Amazon.com essential recording

Eno's theory of the "discreet music" he called ambient was far from the modern chill-out room: the idea was that it should function at very low volumes, unobtrusively coloring the atmosphere of a room. Evolving by tiny gradations, the long pieces of Music For Airports (the first in a series of albums that followed the statement of purpose Discreet Music) defy close attention, but then they're not meant to be listened to consciously; they're meant to serve as a counterpoint to the frantic arcs of travel, or rather to be imagined in that setting. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

You needn't see the film of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to appreciate the wonder, magic, and fearful chills of J.K. Rowling's phenomenal bestseller in John Williams's outstanding score. Williams typically avoids the source material for the films he scores, but he reportedly derived great pleasure and inspiration from Rowling's first Harry Potter adventure, and created a perfect motif (fully expressed in "Hedwig's Theme") to dominate his score. It's first heard as a dreamy celesta waltz and embellished through myriad incarnations and moods, often with a sinister edge befitting the darker tones of Chris Columbus's direction. Evident are fantastical allusions to Saint-Saëns and Tchaikovsky (among others), and Williams's epic track is "Quidditch Match," a breathtaking frenzy to accompany the film's dazzling highlight. And while Williams occasionally flirts with self-plagiarism (with inevitable variants of his Hook and Star Wars themes), this is nevertheless a richly regal score that brilliantly evokes the mystery and magic of Harry Potter's world. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (213)

A Mix of Old and New
I bought this CD simply because the eerie tinkle of the bell music in the trailers and commercials for the Harry Potter movie had really grabbed me. It's typical of John Williams, with softly layered tones that you have to turn the knob way up to hear, sweeping right into crescendos that knock you off your feet. However, it's largely based on that same set of notes ("Hedwig's Theme") and can get a little repetitive or, dare I say, boring. If you're a die-hard fan of John Williams, I'd suggest it, but otherwise, you're probably better off getting it used or obtaining a copy from a friend.

He's at it again
John Williams has managed to not produce any new music for over a deacade, but he still delights with what he does come up with - generic, entertaining, very true to form to whatever movie he is scoring. This CD is no exception to that rule.
Listen to Harry Potter and you can catch snippets of Star Wars (especially in flying scenes), similarities to Edward Scissorhands (delicate chiming noises) and those ever-present strings that underscore whatever emotion he thinks the character can't convey with looks alone. (You'll find that in ALL of his stuff).
The best part about this soundtrack is that there are no distracting tracks with words, so you can play it in the background and do other things like read or use it as inspiration ofr writing (mmm, mood music!)
Guaranteed that the second track will sound just like this one, but that is not a bad thing either, now is it?

Simply perfect... mostly
Perhaps it's because I heard the soundtrack before I read the book or saw the movie, but I simply cannot imagine any other music being used for the Harry Potter world. While many film scores are well-composed and seem to complement their films well, this score seems to grow naturally out of the story itself, by way of the great John Williams.

One thing to keep in mind about the music, though, however great it is, is that it was composed to complement the movie and not necessarily as an independent listening experience. That said, the soundtrack does, in fact, make a great listening experience, though a few of the tracks do seem to go on for a while without a lot of direction. Williams seems to be big on providing a constant musical wallpaper--or perhaps Columbus requested this, and that means there is simply a LOT of music that went with this film, and much of it is simply atmospheric.

That said, the entire sountrack is worth buying for the trailer music, opening theme, and end titles alone. These pieces bring the main themes of the entire album together (including the excellent Hedwig theme) and integrate them into coherant stand-alone pieces. Also, even the "atmospheric" tracks provide an excellent ambience for exercising or jogging or just working around the house.

A CLASSIC . . . VINTAGE WILLIAMS!!!!!
This soundtrack by world-famous composer John Williams is so good, I can't express it in words. Hedwig's Theme, Harry's Wondrous World, The Quidditch Match . . . this, folks, is what TRUE magic is all about!!!

