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Doubters who expect little from Celine Dion but turgid ballads will be surprised by her return to recording after several years. On A New Day Has Come, the big production numbers most associated with the Canadian superstar's name ("My Heart Will Go On," "Because You Loved Me") are evoked by the two versions of "I Surrender" and somewhat lifeless covers of "At Last" and "Nature Boy." At the same time, though, Dion shows her willingness to stretch on the classic-house homage "Sorry for Love" and the unavoidably catchy "Right in Front of You" and "Ten Days." The album's unexpected, often low-key production allows Dion to emote in a straightforward way that gracefully skirts the chest thumping of past days, and the relative subtlety works in her favor. Still, New Day will hardly prove a shocker for her many fans. Crowning the conservative Dion a forward-thinking diva seems a bit premature, but this agreeable record opens the door to such a possibility. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (308)

A New Day Indeed!
I came in with fairly high expectations for Dion's new CD, and was amazed that it was even better than her Grammy-winning Falling Into You album (which I had considered her very best until this one)!

The songs sound pretty different from her usual ballad style:

The 2 opening songs - "I'm Alive" and "Right in Front of You" - sound so refreshing that one feels like standing in front of an ocean and feeling the breeze. The melodies are catchy and upbeat. The same can be said of "A New Day Has Come" - both the slow and radio versions are wonderfully done.

The slow songs in the album are sheer beauty - just listen to "Have You Ever Been in Love" and "Goodbye".

My favorite though is the passionate "I Surrender" - it's so emotionally powerful that one day you'll hear this song and cry your eyes out!

"Sorry for Love" is another favorite of mine - a fast track showcasing Dion's absolutely amazing vocals!

And don't miss out on "Prayer" - a warm, unassuming song that'll grow on you.

Pretty much every single song in this album is highly listenable (I guess that's what happens when you have 1,000 songs written for you each year to choose from!!), and I've been listening to the whole CD again and again and again and again and again ... This CD is well worth the 2-year wait ...

great comeback album
After being absent from the music scene for several years,Celine is back with this great collection of upbeat tracks and her signature ballads. The first time I listened to the album many of the songs didn't appeal to me. But this is the kind of album which gets better with each listen. A New Day Has Come is probably most similar to her Let's Talk About Love album in terms of its variety of sounds. My main reason for buying the album is for her single, the title track A New day Has Come which is getting plenty of airplay. There are plenty of other good songs to listen to such as Right In Front of You (I think this should be her next single released and it is my 2nd favorite song on the album), I'm Alive ( a very positive and uplifting song), I Surrender (the power ballad), Goodbye's the Saddest Word ( a slower, non-ballad piece), and the fast paced tracks Sorry for Love and When The Wrong One Loves You Right. I think Aun Existe Amor feels out of place on this album and is better suited to be on one of her French albums instead. Didn't care too much for the two covers of At Last and Nature Boy. Also I liked the song Ten Days though many people didn't care for it probably because it is a different sound for her. Overall, Celine's vocals are much more tightly controlled and she doesn't seem to have to strain very voice as much. I have almost all of her albums so if you are a true Celine fan go out and get this album. You won't be disappointed.

does she never give up
What so special about Celine? please tell me because I sure don't know. She's has a powerful so what,her songs are boring and why does she never give up. I will not buy this piece of crap sorry but I won't. Avoid this at all cost folks.

wonderful
What a performance, This women is the most outstanding and down to earth talant I think I have ever heard , being a club owner I think she has the range to do anything she wants probably better then the original artist. And with style and class

Utterly Relaxing
Celine Dion is one of my favorite singers and she outdid herself in this album. This is the album that I listen to when I am sad, for it uplifts my spirits. The usual songs I play when I am like this are "I'm Alive" because of its inspirational nature, and "Right in Front of You" because it helps me look past my sad emotions and know that things will get better so keep fighting.

When I need to have a zesty song when I exercise, I listen to "Rain, Tax" and "Ten Days." They all have great upbeat tempos. And when I need soft songs to lull me to sleep, I use "Have You Ever Been in Love" and my most favorites of all, "A New Day Has Come" (both versions).

All the songs on her album are great but these are just particularly special to my heart. I listen to the whole CD ten times a week just to relax me. Everyone would love Celine Dion's different styles of singing in all her songs. I know I do. ... Read more

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From his earliest days with the Three Irish Tenors, Tynan has harked back to sentimental forebears like John McCormack and Frank Patterson, who were wonderfully secure-voiced singers and musicians of remarkable taste and tact. But he also exemplifies the kind of theatrically brash, light "classical" singing made famous by the original Three Tenors, which in turn broke ground for popular sensations like Charlotte Church, Andrea Bocelli, and Sarah Brightman. His program this time out ranges from Broadway, to the pulpit, to unabashed pop. He commences with a selection from Man Of La Mancha, which only proves that the composer had good reasons for writing the character of Don Quixote as a baritone. Despite the reverb-enhanced recording, Tynan's nasal enunciation and pitch problems are distracting and the orchestra and other accompanying musicians sound a bit distant. But fans of the artist will revel in Tynan's headlong versatility and engaging, sunny charm. --Christina Roden

Recommended Similar Titles

Ellis Island	The Irish Tenors	My Life Belongs to You
Remembrance	We Three Kings	Rough Guide to Irish Music

... Read more

Reviews (24)

Good but far from great
This cd is only good it could have been alot better.Ronan has a nice voice but he get's a bit nasely on many of the song's.Some of the songs are kind of boring.

OUTSTANDING!
This is the best of Ronan! His wonderful voice is heaven to listen to as always, but on this album his warm, engaging personality comes shining through. This music will touch your heart and make your spirits soar though wide rang of emotions. From the rousing,rocking "Man of La Mancha" to the inspirational "How Great Thou Art" to the honest, deeply touching tributes to his parents,"The Old Man", and "Passing Through" . I haven't been able to stop listening to it since I got it. This album is well worth you time and money, I highly recommend it. You'll get endless hours of listening pleasure.

Also Recommended: DVD-The Impossible Dream -Ronan Tynan . He's a joy to watch too!

A Voice From The Heart
Ronan Tynan's third solo CD has the potential to add his name to the list of world renownedartists who are know only by their first names like Bono, Madonna and Cher.The CD, self-titled Ronan which catapulted onto the music scene on March 1, 2005, has begun its steady climb to the top of music charts.This eclectic selection of songs has something for all musical tastes.Tynan has included opera and spiritual selections, as well as several love songs and familiar contemporary songs with new arrangements.The song list contains a few Tynan standards such as "The Old Man" and "Man of La Mancha", as well as some new selections that showcase the powerful tenor's exceptional voice.Over the past three or four years, in both his CDs and concert appearances, Tynan has paid tribute to the parents that gave him the strength and determination to overcome many obstacles he has faced both as a young boy and as a man.In Ronan, he has included two songs for his parents. "The Old Man", dedicated to his father, tells of the relationship that was more than just father and son, one that was also a deep friendship.One of the most poignant songs in the collection is "Passing Through", which Tynan co-wrote with composer Margaret Byrne.This song, written for his mother, speaks of how a family must watch and cope as a loved one succumbs to Alzheimers Disease. Both are personal and moving tributes. Ronan demonstrates Tynan's range and vocal talent, from the power of his voice and his outstanding vocal control in the more sacred songs such as "How Great Thou Art", which not only raises the rafters but the hairs on your arms as he hits those final notes, to his soft approach to the contemporary selections including the newly recorded "Ellie", and the lovely "Come in From the Rain", both personal favorites of mine.

