Amazon.com

Add Ultimate Jams to the ever-mounting stack of kids' records you grudgingly admit to liking yourself. Here, you haven't got a lot of choice: right when the Village People get done coaxing you, against your good grown-up judgment, into flapping your arms wildly to form the letters "YMCA," James Brown comes along and clobbers you with "I Got You (I Feel Good)." Yes, the nearly unbearable not-so Bubblicious bubble-gum pop numbers that only an 8-year-old could love crop up too (see "Blue [Da Ba Dee]" and "The Hampster Dance Song"), but no parent under 50 should consider herself cool unless she cops to bouncing, reflexively, to at least a few of these songs. In other words, don't be a snob: cue up the Jams and cut loose with the kids. Once you're pooped--and you will be--pop in the companion DVD. Six tracks spring to metabolism-speeding life as the radio stars clamber onto the small screen. Much stuff is strutted, most of it exhilarating. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Like most of the others said...
Thos CD rocks! I feel like jumping up and down, going crazy, and just screaming at the top of my lungs because I got this CD. This is what actually gave me the rainbow I needed to brighten up my life. ( anyway, it has a "rainbow" on the front cover!)yay! I'm so happy to have recieved this wonderful CD!

The colorful, dream CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This CD has at least one song for a girl with any taste!!! I can't keep it away from me! These songs are great to dance to, too!!!! Here is my opinion about each song:

I Can't Wait- Hilary Duff = 4/5 I don't like Hilary Duff all that much, but I have to admit, this song was pretty fine!

Dig It- D Tent Boys = 5/5 This song is SOOOO catchy! It is so upbeat and so fun, too!

Spinnin Around-Jump 5 = 4.5/5 This song is so wonderful and exciting, though it does get pretty annoying after listening to it a few times

Juliet- LMNT = 4.5/5 This song is great and all, but it seems like it should be a faster song. It also has a mix of all types of music! (rap, disco, classical)!!!

Blue-Eiffel 65 = 3/5 Somehow, it is too repeative and says the same thing over and over again! I only like the part when they tell the story in the song.

Get ready for this-2 Unlimited = 4.5/5 It does seem like it goes on forever, but if you are dancing to it, it's like you can never run out of moves!

Can't help falling in love-A*TEENS = 2.5/5 If you get it stuck in your head, it gets really sickening.

Disney Mambo #5-Lou Bega = 4/5 All I can say is that it has a fun and exciting beat, but this is also sort of repeative!

YMCA-Village People = 4.5/5 One of the older songs, but still brings joy to us kids!

I Got You-James Brown = 2/5 Yucky!!! I truly don't like it!!!

YMMFLAS-The Beu Sisters = 4/5 I don't listen to this song too often, so I don't have much of an opinion of it.

Pump Up the Jam-Technotronic = 2/5 I kind of hate it! It sounds like one of those rap songs where the singer is trying to be cool.

All for Love- Stevie Brock = 5/5 I love it! It is so cute and romantic! Stevie is a pretty great singer!

The Hampster Dance Song- Hampton the hampster = 5/5 So cute!!! I just love it soooooooooo much!!!

Move it Like This- Baha Men = 4/5 Has a funky attitude, is all I can say about it!

VIDEOS:

I Can't Wait = 5/5 I like the way they showed little clips of the TV series "Lizzie Mcguire" in it!!!!!!

Spinnin Around = 5/5 Used SO many special effects, and also really showed Jump 5's true and amazind talents!!!

Disney Mambo 5 = 3/5 I don't like it, because it doesn't give you such a colorful picture! It's all white!!!!!!!!!

All for love = 5/5 Stevie looks so cool as he acts with this girl in his song!!!!!!

The Hampster Dance Song = 5/5 It is very cute, because it is animated!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disney Mania 2 = 4/5 It shows you good songs, but they are putting it in an advertising way and are only showing you about 3 seconds of each song!

After all that, I'd say it'd be at least an A-! Even that deserves ***** (5 stars)!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! I am not exaggerating when I say that I listen to it EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! If you had the same taste as an average, (any age), person, you would get the same, tingley feeling as me, when YOU buy it. The title of this CD, ("Radio Disney Ultimate Jams"), definitely doesn't lie! They ARE the ultimate jams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd give it extra credit if I could!!!!
People say the Mega Movie Mix CD brings you more to the theatre than any other. THEY HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!!!! The radio disney ultimate jams CD/DVD bring you WAY more to the theatre than ANYTHING else! Just put the DVD part of it on a big screen TV, (or anything that can play DVDs), and grab some popcorn!!!! That's what I call a "movie excert"!!

GREAT for 10 year olds' and up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Mega Movie Mix CD is lame, because if you've seen the movie, you've heard the song! Also, the radio disney ultimate jams CD, I think, is actually more of a "movie" than the Mega Movie MIx, because it actually has 6 different video excerts that you can watch!!!! The radio disney CD has every song that an average, 10+ years old, girl would absolutely LOVE!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

The influence of Bristol, U.K.'s Massive crew on bringing trippy beats to the foreground is immeasurable. Not only were they the early test ground for other alterna-hop stars (ex-clansman Tricky, former songstresses Nicolette and Martina, and the lesser known productionists Smith & Mighty), they've spread their influence to everyone from fellow Bristol residents Portishead to Björk. Blue Lines is Massive's debut record and is the second musical union of Bristol's renowned collective, Wildbunch. The emotional purging and beat-driven orchestral movement of "Unfinished Sympathy" was among the first signs of life in contemporary English trip-hop culture. Other masterpieces, like "Daydreaming," which features Shara Nelson, Tricky, and other friends on the mic, throb with deep, dubby beats and soulful ambiance. Blue Lines marks the beginning of a musical legacy that is ever expanding. --Daniel Shumate ... Read more

Reviews (93)

MOTHER OF ALL TRIP-HOP ALBUMS
BLUE LINES is one of the most influential albums of the past decade. It is to dance music, what Nirvana's NEVERMIND is to grunge. For a band, whose debut album has had such an impact over music, Massive Attack is truly remarkable. This album has created a whole new genre itself: trip-hop, an offshoot of dance music. If not, this is definitely the first trip-hop album to be a big commercial as well as critical success. Though musically simple, BLUE LINES was much ahead of its time, as far as its style is concerned.

As an album, BLUE LINES is sexy, seductive and subfusc. The opening track "Safe From Harm", with its killer bass-hooks, eerie background music and Shara Nelson's mysteriously seductive vocals, is a perfectly gothic dance number. The following track, "One Love", is all orgasms galore. Instead of going overboard with sexuality like a lot of Prince's or Madonna's songs, "One Love" is as subtle and smooth as it gets, without being all loud and glaring - Only Horace Andy's vocals can be as sexy without even meaning to be.

Songs like "Blue Lines", "Five Man Army", and "Daydreaming" keep up the enjoyably livid mood built up by "Safe From Harm" and "One Love": gloomy and crazy, these three tracks wander aimlessly without any proper structure or chorus, with the band members taking turns to emcee, giving the impression of apparitions whispering mindless words in different forms - isn't trip-hop music, of the ghosts and for the dead?

Well, if BLUE LINES can be all spooky and intentionally subterranean, it can also be as positive, heavenly, and invigorated. This dual nature of this album makes listening to it even more enjoyable. "Be Thankful For What You Got", "Unfinished Sympathy", "Lately", and "Hymn Of The Big Wheel", are so unbelievably effusing with life and zest, that it is amazing that they are packed in the same album as the distressingly dark "Safe From Harm", and the others.

If "Safe From Harm" is one of the grimmest tracks ever created then "Be Thankful For What You Got" is one of the most upbeat songs ever made. With its down-to-earth vocals, and innocently simple words, this song overwhelms with its earthiness. Also, "Unfinished Sympathy", which is much more sophisticated, creates a blissful atmosphere with Shara's unassumingly sweet vocals along with the divine string-arrangement accompanying her vocals; and yes, its irresistibly foot-tapping beats are unforgettable. The closing number "Hymn Of The Big Wheel", is so unbelievably naïve and chaste, that it is only surprising that this song is in collaboration with the same person who has also collaborated in the temptingly sleazy "One Love".

An album, which is sleazy, sexy, subfusc, simple, and spirited, all at the same time, BLUE LINES is an essential album, in any collection. BLUE LINES is indeed an icon, as far as classic albums are concerned, and is undoubtedly the mother of all trip-hop albums.

Blue lines is anything but blue
Arrogant, pretentious, self-absorbed. These harsh adjectives have been used to describe Massive Attack lately. But for all of the harsh words thrown their way, they sure make one hell of a CD. This is it. The originator, the innovator, the percolator of trip-hop. And what a CD it is. At first listen, some songs are great, while others are obnoxious. Some you wish would go on forever, while others go overlong. But as you listen, the album sticks to you like white on rice.

I'm not fan of giving CD's five stars. But Blue Lines is truly a masterpeice. It takes the best elements of reggae, house, hip-hop, funk, and soul and puts them in a blender. Every song, with the help of a number of guest vocalists, sounds completely different from the last. The album has a cohesiveness that few albums share nowadays. This is truly a record that can be appreciated as an entire record, front-to-back, rather than just a compilation of songs.

High points: Too many to count. Safe From Harm is a stellar and spacey opener, with One Love following it up with a brilliant reggae vibe. Five man Army could be the mellowest hip-hop song in history, and Unfinished Sympathy evokes feelings that had not yet been seen in electronic music.

Low points: I wish I could say that there aren't any, but Daydreaming (the first single, no less) can get a little repetitive, as can Lately, but that hardly keeps it from being a perfect album. If you are a music fan and can stand to listen to equipment that's a little outdated. Do not hesitate. buy now.

Influencing the influential.
Although many have spoken of the enormous influence of 'Blue Lines' on modern music, few seem to have taken time to consider the influences that have shaped it (something the band has expressley done in the liner notes to the album). One of the major influences on the opening tracks 'Safe from Harm' and 'One Love' is Headhunters-era Herbie Hancock. The funky extended groove and the distant electric piano are classic jazz fusion sounds.

Massive attack perform their own form of fusion in harnessing Shara Nelson's classic soul-feuled vocals with the emerging sounds of British hip-hop. You can even hear the influence of Marvin Gaye on a track like 'Be Thankful For What You've Got'; or the sound of late 70's New York on 'Lately' (a time and place of obvious influence, as mention of the movie 'Taxi Driver' in the liner notes attests to).

