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A good, inexpensive single-disc compilation of Rundgren singles may not be what the world's been waiting for, but it's a fine thing nonetheless. Largely avoiding the big pretensions of many of his post-Something/Anything? albums, this record distills 15 years of releases into a hits-just-keep-on-coming set which makes sense of the sensibility that produced the bemusedly soulful "Hello It's Me," the straightforwardly sweet "Dream Goes On Forever," and the outright goofy "Bang the Drum All Day." --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Fairly Good Compilation
As many Todd Rundgren fans know it is very difficult to make a BEST OF or GREATEST HITS album on all of Todd's music. As far as this one goes it is a decent start for people who are just getting interested in Rundgren's great wide variety of music. It contains all of his hits including "We Gotta Get You A Woman", "I Saw The Light", "Hello Its Me", "Couldn't I Just Tell You", "Can We Still Be Friends", and the never ending hit "Bang The Drum All Day". All of these songs are classics in the Rundgren mold, but I really wish there were some more songs from A Wizard, A True Star and Todd. All in all though it does contain some Utopia songs icluding the excellent rocker "Love In Action" from the album Ooops Wrong Planet. Todd Rundgren's major hits are all here making it an excellent addition to any music fans collection, but buyers beware of the last track with Bobby Womack called "The Want Of A Nail".

Great for the casual fan
For over three decades, Todd Rundgren has been one of the highest quality pop-rockers out there, Not many artists last that long, let alone have music that stands the test of thime. Todd's music more than stands the test of time - it's an infinite number of times better than the stuff that has been flooding the mainstream in recent years. To not love this guy's music is the ultimate sin! Okay, enough talk, let's get down to business. Read on for my review of The Very Best Of Todd Rundgren.

PROS:
-If you're a casual Todd Rundgren fan, and you like the songs of his that get played on the radio on a regular basis, this is the compilation for you. All his big hits are here, from the deep and meaningful early seventies tunes Hello Its Me and I Saw The Light, to the much more pop-oriented and keyboard-heavy eighties pop-rocker, Bang The Drum All Day.
-The compilation truly is a "best of" and not a "greatest hits", because it relies on a number of excellent songs that were never popular in any way.
-The album features tracks from Todd's Utopia days.
-The liner notes are very nice. They contain info on Todd's career, original release dates (to the month) for albums and singles.

CONS:
-The major problem with this compilation is its run time. It doesn't fill the eighty minutes you can fit on a compact disc. This is sad, because Todd has so many songs that could have been used to fill the time, and ultimately make the compilation more complete.
-As another review stated, the liner notes (while good) could have been better. I don't like it when an artist disses his or her own music.

OVERALL:
Minor flaws aside, this is an excellent compilation for any casual fan on Todd Rundgren. If you're just a casual fan, don't get a pricey, multi-disc anthology - this will do just fine.

Great for the bewildered fan
I owned and loved all of Todd Rundgren's albums until he formed Utopia and stepped off into outer space. I still stand by the two Runt albums, "Something/Anything," "A Wizard a True Star" and (especially) "Todd" as some of the most brilliant, creative pop-rock ever produced. If you like Todd Rundgren, before you buy this best-of, buy all of those. You also might want to get a couple of other winners from a little later in his career, "Faithful" and "Hermit of Mink Hollow." But after all those, you might want to get this, because it's the best way to get great tracks like "Real Man," "Love is the Answer," "Something to Fall Back On," and "Want of a Nail," without having to expose yourself to the maddeningly tedious side of Rundgren's music, his explorations into generic transcendentalism, accompanied by endless screaming guitar and synthesizer solos, with zero evidence of the humor and soul he shows at his best. None of that music is represented here, luckily. You can enjoy "Real Man" without ever having to listen to "A Treatise on Cosmic Fire," and that's the best favor anyone could do for this gifted, but sometimes self-indulgent, artist.

Can we still be friends?
Can we still be friends? is quite simply one of the most amazingly beautiful and moving and poignant songs this reviewer has ever had the good fortune and blessing to hear.

Good Starter, could have used a couple more tracks
This is a good starter CD for anyone who is learning about Todd's music, but it barely scratches the surface about who Todd is (and thats hard to explain because he kept trying to re-invent himself every LP during his 70's prime) Rhino has a few other 1-CD budget comps of Todds stuff but they are very skimpy - get this one instead to see if you like him or not. (I think you will)

My only gripe is the liner notes which someone should have re-edited, Todd complains a lot about his early music (which I adored).

All his well known "hits" are here, but I would have loved to also have had "Sometimes I Dont Know What To Feel", "Time Heals" and the underrated "Parallel Lines" from his last great CD, "Nearly Human". ... Read more

Amazon.com

In an age when the old-timey soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? sells 5 million copies, it's hard to imagine how revolutionary Will the Circle Be Unbroken seemed upon its release 30 years ago. The triple album (now rereleased as a two-CD set) paired many of Nashville's venerable country and bluegrass performers (Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements) with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, or as Acuff called them, "a bunch of long-haired West Coast boys." The idea seemed nearly as foreign as Martians setting down in Tennessee, but the Dirt Band were Colorado hippies steeped in the genre, so there was no disputing the authenticity of the music, or its earthy appeal. Aside from the sheer joy of the performances (listen to Jimmy Martin's "whoop" on "Sunny Side of the Mountain"), there's great fun in hearing Roy Acuff give the boys a lesson in doing a song right the first time (and using the word hell before launching into a religious number). And Mother Maybelle wafts through like a benevolent ghost, or at least a patron saint. One caveat: The boast of four previously unreleased tracks is balderdash, since three are really between-track conversations and rehearsals, and only "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" qualifies as a real song. But that's nitpicking. Buy it. Love it. Wallow in it. O brother, that's country music! --Alanna Nash ... Read more

Reviews (27)

you are there....
As Will the Circle Be Unbroken came together I was living the dream of a young picker: getting to play with the people who created the form of music I had grown to love and yearned to emulate. The story on how this came about is available, but the result is what counts here. It was one of the best experiences in my life, and captured a young band at its best, shining our spotlight at the time on our heroes. And boy, did they shine back.
Vassar set the benchmark for fiddlers to aspire to with his hot inspired approach.. Earl as always defined the 5 string banjo ... Roy sang great and his performances stand as some of his best work. Travis and his songs bring you in to a different branch of the country folk world with his genius guitar style matched by his wise words written from his Kentucky background. Doc shares with everyone his joy of hot music, and makes everyone feel at home. (The first time meeting between Doc and Merle helped us out, as when we saw it happening we realized we were in a group of great people who were all truly fans of each other as much as we were of them.) Jimmy Martin demonstrated to us between cuts that he knew what his music should sound like, and cordially let us in on the secrets. He is one of the best bluegrass/country singers, and here shows why that is said. Maybelle was like an angel and, never realizing her impact on music in general, just wanted to do her songs in a way that would 'please everyone... the more the merrier.. ' She would laid down the spirit of the whole project . This was not something she could teach, but from her we learned.

This is a great album, and I say this not because I am a part of it. I do not listen to a lot of albums. I rarely listen to other Dirt Band music, although I like it. And, I play it live. But, after I remastered this from the original masters, and having heard it over the years, it seems like I would have had enough. I have listened to this probably 50 times since remastering, and look forward to the next flight where I can take a trip back to a time that was in a space where we all are frozen in the moment.

Circle represents much of the best of American music, songs, picking, singing, writing... and still draws me to it. I am sure anyone who likes acoustic music of the Americana type will find themselves drawn to it also. Circle becomes a welcome part of your life.
Thanks to the 96/24 mastering, it sounds better than ever, too.

The new pieces I put in are all equally important to me. I am proud that the Washington Post's great review mistakenly said Earl played Foggy Mt. Breakdown. The talking cuts showcase Jimmy Martin and his way of getting to the point, and gives us further insight to the true bluegrass great: funny, natural, strange.. and a definite opinion of exactly where he wants his music. And he is right.

The piece around Sunny Side is there to show all who have asked over the years "what was it like?" It captures the true spontaneity of the sessions; the constant chatter of all the players, uncertain of who was going to play where, how it starts, if one should wear picks or not... and it all of a sudden blends in to the start of such a touching piece of great music that now obviously comes from real people who are creating it from the heart.

The perfect closing song for this remastered work I found in the hours of the constant running tape, the bit of song where Doc asks us to "Remember Me when the twilight begins to fall.." and seems to speak for everyone. As I sat in the control room on the third day of running the tapes I said to the engineer "I hope today we come across the perfect closer for this" and it was the next piece of music.

So here it is - this journey back in time we were so very fortunate to make and be a part of - Will the Circle Be Unbroken in time I believe we will find to be as well known in American culture as has Wizard of Oz, Dark Side of the Moon, The Music Man, Citizen Kane, The Tonight Show, The Grand Ole Opry, and ...

A Bluegrass work of art!
In 1971, the boys of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band got together with some of the all-time greats of Country music (including Earl Scruggs, Mother Maybelle Carter, Merle Travis, Roy Acuff and others), and produced a three record album that was one of the greatest Bluegrass Country music albums ever made. Some thirty years later, this album has been re-released on two CDs, with four bonus tracks (three are dialogue and the other is the Bluegrass classic, Foggy Mountain Breakdown).

This is a great CD collection. The music is absolutely wonderful to listen to, a real work of art, sure to be enjoyed by any Bluegrass fan. Though the title might suggest that this is a collection of religious songs, in fact only a few are overtly religious, while most are simply Bluegrass tunes played by real experts. I loved listening to this album, and highly recommend it to you!

