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With his third album since transplanting his music from his native Maine to Austin, Slaid Cleaves now draws as much from country and blues roots, with a touch of classic-rock Springsteen, as he does from the troubadour tradition. His tales of losers and dreamers, of hard luck and life's tough lessons, benefit here from the musical muscle of a band that includes producer Gurf Morlix on bass and guitar, veteran keyboardist Ian McLagan, drummer Rick Richards, and guitarist Charles Arthur, who channels the sinuous inspiration of Otis Rush on the bluesy "Sinner's Prayer." Other highlights include the tuneful title track (written with Ray Wylie Hubbard), the barroom brawling "Drinkin' Days," the taut wisdom of "Hearts Break," and the affirmation of "New Year's Day." In the four years since his previous release, Cleaves has grown into a writer who is more than the sum of his influences, and a musical artist who is no longer content to let the lyric carry the whole load. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Would be songwriter in search of a melody...none found.
At first I thought the lyrics were promising, then realized they only seem much better than they are because of the god-awful, mindless, endlessly repetitive naryl,naryl,naryl,nothingness of anything resembling a memorable musical phrase. How this collection got wasted onto perfectly good plastic boggles the mind. Whatever happened to the kind of music that Webb Pierce, Hank Williams,Johny Cash,etc. produced? I'll have to send these bowl floaters back to Rounder for a refund.

A wise and warm voice - excellently produced album
Slaid Cleaves is quite definitely the best American singer-songwriter I've come across in recent years. This excellently produced album contains a string of first-class songs, each of which is full of warmth and wisdom. The first time I read about Slaid Cleaves was on the BBC music page, where the melancholy beauty and the wisdom of his songs are justly celebrated. Take, for example, 'Drinking days' or 'Borderline' - songs that go straight to the heart. A record to listen to many times over. Slaid's voice is the perfect instrument for these ballads, that reveal something that has become so rare in contemporary popular music - thoughtfulness and sensitivity. In other words, this guy observes -and strives to understand- people and their everyday problems and tragedies, shaping songs of elegant lyrics and haunting melodies.
As a German who's been in love with various styles of American music for a long time, in fact most of his life, this record is further evidence of an ability of sensitive and intelligent American songwriters that is totally unparallelled in German, French or British popular music: the ability to combine realistic, heartfelt poetry with beautiful melodies,
simply stating the truth, without imposing cheap solutions on
the listener or getting sarcastic.

So Good I Cried
I don't know, maybe I'm getting old, but Slaid's "Quick As A Dream" brings me to tears. As tragic as the story of the young jockey's death is, that isn't what makes me well up. I think it has more to do with the focus on the small details that make life precious. And thank you, Slaid, for the chorus. I can see the little old man in his room sharing his keepsake with his visitor, his eyes sparkling as he remembers that "sixty years ago I rode for the Diamond team, sailing by eight feet high on horses quick as dreams."

The rest of "Wishbones" is also fine and excellently paced. For example, "Quick As a Dream" is followed immediately by a comic rounder's tale that reminds me of Tom T. Hall's "Faster Horses" and why I started liking so-called "country" music in the first place. It also reminds me of why I don't listen to much country radio, you just won't hear the "good stuff" there. I put "Wishbone" the same class with Rodney Crowell's "Houston Kid" and Mary Gauthier's "Filth and Fire." All three are albums that aren't necessary pretty or perfect, but always beautiful.

GOOD MATERIAL BAD PRODUCTION
Slaid Cleaves has shown that he is an absolute lyrical wizard.
Unfortunately Gurf Morilx's production on this CD is awful and almost succeeds at ruining this CD completely.
While not in the same league as his previous outstanding release "Broke Down" its still Slaid and the songwriting is solid (again not on a par with Broke Down)
Im not unhappy that I purchased this CD. its just a shame that Slaid like so many others has fallen prey to slick glitzy overproduction at the hands of Morlix

Great CD from start to finish!
Slaid Cleaves is one great relatively unknown singer/songwriter. Every cut on "Wishbones" is terrific, and each song is interesting musically and lyrically. So much better than anything being played on most radio stations. If you've never heard Slaid before, this CD or "Broke Down" released in 2000 are good starts. I can't think of a better Cd to take a chance on. You'll be hooked in no time. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Beautiful!
I think I like listening to these songs more than my kids do! It isn't very often you can find a lullaby tape that parents love. The songs are so soothing and sweet without being the same old stuff we grew up with. My children get all dreamy-eyed when we play the CD. I suggest all parents buy it and really listen to the lyrics. It will help to remind you how precious your children are!

til their eyes shine-the lullaby album
This is the best lullaby CD I have ever heard. I am a teacher of young children and we listen to this at nap time every day. The children love the songs and sing to them. It is heart-warming, soothing and calming. I also enjoy listening and singing to all the songs (it calms me down too). It has a wonderful collection of various artists. I have given this as a gift to many new parents. A must buy!

A Good Night's Sleep!
I received this album as a gift when my son was born in 1998. He has listened to it EVERY night since the day we brought him home and he's now 6 yrs old. We have brought this CD on vacation, for sleep overs at grandma's house and even have it on our MP3 player (just in case...)! The music is very soothing for children and adults. For me, it is a "must have".

Good, but I would also get GENIE's CD's for lullaby/sleep
This is a good album. It's got nice songs for baby boomers. It's really kind of a stretch to call it a lullaby album. It's just not that soft. Some of the songs are soft. Some are more of a stretch than others. It's kind of peaceful and quiet. There's some cheese here and there, but then some really magical moments like the Scottish track.

For real lullabies I'd really steer you toward GENIE's ANGELS ALL AROUND CD. Or if you want more of the kind of material on this CD, Genie's other CD's like Wildflowers and Heavens and WHisper would work well for lullaby-kind of experiences. I think Genie has a 4 CD set on here for pretty cheap.

emotionally supercharged - brings tears to my eyes
I LOVE THIS CD. This soft lullaby album is as well-suited for parents as it is for babies. Emmylou Harris singing "Child of Mine" often brings tears to my eyes -- the lyrics never fail to touch me and make me think about my role as a mother guiding a child through the world. -- "You don't need direction, you know which way to go And I don't want to hold you back, I just want to watch you grow." Sounds heavy, but it's also very gentle and pleasant to listen to. I particularly enjoy Roseanne Cash's "Carrie" and Mary-Chapin Carpenter's "Dreamland".

The liner notes are an added bonus, featuring photographs of the artists with their mothers/daughters. An additional bonus, the artists are donating their royalties to the Voiceless Victims program of the Institute for Intercultural Understanding. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

All of Harry's best songs in one place...with some filler
I grew up listening to Harry Chapin, and many of his songs rank among my favorites. "Taxi", and "Cats in the Cradle" especially are emotionally moving and are almost tearjerkers, while "Sniper" is a masterpiece, "Sequel" is a part 2 to "Taxi", and the list of great songs goes on. "I Wanna Learn a Love Song", "WOLD", etc. They are all here in one place (well, "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" is conspicuously missing). I docked this one a star however because of the filler. I guess some people might find all the spoken word sound clips scattered throughout this anthology a nice touch, but whether you find them a nice touch or filler depends on your taste. That's my only complaint about this collection. Otherwise, prepare to OD on Harry when you listen to this!

Chapin collectors please note:
You know, I think this collection has some rarities on it, and I didn't know Harry had any. I have a complete collection of his Elektra albums, plus the unfinished "Last Of the Protest Singers" which his estate released on K-Tel, but "Thanksgiving Hunger Drives", "Commitment and Pete Seeger", "Performing", "Calluses" & "My Grandfather" don't ring a bell. Plus, I think both these discs max out at the 75-minute CD limit ("Sniper" and "There Only Was One Choice" are both quite long"), so you get a lot of music for your 22 bucks. Plus you get Harry, a paradox for such a seemingly-simple artist. He was a sentimentalist; there are songs I can't sing myself at parties because they bring tears--don't ask me to name them all. He was a humorist; "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas" about the tragic crash of a fruit truck is a hilarious parody of the truckdriver songs of '60s Country. He could be as noir as some Springsteen stuff; in "Sniper", he crawls inside the mind of Texas University Tower gunman Charles Whitman. Plus, we get both halves of the "Taxi" saga here in the same collection. Maybe my Chapin collection isn't all that complete after all.

miss ya harry
I absolutely love singer/songwriters from the 70s,and Harry was one of the best and most prolific.He was also hard-working,doing over a 100 shows a year and giving most of the proceeds to charity.His untimely death from a car accident in 1981 was a great loss.

the best collection for the $$
I had a birthday option once-cash, or CDs. I only really knew "Taxi" and "Cat's in the Cradle" from some records, but I wanted them on CD. I wasn't sure I wanted to spend the money on a 2 disc set just for 2 songs. I sort of knew some of the others like "WOLD" and "A Better Place To Be" (a fantastic song, despite that one review), but not that much. So I opted to pass on the cash and got some CDs and made sure that this was the first one I grabbed. I loved almost everything on it right away. I was sad not to see "30,000 lbs of Bananas", but other than that there were no disappointments. The spoken tracks with exerpts from speeches and interviews are amazing. "My Grandfather" is probably my favorite. "Sniper" seriously distrubed me for a while until I realized what a brilliant composition it is. Even "There Only Was One Choice" is on here which is a pretty incredible song but so long that you'd think it'd be left off.

For me though, "Circle" is tough to listen to. It is one of the live tracks on the collection and in the middle he talks of his causes and how he'll be in the lobby to meet everyone and "kiss all the pretty ladies" then adds "sorry guys, maybe next year". You see, he died shortly after that performance so there was no "next year". The whole speech is incredibly passionate about his causes and all of the things that he was working for so to think that we lost him shortly after reminds us of what a sudden and tragic loss this was.