One of the best movie soundtracks!
I love the movies ,esp. the first one"harry potter and the sorcres stone" and the music really makes it even MORE enchanting. The way they piece the music is magical and whimsicle, and it takes u into another world. I may still be a teen and i'm usally listening to the hippest music, but this cd is a definite exception.Every h.p. fan should buy a copy. Worth the money. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the wake of the '80s comedy boom that made casual obscenity and bodily functions safe for TV, a listen to these '50s classics from a piano-playing Harvard grad student with a thin singing voice sounds tame if not quaint. Yet Lehrer's first two self-produced albums, among the first generation of comedy LPs, remain beloved gems of musical parody, and noteworthy for their original success in an era when their topics were strictly taboo for broadcast media. He kids cold war paranoia ("We Will All Go Together When We Go"), sends up then-hip folk revivalists with a cheerful murder ballad ("The Irish Ballad"), and gets laughs out of incest ("Oedipus Rex"), drugs ("The Old Dope Peddler"), and racism ("I Wanna Go Back to Dixie"). Closer to Gilbert & Sullivan (whom he in fact raids for one melody) than Def Comedy Jams, Lehrer can still raise a modern frisson when he plays necrophilia as romance ("I hold your hand in mine dear, I press it to my lips/ I take a healthy bite from your dainty fingertips..."). --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Happiness returned
In the sixties an enlightened uncle bought my brother and me a Christmas Present LP 'Songs by Tom Lehrer, and a year later 'More Songs'.

These 'went down a treat' at twenty-something parties; unfortunately they also 'went down a treat' with one party goer and went with him or her. A recent BBC radio programme ran interviews with the Prof. together with a selection of his songs, and prompted me to search the net successfully for the re-issues.

So, after 30 years the performances are as fresh and cynical as ever, and surprisingly little dated - as is evidenced by the younger reviewers

I love it and I'm young!
I'm 18 to be exact, and lets just say Tom Lehrer was the subject of my college application essay (I'm going to Berkeley). I was ever so glad when this cd came out, it comprised the two album I had yet to find. I recoment it to everyone I know, everyone can understand it. His lyrics are so simple, yet genious, the man is amazing, his power over humor is greater then any comiedian today. he has a talent for rhyme and a emmence vocabulary, like in such songs as: Lobachevsky, When You are Old and Gray (my favort rhyme flow), The Elements(The ulitment rhyming machine), and other great works like Oedipus Rex, and Clementine. What makes Tom Lehere so powerful is if your dumb you'll get his humor, and if your smart you'll really get it.

Sir William Gilbert reincarnated
His tongue twisting lyrics and rapid fire humor are very reminiscent of Gilbert & Sullivan's works. They lack some of Gilbert's intense political jabs, but I even hear a bit of retired hippie hiding in the background. I wonder what he could do writing a musical?

With a chuckle (and a snicker)
THat says it all. Surprisingly (or not so) I can sing all the lyrics along with Tom. But then again, I have been aquainted with his songs since childhood!

Some of these songs a little dated - we have after all moved beyond the MLF. However, Lehrer's wicked humor and good natured cynicsm still communicate to us all. Have fun listening and learning these songs.

The smartest, funniest records I've ever heard
I grew up on Tom Lehrer. My parents had both of his 10" LPs and we listened to them often. His 60s albums were dragged out EVERY time we had a party and often just when we had the stereo turned on. I had every single song Tom Lehrer ever did memorized and I have NEVER heard a comedy artist as perceptive or as intelligent as Lehrer.

Then things changed, as they will. I moved away from home, never bought the CDs and pretty much forgot about him. Recently, though, the issue of academic integrity reared it's ugly head in a discussion and I found myself quoting Lehrer's 1955 masterpiece, "Lobachevsky." It was perfect for the moment. I was asked what they hell I was talking about and to illustrate Lehrer's genius, I wound up singing "The Elements" (the entire periodic table sung to a Gilbert & Sullivan tune) and "The Hunting Song" (a brilliant parody/analysis of hunters and gun advocates).

After 35 years, there's not a single song on this collection (first two albums of piano & singing, 4 orchestrated versions and one bonus track) that isn't funny AND perceptive and only a couple have become (only slighty, mind you) dulled by time. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Lewis strikes again!
If there's one thing for certain in this world of ours, it's that we're all stupid idiots with no common sense... at least that's what we'd think if we listened to what Mr. Black has to say. He's always quick to put everyone down and yet somehow, we laugh. And that's where Lewis Black's genius lies.

This being his 3rd CD, Lewis Black continues his rampage on the world with this excellent follow up to "The White Album" and "The End Of The Universe". As usual, he starts off with a rant on where he is performing (in this case, Minnesota) and how stupid the area is. He then continues with his trademark rants on the government like only he can. This is the same formula he used in his previous CDs and it's just as good as before, if not better.

Although it's usually better to actually see Lewis due to his hilarous body language, you still find this CD more than enjoyable. This is constantly in my CD player and even after a half dozen times listening to it whole way through, it's still as fresh and hilarious as ever.

Definately recommended.

