Reviews (11)

GREAT BEGINNING SAD ENDING!
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, guilty pleasure of the middle 80's scene, she was the queen of Freestyle by that time, her music was around every club, and her style will remain in many people minds. Her sounds were extremely danceable, although some people thought that her voice was a little bit squirky and anoying, it fitted just great to the type of music she wanted to approach, even her hit ballad "All Cried Out" a bittersweet melody with amazing lyrics, that will be covered later by many, fitted her just great, but undoubtly her greatest achievment was dance music, "Head To Toe", "Lost In Emotion", where #1's the same year and make everybody love this, sadly she became lost in more pop oriented tunes with the next albums, saving only "Let The Beat Hit Em" that it's truly a comeback to the dance music scene, but too late, the magic was lost and we should point to "Little Jackie Wants To Be A Star" as guilty for throwing Lisa's career to oblivion, but if you forget that and concentrate on the early materials you will find an artist that surface out of the bunch, because they were talented and had a new flavor to offer to the public.

Take it Home
The queen of Latin Hip-hop soul, Lisa Lisa shines on this set of big eighties pop hits with her crew Cult Jam. The songs for the most part are all upbeat dance gems that are very influential (ask Jennifer Lopez or even Janet Jackson for the matter) and full of great beats. The set really hits is stride with ahead of their time early tracks like "Can You Feel The Beat" and "I Wonder If I Take You Home" which prove that the Latin grooves can make great dance music and are brightly vivid songs about young love. These tracks make some of the best pop around now very seem lacking. Big hits like "Head To Toe" and the sweet "Lost In Emotion" is excellent modern mid eighties pop productions with a little soul influence in the vocals. Pure magic on CD these songs are. Prom classic "All Cried Out" is a lot more innocent on here than the over produced Allure version ever could try to be. "Someone To Love Me For Me" is very beautiful. "Let The Beat Hit "Em" is a powerful club hit from the likes of Clivilles and Cole. Basically the rest of the set leads astray with the lame R&B of "Something About Love" and an unnecessary Full Force feature "U Never Knew How Good U Had It". The set is excellent but the weak songs drag it down ("Little Jackie..." is iffy pop, but cute), but I think we can credit Full Force with blessing us with this set of dance gems that are as good now as they were in the mid eighties.

1985- THE YEAR Lisa and her Cult Jam came out
True Lisa Lisa& Cult Jam fans know that Full Force produced the group. Everyone loves how they brought serious flava to the 80's
Lisa and Full Force did a great Job on "Someone to Love me For Me" Full Force was great, and Lisa added that special touch!!!!!
The cult jam added their good beats, and together they became Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam...often featuring Full Force
I like "This is Cult Jam" it was original, it was fun, and it really showed how cult jam played part in the group.
"I wonder if I take You Home" was their first hit
next it was "Can You Feel the Beat" "All cried out" and"Behind My eyes"
On their 1987 album.... I like "Playing with fire" "A fool is born everyday" "Lost in Emotion" and "Head to Toe" very good
songs....
I forogt what album but "Little Jackie wants to be a star" is another good one!!!!
Who could forget...Someone to Love me for me
the duet with full force...very good!!!!!!
i like the part when lisa says " if your in love with someone, make sure they love you for who you are, and not for the material things that surround you" and full force says afterwards" enough said"
they kept it real during the 80's.
1991'S lET THE bEAT hIT EM
on their "Straight out of hell's kitchen" was also great!

tHIS IS WHAT i WOULD SAY TO THEM:

"BABY WE WERE WONDERING
IF YOU WOULD SING SOMETHING NEW FOR US
BECAUSE WERE NOT TOO SURE ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL
SO WE RATHER GIVE YOU AN IDEA
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU SING AGAIN
YOU WILL DO A GOOD SHOW
BUT YOU MAY DO SOME THING YOU MIGHT REGRET THE NEXT DAY
AND YOUR FEELINGS WILL GET HURT
bUT i DONT KNOW....THE WAY THAT I FEEL
IM SO AFRAID....I
WONDER IF YOU WOULD SING AGAIN
WOULD YOU FEEL US WITH LOVE BABY
BECAUSE WE NEED YOU TONIGHT

-ML

*Sigh* 80's Nostalgia
Anyone who is familiar with mid/ late 80's pop has got to remember Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam and the great jams they cranked out. All of the big ones are here. You get both of their fabulous #1 hits. "Head To Toe" starts out like a Supremes song and then takes off with a terrific catchy chorus *instantly recognizable.* "Lost In Emotion" was the other #1 and is just as great. Then you have the slow song "All Cried Out" which is beautiful and although Lisa Lisa comes off as sort of whiny, it justifies the song so it's forgivable. "Youuuuuu you leave me so confuuuused, now I'm all cried out...over you." An 80's slow jam classic. Plus, you get the great free-style dance jams that put them on the map in the first place. Who can forget "I Wonder If I Take You Home" or one of my faves "Can You Feel the Beat." A MUST buy for 80's music fans. I don't care what people say about the 80's. Free-style dance music like Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam is awesome and music just isn't made this fun anymore. If you like this, I also recommend music by Expose and Debbie Gibson. Ear candy to help you forget about your troubles!

I REALLY like this album!
I got laughed at by the saleslady for buying this album. She looked at me as if, "What is this teenager doing buying a Lisa Lisa album?". I didn't care because I had grown up listening to Lisa Lisa on the radio when she was singing "Head To Toe" and plus I really liked her other hits like "I Wonder If I Take You Home" and "All Cried Out" so it was something I was willing to shell out cash for. I love this album because the music is pretty orginal, Lisa Lisa has a style that is unbeatable, the lyrics are catchy and those breakdancing beats are really danceable. My fave track has to be "I Wonder If I Take You Home" but I like the classics like "All Cried Out", "Head To Toe", "Lost In Emotion" and "Can You Feel The Beat". I also liked "Let The Beat Hit 'Em" and "Something 'Bout Love". This is the perfect dance album and one that you can play at parties, it's one of my personal faves and I recommend that anybody should buy this album and don't be afraid to just because it's old school! :) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

beautiful.
even if it doesnt suit your dance style, its wonderful to simply play in the background, which might help you to eventually connect with the music. there arent any lyrics, so it doesnt distract or annoy (thank gaaawd!). im often disappointed with cds because i will only enjoy a few tracks at most, but this one is a winner. i enjoy listening to it all the way through. alot of my friends seem to enjoy this cd as well, because they often inquire about it. most of which are not bellydancers. id love to hear a few of the tracks in clubs around town. hopefully i will. i love this cd. what more can i say? listen to the samples!

interesting beats
This album was recommended to me by a friend who shares a similar interest in electronica, drum 'n bass, electrogroove and mellow industrial beats. I can see why there would be some confusion surrounding its release in the "bellydance" genre and for those who are looking for something more traditional in this sense, I hope you aren't disappointed.