Brilliant stuff, with some fluff throw in...
I love Harry. I have since I first heard "Taxi" back around 1972. I have owned or heard just about everything he left us. This is a good overview of his work, with most of his best songs. Some chatter included does not hold up on repeated listenings and could have been dispensed with. This is the only Chapin I have on CD, but I have kept my vinyls and cassettes. All fans of Harry have a different original album favorite, it seems, and all of Harry's albums have a couple of soul-searing classics and at least two or three numbers that don't impress at all. One of my favorite Chapin releases has not made it to CD yet. "Sequel" came out on the Boardwalk label and not only includes that wonderful follow-up to "Taxi", but also has "Remember When the Music." It deserves a CD release. Is anyone listening who can make that happen? Harry, we know you were not perfect, and neither was any single record you put out...but you were a damn good man and artist, and we have missed you terribly. No one has emerged to fill your spot in our culture, and we suffer for it. Jackson Browne has tried, and come close...but no one has produced another "Taxi" or "Cat's in the Cradle" yet. This two-disc set is worth owning if you don't already have these songs in playable condition. Harry Chapin often erred musically on the side of excess, but when he nailed it, he nailed it good. In addition to the songs I've already named, listen to "Old College Avenue"; "I Wanna Learn a Love Song"; "Flowers Are Red"; "She Sings Songs Without "Words"; "Story of a Life"; "W*O*L*D*"; "Mr. Tanner"; "Corey's Coming"; and "Circle". This man put his soul into his lyrics and performances, and exposed it to all who would listen. I thank God I have had his songs in my life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Representation Near Perfection
Josh Ritter, an artist with little household name recognition, sends as much emotion through his fingers and voice than any artist in recent memory on his sophomore album Hello Starling. Completed in just 14 days, the album could very well be as complete and finished as an album that took months in the studio. But Ritter is simple and needs little time to set himself apart. Matter of factly, he needed no time in the studio as the album was recorded in an old barn on the French countryside using vintage equipment of the legendary Curtis Mayfield.

Hello Starling opens happy and mellow with Bright Smile and continues through subsequent tracks that can be accompanied by passionate love making or a cigarette on the front porch. I often try to relate music to emotions or events and Ritter excels like that of other great albums allowing the listener to appreciate his music at all times of the day and the year.

Wings, perhaps the most important and powerful track, displays Josh Ritter's songwriting talent. Again simple but effective. With a touch of the church and early Willie Nelson, Wings (a song Joan Baez recentely recorded) seems to be a contemporary storyboard for those who love to think of freedom and all of that stuff. Unlike many artists, Ritter shows he can change tune and tone by piggybacking Wings and the subsequent California with Snow is Gone. You can picture Ritter smiling/dancing on stage with this number six and it excretes joy with the smell of a window-down car trip.

An accomplished artist overseas, Ritter seems a distant star in the ears of American listeners. He follows in the footsteps of other now loved musicians like Nick Drake, whom at the release of their albums failed to find sales and fanbase, but it seems that with Hello Starling and his future endeavors Ritter will gather followers of his mellow simplistic vision of guitar folk. ... Read more

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A member of the band Heatmiser, Elliot Smith recorded home demos on any equipment he could get his hands on. His first "solo" album is a cheap four-track home recording that hints at the melodic possibilities Smith would explore in greater detail on subsequent releases. The title track is remarkable but with four songs referred to in sequential order as "No Name #1," "No Name #2," etc. ... the inspiration isn't always fully firing. Blessed with a quiet angelic voice and a lyrical mind that easily transforms the squalid details of everyday life into something worth hearing about twice, Smith stood on the verge of getting it on. With his next, self-titled release, he did.--Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Can't understand why it's rated lower than the others
I know that all albums, especially when compared by fans of an artist, come down to a matter of opinion, but I feel compelled to give mine: this is my favorite.

I own all of Smith's album releases and treasure them all, but while most people seem to rank Either/Or first on their lists, I put it at least third. It's just how I feel about the songwriting. Roman Candle is the second of his that I heard and the one I most often go back to. Here's why:

It's not the under-production, because I never really care about that. It's the simplified suggestiveness of the songwriting that tells you he can do more, but he knows he doesn't have to. The non-specific song titles (No Name #1) have never bothered me because they speak so well for themselves. It's not a long album, but it's strong from start to finish. It seems to reach its climax at "Last Call," a tremendous song by any standards, and then delivers the instrumental "Kiwi maddog 20/20" as a sort of afterthought. That last one is in a style that's hard for my friends and me to typify. And that lack of type is what makes this album so great to me.

It is his debut solo work, as far as I know, and it certainly sounds like a man finding his voice, which is not to say he is less than qualified (as my rating of 5 stars indicates) but rather he is new in his confidence as a writer.

Simply put, it's fantastic. There are few albums I can recommend as strongly.

Different and gorgeous.
Like a previous reviewer, I don't understand why this would be rated even a 10th of a star less than any of his later releases. The recording is not as "slick" as any his later albums, but as is his way, Elliott turns the 4 track to his advantage, though he said it was a "complete mistake" that it ended up sounding this good.

Some of these songs were written when he was still a teenager, a testament to his natural talent. I would not consider the straight-forward lyrical lines to be any less poetic than his later writing. He sets down some themes on this record wich he revisits again and again on later albums from different angles.

Everything about this album is unique.
The guitar work is beautiful, and distinct, the sounds, while limited by the four-track, resemble (after a manner) his later big-studio releases. Anyone who says this sounds like Simon and Garfunkel or Nick Drake is grasping at straws, because so little music of this nature finds the light of day. Elliott eschews typical folk sounds and chords, preferring (for lack of a better metaphor) to make chairs that stand on three legs, instead of four.

This album is not garnish to his other releases, it is key.

Simply amazing
Just one of the best quiet albums by one of the best artist of this era and probably one of the most underrated artists of this era.

Pure Genius!
Roman Candle is one of the best CD's I own. Elliott Smith has his own unique sound. When you hear his music you automatically know it's him. Although he has a distinct sound, no two songs on this CD sound the same.

Unlike many other artists, Elliott Smith's lyrics are meaningful and well written. When you listen to Roman Candle you really feel like you know him. And everyone, at one point, can relate to his words. Not only are they great songs, but they are all written and composed by him. Each and every track on Roman Candle is creative and original.

definitely one of the best albums ever
not only is this his best album it one of the best albums ever it didn't take more than once to love it i think it will stand up to the times for years to come ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Dan Fogelberg's AMazing Masterwork!
This incredible double album released at the apex of Dan Fogelberg's popularity in the early 1980s is an amazing tour-de-force by one of folk-rock's most under-appreciated artists. From the stirring opening instrumental on "Nexus" and its complex and quite accomplished lyrics describing today's contemporary cultural conundrum to the lyrical ballad "Innocent Age", this album showcases Dan's wide range of songwriting, musical, and arrangement skills. Fogelberg tends to favor a very full "wall of sound" approach to his music, and sometimes tends to somewhat overproduce arrangements by having too much going on simultaneously in his works. Yet here the songs are clear, crisp, and simply terrific, from "The Sand And The Foam" to "Stolen Moments" to a lovely accompaniment with Emmy Lou Harris on the memorable "Only The Heart May Know". A number of top-forty hits are included, from "Leader Of The Band" to "Run For The Roses" to "Same Old Lang Syne". My favorites here are the spare and haunting "Aireshire Lament" to the astonishing work on "The Reach". Dan paints a word picture here that leaves me imagining casting about on a lobster boat in the swells and eddies off the Maine coast. Perhaps it is due to its length, but I simply cannot understand why it was never released as a single. This is a wonderful album, folks, and a splendid treat to Mr. Fogelberg's considerable skills and talents. I highly recommend it. Enjoy.

Songs about Life
Dan Fogelberg deals with all the phases of life in his epic 'song cycle', and is perhaps being a little 'worthy' in the process. But don't let that put you off. It also contains some of Dan's best songs.

Some of them were big hits, like 'Leader of the Band', 'Hard to Say' and 'Run For the Roses' - all memorable. Some of them are just great songs, like 'The Sand and the Foam' and 'Only the Heart May Know' (with Emmylou Harris in a haunting duet).

It's the usual late seventies sound from Dan, which means lush arrangements, Dan playing lots of different instruments, but with an emphasis on acoustic guitar, and Dan's high-reaching harmonies. Songs range from the gentle ballads to out and out rockers, but with much in between. Always very musical, Dan's perfect pitch stands out on the quieter tracks - 'Leader of the Band' in particular.

It's a bit of a sentimental journey through life. Stories of dead fathers and young horses growing up abound. The uniqueness of the songs mean that Dan managed to turn these unlikely subjects into his biggest hits ever.

So it's an album that's better than you might think from the telling. And an essential one for Dan Fogelberg fans. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

MASTERPIECE
Very few songs are able to bring tears to my eyes, but that is exactly what "Same Old Lang Syne" and "Leader Of The Band" did, when I first heard them at the age of 19 back in '87. Each and every song is great, though some of them not instantly. Dan Fogelberg's music is the kind that grows on you, if given a chance. I'm a fan for life!

Stamped!!
When Dan said he wanted to make a double album,
of course the Record Company Freaked......
When he said He had more to say......
They wanted to release something Now!
We call Dan Fogelberg a true musical artist for
allowing himself to complete his work in his own way,
and not to just Dump his songs into the hands of a Label.
There are so many behind to stories to the making of Great Albums.
Eagles have "Hotel California"......Fleetwood Mac has "Rumours"
Dan has "The Innocent Age"....you get the picture.
I would love to hear the Story of "The Innocent Age"
in full.

But about the music........if your new to Dan,
or merely considering owning his library of Cd's......
first of all Every Cd Dan has put out is Stellar...But Unique
in its phazes......
We have Young Dan.....fresh and free from "Home Free" to "Captured Angel" and "Souvenirs"....
Then Dan exercises his Creativity with "Netherlands" to "Twin Sons.." and "Pheonix"....
When he got to "The Innocent Age"...I believe Dan Flexed his Defining Ablility to put his personal Stamp on his listeners.
To Sell his Heart and Soul......and from what I hear and understood.....Making this Double Album, that is exactly what He did and paid an emotional price for it.

You know the songs by now, but perhaps you don't.
There are of course the Four Singles......."Same Old Lang Syne"..
"Leader of the Band"..."Run for the Roses" and "Hard to Say".
But certainly these Four songs would be enough alone to sell this Album......after all....some people do buy the whole Cd for just one song....I do!
But for me......and hopefully to those who will in the future own "The Innocent Age"....you buy it for the Four songs,
but you Love it for the Rest of the Songs!!!
You Treasure it for the Title Song, and Glory in it for "Ghosts"
YOu listen to it again and again for "The Reach" and your desire to share it with others as I do now for "The Sand and The Foam".