The Circle Will Never Be Broken
Before there was "O Brother, Where Art Thou," there was "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," the time the masters taught the long-haired boys how to make music. Now 30 years after its original release we have this marvelous album remastered for CD. Like wine and friends, these songs just get better with age. The great country/bluegrass musicians are all here-- Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Jimmy Martin, Earl Scruggs et al. I had forgotten that wonderful improvizational feel of this live album. If you close your eyes, these musicians appear to be "pickin" and "sangin" in your living room. The original album closed with a beautiful guitar solo by Randy Scruggs of Joni Mitchell's "Both Side Now." I'm not sure much is gained in this version by adding the four previously unreleased tracks. The producers should have left well enough alone. With that minor gripe, I know of no better country music CD than this one. It ought to be placed into a time capsule for future generations.

Just bought my third copy!
I loved this album when it came out, and it's one of the few recordings from that period in my life that I still listen to as Good Music, not just an exercise in nostalgia. Growing up in San Jose, CA, 50-plus years ago, I cut my teeth on this music (my father moonlighted as a drummer in a country-western band), so the album made me feel right at home. But the quality of the performances is outstanding, the give-and-take between the musicians is fun to listen to, and the warmth and rapport in the studio comes through on every track. (I'm especially fond of "Soldier's Joy," which makes "Dueling Banjos" sound like a pallid imitation, but there literally isn't a single bad track on the whole album.) I wore out copies on 8-track tape and vinyl, so I'm delighted that a new, remastered version is now available on CD. (Note: Two versions are available, a CD/DVD combo including live studio action, and a 2-CD set with just music. The latter, which I bought, includes four previously unpublished bonus tracks, mostly conversations between the musicians, but John McEuen's breakneck rendition of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is pretty impressive.)

perfect
This album is as good as it gets for more reasons than I care to iterate. If you care at all for classic blue grass performed at an unsurpassed level of perfection, get it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A quintessential example of George Winston's "folk piano" style, December speaks to the spirit of the season. Mixing traditional carols, a couple of classical works, and his own originals, Winston drops notes with icy clarity into a winter silence, rippling through "Carol of Bells" and coaxing dark, introspective moods from his own suite, "Night." The pianist's liner notes are also a trip as he cites the numerous sources for his music. Who would've thought that the gentle melodies of "Peace" were inspired by the soundtrack to TV's The Outer Limits? This 20th anniversary edition, which includes two bonus tracks, is a vast sonic improvement over previous releases.--John Diliberto ... Read more

Reviews (28)

My special memory with "December".
My favorite music genre is New age. I really like to listen new age musics. They give me calm and peaceful feeling when I feel tired and blue. I have been much interested in new age from George Winston's music, so his music has special meaning to me. When I was middle school student, my mother bought his CD "December". It was really great. Especially, I listened "Kanon" again and again. I heard later that "Kanon" is made by Pachelbel. I think George Winston made it more popular. It have become one of my hobbies to listen to the new age music from that time. I bought and listened his other albums, but the album December is still best to me. I think most songs in December are good.

DECEMBER - always beautiful, now even better!!
I'll admit I'm biased - I love all of George's CDs. But I have to say that for overall listening, December flows the best. The classics are all still here - Carol of the Bells, the Kanon, and my favorite, the Holly and the Ivy.

But the bonus tracks are interesting. A Christmas Song is simple and short. Sleep Baby Mine by Alfred Burt (who also composed Some Children See Him) is a very lovely song and fits in with the rest of the CD perfectly.

What I bought the CD for, however, was the sheet music. It's about time!! Just glancing over it, George's version of the Kanon looks complicated, but not impossible. Probably intermediate to advanced.

If you want to start listening to George Winston, start with this CD! Then try Plains.

Thanks For The Introduction To Mehdi
I've always enjoyed George Winston and this album is no exception, but while reading some of the customer recommendations posted on this page I discovered an artist by the name of Mehdi (pronounced meddie). After some investigation I found his site (SoothingMusic.Com) and listened to the samples...I also downloaded some of the free MP3 downloads that are available on Amazon.com.
I was instantly blown away by the quality of this music and so I gave it a try and now that I have listened to his CDs several times I really must say that although I'm still a George Winston fan I find Mehdi to be a tad more interesting. I have them both in my multi-disc CD player and love the way they compliment each other. I highly recommend that you give this artist a try or atleast just go listen to the samples, I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.

Truly Original!
Whether it's folk, classical, rock or New Age, a truly original work is to be savored. This album by George Winston is truly different. There is nothing like this out there. Like the pastoral picture of winter on the cover, the peace and tranquility in Winston's music represent many snapshots of a sublime world, where war and angst certainly do not live.

Brilliant
I am very new to G Winston. Heard him once, bought the CD and am hooked. This CD is absolutely brilliant, relaxing, thoughtful - I just love it. Highly recommended and worth every cent ! ... Read more

Album Description

There are several stages of sleep which people pass through in the course of a good restful night. In each stage our sleep gets deeper, our bodies gets more relaxed and our brainwave patterns slow down. The deepest and most rejuvenating levels of sleep areassociated with Delta brainwave patterns.

Delta sleep is the most physically relaxed stage of sleep and is the time when the body recuperates and rebalances itself for the new day. Getting enough sleep, but more specifically enough Delta Sleep, is essential for healthy, productive living.

Dr. Jeffrey Thompson’s breakthrough audio techniques, developedover 20 years of clinical research, are proven to increase levels of Delta brainwave activity. He has helped thousands of people to achieve regular, restful, revitalizing sleep.

How This Program Can Work For You Play Delta Sleep System on any ordinary stereo or through headphones. Pulses of sound embedded into an ambient musical soundtrack, combining rich orchestration and "3-dimensional" sounds of nature will coax your own brainwaves toward their natural pattern of deep Delta Sleep.

In the enclosed notes you will learn: About the natural cycles of sleep and how they effect you How to use Delta Sleep System to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up rejuvenated Special relaxation techniques which you can use to enhance your experience ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Delta Sleep CD is Great
I don't have any problems falling asleep-(waking up is a different story!)-but I bought this Cd along with The Alpha and Theta. This CD is awesome. How Dr. Jeffrey Thompson puts all these sounds together is always very beautiful and harmonious -no jolting sounds, so it's a smooth slide into dreamland. On this CD there is a more celestial vibe to the music, like your floating out of body deep in space, in the universe's womb (silly sounding but that's the image it conjures up for me). I can see how someone having trouble falling asleep would want this CD, something about it just makes it so sleep falls easy over you-one minute your awake and the next your deep asleep. I'd fall asleep with this CD on but I'm a side sleeper and the headphones would end up digging into my ears. If I had detachable headphones though I would listen to this CD every night. Instead I just listen to it until I'm in that hypogonic (sp?) state.

Worked very well for me. The music isn't bad either.
I bought this CD because I was sick of staring at the clock at 3:00 when I had to get up at 5:00. When I first recieved it I decided to try it immediately, in the mid-afternoon. All I remember from that first experience is about three minutes of hazy synthesizer music and then.........two hours later waking up. I didn't even mind sleeping with headphones on, which usually bugs me, even with the most peaceful music. Very impressive. That night I slept on the couch (no stereo in my bedroom at the time) and set the cd player to loop over and over all night. I occasionally woke up during the night but was asleep again in five minutes or less, and I had some very vivid dreams as well, which was cool. To avoid using headphones, I bought a portable cd player, a headphone jack splitter from Radio Shack, and two pair of small self-powered speakers. I placed one pair on the window sill above my headboard and the other pair on a table at my feet. This arrangement works very well as it places me inside the stereo soundfield no matter what, which Dr. Thompson recommends. I also bought his other sleep CD "Ambient music for sleep" and I recommend getting them both, but if you're only going to get one, I recommend this one, just because the general quality of the music seems better to me. It's also effective to play on your computer to keep you from being online all night.

Destroys the voices
For anyone that suffers from disruptive worry and dialogue in one's head, this is most definitely for you.

If you suffer from Schizophrenic symptoms, this will drown out the sudden disruptive memories without the harmful side effects of most medication.

Delta Sleep will prolong life by slowing metabolism when you need to slow it down and rest.

As someone who has suffered from mental anguish most my life, I highly recommend this as a remedy for similar ills.

Another sleepless night...
What a disappointment this CD was for me. I had read positive reviews about this CD, but unfortunately this piece of work didn't help me sleep at all. I have tried so many things for relaxation and getting to sleep, yet more $$ down the tubes. I'd love to hear about something that really works.
~sleepless in Atlanta

Very helpful sleep aid
I've had problems sleeping for years and have used medications such as Ambien to break the insomnia logjam. I've also used the Hemi-Sync products to sleep. Found out about this CD and also purchased Ambient Sleep. I loaded these on my MP3 player and use earbuds to listen. I play one or tracks through once and the MP3 player automatically shuts off. These CDS have worked for me to get me to sleep more quickly and seem to help me stay asleep longer. I used this on my recent trip to Europe and helped me get to sleep quickly and wake up feeling refreshed. It's helped me reduce somewhat the amount of sleep medication I use. ... Read more

Album Description

The follow-up to 2000's highly successful, "The White Album."This album was recorded just before September 11, 2001, and as a result needed to be re-recorded.Lewis waxes eloquent about patriotism and airport security and needing to re-record an album.The rampage continues... ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Another classic comedy album...
Lewis Black is quickly becoming one of the most popular stand-up comedians in the U.S. today, and with this album, that should come as no surprise.

A small portion of this album has the same routine as his latest COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS special, but there is more than enough new material here to leave you in stitches. He doesn't even hesitate to verbally assault certain members of the audience who think he's going a little overboard. He tells it like it is, even if it's not things we necessarilly want to hear about ourselves. He sees all the things that are bad in the world in a completely different and hilarious way, and he will enlighten you just as much as he makes you laugh.

I always look forward to any performance by Mr. Black, whether on TV or CD, and I can't personally wait for his next one.