There is much more to this album than can be simply categorised because, to be quite honest with you, I've never heard anything like it before.

I quite like this album because of its varied style, ranging from the atmospheric and moody to the upbeat and enlightening. I might have a bit of trouble dancing to it but really, I'm into it more for the listening value - of which there is plenty.

I tried searching for a local copy of this album and found nothing, which is surprising given the quality of this work. This album and its artist obviously need better publicity and distribution.

I look forward to future works by this new and up-and-coming artist, perhaps with more lyrical exploits!

NOT traditional tribal music - great for fusion!
This is not music for ATS, pure tribal (FCBD style) belly dance. Yes that is Rachel Brice on the cover, which should tell you what kind of fusion this is good for (Go watch Rachel dance at www.rachelbrice.com if you haven't seen her yet. Her style is very different than Fat Chance). Pentaphobe composed this music for her. It's good music, interesting and danceable but it is NOT traditional tribal music. It's very modern, club-style music. You can dance to this, but if you're looking for traditional tribal, there are better recordings out there.

Liner note is helpful for describing their intentions with this recording: "Pentaphobe was asked to create music that would complement Rachel Brice's fusion style, and at the same time be appropriate for a performance in an industrial nightclub. A Tribal Metamorphosis is a collection of tunes inspired by traditional Middle Eastern rhythms, and the karass that is the American Tribal Belly Dance community."

dance music?
I was very disappointed by this CD although I buy all belly dance CDs on the market and use at least some material on each. On this one there is almost nothing to be used by a belly dancer. Great for Star Trek, though, or for trance dance. Is this really a tribal CD??????????

Awesome
I've been looking for some slower music that I can dance tribal too. I was so excited to finally hear this cd. ... Read more

Album Details

Gustavo Santaolalla is One of the Leading Producers in Latin Music Today. His Surco Label Has Released Albums by Many Artists Like Juanes, Orishas and the Soundtrack to "Amores Perros" (Which He Composed). This Particular Group was Conceived by Santaolalla Utilizing Musical Ideas from Nortec Collective (Mexico) and Gotan Project (France). It is an Eclectic Mix of French House, Argentinean Tango, Trip Hop, Drum and Bass and Chill-out Music. "Bajofondo Tango Club" Marks an Exciting New Direction in Latin Electronica Music for an International Audience. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Good album
All I've read here is half true.This album was not just made by argentinean people but also by uruguayian people (Uruguay and Argentina are neighbour countries and they share the passion for the Tango music).
There are several tracks made by uruguayians and track number 6 (Perfume) is an original song written and executed by two contemporary uruguayian artists being one of them Jorge Drexler, a well known musician in South America and Spain.

Now, the album is good, not great, but very good.I bought it and I'm happy with my decision

2003 Grammy Award Winning Album!!!!!
The fusion of Tango Music and Techno does create a nice Chill Out Vibe. I purchased this CD down in Buenos Aires at the end of August 2003 and this album was still in the Top 30 Sales Chart. Not bad for a CD almost a year old. But don't take my word on how great this CD is (strongest tracks are #3 and #12), this CD was just recently the recipient of the 2003 Latin Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental. I am a little surprised that Amazon does not flag award-winning albums in their search but should do so in the future! Give this album a try--you won't be disappointed!

Show me the money, preferably in pounds...
Seems like these guys really like British techno, the problem is that the "electronica" part of this record sounds dated. It seems like the money they should've spent on good equipment was spent on marketing. On top of that, the tango samples lost their depth and seem flat and one-dimensional. Buy Gotan instead, or even better, buy Narcotango by Carlos Libedinsky!

Perfection
Many readers interested in this composition would be advised to recall such groups as Bond and Opera Babes, that have tried to give classical music a new twist. Admirable as their efforts were, neither was able to drag themselves from the classification of just being pretty girls with talent (sort of). Bajofondo is everything they wanted to be. Instead of plastering the cover of this ablum with a photo of themselves wearing sexy little outfits, bajofondo mearly has a close up photo of what appears to be women's crossed legs, clad in fishnets. This alluringly naughty photo seems an apt description of the sound of "Tango Club".

It's a brilliant melting pot of some of the coolest types of music around. Most people acknowledge any form or use of electronica as being an up to the moment sound, but what about the classic shiek and style of the tango? Both are acknowledged in this wonderfully sultry mix. every note is deliberate and important, tearing down musical walls other artist's only dreamed of conquering. Bajofondo is essential to every musical collection.

Interesting
You've probably heard people say in response to something, "mmmmmm, that 's interesting." Pretty much that is the response you will have after listening to this disc that it is not tremendous on either side of the spectrum but good nontheless. It is much like Gotan Project's "La Revancha Del Tango." Comparing the two, since they seem to be the only groups exploring this side of the tango(a mixture of electronica elements, genre's and sub-genre's) I'd have to tip my hat to BTC mostly because of the production skills of Santoalalla( most everything he touches is gold) that results in a slick musical stew like some type of noveau French cuisine. This music is extremely relaxing with a sort of don't wake me up from this musical trip to lands unknown. In other words it is a little spacey but has just enough tango to keep your heart ticking, head swaying and wondering what curve is coming next on this musical journey. It is very eclectic and that is what makes it so interesting, there is that word again. There are dark passages along the way but overall this is a bright addition to the ever expanding electronica field. It many respects it is an entry into chill out music. When it is more upbeat, (check out the editorial review) remember the music is all over the map, it is as fresh as any dance music out there. Maybe it is my being partial to the female voice but when they cut into "Perfume"it sends my heart a reeling. The result is a song that sounds intoxicating. The bandeon throughout keeps the tango vibe, but the piano work binds it all together for a surreal atmospheric experience; it is like sipping a martini at the milky way cafe as a seductress approaches and you offer her a rose and she places it between her teeth and smiles an invitation to tango. To really capture all the sounds that are weaved together this disc should be experienced with headphones a todo volumen(at full volume). There is enough variety on this disc to keep it from being repetitive as the various time changes, pacing and styles give it a flow that doesn't leave you bored. It is a fine example of the meshing of the old and the new for something very interesting, there's that word again. It won't blow you away but you will think it is , you guessed it , interesting. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Never underestimate Madonna's power of persuasion: By nearly all critical accounts, Ray of Light, Madonna's first album of new material since 1994's Bedtime Stories, and her first since motherhood, is her richest, most accomplished record yet. While Ray of Light is being tagged as Madonna's big leap into electronica, it's important to note two things: First, her music has always had close ties to dance culture, and, second, her collaborator William Orbit is no Chemical Brother. Though it has all the latest blips, bleeps, and crackles electronica has to offer, Ray of Light is still largely an adult album, completely within Madonna's realm. Still, Orbit's tasteful sonic constructions provide Madonna with her most adventurous, hippest musical backdrop ever. What's more, the arrangements and production are understated enough to highlight an even bigger development: Fresh from singing lessons on the Evita set, Madonna's vocal range, depth, and clarity have never been stronger. But larger pipes don't necessarily make for deeper, truer music. Never a master lyricist, Madonna's words have worked best when they've practically been slogans ("Vogue," "Express Yourself"). This time she goes for more emotional depth, and even tries her hand at ethno-techno-mysticism ("Shanti/Ashtangi"). She largely stumbles, however. The tone conveyed on songs like "Nothing Really Matters" is a self-centered pat on the back that belies her claim to a newfound altruism. It's enough to make you wonder, now that Madonna's given up being our material girl, if maybe she's set her sights on becoming the center of our spiritual world too. --Roni Sarig ... Read more

