worst one on the CD, though don't get me wrong; I still love it, but it just isn't up to par with the others. I do, however, love the Latin at the end; Amy translated it roughly to "Save us from danger, save us from evil," and it really fits the mood of the song. It gets pretty slow at the end, so that turned me off of it a little bit. Still a good song nonetheless. Overall, this album is one of the most polished I've ever heard in years, and it really got me hooked on the goth/rocky genre. I simply can't wait for the next one! Keep up the good work guys!

Hmm
a music fan from hawaii must of been singing along to the songs again. I only got it for the first 3 songs and I ended up listening to the rest of it later. all of the songs except for track 10 or 11 I think are good. My copy was stolen earlier this year so I'm going to pick up another. Amy Lee's voice is very smooth and very high, which is why the music fan from hawaii must of heard something dying..he/she/it couldnt reach the high notes. Anyways This CD owns.

Cool band with a cool cd
The best song on the album is "My Immortal" and Amy Lee sings the hell outta every song on the cd. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Oasis albums have always prompted flashbacks--Was that a Beatles melody? Is that chorus on loan from T. Rex? Wait, wasn't that a Crowded House song once? But the mouthy British group's latest really sounds like a pop artifact. Both in production and execution, Don't Believe The Truth feels like an album better suited to 1965 than 2005. From the tambourines and jangling guitars that chime in opening track "Turn Up To The Sun" to the tinny pre-hippie philosophizing of "Keep The Dream Alive," it's an album that thinks the way forward is by looking back. First single "Lyla" borrows its opening swagger from the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man," while "The Meaning of Soul" lifts the Small Faces' mod jitters wholesale. But hack through the clichéd lyrics and worn riffs and the most important element on the follow up to 2002's Heathen Chemistry remains distinctly Oasis' own: Attitude. And in such wonderful abundance, "No one could break us/ No one could take us," they sing. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (1)

BEST ALBUM SINCE WHATS THE STORY MORNING GLORY
Well... just heard it as a promo adn i must say Oasis have gone back to their roots and now have turned up with the their best album since Whats the Story Morning Glory.A def. buyand must have item for the summer and its always good to album that will be a piece of music history. ... Read more

Album Description

The first single to be lifted from the 2005 album,'White Teeth'. This UK limited edition includes three versions of the title track,Album Version, Photek Straight Remix and Photek Dub. Interscope. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

the hand of the artist should have been in this
rockin' song with great energy dampered only by the limited number of versions. Why go to the trouble of cutting a disc like this without giving the consumer 5 or 6 versions of the song? Trent should know better, being the music fan that he is.

I think it's solid.
Remember all that garbage social music you've heard for years now?Please let it go.Don't call that music 'pop music', call it 'Disney Dollars'.

What do I mean?I might know...

I've been a NIN fan all the long.Trent's certain breed of music has always had a bitter aftertaste.I think there's a point there.

Let's talk about 'The Hand That Feeds'.Musicaly, any other time than now, this would be wrong.I thought a long time ago that once computer screen resolutions where so high that no normal person could see individual pixels... at that time, at this time...the mosiac effect is effective artisticaly.So, that in mind along with what everybody really has noticed these last 10 years... 'The Hand That Feeds' is the best song I've heard in a long time....and it's all done in that walking talk the talk in NIN style; acceptable now for a social setting.

The lyrics in 'The Hand That Feeds' has the most clever double meaning contained in there.I don't think anybody is catching it.

So, I'm a little disturbed that everybody misses the point.If this isn't an original song... what is?I wonder what the kids would say to answer that question?Maybe something about Incubus or... uh... Jay Z...

Lastly, if you don't know who Photek is... You probably won't get the remixes.You don't listen to something extendedly titled [Dub Mix] and be disgusted when it's the type of thing to play in club that's not too busy playing irresponsible dry-hump music that has spoken lyrics about killing gangstas.Yeeeaaah!

Nobody wants to change it.

There've Been Better, But There've Been Worse
ALBUM MIX: I'm not going to bother much with this; we've all heard it, it's a great song, let's hear it for Nine Inch Nails, yay.

STRAIGHT MIX: Interesting extended take on the original, and well-done.There's not much actual remixing - other than the techno beat, the "whispering" and the "horror movie synths" near the bridge (which were great), it stays mostly true to the album version - but that doesn't stop it from being a good listen, and it's just as catchy as the album version.I especially liked when the music mostly drops out in favour of the vocals at 3:53; it was a nice touch, one that probably should've been part of the album cut.Either way, not bad.