There is only one thing better than Ronan, the new CD from tenor Ronan Tynan, and that is having the pleasure of seeing and hearing him in person!

Ronan, A must have
For all you fans of Ronan Tynan this newest album of his is a must
have.Everyone I've shown it to has really liked it.
So hurry and buy a copy today!

Ronan, New cd by Ronan Tynan
I preordered Ronan Tynan's new CD "Ronan" in February, release date was March 1st. I received my much anticipated CD last week and have not been able to stop listening to it. I really should have purchased two CD's, one for my home and the other for my car. Once again Ronan has delivered and then some, this cd runs the gammet of emotions, from his rousing rendition of "Man of La Mancha" to the very sad "Passing Through", which is a beautifully written tribute to his mother who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. On a dreary day when one's spirits are low I strongly suggest listening to this wounderful CD, it will surely gladden your heart.
MConnolly ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Satisfactory SACD
Overall, I found the sound in this SACD to be very good, as expected. The sorround sound is very well done, and Karen's voice is presented clearer than ever.
I have to disagree with some other opinions expressed here. For instance, I read beforehand that the album should have been called "remixes", and that "Superstar" was a particular case of "new version". Reading that, I thought I was going to hear a very altered version of that song and everything else. But to my surprise, "Superstar" sounded as faithful as the original, within the circumstances (all mixes for 5.1 imply some changes in the original stereo output, no matter how careful they have been to keep the original sound. In this SACD, you will notice stronger bass and drums in the songs). I agree that in the final part, "Superstar" may seem to have lost the sound in the drums that we somehow are used to hear now (mostly because it's a different "take" of drums), but that way this song's sound is closer to the original version that appeared in the original LP in 1970. And by the way, this is the first time in a long while that this song isn't crossfaded with "Rainy days and Mondays". In fact, no songs are crossfaded, they are complete.
My only 2 complaints would be that "All you get from love is a love song" has been left out. Being a song with a "faster" tempo, it would have provided balance to a compilation full of ballads. And it would have been interesting to hear it in sorround mix, because of its instrumentation. And my other complaint is that the grand chorus in the end of "Calling Occupants" is barely heard, when I hoped that in the new mix was something that I was going to hear louder and all around me.
Those minor complaints make me rate this compilation with 4 1/2 stars, downgraded to a 4 because there's no half star qualification. If you like the songs listed, consider this SCAD rated 5 for you. :-)

A Remixed SACD
I really like this SACD very much! I would buy it again in a heartbeat. But, the songs don't sound exactly like I remember them. Although they sound excellent, and I love the crystal clear surround sound, the songs seem to be remixed so that when you are listening, and simultaneously replaying what you remember in your own mind, they don't sound exactly the same. Nevertheless, this release is highly recommended! Like so many other out there, I always anxiously await all new SACD releases in the rock and easy listening categories. There just aren't enough of them which probably accounts for the fact that they aren't selling as many of them as they would like...

I have to disagree. . .
I'm afraid I can't be as thoroughly enthusiastic about this title as other reviewers seem to be. I was hoping for a revelatory listening experience, but was disappointed. Yes, spreading the arrangements out over 5.1 channels DOES help you hear all of the instruments and voices more effectively. Yes, taken on its own, this SACD is pretty impressive. BUT, it's IN COMPARISON that it doesn't stand up very well.

There are two major problems with this release, in my opinion.

The first is the remixes that were done a couple of years ago by Richard Carpenter. He does, of course, have the right to remix his own work. Absolutely. BUT, if you are going to call the disc "SINGLES" then I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to hear a mix very similar to what we heard when the record was first released all those years ago. Case in point: SUPERSTAR. One of the most memorable parts of the instrumentation for me has always been the cymbal at the beginning - that "chick-chick-chick" sound. Well, it's so far down in the mix that you can barely hear it. Also, the bass is punched up a lot, to the point that the chorus of the song is "thumpy." These types of modifications have been made to most of the songs on the disc, to varying degrees. If you're going to change the mix that much, call the Disc "REMIXES."

The second problem is a quality issue. If you go back and listen to one of the pre-remix cd releases of these songs, there is some noticeable hiss in the vocal track. For the SACD and CD releases of "Singles", it sounds as though they applied some noise reduction to try and eliminate the hiss. They DID eliminate it, but took enough of the high end away in the process that the vocals sound ever so slightly, well, dull. Not as natural or lifelike. "Rainy Days and Mondays" is a prime example.

I should mention that I previously purchased the CD version of this title. The problems are there as well. I had hoped that the SACD surround mix would be better, but I was disappointed again.

My advice - if you have fond memories of these songs, look for one of the older collections. Steer clear of "Singles" and "Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition"

State of the Art all the way!
Karen Carpenter possessed one of the most beautiful voices in popular music, but playback technology being what it was when these songs were first committed to tape, we never got to hear the true magnificence of her pipes. Never, that is, until now. Thanks to the Super Audo CD, and the loving remix by Richard himself, we can finally hear and appreciate what a wonderful singer she was. This SACD includes all of my personal favorites by The Carpenters. "Top of the World" never sounded so good; in fact, I was on top of the world as I listened to it. I was thrilled that they reduced the reverb in her voice that was present on the stereo (and quadraphonic) recordings, and the clarity of the instrumental backup made it clear that listening only in two-channel doesn't allow all of what was recorded to be heard. I was also blown away by "Only Yesterday". Heck, my socks were knocked off by every track on this disc! And the sound... well, if you haven't experienced music in full 5.1 discrete surround sound, you're in for a treat. And if you don't own a player for SACD, word is this disc will be soon available on DVD-Audio. All I can say is run, don't walk, to your computer (Oh, you're aleady there!) and ORDER THIS DISC!!!

Richard brings Karen into your listening room!
I have been a fan since their career began and I have bought the usual formats that have been released including LP and now CD and now SACD. I have owned a universal player for about a year now and own several dozen recordings in the new SACD and DVD-audio formats. This remastered recording of 21 Carpenter hits in SACD is phenonmenal. Karen's voice is right up front and the backing arrangements are discretely separated into the 5.1 channels so that it is as if you are hearing these recordings for the first time. There is an utterly quiet background and it is hard to imagine that these are 35+ year old recordings. If you have an SACD setup you need this release. Kudos to Richard Carpenter for the immaculate mixing of these wonderful songs. It should be noted that this release will play on any CD player as there are three different layers, CD stereo, SACD stereo and surround. ... Read more