Pretty Funny...
Lewis Black strikes again! His latest CD "Rules or Enragement" is filled with his latest rantings about the war in Iraq, Minnesota, Ireland, and American government. Most of the time, he hits close to home with funny/angry observations. There are however, a few slower moments in the CD. Like when he speaks about government, he does so for a little too long. Also, there is an almost certainity that this CD (along with his previous 2) will become dated. It's a sad stigma for all topical comics. His takes on Cheney and G.W. Bush might lose their meaning and humor in about 5 or 6 years. However, the moments when he shines on this CD definitely make up for this. If you're a fan of Lewis' work, this is truly a CD you should own. I highly recommend it.

Disappointing
After enjoying Lewis Black a couple of times on the very funny Daily Show, I decided to pick up this CD for a recent road trip. I must say I was pretty disappointed. It seems that Black's idea of comedy is shouting things angrily with every other word being the same four letter favorite. I am not offended in the least by swearing (I love David Cross' comedy), so that is not the issue at all. I just didn't think this CD was funny, though there were a few good non-funny points made later in the album. I really really wanted to laugh and was let down with this CD.

On a side note, I hope Black never plays Fairbanks because the whole show would be devoted to how cold it is here-yes, it's f***ing cold, get over it!

One of the best and brightest comedians working today
There is a big difference between a funny comedian and a brilliant comedian. Lewis Black is pure comic genius. Original material, a unique but hilarious delivery, and a universally cynical twist all come together to form one of the best acts around. Many people know him for his weekly commentary on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

In his latest effort, Black touches on some of the biggest issues around in classic Lew form: Iraq, corporate fraud, Martha Stewart, and even everyday topics like health clubs and the weather. While some see his political humor as partisan, I don't see it that way at all. Lewis attacks everyone equally, republican, democrat, or other. All the man asks for is some common sense!

True comic genius is found when you can't find another comic to compare them to, and that is precisely what the comedy world has in Lewis Black.

suckfest '04
So overrated, Kinison did this and BETTER with wittiness. Black does nothing accept say normal sentences ("It's so cold in MN, no one should live here.") in an enraged voice, as if he's the only person who ever made a joke about it being cold. This is comedy? There are no bits, punchlines, there is nothing. Take away the fake angriness, and there is even less. I want my money back. ... Read more

Reviews (360)

Will not go down in history as Al's best
It is a rare thing when Weird Al makes an unfunny parody ... so when he manages not one, but TWO, it bodes poorly for an album. Here the mediocre parodies are "Trash Day" (Nelly's "Hot in Here") and "A Complicated Song" (Avril Lavinge's "Complicated"). Neither is particularly inspired (in fact, it seems like Al had three bad ideas for "Complicated" and decided on them all--and that makes the title the funniest bit), but part of that may be the fault of the songs themselves.

I expect at least one bad original song on every Weird Al album, and here Weird Al produces not just one but *three* original stinkers: "Hardware Store," "Wanna B UR Lover," and "Why Does This Always Happen To Me?" are all dull, generally unfunny, and don't even have good music. Then there's "Genius in France," which is musically fascinating, but lyrically stale (can't we get over this stipid French-bashing obsession, America?).

That isn't to say that there's nothing worth listening to! If half the album is take-it-or-leave-it, the other half is brilliantly funny. "Bob" is the unexpected gem, and the work of sheer genius. The rest of the parodies are all funny; my favorite is definitely "E-Bay," a song that one can only fully "get" if one shops there, and "Ode to a Superhero," which does such a great job of lampooning Joel's original spirit and lyrics that it's easy to forget he's just singing a movie plot (something it shares with his "American Pie" parody "Episode 1"--the best thing to come out of PHANTOM MENACE!). And of course there's "Party at the Leper Colony," which I expected to be stupid but was giggle-inducingly funny.

Even though it isn't his best, it's still Al! And I'll still be there when he gets to Detroit in August for his concert tour.