A Stunning, Evocative Masterpiece
Until tonight, I had not listened to this CD for nearly 10 years. But for some reason, after learning that my two year old daughter's best friend was moving back to France, I was reminded of this recording. The music on this CD is nothing short of the soundtrack of the loss of innocence, evoking the emotions of man from childhood to old age as life fleetingly passes him by. My daughter loses a playmate, and I lose close, dear friends. "The Innocent Age" presaged my feelings on this occasion, musically capturing some of the most essential and fundamental of human feelings. ... Read more

Album Description

Reissued U.S. edition of this adult alternativesinger/songwriter's critically acclaimed 1994 album Fleshfeatures a newly repackaged booklet with full lyrics. 10tracks. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A must have.
The lyrics are pure poetry. The music could stand alone as an instrumental work. Put them together with David Gray's hypnotic voice and you have a work of musical genius. More acoustic and folky than his latest, White Ladder, Gray combines the songwriting ability of Bob Dylan with the harmonic sense of Paul Simon and a twist of Welsh emotion. Flesh is a work of art that should have made him famous long before Babylon hit the radio. This CD is a must have for lovers of acoustic guitar and poetry.

Mercy Me...
If you lived in one of those hypothetical worlds where you could only own ten cds, this should be one of them. I have played this thing out for a year and a half and haven't gotten tired of it nor have I found much to compare it with, not even Gray's other stuff. The only thing that comes close is his earlier work, "A Century Ends" and even then there is something missing. Every track on "Flesh" is good, and a few of them are so overwhelming that they leave you shaking your head in amazement. A number of other reviewers have mentioned the monster track "Falling Free" which can't have too many good things said about it. This is one of the most gruff, simple, beautiful and heartfelt ballads I have heard, and I have added it to the soundtrack of my life.
For those of you who only know David Gray through his later stuff, especially the cd "White Ladder" and that terrible "Babylon" song, you owe it to yourself to give "Flesh a try. Over the years and the records, the songs have lost some of the rawness both in the husky vocals and the simplicity of the music. His latest work, "New Day at Midnight" sounds so overproduced that it is amazing it comes from the same guy. Not that the later David Gray is bad music, the guy's stuff is always really good, it just doesn't have to power and the vibrancy of the few early efforts. "Flesh" is music stripped to the bone...and, man, is it good!

The Best of Gray
Like many reviewers, "Flesh" ranks among my all-time favorites of any genre. This was my introduction to Gray years ago; I was a college DJ and the label was pushing "What Are You?" to alternative stations. That may seem odd to those who first heard Gray via his later work; but imagine Mike Scott's lyrics at their most angst-ridden (like in "Be My Enemy" from "This Is The Sea") coupled with arguably the most gritty, raw vocal Gray's recorded and you have one excellent, edgy, bitter lament about watching a friend sell out to the world.

"What Are You?" is the only tune like that here, however. The rest are far more positive and musically in line with Gray's later efforts and they shine with an authenticity that the minimal production allows. "The Light," for example, is an exhilirating love song showcasing Gray's strength with lyrics. The song simmers nicely until near the end when Gray quiets the instruments and lowers himself to a whisper--then builds back up with a rhythm (both vocally and instrumentally) that chugs like a train and gets you grinning from ear to ear, realizing how beautiful love can be.

I'm not much into "White Ladder" or "New Day at Midnight" (Gray's latest CDs) though I believe that's due to becoming a fan early. It's not about his massive popularity now or perceptions of his recent music sounding more "commercial"--it is because there are two distinct periods of Gray's music and I prefer one over the other. His earlier work is more raw, folk-based, intense, and naked. This works for some while others prefer the smooth, sonically perfect production and softer lyrics.

I've found those with an affinity for "alt country" artists (Uncle Tupelo, Matthew Ryan, Steve Earle, etc) prefer Gray's pre-"White Ladder" albums. If that sounds like you, give "Flesh" or "Century Ends" (Gray's first album) a shot before the rest. Hopefully, however, you'll be the type to like both periods of Gray's music and be able to enjoy it all!

This Could Be My Favorite
I didn't think albums got any more perfect than "A Century Ends." Until I heard "Flesh." This is, without a doubt, one of the best CDs in my entire collection. From the hard rocking opener, "What are You?" to the brilliant finisher, "Flesh," there isn't a bad track in the bunch.

Favorite tracks include:

The Light- I don't think I'll ever get tired of this song. It's the kind of tune that you pray to hear on a road trip so you can crank as loud as you can and cruise down the highway. Fantastic!

Coming Down- What a build! This song starts out pretty mellow, but builds to an amazing height. I think it needs to be heard twice to fully appreciate how good it is.

Falling Free- The first time I heard this song, I bawled my eyes out. This is possibly one of the most beautiful ballads ever written ("No need to nail it to the ground/No need to smother it with sense/ Just listen to the rhythm of your heart that pounds/ And trust it all to chance"). This song will have you from the very first note.

New Horizons- This song just makes you feel good. Between the music and the lyrics, you hear it and can't stop smiling.

Flesh- What a way to end this album! The percussion at the end is as inspiring as the chorus ("Putting flesh on the bones of my dreams"). This song makes me wish that Mr. Gray would experiment a little more with percussion...he has the right idea on this tune.

To sum up this album: I hear it and realize how lucky I was to discover David Gray. I can't picture my CD collection without his music.

OH MY WORD!
I bought this after White Ladder and Sell Sell Sell and, WOW! The best song on here is "Falling Free," a sweeping piano balad that warms the soul. "What are you" is my exact view of commercialism, which is most of the music out there on the mass market. But Flesh is a great album that deserves more than five stars. I honestly can't praise it enough. If you love acoustic music, powerful lyrics about love, catchy melodies, and powerful vocals, then this album needs to be in your CD collection.
Dave ... Read more

Amazon.com

Prompted by the success Ken Burns's popular Civil War documentary (which spawned its own soundtrack), Songs of the Civil War presents an eclectic assortment of contemporary performers tackling period pieces that date back to the War Between the States. Here's Sweet Honey in the Rock tackling the slave lament "No More Auction Block for Me," Judy Collins singing "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and Kate and Anna McGarrigle essaying the lovely (and very suitable) "Hard Times Come Again No More." Between performances by name artists (Kathy Mattea, Waylon Jennings, and Richie Havens among them), instrumentals performed by the U.S. Military Academy Band provide a sense of time and place. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A wonderful evocative collection
As I sit here writing this review the CD 'Songs of the Civil War' is playing in the background. There are two things, which surprise me; firstly that each time I listen to this collection I enjoy it that little bit more and secondly after playing it so much I'm surprised that the disc hasn't wore away to nothing! Ken Burns, the co-producer of this album and of course the producer of the spectacular TV series 'The Civil War' suggests that "Music, songs are a kind of glue that holds our history together and binds the present with the past to form our most important memories." Unlike the soundtrack to the series, which is mainly traditional music and instrumentals 'Songs of the Civil War', offers the listener a whole range of songs that capture the essence of the both the Civil War and the social and political philosophies that gave birth to it. There are songs from the perspective of both North and South, from the position of the soldier, from their families left behind, from the slaves on the auction block, ballads, foot stompers, humour and laments, they are all represented here and then there is Ashokan Farewell which still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!

I highly recommend 'Songs of the Civil War' to you and encourage you add not only it but also the soundtrack to the series to your music collection.

Enjoy!

Kids Love It
I purchased this CD as part of an effort to further my 6-year old son's interest in music - following very little luck with more conventional children's songs. What a success story! He loved it from the first, both he and his younger sister play the songs nearly every day. They'll both dance around the house, sing the songs, or strum their air guitars as they listen. His favorites are "Marching through Georgia" and "Lincoln and Liberty Too". His sister prefers "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". But they enjoy them all - the words are very clear, the verses easy to remember, and the melodies have endured the test of time.

My son's interest has even extended to the precise words themselves - there have been many nights that we've read the words to the songs before bedtime. They've helped him to understand the concepts of freedom and courage, as well as the injustice and horrors of slavery, and the realities of war.

But please be advised - the "n" word is included in one of the songs - not in an intentionally derogatory manner, but it is included, none-the-less. And in typical child fashion, he noticed and picked up on it - we've discussed the terrible hurt the word inflicts and the importance of not using it. It is the single fault of an otherwise exceptional collection of songs.

Kate, come back!
I feel like I've owned this since just after Gettysburg. It's simply a wonderful CD, as the other reviewers here all happily attest. But the money track on this disc is Kate McGarrigle singing "Hard Times Come Again No More". This version of one of America's most moving songs is the best ever recorded. It made me cry like an onion salesman. If there's any justice in the world, those McGarrigle women will come out of whatever constitutes "retirement" for folk singers and do a whole CD full of Foster's most moving songs. Come on and sing, Kate. And bring along Anna. There's nothing good on TV anyway.

a great collection of folk music
This album is absolutely wonderful. It's a great history lesson as well as just good music. Kathy Mattea has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard, and John Hartford was such a wonderful musician (I say "was" because he passed away in 2001). Sweet Honey in the Rock and Kate & Ann McGarrigle have beautiful harmonies, and the military pieces are great. Music is essential to understanding history, and this album is a history lesson in itself.

SEQUEL, PLEASE!!
This is one of the most moving collections of music I've ever listened to, right up there with the Baez/Dylan collection "Any Day Now," John Stewart's "The Phoenix Concerts," Steve Earle's "The Mountain," the original discovery of the Robert Johnson recordings, and Mark Knopfler's "Ragpicker's Dream." The material is as powerful as the underlying subject, the performers are incredible, and they're perfectly suited to the material. It's impossible to listen to it too often. My kids (ages 11 and 13) can now sing a lot of the songs from beginning to end. I wish there were a sequel. If there were five "Rocky" movies, there should be at least one more volume of this material, by the same producing team.

I wish they could give Pulitzers for compilations like this.

Tim Oksman
Portsmouth, Virginia ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

EricClapton had better marketing. That's the only way to explain whyRichard Thompson isn't as famous as that other British guitar god. Abrilliant, albeit subtle, guitar genius, Thompson writes wonderfulsongs that are sometimes rockin', sometimes haunting, and sometimes alittle bit of both. And he presents them all in a voice that can onlybe called unique. Unlike most guitar heroes, Thompson is less based inthe blues than he is in folk--dating back to his early years with theseminal FairportConvention--but his has always been a folk music with bite andsoul, adding things to the folk lexicon like rockabilly and zydeco."Cooksferry Queen"--one of the 19 tracks on this compilation culledfrom the six albums Thompson released on Capitol between 1988 and1999--features a guitar solo that's downright punk. Tracks like the semihit"I Feel So Good," "Razor Dance," and "Bathsheba Smiles" remain asexhilarating as anything you're apt to hear. Longtime fans will need tohear the three tracks previously unreleased on CD, including a new duetwith son Teddy Thompson on"Persuasion" (co-written with Tim Finn) that is absolutely gorgeous.Ultimately, one longs for a box set that encompasses all eras (andlabels) of this master's career, but Action Packed proves thatthe recent last third of it has been topnotch. --Bill Holdship ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Seems random...
I'm a huge Richard Thompson fan, I own all the albums and also the far better (out of print) collection, "Watching the Dark". I bought this to get the three "new" tracks, whick range from good to great, so I guess I got my money's worth.