DUB MIX: It's a house version.What can be said about that, really?Trent's occasional voice adds something, and the beat and guitar/synth loops are infectious enough with this mix that it doesn't fall COMPLETELY flat... but you're probably not going to want to listen to it too often.Decent.

OVERALL: I'd rather spend my money on Things Falling Apart or Further Down The Spiral, of course... but this was supposed to be a single, not a remix album, and as such, it's not bad.Worth a few quid, but don't bump it to the top of your list.

SIDE NOTE: Trent is SO not fat; my bandmate Aeon and I saw him a few days ago, and he's as ripped as he ever was.

For diehards only.
Let me start by putting out a couple of my biases before getting into this review-- first, I relaly don't care for remixes as a rule, unless they're dramatic and severely restructure a song, I generally find they add little.Second, I really don't care for "The Hand That Feeds".

Having said that, the piece is presented in three mixes, the album version, the Straight mix, and the Dub mix.The album version has a catchy, circular guitar line and a straightahead drum beat that's actually decent until the bridge with this bizarrely irritating spoken wordish section.Just doesn't work.

The remixes fare no better-- the Straight mix adds different rock beats and an extended introduction that eventually becomes tedious, the dub mix layers a grating sustained guitar note over a beat and a mumbled repeated take on the chorus.

If you're a fan, get it.If not, skip this one, there's good reasons it wasn't released in the U.S.

SAD.Pathetic.Lame.Desperate.
Trent, sweetie, we know you want another radio single and to sell a TON of merch on your new tour.

Good luck, baby cakes.

This song sounds like a fourth-rate Utah band with a CD rack full of Halos.

Really sad.Without a doubt, the lamest of all NIN singles.

Silly, sad, fat Trent doesn't understand that he owes his "fame" to Mark Romanek and the catchphrase "I want to BLEEP you like an animal."

NIN is dead.At least we still have The Downward Spiral and Broken.

This single is too stupid for a single star. ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Mayer's big label debut was a multi-platinum breakthrough success whose sensual anthem "Your Body is a Wonderland" scored him an unlikely Grammy for Best Pop Vocal. That out-of-the-box success–and more than a few critics grousing that Mayer's muse was cloned from Dave Matthews–primed him for the typical sophomore slump. Instead, Mayer delivers an album whose tone and title suggests a gentle, tongue-in-cheek rebuke to his naysayers. Propelled by the subtle ambitions of an expanded pop-jazz framework (largely courtesy of Sheryl Crow/No Doubt/Jellyfish producer Jack Joseph Puig), Mayer's breathy vocal tack now suggests a detached, conflicted, and significantly less precious incarnation of Michael Franks. But the way he weds fluid pop hooks to lyrical concerns whose self-obsessions are undercut by telling dollops of self-deprecation should clearly draw listeners in, from the my-spirit's-too-big/smart-for-my-body laments of "Clarity," upbeat single "Bigger Than My Body," and bluesy plea "Come Back to Bed" to the cautionary, melodically-rich "Daughters" and even the anti-materialist agitprop of "Something's Missing." --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (541)

A Very Hot/Cold Follow-up to 2001 Room For Squares
I was very anxious to hear the latest from John Mayer. After listening to 2001's sublime "Room For Squares", I was curious to see in what direction this soft-spoken acoustic strummer would go next. Upon listening to the lead-off single, "Bigger Than My Body", my expectations immediately rose. With it's stadium-sized chorus, and mystifying guitar texture's, "Bigger..." truly made me believe that Mayer just may top "Room For Squares". Sadly, however, the rest of the album does not quite stand up as well. The album kicks off with "Clarity", which boils down to Dave Matthews on his worst day. "Bigger..." redeems the false start immediately, and is followed by "Something's Missing"- Mayer's best track to date. "New Deep", a synth-laden self-proclamation of change, is a decent track, but is quickly followed up by the lame, and truly unnecessary...-anthem, "Come Back to Bed"- basically the morning after to "Your Body is a Wonderland". "Homelife" is just plain insipid, but "Spilt-Screen Sadness" is a creative new song with strong lyrics and a grooveable beat. "Daughters" is a truly standout track in a sea of mediocrity- a message of love to the daughters of the world, and a warning to everyone who takes them for granted. "O