Al's back!
After nearly four years since "Running With Scissors", Weird Al comes back with "Poodle Hat", quite possibly his weirdest album yet. The meat of any Weird Al album is his parodies of recent pop hits, and he delivers. "Couch Potato" the first track, is a hilarious send up of Emimen's "Lose Yourself". Such a shame that Eminem wouldn't allow a video of this song to be made. "A Complicated Song" is a howlingly funny parody of Avril's "Complicated" and "Trash Day" actually tops the original "Hot In Here" by Nelly. "Ode To A Superhero", which tells the story of Spiderman to the chords of "Piano Man" and "Ebay" a parody of Backstreet Boys' "My Way", rounds out the parodies of this album.
Which leads to the original songs, which are more often than not extremely weird and it holds true here. "Hardware Store" is surprisingly catchy and you'll find yourself humming it to yourself for years after. "Party at the Leper Colony" is just plain goofy, while "Why Does This Always Happen To Me" is absolutely brilliant. The others, "Bob", "Genius In France" and "Wanna B UR Lovr" are good, but don't hold up as well as the others. And what Al album would be complete without a polka compliation of all the latest hits songs, which you can find in the cleverly titled "Angry White Boy Polka".
There are also some nifty extras for your CD-ROM. A photo gallery and eight bonus mixes (mostly instrumentals) are available, and the crown jewel, a hilarious ten minute video of Al showing off and commenting on his home movies from his youth.
All and all, a VERY good album. Let's just hope it doesn't take another four years for the next one!

Best "Weird Al" CD Yet!
In my opinion, "Poodle Hat" is the best CD that Al has released to date! All of its songs are really funny, the parodies, the traditional polka meldy, and the origanals. When I first got this CD, I was in the hospital, and I listend to it at least twice per day. It includes parodies of Eminem ("Couch Potato"), Nelly ("Trash Day"), Avril Lavenge ("A Complicated Song"), Billy Joel ('Ode to a Superhero"), and The Backsteet Boys ("eBay). The origanls are also extreamly good. If you like Palindromes, then you'll love "Bob", a style-parody of Bob Dylan where every line is a palindrome. The other style-parody is on Frank Zappa, intitled, "Genius in France". And "Wanna B Ur Lovr" is one of, if not the, best songs Al has ever written. If you have to chose which "Weird Al" CD to buy, you should deffinatly buy this one!

This has to be, perhaps, his best yet!
People aren't giving this album enough credit where, I promise, credit IS due. This is a fantastic album, with great parodies, hilarious originals, and spot-on musicality all around. Let's start at the beginning.

1. Couch Potato--Somehow, Al always manages to make hip-hop sound not as craptacular as it really is...probably because he uses REAL instruments to create it. The lyrics in this are perfect. Parodic masterpiece. 'But I only watched Will and Grace one time, one day! Wish I hadn't, 'cause TIVo now thinks I'm gay.' A

2. Hardware Store--One of my favorite originals I've heard yet. This, for me, is ranking up there with Harvey the Wonder Hamster or the Night Santa Went Crazy. Once again, Al displays his articulate nature and lyrical prowess, especially in the bridge section, where he just starts spitting them out rapidfire. A+

3. Trash Day--Now, this was a stupid, ridiculous, shouldn't-have-ever-been-written song in the first place, and Al tears it to shreds. Well done...not the best song on the album, but hey...there's been a LOT of crap worse than this in the past 4 years since Running W/ Scissors. B+

4. Party at the Leper Colony--Classic Bo Diddley-style licks with fun lyrics. One took me a while, but gets me every time, now. A

5. Angry White Boy Polka--Need I say more? A+

6. I Wanna B Ur Lovr--Okay, now, this one just floored me completely when I first listened to it. Al is not only creating a style parody, or even a very specific artist style parody, but a double whammy...This is perfect emulation of Beck during his Midnite Vultures phase...parodying Beck who was parodying (in his own Beck-ish way) Prince. A++++

7. A Complicated Song--iffy subject matter, but just hilarious, when you come right down to it. A+

8. Why Does This Always Happen to Me--Holy returned favours, Batman! Ben Folds guests on this track. Contains the line 'So I turned around/ And stabbed him in the face.' How can you go wrong? A++

9. Ode to a Superhero--Picked a great song to parody, big movie...I didn't like the movie, but that's just me...great song, though. Piano man/Spider Man...it's a natural segue. A

10. Bob. A+. That's all I have to say.

11. eBay--Poking fun at Satan is FUN!!!! Taking out the Backstreet Boys while your at it gets you a (no pun intended) A++

12. Genius in France--Dweezil Zappa joins Al to pay tribute to his old man (Dweezil's, that is). It sticks it to the French, too. People have, unfortunately, labeled this song as an 'Albuquerque' wannabe, but it's completely autonomous. It's another homage...and well played, too. A+

FUN AND FUNNY!
My family has all of Al's records and CDs and went to one of his concerts a year ago, so how does this new CD stack up?