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What is it about erstwhile '60s rock stars nearing 60 that draws them to standards? Just as Rod Stewart has mined the works of Styne & Cahn and Cole Porter for his bankable (if heavy-handed) Great American Songbook series, so, too, has Linda Ronstadt turned to pop classics in the autumn of her career. Of course, Ronstadt has been here before, having enlisted Nelson Riddle to guide her through three standards collections in the '80s. With Hummin' to Myself, the peripatetic vocalist eschews the robust big-band arrangements that marked What's New and its offspring for small-ensemble treatments of the likes of "Miss Otis Regrets" and "Day Dream." With either Alan Broadbent orWarren Bernhardt at the keys and Bob Mann, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash making up the rhythm section on most tracks, Ronstadt gets more than capable instrumental support from some seasoned jazz pros, and while she won't make anyone forget Ella Fitzgerald, she brings her distinctive brand of brass to "Never Will I Marry" and "Get Out of Town." Meanwhile, she eases through languid takes of "I Fall in Love Too Easily" and "Cry Me a River," the latter borrowing considerably from Julie London's defining version, but substituting melancholy for London's playful sultriness. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

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It's hard to have a more milquetoast image than Olivia Newton-John. Even when she was decked out in stretch pants and stiletto heels at the end of Grease, you never mistook her for a wild girl. Proudly carrying the torch once held high by Karen Carpenter, Newton-John embodied the safer and, yes, blander side of the '70s and early '80s. But just like Carpenter went on to be rehabilitated as a pop singer, Newton-John's career deserves a second look--and this compilation is a good way to start. Even if the singer's precise touch was audible as early as 1973 (on the countryish "Let Me Be There"), she reached her peak five years later with Grease and the torchy "Hopelessly Devoted to You." "Physical" may be the best-known episode of the singer's leg-warmer years, but the one to cherish forever remains "Xanadu." On it, Newton-John basically fronted Electric Light Orchestra and the result is one of the most underrated songs of the past 25 years. --Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Another Olivia Lover from Fredericksburg, VA
I am giving this CD 5 stars only because it does contain excellent music. However, as much as I do adore and love Olivia Newton-John, I have to agree with my fellow Fredericksburg reviewer. How many more times are record companies going to keep re-releasing and re-packaging all these old tunes from Olivia's hey-day? How many copies of Olivia's Greatest Hits collections does one person need? Apparently, however, there are still people out there who are willing to buy this stuff because record companies keep coming up with new "greatest hit" collections for ONJ. I have all these songs, already--several copies of them, in fact. But I have reached a point where "enough is enough".

It is time for ONJ to do something new and different. Her last country-pop album was brilliant--but unfortunately, she made the grave error of introducing the album with the remade "I Honestly Love You". Since the new version was so similar to the original, when most people heard it, they assumed it was just an oldie-but-goodie being played on the radio. It certainly did not make people run out to the CD store to pick up a copy of a song they had already heard constantly for the last 25 years. So, the other great songs on the CD never had a chance to get airplay. Basically, the CD went "down under" before it had a chance.

Olivia's voice is still in top form. Her live concert CD from 1999 is proof positive of this. It's just that she needs to do something new with it.

"this album is so perfect, it's almost...Magic"
With songs like ~ "I HONESTLY LOVE YOU" (an early favorite of mine), "LET ME BE THERE" and "HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN MELLOW", still give me chills when I hear them...as a popular vocalist in the '70s and '80s, nothing could compare to her pure innocence to a song.

Now comes the diverse entertainer with ~ "YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT" (with John Travolta)..."HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU"..."SUMMER NIGHTS" (With John Travolta), all from the musical "Grease", which I might add still holds up pretty well by today's standards (in other words a "classic").

Next, are three selections from "Xanadu", starring Olivia and the late Gene Kelly, the songs are haunting, almost trance-like...just listen to "MAGIC", the title tells it all..."XANADU" (Electric Light Orchestra), better known as "ELO"..."SUDDENLY", one of my favorite duets in the world, with Cliff Richard, exceptional performance with screen added to complete the picture, if you remember this film sequence.

Entire album is a trip down memory lane, the final track is a bonus "THE GREASE MEGAMIX - WITH JOHN TRAVOLTA", this my music-loving-friends, will knock your socks off!

Total Time: 75:01 on 21 Tracks ~ UTV Records 314-585-233-2 ~ (2001)

Olivia Is Ok
I checked out some of her CDs, because she does some good songs, and this is the best collection of hers you can get. Let me state that, Olivia is one of the most overrated singers in history (Check out her version of "Jolene" which is the worst of the four (Sherrie Austin, Dolly Parton, and Martina McBride being the others), thank God it is not included here). Back to this CD, it has some good material "Please Mr. Please", "Have You ever Been Mellow", "Xanadu", but this woman does not have enough material (Except Grease) to fill up one entire CD (If no one believes me, check out "Olivia Newton-John radio": On Match Radio, and you will finding yourself skiping most of her material). I cannot believe all of the Olivia completists, writting in here, acting like she is is Patsy Cline. This woman started the decline and abandonment of country music (Notice how she crawls back to Nashville after 20 years, cause her career is dead (Like Linda Ronstadt (Although Linda, is much more talanted)). And since she left, others like, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and The Dixie Chicks, copied her game plan, which is why there are very few quality country female singers out there today (Sherrie Austin (Olivia's much more superior Australian countrywoman), and Gretchen Wilson come to mind. I would recommend this CD and Grease, and that is it for her career.

Still Missing Songs
This is a nice complilation with some songs that are normally forgotten by the masses like "Little more love" and "Deeper that the night" that were well suited during her Ronstadtesque era. Still when are they going to add some great but forgotten hits like the sexy "Soul Kiss", the Elton John produced "Rumours", her John Travolta duet "Take a chance", as well as the quirky but fun "Landslide". These are songs people might have missed or forgotten but helped make her own style. Speaking of style, we can't forget J Farrar and the incredible work that went into making O N-J well, O N-J. That is the person behind the talent and maybe a commplilation with just his work with O N-J would be a good tribute. You know, since they're making all these greatest hits cds. I'd buy it.

Excellent! My girl Olivia knows how to do it!
Olivia Newton John was one of my favorite singers in the late '70s and '80s. I still remember when she had like 7 to 8 hits in a row from 1978 to 1980, just a nonstop run of hits like her competition Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, the Bee Gees and others. This album justifies that. Her country songs of 1973 and 1974 are still fabulous. "Physical" still sounds funky today! "Heart Attack" just gets you dancing! "Deeper Than The Night" I still love! "Twist Of Fate" still sounds good with its aerobic sound 21 years later! "Magic" opened the music of the '80s quite well when it came out in 1980. "Xanadu" still sounds weird, but I'll take it. Her duet with Cliff Richard, "Suddenly", still sounds smooth. The "Grease" movie songs with John Travolta clash the '50s and 1978 so very well within the same songs! Her willingness to take chances were what made her a good singer. I still like the fact that she overcame her battle with cancer and is still performing and touring today. Her still remaining active just brings everything full circle with this album! Excellent career compilation!!!!! My girl Olivia knows how to do it!!!!! ... Read more

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What I Meant to Say continues 1970s superstar Donny Osmond's comeback, which began more or less with his role in the revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The title tune ably demonstrates Osmond's ease with his long-patented brand of pop. The CD also includes the single "Breeze on By," a carefree summery number. Sharing song writing credits with Bobby Womack and Gary Barlow, the tune demonstrates the MOR pop polish of the album to perfection. Ensuring there are plenty of cuts for future singles, the album features a very relaxed new version of the Bacharach/David classic "This Guy's In Love With You," which Osmond originally recorded in the 1970s. Those of a certain age will go weak at the knees recapturing their teenage years swooning over Donny, while the still good-looking Mr. Osmond may well capture an entirely new generation of young hearts with this perfectly produced pop collection. --Gary Dalkin ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Quite an Impression
WOW!! This album is quite an impression and update of the reknowned, Donny Osmond! Very relaxed and cool!the song that i predict will be the summer hit is "Breeze on by"..I can tell that he sampled some isley brothers motions, and greg conquiso flow!!