Don't ya think its time to buy a gun from Lou?
Another excellent observation-comedy CD from Lewis Black. This offering focuses on 'The War on Terrorism,' global warming, the Superbowl, taxes, and airport security. He raises both humorous and interesting points on each subject, especially on the war on terror.

The CD does contain several profanities, and it almost gets to the point of being excessive. But no more that The White Album or a David Cross CD.

I enjoyed it a great deal and I will continue to spread the word of Lewis... a starbucks next to a starbucks....

I've been to the end of the universe
this is a very funny CD. When I heard the joke about the two starbucks across the street from each other I crapped my pants, because I live around the corner from the end of the universe(the 2 starbucks). I have been to both starbucks and have always wondered why there were two of them, now I know.

Possibly his best album!
I say that "The End of the Universe" is 'possibly' his best album, as I'm tossed between this second opus from the angry genius and his first offering "The White Album." Lewis is back for another round and this time, he's ticked off. Okay, every time he's back he's ticked off. :-)

He takes on subject like the weather, Starbucks, Atlanta traffic and overpopulation, politics and politicians, the SuperBowl half-time show, religion, humor, and of course the occasional side-bar rant. He also touches a good deal on 9-11, but even considering his angry-comic reputation, he does this and all other bits with extraordinarily good taste and respect. He does not ever offend the audience for any lack of patriotism, but does point out the over-patriotic people who are making our anthems tired. Again, good taste is used and he makes some strong points about ourselves, our country, and our lifestyles.

Yes, he touched on the Weather Channel in the first album, but it's all new material this time. Every time I've heard him discuss the weather, each time it's fresh. I don't think he knows how to use old jokes anymore, as he's always topical and moving ahead with his act.

If you're a fan of comedy, angry or not, this album should definitely belong on your shelves. For those that have children or are offended by foul language, be warned, this album is full of banned public radio words, if you know what I mean. Just so I don't get blamed for recommending this and you happen to find out later. ;-) Otherwise, enjoy heartily!

The Smartest Man in the Universe
No doubt about it, Lewis is brilliant. He's the only guy out there who makes you laugh and think at the same time, and doesn't take himself seriously like lame-ass comics do. Clearly, this man is destined for greatness. Trouble is, we'd like to keep him to ourselves! Do yourself a favor and watch his DVD or catch him on Comedy Central -- his gestures and facial expressions are value-added and would easily garner him 10 stars if Amazon would allow an exception! I love you, Lew! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A GIFT FOR YOUR GRANDPARENTS
Here it is! I was just a little kid when the 2nd WW was going on, but our radio played at least 12 hours a day, and these songs are the ones I remember hearing all the time. The title is absolutely "right on". They are the songs that got us through.In my family we had 3 men in the service, including my father. So songs like the classic, I'll Be Seeing You by Sinatra & Dorsey, and Till Then, by The Mills Brothers were especially poignant for my mother & married sisters whose husbands were overseas. People in my age group and older who enjoy nostalgia, as I do will find themselves taken back to those "scary & yet exciting" days of what was hoped to be the final war. I'll be giving those memories to several people on my Christmas list this year.

Music enjoyed by the boys overseas and the women back home
It hits you how long ago World War II was when you hear how young Frank Sinatra sounds singing "I'll Be Seeing You" with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra. "Songs That Got Us Through WW2" actually begins with a song that came out at the start of 1941, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters. The mix here is between songs that were obviously written for the war, such as "When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World)", "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) the White Cliffs of Cover" and "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer," and those that came to capture the emotions of the time, like "Sentimental Journey," "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive," and the aforementioned "I'll Be Seeing You." Most of us will recognize vocalists like Peggy Lee and Doris Day, but for me the pair that stand out in this collection are Johnny Mercer, who sings a couple of his own complications including "G.I. Jive" and Jo Stafford, a singer's singer that I have enjoyed discovering in various music collections from the Forties and Fifties. This album provides exactly what it promises, some of the most prominent songs the greatest generation listened to during the war years. There is a second volume of songs from this period, but this is the much stronger collection of the two, although that there is really no reason not to have both.

Rhino does it again with memorable collection!
The mercurial Rhino Records label has done it again with this fabulous compilation of World War II-era songs. All of them are hits, and all of them are legendary. The themes accentuate the mood of the times like they were meant to be together, though quite disparate in places. The Johnny Mercer comic ode to servicemen, "G.I. Jive", ranks up there with "Der Fuehrer's Face" by Spike Jones on the chuckle meter. To make you cry, count on "Long Ago (And Far Away)" (Jo Stafford), "I'll Walk Alone" (Martha Tilton) and the irreplaceable Frank Sinatra oozing out "I'll Be Seeing You", with (who else) the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The Song Spinners' amazing a cappella "Comin' In On a Wing and a Prayer" is a great tribute to the U.S. Air Force, and the surety of their vocals makes you forget there's no musical accompaniment. Of course, you may want to swing out too. Do so with Mercer's "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Postive" and (hands down!) The Big One's best hit, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters. And there are no better slow-dancing tunes like "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (Helen Forrest) and "Till Then" (the awesome Mills Brothers). This is a collection that features just the top names in the business during the early '40's. You won't be disappointed in the sound either: Each song has been remastered the best it could be. The accompanying booklet has a paragraph of biographical info about the artists, and there's also listings of chart placements for each track. Rhino keeps giving the goods, and this 1990 entrie is one of their many triumphs.

Well, GOOD NIGHT, NURSE!
My grandma's favourite expression of exasperation for my grandma's favourite music! No, I was not at all exasperated by this music and in fact found the entire collection to be enlightening in ways that are almost inexplicable. But I will try. First of all, the collection evokes nostalgia and sentimentality on the part of those alive during this generation (which I was not). I, however, went on a mad search for Johnny Mercer's "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" several years ago when it was used on the much-missed, brilliant t.v. series Homefront. I found the song-- and many other gems-- on this collection. Definitely worth having the whole thing. (And Volume 2, for that matter). I had never heard many of these songs, and had heard of some only through other pop culture references or through my grandma who frequently walks around her house singing these tunes. Not a single wasted or dull moment on this collection. Highlight include, of course, the well-known "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "I'll Be Seeing You", the sassy, fun "G.I. Jive", Louis Armstrong's gorgeous "I Wonder", and Jo Stafford's stunning "Long Ago and Far Away" (which inspired me to go find more Stafford stuff. I ended up with a boxset which was fantastic except for some of her last works, remaking songs like "I Am Woman (Hear Me Roar" and "Stayin'Alive"-- believe it or not. Her voice was simply not suited for that sort of garbage)). Another fascinating benefit of owning this album: it is not only a marker of time, documenting a time in history with the music of the period... but it is also an exposure to the social conventions and expectations of time. For example, in "Waitin'for the Train to Come In" Peggy Lee sings about waiting for her man to come home, waiting for her life to begin, implying that her life was nothing, that she in fact did nothing, until her man got home. In this way, the lyrics are dated. This, however, is a bonus not a liability. This is like a time capsule... and overall simply entertaining.

A classic collection of 1940s gems
This is a lovely, nostalgic assortment of songs from the big-band era. I bought this CD for my parents (my dad is a World War II veteran), and all of us enjoy it -- for my folks, these familiar songs are a poignant reminder of their youth. While the Andrews Sisters and Johnny Mercer tunes are especially memorable, EVERYTHING on this CD is noteworthy. The only song I would add to this collection is Glenn Miller's "In The Mood" -- otherwise, it's a perfect musical representation of the World War II era. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Biting, sometimes base satire and humor populates this 21-cut comedy-rock debut from actor-musician Jack Black and his band, Tenacious D. Sort of like a trashier, more casual and less musical Beck, vocalist-guitarist Black and guitarist-vocalist Kyle Gass, with help from Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Redd Kross's Steve McDonald, and Page McConnell of Phish, deliver oddball musings that will appeal mostly to fans of the talented Black, whose earned a following thanks to memorable, frenetic turns in the films Hi Fidelity and Jesus' Son. The songs and "bits" include the wonderfully, intentionally melodramatic "Wonderboy," Black ordering "four Chicken McNuggets" on "Drive Thru," and the funny ode to vocalist Ronnie James Dio, where Black observes, "Dio has rocked for a very long time / Now it's time for him to pass the torch." With often intentionally droll and dumb humor smartly executed like a latter-day version of Bob & Doug McKenzie with a dash of Spinal Tap, this more-comedy-than-rock debut is likely to achieve cult status. --Katherine Turman ... Read more

Reviews (135)

Stylish and radiant rock music
Even before this CD came out, I was a big fan of Jack Black as an actor. But when I heard about this comical rock album coming out, I was a bit reluctant about buying it. But I mustered up the courage to pay for it and was pleasantly surprised with the CD. In fact, it's one of the best CDs I own. JB and KG (Kyle Gass) are brilliant rock geniuses that sing songs of love, heroes, politics, and none other than; Satan. And although the two main guys are Black and Gass, other popular musicians do appear (i.e. Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Phish's Page McConnell, Dust Brothers, and Steve McDonald). Here, for anyone who doesn't believe, is a short overview of the 21 tracks (14 songs, 7 skits).

1. Kielbasa - starts off the CD with the line 'dude we gotta fxckin write something here'; letting us know they're singing without a care in the world. The song is hilarious, and very catchy.

2. One Note Song - it's not really a song; it's more of a skit, as JB devises a plan for a song containing only one note (with a bendy).

3. Tribute - aka "the Greatest Song in the World". Here's an excellent tale of JB and KG on a hitchhiking trip in which they run into a demon who asks them to play a song for him. It was a single, and with good reason.