Reviews (699)

The Most Brilliant Album of the 90's! An ansolute CLASSIC!
Ray of Light's excellence is hard to describe in words, it's so AMAZING. But let's start with the fact that this album is defenitely Madonna's critically most succesful album, and also VERY succesful commercially (almost 15 million copies sold). The greateness of this album is based simply on the fact that it combines Madonna's dance pop style (Patrick Leonard) succesfully with electronica (William Orbit), eastern rhytms and spiritual lyrics. Every song has meaningful and "deep" lyrics. In addition to the smash hits Frozen, Ray Of Light and The Poer of Goodbye, the albums includes many other masterpieces such as Drowned World/Substitute For Love, Candy Perfume Girl, Swim, Sky Fits Heaven, Little Star (dedicated to Madonna's first child, Lourdes)... In fact every song on this album is a masterpiece! This is a MUST for every Madonna fan, and VERY highly recommended also to others. This really is a CLASSIC MASTERPIECE OF THE 90's!

Ethereal Girl
I'm not a huge Madonna fan, and this is the only album of hers that I have, but it's beautiful beyond words. The music is haunting and quietly powerful. The lyrics are poetic musings on life. "Drowned World/Substitute For Love" isn't the strongest opening song, but it's pretty good. "Swim" has a definite message that she wants to convey about the modern world. "Ray of Light" is probably the best song on the CD, it's a great dance track but doesn't have dumb lyrics. "Candy Perfume Girl" is more in the dance/pop style, and I think it's just OK. "Skin" is more of a techno-style song. "Nothing Really Matters" is about how selfish she was in the past and how she's realized what's really important now. "Sky Fits Heaven" is about getting started again (Travelin' down this road/Watching the signs as I go ...) "Shanti/Ashtangi" is cool because it's completely unexpected, a yoga chant set to music. "Frozen" is one of my favorites, it's heartbreaking, deep and full of heart. "The Power of Goodbye" is a beautiful, moving song about unfulfilled love. "To Have And Not To Hold" is less powerful than the last two, but it's also about lost love. "Little Star" is a sweet, touching ballad written for her daughter. "Mer Girl" is mysterious and enigmatic, an appropriate ending track. You don't have to be a Madonna fan to love this CD.

Not an Album Its An Experience!
The electronic sounds the east indian sounds mixed in with her mature voice and meaningful lyrics. I think this is one of her best albums to date.

Overhype
Despite the album being overhyped, well extremely overhyped...there are tracks on this album that I still listen to 7 years after its release. Those tracks are Frozen, Swim, and Ray of Light as well as Candy Perfume Girl. The other ones are either poor or mediocre. (...)

(...)

Madonna's watery redemption
After the Erotica/Body of Evidence/Sex fiasco of 1992, even Madonna's diehard fans (myself among them) were a bit weary. We knew she was not "over" because we remembered that many had labeled her so since her debut in 1983. She had continually defied their predictions. We had faith that she could reinvent herself once again, but we knew it would be a difficult task, and we feared she might never recapture her former glory. Nineteen Ninety Two was the lowest her career had ever sunk, the first time since 1984 that a Madonna studio album had failed to top the charts.

Bedtime Stories set the path to Madonna's public redemption, yielding the #1 hit Take A Bow - her first in three years. But it is 1998's Ray of Light that put Madonna's career back on track, returned her to multi-million selling status, and finally - finally! - earned her a Grammy Award, several actually. It's a stunning reinvention, perhaps the most dramatic of any popular artist. Was this Yoga posturing, Sanskrit-chanting woman the same singer who only six years previous proclaimed she'd like to teach us how to ****? Was the world's most famous woman really saying that fame wasn't important? Yes, amazingly. What is most astonishing, however, is that she pulled it off. Ray of Light became perhaps the most critically acclaimed album of year, and it virtually erased the misadventures of '92. The Material Girl became The Spiritual Woman.

Water is the alchemical symbol of birth. So it is fitting that Ray of Light, marking the rebirth of Madonna's career and released shortly after the birth of her daughter, opens with two singles evoking water's imagery: Drowned World and Swim. "I'm gonna swim to the Ocean floor," Madonna sings. What a calm, peaceful, rejuvenating image. It permeates the entire album. Even where negative situations are confronted, such as in Frozen and The Power of Goodbye, there is an awareness of life's possibilities and a hint of awakening. You're in a negative situation - now leave it, and go find something else! Or rather, look within yourself for happiness instead the outside world.

Over the last few weeks I've become horribly nostalgic for the Ray of Light era. Ray of Light harkens me back to my introduction to Living Enrichment Center, which is a New Thought Church and retreat center I became involved with in 1996 when I was 21. The music of Ray of Light and the grounds of Living Enrichment Center were perfect mates. Statues from just about every major faith, including a statue of Krishna, Buddha, and a Peace Pole, were on display throughout the lush 90-acres. It was an otherworldly, infectious, beautiful atmosphere. And after a childhood and teen years in show business, always dreaming of stardom's redemption, I was starting to glimpse that perhaps fame wasn't the end-all, that maybe I should let go of my "substitute for love" and seek out the real thing. Who better than the world's most famous woman to assure me that fame isn't important? Maybe I wasn't a failure after all.

Lately, I am playing Ray of Light on a daily basis, sometimes twice daily - singing "traveling down this road watching the signs as I go" on my long bike rides on the local back roads. The motif of spirituality, forgiveness, and just a touch of Hinduism (her pronunciation ain't the best, but I still love Shanti/Ashtangi) is exactly what I need right now. Living Enrichment Center will soon move from its beautiful grounds, the church engulfed in a financial scandal that may mean prison time for the head minister. I long for innocence and rejuvenation once again. When is her next album due?