Donny's STILL Got it!
With all the music we have today to weed through to find some good music, well, look no more. This CD is very much Donny, but he's all grown up. It's got classic love songs but so much more, heart and soul. Donny continues to amaze his fans. You can't go wrong with this CD, it's a must have!! I can't stop listening to it since I saw him in concert.

truly a broken man is d ozman
it's products like this that haveme wondering why amazon doesn't have a zero star option for product ratings

A good moment for Donny
On WHAT I MEANT TO SAY, Donny's clear expressive vocals and surprisingly good songwriting talents come into the forefront.The UK Top 10 hit "Breeze On By" creatively samples George Benson's jazz classic "Breezin'", and features free-flowing lyrics along with a relaxed vocal performance by the sexy Mr. Osmond.

"Breeze On By", "In It For Love', "Keep Her In Mind", and "Broken Man" prove that easy listening music can be very soulful, while on the Bacharach/David classic "This Guy's In Love With You", Osmond makes it all look easy when he hits those perfect high notes.

The rest of the album has good songs bathed in too-slick music arrangements, especially on the gooey "One Dream", the cleverly sincere "My Perfect Rhyme", and the uptempo "Shoulda' Known Better".A dose of mid-70's Marvin Gaye would do these tunes some good.

I was a fan as a kid and now as an adult...
My husband bought this CD for me after I heard a radio interview with Donny on the radio.I was so excited that he had a new CD out, it was like being a kid again.He is such a genuinely good person that you can't help but love all that he does.the music is wonderful.I especially love the song for his children called "I Will Fight For You."It struck a nerve with me and I cried my eyes out for every parent will understand what he means. One song is better than the next.It is definitely a must have for anyone who is an "old time" fan and for those who have never heard Donny before will find a new friend in him and his music. ... Read more

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Linda Ronstadt, who emerged from SoCal's vaunted early-'70s country-folk scene, became the American female rock superstar of the Me Decade. After the initial success of the Stone Poneys' Michael Nesmith-penned "Different Drum," Ronstadt expanded her horizons through interpretations of a long string of successful pop and R&B covers. Along the way she championed emerging songwriters like Warren Zevon ("Poor Poor Pitiful Me") and contemporary favorites like Neil Young ("Love Is a Rose") in the bargain. As the formula waned with the changing tastes of the '80s, she briefly turned to new wave before stepping boldly back to the pop standards of the '30s, '40s, and '50s. Unfortunately, this collection inexplicably skips over that three-album collaboration with arranger-conductor Nelson Riddle, a body of work that presaged the 1990s' lounge-pop revival by a full decade--and outclassed it by miles. It also eschews a compelling contemporary Latin chapter of her career in favor of her winning collaborations with Aaron Neville ("Don't Know Much" and "All My Life") and less successful AC fodder like "Winter Light" and "Somewhere Out There" with James Ingram. A good primer to Ronstadt's immense vocal talents and recording history, but one that's flawed by some crucial missing chapters. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Good compilation album
Those of us who grew up in the 70's and 80's can remember how popular Linda Ronstadt was back then. Most of her big hits from that period are all here.
Linda had a good singing voice, and often covered other people songs, in her own style. Who can foget her versions of "Heat Wave" (Martha and the Vandellas), "When Will I be Loved" (The Everlys),"Ooh Baby Baby" and "Tracks of my Tears" (both Smokey Robinson),"Just One Look"(Doris Troy),or "It's so Easy" and "That'll be the Day"(both Buddy Holly)?
This albums includes all those, and will bring plenty of memories back to quite a few people. Linda also supported such songwriters as Warren Zevon("Poor Pitiful Me"),giving them much needed exposure. The album also includes two duets with Aaron Neville, "All My Life" and the lovely "Don't Know Much", which deservedly won a Grammy.
None of her acclaimed work with jazz music (On three albums with Nelson Riddle),nor with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris is included. Nor from her Spanish language albums, either. This album would probably had to have been a double cd to include those. Otherwise, this is a good single "best of".

An Incomplete Portrait Of The Artist
Linda Ronstadt possesses a strong, beautiful voice. She has covered many musical genres in her career, but not all of them are represented in this collection. The emphasis is in on her most commercially successful period, the seventies. Her rocking version of "When Will I Be Loved" starts this compilation off on a strong note. The Buddy Holly songs "It's So Easy" and "That'll Be The Day," the Chuck Berry classic "Back In The U.S.A." and Little Anthony's "Hurt So Bad" are also full-tilt rockers. Her emotional rendition of Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou" is breathtaking. The longing in her voice on "Long, Long Time" is heartbreaking. Her breathy version of Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby" finds Linda at her seductive best. While her country-rock classics, "Different Drum" (with the Stone Poneys) and "Love Is A Rose" are welcome inclusions, they sound out of place among the rockers.

The shortcomings with this collection could have easily been fixed. First, the songs would have benefited by being presented in chronological order. Second, the compilation should have been expanded to a double CD. This would have allowed for inclusion of the essential rockers "I Can't Let Go," "How Do I Make You" and "I Knew You When." Her three albums of standards could have been represented with such songs as "I've Got A Crush On You," "My Funny Valentine," "When I Fall In Love" and "What's New?" At the very least, "To Know Him Is To Love Him" from her Trio album with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris could have been added. Selected songs from her two Spanish language albums would have spiced things up nicely. The songs that make up "The Very Best Of Linda Ronstadt" are uniformly great, but left this listener wanting more.

Great Collection!
I have enjoyed listening to Linda Ronstadt over the years and happy to still hear her songs on the radio today! I agree with most of the reviewers and do recommend this collection for casual fans.

I already had her two greatest hits albums (1976 and 1980) and also have "Howl Like A Rainstorm...Cry Like The Wind" album, but still decided to buy this. I'm happy I did! Sure, hits are missing, but what is here is great and sounds great too!

Included are liner notes and pictures of Linda in color and B & W through her various stages of her life. Detailed song credits with chart positions are also here.

One of Popular Music's Greatest Voices
Linda Ronstadt has one of the most expressive voices in all of popular music. While she didn't write any of her own hits, she and principal producer Peter Asher knew how to pick songs. Beginning with her first hit ("Different Drum") by Monkee Mike Nesmith to her final big hit in 1990, Karla Bonoff's "All My Life," Ronstadt put her own unique stamp on these songs. Whether it was outcharting Roy Orbison with her cover of "Blue Bayou," Chuck Berry on "Back in the USA" or Smokey Robinson & the Miracles on "Ooh Baby Baby," Ronstadt dominated the charts in the late-Seventies.