4. Wonderboy - this song kind of sounds like a comic book story. Two characters are introduced: Wonderboy and Young Nastyman, two enemies who later form the band Tenacious D. It was the first single, although not the best.

5. Hard Fxcking - here's a skit about hard fxcking. Pretty funny intro to...

6. Fxck Her Gently - this is a 21st century love song that talks about what women really want during sex. It's very good, and as JB says: 'fellas, listen closely'.

7. Explosivo - this one is a short song with some catchy lyrics and music. I don't really know what it's about; maybe girlfriends or a demon-Satan creature, I don't know. It's good, though.

8. Dio - a rhyme about Ronnie James Dio, in which the D lets us know they'll be taking over for Dio. No questions asked.

9. Inward Singing - JB again comes up with a brilliant plan for rock and roll in this hilarious skit. I believe "Inward Singing" has more swears than any other track. It's very witty, and leads us into...

10. Kyle Quit The Band - 'but now we're back together'. This is one of my favorite songs on the CD, and it tells us how Tenacious D plans to spend the money they'll be earning from becoming famous.

11. The Road - the start has a country-feel to it as Jack Black talks of the hardships being on the road brings him. It's one of the weak points of the album, though.

12. Cxck Pushups - funny, but too unbelievable to believe.

13. Lee - not about too much, it's mostly just words that rhyme with 'lee'.

14. Friendship Test - this skit is funny, as JB tells Kyle he loves him; only for him to realize it was a test. It's not that great, maybe worth an F+.

15. Friendship - 'as long as there's a record deal we'll always be friends', proving time and time again how real the love in Tenacious D really is.

16. Karate Schnitzel - Jack Black doing karate in a skit; hilarious.

17. Karate - this is probably the shortest song on the CD, but also the best. You'll find yourself singing along to the beautiful melodic harmony in this song over and over again.

18. Rock Your Socks - this song starts with a Dave Grohl shout of '1 2 3 4 5 6-6-6!' What more do you need to know? It's awesome.

19. Drive-Thru - this is the best skit on the CD, where JB and KG go through a fast-food drive-thru and order anything from a 4-piece 6-nugget meal to a jr. western bacon-chee.

20. Double Team - here's the best love song I've ever heard. Not really, but this song is so hilarious and pleasant-sounding you will certainly sing along. For some reason, though, they finish it off with a 'hail Satan' chant. Go figure.

21. City Hall - ahh, the epic ending. This is a 6½-minute ode to a new world ruled by two kings: Jack Black and Kyle Gass, who rewrite the rules of man, transportation, and politics with ground-breaking decrees.

Hiddens. "Malibu Nights" (as it's dubbed by JB) evens the score at 1 to 1, going back to the "One Note Song" skit. It's really a hidden gem.

***

As you can imagine, Tenacious D is not for everyone. They are not your average rock & roll band, and their lyrics might be beyond you if lack a sense of humor. But if you do have a sense of humor and you'd enjoy a new twist on rock, Tenacious D is for you. All the songs/skits are good, if not excellent. Jack Black has really taken his career to a new level; and he's taken us fans along with him. Don't overlook the D because they lack real-life lyrical value or because they may be sexist bastards (not really). Their music is very catchy and you will find yourself singing along to it; I guarantee it.

All Hail to the One Note Song! Pure Brilliance!!!!
Actually, all hail to the entire album, because everything about it is awesome. I love Jack Black, so of course I was going to get it. I'm glad I did. These guys are hillarious, as well as also being very musically talented.

Tenacious D combines humor with music. There are great songs along with some of the funniest skits you will ever hear on an album. These guys aren't very heavy. The songs are subtle, but brilliant none the less. You will crack up in laughter and be in awe at the same time. They are great singers and great guitar players. Jack Black really does have a great singing voice.

Favorite songs: tribute, wonderboy, city hall, lee, friendship, karate, kyle quit the band.

Favorite skits: one note song, hard ****ing, inward singing, **** pushups, drive-thru.

A very awesome album, it is. Don't let the humor fool you, these guys are very talented, and should come out with more great songs in the future. Tenacious D truly rock.

Now, stop reading this review and go get the CD!! What are you waiting for?? It's calling your name. (Well, it's not. But get it anyway!)

P.S. Jack Black ripped me off. I came up with the "one note song" years ago. Well....actually I didn't. Um.....Shut up! Leave me alone!

the mixture of comedy and music all in one cd case!!
this album is simply the best thing i have ever heard! Tenacious D really knows how to make music. they only have 2 members (jack black and kyle gass) but they definetly know how to make you laugh and enjoy the music at one time. as we all know, jack black just finished the school of rock and that just came out on dvd not too long ago, and you can watch the mtv cribs episode on there of jack black when him and KG (known as Tenacious D) are doing a song called the taco truck from hell (or at least that is what i think it's called). that song is funny for just the parts i heard from it. that song is funny just like tribute which, by the way, IS really the greatest song in the world! they were just joking about it but i really think it is the greatest song in the world! drive thru is also really funny and then there is that song called wonderboy it is about a story of wonderboy and young nasty man. friendship is funny too, and i guess you all know about jack black's new movie is gonna be king kong with the best director peter jackson!!! yeah!!! if you think jack black's movies are funny then wait till you hear Tenacious D! buy this cd from amazon today for less than $15 and you can also choose 1 day shipping and then you can get it the next day! listen to Tenacious D!

"You're always naysaying everything I create!"
This is a hilarious CD of skits and songs by two comedians who are musicians (or two musicians who are comedians). It includes some goofy songs and skits dealing with topics such as karate, friendship tests, and, of course, rocking. It's very funny, even after several listens, especially "inward singing" and the drive-thru.

\m/
city hall alone is worth the price of admission. those who score lower than 5 surely do not know the power of the d ... Read more

Amazon.com

This collection gathers 19 of Sherman's humorous story-songs. The comic uses original lyrics and pre-existing tunes to poke fun at television shows and consumer items, to send-up the kids and generally riff on early and mid-'60s American pop culture. On tracks like "Pop Hates the Beatles" and "Crazy Downtown," his subject is the generation gap. "Al 'n Yetta" portrays a TV-dependent couple while "Lotsa Luck" describes the complicated hassles of dealing with faulty TVs and new-fangled tape recorders. Sherman assumed his audience had a little knowledge of history, too. On "Good Advice" and "You Went the Wrong Way, Old King Louie," he sings about inventors and French history, respectively. It's hard to imagine contemporary comedians working the historical beat. "One Hippopatami" is a delightfully goofy festival of wordplay that requires only a love of language and a tolerance for schmaltz. --Fred Cisterna ... Read more

Reviews (47)

The ORIGINAL Weird Al Yankovik!
Long before Weird Al Yakovik started entertaining folks with spoofs of famous songs, Allan Sherman had already retired. And yes, Allan Sherman sits along side Weird Al on Dr. Demento's Greatest Hits!

I remember being a kid and listening to my dad's "LP" of "My Son, The Comedian." Even as a young kid I remember laughing at many of the cuts. If only this entire album were on CD! Still, many of the best cuts have been assembled on "My Son, the Greatest."

Audiences of ALL ages will find humor in Allan Sherman's spoofs. Most of the tunes are universally familiar and the topics remain timeless. Add to this Sherman's Borscht Belt twist and you'll be holding your sides.

Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! What more do you need to know?
Before there was Weird Al Yankovic there was Allan Sherman, the Godfather of the Witty Musical Parody. This collection only skims most of the cream off of his Sixties comedy albums, starting with his infamous "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!" and ending with his poignant "Hail To Thee, Fat Person." In between you get "A Waste of Money," "Harvey And Sheila," "Pop Hates the Beatles" and "The Twelve Gifts of Christmas" and much, much more. You get the potpourri of "Shticks of One and Half a Dozen of the Other," and did you know that John F. Kennedy was once heard singing "Sarah Jackman"? If you have listened to any of Sherman's albums in the past ("My Son, The Folksinger," "My Son, The Celebrity," etc.), then you are going to notice that not all of your favorites are here. But this is the only CD available at this point in time in the history of the universe, so what are you going to do? We make do, people, and then we wait, patiently, for more of the same.

Ready for a new generation.
Allan Sherman was taken away from us much to soon. Even though he probably would have not been as popular as comedians became more vulgar and the times more permissive, I believe he still would have produced many more hilarious parodies like the ones you will find on MY SON, THE GREATEST.

My particular favorites on this good-natured and goofy collection are "Hello, Muddah, Hello, Faddah", "Pop Hates the Beatles", "Sarah Jackman" and "Crazy Downtown". It's good clean fun that I hope will find a home in the hearts of a new generation.

Camp Granada
Most people are familiar with his Camp Granada song "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah!". Even if they only saw the ad recently on TV and heard the new version sung by a dog thanking his parents for a flea collar. I grew up hearing and seeing Allan Sherman on radio and TV in the 1960s. My parents had a couple of his records. I scoured for them recently to no avail. I am so glad to see this come out on CD. Even those that did not grow up in the Sixties should find his style of comedy amusing. I thank the producers for having the foresight to re-release his hits if for none other than us baby boomers. For those unfamiliar with him he liked to parody just about anything. Fans of movies like "Airplane", "The Naked Gun", or "Hot Shots!" will probably find him amusing.