Dub is also of major importance to the sound of 'Blue Lines', something the young Tricky uses to full effect on '5 Man Army'. Don't forget another of MA's name dropping influence, PIL. Jah Wobble's dub-heavy bass echos round the rhythm of 'Safe From Harm'. Horace Andy's vocals are just as powerful as Nelson's even if they come from a different musical genre. He gives huge emotion to the pop sensibility of 'Hymn Of The Big Wheel' and the contrast of his yearning vocal against the nocturnal background of 'One Love' is an original sound not lost on Moby.

The only thing I have to take a star off for is the dreadful monotone rapping in an English accent, which might have sounded radical in '91, but has become mildly irritating in 2004.

Unfinished Sympathy
"Bluie Lines" was Massive Attack's first album and the start of unfinnished music history. With this classic 90's album they started the UK trend Trip Hop, and lots of others were going to follow. Like all Massive album's there's a great variety of songs included, hip hop, soul, reggae, dance. Another reason to take a closer look at this album. Shara Nelson appears on this album too, the soulful voice behind "Unfinished Sympahty" her appearence makes the album even better and enjoyable. The song itself it the best of the album and perhaps the biggest hit so far for Massive Attack, it got the trip hop feeling all over it from the beats, the soulish sound and the vocals match perfect. She also sings "Safe Drom Home" which is good aswell. "One Love" is jazzy while "Five Man Army" is reggae and "Blue Lines" and "Daydreaming are hip hop. One of my favorites is the soulish pop influented "Be Thankful for What You Got" with awesome beats and scratching, very memorable song. "Lately" is slow and soulish, but passable. "Hymn of the Big Wheel" is that kind of song i can put in a specific genre, good however. Only 9 songs on this album but it's quality, not quantity. A great classic you defenitely should pick up.

Massive Attack's Track-Down Line....
It's hard to listen to Massive Attack's debut album without thinking of their extraordinary & subsequent work. Preferably, I'm a BIG fan of their collaborations with various grand artists. The real winners from this album are the tracks which feature Shara Nelson-- whom has a great yearning/vocal style which is definitely comparable to Sinead O'Connor (Another MA Collaborator)-- probably because both O'Connor and Nelson have that British mourning sound about them, plus both of them work so well with the sound of Massive Attack.

''Safe From Harm'' is definitely the best track off this album, with a over-looped and tripping atmosphere, Shara's voice sounds amazing on this track, plus there's a male vocalist over there too. As-well as the biggest hit off this album is probably ''Unfinished Sympathy'' and is undeniably one of their most popular songs along with ''Protection'' but that's on their second album.

The title track ''Blue Lines'', set's the standard for ''CLASSIC'' trip-hop. ''Daydreaming'' takes off with a sweeping pulsed beat, you hear Shara making an intro for the song, then comes more of Tricky's vocals, it takes a turn for the more rap/hip-hop side. Other great tracks are ''Be Thankful For What You've Got'', ''One Love'' and ''Lately''.

Bottom line is, this album is great and it can stand up on it's own, but I vastly prefer it's successor's such as ''Protection'', ''Mezzanine'' and recently ''100th Window''...

These guys have spread their influence over to Portishead, Bjork, Madonna a.k.a (The Queen Of Pop), Tracey Thorn/Everything But The Girl, Sinead O'Connor, Shara Nelson, Elizabeth Fraser, Sara Jay, Horace Andy, Tricky, Goldfrapp, Mos Def...etc (I could go on forever naming all of the artist's)...this just show's what a FANTASTIC group this is.--- They may not have the overexposed popularity of the unsuccessful/bland artists like Britney Spears, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake...But WHO CARES?...Massive is here to make ''MUSIC''-- not to impress public relations.

Massive Attack is just ''too good'' to be compared to anything like that... Great Album, Definitely worth every cent!. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Interested in visiting your favorite contestants from the second season of American Idol? Then this is the album for you, but be forewarned that something is lost in the translation from the small screen to the compact disc. Simon Cowell's scathing comments and Paula Abdul's head tossing add to the human drama; without those visual embellishments, the recorded version falls flat. Sure this is a talented bunch, but the material is mundane, with few of the finalists straying from the traditional arrangements. But when they do, it's sometimes worse. Ruben Stoddard's rendition of the Carpenters hit "Superstar" reeks of misplaced sincerity. The best cut on the disc is Kimberly Caldwell's throaty cover of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song," which gives the song some well-needed grit. And while Julia Demato's voice is no match for Etta James's full-bodied version of "At Last," Demato gives the classic a fetching kittenish spin. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (212)

It's all right...
Last year, we were given American Idol 1's "Greatest Moments", songs they ACTUALLY sang on the show. Now we are handed the "classic" love songs... half of these people didn't even sing these on the show... well let's begin.

1. "What The World Needs Now Is Love" Top 10 Finalists: The quality of the actual music is good (orchestra, piano) and suprisingly the singers' voices blend well together.
2. "Superstar" Ruben Studdard (Winner): It actually doesn't start until about 40 seconds into the song, but it's a great track. I was rootin' for Ruben and I am so glad he won. He is going to be a star. Ruben sang this song for his Top 32 performance.
3. "On The Wings of Love" Clay Aiken (#2): Good vocals, some overenunciation, but it's good. Clay never sang this on the show.
4. "At Last" Julia DeMato (#10): It doesn't sound like her at all. I think the computer cleaned up her vocals. She never sang this.
5. "Three Times A Lady" Joshua Gracin (#4): It almost sounds like Josh was thrown into the studio and they made him sing this. No enthusiasm, but Josh puts his country on it... sometimes. He switches the twang a lot. Never sang this.
6. "Let's Stay Together" Trenyce (#5): Good, it's upbeat! She sang this on the Wildcard show.
7. "Back At One" Rickey Smith (#8): He sounds so much like Brian McKnight. I love this song, the original and Rickey's version. Thumbs up to you, Rickey. Never sang this.
8. "Killing Me Softly With His Song" Kimberly Caldwell (#7): It changes a lot, from pretty to... well, not. Never sang this.
9. "Open Arms" Corey Clark (#9, disqualified): Hmmm, I don't even know why he's on here, since he got kicked off by the producers. CLAY sang this song for the top 32, but for some reason Corey got it. Unfortunately he does not do that well.
10. "How Do I Live (Without You)" Carmen Rasmusen (#6): Her voice really got cleaned up. I hear no vibrato. Carmen's voice is not emotional enough to record it. Never sang this.
11. "Over The Rainbow" Kimberley Locke (#3): The sad thing is she has this great voice but they messed up their track. They tried to slow it down but they messed up her voice while doing it. Kimberley sang this for the top 32.
12. "Overjoyed" Charles Grigsby (#11): I like this song. He sang this for the top 32.
13. "God Bless the U.S.A." Top 10 Finalists: This is a good song, but it was so overplayed on the show. It was almost every results show we heard this. But it is pretty good overall.

Songs sung on the show previously: 6 (includes two group songs)
Best songs (track listings): #2, #3, #7, #12
Worst songs (track listings): #5, #9, #10

Pretty Good, but will loose its flare.
This CD is pretty good, but doesn't compete with last years "Idol" album. The recording quality still fails to be up to par, but the voices behind it are enough to make up for it. Too bad most of the songs are slow and will eventually get boring after a few spins.

What The World Needs Now - It's a good song, but it didn't showcase everybodys vocals. It's already gotten old for me. 3/5

2. Superstar - Ruben Studdard - He did good, but there is a long intro. Theres not much else to say besides good job. 4/5

3. On The Wings of Love - Clay Aiken - As much as I dislike Clay's style and think he's more fit for Broadway, I am drawn to this track. I'll have to admit, I probably listen to this song the most despite not liking Clay himself. 4/5.

4. At Last - Julia DeMato - I love Julia and I never knew she could actually sing this good. At first I didn't even think it was her. Kind of an old, overplayed song though. 3/5.

5. Three Times A Lady - Joshua Gracin - As much as I TRY to like this guy, it doesn't work. But I'll admit - this song isn't half bad and he actually did pretty good. 3/5.

6. Let's Stay Together - Trenyce - I don't like her. She tries to do Whitney but she always falls short. But this was one of her best songs from the show and is probably a highlight from the album. Too bad they overplayed this one last year, so this year it isn't half as exciting as when Justin first performed it. 3/5.

7. Back at One - Rickey Smith - He's a cool guy, and I really happen to like his track. He can do Brian McKnight very well. I am surprised I never liked him when he was on the show, but my mind has changed. He is talented and different than other mainstream artists and I hope he makes it far. 4/5.

8. Killing Me Softly With His Song - Kimberly Caldwell - Never liked Kimberly until the night she got voted off. She showed so much grace and charisma. Since then I'm becoming one of her #1 supporters. I'm also happy to say she's from my town here in Houston. This was a perfect song for her, one of the best on the album. 5/5.

9. Open Arms - Corey Clark - I'm going to be totally honest. The first time I listened to his track, I thought it was a girl. I couldn't figure out who it was. Then I looked on the album cover and was surprised to see it was Corey Clark. This is a good track from him, considering I also don't care much for him. It's not one of the tracks that I "skip." It's exceptional. 3/5

10. How Do I Live - Carmen Rasmusen - Okay, I'm biased. I LOVE Carmen. After thousands of votes for her per week, she could sing ANYTHING and I'd be loving every note of it. I will be the first to admit, this wasn't one of her stronger songs. I was hoping she'd do "Can't Hurry Love," or "Turn the Beat Around" (not a love song) for this album. She has a different voice and is the most attractive from all contestants, probably proving why she made it so far on the show. This track fell short of my expectations, but I love Carmen anyway. It'll grow on you. 4/5.

11. Over The Rainbow - Kimberley Locke - After Carmen, KimL. gets all my support. However, this IS the most boring and worst song off the album. That doesn't mean much, however, because Kim is fantastic. She probably is the strongest female from the show and deserves to go far. Sadly, this track always gets SKIPPED by me. 2/5.