I really must take issue with the track selection, though. For instance, it includes only 2 tracks from "Amnesia"... sure, "turning of the tide" and "waltzing's for dreamers" are great, but almost any other song on the original album is better (that's how good it is). I certainly would have liked more tracks from "You? Me? Us?", and less tracks from "Mock Tudor". It's not that I don't like "Mock Tudor", but (a) It's very recent and maybe doesn't need such heavy representation in a retrospective yet, and (b) is a semi-"concept" album that works much better as a whole.

The sound is audibly and obviously improved on tracks from "Amnesia" through "Mirror Blue" which is remarkable proof how much more engineers have been able to eek out of the old' 16-bit redbook CD format in recent years. On later tracks, the difference is either subtle or non-existent.

Maybe it seems that I'm being a bit hard on this CD, but, as the man said, you have to be cruel to be kind. I think RT is one of the great musical talents of the past 50 years, and he deserves better. Much better. Also, remember, Capitol dropped him from the label after "Mock Tudor", so "Action Packed" is a last-ditch, crass cash-in on the part of his old label. Of course, Capitol has let most of these albums go out of print, so newcomers may have no other recourse but to buy this set.

Another suggestion? RT sells wonderful "live" discs on his own label. Find these and buy them. "2 letter words", "Live at Crawley" and "Celtshmerz" will all give you a more complete picture of this brilliant guitarist.

superb introduction to a genius
Despite the fact that I own almost all of Richard Thompson's solo material (much of which is sadly out of print), I am always happy to see a well made best of lp- and this lp qualifies.

For those not familiar with him, Richard Thompson is simply one of the most respected, gifted, and talented singer/songwriter/guitarists that you probably have little or no knowledge of. Lack of promotion could well by why Richard isn't a household name outside of guitarists and fans of folk music. this is a crime, for Thompson is among the top 2 greatest guitarists that Britain ever produced (with Peter Green, in my view..Clapton will be argued by others, but Clapton can't write a tune like Green or Thompson), and a intricate songwriter, as well. His unique voice leaves those who hear him spellbound. The songs tug at any number of emotions- fear, depression, anxiety, melancholy..occasionally joy and happiness.. Thompson can do it all, and do it better than most.

This collection takes on the last 10+ years of Richard's career, starting with his wonderful "Amnesia" lp (which spawned the wonderful "Turning of the Tide" and "Waltzing's for Dreamers" on this collection..sadly, the non-inclusion of "Pharoah" for me is a grave oversight), going through his latest offering, "Mock Tudor" (tracks 13-17 on this disc). The lps, including the amazing "You? Me? Us?," "Mirror Blue," "Rumor & Sigh," and "Invisible Means" (of which nothing is included, sadly), are all wonderful efforts and should be sought out to fully appreciate all of Richard's many talents, but this best of lp is a great primer to the world of Richard Thompson in the 1990's. Excellent stuff.

Fine as a bee's wing
Some reviewers may niggle over the selection, but this is a solid collection for anybody who wants an economical survey of this phenomenal musician. I'd personally like to have "You Dream Too Much" on here too, but that doesnt make this collection any worse. The selections from You? Me? Us? are just right. Theres nothing wrong with the 3 new tracks either.

If you need some RT in your collection, this is an excellent way to start. Watching the Dark is also highly recommended.

PURE GENIUS
My taste usually runs more towards the virutoso guitar slinger. While RICHARD THOMPSON isn't in that vain, he is a most inventive guitarist who creates beautifull melodies and some of the best lyrics written in modern musik. Only UK SQUEEZE at their best could tell a story so well with so few words. This CD is always entertaining and despite the width of material, there are no fillers. From the folk flavoured tracks to out and out rockers, THOMPSON delivers in any style he chooses. If you don't have RICHARD THOMPSON in your collection, you are missing one of the best song writers of this century.

A great recent "Thompson" collection.
I often wonder how this guy isn't twice as popular, then I decide I like being part of the secret. Thompson sets many a mood on here with his quick fingers. He can whip out the pop-rockers like "Turning of the Tide", "Feel So Good", and "Razor Dance", or he can slow the pace with songs like "Waltzing's for Dreamers", "Keep Your Distance", or the excellent "Beeswing". This also includes my favorite "Bathsheba Smiles", which is a great upbeat number, and the big fan favorite "1952 Vincent Black Lightning", probably one of the best "story" songs ever. I've seen him a few times, and he always seems to play that one. The only things I miss on here are "Read About Love" and "Crawl Back Under My Stone", otherwise this is the best place to start if your looking for your first, or only "Richard Thompson" cd. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Not for the Young at Heart
In 1973 very few people knew the Nilsson song "You're Breakin My Heart". Myself and a few select friends listened to the 8-track every morning. It was our creed. My personal favorite was "Remember". To me, this is the best song ever written. I never forgot this song. It haunted me and I looked for any recording I could find. Then one day in 1991 they were having a record sale in a local mall (how I happened to be there is a story in itself) and I found the album, wrapped in plastic even, and bought it. Since then, I've heard this song as background or theme music for several films and I wonder, does Nilsson get credit for this?

Who is Nilsson? Who is Schmilsson? I wonder. Who cares? I only wish more 8-track playing fools had invested in this musical trip because it definitely influenced my listening pleasure. Love ya, mean it.

Quirkiness at it's best!
Harry Nilsson died a few years ago from a heart attack, sadly. He has many websites in his honor & listed John Lennon as one of his close friends. He was well respected in the music community, and one of his hits was "Coconut" (you put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up...) as well as the sentimental favorite, "Without You", & "Me And My Arrow". None of those above-mentioned songs are on this particular CD, but I thought I'd mention them so you get an idea of his talent. This CD has more of his quirkier humor, which catches a person off-balance and makes one laugh.

If you are one of those people who joins music clubs to get your collection built up every time they change the format (8-tracks v.s. vinyl v.s. cassette v.s. CD v.s. 'to be continued'), then you know what I'm talking about when I say that there are eleven favorite albums you always get first. Right?

Son of Schmilsson is always one of my Top 11 first choices.

'nough said!

Please Don't Censor My Review
"You're breaking my heart!...You're tearing it apart!...SO F**K YOU!!!! No, they don't write 'em like that anymore, that's for sure. What kind of insane mind would come up with lines like, "I'd rather be dead then wet my bed". And what about Joy?...."Now when I think of her I get all clammy inside". But never mind, even if as Harry says, "I SANG MY BALLS OFF FOR YOU BABY!!!!!" Thery're ain't no one, absolutely not a single solitary songwriter around today, who knows how to express more unabashed fun into their craft. We miss you Harry. It's sad you left us so soon. But look on the bright side, at least you did't wet your bed.

PS: Hey Harry, How's Johnny doin' up there?

Great for anyone who smokes pot!
This is the only Harry Nilsson cd i have but after hearing this one i will be buying more in the future! I'm not a pothead but i know that they were on something when they made these songs!lol! My favorite song is #5:You'r Breaking My Heart! I relate to that song! My mother actually told me about this song & as soon as i found it i bout the cd! I ended up liking all the songs! Anyone who likes pot smoking music will like this cd!

His Best
To me, this is the best work Harry Nilsson ever did. There isn't a close second. This is it.

I love Harry Nilsson and I hate Harry Nilsson. This album represents everything I love about the man. This album was recorded before he lost his mind and became a complet imbecile.

A few record later and you got "The Flying Saucer Song". A few records before and you got "Good Old Desk". In between, you get this classic.

In the beginning there was a bank teller named Harry. He wrote a few good songs and a lot of bad ones. One of his songs was "Cuddly Toy", a song that was just oh-so-cute. Harry wrote a lot of songs that were just oh-so-cute and got a record contract. Harry though he himself was just oh-so-cute. Harry Nilsson was the luckiest SOB on this plannet. This was before Harry changed from being oh-so-cute to what-a-bunghole.

His first couple of albums were liked by the critics but ignored by the public. The Beatles liked him, which helped a lot. Then he recored "Everybody's Talkin'" and the public came around.

I'm giving this brief history because Harry had talent but was so smitten with himself that a lot of his work is, in my mind, unlistenable. Some of his later RCA projects were miserable.

But this one, smack dab in the middle of his career, a career he stupidly threw away, is a masterpiece.

Harry was actually funny in this one. Harry's later stabs at humor fell flat- no make that fell F-L-A-T- but here he's got a good producer, Richar Perry, who undoubtedly wasn't afraid to tell Big Headed Harry when something wasn't working.

So I love this incarnation of Nilsson.

It is indeed his best- only to be followed up by some of the most worthless ever released by anyone- and that includes Kathie Lee!

Harry passed away some years ago. What a shame. He was never able to regain past glories. Hope this serves as a warning sign to other artists- don't let your ego get in the way of your music. ... Read more

Album Description

Includes #1's 'Cat's In The Cradle', 'Taxi', I Wanna LearnA Love Song', 'Sequel' and 7 more musical vignettes of life and love, despair and hope in modern America. Digitallyremastered. Elektra. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Modern Troubadour
Harry Chapin is one of the few artists for which his music will always speak better than any mere review. Harry would have been a minstrel in medieval times. He would have been in vaudeville in the last century. He enjoyed performing before live audiences. His art did not translate as well to recorded media; while good, he was much better live. Harry was a story teller. He enjoyed singing about the irony of life, sometimes with a serious tone, and other times, with a good bit of humor.

As other reviewers have noted, the Gold Medal Collection presents two disks as compared to this one CD. However, the Gold Medal Collection also costs substantially more. So if you are on a budget, this CD is a bargain way to get a good cross-section of Harry's music. Note also that this CD contains nearly 74 minutes worth of music, thus this CD represents a very good bargain.

My personal three favorites are included on this CD: "Taxi," "Sequel," which could be called "Taxi - Part 2," and my all-time Chapin favorite, "Cat's in the Cradle." Had Harry stopped writing music after these three songs, he would have instantly been considered one of the great singer-songwriters of all time. Of course, Harry wrote many more songs, adding more excellent stories and songs to confirm his ability and place in music.