The only problem I have is that this collection is somewhat incomplete. It's missing minor hits like "Get Closer" and her cover of the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice." Even more disappointing is the exclusion of the Top 10 hit "How Do I Make You" from 1980. [And with a running time of 68:25, these could have been easily included.] But this does a nice job of including the big hits, a few key album tracks, and the 16-page booklet includes some great photos and track-by-track info. Overall, this is a very satisfying collection and will no doubt please casual fans with an overview of Ronstadt's career from 1967 to 1993. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Blue Bayou
"I'm going back someday, come what may to Blue Bayou."

When Linda Ronstadt sang those delicious watercolor-dripping words, it wasn't of a particular place or locale. Though one may succeed in finding a "Blue Bayou" on a map, Blue Bayou isn't any one point on the compass-it's a perpetual state of mind that lives forever in loneliness and heartbreak and the longing for something that no longer exists. It is a picture in our memories and in our hearts where happiness was and somehow still remains, something we have all felt at one time or another in our lives. The melancholy yearning for that singularly quintessential moment when we each have felt enriched by the experience of love and understanding, of family and the jubilance of being surrounded by friends, representing warmth, and of life's constancy-it all goes deeper than our consciousness-it sings to place within, that goes to our soul of souls.
Blue Bayou speaks to what our lives should be all about. It resonates our hearts making us want to be happy again, wanting so badly to change our lives and turn back the clock to a time when we felt and possessed its elusive qualities. Blue Bayou makes each of us understand the differences and difficulties of each of our days in this one life we have been blessed with. It demonstrates how once we might have let happiness slip right through our fingers at a time when we might not have been attuned to its magic, or of when it was suddenly gone, or taken away. Blue Bayou, is watching the petals fall from a flower and recalling with poignant appreciation its former beauty.
Mostly, Blue Bayou is about hope and the need for having something dear to us available again. It is an inspirational overture to make things right, to turn over a new leaf and set ourselves right with the world again. Blue Bayou is that place where all these things are possible if only we can get back to it. It is about finding and understanding ourselves, whether through our own eyes are in the eyes of those who we love dearly. Blue Bayou then, is about love, and what love means to each and every one of us everyday we let in a fresh breath of air. Thank you Linda!!

"Well, I'll never be blue, my dreams come true, on Blue Bayou..." ... Read more

Amazon.com

No one will lament the passing of the boy band phenomenon; now the American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken has released his first album. He's picked up right where 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys left off, not only borrowing Andreas Carlsson, the Swedish songsmith who penned some of their biggest hits (also using the services of other well-known popmeisters like Desmond Child and Cathy Dennis), but turning out the same type of impeccable over-produced and seamless creations that the Orlando pop mafia rode up the charts at the dawn of the millennium. Several years into the new millennium it seems like there's still quite a bit of life left in that zeitgeist, since Aiken's Measure of a Man debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Well crafted and well sung, but at times lacking discernable personality or endearing idiosyncrasies, many of Aiken's tunes sound the same, whether he's lamenting the lack of love in his life ("Invisible"), reveling in it ("Perfect Day"), or supporting his fellow man ("I Will Carry You"). As a made-for-TV pop star, it'll be interesting to see how Measure of a Man measures up in the years to come. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (3302)

Measure of a Man
I'm not a rabid clay fan and after reading a few bad reviews I was relunctant to purchase this CD -- BUT I AM GLAD I DID! After listening to MOAM I can say without a doubt it is a fantasic collection of wonderfully performed songs -- "The Way", "Run to Me" and "Measure of a Man" are way over the top of what I had expected. If you are on the fence about buying it, read Billboard's review:

"Clay Aiken's "Measure of a Man" is the best pop album of 2003. Every song, every note is brimming with ambition and glory. Thanks to the bull's-eye A&R talents of RCA chief Clive Davis and a cast of grade-A songwriters-including Cathy Dennis, Desmond Child, Kara DioGuardi, Gary Burr, Steve Morales, Andreas Carlsson-the "American Idol" hero's debut album perfectly matches his radiantly melodramatic voice with good, old-fashioned power ballads aimed straight for the gods. Throughout, the timeless production focuses squarely on Aiken's immense talent. "Run to Me" is arguably the sweet spot, the quintessential tear-jerker, along with show-stoppers "No More Sad Songs," "I Survived You" and the title track. In another radio era, this album could be the "Thriller" of the day, spawning hit after hit. In any case, fans have plenty to celebrate. "Measure of a Man" is an utter triumph of art and commerce.-CT"

My favorite CD!
I love Measure of a Man. I really, really, do.

1. Invisible - a pure pop song. Fun and catchy and great to sing along to, especially the chorus.
2. I Will Carry You - a really moving song of support and encouragement with some awesome money notes in there!
3. The Way - soooo romantic and my boyfriend and I's "song". Beautiful!
4. When You Say You Love Me - with a slight country feel, this upbeat number is a lot of fun for riding in the car and singing at the top of your lungs.
5. No More Sad Songs - oooh, Clay is mad! This song is kinda Elton John-esque. Very catchy, very strong vocals.
6. Run to Me - this one is absolutely heart-stoppingly gorgeous, and the bridge is to die for. Feels like an anthem from a romantic movie like "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic...only a lot less grating. Hee.
7. Shine - very mellow rock kind of feel. One of my favorites on the album with great lyrics.
8. I Survived You - an angst-ridden, modern man's version of "I Will Survive". Very rock-ish. Awesome!
9. This is the Night - hell, everyone knows this song. It gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. Stunning.
10. Perfect Day - LOL, I typed Perfect Clay at first by mistake. This one is another one of my faves...it's the most rock-oriented song on the album and Aiken nails it!
11. Measure of a Man - the title track is absolutely gorgeous. Very emotional and moving with a powerful message.
12. Touch - wow, didn't expect this one! With an almost-Latin beat, this song has driving guitars and percussion. The lyrics are sensual without being overtly sexual. Amazing.

All in all, a fantastic album. Well worth checking out.

GOD GIFT
I love you clay you mean so much to me when you came out on american idol my heart stopped my sister had to come and revive me. this album was incredible how can you get anymore better than this. well you can't!!! I don,t know why he didn't make 50 most beutiful but anyway please buy this album his vocals are incredible probably one of the best singers in the world!!!misty

Where would we be without Clay?
I've always loved Clay, but now that I own his CD, my love for him is reinforced. The CD is an album full of his beautiful voice. Even though the lyrics to some of the songs ("Touch" and "When You Say You Love Me") are terrible, he still sings them with grace. I can listen to this entire CD (save for the aforementioned songs) and satistfy my Clay addiction. All I can say is, this CD is highly recommended for any of my fellow Claymates.

You'll play it over and over again
It is so nice to be able to listen to a CD that is not offensive. So many people I know have been turned on to Clay because they have heard this CD. Then, there are other people that seem to be threatened by Clay for some unknown reason. He is just a sweet person with a golden voice. I hope he continues to put out new material, because I can't get enough. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Forget the age of battling boy bands, the era of dueling young tenors is upon us. Hot on the heels of Josh Groban's dizzyingly successful, Ally McBeal-fueled debut comes this first international release from African-born, Greek-raised tenor Mario Frangoulis. There are some clear parallels between Groban's debut and this Frangoulis release, but some distinctive differences as well. While Groban coated his slick, David Foster-molded pop sense with a veneer of classical respectability, Frangoulis has effectively turned the formula inside out. With similar classical training--but a few crucial years of experience on his American rival--Frangoulis treats the classics reverently but not slavishly, with the title track effectively turning an aria from Puccini's Tosca into romantic Europop. Elsewhere, the international flavor is further expanded by three melody-rich songs ("Hijo de la Luna," "La Luna de Valencia," and "Naturaleza Muerta") by Spanish singer-songwriter Jose Maria Cano and a sing-along-ready take on the 1950s Neapolitan chestnut "Luna Rossa."