12. Overjoyed - American Idol 10 Finalists Season 2 - In a way, I'm glad they included Charles on the album. This is a fun and smooth song (probably the only one who has both) off the whole album. 3/5

13 - God Bles the USA - Overplayed. Can't they understand this song got outplayed in these past 2 years? Yes, I purchased the single to support the 'Idols' and Red Cross, but this song doesn't offer much. The original is much better. Too bad not everybody got a solo (Josh did most of this song.) 1/5.

Overall, good album. Probably will be a memory of mine in about a month if it wasn't for Carmen. Purchase it if you were a fan of the show. Otherwise, it's not worth your time.

Highlights: Kimberly Caldwell, Carmen Rasmusen, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard. The other tracks usually get the "skip" from me.

Good album!
I particularly liked Clay Aiken's powerful "On The Wings of Love" (though I've heard more impressive versions from Asian Songbird Regine Velasquez and international balladeer Martin Nievera for this particular song) and the ensemble song "God Bless The USA" (great harmony, very heartfelt rendition).

The previous comment is hilarious, but yes, it's a relief that there's no squeaking on this album. LOL.

Best thing is that this doesn't include The Duck!
Showcases the talents of REAL singers. No squeaks here, just plain, talented singing. Good album!

Some Good, Some Bad.
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE - ALL:
Good song, again...great solos, but the one that stood out the most in that song was Trenyce. Overall...9/10

SUPERSTAR - RUBEN STUDDARD:
The is a fantasic song, but the way Ruben does it is kind of annoying. I was never crazy about his arrangment. 7/10

ON THE WINGS OF LOVE - CLAY AIKEN:
Without a doubt, the best song on the CD. Clay should have taken the title of AI2. He is an amazing talent. His vocals and song choice were spot on! 10/10

AT LAST - JULIA DEMATO:
I am suprised that Julia didn't get further in the competition. She accually has a very good voice, and I would have liked to see her perform this song on American Idol. I've heard about her new single. But I want to hear more! IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHERE TO LOOK FOR HER SINGLE..... e-mail me at AJR1800PREP@CHARTER.NET SONG...9/10

THREE TIMES A LADY - JOSH GRACIN:
Nah! This guy was born to do country! This style isn't for him. I'd say one of his worst songs on the CD. Honestly. 6/10

LET'S STAY TOGETHER - TRENYCE:
Yes, Yes, Yes! The right song for the right person! I think that Trenyce needs a recording contract badly! She is one of the best singers I've heard in American Idol Seasons 1, 2, and 3! Top 3 on the CD. 9/10

BACK AT ONE- RICKY SMITH:
He sure can sing, but at parts of this song, I cringed, and wished he hadn't have tried to hit the high notes. After I listened to Ricky's arrangment, I went and switched it over to Brian McKnight and got chills. This rendition...7/10

KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - KIMBERLY CALDWELL:
No questions asked, the worst on the CD. I am a fan of Kim, but her song choice is 2/10. Literally! And her vocals are 7/10.

OPEN ARMS - COREY CLARK:
One of the best song choices on the entire thing! His voice is a little too high. But he nailed this song! Props up the wall!
9/10

HOW DO I LIVE (WITHOUT YOU) - CARMEN RASMUSEN:
I happen to find Carmen to be a little bit nasal. She sings out of her nose mostly through this song. Great song choice, but I don't think Carmen is a country girl.
VOCALS: 6/10
SONG CHOICE: 10/10

OVER THE RAINBOW - KIMBERLEY LOCKE:
I voted fo Kimberley throughout the entire competion, but this didn't do it for me. It was sweet and text book. But I think that she could make a living off of her voice. It's unique!
VOCALS: 9/10
SONG CHOICE: 7/10

OVERJOYED - ALL:
Great song and great vocals! Done very well. 9/10

Whole CD - 9/10
I totaly recomend it! ... Read more

Album Description

Ross and Paul Godfrey aka Morcheeba, return with their fifth album, The Antidote. The record marks a number of significant changes for the band, most notably their first album without singer Skye Edwards. She has been replaced by Daisy Martey, formerly vocalist for the band Noonday Underground. Echo. 2005. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent album; more punchy and gritty
Morcheeba released their title album in '96, so they've been in the game for nine years now.Bands that last that long and longer must find new directions to go in, or they stagnate and die.With the new album, "The Antidote", Morcheeba has done just that.While still recognizable as the same band, with similar vocals and sounds, the music has a new mood and tempo.It might be described as a bit more upbeat, a bit more punchy, a bit more raw.Listing to this album, it is easy to get a sense of the musicians coming through, rather than the producer.

I loved the previous albums, especially "Who can you trust" and "Big Calm".And I love this one too.But it is different.If you're looking for the dark, moody old Morcheeba, this isn't it.This is more like music you can dance to.So, for variety and newness, this album rates very well.But for someone who expected Morcheeba to stay the course and do more of the same, this will be a disappointment.That's ok ... bands change, and so do tastes.It just so happens that this band changed in a way that I like on this album.

I tried, but I miss Skye
Normally I'm someone who welcomes change.While the last two Morcheeba were not as good as Big Calm, I don't agree with changing directions so severely as Morcheeba has.The new album is poppy and a little trippy.I find Daisy's vocals overbearing-I'm having trouble listening to the album all the way through.She's very powerful and seems to not know how to keep her voice in check.I much preferred Skye's sultry, smokey and sexy tones.That being said, if I must accept Morcheeba's new avenue, it is better than most of the other music out today.However, I look forward to Skye's solo career!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had such an odd mix of feelings when I found out Morcheeba had a new cd. I was joyous, exhuberant, high on life and just plain happy...but, that soon ended when I got the cd and realized something was VERY wrong. SKYE is gone!!!! There is a new vocalist who just DOESN'T do the music justice. She sounds like she should be singing the opening song to a BOND flick, NOT vocalizing for one of the best trip hop bands ever! Skye was the soul of Morcheeba, and her airy, seductive vocals were a HUGE part of why I loved Morcheeba so much. This new lead singer's vocals are far too pitchy and annoying for me to fully enjoy. I am very upset about Skye leaving the band and I just can not find this album enjoyable. It's lacking more than Skye...It's lacking the old emotion and beauty that Morcheeba's previous albums had. There is also no musical maturity occurring with these new songs. They lack something that I can't even put my finger on! The album is FAIR, however, I have always had HIGH expectations for Morcheeba and this is just a HUGE dissapointment.

don't be afraid of the change...
It's only yestarday 14-5-05, I attended to their live performance in Athens-Greece. I mostly wonna write about their performance and the new singer Daisy. When I firstly heard Skye was no more a member of the band, I felt very sad. I couldn't imagine how morcheeba would sound without skye's smooth and relaxing jazz-like voice. But we must admit that morcheeba will have the same kind of songs and sound! When Daisy came out to the sceene, the crowd was actually a bit cautious-not the kind of concerts you scream and cry from happiness. However, when she performed "blindfold" in a very ORIGINAL way, we all felt: hey IT's STILL Morcheeba! And I have to admit Daisy was VERY good. I still miss skye and i wish to keep in touch with her solo career (hoping that there will be) but daisy is a great singer, with a beautiful voice. The crowd was cautious no more and actually loved her, especially when she starded dancing in her amazing way. She was very friendly & sweet :)
Now, about the new album: Before listening to it from the beginning let number 5 play : "living hell". This is the "new Morcheeba's" sound. I totaly adore it! I also like "wonder never cease" and generally the whole album has very interesting tracks. Their sound is different than their previous albums, a bit more pop but without losing it's morcheeba-like style. It's more easy-listened than "Charangoo" and especially "Fragments of freedom" that's why it kind of reminded me "Big Calm" although it's much different. The sure thing is that there are no disappointing tracks in the cd ( i personally found some "black holes" in fragments of freedome). So...my advice? Don't hesitate ..try it and you may like it! :) ... Read more

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The bad news is that there is no "Sour Times" to equal the first album's greatness. Lead single "Cowboys" doesn't do the trick, not with its '50s sci-fi dub vibe and the Yma Sumac stylings of Beth Gibbons. The upside is that this bold sophomore release is, even at this late date in trip-hop's evolution, still startling, thanks to the mix of Geoff Barrow's soundscapes and Gibbons's haunting wail.--Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (120)

This is the essence of trip-hop
One of the best trip-hop albums. This stuff is hat trip-hop is about. Dark, noir sounds, lounge feeling with a jazzy layer and hip-hop beats will make you want to dig out old dark jazz records. From the first track to the last, there is a sense of urgency, of melancholy which is trapped between eerie sounds and in a ghostly landscape. Excellent vocal transitions for every song. You have to check out the ol-skool scratches and the dusty record effect, giving it a vintage quality.. This is no Dummy, but it doesn't mean that isn't good. Portishead continues with this album the evolution of their crime jazz. I recommend this to all novices in trip-hop. Great album.

Magnum Opus
Portishead's 1997 self-titled album is darker and more melancholy than their debut "Dummy". It is also a timeless masterpiece that ranks as one of the best trip-hop albums of all time. From the opening strains of "Cowboys", this CD transports you into a 1940s-style dimly-lit, cigarette smoke-filled Hollywood cabaret where dark-suited gangsters, buxom blonde starlets and trench-coated detectives mingle. This time around, Geoff Barrow and Beth Gibbons dig deep into film noir moxie to create a collection of songs that capture the decadence and tarnished glamor of that era, while retaining a hip postmodern sensibility. Beth Gibbons is at her best when her voice stretches to a screeching soprano, as on "All Mine", "Only You" and the centerpiece "Humming". Reportedly, Portishead recorded original background music based on film noir movies they admired, and then composed lyrics over them. This gives the album a surreal quality that, when uncovered after numerous spins on the CD changer, truly transcends time and space. Essential listening for a dark, stormy night in your house on the Hollywood Hills, with the fireplace blazing and a bottle of red wine.

Secrets too Tortuous to Endure
I turn on the CD player and I am wearing a slinky black dress, my mouth rouged with blood red lipstick, a trail of cigarette smoke wafts in the stale air, and I'm shadowed by a sinister figure down a seedy alleyway. I'm cornered in some dive but it's just some swaying, slobbering lush wanting to know where Albert is. As if I knew...as if I cared. My secrets are too tortuous to endure much longer.