"Sunday Morning Sunshine" reminds me a bit of Harry Nilsson. The music sounds like pop fluff, but the story is Harry's story, that of a wandering performer with the blues, and the love of his life sends rays of sunshine to scatter those blues. Poignant lyrics contrasted by very light music.

"W*O*L*D" was the first Chapin song that caught my attention many years ago. While the song was frequently played on pop stations, the lyrics tell a story of someone who has been in the radio business for a long time, a story of what happens in life. The story is relevant for all times, but was even truer in the 60s and 70s when we seemed to be such a youth-driven society. The story follows what has happened to the singer as he has moved from one job to the next, and how he is perceived by his listeners, and how he longs for the love he once had, and lost.

"I Wanna Learn a Love Song" is a story of true love, and of a boy growing up to be a man. I am unable to do justice to this song with my words. You are better off listening to the song, reading the lyrics, and getting into to the story yourself.

"A Better Place to Be" is a great story, the story of a lonely watchman and either a poignant tale of an incredible night with a beautiful woman, or one of the great pickup lines of all time, or both. The watchman tells this story to a waitress about having a great night with a beautiful woman, and how it ended with her leaving when he went out to get breakfast, and as she wipes away a tear, the song sets up the watchman's next night with the waitress, and the cycle continues.

"Dreams Go By" is a story of opportunities missed, and the realization as we've grown old, that it's too late to realize those dreams. The music is upbeat, with a flavor of music from early in the last century, but the upbeat tone is deceptive, because the song is about loss.

"Sniper" is the story of Charles Whitman, focusing on September 1, 1966, when Charles climbed into the bell tower on the University of Texas, and either killed or wounded 47 people before being shot by police. The song suggests reasons for how Whitman became as he did, and the point of what Whitman did. This song is nearly 10 minutes long, and uses a variety of techniques to tell the story, from the newsy voice Harry uses to represent the media, to the petulant voice of the sniper himself, to the drums that provide the representation of the bullets. While the song may appear to be gimmicky from this description, it is a masterpiece of story telling.

The song "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" is one of Harry's more humorous songs, and yet it has such a sad ending. A song that would have made a great country song except for its nearly eleven minute length, it tells the story of a truck driver anxious to get home driving a truck full of bananas, losing control of the truck and crashing. The song has three endings in this live version, and though the topic is serious and sad, Harry makes the ending funny.

The final song on this collection is "Remember When the Music - Reprise." Of course the inclusion of this song was intended to be a statement about Harry's life and music, telling of times gone by. In this song, the times gone by include more than just thinking about how things were simpler, it includes beliefs, and truth, and values.

Harry Chapin was a master story teller in song. His songs were of a style sung by artists such as Gordon Lightfoot, Arlo Guthrie, and Randy Newman. While it seems easy to say his music was similar to those other artists, Harry let the story go where it needed to go, forsaking time limits and modern song construction. His styling truly harkened back to times gone by. There was, and always will be, only one Harry Chapin.

Everything Harry Chapin Wrote/Sang is 5 STARS.
I agree with the previous people. If you want a great range of Harry Chapin's songs, get the Gold Medal Collection. However, this CD is fabulous - like is every other one of his CD's. He's gentle and powerful and passionate and he is an inspiration to all singers and artists of any kind. He truly loved singing. He's the type of singer who would sing even if there were no money in it. This CD is a good collection of songs, however some are omitted that I wouldn't omit. :) I recommend buying ALL of his albums.

Good but you can do better for a bit more $$
This is a nice cd. But the GOLD MEDAL COLLECTION ( 2 CDs) gives you a much better feel for his music. Better range and some good stories. If 20 years since his death you are looking for a "essential collection" get the GOLD METAL it is a much much better place to be.

70-Plus Minutes of Essential Chapin
Essentials gives you 12 self-penned songs from one of popular musics great storytellers and humanitarians. While Chapin had only four bona fide hits, you get a generous sampling of key album tracks and concert favorites. [The only glaring omission is "Circle."] Unlike other releases in The Essentials series which all limit song selection to 12 tracks and consequently a relatively short playing time, with tracks like "Sniper" (9:57) and "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" (10:58), you get over 70 minutes of music. RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

There's no way to offer a shortcut description of what Beth Orton sounds like. There are so many musical styles pulsing through Central Reservation--jazz, folk, pop, rock, and dance--that the album could easily have ended up an empty exercise in genre-hopping.Instead, it's a bracing example of mongrel music at its best as Orton carves out a new musical vocabulary with deep roots in familiar sounds. --Keith Moerer ... Read more

Reviews (150)

Haunting, revealing, compelling
I bought this CD having heard "Stars All Seem To Weep" on the "Back to Mine" release from Everything But The Girl. Ben Watt, an accomplished jazz guitarist, arranged and produced that track for Beth, hence its inclusion on the "Back to Mine" compilation.

I was entranced, to say the least. And knew I had to have "Central Reservation".

There's something about Orton's writing that is very compelling: visual, honest, visceral. The oft-quoted lyric from the title track "And I can still smell you on my fingers/and taste you on my breath" is gripping, graphic. But the soft understatement of "Sweetest Decline" ("She weaves secrets in her hair/her wispers are not hers to share/she's deep as a well") left me reeling. The swell of orchestration is an unexpected - and perfect - counterpoint to the bare bones structure of the tune. It's no exaggeration to say I was left with my head spinning.

There is much about the album that renders it a very personal experience for the listener, as much as it is obviously personal for Orton. No manufactured "Bye Bye Bye" schmaltz here. One gets a true sense of the songwriter here, which is very rare with today's typical overproduction.

This is one of those albums I keep for myself, for late nights, long drives, headphones. You may very well feel the same after connecting with "Central Reservation".

Haunting, beautiful, mesmerizing
I was coming back from England and this CD was being previewed on the plane. Not wanting to leave England and come back to real life, her songs were a perfect accompaniment to my sorrow, especially "Central Reservation." I got back and I looked everywhere. All the on-line services took too long to wait for this melodic genius. Now that I have the whole CD.... WOW!!!!! This album is a great mix of vocals and lyrics. Her "Sweetest Decline" and "Stars All Seem to Weep" are exceptional. She is poetry, her music a versatile mix of blues, pop, folk. Her voice ranges from sultress to forlorn and love lost. Her voice is rich and deep-- a definite change from the high whine becoming popular among female musicians today. Not a diva-- something extraordinarily more beautiful. Her lyrics ask you to think as you follow their poetic journey. It is a pensive journey, but I find that I can fall asleep to the CD as well. I look forward to listening to Trailer Park. Beth Orton provides us with a beautiful musical opportunity. Since I just checked out the guidelines... I would say that the closest artist I can think of would be Tracy Chapman as far as artist voice quality.

Stunning followup; worthy of full price purchase
Amazing. The first time I heard this album, it was like a cliche you might see in a movie. An incredibly long, lonely drive down a deserted two lane highway from Albuquerque, NM to Durango, CO. Moonless night, clear sky, hundreds of miles from any major light source, I was listening to this album, looking at the night sky. This album sunk its teeth in, a haunting, bittersweet group of songs perfect for reflection, comptemplation. This album succeedes on so many different levels to become, in this humble reviewer's opinion, an instant, timeless classic.
Listen to the emotional/thematic changes between 'Stolen Car' and 'Sweetest Decline'. The stunning, shimmering, phenomenal 'Pass in Time'. The duo between her and Terry Callier has made it into the ist of my favorite songs - people hear this one and ask me 'Who IS this? WHAT album is this?' Any album that elicits such an emotional, immediate response from so many different people MUST be doing something right.
Buy this album, you will NOT be disappointed.

great CD
Wonder why more people don't know about her.

Brilliant relaxing music
I love this CD. My musical taste ranges from classical through the keyboards of Jean-Michel Jarre to the techno of The Chemical Brothers. When I put this album on, I relax.

It has shades of other works, for example "Pass in Time" reminds me of Carole King's "Tapestry" album when she duets with James Taylor.

Beth's voice has a vulnerable edge to it. She sounds as if she is singing from the heart and she is hurting from something. It adds an edge that makes me pay attention. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Don't Overlook this Mans music, He's more than a Balladeer!
I am writing this on a strickly Predjudice level of loyalty. I love this mans music. I started collecting Dan Fogelberg when I listened to one song on from this CD...."There's a Place in the World for a Gambler". Dont let the strange title fool you into thinking this song has no substance....It is "Timeless"!! Once your floored by "There's a Place in the World for a Gambler" and singing along to its very catchy and melodic words and music, you will want to find out why someone at the age of 23 could write something so profound. There is a slight country flavor to this album, but please dont overlook the era when it was released.......The era of The Eagles and Poco and Folk artists turned Rock, it was the time when it was All about the Music and little glam. Besides...Joe Walsh puts his stamp on "Souvenirs" by Producing this for his friend Dan. Other Songs that will make you want to speculate as to why Dan has been so Underated as a songwriter.....Souvenirs......Part of the Plan (his first Chart hit)......The Long Way.....and Illinois. If your new to Dans Music......and depending on where you are in life and how music affects your heart and soul, you cannot go wrong with becoming a Dan Fan. Other Dan Cd Must have..................."ALL OF THEM"!!!

One of My Top Ten of All Time
"Souvenirs" holds a special place in my heart since a male friend recommended it to me in the late '70s. Dan's lovely melodies and haunting lyrics beckoned to me immediately.

While not a huge best-seller back then, "Souvenirs" expressed a mature longing and a sweet sensibility not usually found in the writings of a 21-year old young man... but then, Dan Fogelberg was an 'old soul' even then. Poised to return to his native "Illinois", Dan writes of an interim spent in California's 'cold' sun... he sings of a love affair running out of time in the brisk "Morning Sky" and espouses his personal philosophy to 'love when you can, cry when you have to, be who you must...' in the familiar "Part of the Plan". An innate kindness, romantic nature and respect for the cycle of life is apparent in his beautiful "Song From Half Mountain".

The languorous title song, "Souvenirs" may be a little slow-moving for some. However, it's my favorite song on the album, replete with natural images: canyons, the dawn and a mysterious leaf found to have been written upon. Its enigmatic charm wraps you into a somewhat reflective reverie.... which is why I chose Souvenirs to sing in a talent contest back in college.