5 stars are not enough for this record!
I recently found this cd in the discount rack at a local store, and it immediately caused me to flashback 30+ years to my youth, listening to records (yes, records) in the basement while my parents entertained their company upstairs. Don't let era of Allan's comedy nor the Jewish flavor deter you. His comedy transcends time and culture. This cd is a must for all the forty and fifty-somethings out there. Share it with your children, and by all means, shake hands with your uncle Max! ... Read more

Amazon.com

These days, Bill Cosby is such an established showbiz presence that it's easy to forget what a deeply influential figure he was in the '60s, when he released a wildly successful series of standup comedy LPs. At the time, an amiable, apolitical African-American comedian sharing warmheartedly-barbed observations on childhood, parenting, and other rites of passage was a gently revolutionary act. Cosby's effortless ability to address universal experiences transcended boundaries of race and economic class, uniting diverse audiences during one of the most divisive periods in American history. Wonderfulness, originally released in 1966, is Cosby at his best, with such memorable bits as "Tonsils," "The Playground," and the classic childhood reminiscence "Chicken Heart." --Scott Schinder ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Laughter is TRULY the Best Medicine -- Thanks, Dr. Bill!
I first listened to "Wonderfulness" when I was in junior high school. I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it now; it really is a classic (if not THE classic) Bill Cosby album. But even more remarkable was how this album once cured me of a severe fever.

I hadn't listened to the album for a number of years when I came home after graduating from college and got the flu. I had a very high temperature, was extremely weak, lost my appetite, and (worst of all) couldn't sleep. I decided I was going to try and be entertained as long as I had to be awake, so I crawled over to my turntable and put this album on. Ironically, the first cut I listened to was "Tonsils" where Cos tells the story of when, as a child, HE was sick with a sore throat and ended up in the hospital to have his tonsils removed. Even though I had heard this and all the other stories many times in the past, they sounded fresh after so many years and I found myself laughing quite hard. By the time the album was done, I felt MUCH better ... I was actually able to stand up, walk around, and join the rest of my family for dinner!

This review is for the original vinyl copy of the album (LP) which I never intend to get rid of. One thing I noticed about CD versions of his other classic albums is that there are no silent pauses between the cuts (they just segue right into one another as if he were doing one very long stand-up session), a feature which I personally dislike. Still, I highly recommend this particular collection of his stories enough to say that if you have to own only one Bill Cosby CD, this is it (but do try to get as many of his others as you can, too ... one can never overdose on laughter)!

No One Tells Stories More Hilariously Real Than Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby may well be the country's most gifted storyteller. By taking the everyday and telling it in marginally satirized form, he captures the humor that the everyday has in abundance.

All of the stories Cosby tells are stories we can immediately identify with. Though not all of us have ever had tonsilechtomies, we've all gone to the hospital as kids and were told we'd get all the ice cream in the world once the operation was over.

Likewise, as kids we've entertained the notion of some kind of grownup conspiracy, regardless of whether the battleground is a playground. We've disagreeed about lumps in cream-o-wheat, raced or at least seen downhill go-karts, and ALWAYS saw or listened to the horror show our overbearing mothers forbade us from seeing.

Cosby's funniest routine is his retelling of an old Lights Out radio program about "a Chicken Heart that ate up NEW YORK CITY!"

To close out the album Cosby tells a hilarious tale about the honeymoon of TV producer Sheldon Leonard (who produced I Spy for Cosby and Robert Culp) and his wife at Niagra Falls, "when Niagra Falls was brand new." Cosby's riff of Sheldon Leonard's speech patterns is drop-dead funny.

You'll never imagine eating ice cream or driving a go-kart the same way again.

What an amazing individual
Growing up listening to Bill Cosby, to my recollection he was the first stand up comic with whom I became aware. Literally eating up every word from his albums, by the age of 10 I was reciting many of his routines annoying my parents (and teachers as well). Recently my 10 year old discovered "The Bill Cosby Show" in the form of reruns on Nickelodeon. So I introduced him to his earlier stuff, available now on CD. What a surprise to find him laughing hysterically at the same lines I loved as a kid. This stuff is timeless.

The Genius of Cosby.
When I was a wee tyke, I remember watching the last couple of seasons of the cartoon series FAT ALBERT. I didn't know at the time that the show was based upon characters created by Bill Cosby. I also remember watching Bill Cosby color Picture Pages on tv. Later in my youth we watched the Cosby Show as a family. However, it wasn't until the 8th grade that I really learned the genius of Bill Cosby. Our teacher was doing some lesson in audio theatre and played "Chicken Heart" for us on the record player (CD's had just come out). Our class was a laughing riot. "Chicken Heart" was one of the funniest things I had ever heard. That night I told my parents about it and things all came together, FAT ALBERT, PICTURE PAGES, THE COSBY SHOW, "Chicken Heart": it's all Bill Cosby. That's when I realized that Bill Cosby was a comic genius.

"Chicken Heart" is about the time that Cosby thought that a giant chicken heart was coming after him while watching late night television as a kid. It's just one of several sketches included on WONDERFULNESS. Two other longer tracks include "Tonsils", describing Cosby's experience of having his tonsils removed and "Go Carts" which tells in vivid details the events of the World Go Cart Championship that ended in a sort of tragedy. Other selections include "The Playground", "Lumps", "Shop", "Special Class", and "Niagra Falls". The best of the bunch, though is "Chicken Heart" and for less than $10 its more than worth the price of the album.

www.livejournal.com/users/tedlothropfan
Bill cosby is genius! he has a brand new cd coming out....go to this link to find out! WWW.livejournal.com/users/tedlothropfan ... Read more

Reviews (5)

25 Wedding Favorite... Almost
As with many compilation CDs 25WF is long on music but short on musicianship. The performances are dull and lifeless with little or no attention to the subtleties necessary to perform these compositions. The recordings are reminiscent of a Jr. College Orchestra performing late in the day. The sound quality is thin and hollow which adds to the dreary atmosphere.
An unremarkable set of recordings to be avoided at all costs.

A Very Good CD
We are going to use many of the songs on this CD for our wedding. The quality is very good.
We also found on amazon.com "A Song For My Daughter" "A Song For My Son" and "A Wedding Thank You" all on the New Wedding Traditions Volume I CD.
Thanks Amazon for making our wedding planning much easier.
The Bride and Groom

A Good CD
We got this CD for our wedding it was a great help.
We also got "A Song For My Daughter" and "A Song For My Son" and some other great reception songs on the
New Wedding Traditions Volume I CD
which we also found on Amazon
Thanks Amazon you have made our wedding planning a little easier.
The Bride and Groom

A Good Source of Ideas But ...
The best I can say about this CD is that there are many different styles represented & one can at least get a sense of which pieces merit further investigation. My overall impression is that most of the selections are given a heavy-handed treatment(one might say ultra-formal) or are downright silly--I could swear I've heard 2 of the tracks in Disney's Electrical Parade. I don't blame the composer, of course, but the arranger & compiler. I'm planning my own wedding & found a few ideas of songs I'd like to hear in *other* versions, but nothing on this CD sounded like what I wanted to hear at my wedding, let alone anyone else's. If you have limited exposure to classical music, or don't know where to begin in planning your wedding selections, this might be a good place to begin, simply because of the variety. But I wouldn't recommend it as the source of your wedding music.

A nice selection
I needed some classical music for my wedding so I pruchased this CD and it is very nice.
I also purchased "Classical Wedding Traditions" (also from amazon.com) I really like that CD too. ... Read more

Album Description

The guided meditations on "The Ease of Being" restore a centered state of awareness and facilitate healing. Unlike meditations which keep the mind focused on imagery, the body or the breath, these meditations contain phrases which gently guide the mind to relax completely.In this relaxed state, healing happens naturally and effortlessly.Repeated use of the meditations develops the ability to be present in the here and now and flow easily with life.

The CD contains 3 powerful guided meditations accompanied by soothing, healing music."Silence: a Centering Meditation" is useful for both beginning and experienced meditators in becoming centered and achieving a deeply meditative state."Allowing:Healing Meditation" creates a powerful "healing space" in which all that needs healing can arise and be healed."Flowing Freely: an Emotional Healing Meditation" is especially useful when the emotions are rough. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

peaceful rejuvenation
This is a wonderful guided meditation cd. With Mary's soothing voice and the beautiful music I am able to go to a place of blissful peace and relaxation, yet I feel rejuvenated when I "return."

With the fast pace of our world it is a great way for me to let go of daily stresses and reconnect with myself. This CD has been extremely helpful!

The ease of listening to "The Ease of Being" CD
With all the wordly pressures of living here in the 21st century Mary Maddux's CD "The ease of being" is a "Must have". The calming music and Mary's kind and compassionate voice take you to a place where there is true peace, security, and total contentment.

Track 1: "A centering meditation" is just wonderful for bringing oneself into a focused state, where you can concentrate/meditate on any chosen subject, or embark on a journey into the far off reaches of your mind.

Track 2: "A healing meditation" is just that, this works just fine for mental & physical healing (I had a "Thumper" of a headache that just refused to vanish, but it went after I listened to this track) it helps you to look at the problem in hand and, as is most often the case, once you look at problems they're put into perspective and they either shrink to a size where you can acknowledge and work with them, or they disappear completely.

Track 3: "Flowing freely: An emotional healing meditation" works great when one has been emotionally battered and bruised, it recharges one's "Batteries" and and makes one emotionally whole once again, ready to take on those difficult and rough people/situations (that can leave you all to drained) with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.

All in all a 10 out of 10, or in this case a true 5 star recommendation, this is such a down to earth CD, and one that you'll surely not regret buying.

Soothing and Relaxing!!
As a Reiki Master/Teacher and spiritual advisor, I am always trying to get students and clients to meditate. "I get too distracted," or "I can't relax enough," are the complaints I ususally hear. I'm a big fan of this CD, as Mary's voice has a calming quality, and yet, it is captivating at the same time. Friends have told me that the CD does the trick for them! I have been recommending this CD to all my clients and students or anyone who has difficulty relaxing. I can't wait for her next endeavor!