Andrew Michael Parodi ... Read more

Album Description

Enhanced bonus disc includes videos of "Set it Off - Toby Neuman Remix" and "Set it Off - Peaches Super 8 Video". ... Read more

Reviews (12)

X-Rated Techno with a Punk Edge
I came across this in a indie record store under employee recommendations. The CD itself I was attracted to cause of the hot pink color which was loud in itself. The CD also had on the packaging a quote from a review from a popular music magazine mentioning 3 well known artists, Trent Reznor, Courtney Love, and Foxy Brown claiming they should be "afraid, very afraid!"....well this exlamation justified my curiosity upon purcasing.
All I have to say regarding this CD is it is fun, tounge in cheek , and yes... edgy. If one is into techno, Industrial, and dance music with a punk edge then I would recommend. On track "Lovertits" she sounds similar to Gwen Stefani behind a Euro-techno dance pop beat. The tracks that I found most memorable are "Rock Show" which displays a Joan Jettish rock rebel grrrl growl behind synth beats. The next is "Diddle My Skittle" which has a great synth intro that kind of reminded me vaguely of NIN but it stands on it's own. The beats on some of the beginning of the songs are kind of similar, but not monotonous. Sleaze talk aside, I found it provocative and fun. The songs tend to grow on you. Just use with caution if you are one to sing aloud in a crowd!!! :)
This edition of the Cd also has a bonus disc with a great remake of the Berlin song Sex (I'm a...) which is one of the true gems on this 2 CD set. You will also find two very different and unusually strange videos for the song "Set it Off."
Now that I have listend to this CD, I am now even more curious on seeing her live which should be just as interesting as the inside picture cover, but that is another story and another review! Thanks!

...Girl Power Techno with a Punk Edge
I came across this in a indie record store under employee recommendations, and it really wasn't the recommendation that caught my attention, but the cover shot of the hot pink pants...Peaches?!?
All I have to say regarding this CD is it is fun, tounge in cheek... If one is into techno, Industrial, and dance music with a punk edge then I would recommend. On track "Lovertits" she sounds similar to Gwen Stefani behind a Euro-techno dance pop beat. The tracks that I found most memorable are "Rock Show" that displays a harder punk sound behind synth beats. The next is "Diddle My Skittle" which has a great into that kind of reminded me vaguely of NIN. although it can stand on it's own. Some of the beats on some of the songs are kind of similar, but not monotonous.
Sleaze talk aside, I found it provocative, fun and "I like the beats and you can dance to it!!!" That and the songs tend to grow on you.
Could this be the new pop star of the up and coming? I wouldn't be surprised. Parents should beware...and you too!! Peaches may be the one to come kick the mainstream...

where are led zeppelin, deep purple and black sabbath?
when this lady is an anti pop star ? the songs she plays, surely has nothing to do with the classic masterpiece rock n roll elements...she certainly plays rock songs, but it is definitely not a rock n roll or Heavyrock masterpiece genre!

Some veterans legendary heavy rock bands from the past such as Black sabbath, Uriah Heep, King crimson, Led Zeppelin or deep purple should teach her how to play Rock n roll very well!

Love it!
I don't usually like this type of music But I love this CD.
I first heard "F**K the pain away" on the movie "Lost In Translation" By Sofia Coppola and starring Bill Murray I had to order it. It has an excellent beat.
Even though the lyrics are dirty it makes me warm and fuzzy all over!
A must have for your music collection!!!

Garbage for this Genre
Hype and ego probably introduced you Peaches. There are several artists of this genre that actually have some talent. Don't waste your money on this crap. This woman is talent-free and a dog to boot. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Stay with me
Erasure is definitely my favorite synth-pop group from the '80s. Their songs are fun and catchy to sing along to. It has been awhile since they released a best of collection. As much as I love "Pop!", it was horribly produced. I like this collection. Granted that whoever put this cd together didn't represent the group's legacy as well as s/he should have, "Hits" is still a good collection. I do wish that "Cracker International", "Cowboy" and "Erasure" were represented on this best of collection. That is my biggest gripe about this "Hits" but I am not going to slam this collection like other diehard Erasure fans are doing. Compared to the production on "Pop!", the songs on "Hits" are not hindered by the muddled production on "Pop!". Unlike "Pop!", songs from the groups more recent albums are included although not from "Cowboy", "Cracker International", and "Erasure". Whoever thought to not include songs like "She Won't Be Home", "Fingers & Thumbs (A Cold Summer's Day)", and "Don't Say Your Love is Killing Me" needs their head re-examined. Despite the lack of thought put into this, it is nice to have a collection of Erasure songs that are mixed better than what is on "Pop!".

Erasure's Best of CD
For those erasure fans out there that probably know that this is the second greatest hits that they have. It has a lot of there hits but obviously you cannot put every hit on a cd. It is a good selection of songs except that they should not have added 2 versions of O'lamour and could of put another song in it's place. Some of the songs that could have been added and are missing is: star, come and make me smile, Don't say your love is killing me, and drama. The bonus CD of the mixes of the songs was very good. Overall it is a CD that I recommend not only to the erasure fan but anyone that likes good pop music.

And the purpose?
While Erasure's a handful good songs are already collected in Pop Hits then what's the purpose of this money-steal item? Erasure have never been a high quality band but is rather doomed to be poor man's Pet Shop Boys with those awful lyrics and the same loops and rhythms all over the years. If you really wanna try Erasure go buy Pop and leave it there. If you really want to listen real good pop music, try Pet Shop Boys (Popart or any album of them) the overlooked gods of this kind of music, or New Order...

POP bops this off.
If you are contemplating a choice between Erasure's "Hits" album and the older "POP!" collection, I'd actually give the nod to "POP!" The new set adds more from the Abba EP and removes several of the songs from "Pop!." The dropped songs included some essential (in my opinion, at least) songs like "Drama" and "Who Needs Love Like That." You loose 8 songs from "POP!" here for 7 alternates plus one unnecessary remix of "Oh L'amour," and this collection has, simply put, a less concise menu of Erasure at their best.

Since Vince and Andy were better at the singles than at the albums anyway, the finest of their singles truly sparkle as gold from the eighties. Given that their later output was lackluster at best (save "Always"), this is a bland primer for a fun band. And Erasure is pretty much a fun sugar candy duo. With two notable exceptions, the best songs were campy or beat heavy hook records. Only with the environmental lyrics of "Chorus" or the call to arms of "A Little Respect" did the duo ever push towards anything really weighty. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mindless fun is better than no fun at all. But it was the early part of their career where Vince was still innovatively exploring the compositional range of the synthesizer. Which meant that, when he was on, he was brilliant, and Andy almost always found the kind of vocal exuberance to overcome any deficiencies (think "Love To Hate You"). It's also that, after the album "Chorus," the band began to bog down. So unless you feel that "Always" and a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Solisbury Hill" are worth having over the deletion of eight other, superior Erasure songs, I'd recommend "POP!" over "Hits."