The songs' ethereal, almost spiritual frankness last long after their playing - DF's clear, sensitive voice (and his deft handling of many musical instruments!) is the vehicle through which this very REAL, very SINCERE songwriter moves the very lucky listener.

Folk/Rock, Country/Rock
What a great artist. Dan Fogelberg combines the best of the two genres mentioned in the title of this review. Strong songwriting and excellent playing are evident on every track. My personal favorite is, "There's A PLace In The World For A Gambler."
When I was younger several of my friends and acquaintences and even myself dabbled in mind altering substances. Music played a large part in that lifestyle. When everyone else was listening to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to enhance their highs, I once played this album. When it was over, everyone was overwhelmed and awestruck. We couldn't find anything to follow it, the emotional content was just so awesome. It's hard to picture a bunch of young stoned people so blown away from sheer artistry instead of the usual stoner fare.

Only one bad song
"(Someone's Been) Telling You Stories" is - in my opinion - one of the very few weak songs that Dan Fogelberg has written over the years. But apart from that, the songs on the rest of the album are either great or very good. His greatest albums, however, are "Nether Lands", "Phoenix", and "The Innocent Age".

A Must Have Album
My older sister played Souvenirs when it first came out back in 1974 - I was only 13yrs of age when I first heard it. Since that time, this album has had a very special meaning for me.
I remember one time, we came inside the house from playing outside - Souvenirs was playing on my dad's Magnavox Stereo Console.
Sadly my sister lost her copy, but when I got older - I went out & purchased it on vinyl; then on CD.
This is a must have album for your collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

The mannered vocal style that has always been the most off-putting element of Ani DiFranco's music is still present on this two-disc live set, but for some reason it doesn't matter anymore. Maybe it's the way you can hear DiFranco using her breaths to accent a rhythm section that's downright merciless with its circling, pulsing, scary grooves. Or maybe it's the way, with an audience screaming, she pours heart and soul into "Unforgettable Face" and the story song "Gravel." Whatever, Living in Clip is the album where DiFranco begins to deserve her hype. And "Amazing Grace," backed by the Buffalo Philharmonic, is where she surpasses it. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (120)

Oh, I adore, you.
A good friend of mine turned me on to Ani sometime last year. So here I am, listening to 2 Little Girls off Little Plastic Castle, and I'm falling into this deep fascination with this voice. So, I go to find an Ani CD of my very own to start off with. I see Dilate, Not a Pretty Girl, Little Plastic Castle, and Living in Clip. My good friend had everything there except LIC. So I bought this one. Thank goodness. This album, twisting in every emotional direction feasible, is a tribute to Ani's musical genius, her live act, and her phenomenal writing. To list a few trully noteworthy gems: "Hide and Seek"--Beautiful in it's haunting lyrics and almost tribal beat. "Napoleon"-- It's sooo much better live! "32 Flavors" Alana Davis (Is that who covered it?) gave it no justice. "In or Out"--Dynamic and stirring, unlike the studio version. "Amazing Grace"--Mmmhmm.;) Also, be sure to wait until the last song on disc 2 reaches 7:00 for about the most giggle worthy display of audience/band interaction I've ever heard!

Ani's good, but only as good as Ani wants to be
I dont dought the talent of Ani Difranco. I just started listening to some of her stuff and i was very impressed with her talent, but i really do think she could reach a new level of excelance that she appearently has no intent to reach. Her live double cd, "Living In Clip" showcases Ani's talented Dave Matthews like guitar work in combination with a Alanis Morisette type attitude that she sings with. Alot of the tracks on this disc sound great and she has proven to me that she is definately a very talented and original voice in the womens music bussiness. My biggest problem with Ani is that it seems to me that she has to grow up alittle, not only in a mature sense, but also in a musical sense. She has the talent to become among the elite women singers in the bussiness, but it seems to me her attitude and her lack of maturity is holding her back. I like her music on this album, but i have to say i really dont like and cant relate to some of her comments inbetween songs, it is almost a musical turn off to this listener. Overall i enjoy her music and do recomend this album, its just a shame to see such a talent limiting her self to mediocre song writing and little imagination.

One Of The Best CDs of All Time
Ani seems to touch every feeling a person can have on this CD. She goes from subtle and soft, to yelling, screaming and laughter. This is the best CD I have ever bought. I suggest it to anyone who likes folk music or has a an open mind towards new things!

Living in clip
Ani Difranco is one of the few artists who has made a successful career out of her do-it-yourself ethics. She has bypassed the conventional career path most artists takes by not signing with a major record label and by doing that, she has a greater percentage intake in the profits from her music as opposed to being in debt for years to a major record label. I always have and always will respect Ani for taking the high road and do things her way. I was a big fan of Ani Difranco when I was a college student in Wisconsin nine years ago. I first heard about her in a magazine (I think) and decided to check out her music. "Dilate" was my first Ani Difranco cd. I was hooked. During the next few years, I would buy her latest cds religiously on the day they were release, one of them was "Living in Clip". I rarely buy live cds but in Ani Difranco's case, I was willing to buy a live cd of her music. Besides there were a bunch of songs at the time I hadn't heard before like the gorgeous "Both Hands" (my all-time favorite Ani Difranco song) and "Sorry I Am". "Living in Clip" is definitely one of the best live cds that I have ever heard. Although each song was recorded in different cities, you would have never guessed that they weren't recorded at one performance. The occasional banter with the audience gives the listener an intimate insight of an Ani Difranco performance. One of the most stunning performances on the cd is Ani's rendition of "Amazing Grace" with the Buffalo Philharmonic. It simply took my breath away. That alone makes this cd worth listening to. Although I am not nearly the fan that I am of Ani's music any more, I still enjoy throwing in "Living in Clip" every now and then. This is a good representation of Ani Difranco as an artist as well as a performer.

The Rocked Folk album of the Century!!!
Living In Clip shines as Ani's most versatile and amazing album yet, out of her 25 five or so. This album covers some of her most classic songs such as the unforgettable Both Hand, Adam And Eve, In and Out, Out of Habit, and Out of Rage. Combining folk rock punk and poetry, Ani definitely delivers in this piece of musical art. With only a three person band with ever so lovable Sara Lee on bass and Andy Stochansky on drums we are given even a bigger treat, but the double album really shines when Ani sings solo only with her guitar. Me being an original Ani fan from the early 1990's I have seen her music evolve and change into something amazing, which is shown through this classic album. If you are interested in becoming an Ani Difranco fan for the first time I strongly suggest this album. Also if you ever get to actually see her live that is the True Ani expierence! I was also given a treat of meeting her, quite an expierence!
Enjoy!!! ... Read more

Album Description

Debut album for singer/songwriter who follows in thefootsteps of Francoise Hardy but with a new trip hopsensibility that makes her sound like Paris in the autumn.13 tracks including, 'Dimanche En Hiver', 'Aeroplane' &'Les Mercenaires'. 2001 release. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

If only the world would listen!
It's a crying shame that the rest of the world tends to ignore French-language music, as there's a great deal of superb releases just demanding to be heard. Case in point is Keren Ann Zeidel's debut album 'La biographie de Luka Philipsen'. Here we find 13 gorgeous songs of wistful thoughts mainly over crystalline acoustic guitars and skittering electronica, topped off with the warm vocals of mademoiselle Zeidel. Opener 'Dimanche en Hiver' sets the tone, sparse guitar and mellotron adorning the vocal before strings guide the song into a lush autumnal chorus. And it has to be said the record barely lets up from there. 'Seule' seems harmless until a huge rock chorus kicks in; 'On Est Loin' is clear and caressing, a wonderful lullaby. The big draw for many, however, will be the single 'Sur Le Fil', a huge cinematic effort which brings all these elements together along with a hook which will follow you round all day after hearing it. That is, if you're not humming along to 'Peut-Etre', the utterly charming guitar and piano lovesong which follows it! Keren Ann's partner in crime, Benjamin Biolay (France's best contemporary songwriter? It's hard to argue) pops up for a duet on 'Decrocher Les Etoiles', and the album also contains Keren Ann's own version of 'Jardin d'Hiver', a big comeback hit she wrote for jazz crooner Henri Salvador. She deserves to be at least as big as Francoise Hardy - it's unlikely, which is a shame. And don't get me started on her jazzier second album 'La Disparition', which might even surpass this one! If you can find her CDs, buy them!

Great Album!
i've been wanted to buy this CD for quite a while and have
finally managed to get it just this week. it is a beautiful
piece of work, keren ann herself is pretty and so is her music.
acutally at first i didn't really like the CD very much, but
if you keep listening to it, it only gets better and better.
a 5 stars french album, would recommend it to anyone who has
a mellow side.

<< Vintage >>
I heard "Seule" at some late night radio show and it stayed in my head for a week or so, until I made the move and got myself the CD.
It was a splendid surprise, I never heard French music before (I don't count Air as French as they sing in English and their music is more universal). And it got me big time.
It's the kind of music that keep you warm, like hot coffee in the winter, you fall addicted to the calm soft voice of Keren along with the floating easy tunes and the unique sound.
It definitely becomes one of the best CDs I bought this year.

No one Realizes the Genius
Keren Ann doesn't have a huge overpowering, and overbearing voice like pop fake sensation Christina Aguilera nor three time re-breasted Mariah Carey. Keren Ann sounds like NOTHING ever recorded before. She doesn't mix sloppy new age alterna chordal structures together like Kate Bush nor Tori Amos - both sloppy musicians who have no foundation for music. Keren Ann has not only a powerful emotional outlet, but also has talent in her ability to record a wonderfully magnicifient and beautiful song. "Dimanche en Hiver" has a superb chorus, that gives two scales in voices, not the usual sultry one that many groups are repetive in. Keren Ann mixes both a traditional French sound alongside new power sounds that this veteran musician has never heard of before. But it's not a stink sloppy sound like a Kate Bush chorus ... Keren Ann cleans up the music and makes it standard, resmebling a corrected music background and a strong understanding of song structures. Recommended tracks include: "Les Mercenaire," "Dimanche en Hiver," "Aeroplane," "Decrochere Toiles," and "sur le Fill."