Beth Gibbons voice is creeping emotion sputtering out those secrets in the twisted cabaret in my head. The mood is dark, the atmosphere thick with betrayal and yearning, strangers with glassy eyes litter the joint while their own desperate desires join the din of bereavement. All flesh is cold to the touch and no one speaks above a raspy whisper. Whiskey is the drink of choice and everyone is melting into their chairs.

While trying to escape the drunk, I stumble over someone who falls out of his chair. Another liquor-soaked refugee from planet Earth, I think, but no - it turns out to be a mannequin. Ahhh, that explains so much - those lifeless eyes, the cold skin, yet it still whispers, it whispers to me: "where is Albert?"

Second album
After an album like DUMMY, it appears it would be difficult to follow up such a great album. It took the group three years to come up with this second album, and it was worth the wait. Released in the fall of 1997, this album still gets quite a bit of airplay in my CD player. As a whole I think this album is a lot more darker than DUMMY. The music is mystical and dark, with Beth Gibbons emoted vocals, very layered. What's even more impressive about this album is the songwriting, which is stronger than on DUMMY. This isn't an album that sinks in right away, but with repeated listenings more is revealed in the intricate production. There are so many layers. Overall, it gets better with each listen, and overall a very unique and rewarding musical experience.

It's a trip.
All I can say is welcome to the "Twilight Zone". Most anyone who knows their previous album "Dummy", can pretty much expect the same thing on "Portishead". This is a bit darker, and there's no obvious stand-out tracks, but as a whole it's still very strong, and sets a nice mood. This is actually one of my favorites of the genre, along with "Mezzanine". "Beth Gibbons" continues to do an excellent job, and her voice really is a perfect match to the music. Overall, I'm not sure if I'd call it as good as "Dummy", but it's the next best thing. ... Read more

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Of all the genres within electronic music, trance probably gets the worst rap. The music is guilty by association with the hippies that worship it with a religious-like fervor. And if executed poorly, its dramatic crescendos sound like pretentious, pompous pap. But a good trance DJ can save a string of the genre's records from falling down the drain of all-too-common gargantuan breakdowns and endless wind-ups. Paul Oakenfold might be the DJ to rescue trance from itself; Tranceport features a veritable who's who of trance records and producers--Sasha's remix of Gus Gus's "Purple," a few tracks from seminal trance producer Paul van Dyk, and the driving, impenetrable "Enervate" by Transa. Oakenfold's mixing is impeccably suited to trance: long, drawn-out bleeds of sound seep from one transcendent track to the next. --Tricia Romano ... Read more

Reviews (281)

the definition of trance
this is the first trance or dj album i ever bought. when i first plugged it in, i hadn't even heard trance before. my mind was soon blown away. this album is perfection, taking the biggest records of 97-98 and churning them all out into a continous line of some of the highest quality, most banging trance money can buy. whenever i'm shocked at some of the horrible trance there is in the world (cough...tiesto...) i can always turn back to this album and learn that it IS possible to make epic trance. Every single track is great and there's absoulutely no filler. when each track reaches their climax, it's always breathtaking. even though Oakey is not known for his incredible mixing skills, the mixing on this album is just fine even though it's usually simple. and one last thing, if you are a newbie reading this and you haven't heard Oakey or trance yet, DON'T TRUST THE SAMPLES! they sound very bad. trust me, the disk is a lot better. Don't think about it, just go buy this CD. you'll love it, I swear.

One of Oakey's great works
Love him or hate him, no dispute exists about Oakey's significant presence in the trance landscape. Personally, I admire much of his work (Tranceport was the CD that initially got me into the genre), although I do not place him above other equally talented DJ's like Digweed, Sasha, Tiesto, and PvD. Having said that, I do believe that Tranceport is one of the finest trance works ever made. I think Oakey's greatest strength is in his track selection and sequence, and this is on display with Tranceport. Oakey takes you on a journey, beginning with the Dream Traveler, which is a terrific opening track. He continues with Rendezvous, and in the middle of the CD, gives you a nice refreshing break from all the beautiful madness with Someone, with the wonderful vocals. Oakey continues with favorites Cafe Del Mar, and 1998. Any great trance CD always reaches its highest point at the end, and this one does not disappoint with Gamemaster (somewhat cheesy vocals but it works), and Enervate. Yes, most if not all of these tracks were popular at the time, which no doubt lends to Tranceport's popularity. Yes, Oakey does a good, if not great, job mixing on this CD. But all the criticism put aside, it is a great album for its track selection and sequence. Just a shame that Oakey has seemed to have burned out (or sold out?) in more recent times with Swordfish and Bunkka.

A classic of the genre...
In the trance world this is arguabley Paul Oakenfold's first and last great work. Released around 1997/98 this album is still sought today and likely to be the hardest Oakenfold album to find. I usunally only see one copy (if at all) under his name at the record stores. If you are just getting in to the genre today this album is a must.

Top Flight
Tranceport is just an incredible cd, true if you take a bunch of the best trance tracks around and make a cd, you'll end up with a damn good one. But not this good...after listening to this cd I can't imagine hearing these tracks out of order again, they are blended and mixed to perfection. If you want to sit back and relax, go on a long drive on a nice day, or just play something at work...this is it...This is a trance cd..but you will not find a better cd in any genre than Tranceport. And to qualify my review, I am an avid clubber and listen to all kinds of electronic music, but trance isn't usually one of my favorites..that is how good this cd is.

#1 trance album
when i was introduced to trance this is the cd that sold me. in my mind this is the best trance cd ever created. paul oakenfold is a turntable genius. seeing him live is also one of the best things you can do for yourself. ... Read more

Album Description

2004 album from the Euro dance act, featuring the summer hit 'Dragostea Din Tei' (original Romanian version) & video. Jive. ... Read more

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Over the years, Benin-born singer Angelique Kidjo has mixed her native African music with elements of other styles. While 1998's Oremi looked at the music of the United States and 2002's Black Ivory Soul found Kidjo tasting the fruits of Brazilian music, the third installment of Kidjo's New World trilogy, Oyaya!, is her take on Caribbean music. Here she retraces old slave trade routes to connect African root music styles to such offshoots as salsa, bolero, meringue, calypso and ska. Of the 13 originals, Congo Habanera is a particularly potent combination of salsa-fueled grooves, watery highlife guitars and African drumming. Singing in French, Fon and Mino, Kidjo's world-class voice can be keening and hard-edged ("Bissimilai") or coy and gentle ("N'yin Wan Nou Wé"), often juxtaposing the two extremes in the same song ("Bala Bala"). Angelique Kidjo continues to crest with Oyaya!, again proving that everything is within reach of her considerable talent. –-Tad Hendrickson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This is joyous!
With the current predeliction for over produced American Idol-esque screeching it's wonderful to be reminded of people who know their craft and continue to explore it like Kidjo. This album is a wonderful pop vocal album, period, and I hope it gets more exposure than the world music bin. The rythms are great, her voice is so clear and strong, every song is a delight! She is an African exploring the Carribean, but her emotion speaks to everyone.

Joyous, exuberant
"Oyaya" is the Yoruban word for joy, a fitting title for Angélique Kidjo's new album. _Oyaya!_ is a high-spirited album. It is impossible to listen to it without moving, even if I'm only dancing in my chair. The third in Angélique's series of albums exploring the influence of African music in the diaspora, _Oyaya!_ takes on Afro-Latin/Caribbean music. Even more than the previous 2 albums (_Oremi_ which explored American music and _Black Ivory Soul_ which explored Brazilian music), _Oyaya!_ blends the music rather than using it as an influence. I'm not sure which countries or styles of Caribbean music; her website mentions salsa, calypso, meringue, and ska. But it doesn't really matter. What matters is that it makes me smile, it makes me dance. Angélique's voice is as beautiful and sensual as ever, and so is the music. If you like dance-y Latin music, give this a try.

Own this cd!!!!!
This is a excellent cd!!!! The Afro-Caribian rhythms are real. If the first track does not get your feet moving...your dead. AK's voice is supreme "congoleo". The Latin guitar textures, and horn arrangemets are pure. Producer Steve Berlin who has worked with Los Lobos pulled this cd all together. This cd is a slight departure from AK last release. Having lived in West Africa for 3 years this brought back memories of the the taxi rides, street food and "gumbe". May this cd get AK wider expose.

Simply Sensational
Oyaya! is a lush kaleidoscope of sound pulsing with the irresistible Latin rhythms of the Caribbean. For this CD, Angelique journeyed to the Caribbean to bridge the links between African and Caribbean music. What she delivers is a vibrant masterpiece that effuses joy and hope in every recording. The musicianship on this CD is astounding and will leave you clamoring for an encore. I have been playing this CD in my car for about a month and cannot pull myself to remove it from my CD player. If you are an Angelique fan (even if you're not) this CD is definitely worth adding to your collection. ... Read more

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So much truly boring ambient music has been made since Brian Eno coined the phrase in the mid 1970s that it's sometimes hard to remember this can truly be a vibrant music that's, you know, musical. And while there are some clicky and smeared sounds courtesy of Mr. Eno that can only result from modern computer software, this album is a return to 1975's lush, pastoral and excellent Evening Star. The duo pick up where they left off on this aptly titled collection of blessed-out drone exercises. Fans of modern ambient music, like the stuff that Kranky label releases, might wish that there was a little more "envelope pushing." However, if you view ambient music on the same level as any other genre (say, bluegrass) then this album is akin to hearing that genre's originators (say, Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley) jamming quietly on a back porch while the sun sets. And it's hard to find fault with that, or this here fine, deliberately unassuming work.--Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A superb return to collaboration.
In many ways, this album is everything one would have expected-- somehow the natural successor to "No Pussyfooting" and "Evening Star".In other ways, its nothing like I would have expected-- the usual stamps of Fripp and Eno's recent work seems to be missing.

Its really quite hard to largely identify the identity of the musician generating the sound on much of this material, there's obvious stuff (we'll come to that in a minute), but as a rule, the backgrounds could be either of them.Sonically, it moves through a number of backdrops, with delicate, percussive, synthish loops dominating the early part of the record ("Meissa", "Lyra", "Tarazed"), wheras the middle of the record feels more like their old collaborations updated, the sort of modern Fripp soundscapes being more apparent ("Lupus", "Ankaa").The remainder of the album features on track that is totally unexpected, the downright funky "Altair", with its train shuffling rhythms, drum loops, and funky guitar (in ways similar to material from the Eno/Schwaum "Drawn from Life" record), and the closer, "Terebellum", is an aggressive, haunting, and almost angry sounding piece almost reminiscent of "Radiophonics" or the other more aggressive soundscapes.