Just buy the DVD
While most of this collection is a revisit of the old "Pop" disc, I decided to buy the DVD version and was glad that I did! Always known for their innovative, and sometimes campy, videos I had to get it. All of the hits are there, including many from the past decade. There are so many videos, that they put them on 2 disks! A great buy and a necessity for any fan. I say, skip the CD and get the DVD instead! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tiesto, one of the world's most popular DJs, tries to broaden the playing field with his second artist record Just Be. Mostly self-written (except for the BT collaboration "Love Comes Again" and a remix of Samuel Barber's "Adagio For Strings"), his disc goes for transcendence right from the start with an earnest, uplifting string arrangement on "Forever Today." He keeps reaching, alternating dense-but-danceable new material with a few recent remixes ("Nyana" and "Traffic"), and vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw provides a blissful vocal on the soaring "Walking On Clouds." Yet dance floor Nirvana stays well out of range. By focusing so heavily on trying to evolve, Tiesto neglects his bread and butter: the build. Live, crowds froth at the mouth for his next beat to drop, and while that hot energy is not necessarily the goal here (check 2003's mix record Nyana for that), a better flow would help this record considerably. Though offering ready-to-remix parts, the whole of Just Be is too impatient to sound deep and forgets to let the peaks come naturally. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Gets better with each lesson....amazing!!
1. Beautiful string melody that sounds like film soundtrack music that turns into an electronic version of the same tune. Love it! 5/5 stars
2. Amazing song as Bt and Tiesto are both amazing; great for dancing. Love it! 5/5 stars
3. Another good dance song. Great! 4/5
4. Ethereal laid back vocals. 4/5 stars
5. Not the best track. 2/5 stars
6. Sort of gothicy-sounding. 4/5 stars
7. Pretty but breathy female vocals, kewl electronic sounds. 2/5 stars.
8. Starts out sounding like new age tribal music then the beat and trance comes in and develops into a masterpiece playing the old world against the new.
9. This along with tracks 1, 2, 3, 8, and 10 could be dance club songs. Beautiful intermittent vocals. Great! 4/5 stars
10. Ok, not as good as Barber's original, but still a great song. My favorite along with 1 and 2. 5/5 stars.

You have to listen to this cd without the mindset of it being a dance or hardcore trance album, for predominantly it's not. It's absolutely beautiful tho, and does have good dance tracks. It's ethereal, lighter trance at many parts. This DJ really shows his ingeniousness and compositional ability on this album. Absolutely wonderful!!!

a must-have dance album
Not the typical tiesto album....but just as good if not even better. Tiesto has shown that he is just as great a composer as a DJ and mixer. The first track, Forever Today in my opinion is a statement by Tiesto about electronic music, and its basically being the modern extension of classical symphony as far as musical purity and supremacy. Thats my interpretation - the track starts with about 3 minutes of pure symphony much like that heard in movie scores of today and has a wonderful melody, then the song evolves into an electronic song with the same melody eventually resurfacing and making the song soar. Awesome. Then comes Tiesto's and BT's collaboration Love Comes Again which any Tiesto or BT fan will not be surprised nor dissappointed in - its great. Traffic and Nyana are Tiesto's current solo dance floor ventures and have been remixed by several other artists for a reason. UR, Sweet Misery, Walking on Clouds, A Tear in the Open, and Just Be are vocal-accompanied ballads of a sort and each is somewhat simple yet original and enduring, I've listened to them countless times and am still going...A couple are one-track pieces but a couple may be suited for DJ mixes at the right times...One thing is for sure, Kirsty Hawkshaw is amazing. I didn't know of her before this album but I'm an instant fan. Hands down, for anyone who considers themselves a dance music fan, this is a must-have since its a big chapter in the career of the world's current best DJ (and its musically superb).

Good one
At first, I didn't like this CD at all. Only Tracks 02 and 10 were immediately satisfying. But, this CD takes some time to get used to. Now that I have listened to it a lot, I like Tracks 01, 02, 07, 08 and 10. It's my favorite CD because, among all of DJ Tiesto's CDs, this one feels the most pertinent to my own life. The best songs on the CD inspire and move you - like good Trance music should do. I highly recommend it.

Wow
I was a fan of Tiesto as a DJ, but now after hearing the tracks on this CD....I can say that he is also amazing at producing some of the best music in the trance genre today. I highly recommend this CD to anyone who wants to be taken on a smooth and intoxicating journey.

What an album
blah blah blah.....that's what a lot of people say....but i'll tell you this....This album is amazing...I bought the album and never gave it enough time in my CD player...I saw Tiesto sometime later and then heard it again....this album is just great...Lately many DJ's are coming out with their own albums and experimenting with new sounds....Tiesto has definitley produced a masterpiece and is gonna be one of his best for a long time....I have seen Tiesto 6 times in concert and own all his CD's....this one is up there with Magik Vol. 6, and ISOS series...A MUST BUY FOR ALL TIESTO FANS!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (89)

yanni never disappoints!
This is a masterpiece of New Age keyboardist Yanni .

I was so disappointed to read in the above review "Not as good as Scorpions" smth about Yanni and Scorpions??????This is totally untrue! After graduation Yanni began playing keyboards for the Minneapolis rock group Chameleon and he later went on to a solo career. The rest is history. I like rock music too, but this cd has nothing to do with it!If you like rock music and you can't listen to anything else, this cd and many others are not for you.

Thanks to the universality of his inspiring music, Yanni's best-seller, Live at the Acropolis, sold at record levels all over the world, and his concerts drew thousands in places ranging from China to Europe to South Africa.Please give this a try, you won't regret it.

PS:(((To B from Carbondale, IL United States who left the awfull, untrue review:

Have you ever been to Acropolis?Have you ever read anything about Acropolis? I am amazed you can talk like that about the Acropolis, the site of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art - the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum and the Temple of Athena Nike .

As a scientist and as a human I am disgusted of your lack of culture and respect to human history and to greek achievement. You should write again and apoligize.)))

new age pretentious drivel
I was given this album by a friend for my birthday, I DID try listening to it (to give my above friend a chance, who adores Yanni) I found it to be laughably awful (or awfully laughable) I have to give Yanni credit though.....for laughing all the way to the bank!! All the songs have a "sameness" about them, not a whit of individuality anywhere, seems to cash in on the current trend for new age pretentious drivel.

Fantastic!!! Absolutely Awesome Music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unbelievably Amazing!!! I just love Yanni's music! I feel as though I have grown up with his music all my life. I never really realized how his music touches my heart and soul. It is the way it plays his music, such as, Santorini, Keys to Imagination......Who says you can't dance to his music? Even my mother just can't understand that with feeling, rhythm and beat, one can dance to anything! Acroyali/Standing in Emotion is wonderfully composed perfectly! No one could compare to Yanni's music. Within Attraction , Nostalgia and even Swept Away, and Reflections of Passion emit soooooooooo much emotion. I will never forget when I spoke to Yanni when he was on Channel 2 for a special event.