Sounds better in French
After the French electronic revolution you could expect French pop would soon follow. And it does. There is a new string of great talent coming from Paris, one of the brightest is Keren Ann. Born in Israel to a Dutch mother and an Israeli father Keren Ann follows the footsteps of Francoise Hardy with a new trip hop sensibility that makes her sound like Paris in the autumn. If you understand the lyrics you get an extra treat. Dimanche en hiver is one of the best winter songs ever. P.s. please notice Keren Ann wrote the songs on the Henri Salvador comeback record. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Chances are, the most devoted fans of these three musicians have heard these tunes before, thanks to the crafty pizza-delivery boy who filched the tapes from Garcia's kitchen soon after they were recorded in 1993. That said, the warm, intimate performances here are very much worth an official CD release. The sessions came about when Tony Rice was in Northern California to record the delightful duet-collection Tone Poems with David Grisman. Garcia stopped by to hang out and jam with his old buddy Grisman and with Rice, one of his guitar idols. The disc retains all of the joy and spontaneity you'd expect from such an informal setting--Grisman even elected to leave in the between-song banter, which mostly consists of genuine overflowing mutual praise. The music itself, primarily traditional folk songs, is quite engaging thanks to Garcia's affecting, soulful, pained vocals and to the picking of all three. The contrast in flat-picking-guitar styles makes for an interesting combination: while Rice is technically superb, marvelously quick, and of remarkably clarion tone, Garcia is much more emotional and visceral, feeling his way along. There are a handful of exploratory, off-the-cuff jams that add to the impulsive nature of the whole project. Had the threesome actually intended this to be released, it probably wouldn't have the appeal it does, for this is the product of friends and music lovers, not recording artists. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Pizza Tastes Good!
As the story goes, David Grisman invited his old friends Tony Rice and Jerry Garcia over to his place for a little jam session. Thankfully, these sessions were recorded and later stolen by a pizza delivery boy from Garcia's kitchen counter. They later surfaced as bootlegs and Grisman, who was a bit peeved at the whole affair, decided to just go ahead and release the best parts of the sessions on his Acoustic Disc label.

Grisman had the great insight to include snippets of dialog on the release and it is these moments that remind us that not only is this an informal jam-session, but a damn good time as well. The music is mostly made up of older, well-known tunes, but it also includes some jam segments and the Garcia/Grisman tune, "Shady Grove". The songs bear the distinct mark of Garcia's voice as it wavers and sometimes struggles to hold a note. While not perfect, there is intense soul in these performances. Tony Rice's playing is superb and sometimes overshadows Garcia. Grisman is solid as granite, adding Mandolin flourishes throughout.

"Man of Constant Sorrow" sounds nothing like the version that's enjoying success today (it's the song from "O Brother, Where Art Thou") and "Summertime" dances and skirts all around Gershwin's original composition. This is also the only place you'll ever find Garcia singing "Amazing Grace". "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" has a similar feel to the versions played by the Jerry Garcia Band in the 70's -- slow and terribly sad. Fans of Garcia and Grisman recordings will probably welcome yet another version of Miles Davis's "So What" and the various "Jam" tracks are sure to please most Grateful Dead fans.

All in all, "The Pizza Tapes" are an essential addition to fans of any of these three artists. They are unique in that they capture the raw energy and excitement of three excellent musicians in the primal setting of acoustic music.

Like your own personal visit to Grisman's basement
Is this an "album" where everything is precise and calculated? No. Is this as good and fun and intimate as a first-and-only-time recorded meeting between friends and acquaintances who just happen to be high-caliber (make that legendary) acoustic-picking musicians can be? Yes.

The music is fun and loose and as is the ACOUSTIC DISC way, the recording quality is absolutely perfect. It's quite interesting to hear the stylistic differences of Rice and Garcia side-by-side like this. Tony is definitely the better rhythm guitarist but both men display great personality and tone during their lead-guitar playing. Tony still had his voice when this was recorded but Jerry does all the singing.

Since some of you may have young children I decided to also say that Grisman left some of the chatting and fooling around that happens between the songs. As anyone who has seen Tony Rice in concert or has read interviews with Jerry Garcia knows, they aren't above using the occasional curse word. I just thought I'd let some of you know that so you can scan the disk for the spots where the "F" word pops up before your kids find it. I hope that doesn't stop anyone from buying this cd. It is an excellent, intimate snapshot of three friends enjoying life and the music they played makes us the true winners! Whether you're a fan of one or of all these guys you'll really find a lot to love about this cd. David Grisman once again releases a winner (and plays beautifully).

FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN! A great slice of Garcianess...
Bless you, David Grisman, for having the foresight to record your impromptu jam sessions with Jerry! This CD, along with the equally exceptional Shady Grove, are, in my opinion, two of the best Jerry Garcia albums out there. Pizza Tapes (and Shady Grove), more than the live Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, or the various live JGB CDs, captures the essence of Garcia. Here, his sense of humor really shines through, as does Jer's pure love of music. Yeah, so he made millions of dollars! So what? It's obvious from this that Garcia made music out of a deep, spiritual love of music -- and the money was just incidental. The banter between Garcia, Grisman and Tony Rice is fun, as are the "spicy" expletives that pop up here and there. This CD brims with fun-filled acoustic music and an obvious shared love of that music between Rice-Grisman-Garcia. Wanna know what Jerry Garcia was like? Check out this CD and you'll have a better idea -- plus it's more fun that plowing through a 400-page biography! C'mon, now, let's play some music!

RICE, GRISMAN, GARCIA - MY HEROES!
How did I miss this CD for so long? I got it as a Christmas gift and have played it constantly ever since! These three guys together are magical - Tony Rice's flawless guitar, Jerry's earthy vocals, and Dave Grisman with his usual perfection on mandolin. What a happy synthesis of talent and soul! The casual exchanges among them between tunes adds to the sense of intimacy and spontanaeity. It's not slick and Jerry's vocals are rough in spots, but it's real talent. My personal favorite is "Man of Constant Sorrow."

Mediocre
This is just a poor, poor album. Jerry Garcia is the most overrated singer in all of Rock 'n' Roll. Try "Stage Fright" by THE BAND instead. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Truly Wonderful Listening Experience
If a person can fall in love with a CD, this is the CD to do it with. One of the best purchases I have ever made! The combination of musical diversity on this recording is great! Everything from "Whistling Dixie" and "Brackenby's Music Box" to "Today" and "Anything Love Can Buy". You won't just find one or two songs to love here, you will love them all!

A truly delightful listening experience!
I became a NCM admirer when I was in 5th-6th grade. RAMBLIN' was the only album I ever owned until now. I loved the humor of the NCM back then, but I also enjoyed being taken back into the earlier history of our country with songs like "The Drinkin'Gourd" and the "Wagoner's Song". This CD has been true a joy to listen to. In addition to the warmly familiar songs of the RAMBLIN' album and the tender long-remembered song, "Today", I have now found many new favorites among the songs on TODAY album. If you enjoy music that stirs a sense of love for our great country and its remarkable rugged history, you're bound to be captivated by the NCM's TODAY/RAMBLIN' CD. Just wish I could find this on cassette tapes to listen to in my car!

Two Faces of NCM Shine
Ramblin' was the first of many NCM albums I listened to in the early 60s. It captures the early "folk" influences that we heard on the TV show Hootenany; I consider it the quintessential NCM album.

Today, on the other hand , shows the later (and final) years of NCM. As the folk scene evolved NCM moved further away from "folkie" type stuff to more refined - mainstream music (such as a movie score). While NCM could not compete with the likes of Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, and Joan Baez in the realm of topical folk music, this album contained many excellent songs and of course the beautiful "Today" later recorded by John Denver.

Within a few years of this album NCM entered a rapid decline - I saw them in concert on 1967 and not one member of the original group remained (the concert was lousy).

However, for historical, musical, and sentimental value - this CD is well worth it.

I can't believe both of these albums are on 1 CD!!
When I was growing up in the early 60's I was a little too young to choose my own music to listen to so I heard whatever my sister played. Thank goodness she had the good taste to pick out both "Ramblin'" and "Today". These two albums, along with the Kingston Trio's album "#16" comprise the best of the best of those years. These albums are like a soundtrack to my life in the early 60's and bring back so many good memories. I still have the old scratchy LP's but can't hardly make out the words now! I can't believe that they put both of my favorite New Christy Minstrel albums on one CD! I'm going to get this one myself and relive those wonderful memories again!

Timeless music for every generation
I bought "Ramblin'" as a scratched LP back in the late 60's and have loved it ever since. After all these years it is pure magic to hear it as it was originally recorded. The New Christy Minstrels went beyond just being a folk group; they combined extraordinary musical talents and strong personalities such as Barry McGuire putting together songs of beauty, power, nostalgia and pure fun. Add to the experience the album "Today" (the soundtrack from the Glenn Ford film "Company of Cowards") and you have a truly enjoyable album, with the title track one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs of all time. I only hope now that other NCM albums, such as "Land of Giants" and "In Person" are also going to be made available very soon. ... Read more

Album Description

3 CD retrospective of Kristy's work between 1979 and 2000. Contains all her singles & unreleased tracks including demos from the family archive. EMI. 2005. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A BOX SET FOR KIRSTY...FINALLY!
It sure took long enough for it to happen, but it was worth the wait! "From Croydon to Cuba" is a excellent collection, it features all her singles, a few b-sides, her best album tracks, and a lot of previously unreleased material. Now it would be very easy to complain about whats not on here, but that's just nitpicking, besides it would be nearly impossible to put every great song she ever wrote and/or recorded into one concise package! Thankfully Kirsty and her music is finally getting the respect it deserves, with re-issues of "Kite", "Electric Landlady", and "Titanic Days"(my personel favorite), these also feature the B-sides from each era, remixes, and more unreleased material (now if they would just release "Desperate Character" and her unreleased second album "Real" in it's entirety). This anthology eclipses the others("Galore", "The One and Only") and is a must for not only Kirsty fans, but anyone who likes eclectic artists and music. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You could have some fun with the title in more suggestive times, but In the Wind refers here to the popular trio's classic recording of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind." Interestingly, their recording did as much for Dylan's career as it did for PP&M's, for, while it sealed their image as the troubadours of the '60s civil rights movement, it helped posit the then-little-known Dylan as the voice of a generation. Other highlights here include their gorgeous interpretation of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" as well as spirituals, a lullaby, and even a Civil War ballad. It may all seem quaint now, but when this LP reached No. 1 in 1963, only weeks after John F. Kennedy's assassination, the folk movement was in full throttle...and something was definitely in the air. Or in the wind, so to speak. --Bill Holdship ... Read more

Reviews (9)

PP&M's number one album introduces Dylan to America
"In the Wind" was the third album put out by Peter, Paul & Mary and was so successful that when it hit #1 on the Billboard album charts it dragged their two previous albums back into the Top 10 as well. The album was released in October 1963, which meant is was only a month before the assassination of JFK and a few months before the arrival of the Beatles heralded the British Invasion. But at this point in musical history the folk music revival was in full flower.