Over this material, Fripp largely solos using a variant of his legendary fuzz tone-- its a bit mellower, and rounder though, similar to his leads on "Starless" and "The Power to Believe Part II" but in a more hushed feel.

So that tells not much, the real question is, what's it like?Largely an ambient affair, the collaboration is what you'd expect-- there's no real incindiery moments here-- don't look for a "Baby's On Fire", but it is comparable to their previous collaborations in quality, and it certainly sounds nothing like Crimson.Some of it is full of delicate beauty ("Lyra"), some of its just a blast ("Altair"), some of its actually quite hard to listen to at all ("Terebellum").

For fans of ambient music, especially the work of these two gentelemen, this one will be quite rewarding.It falls short somehow of being a masterpiece, but it is really a great record.Recommended.

Aimless Grandeur
Though it starts with what sounds like cows lowing beneath a sheet of midnight stars, Robert Fripp and Brian Eno's The Equatorial Stars - their first collaboration in 30 years - doesn't stay on planet Earth for long.Fripp's snakelike guitar lines loop through Eno's ambient landscapes with aimless grandeur, beautifully limning the constellations considered by title:"Tarazed", "Ankaa", etc.All seven tracks are of equal sonic value.The most propulsive, though, is "Altair", where Fripp's guitar meets the drummers from Hassell/Eno's Fourth World, Vol. 1, for a scenic glide through the night sky.

Older and Wiser
I found this album to be very worthwhile. It was consistently good, and very listenable-- yet it was also diverse, with different sounds and styles represented. Although this album has been compared with "The Shutov Assembly", I find it to be less austere than this album. There is more movement, and, perhaps, more raw emotion in "Eq. Stars". At the same time, "Stars" is less boisterous and youthful as Fripp and Eno's previous collaboration, "The Heavenly Music Corporation". It is, if anything, a wiser album, more subtle and intense. Generally, "Stars" runs the razor between too raw and too canned, too youthful and too jaded, and therefor it succeeds-- both as music to be listened to directly and indirectly.

Fripp and Eno Together Again!!!
King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and Ambient music pioneer Brian Eno have joined forces for the first time in over 26 years with their third and latest collaboration "The Equatorial Stars".
Featuring seven lengthy soundscapes, "The Equatorial Stars" is chock-full of the same atmospheric air as the duo's pioneering efforts "No Pussyfooting" and "Evening Star". Each of the album's seven pieces are similar stylistically being completely void of any central rhythm. The sole acception being track 6 "Altair" which features a rhythm loop that leans on the edge of subtle funk. Because of the similarities between each of the pieces, "The Equatorial Stars" works well as both a lengthy suite and seven individual pieces of music. Fripp's sustained guitar lines are at the forefront recalling his classic style of old without the use of much Midi-processing (a tool of Fripp's recent Soundscaping technique). Eno's minimalist keyboard backgrounds hang motionless creating open spaciness within the music. The styles of both musicians complement each other effortlessly and the end result is another winning combination.
After so many years, it is an absolute blessing the have Fripp and Eno together again with an album of new material. This newest CD compliments their first two albums effortlessly and together, they form a classic trilogy.
Highly Recommended!!

Tangerine Dream's Best Album Yet
After repeated listenings (which are necessary before I can fully appreciate content separate from expectation), I still find that I want to like this album much more than I actually do.As an inveterate follower of Fripp and Eno's individual and collaborative work, I should like this album-it has all the elements that are essential to their previous groundbreaking expeditions: guitar tone poems over crystallinetextures and sonic space.Perhaps the problem is that there is nothing particularly groundbreaking about this new long awaited release but I think I would also be very pleased with more of the same. As it stands, it is very good and a welcome addition to my ever-expanding collection of their work, but it lacks the electric inspiration brought to so many of their previous efforts.Effects of "maturity," success, suburbia? On the inner sleeve is a photo of two tea cups which symbolize, I suppose, something about their collaborative friendship.How I wished instead it was a bong and spent blotter acid wrappers with resulting music to go with it. ... Read more

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Taylor Dayne made her reputation as a latter-day disco diva whose hits "Tell It to My Heart" and "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" (the latter a remake of the famed Barry White hit) showed off her big, brassy voice, an instrument that seldom surrendered to the '80s-style synth-pop production that (unfortunately) almost always accompanied it. Greatest Hits collects the best of Dayne's three albums and keeps the tempo shifting nicely between ballads (which Dayne excels at) and uptempo dance tunes (including several new remixes). Her material has its limitations, but the power of Dayne's voice is never in question. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Dayne's Best
One of the greatest dance pop singers to come out of the eighties was Long Island's Taylor Dayne. Possessed of a voice that could literally wipe the floor with the competition(only Whitney Houston matched her vocally), she churned out a string of dance-pop and ballad hits, starting with 'Tell It To My Heart'. This collection is a sterling sample of some of Dayne's finest moments, with 'I'll Be Your Shelter' and 'Heart Of Stone' giving wonderfully opposing ends of the spectrum to which Dayne could easily gravitate. It also contains the essential tracks from her mediocre '93 set SOUL DANCING, including her exquisite reworking of Barry White's 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love'. It's too bad that her label seemingly gave up on her after that project--that single and 'Send Me A Lover' should have been huge and furthered her cause, but instead were pretty much met with indifference. Nonetheless, this is essential listening for fans of superior eighties pop(also noteworthy are her '89 album CAN'T FIGHT FATE and last project NAKED WITHOUT YOU). Highly recommended.

Her Greatest Hits
Driven by Ric Wake's production, Taylor Dayne emerged as a top performer in the late eighties. Her soulful voice soared over sparkling pop songs, programmed to become hits. With a careful selection of club friendly dance and consumable ballads Taylor was soon catapulted into stardom. Her albums 'Tell It To My Heart' and 'Can't Fight Fate' both went double platinum and spawned eight US top ten hits - a remarkable achievement.

It can safely be said that this 'greatest hits' set was issued much too soon. The compilation has little to offer to those who own some of her earlier albums, as there are no new recordings included. The 'new' tracks are a remix of 'Tell It To My Heart' + plus two remixes of 'Say A Prayer', a song taken from her third album 'Soul Dancing'. The resulting 11 tracks are those 'greatest hits'.

The album includes five ballads, most notably 'I'll Always Love You' and 'Love Will Lead You Back'. 'I'll Be Your Shelter' and 'Heart Of Stone' are also still pleasant pop songs. 'Send Me A Lover' is one of her less known songs, which is a shame, because it's a stunning composition and Taylor is much more in control of her vocal instrument - making it the strongest ballad on here. It is arguably the strongest moment of this collection.

Yet, Taylor is also known for her radio-friendly popdance. 'Tell It To My Heart' dominates, both in the original version and the even more uptempo T-empo remix. Other songs, such as 'Prove Your Love', are perhaps a bit too much throwaway pop, . Pleasant exceptions are the hardhitting 'Ill Wait' and her credible rendition of Barry White's 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love'.

Taylor Dayne's 'Greatest Hits' is a pleasant album, which brings back memories of her glory days. It's still a premature compilation which doesn't add a lot if you already her other albums. However, if you don't, this release is the perfect document to those irresistible hits of the past.

THE BEST CD EVER!!!
Taylor Dayne has a powerhouse voice!! This CD is great it has all her greatest hits. If you grew up with 80's pop, this is the CD for you!! You will truly enjoy it!!!!

boring "soul" again
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Too many boring soul ballads !
I hate "soul" at all!

Although Taylor Dayne sings not just those stupid ballads, her compilations include them mainly.

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5 stars plus.This hits album will lead you back.
One of the best voices in the music industry. I think better than mariah carey and christina aguilera. Taylor's voice has that sulty soul sound may I add very powerful and I do not care if anyone disagrees here. My favorite song is love will lead you back, its timeless, along with dont rush me,tell it to my heart.ext.... I got to see tayler last year 2002 in long beach ca, my god this women gave her all with love will lead you back, This greatest hit collection is worth it brings alot of late 80's sound back with early 90's feel. I put taylor's collection high above along with Madonna's immaculate collection and latins Ana Gabriel's 30 grandes exitos. (30 greastest hits)...

Taylor Daynes greatest hits BUY it today.. ... Read more

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Will Smith makes a welcome left turn from his recent Hollywood McAction Film past in director Andy Tennant's romantic comedy. He is also the film's executive soundtrack producer, taking the opportunity to pay tribute to the R&B and soul that initially influenced his own musical career, as well as showcase its contemporary echoes. Vintage tracks represent Motown (the Temptations' classic "I Can't Get Next to You") and Philly (The O'Jays "Love Train") soul well, while the Caribbean rhythms of Jimmy Cliff's "You Can Get It," Martha Reeves' "It's Easy to Fall in Love" and Earth, Wind & Fire's pop-inflected "Reasons" testify to the old school's rich diversity. John Legend's new cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" doesn't add much to the original, but other new cuts like the hip-hop/soul fusion ofHeavy D and the Boyz' "Now That We Found Love," EW&F's collaboration with Kelly Rowland and Sleepy Brown ("This Is How I Feel") and Amerie's funk-charged "I Thing" offer up a tasty modern R&B groove. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Could've been better
Wonder why some songs which were there in the movie aren't there on the soundtrack ... Strange that even Switch is not on the OST!! Guess the songs on the OST are sort of "situational" which means one would probably enjoy them while watching the movie not while driving ... And Astro Jr, the name of the song in the club when Will Smith meets Eva Mendes for the first time is Five Fathoms (Love More) by Everything But the Girl ...

Stinker
Anyone leaving a positive review for this soundtrack must work for the production company or something.It's a complete snore-x from start to finish.The movie deserves 5 stars, but the soundtrack does not live up to the flick.I almost fell asleep at the wheel listening to it on the way home.

one song is missing!!!
when alex hitch meets Sara melas in the bar and he helps her with a disgusting guy. In that scene the background music is a song very cool, the voice is like tracy thorn, the girl of Everything Buth The Girl, but I tried to find that song in the soundtrack and that song is not there. anybody knows what's the name of that song? and if EBTG sings?