Probably the best of the Yanni albums
With each of the orchestral instruments individually mic'd, it is no surprise that this cd delivers a rich and satisfying sound. Reflections of Passion is beautiful as always and One Man's Dream doesn't fall short of a simple masterpiece. Not everyone will love this album, but if you like instrumental music, you won't be disappointed. If you do enjoy Yanni, also check out a new artist by the name of Josh Kramer. His album is called "Stepping Out". It is almost like a combination of Jim Brickman (with added talent) and Yanni, with flares of Danny Elfman and Rachmaninoff here and there. I found it here on Amazon.com

A Wonderful and Historic Live Concert
This is a breathtakingly good album. It features many of Yanni's most loved compositions perfomed in the dramatic live setting of the Acropolis in his native Greece.
What a treat listeners are in for with the wonderful Royal Philharmonic Orchestra accompanying Yanni, and giving his music a magical touch. They really do help showcase Yanni's fantastic material. The whole concert is masterfully conducted by Shardad Rohani.
I love all the tracks, and the fact it is live, helps bring this album to life. I also recommend the Video/DVD that was made of this historic and extremely ambitious concert.
If you can get the UK version of this album from Amazon.com's sister site, Amazon.co.uk, it contains the added bonus of Aria as the last track which is beautiully sung and is one of my favourite pieces.
Written when, for me, Yanni was at his peak, this CD is excellent from start to finish and I give this album my highest recommendation. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Crystal Method's Legion of Boom lives up to its title, dropping blasts of thumping samples, catchy riffs, and dependable grooves. But as with previous records like 2001's Tweekend, a chaotic, industrial darkness lurks around the edges that has little in common with the sheen of commercial dance. Many still compare Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland to the Chemical Brothers and their Big Beat, arena-pleaser cousins. But Boom sounds more like Nitzer Ebb in a good mood, or an angst-free Front 242. The duo has invited another batch of touchy-feely artists to contribute, like those noted softies Wes Borland and John Garcia, formerly of Limp Bizkit and Kyuss, respectively. Don't think for a second they aren't all having a blast, mixing in big, dumb hair metal with abandon. Most fun of all is the boost singer/actress Milla Jovovich gives to "I Know It's You," weaving her tweaked voice through a forest of tangled keyboards. With its bombastic techno-jams, Legion of Boom definitely makes for a tasty party record. Just keep the lights down as low as the bass end if you really want to capture the mood. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (93)

"Legion" is pure Method
"Legion of Boom" is pure Crystal Method. the Method is exploring and finding new layers. They're not as smooth as they were in "Vegas" but they're taking risks that pay off.

The Highs - The first track "Starting Over" has a slow techno start that evolves into a dynamic "zing grind" that gives me the chills! The single "Born Too Slow" alone is worth getting the CD! I love Wes Borland guitar with the awesome spin-back riffs. The amusing video is included for a "rich CD experience". "True Grit" feels more like the classic "High Roller" from "Vegas" with it's pulsing echoey depth. "The American Way" has an terrific industrial anthem feel. The slap bass of "High and Low" evolves into a real adrenaline burst.

The Lows - The jangly "Acetone" and "Bound Too Long" with its stretched rubberband feel and goofy vocals are not includable on my first compilation. "Broken Glass" and "Weapons of Mass Distortion" don't have the hooks for dance and are too disjoined for atmosphere.

The Mid - "Realizer" is a good vocal-based dance number. "I Know It's You" with the vocal's provided by on/off star Milla Jovovich is atmospheric with some recycled algorythms from "Vegas"

"Legion of Boom" has more highs than "Tweekend" and could be my favorite Method. Only time will tell. I do love the Method. I try to explain my affinity for the Crystal Method to my older friends and am at a loss for words. I guess "BigBeat/Dance/Electronica" is those who've grown up in the video game generation. I love to workout to these tunes, I push myself harder and go longer with these driving beats at my back.

Nothing gets my pulse pounding and my brain sharpened like The Crystal Method, masters of the "audio-vibro-thrill."

Great, consistent body of work
That's what TCM is moving toward at this moment. It boggles my mind how a lot of magazine i.e. blender, rolling stone and spin gave this cd bad reviews saying that it sounded "outdated" and like something from the 90's whereas rock bands like the Strokes, the Darkness or whomever else blatantly rip off previous bands work and get there fellated in the press. American media has it out for dance music in general especially any artists from our own country, when Basement Jaxx or Daft Punk or whoever else comes out with an album they're called heroes because they're from Europe. Meanwhile we have a group here in the US he keeps giving us amazing albums but is slowly becoming ignored in the press, AFTER GOING PLATINUM WITH VEGAS!!! obviously no one knows how to market these bands so the bigwigs are happy so they're put on the shelf and hopefully they sell. Well anyway get this album you'll enjoy it, it's completely danceable and listenable when just relaxing as well.
P.S. I don't dislike any of the bands mentioned in this review I'm just using them as examples, but the Vines and the Hives do suck though.

Made my mind tingle
This disc was suggested to me, and was I ever glad I looked into it. From the first track to the last, I never found myself skipping anything, and more often than not, I hit the replay button when I reached the end. LEGION OF BOOM kept me company while I worked for more than two weeks, and I still revisit when I need something to get my blood moving and my thoughts jumping. Sharp and crisp, with enough confident strength to catch and hold my interest. Favorites on the disc: "The American Way," "I Know It's You," and "Wide Open."

Boring
I was hooked the first time I heard their first LP, Vegas, about 5 years ago or so. When Tweakend came out, I thought, decent album, but doesn't touch Vegas.

Legion of Boom is a very boring album. Everytime I try to put it in I give it the benefit of a doubt. I figure maybe the last time I listened to it I was just tired, or I wasn't open to a new sound.

Wrong.

This album is just boring as hell. There is nothing in this album that keeps my attention. For anyone who thinks they are just growing musically, well, just keep thinking that I guess. They sound bored. Maybe they've made too much money with their songs appearing in commercials and movies, and they have just gotten lazy.

Come on guys, light a fire under you so we can be wowed again.

Uneven.
Legion Of Boom doesn't have bass. Legion Of Boom IS bass. The Crystal Method's third album is a loud, in-your-face blowout of basslines and guitars. I said Tweekend was the evil little brother of Vegas; this time around, Legion is the evil little brother of Tweekend, if that's at all possible.

The album starts strong, with the great opening track Starting Over. The big single off this album Born Too Slow follows, though frankly it's my least favorite number on the album. Unfortunately, after this point, the album seems to lose focus. True Grit and The American Way feel very much like "filler" tracks. I Know It's You starts incredibly well, but unfortunately climaxes in a harsh medley of high-pitch screeching noises; disappointing, to say the least. Realizer is immediately forgettable, though Broken Glass has a great beat and style that echoes of some of Tweekend's better aspects. Thankfully, the album picks up some momentum here. Weapons Of Mass Distortion is intense and clearly the successor to the great Name Of The Game. Bound Too Long isn't bad at all, and from here the album gets decidely more electronic, with less focus on guitars. Acetone is stellar, and sounds more like a grown-up track from their debut album, Vegas. The two closing tracks, High And Low and Wide Open, also seem more Vegas inspired than Tweekend, and do a great job of finishing the CD pleasantly.