The first two singles from this album were also what popularized the music of Bob Dylan. "Blowin' in the Wind" made it to #2 on the charts while "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" made it to #9. PP&M also recorded a third and unreleased Dylan song, "Quit Your Low Down Ways." Their cover of "Stewball" was the third single released and made it to #35. The fourth single from the album, "Tell It on the Mountain" (#33), is an alternative version of the African-American spiritual "Go Tell It on the Mountain," that shifts the meaning from the Nativity of Jesus to the Exodus, with the refrain "Let my people go" easily adaptable to the Civil Rights movement.

Two of the other standout songs are the haunting traditional tune "All My Trials," and the opening track, "Very Last Day," which is a rare original song by the group. The only knock against PP&M is that they are popularizers of folk music rather than musical innovators, but when you listen to their three part harmonies and the earnestness they provide to each performance (in contrast to the peppy sound of groups like the New Christie Minstrels), that hardly seems to be negative idea.

Discover the power of music
This CD brings back all the power and excitement of the PP&M concert that introduced me to their music in the 60's. I bought the first of many guitars right after and I still play their original arrangements. I had all their albums but they got stolen and I hadn't replaced them. So, I just bought all the CD's. "Very Last Day" really shook me. And now, I just can't stop playing it and sharing it with friends. Truly, if you don't know their music or haven't listened for a while, play this track. Then, let the wonderful contrasts of successive tracks on this CD roll right on. Its an absolute treasure. Their best.

Where to Start?
If you are curious about Peter, Paul and Mary this is the place to start. A wondeful album that hits many chords for me personally. The way music was meant to be performed. Acoustically, able to be reproduced around a camp fire with little effort. Have guitar, will travel. And the harmonies are out of this world.

On a more personal note this album has touched many areas of my life, some I did not realize until later in life. My brother turned me on to Peter, Paul and Mary and made me a tape, of which this entire album was on, plus other songs. I did not realize the entire album was included until I bought this album. Then, I realized, that many of these songs we had sung in music class throughout elementary and junior high and I never knew they were Peter, Paul and Mary. And finally, this was the one tape that my dad and I could both enjoy together during a drive.

Trying not too make this review to personal I will turn back to the music. Taken individually the songs are very good. Take as a whole the album is great. A terrific indroduction to the music of Peter, Paul and Mary. One their greatest efforts ever and a contribution to any music collection.

a classic of its kind
I am rather proud to be able to say that this was the first record I ever bought-at the age of 12! Considering I lived in the land of the Beatles that says a lot for the powerful effect that PP&M's music had at the time. It became quite fashionable to write this trio off as urban folkies more in tune with Tin Pan Alley than 'real' folk music. But listen to this beautifully performed album. Despite their reputation for sugary versions, listen to the three Dylan tracks, beautiful renderings all. Stewball is a classic. They produced other fine albums during the 60's-in fact most of them were excellent but I guess this stands out as the perfect example of why PP&M were so popular. There is a freshness that is difficult to define.

Folk classic
Together with their first album this great album represents the best of Peter Paul and Mary's work. The harmonies on the Dylan classics are incomparable, giving the songs the classic stature that Dylan himself could not, but the real strength of the album is its depth, with the exception of Polly Von which is a little sappy, every song here grabs the listener with its great acoustic guitar playing and priceless arrangement, and they cover a range of styles and emotions, from the gritty but tongue in cheek Quit Your Lowdown Ways to the breezy Freight Train to the lament All My Trials to the near spiritual Long Chain On. I cannot imagine three voices ever again blending and weaving in and out the way PP&M do, and theirs was truly the voice of a generation. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Under Cold Blue Stars, the third album from native Nebraskan Josh Rouse, is full of elegant, melodic pop songs that are deftly understated but carry hooks as catchy as Coldplay's (whose music the opening song, "Twilight," uncannily evokes). This is music for folk in love with Americana and timeless pop; it's a gentle hinterland of melancholy and hope. The loose concept behind Under Cold Blue Stars is that of a fractious couple in the late 1950s, trying to come to terms with their lives and relationship. "Christmas with Jesus" is an unashamedly beautiful realization of their struggles, as is the upbeat title track, which touches on sources as diverse as Nils Lofgren, the Cure, and even Bruce Springsteen (albeit, a Springsteen shorn of all pride and aggrandizement). All this adds up to make Under Cold Blue Stars rather special. --Everett True ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Sublime
Since his excellent debut "Dressed Up Like Nebraska", Josh Rouse has never disappointed. He knows how to make a song work. With this third album, the synthesizer is present over the first half of the album and though I'm not big on this sound, the quality of the music still wins. Josh has always been influenced by some new wave music, and that's what takes him a bit apart of the alt.country scene. In "Under Cold Blue Stars" you can have U2 in mind on some tracks, as well as Radiohead or R.E.M, bands I personally don't use to like so much, but with Josh Rouse it's different, probably because he's a solo artist with a more intimate approach. The second half of the disc is by far my favorite: from "Ugly Stories" to "The Whole Night Through", it's simply sublime. "Feeling No Pain" is a terrific single that recalls The Jesus & Mary Chain (remember the glorious "April Skies"?). The wonderful "Ears To The Ground" was not written by Josh, but Jason Phelan (from a band called The What Four). "Summer Kitchen Ballad" could make you weep by surprise. "Women & Men" must be one of the highlights of Josh shows. "The Whole Night Through" ends as a beautiful twilight.

All over, a space and solemn emotion in the music, that makes of "Under Cold Blue Stars" one of the records of the year.

The Music of the 'Stars'
As a pop album with a soul, Josh Rouse's Under Cold Blue Stars confronts the beaten boundaries of pop music while comfortably remaining within their confines. Just as his sound is about to dissolve into predictability, Rouse delves confidently into unexplored musical terrain, delivering a collection of 11 songs that embrace a spectrum of musical moods. From the hauntingly spare "Summer Kitchen Ballad" to the jangling "Nothing Gives Me Pleasure" to the frenetic "Feeling No Pain," Rouse's sound is as challenging as it is charming.

Rouse does not necessarily accomplish anything really new here. Rather, he reconfigures standard pop devices, stripping the genre of its fluff and cutting to its bare bones. Thus, while Under Cold Blue Stars is not the work of an innovator, his attempt at acquainting pop music with honesty and substance is, for the most part, an encouraging success.

In a recent NPR [National Public Radio] interview, Rouse recalled the FM radio of his Nebraska childhood, saturated with Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac. Rouse knows his influences rather well, it seems, as Under Cold Blue Stars plays like a reconciliation between the dreamy levity of Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" with the dour minimalism of Neil Young's "Albuquerque." However, while Young, Fleetwood Mac and comparable contemporaries such as Radiohead nail themselves to a definitive sound -- Radiohead's unremitting gloom, for example -- Rouse frolics somewhat drastically from one temperament to the next, defying category at every turn.

Interestingly, this schizophrenic approach renders his triumphs just as visible as his failures, yielding a rather didactic statement on the dos and don'ts of pop songwriting. For a younger artist, Rouse often exhibits a notable restraint of his powers, while occasionally letting his abundant energy obfuscate his capacity for melody and pathos. A healthy dose of bleakly spare tracks instills the album with a memorable immediacy and poise, whereas other tracks, such as "Women and Men," embark towards the same kind of promise only to descend into the distasteful pop arrangements that Rouse spends much of his time eluding. Fortunately, such descents occur rarely on Under Cold Blue Stars and the power of other, simpler songs keeps the album confidently afloat.

Similarly, Rouse's lyrics are as manic-depressive as his music is restless. At once innocent and bitter, Rouse's narrative of love and loss leaves nothing unsaid, documenting the spectrum of the heart from glory to grief and back again. "Nothing gives me pleasure like you do, I've always been the one to follow you" he croons on his way to requited love, only to confess his broken heart just a few songs later, in the vulnerably tender "Ugly Stories:" "Farewell, bye bye, sad look in your eye doesn't mean a thing." Despite his subject, Rouse's language consistently avoids mawkishness and doggerel, articulating desire in words as blunt and raw as Bob Dylan's on his equally forlorn Time Out of Mind.

Rouse's best songs do not reveal themselves entirely in the first listen, settling into the consciousness like silt at the floor of still waters. "Christmas With Jesus," the album's best song, slowly peels and pierces the heart, while raw, folkish ballads such as "The Whole Night Through" or "Summer Kitchen Ballad" awaken the mind like sudden rushes of nostalgia. Undoubtedly, Under Cold Blue Stars is the work of an emerging artist, and if Rouse slips into an occasional burst of production overkill, it only serves as a more vivid illustration that a good song invites the listener to participate in its experience, rather than doing all the work itself.

Triumphs such as "Christmas With Jesus" and "Summer Kitchen Ballad" demonstrate a kind of courage and honesty that surface only on those rare achievements such as The Bends or Blood on the Tracks. Those masterpieces execute their power more consistently and stylishly than Rouse, but, in the end, the comparisons are not as lofty as they may seem.

Excellent Album by an amazing performer...
This is one of the most hypnotic alternative albums of the decade! I love this cd. There really are no words to describe how great the music is. The songs are all beautifully performed and the melodies are all intoxicating and catchy. I'm not usually a fan of male vocals but I love this album. Definetly one of the best cds I have ever owned.

No question, one of the best
If you like heartfelt acoustic rock, this is the album for you. Josh's laid back, matter of fact voice blends perfectly with the funk rhythm on Under the Cold Blue Stars (think almost Remy Shand) and the moving Nothing Gives Me Pleasure. I can shut my eyes and imagine myself walking through Manhattan late in a January evening with the wind nipping at my face. Despite that, no matter what my mood is, there is something on this album that speaks to me each time I play it and the complex layers always keep me coming back to this album, time and again. You won't go wrong with this album, there's not a weak song on it.

Not what I expected
I first heard Josh Rousse on a Various Artists album, and this was the first Josh Rousse album I've purchased. I was dissipointed to find out that it wasn't much like the song of his that I heard (Laughter). The album itself is not bad, it has a easy-going, laid back feel, similar artists would be Jack Johnson and Duncan Sheik. The tracks mold together, giving it a somwhat bland feel to it, but overall worth the money. ... Read more