Terrible soundtrack
Run, don't walk, AWAY from this soundtrack as fast as you can, unless you're under 20. At the very least, sample the songs on Itunes (as I did) first. With 1 or 2 exceptions, the songs are mediocre new stuff no one would ever buy or cover versions that suffer by comparison with the original. Most of the songs we liked best in the movie are NOT here and what is here would never register in a person's memory after the credits roll. This confirms that soundtracks are marketing ploys that bear little or no relation to their film vehicle.

Don't waste money on this!!

Cool Movie Soundtrack
By the end of the movie, I was thinking "I have to go by this soundtrack". Alot of great songs, by alot of great artists.
The movie was really funny ... and the music is the best ! ... Read more

Album Description

Following the ULTRA.DANCE series tradition, ULTRA.DANCE 06 contains the biggestclub and radio dance tracks mixed by two of the hottest DJs in the US - VIC LATINO and THE RIDDLER of WKTU-NY.Both Ultra and the mixers have an incredible saleshistory.This volume's monster track is a remix of Kevin Lyttle's "Turn Me On".Get ready for a dynamite double disc with bonus ringtones and the hot new Eric Prydz video - "Call On Me". Be one of the first 10,000 people to purchase the album and receive free ringtones from Shape UK and Eric Prydz.Also included in the package is the steamy hot video for "Call On Me".Pick yours up today. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

i think Ultra.Dance 06's ego is bigger than the album itself
i've mostly been into the ultra.trance series, but eventually moved away from it when i started hearing songs that were so 'ghetto' that they couldn't possibly be categorized as trance in the first place, let alone wind up on an album who's main sales pitch is trance music.

the same thing has happened with the ultra.dance series....and for some strange reason more trance tracks have appeared on this album, which probably means the dj's that compile these selections don't really know what they're doing. typically in the ultra series collections, you don't see the really good dj's compiling the stuff (like oakenfold/van buuren/tiesto). instead we get wannabe disc jockeys like the riddler, vic latino, johnny vicious, etc...that seem to all want to get mad props/recognition, and in the process of striving for fame, they lose thier credibility by intermixing generes/going off on a tangent of music on an album that's supposed to feature only one genere of music. for ultra.dance 06 i can cite 3 or 4 different generes of music that this album touches. and for those that like dance but not hip-hop/r&b, they will have put up with it, because these "amazing" dj's felt those songs had to be on the playlist.

but when looking at new compilations that come from these 'big time' dj's, including Louie DeVito (who's compilations i gave up on at least 2 years ago), the trend i've noticed is how they have this magic ability to select songs that just sound real bad. for example, 'Out Of Touch' (disc 1) sounds like it was compiled in a garage using a 386 and compiled twice over using mp3 encoding. seriously, some of these songs cannot be played loud on a high end system because they sound like trash. but if you people keep on buying into it, then you support the garbage.

despite all this bashing, there were a few good songs on this album. but i've basically had enough of the ultra series. i would say if you like this album, you would like the 'trip in house' series of albums better.

Just Alright....
Not one of the greatest Ultra CD's and I love most of them. The first CD sounds like something from the 70's with the girl vocals. Kinda disco. Its just OK.

Till There was this CD!
No Matter how 'mediocore' the other songs/mixes on this cd may be, buying this album just for rachael starr's 'till there was you' was worth the $17!! This is one of the greatest prog/ house tracks i've heard in a long time, and i just found out rachael produced the song herself from an interview she did. the vocal melody is very different from others i've heard, and she really treats her voice like a finley tuned instrument. a girl who produces and sings?? get your hands on this one however you can.. vinyl or cd

Like the cd but...
Outside of me purchasing the album for its music, i also wanted to see this 10,000 free ringtone giveaway...and to my surprise it's quite a little lie. when you open the booklet it tells you that you need to have certain cell phone service - and verizon is not on the list. So therefore you can't even get the ringtones. Oh and you can only download 2 of them - and 10,000 can do this until they all run out. But you yourself do not get to choose out of 10,000. One is eric prydes and the other is UK lola's theme.
Cell phone providers accepted:
AT&T
Cingular
T-Mobile
Nextel
Boost Mobile
I wish they'd say that somewhere on the back b4 i bought the cd. I feel dissapointed and feel i too deserve free rintones not just people with those cell phone services.

Waist of Money
The album is a waist of money. One song is worst than the next. Of course, it's a matter of opinion though. None of the songs have any energy. You can't workout to it, let alone "Dance" to it. "Ultra Waist." ... Read more

Amazon.com

So there's this pop singer... you may have heard of her? Madonna, she's called, and the word is that she's basically all image; she went through a put-your-hands-all-over-my-body phase, then she got spiritual, and then she started wearing cowboy hats. Between all the gossip columns and photo shoots, though, she's left an unmatched trail of devastatingly wonderful singles--roaring dance records, tender ballads, and a curious combination of the two that is her personal specialty ("Secret" and "Ray of Light"). How many artists' best-of-the-second-decade collections crowd out legitimate hits? ("American Pie," anyone? "This Used to Be My Playground"?) Unlike 1990's Immaculate Collection, GHV2 doesn't have any new material; "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina," from Evita, and the glorious '60s pastiche "Beautiful Stranger" are the only songs that haven't appeared on a Madonna album before. But it compresses her past 10 years worth of records into an hour of one peak after another. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (249)

Good compilation, probably not for the collectors
While not nearly as instantly gratifying nor as cohesive as The Immaculate Collection from 1990, GHV2 is still a satisfying retrospective of Madonna's 90s+ work.

A number of musical styles characterized much of her music during this time, producing an interesting diversity of work; a little retro club here ("Deeper and Deeper"), some R&B there ("Secret", "Human Nature"), a sprinkling of torch-song ballads ("Take a Bow", "Don't Cry for Me Argentina") and a good dose of electronica for good measure (everything else). Not everything fits well together, but the songs on their own are good and show considerable maturity in songwriting and vocal performance.

The collection is a little top-heavy on selections from Ray of Light and Music. If you have those two albums, you basically have half of this CD. Minor hits "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (a non-US single), "The Power of Good-Bye" and "What It Feels Like For a Girl" could have been swapped for the more commercial "Fever," "Rain," and "I'll Remember" possibly balancing the collection a little better. But the former tracks were likely included to capitalize on the artist's Drowned World Tour, occurring around the same time, which largely focused on her latter work. Not a bad idea.

Most of the tracks found on GHV2 are edit versions, geared towards casual listeners. Some of them are not so good, like the butchering found on "Ray of Light." And "Frozen's" haunting, symphonic solo has also been trimmed to a mere few seconds.

Single remixes fashioned like The Immaculate Collection may have jazz things up a little, and accommodated a wider buying audience. The package design is attractive with a nice collage of pictures, chronicling Madonna's photographic evolution (I don't know about her Cher impression, 1st pic on the bottom row).

Overall, a solid and listenable collection.

A great follow up to "Immaculate Collection"
Ciao! fellow amazon reviewers and shoppers.

Madonna has done it again with this thrilling and different collection of hits. I am very happy to learn that Beautiful stranger made it to the track list!

Out of all the songs, I personally think that Madonna's MUSIC, THE POWER OF GOODBYE, BEAUTIFUL STRANGER AND BEDTIME STORY ARE my favorites.

If you don't know the track list, it is as goes:
1) Deeper and deeper 7" edit 2) Erotica radio edit 3) Human nature clean radio version 4) Secret 5) Don't cry for me Argentina original non dance version 6) Bedtime Story 7 The power of goodbye 8) Beautiful stranger 9) Frozen 10) Take a bow 11) Ray of light 12) Don't tell me 13) What it feels like for a girl non dance mix version 14) Drowned world/Substitute for 15) Music

The photos inside the booklet are amazing and they show her in all imaginable poses and styles. Actually, the whole concept of the artwork is Madonna's different looks from the start up to the present. Even the graphics on the cd itself are cool and offer a bold and new look to the incredible Queen of Pop's journey of success.
There is a song for everyone. If you like serene and serious stuff, "Don't cry..." is for you. If you like moving, unearthing trancelike music, Bedtime story is for you. I liked the idea of Madonna continuing right from where she left off with the "Immaculate Collection.

Unfortunately there are no remixes on this compilation. It would have been fun to find the remixes from her new singles here. Oh weeeeellllll. It's okay because whatever the Queen of Pop does suits me fine.
Upon reading the writeup inside the booklet, I first thought it cool that Madonna wrote something for her fans, but instead, it was written by Dan Cadan. The writeup was interesting because I learned a little more about Madonna than I knew already.
I think you will appreciate her a whole lot more after reading it.

The cd cover is an unusual for Madonna. Usually we see her whole face or her whole body. Here, she is close up and dramatically made up, and I find her expression both seductive and shy.
This woman knows what music is and knows how to make it. 5 big huge gold stars for this collection.

Sing on Madonna, and hope you will come up with another collection some time in the future.

Enjoy the cd and hope my review helped you.

Almost Complete
The amazon.com reviewer is right. This compilation is missing two great singles "This Used To Be My Playground" and "American Pie." Another complaint is that the single radio version (Miami Remx) of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" is not included--it's the soundtrack album version. But still a good buy for Madonna fans. A-

More crap from an old woman doing music for old people
Same old same old from Madonna. She mainly appeals to unhip people over the age of 47 now. She looked about 57 when this album was made.

You can pick this one up and her others at the local used CD stores for $1.00. They have dozens of copies.