Vegas was all about flash. Tweekend was attitude. Legion is bass. It's unfortunately the weakest of the Method's three CDs, its high moments marred by the uninspired and boring filler. While it refines both the Tweekend and Vegas sounds, it brings nothing new of its own to the table. Worth a listen, but not a "must have." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Viennese trippers Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister fry up beats like a fine Wiener schnitzel. With crisp percussion, tender melodies, and subtle bass flavor, they more than know their way around the production kitchen. Take the remix skills of these two chefs de musique; add a dash of fresh electronic ingredients, including Roni Size, Rockers Hi-Fi, David Holmes, Alex Reece, and others; run it through a beats processor; and you have one sumptuous and definitely not calorie-free meal. Tastier sound bites can be sampled during the Roni Size "Heroes" course, as K&D strip down and reconstruct a new and improved recipe for downtempo soul. Lip-smacking good. --Daniel Shumate ... Read more

Reviews (118)

Lay back and groove
I bought this CD because of the overwhelming positive comments I read about it here. Consequently there is not much to add but rather to reinforce that this is an excellent CD. The Austrian duo of Kruder and Dorfmeister create a fantastic double disc mix of electronica that is earthy and laid back. The master mixers rework the talents of such diverse acts as Depeche Mode, Count Basic and Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony just to name a few. Of the two discs I prefer disc two as it is more uptempo. Disc one is more downbeat and if you don't watch out you could be (zzzz) chilling more than you wanted. The songs fit into a variety of styles that include dub and dropping big beats, jazzy trip-hop, ambient with bleeps and tweeks, r& b laced reverb beats, and acid jazz to create a lush tectural sound that is sophisticated. The end result is music that is sensual and intimate, stylish and visceral and at times even eerie. The cold edges blend perfectly with the warm earthy textures to create the sound that is uniquely the print of master mixers D&F. The laid back sound is the perfect back drop at the end of a hectic urban day of survival, music to chill to. K&D have their pulse on this wave of electronica. Their music is one that will carry well into the 21st century, a footprint in the development of electronica that is walking with sure steps.

A Definitive Session Collection
The perfect music for almost any mood. I use it both to hype up and to chill out. Just as the title suggests, this two-disc record reads like a jam session, with seamless tracks that transport you from jungle music (check out the resmoking of "Heroes" by Roni Size/Reprazent) to rap ("1st of tha Month" by Bone, Thugs 'n Harmony). You are convinced at the end of disc one that you've been listening to the same track (it probably doesn't help that some of the songs are not only long as hell, but also have redundant riffs...but i suppose that's what chill out music is all about).

Still, this is an excellent showcase for the talents of my favorite Austrian duo. Disc one's highligts include Heroes, Jazz Master, Going Under (whose singer's voice is just menacing enough to make you stop and take notice),Bug Powder Dust....aw, hell, the whole cd is excellent!!!

Disc two's highlights: Sofa Surfers (stoned or sober, you can imagine people lounging in an orpulent(sp?) den doing....stuff), EastWest(can now be heard on a couple of commercials), Going Under (more bass, more ambience this time), 1st of tha MOnth, Boomberclaad, and the last two tracks.

All fans of good music should have this in their collection. It is essential.

If you like this CD, check out the original work of the featured artists, you might like: "New Forms"-Roni Size/Reprazent(Check out Bahamadia on title track), "Lamb"-Lamb(watch out for the Filia Brazilia Mix at the end),"Exciter"-Depeche Mode, anything by Alex Reece and David Holmes.

wishful thinking...what if K&D worked with Elizabeth Fraser(of Cocteau Twins fame). Oh, the possibilities!!!!!

Excellent
There are over 120 reviews of this album so I won't say much that hasn't allready been said but this one is really good. I keep hoping that K&D will come out with another "sessions" LP and I think the reason they haven't is because it will be near impossible to top this one. Five stars...

Must Buy CD
I have been an avid fan of electronic music for 6 years. I have known about Kruder and Dorfmeister for several years, but have just recently gotten into trip hop. I wanted to write this review because of Disk 2. Now don't get me wrong, Disk 1 is awesome, but I have been listening to Disk 2 every night when I go to sleep. Last night, I looked in my CD player, and the cd was gone. I honestly felt like I could not fall asleep without this cd in the background. Turns out, my roommate took it. I actually opened her door and contemplated taking it from her, but I decided to grab a Tosca cd instead, but it just wasn't the same. Buy this, it gets better each time you listen to it.

Excellent!
I just recently started getting into downtempo chill electronica or whatever it's called (there are so many sub-genres of electronic music it's insane). I read all the rave reviews of this album and decided to order it along with some other artists.

I wasn't dissapointed. This two CD set is awesome! I absolutely love it. The reviews were dead on. Go ahead and make the purchase. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Series Takes Off!
This was a big one for the Costes Franchise. Looking back - wow. It was this sort of release that made it THE compilation for those in the know... well... this and the then underrated Paris Lounge vol 1 released on the same label.

You've got some great artists and mixes! 45 Dip features and there's a sweet remix of Cape Verde's Cesaria Evora's "Carnaval De Sao Vicente". If the bossa beat and taunting guitar in that don't get you dreaming of a sea breeze nothing will short of a trip to the French coast. I'm not much of a Pink Martini fan but this fit in well here. The coup though was adding in Mo' Horizons "Flyin' Away" as it is arguably the best song on their feature album: "Come Touch the Sun". Anyone else would've played it safe and added "Foto Viva". Doris Days "To Ulrike M." remixed by Zero 7 is a good start, masters of lounge De-Phazz pipe in, and before Lincoln used it, Mr. Scruff's re-jazz track "Get a Move On" came on later in the compilation.

HIGHLY recommended. Of all the Costes releases, this one and the third are the ones I play the most, and the ones I find being "borrowed" the most. It isn't without a misstep (I never much cared for Night Over Manaus). But it's hardly enough to say no to this 78 minute compilation. And if you do like the Hotel Costes Series, check Break & Bossa 5&6 and "Get Into the Martini Mood vol 1". Beware though: Costes, Des Pres Cafe and Paris/Berlin/London/New York Lounge are all on the same label. So if you get some look out for crossover cuts.

Listening to this CD make you feel like a million bucks.
One of the best of Hotel Costes Series. Classy, Chic, and Groovy!!

Lounge music at its best!
Classy mix of music and soothing sounds that can relax you at some times and get you out of your chair on others! A must have.

my favorite of the costes series
This CD is amazing! When I heard To Ulrike M. for the first time I instantly fell in love with it. There are at least 5 tracks here which make this album a must-have, but in fact the whole album is unbelievably well compiled and mixed. Essential.