Like Groban, Frangoulis and producer Steve Woods also plumb the music of la cinema italiana for inspiration, turning Nicola Piovani's bittersweet Life Is Beautiful theme into the ponderous "Buongiorno Principessa," but faring better with a moody, dramatic take on Rota-Wertmuller's "Canzone Arribiata." The obligatory rock-pop cover here is the flamenco-inflected"Nights in White Satin", with Frangoulis joined in a bilingual duet with original Moody Blue Justin Hayward that's surprisingly effective. Less showy perhaps than Groban's debut, but a more nuanced and emotionally satisfying album overall. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (82)

INCREDIBLE VOICE...INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL!
I am simply floored by the beautiful tone of this guy's voice. Why he's not a bigger star here in the U.S. is beyond me. He blows Josh Groban(Josh who?), out of the water! Not only is he a great talent, but he's also got a strong musical education/foundation behind him too. And on top of it, he's got movie star looks to boot. (You know, I'm beginning to hate this Mario guy!). But seriously, there is not a bad song on this set. I love them all, especially "Buongiorno Principessa" and the Greek song "Lunna Rossa", which has me dancing like an drunken idiot whenever I play it! If you don't get up and dance to this song, then you're heartless. I was dancing around the place like I was freekin' Zorba!

I hope this guy really blows up big in AMerica. Josh Groban needs some real competition from a guy who knows his stuff.
Just BUY this CD..buy 2 or 3..this guy can SING his ass off!!!!!!!!

We Should Have Known Mario Long Time Ago!
I give Mario more than 5 stars if I can. It is a truly amazing CD.

I bought this CD by chance. When it was first released, I listened to the 30-second clips on the net and did not appreciate it. I finally bought it after hearing a few lines on a store promotional TV. Now Mario's voice has become part of my life.

Mario's got the pop appeals - the gentle touch, the expressiveness and passion. In addition, he has very solid classical and music theater background behind him. The Mediterranean flavor with danceable rhythm is contagious. His pronunciation is exceptionally clear and his English sounds like a native speaker. His timing is breathtaking. Yet he sings opera like a pro with the magnificent voice of a true tenor. Yet he composed two of the most beautiful tracks in the CD - Track 3 "Sometimes I Dream" and Track 7 "Ton Eafto Tou Paidi" (He Himself As A Child). The lyrics of quite a few songs have poetry quality. Mario got the good looks too. But he does not need to depend on his looks. He is a truly amazing musician.

My favorite tracks:

1. Vincero Perdero. Great poetic lyrics, beautiful melody. Original song for the CD and for the artist's voice. Mario feels it is his own life story that he sings to us.

2. Buongiorno Principessa. Lyrics written for Acadamy winning movie music. Mario sings at very low range at beginning and end with dramatic ballad in the middle. There is a splendor the way he sings it.

3. Sometimes I Dream. The music and lyric lead into the opera piece seamlessly. The song demonstrates Mario's vocal versatility in pop and opera. It brings life to a classic piece. The rhythm makes you swing.

7. Ton Eafto Tou Paidi. One of the best tracks in the CD. Composed by Mario and written by a well known poet for his personal experience as a child. A very sensitive and touching song. A beautiful way to be introduced to the Greek language.

All said, I am still shocked to find myself listening to this CD over and over again everyday since I got it a few weeks ago. I can now even understand most the Vincero lyrics in Italian. Since Mario already has a good-sized repertoire, it may be possible to see more of his works soon.

No need to buy any other tenor cd
Mario has obviously excelled in the lessons of opera. There is something for everyone on this cd.
This album should have catapulted him to mega-stardom.
Forget Groban and Watson. No one compares. His voice is a rarity in this day and age.
A God-given gift! Now go buy his cd and dvd and tell everyone about him. You won't regret this purchase!

I'm still enchanted...
I heard Sometimes I Dream by Mario Frangoulis more than a year ago and still love it. I am so impressed by this cd that I have given it as a gift to several of my friends and family and they are equally enchanted. I only wish that Mario would visit the US on one of his upcoming tours. I've even thought about flying to Greece just to see him perform, I'm that overwhelmed by his voice. I truly believe the most beautiful song I have ever heard is 'Non Sara'. What passion he has in his voice.

Favorite CD - hands down.
Superb music on this CD... his voice is wonderful. This is definitely the best album I've purchased in the past decade. I look forward to the new album scheduled to be released this summer. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another Great 'New' Dino Concert
A great find - a 'new' dino concert! This one's nice because there's a lot of his concert patter too - few of his mid 60's concerts are around intact, so this is a nice find! The songs, as usual, are terrific but the comedy is a lot of fun to hear too.
Sound quality is really good on this one too!
Wish they'd find more original dino material for us!

kimmmy
dinofan,

Classic Dino... but a little disappointed
First, Dino was one of the best live performers ever bar none! But why oh why, couldn't he come up with some new one liners in the six years or so that his act was captured on tape?If you've heard his Sands concert from February 9th, 1964, or around there.. (the dates vary since the concert is in the public domain and has been issued for years under a variety of different titles), then you've heard this show already.The songs are a bit different, the phrasing is different, but the act is essentially the same.Included are the same old stories about traveling to London to star in "Road To Hong Kong"(a joke he'd been using since 1962!), going to Hawaii,and getting *Lai-d*... get it!?, as well as his politically incorrect humor ex: "I'm unlucky... if they ever cut a woman in half... I'll get the part that eats!"
Then there's the sound quality.. now I love Dino, and I'm grateful for any recordings that are out there... This concert is listenable, and enjoyable.. but when I bought it, I was expecting the same sound quality that was delivered in the two Rat Pack shows, Villa Venice 1962, and At the Sands 1963.Both those shows were professionally recorded by Frank Sinatra's Record label Reprise.. and used several microphones to capture IN STEREO, the ambiance of the room, the audience, as well as the performers on stage.I was expecting the same from this recording... perhaps a Dean Martin performance, recorded for an album but never released.But it appears this is just a reel to reel tape that someone left running on stage on April 4th, 1967.The recording is in mono, though the fidelity is quite good... but it lacks the energy that a stereo recording might have had, if the audience had been included in it.
The packaging is slick.. although why do record labels insist on creating those gatefold paper sleeves for CD's?They scuff easily and don't protect the disc from dust and debris like the jewell cases do.. knock it off guys!
All in all, this concert is for big Dino fans only... I would reccomend starting out with the Rat Pack Live at the Sands.. and work your way to this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Josh Groban fans who caught the singer's 2004 Closer tour would no doubt take note of Lucia Micarelli, who was the violinist and concertmaster for Groban. Like her boss, who also is executive producer ofMusic From A Farther Room, Micarelli is a young, attractive, and talented player who has the classical training, but who is also enchanted with pop music. Also like her boss, her strain of classical crossover works thanks to tasteful accompaniment, in this case from arranger/composer Paul Schwartz. The smartly chosen program of material comes from such varied catalogs as David Bowie and Rogers and Hart. Micarelli's playing is emotional without being overreaching, assertive when called upon, and nuanced. When she does go over-the-top pop on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," it's brief but fun; when she navigates Piazzolla’s "Oblivion" she draws upon the song's passion more than its technical requisites. This is a debut with likeable pizzazz, coming in a genre not often enough known for it. -- Tad Hendrickson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Absolutely Amazing
This girl is extremely talented. She plays with such emtion. I had the extreme privalage to see in concert with Josh Groban and let me tell you that this girl is great. She plays amazing music and you can see her emtion on her face. To see her play Bohemian Rhapsody was just...i can't say any more. It takes your breath away. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