Madonna's Greatest Hits Volume 2
Definitely better than the over-hyped travesty known as 'The Immaculate Collection,' which is nothing a but a collection of over-chopped over-remixed classic tunes. GHV2 does a rather good job at showcasing Madonna's high points in musical culture during the fabulous 90's. Despite some MAJOR omissions in regards to HITS (i.e. I'll Remember, Rain, This Used To Be My Playground, etc.) this album focuses on all the different genres the Queen of Pop embarked upon during those years. Maybe not a great effort to a diehard, but pretty dang good for a beginner or a casual listener. Give it a spin! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With songs that fall exactly in between Michael Jackson's Off the Wall period and A Taste of Honey, Jamiroquai's Synkronized is a funk-disco inferno that is distinguished from its 1970s counterparts only by its 1990s production. It contains all the same ingredients: wah-wah guitar, electric piano, soft-sided strings oozing out melody, pot-bellied bass, and a blasted-out horn section that evokes images of three guys stepping in sync while their sequined flairs swipe over white patent-leather loafers.While the funk is steamy enough to flatten the tallest 'fro, Jay Kay's impeccable ability to emulate Stevie Wonder's vocals brings on the cool side. But the album isn't all about a time warp. Just when you think Jamiroquai isn't going to step a toe beyond 1978, "Supersonic," the seventh track, throws down an acid-house riff that works in didgeridoo and a synthed-out cow bell. "Where Do We Go from Here" rocks with a leap-frogging blues piano and tangy bongos. The album's grand finale, "King for a Day," is a regal rock-operatic excursion embellished with fully orchestrated piano and strings. Overall, this Jamiroquai jamfest is an irreplaceable summer-in-the-city album. --Beth Massa ... Read more

Reviews (137)

Great !
Even though it's not as good as Travelling without Moving or Return of the Space Cowboy, Synkronized has some really great tracks. The best being Butterfly, Canned Heat, and Falling. This CD has more slow songs than some of his other albums, and i can't say i have a problem with that. The only song i don't really like is Supersonic, even though I can stand that.

1. Canned Heat - Great Up-Tempo song. Off "Center Stage" soundtrack. 10/10.
2. Planet Home - Another Upbeat song, though not as good as Canned Heat. Still good. 8.5/10
3. Black Capricorn Day - Not one of my favorites. A little too rockish and the song is too slow. It's like a fast song caged in a slow beat (hard to explain). 7.5/10
4. Soul Education - Great Song. Typical Jamiroquai funk. 9/10.
5. Falling - I personally love this song. Slow, & jazzy. 9/10
6. Destitute Illusion - Upbeat. Good song to dance to. 8.5/10
7. Supersonic - Strange, electronic beat. Not Jamiroquai's best. 7/10.
8. Butterfly - Best Jamiroquai song I've heard. The lyrics aren't impressive, but the beat alone merits a 10. AMAZING. 10/10.
9. Where Do We Go From Here - Decent. 8/10.
10. King For A Day - Has almost a halloweenish, scary beat. Even still, it's not bad. 8/10.

If you don't have enough money to buy all the Jamiroquai albums, you can skip this one, but it's still a sound investment.

The Lords of Funk Return Once Again
As the band's fourth studio effort, "Synkronized," truly validates Jamiroquai's status as the most popular and gifted soul group out there. Fresh from the success of their best selling "Travelling Without Moving" album, Jay Kay and his band return with a fresh sounding sound that no one can try to imitate.

The first single "Canned Heat," is a high-tech, funk creation that brings the bands to their roots. Fast, beat-laden rhythms and Jay Kay's moving vocals made this song a hit during the summer of 1999. Other tracks such as "Planet Home," show how Jamiroquai is able to use various international musical styles (in this case their use of salsa in the third-quarter of the song) really can rock a crowd without them really knowing what they are hearing.

Other songs as "Supersonic" and "Butterfly" are some of the album's great tracks, however unlike their previous album, this album is short on songs that made "Travelling Without Moving" such a huge international hit. Nevertheless, "Synkronized" is an awesome album. Give this and all of Jamiroquai's albums a try, and I can guarantee that you'll become bonafide fans. No one can resist the power and sound of Jamiroquai.

What happened J?
This is the point where I simply said ciao to being a Jamiroquai fan, because this album is really poor. I was hesitating on giving it 1 star, but that would be unfair because it does achieve some sort of music flavour, but following on from Travelling, Jamiroquai had totally lost their creativity with this one. Strings have totally taken over where horns and synths used to rule, and make this album depressingly flat. Rather than being in any way cutting edge, the obvious characteristic from the 1st 3 albums, it turns into a really bad version of Earth, Wind & Fire. It simply doesn't compare to earlier work, even Travelling, but especially Emergency and Space Cowboy. Maybe it was Denise, or maybe it was that JK became closer to his cars than his supposed environmentalism, but whatever the guy lost it with this one.

Funk Never Left Planet Earth
Funk, disco, dance, the list of genres can go on and on... Jamiroquai is no fad band caught in a time warp. They are the current real thing giving their own unique and sophisticated spin on these styles of the 70's and early 80's...Some of the productions like the opening track Canned Heat should make Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson proud since you can hear the strong influences. But make no mistake, it is STILL Jamiroquai's own material and sound ! There is something familiar but yet oh so futuristic. Highly infectious grooves with a little dash of some early and late 70's Motown feel on some tracks that do indeed harken back to the day when Stevie Wonder was feelin' Superstitious...Out of all the Jamiroquai cd's or productions I find myself always going back to this one from 1999. You will too !

Worth adding to your collection!
I agree with others that this isn't as good as some of Jamiroquai's earlier albums but it's still worth adding to your collection. It has some real "classics" that you will play over and over again. In fact, the last song "King for a Day" os probably the one track that was a let down, that plus the fact that this CD appears to be shorter than others. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

More than a Chic RIPOFF
Many may have considered Change to be a clone of Chic. Granted, there are some similiarities: both featured dynamic bass lines in their music; they were fronted by mostly studio singers; they both had their time in the spotlight during the late 70's and early 80's. However, Change did score on the charts with some significant dance tunes.

"A Lover's Holiday," the group's debut single, is a very danceable tune that fits nicely with the current crop of pop hits. "Searching" and "The Glow of Love" benefit immensely from the vocals of the then-unknown Luther Vandross.

My favorite selections are the dynamic "Paradise," "Change of Heart," and "Turn On Your Radio."

The only regret is that Rhino chose not to include the tune "Stop for Love," a gem that is beautifully sung and orchestrated.

Music from heaven!
As a researcher in black music in general and of Change in particular a brief history of the group could be nice to have before buying this record. Change is one of the most over looked groups in the early 80's that should earn much more credit for their fantastic achievements even though it's 18 years ago they released their latest album. It all started in Italy in 1979 where the Guadeloupe born (executive) producer Jacques Fred Petrus and his closest companion, the Italian mastermind musician Mauro Malavasi decided to launch a new group after working together a couple of years (formed Goody music records around 75). The groups name became Change and the men behind it were originally based in Bologna and Milan in Italy but later also in New York. Right from the start Petrus and Malavasi used Italian musicians (Mauro Malavasi, Davide Romani and Paulo Gianolio among others) and American vocalists (LutherVandross, Diva Gray and later James "Crabs" Robinson and Timmy Allen) of whom the lead vocalist from Change's debut, Luther Vandross later became the most well known character from the time (he later became a big name on his own with several albums). From the beginning Change was just a studio concept though, with several "Change" touring around America, but in 82 they became a group in the right meaning of the word. After a poor release in 85 they split up and Jacques Fred Petrus was murdered two years after, most likely in his native country of Guadeloupe due to illegal affairs with the Mob. Mauro Malavasi however, is today a successful songwriter and producer in Italy that been producing Andrea Bocceli and other great singers.

This lovely and brilliant CD, recorded in a superb and professional way with some generous liner notes, covers a tasteful mix of tracks from all their albums between 80 and 85, from the early disco influenced albums to the later much more R&B influenced ones. You can for example hear the whole 12" version of the hits "A lover's holiday" and "Searching" from 80, the smooth dance track "Hold tight" and Chic-like "Paradise" from 81 and the Jam/Lewis hits of "Change of heart" and "You are my melody" from 84. It also includes the great, but much more unknown tracks of "The very best of you" from 82 and "This is your time" from 83, all perfectly re-mastered. This CD gives a excellent introduction to Change for the never-heard-of-it persons and an excellent contribution for the already convinced ones. But even if you like dance music the slightest little bit, try it out, you wont be disappointed!

Music is a universal language of peace!

Not as popular or well-remembered as Chic, but very hot.
Change was never as popular as Chic, but their sound and style were just as funky and (to a degree) more sophisticated. Change epitomized the sound of 1980s post-disco urban R&B and featured a variety of singers(including Luther Vandross). Cult dance classics like "A Lover's Holiday", "The Glow Of Love", "Miracles", "The Very Best In You" and "This Is Your Time" make this a superb compilation.

Funk Has Never been this Good!
Change is most certainly one of the best groups in Funk Music.All the songs included here are awesome and each one has a funk edge which is rather hard to find in today's music.The highlight on this CD is "change Of Heart" , a fantastic Dance\Funk gem produced and written by the masters of Soul and Funk Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.Change rules!!!!!!!!!!!!

A great collection of 80's dance-soul!
This is a wonderful collection of songs from Change and it's about time they had a "Greatest Hits" released as they certainly did release great hits back in the day. It's easy to take your pick here really as ALL the tracks are that good! From the early days when Luther fronted the group to their later releases featuring James "Crabs" Robinson, Deborah Cooper and Rick Brennan. My favorite track is "Hold Tight" which has a haunting chorus and superbly executed, we're talking high quality music here folks! And I'm also referring to the fact that not only is the singing remarkable but also the music itself speaks volumes of the high musicianship that were always so evident on all their albums. Nuff said, other highlights for me are of course the late chart hit "Change Of Heart" which in a way paved the way for Jam & Lewis. It's also great to see the lesser known tracks such as "Don't Wait Another Night" which did chart back in the Summer of 1983 and the vibrant "You Are My Melody". I don't have anymore to say except, go and BUY IT NOW you won't regret it. On a positive note, it's reassuring to know that the Japanese know quality music when they see it as they released "Miracles", "Sharing Your Love" and "Change Of Heart" on CD back in 2000. However, there is a new US release on its way (November 19) which contains both "Miracles" and "Change Of Heart". It would be nice to see those other 2 that are still missing in CD format, "This Is Your Time" and "Turn On Your Radio" to be finally released on CD as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

It begins with the insistent drip-drop of a sequencer and ends with some old school R&B. In between, the artist who was still calling himself Prince unfurls an encyclopedia of moods, genres, and grooves. Widely heralded as a groundbreaker in 1987, when it was released, some of the music in oh-so-'80s synths sounds a bit dated. Yet this two-CD set is clearly the sound of a performer at the height of his power. On songs like the title track, "If I Was Your Girlfriend," and the thunderous "The Cross," Prince proves why the hype was justified. --Amy Linden ... Read more

Reviews (113)

One of the Rock Era's Finest Albums
If Purple Rain is Prince at his tightest and most focused, Sign of the Times is Prince as his most eclectic. On this particular album, as the Beatles did on the White Album, Prince successfully navigates several different genres with stunning craft. Exhibiting the full range of his immense talent, Prince offers up the socially aware, Sly-influenced funk of the title track, the smoldering James Brown tribute "Housequake," the classic slow jam "Adore," the sparse, poignant ballad "Forever in My Life," the Beatlesque gem "Starfish and Coffee," the surging sixties-style rocker "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"), the psychosexual, quirky funk of "If I Was Your Girlfriend" and "Strange Relationship," the gospel-tinged "The Cross," the sharply observed "Ballad of Dorothy Parker," and the sexually charged, genius pop- funk of "U Got the Look."