Disappointed
I am good at meditation and I only bought this CD because I wanted to experience what it is like to get into guided meditation, feeling the "company" of someone else's voice.
I was very disappointed. The author uses endless sentences, very long phrases that, instead of helping, keep the listener waiting for her next words, wondering what she is going to say next or when she is going to finally put a semi-colon or a stop. More than guided meditation this looks like a lecture on how to meditate, a lecture one should have to *listen to* and *think about*. Though her voice and tone are correct, at times, the author seems to be looking for the right word, which rather than helping the listener keeps him wondering what is coming next... and hoping it comes soon.
In my opinion, short and repetitive phrases should be used in meditation- most specially with beginners- and that is precisely what the author has failed to provide.

S.B. Wells, CMT, Reiki practitioner, musician
The Ease of Being is full of quiet, simple and clean meditations that get right to the heart of the matter. If you seek a truthful, no-nonsense meditation to get you to a place that is centered, calm and non-reactive, then this is the CD you have been looking for. The background music is extremely soothing, and, combined with the voice of the narrator, Mary Maddux, creates a complete healing space to sink into. I really don't know how I ever lived without this CD! ... Read more

Album Description

Reintroduce yourself to the Smithsonian Folkways essentials. More than 15 years ago, Folkways: The Original Vision was one of the first albums released by a then fledgling Smithsonian Folkways label. It was conceived and sequenced to complement Folkways: A Vision Shared, a benefit/tribute album consisting of 14 reinterpretations of Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly songs by a cross-section of some of popular music's top stars at the time. Now, with the re-release of this historic album on its 15th anniversary, Smithsonian Folkways expands upon the original concept with the addition of 6 bonus tracks, and enhances it with stunning new packaging and newly extended notes. Original Vision now provides an even fuller insight into the scope and impact that Guthrie's and Lead Belly's music has made over the last half century. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As he did with Spinal Tap, Christopher Guest has the uncanny ability to perfectly mock and pay tribute to a music sub-culture. This time around, he spoofs the folk revival scene of the 1960s that spawned the Kingston Trio, Limeliters, and Peter, Paul & Mary with a movie about the reunion concert of fictitious groups Mitch & Mickey, the Folksmen, and the New Main Street Singers. Mitch & Mickey's romance-themed duets sound more earnest than campy, though it's hard not to laugh at the autoharp solo on "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow." The real highlights belong to tracks by the hilarious Folksmen, whose repertoire somehow included a goofy song about the Spanish Civil War ("Skeletons of Quinto"), a harmonizing take on the Stones' "Start Me Up," and a tune seemingly about a train wreck in a coal mine ("Blood on the Coal"). Simply hilarious. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Fun, heartfelt soundtrack reveals hidden talents
An impressive CD for many reasons. The musicianship is outstanding, especially considering the vocals were performed by actors. The Folksmen (Guest, McKean, and Shearer) perform their songs without the aid of any other musicians and certainly hold their own. "Start Me Up" is a hilarious and catchy cover version of the Rolling Stones hit. The New Main Street Singers have an infectious, cheery sound with impressive vocal harmonies arranged by talented actor John Michael Higgins. "Potato's in the Paddy Wagon" is a funny tune which highlights the vocal talents of Jane Lynch. Mitch and Mickey are my favorite. I've been a fan of Levy and O'Hara since their SCTV days, and yet I never would have imagined that they could sing so well, with such warmth and emotion. "When Your Next to Me" and "A Kiss At the End of the Rainbow" are better than many songs written by "real" musicians, and in my opinion are the standout songs on this album. What other talents could these actors be hiding? Overall, a highly recommended CD for those who enjoyed the movie.

Fun Soundtrack for a Funny Movie
After just catching "A Mighty Wind" last night, I was in line at my local music store purchasing the soundtrack to this movie. I would have done it last night, but the stores already closed.

From the brilliant minds of Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, and company, come the folksy parodies on "A Mighty Wind". This album somehow manages to be both a wonderful folk music album and a parody of one, at the same time. The music is intensely listenable, but you catch yourself saying, "Did I just hear right?", and you re-listen to the song just to make sure.

My favorite songs have to be from the musak-ishness of "The New Main Street Singers". I grew up listening to these harmonic, music brain dead groups, and that feeling is captured brilliantly. They are appropriately brightly sounding, and obscene, if that makes sense. The final song, "A Mighty Wind" just seems right, and as the final song on the album, makes for a great period at the end of this remarklable CD.

The brilliance of parody is extremely difficult to pull off, but the cast of "A Mighty Wind" certainly produced something that surely will be underappreciated by those who aren't in the know.

Be in the know, and buy this album today!

Love the movie, Love this CD
The CD basically contains all the songs that you hear on the movie. I'm not a big folk music person but when I saw the movie I had to get this CD and I love it. I dont think you will regret getting this.

True love lasts forever...
As great as the other songs are (even though they are cheesy, try listening to authentic folk music and try and tell me some of that isn't cheesy), the true stars are Mitch and Mickey a.k.a. Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. From the film to the soundtrack, the course of true love never does run smooth and sometimes doesn't run at all or gets knocked out in the case of M&M. Their love transpires on the film and also on the great soundtrack. Of course who could play a formerly married couple that left true love bitterly, come back together and sing better than Eugene and Catherine who go back thirty years? Their love is certainly apparent in the film (I have to admit I cried when they did not get back together) and certainly on the soundtrack. I actually love the songs they wrote (whether it be together or not) and feel that if they ever get sick of acting, etc. they should get together and grab Mary Margaret O'Hara (Catherine's sister) and make a career jump to music.

Like their love, their songs are bittersweet more so than the other songs. The Folksmen songs (The Skeletongs of Quinto in particular) deal with serious issues in a serious composition with a not so serious performance. And with The New Mainstreet Singers, well, some of their songs don't even make sense and more so for fun rather than serious composing. But the songs of M&M are serious, poignant and at times can even bring a tear to the eye of the listener especially with the case of "One More Time", my favourite song on the soundtrack. If this song had been kept instead of replacing it with "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" there would have not been a dry tear in the audience and certainly the screen would have been covered in popcorn or pop. It fits so perfectly the story of M&M that even listening to it, it makes you wish they got back together (it was even composed by both of them). At the same time it's a beautiful song that probably could have even made it in the mainstream music world (at least for us folk music fans). The harmonies are distantly beautiful and their voices blend all too well.

I guess the soundtrack, even with the film out there, exposes the raw and true talents of Chris and co. The soundtrack is a fine gem with the amazing abilities of all the stars. Just think they not only starred in the film, but improvised all their lines, learned all the instruments and the songs, and then make their own soundtrack. Sort of scary how talented they all are and yet America just hands out Oscars like their chocolate. I say Chris and Co. try for a BAFTA instead of an Oscar next time...

A Mighty Wind... Fun. Lots of It.
Well, the only reason I give "A Mighty Wind" a 4 is because it's not perfect, but what CD is? (You know, I just found out that the best-selling soundtrack is "The Bodyguard.") Anyways, "A Mighty Wind" mostly has fast-paced, upbeat songs... They're usually pretty catchy and humorous, I.E. "Eat at Joe's." (EE-AH-OE'S...*shrugs*) The best song on this album is "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" which reminds me somehow of Peter, Paul, and Mary's "Puff, the Magic Dragon". Anyways, I'd buy this CD if I were you. - A Fan ... Read more

Reviews (36)

I'd give it ten stars if I could...
This is one awesome CD. I originally bought it because I saw two songs I liked on the CD case - "Brickhouse" by The Commodores, and "Car Wash" by Rose Royce. Not being too familiar with the funk genre at the time, I figured this would be another of my CDs where I bought it for the two or three songs I liked, and the rest were throwaways. Besides, it was on sale, and looked like a good bargain.

After having played the CD, I was like, WOW! Every song on this CD totally jams! I found myself buying albums from the likes of Issac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield just through the influence of this CD. I now have a much broader musical taste and enjoy the strains of "The Theme from Shaft" while rolling down the highway. This is my favorite CD by far, and is unlikely to be unseated by another in the near future.

Yes!
This CD rocks the house. It's got all the classic funk songs, from Shaft to Superfly to Brickhouse and Car Wash. It is excellent. The tunes just keep bouncing around in my head. It's great dance music as well. This is a classic, buy it today.

luv da funk
volume 1 and 2 of pure funk r the twon best funk cds out there buy them 2day

PURE!
Thank you, oh funk-compilation-geniuses. This CD introduced me to funk and lifted me out of the disco genre. While "Don't Stop the Music" is a low point, and i have developed a pyschological block to "Car Wash" (very like my relationship with fleetwood mac's "Landslide") the rest of the album is funk, at it's purest best. "Brick House" "Shining Star" and "Lady Marmalade" are very, very worth the money. It's a great CD for listening to when you're having a low day (i.e. Mondays), or at a party. Basically rooted out all of the crappy funk that otherwise innocent souls would have had to sift through.

Solid!
Pure Funk is the best compilation CD of funk I've seen. Although there are a couple of misses and boderline songs (Cameo, Yarbrough and Peoples), the disc holds up very well. It would be hard to include more funk hits into one disc, but a glaring missing-in-funk-tion is James Brown's "Get on Up" or "Hot Pants". The first four songs are worth the price of the album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is one of his finest comedy discs, and it remains as fresh and funny as ever. Recorded at the height of his standup popularity, the master raconteur's 1968 album To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With is a fine example of the multi-talented veteran's effortless mastery. Cosby discusses "Baseball" and "Conflict" with his usual blend of impishly winsome insight and flat-out yuks.The 27-minute title track, a memorable meditation on the joys and terrors of childhood, is one of his most resonant achievements. --Scott Schinder ... Read more

Reviews (16)

And I hit you in the eye! SOCK! WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
This is classic Cosby. Recorded live in Cleveland, Ohio in the late 60's Cosby talks about Adam and Eve (The Apple), his daughters who drives him nuts (Two Losers), the conflicts between the mind and the body (Conflict), getting hit in the back with a baseball (Baseball) and his classic 20 plus minute epic title track about the zany adventures of two brothers sharing a bed late at night. Eveything on this album will get you rolling with laughter. You'll also realize how much you can relate to what Cosby is talking about. This is a great album. Get this now if you don't have it already. It's too bad Warner Bros. didn't release 200 M.P.H. and It's True! It's True! on cd.