In this follow-up to the smashing success of her 1997 CD Time to Say Goodbye, Sarah Brightman continues down the primrose crossover path, blithely gliding from covers of Hooverphonic (the title track) and Kansas ("Dust in the Wind") to Puccini and film scores (Titanic and The English Patient). Sometimes, as in "Anytime, Anywhere," the crossover happens within the same song--in this case welding a rhythm track to the somber harmonies of Albinoni's "Adagio."But there's nary a stylistic speed bump to jolt her listeners, as Brightman focuses her tiny, seraphic voice like a beam of light on each melody.The result, bless her heart, may be the invention of a whole new form of kitsch.Like plastic surgery, Brightman's years of specialized vocal training have helped refine her ability to float confidently well-rounded, sparkling tones in her upper range. These have a Dresden china-like, touching fragility in such songs as "So Many Things" and are well-suited to the gauzily romantic (and overproduced) gloss of the string-heavy arrangements that predominate.Eden also introduces Brightman as songwriter ("In Paradisum," with its mix of sitar and modal chant) and features a bonus track unavailable on the album's European-released version ("The Last Words You Said"). --Thomas May ... Read more

Reviews (330)

One of the most beautiful CD's I've ever listened to.
There comes a time, once maybe every 5 years or so, an artist creates an album where every song is perfectly performed, perfectly sung. To change even the slightest detail...the slightest note, would be the worst thing that could happen to this album. I've listened to this CD over & over and become more impressed with it every time. This album, Sarah Brightman's Eden, is the epitomy of what beautiful music should be. Her voice is flawless, almost angelic. She especially stands out in the album's opening. In Paradisium opens this album with Sarah Brightman beautifully, emotionally, grabbing the heart of the listener from the get-go. It does not let up there! It's a shame this CD had to end, but you can always press play once again! My favorites are Scene D'Amour, Dust in the Wind, Il Lio Cuore, and the title track, Eden. Thank you Sarah Brightman, for showing us what beautiful music is once again!! Don't miss this one! If you have this CD, you already know, if you don't, please don't go another day without hearing it.

Sarah Is Still Shining Bright!
I love this CD! I listen to it all the time, and I couldn't live without it!
1. In Paradisum is a great beginning to this CD and works as a wonderful introduction.
2. Eden, the title track is classic Sarah! The lyrics are slightly confusing but the song is great!
3. So Many Things is not one of my favorites. It's a little slow, but Sarah's voice is gorgeous!
4. Any time, Anywhere- What can I say? This is my favorite Sarah song ever! (I actually got hooked on Sarah when I heard this song on TV used as part of a figure skating show.)
5. Bailero is a great song- I think Sarah's ability to sing in sooo many different languages is marvelous. Her CD La Luna is incredibly multilingual...
6. Dust In The Wind is a beautiful, beautiful song. My dad thought that Sarah ruined this song and showed me the original version (by Kansas? Chicago? I get all these place name bands mixed up-) and anyway who let those guys record? Sarah does a much better job!!!
7. Il Mio Cuore Va is lovely and delicate, and I can't get enough of it as the English version is one of my favorite songs ever.
8. Deliver Me is a different sort of song for Sarah and not what she usually does, but she does it well and it's fun to sing with.
9. Un Jour Il Viendra- I must confess that I cannot remember this song! So sorry!
10. Nella Fantasia- a gorgeous song! Incidentally, if you like it, there's a guy named Russell Watson or something like that who does a great version of it too.
11. Tu is a fun song. I wish I knew what the lyrics meant.
12. Lascia Chi'o Pianga is the only song that I am slightly disappointed in. Charlotte Church's version is much better.
13. Only An Ocean Away- I love to sing with this song, it is soo romantic!
14. Scene D'Amour- Another song I discovered watching a skating show, although at the time I did not know the artist was Sarah, I just liked the song!
15. Nessun Dorma is the best classical piece ever written and Sarah does it full justice. You must hear Vanessa Mae's violin version!
16. The Last Words You Said is a very pretty, haunting song, although I think the lyrics are rather depressing...
Well, that's my opinion- Hopefully you will buy this CD and find out for yourself what a great singer Sarah is!

The Amazon.com review here is almost just right!
Yes, the angelic and fragile voice of Ms. Brightman is one of a kind, and she's doing contemporary music a great service by recording some really fine, unique tunes, in a new pop/classical hybrid. To call her sound "kitsch" is surely an unfair criticism, since Sarah and her collaborators have recorded some of the finest pop CD's ever, and she is especially good, considering the huge amount of true junk is out there. This album does not have the drive and orchestral brilliance of the earlier "Time to Say Goodbye", but is still a near-masterpiece. Listen to "Dust in the Wind", a very underrated pop masterpiece, redone here by Sarah. Indeed, though not perfect, it's tough to find anyone around today with such a high quality of finely done tunes as the divine Sarah!

This COULD have been a great album!
I am surprised that so many have given this album such positive reviews because it has one fatal flaw: the synthesizer mucking up about half the tracks.

Whatever in God's name possessed her, or her producers, to put that godawful synthesizer throughout the album. Here we have these great orchestral backgrounds, only to be mucked up by a cheesy sounding synthesizer.

I love her selection of songs, I love her voice, but I only wish she'd stop trying to be "hip" (although synthesizer sounds went out years ago, except for some New Agey crap) and just do some straightforward musical arrangements using traditional arrangements, with real drum tracks, not drum machines! (Actually I'm not sure they are drum machines, but if they aren't they sure tried to make them sound like they are!)

So anyway, I hope her forthcoming albums continue in the same vein of pop mixed with classical sounds, but without the synthesizer which only cheapens the overall sound quality!