A Work Of Art.
Considering the fact that this LP was originally concieved as a 3 record set called "Crystal Ball"(and at another juncture "A Doll's House")in collaboration with the newly expanded Revolution, but then pared down to a double LP because Warner Bros. refused to get behind such an enormous musical undertaking and not even considered by Prince himself to be his best work, "Sign 'O'The Times" is truly a triumph. After 16 years and nearly as many more albums, hardly anything in popular music tops this sprawling masterwork. To call the LP a product of it's time or to chide it's 80's sound is to do it a terrible injustice. Over the course of these tracks, Price proves that his vision, scope and musical grasp are unlimited. His mastery of 60's jangle pop ("I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", "Play In The Sunshine") hard funk ("Housequake", "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night") dark, burbling soul ("The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker" and the title track) straight guitar rock ("The Cross") avant-dance textures ("It") and lustful balladry ("If I Was Your Girlfriend", "Slow Love", "Adore")is staggering. While his chops continue to improve and he stretches out even further into jazz and rock, the joy and effortless eclecticism on display here catches him at the peak of his powers. Flawed, messy and brilliant all at the same time, "Sign...." never ceases to sound fresh and exciting. A Classic.

The best of the best!
The Prince fan here!
Sign 'O' the Times is undoubtedly one of the best albums you'll ever hear!! I got introduced to so much because of this man here. His music is great and he deserves praise for it!

Sign 'O' the Times...Brilliant!! This 2-disc set is wonderful, I'm beginning to go listen to it right now! He is so brilliant, you'll be blinded by his talent! He is such a great songwriter and singer and more, and I really appreciate him.

This album is a mix of rock, R&B, and pop. It is put together wonderfully with a love song or slow jam at the end of each CD (like he usually does). Among my favorites are "Starfish & Coffee" so mellow and entertaining in a kiddy sorta way. Your inner child comes out after listening to that one! "Slow Love" and it's Sly and the Family Stone meets The Beatles funk--I love it! Forever in my Life...wow...makes me wanna be one of the many women he had! "U Got the Look", man, dance on, dance on, dance on! "Strange Relationship", baby! So cute, so well done Prince (or Camille? LOL). And "Adore", like my girl Alicia Keys, I love it, great ending song.

I got lost in my music for a moment, but I really recommend it to you guys. You don't have to be a huge Prince fan (like myself) to enjoy it. Trust me!
BUY IT AND BE AMAZED!

Sounds as fresh as it did back in duh day
This album is 2good2b true

One of the best albums of the 80s
I just received this in the mail yesterday and felt compelled to write a review already.

With Prince's recent comeback I decided to go buy what everyone says is his best album, and I wasn't disappointed. He delivers here from beginning to end. The album never runs out of gas.

I wasn't turned off by the "80s synths" either. It has a great retro feel to it. And some of the songs (The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, Starfish and Coffee, The Cross) haven't aged AT ALL.

I realized that a lot of this sounds like the template to what would become 90s R & B and pop (Outkast anyone?)

Probably the most thought-provoking song (Even more that the title track) is "If I Was Your Girlfriend", which is about a lot of sex with no love. For most of the song, Prince's crude, crazy, helium-voiced alter ego, Camille (it's amazing what speeding up vocal tracks can do) drops flippid comments like "Would you let me help dress you" and "Can't I see you undress?" until suddenly at the end, everything speeds up and explodes, and all that's left is Camille saying "Then we can imagine what silence looks like." The melody and hook disappear, and all that's left is the chilling beat, symbolizing the empty sex that Camille just had.

On other songs he doesn't think too much about those things, like on IT, which is about doing IT, "all the time."

But, to offer my opinion, the best track here is "the ballad of Dorothy Parker." It sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday, but most of all, seems like it's about resisting the temptation of a beautiful woman when you got a beautiful woman at home. Prince showcases great vocals, as he croons and swoons for 4 minutes and "takes two baths."

P.S. about "Camille." Camille is given credit for sevaral of the lead vocals and is even thanked by Prince in the liner notes. As mentioned before, Camille is Prince singing a vocal track and then speeding it up. Sign o the times is basically leftovers from the aborted "Camille" project and the aborted triple-disc "Crystal Ball" album. (Crystal Ball is mentioned in the song "Hot Thing") ... Read more

Amazon.com

The U.K.-based Sneaker Pimps combine standard rock guitar parts with trip-hop beats and clear white-soul vocals, and, when strumming an acoustic guitar (as on the first single, "6 Underground"), the trio is virtually indistinguishable from Luscious Jackson. While using electronica's signifiers--jungle's rattle, trip-hop's dark churn, ambient's synth washes, hip-hop's samples--Sneaker Pimps never stray far from the comfy world of the pop song. Becoming X's opener, "Low Place Like Home," is only one step from Alanis, while the rousing closer is as breathy and sunny as the Cardigans. --Roni Sarig ... Read more

Reviews (74)

Beautifully Dark
I bought this CD because I heard "6 Underground" and liked it. It turned out that every other song is good too, and the album maintains the 6 Underground feel. This is the CD that first got me hooked on the trip-hop/downtempo genre. I describe Becoming X as a melodic version of Portishead's Dummy. The CD creates a dark, moody atmosphere which Kelli (Vocallist) tops off perfectly.

Compared to the other Sneaker Pimps CD's, this is my second favorite, second to Splinter. It is the only one with a female voice, but the voice isn't what makes the band. I'd rate Becoming X a 9.5 out of 10 and Splinter a 10 out of 10. Becoming X is more bass line and drum heavy, while Splinter relies more on melodic guitar riffs and orchestra clips.

I's reccommend this album to anyone who listens to music to feel Zen. Buy it if you like Radiohead, Portishead, Hooverphonic, any other Sneaker Pimps, or any other Trip-Hop.

Uneven, hints at greater promise, still worth a listen.
I bought this CD on the strength of its second single (but the first I can recall hearing in the US) "6 Underground", which in my opinion was one of the best songs on the radio from late 1996 through Spring/Summer 1997. There are two versions of the song appearing on "Becoming X", including the "Nellee Hooper Edit" which was released as the single.

The truth is that the rest of the CD doesn't approach the level of "6 Underground", however...and in fact doesn't come close. That's not to say that there aren't worthwhile points of interest elsewhere on the album, though..."Postmodern Sleaze" being chief among them.

But the album never completely finds its own identity; the use of organic instruments such as the acoustic guitar among an electronic armada of sequencers, samplers, and other assorted synthesizers is a difficult mix to master (and very rarely executed to perfection...see "Personal Jesus" as the one standout example). "6 Underground" pulls it off well, but it's almost as if the band didn't want to push the envelope any further. Kelli Dayton's vocals are also hit-and-miss, ranging from sultry and soulful to aggressive and enigmatic. It seems she can't decide whether she's Tracey Thorn or Bjork. She doesn't seem quite comfortable with all the songs on the CD, but it has to be said that there are moments when she's quite inspired.

I will say that this isn't one of my favorite CD's, but it must have some hold on me as I also bought its pseudo-sequel "Becoming Remixed" when it was released in 1998. But so much of "Becoming X" seems as though it was remixed from a previous, more organic project that remixing it seems to be a redundancy. It's not the most shining example of trip-hop that I've ever heard, but any Massive Attack or Portishead fans won't be completely disappointed with it. Kelli's subsequent departure means The Sneaker Pimps now have a markedly different sound, so associating their latest efforts with their first would be an oversight that the curious music fans would do well to avoid; give it a shot.

Fan at 1st Listen
I became aware of this group about 6 years ago when I saw the video for "6 Underground." I instantly became a fan! This album infuses the lead's voice over bass, drums, synthesizers, etc. The songs make you feel something deep within your soul like "Post-Modern Queen" and "No Place Like Home." I recommend this album as an introduction to anyone who wants to know what electronica and trip hop is about.

kelly dayton
Sneaker pimps f'ed up when they kicked Kelly Dayton
now they have stupid vocals and ok beats
this is without a doubt the best album ever released by them
dispite lame attempts to progress as seen in ALL other sneaker pimps albums splinter and bloodsport and i think 1 more?? hmmm i guess it doesnt matter since I know they all SUCK

maybe one day they will work with kelly again and moke a second jewl but till then this is the 1 to get

Becoming X
I've only heard 2 songs from this album, but both are excellent. i find my self often adicted to the electronic sound, and Kelli Dayton's haunting vocals in "Becoming X". And "6 Underground" has the feeling of regret to it, and the lyrics are amazing. THIS IS THE ONLY GOOD SNEAKER PIMPS ALBUM. THEY SUCK WITHOUT KELLI DAYTON. she started a solo career i believe, and changed her name to Kelli Ali. (im not sure why) but i highly recommend this cd. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

ptree s.m.s. -- essential extacy enhanced
"the sky moves sideways" is absolutely essential (6 stars!) early ptree. this remaster contains the s.m.s. titles from the original uk release (the us release was different -- it dropped "prepare yourself" and added "stars die"), plus this has "stars die" and a slightly longer version of "moonloop" (both were on the uk ep)....so already it has enough to warrant buying it....but wait! there's more -- this also has a 34 minute alternate version of the title cut.

110 minutes of aural gratification.

why are you still reading this? you should be ordering this disc!! ... Read more