BUYIN' THEM OUTTA ORDER!!!
I've just gotten hip to the Hotel Costes series by Stephane Pompougnac (so I'm 4 years behind with this review--please, bare with me!)...I'm one of those people who don't want to be left outta the loop when it comes to stuff--at any rate, I started buying this series outta order...I bought #5 first, #4 was too latin for me to purchase, #1 too expensive, and #3 was unavailable...soo, I decided on "La Suite" because of the unfamiliarity of the songs and artists on it. Well, some of them anyway. The ubiquitous "Jazz Music" by De-Phazz almost made me not buy this set, but I said, what the hell? It won't be the first time I bought a mix/comp CD with songs I've already seen or heard a million times already. How does that work anyway? What? Certain record labels/ mixers all bid on the same songs or something? ahem...As usual,I digress. All that notwithstanding, "La Suite" was an entertaining delight and voyage into chill-house, as I so aptly pen music such as that remixed by Pompougnac. This whole series is tempting me to go ahead and buy 1, 3 and 4 no matter the cost. Hey--I'm the type of music buyer who likes to own all volumes in a series, what can I say? Anyway, getting back to the review of "La Suite", it's not as good as #5 (or from what I could sample on #1 in Borders), but it does have some stellar moments with the opening "To Ulrike M." by Doris Days with a Zero 7 remix?? OK, Pompougnac, what gives? I thought these were supposed to be songs mixed by you? Other stand out tracks are from 45 Dip (Check these guys out on the "Acid Lounge in Space" Comp CD), Sympatique (Now, this is true Parisian music despite it's "cheesiness" as one reviewer stated), Mo'Horizons (nice, as always), Palais Mascotte (strong dance floor appeal), I:Cube (hypnotic with a 60s feel), Pascal w/Mister Day (nice disco-track), Mr. Scruff (the song says it all), Boozoo Bajou (nocturanal) and Streetlife (cinematic and groovy, baby). This is a worthy investment for any Chill/House music fan. The songs on Costes "La Suite" are refreshing and upbeat from beginning to end. Sure to impress even your most stiff-necked guests at your next get-together--you know the ones, they stand on the wall all night long with their half empty bottles of Corona trying desperately to look cool. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There was a time when you couldn't step into a dance club without hearing at least part of this recording booming over the sound system. The often over-played hit, "Situation," was a bubbling caldron of nasally synth noodlings, a whopping bass line, and drum machine wallops. Alison Moyet's looped laugh in the middle of the song ended up as a sample, over-used a thousand times over. Yaz was an interesting blend of Moyet's smoky blues and jazz tinged vocals with Vince Clarke's digital disco. Moyet's voice alone was instrument enough, and the melodies here perfectly showcased her incredible range. Upstairs easily moved between energetic dance floor exuberance ("Don't Go" and "Good-bye Seventies"), blues-inspired wailers ("Midnight"), and icy electronic minimalism ("Winter Kills"). It was an explosion of a debut, touching upon '80s gay disco, synth pop, and diva-ism in one fell swoop. The CD closes with the overlooked "Didn't I Bring Your Love Down," an infectious barn burner with a call/response break that blows the roof off of Eric's little techno-pop room. --Steve Gdula ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Catchy 80's Electro/Pop At It's Best!
Yaz appeared on the "New Wave" scene in 1982 with the hits "Situation", "Don't Go" and "Only You". Fronted by Vince Clark (ex-Depeche Mode) on synthesizers and an unknown female vocalist named Allison Moyet, Yaz (originally Yazoo) created catchy electro/pop. Yaz's debut album "Upstairs At Eric's" produced several huge club hits with "Situation" (here in it's entire "Club Mix" version), "Don't Go" and the moderately successful "Only You". The first two songs are synthesized discoish club tunes with strong vocals courtesy of Moyet. Club jocks pumped these songs thru their sound systems to packed dancefloors (I know cause I was one of the jocks that spun both these tunes, sometimes several times a night) worldwide. But the album also had other great songs such as "Bad Connection", "Goodbye Seventies", and "Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I)" to name a few. If you enjoy artists such as Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, New Order, Human League, Heaven 17 and Ultravox then this cd is a must have. Highly Recommended!

A tentative 5-stars
Usually, every track has to sparkle to warrant 5 stars, but there are so many perfect moments here that it gets 5.

The problems? Someone should have known better than release "I Before E Except After C." "In My Room" sounds harsh, and meanders so much in its backing vocals that the entire track is annoyingly destroyed. "Goodbye Seventies" is a fluff song.

That's about it, though. The rest of album wavers between very good and utterly captivating. "Don't Go" and "Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I)" are masterpiece dance tracks, with Alison Moyet's giant voice pushing over whatever synth lines Vince Clarke can throw at her. "Only You" is, quite simply, the best ballad to come out of the decade (that's a conservative estimate...maybe a hell of a lot longer than that). "Winter Kills" is almost as interesting, as Moyet whispers, hisses, and blasts her way through a spare background. "Too Pieces" and the very '60s-ish pop (vocally) of "Bad Connection" are the rest of the standouts.

The other tracks, "Midnight" and "Situation" are very good, but each has a slight flaw. "Situation" is a tad too long for the stark instrumentation to carry, and "Midnight" is one of only a few songs where Moyet ever sounds like she's crossed the border into histrionics.

Don't Mess Around...
Definitely an album that stands a strong testament to the 80's. It was (without doubt) one of the best releases back then and by merit and achievement-- it could easily qualify as one of the top 100-Best albums in the history of all music and time. Simply because it rocks!

I dig Alison Moyet's deep and dominating voice which shimmers perfectly along with Vince Clarke's semi retro rock, synth, electro and digital devotion. It's also not one of those outdated-sounding album's that sinks in its repetitive and minimal production value.

My favorites here are; Situation, Don't Go, Goodbye 70's and Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I).

I heard a rumor that this entire album would be remixed for the year 2004-- dare I say it's true, because-- How I yearn to see this album in remixed form today, especially when there are Soooooooo many great producers/dj's to choose from. I'll wait patiently until that day comes.

Go buy yourself this excellent Vinyl. It's got a bit a everything in it, and it's put together so well, with a really good voice...Those are 3 good reasons to buy this. Enjoy!

Yeah Yeah Yaz.
This album seemed a bit ahead of it's time in 1982, or maybe more like a sign of that time. It's a great blend of pop, goth, electronica, and new wave, topped off with strong vocals from Alison Moyet. There's a few upbeat dance numbers like the excellent "Situation", "Don't Go", and "Bring Your Love Down (didn't I)". There's also the morbid track "Winter Kills". But most of it's just good synth-pop. Any big fan of early 80's stuff like myself should love "Upstairs At Eric's". That's why I have this on cd, cassette, and vinyl.

Masterpiece
The most exciting and enduring synthpop albums were made in the early 1980's in England, and this one is without a doubt one of the very best. The renewed interest of late in minimalist beats and simple synth production are a direct throwback to Kraftwerk. Where Yaz (Yazoo) improved upon the Kraftwerk formula was with the addition of a singer--and what a voice! I could sing the praises of this group all day. "Situation" quite simply defined dance music in 1982, and helped mark the transition from disco to the golden era of 80's "dance music." It has been endlessly sampled for a reason. If you like a rich, soulful voice over a spunky synth backing, by all means, get this album. ... 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

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

Amazon.com

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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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

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