The Best Sarah Album Overall
Eden has something for everyone. It has the more pop songs done with that special Sarah twist of lyrical melody. The Cd also has operatic tracks that don't sound as if any effort was put into singing them at all. From the rythmic "Anytime, Anywhere" to the powerful "Nessun Dorma", Eden is one of the best Cd's I have ever owned. The truth is you either like Sarah or you don't, and this album gives you a very good reason to like her. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's something foreign, and disturbing about Keren Ann Zeidel's fourth album. The Israeli native doesn't so much sing, as inhabit her moody compositions, creating haunting soundscapes that are as unsettling as they are beautiful, lingering in the memory long after you've put the CD back into its case. The multi-instrumentalist combines a hushed fragility with a fierce poetic austerity--with odd, truncated, inner rhymes--beginning with her rather severe confessional "Not Going Anywhere," to the ghostly specter and strategic awkwardness of "End of May" extending throughout the eleven songs that make up this disquieting collection. The chanteuse has abandoned her former trip-hop posturing that earned her early comparisons to Beth Orton and Portishead's Beth Gibbons, and instead has adopted an almost hesitant fatalism that chills the listener to the bone. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Performance
I am a great fan of Daniel O'Donnell, having collected all of his CDs and DVDs, but this performance at Branson would now be the number 1 of my collection. His uncomplicated style and rendition of some old evergreens makes for wonderful listening and enjoyment. I also want to thank DPTV Media for its initiative in releasing both the DVD of the concert and the CDs. Now I can listen to Daniel not only in the comfort of my lounge at home but also in the car on the road. I hope that there will be further DVD releases of Daniel's USA concerts.

DANIEL O'DONNELLLIVE FROM BRANSON
IF YOU LIKE DANIEL O'DONNELL THEN YOU MUST GET THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S A HAFTA HAVE!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bond is a string quartet made up of four good-looking women, two from Australia, two from Great Britain. Their training is in purely classical music, which this CD certainly is not. Their previous CD was banned from the UK classical charts, presumably because of the overly insistent use of beats and other intrusions, and this CD too contains African, electro, Latin and hip-hop beats. Bond will be the first to acknowledge that they're heavily influenced by the club scene and pop culture from London to Bangkok. Here they are joined by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the sound is enormous: there's level upon level of overdubbing. Some of the tracks have, as their basis, classical works: Pachelbel's Canon, snippets of Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, Carmen's Habanera, Brahms' Hungarian Dance no. 5, Barber's Adagio for Stings. But the sound we get is lush, beat-heavy, club-ish, full of excitement and basic rhythms, and the "classical" connection--aside from the melodies from the above-mentioned pieces--must be taken on faith. The women's solo playing, if there is any, is not audible. The over-riding feel is disco; this is for dancing and for creating a mood of excitement. --Robert Levine ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Simply explosive..
I could not wait to buy this album.. I ordered it previously on Amazon.com.. but ended up buying it a day after it got released at Virgin.. I simply could not wait for Amazon to ship it to me.

I already bought "Shine", "Born", and "Remixed", which I don't consider to be a true representation of Bond's work.. you have to listen to "Shine" or "Born".. or "Classified" now that it is released.

Listening to the album over and over.. and reading the harsh comments that customers and "Fans" that bought the newest Bond album.. I have to disagree. Bond is consisted of 4 very talented, very beautiful girls. They're pretty, suck it up. If one actually took the time to look at the album cover, you will see an electric violin in one of the girl's hands.. it allows listeners of the album to see the type of instrument they use. A modern instrument, as their music is more modern..

Bond is a group that puts a contemporary taste to classics of classical music.. not the original drab, put-you-to-sleep type music.. but make it exciting and fun to listen to. Bringing beats of cultures around the world, electro, salsa, Latin, hip-hop, rock, they put a whole new sound to classical music.

This album for those who have listened to Bond's previous albums like "Shine" and "Born" and enjoyed them, will enjoy this album as well. There is more upbeat songs to this album, it is faster paced than previous albums. They also combine rock on this album in their new single, "Explosive", a song that starts off strong with hard rock and violins with awesome melodies with a softer part with flutes in the middle, then going to the drums and violins with trumpets. You can imagine the whole symphony on this song.

Other songs are fun to listen to, not faster, but more upbeat and the girls lend their voices in "Samba". "Midnight Garden" uses "Swans Lake", "Fly Robin Fly" is a somewhat hip-hopish song, which this style hasn't been on any of their other albums. "Lullaby" is the well-known Canon D.. using a popish guitar intro bringing the song into the violin piece. It is a very fresh, updated version of Canon D. Amazing to listen to. Hungarian is a fast paced song, much like a few of the songs on "Born". "Adagio for Strings", yet another well-known song, starts off with synthesized sounds and drums, then fades into the main melody of "Adagio for Strings".. the drums seem to distract some, but if listening to this song.. there is a lot going on with all the ambient and surrounding sounds. A world of sounds. It is another great remake of a classic song. The re-mix by producer Orion of "Explosive" is not great.. sticking to original songs by Bond is the better choice.

This album is a great listen.. I enjoyed every track. Something that every true Bond fan should have.. and anyone who is interested in Bond I recommened first listening to "Shine" and "Born".

My opinion on this album may not have the "expertise" of someone who studied years on end of music theory and classical music.. but I listen to what sounds good. If Bond was 4 fat guys in their 40's, I still would listen to Bond. I listened to Bond for the first time playing "Allegretto" off their first album "Shine" and was blown away. I have never heard a cross-over of classical music with the fast beat of trance.. it was amazing to listen to. Bond still does what they acheived with their first album.. make great-sounding music. Sure, they may have been banned from UK charts, and others may shun them for bad techniques, or bad remakes.. but the choice is for the listener to buy the album or not. The girls from Bond are attractive.. but that's just a bonus. No one can deny their talent.. If you don't like the remakes.. just stick to the original, boring, put-you-to-sleep scores..

I highly recomment this album.

Simply explosive!
The CD is pink.. that threw me off too, but don't let that make a first impression of the music on the CD itself---

I could not wait to buy this album.. I ordered it previously on Amazon.com.. but ended up buying it a day after it got released at Virgin.. I simply could not wait for Amazon to ship it to me.

I already bought "Shine", "Born", and "Remixed", which I don't consider to be a true representation of Bond's work.. you have to listen to "Shine" or "Born".. or "Classified" now that it is released.

Listening to the album over and over.. and reading the harsh comments that customers and "Fans" that bought the newest Bond album.. I have to disagree. Bond is consisted of 4 very talented, very beautiful girls. They're pretty, suck it up. If one actually took the time to look at the album cover, you will see an electric violin in one of the girl's hands.. it allows listeners of the album to see the type of instrument they use. A modern instrument, as their music is more modern.. and yes, the girls from Bond are actually performing. They performed live at Royal Albert Hall (DVD) and provided the music for the Ms. Universe Pageant of 2003. They are even going on a first-ever U.S. tour in the summer.

Bond is a group that puts a contemporary taste to classics of classical music.. not the original drab, put-you-to-sleep type music.. but make it exciting and fun to listen to. Bringing beats of cultures around the world, electro, salsa, Latin, hip-hop, rock, they put a whole new sound to classical music. Think of it as the ultimate re-mix of classical music.

This album for those who have listened to Bond's previous albums like "Shine" and "Born" and enjoyed them, will enjoy this album as well. There is more upbeat songs to this album, it is faster paced than previous albums. They also combine rock on this album in their new single, "Explosive", a song that starts off strong with hard rock and violins with awesome melodies with a softer part with flutes in the middle, then going to the drums and violins with trumpets. You can imagine the whole symphony on this song.

Other songs are fun to listen to, not faster, but more upbeat and the girls lend their voices in "Samba". "Midnight Garden" uses "Swans Lake", "Fly Robin Fly" is a somewhat hip-hopish song, which th