To Russell, My brother, Whom I Slept With
Flat out hilarious! There's something for everybody in Cosby's work. However, brothers especially, will identify with the title track. Also listen to his other older albums (I have not heard his albums produced since the mid 70's). They are all equally good.

"THE JELLO SHERIFF OF THE HOUSE!!!
The most funniest album next to bill:himself, and wonderfullness.
The way he takes his child hood and describes it for our comedy needs is hilarious!It's a must have for any cosby fan!Also recomend Bill cosby himself!

hey sankysky or however you say it
you heard me. wow its great you love bill crosby. He's great! But wait... Thiers no such person! Its bill COSBY. no r in that name. Next time why dont you look at the persons name next time. but seriosly the cd was realy great funny and the funniest thing ive ever heard

hilarious
This is Bill Cosby at his best. How many older siblings can empathize with Mr. Cosby on the joys of siblinghood? I laughed until I cried the first time I heard the title track. No Cosby connoisseur should be without this album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the fundamental criticisms of New Age music is that it puts people to sleep. Here, Steven Halpern, one of the founding fathers of New Age, makes that his mission and, as you might expect, does an effective job of it. Drawing on catalog material from the early 1980s, Halpern builds an attractive collection of delicate, lighter-than-air sonic textures that nicely serves the intended purpose--to fill the silence with something prettier than white noise. Halpern does so by blending electric and acoustic piano, plus additional keyboards, to create soothing, improvisational, cloudlike musical abstractions that often convey the tranquil randomness of wind chimes in a soft breeze. The liner notes also promise your subconscious will be exposed to a series of subliminal, sleep-encouraging affirmations along the quiet, unstructured way. This may sound like so much frou-frou to the unconverted, but for anyone sincerely interested in a sleep aid, Halpern's disc is a certified snoozer, a New Age music box. Other New Age discs may accomplish the same purpose as Sleep Soundly, but few will do it as persuasively. --Terry Wood ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This is good to help you sleep and....
I have so many Halpern CDs, its unbelievable. I recommend this one and several by Jeffrey Thompson, Delta Sleep System and the two CDs sets Music for Sleep Collections 1 and 2. Great!! I have no problems sleeping now that all of these are available for me to use. Never get bored with one, because there are now so many good selections to choose from. GO GET 'EM!!

Wonderful for PTSD/trauma survivors
Suffering from PTSD, this CD has helped me to cope with flashbacks. Before getting this CD, it used to take hours for me to fall asleep and even then, I had a very troubled sleep. Now, I play this CD every night as I go to sleep and within minutes, I am asleep. No more flashbacks at night, and the CD helps create a safe feeling inside.

It works!
I never hear the end of the CD because I fall asleep so quick. The music is so beautiful and peaceful. I recommend it for all people who have trouble falling asleep!

Out Like a Light! Wow
Actually, NOT out like a light because I fell asleep even before I could turn my light out. This cd is great. I purchased it because since the tragic events of September 11 I seem to have trouble falling and staying asleep. I put it on continuous play mode and woke up feeling (gasp!) eager and excited to face Monday morning. Give it a try.

VERY nice cd to have at your bedside.
This is my first Steve Halpern CD and I would have no reservations about getting more. The music is beautiful...it kind of weaves through your mind relaxing you. I, like another reviewer don't think I've ever heard the end of the tape. I'm always asleep. I love being able to play this at night and am VERY glad that I took the chance and ordered music by someone new to me. ... Read more

Album Description

Chrismukkah (Christmas and Chanukah) is what the half-Jewish, half-Christian Cohen Family of "The O.C." celebrates at holiday time-and Music From The O.C.: Mix 3 (Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah) is its soundtrack. Featuring holiday-themed songs by Modern Rock favorites heard either in last year's or this season's Chrismukkah episode, Have A Very Merry Chrismukkah is a musical holiday gift for the modern family. ... Read more

Album Description

After two albums that spread like wildfire solely on word of mouth and self-propagating critical acclaim, this duo from Massachussetts return with their third album.It is even more cohesive and song-based than "Lemon Of Pink." Their core of cello, mandolin, banjo & guitar has been augemented with new instruments and a now overflowing library of found sounds and serendipitously found spoken word passages.First U.S. tour coming soon! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Language, context and music
This is a somewhat interesting exploration of language, semantics and rhythm.It is more surreal in it's use of deconstructed conversations placed with new and different contexts.Some of it reminds one greatly of Korean Samul-nori music, which relies mostly upon percussion and rhythm that is based upon the Korean language (listen to No. 6, "An Animated Description of Mr. Maps" for a very clear example of such.While some tracks are very ingaging and suggest a different musical line of exploration from much conventional music, there is a problematic sameness in instrumentation that is sometimes very uninteresting due to a lack of musical development. The Books could end up doing very well if they were to invest more time in their musical development of their ideas and instrumentation.Layering samples can only go so far before it is boring.

This album did not dissapoint
I enjoyed this more than I did Lemon of Pink, it felt lush and cinematic the way Thought for Food was, but more emphasis on found speech and juxtaposition.The percussion is just mindboggling here, I can't tell if they're banging on trash cans or paint cans or how much of it is sequenced and looped and sampled, it's all so calculated and choreographed yet otherworldly.My one reservation is that they may be turning the found speech into their schtick, they juxtapose random samples from speeches and field recordings and films and it's really hit or miss, sometimes the juxtapositions are blatantly ironic, sometimes they are just aimed at giggles, but when they work best they are surreal and beautiful.Really, no one else is doing this kind of work with sound composition right now.No one.

Written on my Face
The sun shone upon the frosted mermen and they destroyed the fringe. Open up our generous portions of marmalade and feed the beast. Denver is hopelessly uninspired when it comes to fountains. New is the new old. Jungles and jungles of disco-inspired nameless cats approach unwanted. You must not arrange the maps to make the hours fade. Each smell is the same as the last but is quickly forgotten. Take up a collection of radios suitable for general listening. It's mighty.

This is the only way i could explain this album. You will know when you HEAR it. A masterwork.

wonderful
such a wonderful album. yes slightly different than past albums, but isn't that a good thing? I think his vocals are lovely and while sometimes the sampling can border on overboard....all in all this is a great album.

The Books and Text
Although instantly recognizable as The Books, as others have pointed out, their sound is evolving.This CD features the human voice and spoken word against the assemblage of found sounds and music performed by these artists.I found myself moved by the patchwork of little snippets of recorded phrases and voices, representing a whole range of human experiences.Great stuff.Fans won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

The crazed genius of the Lips comes to full flower on the sonically massive and majestic The Soft Bulletin. Head Lip Wayne Coyne compounds the band's penchant for psychedelic freak-outs with a symphonic extravaganza. The result is nothing short of magnificent, not only the best rock album of the year, but among the best recordings of the decade. In 30 years, your grandkids are going to think you're pretty damned cool for having The Soft Bulletin in your collection. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (316)

A Dream Menu (within a bulletin)
Just like it's successor, the brilliantly titled "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots", "The Soft Bulletin" has a sound fans of The Flaming Lips will immediately enjoy, but one that is not so accessible with those not so familiar with the group. The Flaming Lips makes albums that reward the listener over time, because of complex, interesting lyrics, and layered, though not convoluted, symphonic soundscapes. What makes this album exceptional, and worth buying is simple really... quality. "The Soft Bulletin" song for song, is one of the most exceptionally crafted albums I've ever listened to.

I've only heard two Flaming Lips albums, this one, and "Yoshimi", and they both strike me like haunting dreams. If you've ever had one of those strange dreams, and woke up finding yourself wanting to go back there, then you know what I'm talking about. The group's song writing is among the most unique in music. Songs like "Race For the Prize" have a sweeping ambition to them, as they deal with the complexities of human longing, and potential. There is one quality that is prevalent throughout all of The Flaming Lips recent work....courage, and the words come straight out at you, as the warm dream tinted melodies surround them.

This is one album that I wont give an abridged song by song synopsis to, because it's one of those albums that functions better when listed to, and experienced in it's entirety. The Flaming Lips represents a very small minority of groups that have been making music ten years or more, they actually get better with time. I would recommend this album, and other albums by this group, to anyone looking to build an interesting, dynamic music collection. The cover alone is worth the consideration.

Lovely Music, Shame About The Vocals
Progressive Rock, then. Huge orchestral sounds, experimental song structures, waves of emotion and long, drawn-out instrumental passages. The indie kids who spent so long laughing at this stuff have for some reason taken it over since the mid-90's, with every year yielding a *classic album* (see Radiohead, Spiritualized, Grandaddy, Mercury Rev...and of course The Flaming Lips).

"The Soft Bulletin" is pure Yes. People who say it sounds like nothing else ought to just bop on down to "The Yes Album", which contains similar vocal harmonies, adventurous use of piano, and an identical guitar style. But this is no bad thing AT ALL. On a musical level, "The Soft Bulletin" is faultless. It contains the most moving string arrangements, the most interesting chord changes, and the most adventurous everything-including-the-kitchen-sink production values I've heard in a long, long while.

My only problem (which is the same gripe I have with Mercury Rev a lot of the time) is the awful, lazy, weak, grating vocal lines. Take the song "Suddenly Everything Has Changed". Surely I can't be the only person frustrated by the complete disparity between voice and music? The instrumental sections are beautiful, heart-rending and nothing short of breathtaking. Then the singer's annoying Neil Young-isms tear through the beauty in the most infuriatingly fey, indie way...singing about vegetables from the grocery store, no less.

If you're into these sorts of vocals, "The Soft Bulletin" will change your life. If you have yet to be converted to the American-indie obsession with tuneless Neil Young impersonations, it won't. But I have given this album four stars for the music alone, which is absolutely legendary.

I really think it's a matter of taste. Personally, I think if these songs were played on acoustic guitar nobody would like them. And to rely on production just to make your songs good... I don't know, smacks a bit of dishonesty to me.

The Flaming Lips Best.. well maybe...
The Flaming Lips have made an interesting career of changing it up on each album. If you listened to "Clouds Taste Metallic" (their album before this one) than listen to "Yoshimi" (their album after this one) you wouldn't know it was the same band. "The Soft Bulletin" isn't their most ambitious work (that would be Zaireeka) and it's not the most drastic change from their original works (that would be Yoshimi), but it was simply the next step that connects the growth of the band from "Clouds" to "Yoshimi."

So why is it their best? It's not the most ambitious, the most different, the most rocking or anything like that. Instead each track is a treasure in it's own way. The songs aren't very tied together but instead present a different sound with every new endeavor. From the happy go lucky love on "Buggin'" to the almost, dare I say, dance feel you get from the drums on "What is the Light." "Suddenly Everything Has Changed" presents a transformation of fast to slow over and over again. Even the two "remixes" present quite different sounds from the "unremixed" versions of the same songs. Rather than being "remixed" it seems to me the Lips just couldn't decide which version was better and decided to present them both. Each track is incredible in its own way. And while you could argue "Yoshimi" is a better album based on how the fact that each Lips album seems to be better than the next, "The Soft Bulletin" presents the Lips in a way that is familiar to all of their other works but still very different, and comes out, at least to me, as their best work to date.

Wayne Coyne is Annoying...
or that's what one would gather from listening to this album. Really, Coyne can be a truly outstanding and remarkable frontman or he can be absolutely awful as shown in the Soft Bulletin. Now the Lips have some great works, such as Yoshimi and Transmissions From The Satellite Heart but this isn't one of them. All of the indie kids seem to love this album though, but from what I gather they just jumped on the Flaming Lips bandwagon a little too late and ended up loving the next album they made which happened to be this. Coyne essentially tears away all of the grinding, loud guitars from the earlier albums and all that is left is adult alternative, contemporary music that people in their fifties will love, merely for the fact that the music sounds pleasant enough. Coyne's never really had all that great of a voice to begin with but he's at his worst here. He's damn near unbearable in A Spoonful Weigh's A Ton. The whole album just sounds hollow, and the production values aren't anything to revel at, which is remarkable considering the Lips were aiming for a bombastic sound. There is some good stuff on here though including Buggin', Suddenly Everything Has Changed, and The Spiderbite Song. I'm really quite frustrated from the acclaim that this album gets when in reality their earlier albums are much more worty of it...

One of the best albums of the 90s
The Soft Bulletin is certainly one of the Flaming Lips best works. The soundscape on this album is incredibly vibrant, and detailed. It's clear that they know their way around a recording studio, but they never force recording tricks. They show a lot of restraint, every orchestra swell, or drum flourish flows and feels like it should be there.
Conceptually the album is tight. They take on some real issues here. Stuff that anyone can relate to, the songs are about human nature, death, love, and eternal struggle. The album kicks off with "Race for the Prize", an upbeat number about two scientists making the ultimate sacrifice to come up with The Cure. It's slightly silly, and playful on the surface, but its ultimately about 2 guys willing to die to save some lives. There's many songs that dwell on this subject. The second song "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton" alternates between an extremely sweet orchestra section, and a deep funky bass section. "The Gash"(my personal favorite) is a real freak out, with incredibly layered vocals of all different pitches singing again about the eternal struggle that scientists have, and how you have to march on no matter what, all over an offbeat piano riff, with an orchestra and electronic whirring. This song represents the band the best, it is silly and incredibly eccentric but still charming and meaningful.
Other songs go into more about mortality such as "Suddenly Everything has Changed" about how during everyday events your mind drifts to morbid thoughts or on "Waitin' for a Superman" where singer and chief songwriter Wayne Coyne deals with the burden of his father's death.
People complaining that this album means nothing and its about drummers who lost their arms, superman, headwounds, mosquito bites quite frankly missed the point. The songwriting here is meaningful, and poignant. Every song has a deeper meaning, but not so deep that you can't find it.
The Soft Bulletin is a great album that delivers on all levels. People looking for sheer joyful noise will find it, people looking for something with deep lyrics will find it, people looking distinct, catchy and great melodies will find them on every song. The album stands as a great pop album, and an extremely deep, artistic thinkpiece. It is definitely one of the best albums of the 90s and one of my favorites of all time. I think anyone that gives it a little time will find that every song is a gem. The Soft Bulletin is top-notch ... Read more

Amazon.com

Are Iceland’s Sigur Rós the saviors of 21st-century rock or true heirs to the silk-robed-and-platform-booted, pompous progressive rock of the '70s? On their third album (first for a major label), they are a little bit of both. The group continues to mix the most interesting aspects of U2 (the anthem), Low (the maximalist slow-mo thing), Radiohead (the utter lack of irony in the quest to make meaningful art for stadium crowds), and My Bloody Valentine (guitar as texture), while not sounding like anyone else on this planet. The average song length on the eight untitled tracks is eight minutes, with cascades of moaning, bowed guitars colliding with low-end keyboards while the lovely, alien-registered vocals of singer Jónsi float on top. Dynamics are employed spectacularly, but half of the album is spooky soundtrack music that never really goes anywhere. However, the actual songs on Two Sausages Kissing (or whatever you want to call it)--the third, sixth, eighth, and especially fourth tracks--are mind-blowers, spectacularly worth the price of admission. If they just stopped trying to reinvent the wheel all the time, Sigur Rós could really be a band for the ages. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (262)

a uniquely distinct experience of a record
It's not exactly an easy task to describe Icelandic band Sigur Ros' latest record. For one, it doesn't have a title, other than "( )." "( )" also has no linear notes whatsoever, giving us no song names, or any references to the musicians, engineers and psychiatrists who appear on it. What's more, the lyrics, which are written half in English and half in Icelandic, are sung mostly in an echo-drenched falsetto that makes Jeremy Enigk sound like Paul McCartney.

Then again, no one ever understood Michael Stipe or Kurt Cobain. And the Beatles did the same sort of disappearing act on the White Album. And while we're at it, Bjork's from Iceland as well. And every review of this band ever written will mention that.

What's left is an odd and uniquely distinct experience of a record. Imagine the condensed images of a Stanley Kubrick film put to music that's mostly whispered and played at half-speed. Picture My Bloody Valentine or Sonic Youth daydreaming away on thousands of crates of cough syrup.

Pianos give way to walls of guitars, strings, and drums that occasionally lift the pulse above a trickle. Occasionally. But Sigur Ros don't work in speed or pop hooks. They work in pure aural texture. They move sideways, and they swell, not into catchy choruses, but into orchestral static and ghostly buzzing. This isn't a record for fans of mainstream pop music. In fact, it may not be a record for listening to at all, but rather it's something to play during science fiction movie credits, or in the background of an opium den.

Oddly enough, this isn't exactly a bad thing. Sigur Ros may just be the first band in a long time to sound so different, so confounding, and so beautiful.

Sigur Ros...A Gift From God
I remember about 2 months ago when I typed in "Sigur Ros" in a alltheweb.com search engine and downloaded the song called, "Untitled 4." I was literaly blown away. This album changed my life. I just sat in my room and listened to it at least 6 times in a row as I lied in my bed and cried my eyes out. The hauntingly, gorgeous music just rips through your emotional barrier, making you vunerable for change and reflection, such as a small child. You can be free again. Just don't be afraid to take an emotional voyage.

I am still in a state of shock from hearing this album. For god's sake, just support the greatest musicians alive and buy this album. If you like Radiohead, Godspeed You! Black Emporer, Bjork, or Pink Floyd, this progressive style of beautiful music will just fill you with the most tranquil feeling of sensational, perpetual bliss, just every single note tearing through your heart as you remember all the sad things that have happened to you throughout your entire life. How could something so beautiful be so sad? That is mystery of the band itself: Sigur Ros. What every these musical prodigies are making next, it is going to change my life. I just know it.

( )
please stop reading the reviews and buy this album. words cannot do it justice--as the members of sigur rós recognized also. you need to hear this work of art for yourself. every single track on this album is just everything more than astonishing. i love every single track. i love the keyboards in track one. i love the singing in track two. jonsi your voice is fn breathtaking. i love the keyboards and melodies in track three. i love track four, hands down. i love the eerieness of track five, oh man i love how he sings. i love the ending of track six. beauty. track seven is just...just close your eyes and listen. you will know. and track eight. what to say about track eight? track eight is fn awesome. all of these tracks are amazing. i am not singling any of them out for a standout or any of them for a track of lesser beauty. amazing album. honestly. get this one.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland
This album reminds me of walking in the blistering cold in the snow. This Icelandic band creates soundscapes that are cold and sterile, yet can bring a tear to your eye. The guitarist likes to use a bow, creating long notes in these slow ballads. Most songs start off soft and slowly build to a huge crescendo. the first 4 tracks are more focused and accessible, the last four are noisier, and rely less on normal melodies. The vocals are in hoplandic i.e. gibberish, but really it is the singer trying to use his voice as any other instrument. Just the sound and inflection are what are important. I think this is the band's best album to date, but all 3 are fantastic.

Unbelievable
This album is simply amazing. Powerful and overwhelming. A fantastic trip. ... Read more