1. Couch Potato- parodies "Lose Yourself" by Eminem and mentions every TV show from Spongebob to Will and Grace. Excellent syncing, but what's up with the missing sounds in the chorus? B+

2. Hardware Store- rivals "Nature Trail to Hell" as the best non-parody song by Al ever. Excellent, especially when he lists all the tools really fast. A

3. Trash Day- parody of "Hot in Herre" by Nelly. Doesn't trump "Couch Potato" but good nonetheless. B

4. Party at the Leper Colony- Ultra-generic sounding tropical shindig song. Uses every leper joke in the book. B-

5. Angry White Boy Polka- A stupendous medley of songs by Papa Roach, System of a Down, the Vines, the Hives, White Stripes, Strokes, Disturbed, Rage Against the Machine, POD, Limp Bizkit, Staind and Eminem. Once again, stupendous! A

6. Wanna B Ur Luvr- Disturbingly seductive and funky. B

7. A Complicated Song- parody of "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne. Expect constipation and decaptitation jokes. B+

8. Why Does This Always Happen to Me- the typical exaggerated, Weird Al-type lament. B

9. Ode to a Superhero- parody of Piano Man by Billy Joel. Sling us a web/you're the spider man, all about Spiderman the Movie. Uplifting. B+

10. Bob- Sounds like Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan, as I'm told. Nothing but palindromes here. B

11. Ebay- parody of "I Want it That Way" by Backstreet Boys. The Backstreet version didn't have many lines to parody, so Al milked all he could out. B

12. Genius in France- I heard Dweezil Zappa helped Al with this. Perfect if you hate France. Uses many stupidity jokes. B+ ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Lively, upbeat walking workout for intermediate walkers!!
I've been an aerobic walker for about 8 years. It's very hard to locate music designed for an aerobic walking workout performed by original artists. This CD is a find!!! It starts at a pace of 120 beats per minute and builds to 134 beats per minutes in 11 selections. The last selection is the cool down at 120 beats per minute. This pace is great for an intermediate walker - a workout, but not fast enough that you feel you need to jog. It is an hour-long workout and the songs are "blended" together so there's no gap in the music. Most of the 70's songs are easily recognizable and I find myself singing to them as I walk. I'm sure you'll enjoy the CD.

Great to get you going! LaVanda from GA
After walking for exercise for over a year, I was getting bored with the music I had. This CD is wonderful for keeping your pace, starting slower, picking up to 4.3 mph and then slowing to cool down. Even though these songs are from way back, it's great to hear again. I will try more of these CD's.

upbeat music
I've had my cd for a week now and I love it. It starts out a little slow, but then again, I hate to warm up so it is probably good for me. I like to hit the trail walking at a brisk pace so I usually start on song #3. I love the music and I probably look crazy to people driving by. This cd has definately added a quickness to my step and an energy to my walk. I plan to buy more music!

Great for Aquatics
I teach an aquatic shaping and toning class and this is my favorite CD. The class, which varies in age from 30 - 70, enjoys this music and it contains nothing objectionable. I only wish SHAPE would put out some more of this great stuff.

Great songs, mid tempo walking
I have 3 of the Shape walking CD's and this is a good one if you like disco. This CD has a good pace if you are wearing ankle weights and pushing a stroller (as I do). If you are just walking on your own though I'd recommend one of the faster Shape CD's. Modern rock is a good one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The king of pop parodies returns with another zany collection of tunes that poke fun at pop culture. There are a handful of undeniably funny moments--notably "The Saga Begins," which pairs the tune to Don McLean's horrendously sentimental "American Pie" with the plot to the first Star Wars prequel, and a fun, nonstop-dancing polka medley of late-'90s hits that starts with the Spice Girls and ends with Semisonic. Overall, Running with Scissors is well-executed and actually humorous, but the material is a day late and a dollar short. "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi" is funny once, maybe, but the majority of the disc consists of tepid takes on yesterday's news; the best jokes are devoted to Jerry Springer, Eddie Vedder, the Swing craze, and this place called Silicon Valley where they make computers. Why didn't someone tell Weird Al that a parody of Nine Inch Nails' lifeless industrial pop would have already sounded dated in 1995? It must be hard to stay on top of all the current trends and parody them as they happen, but that is something that Weird Al has done in the past, and perhaps will do again. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (433)

RUN WITH SCISSORS TO GET THIS!
My family has all of Al's CDs and records and were recently at one of his concerts. How good is this CD?

1. The Saga Begins- parody of "American Pie" by Don McClean. All about Star Wars Episode One. Very nice. A-

2. My Baby's In Love With Eddie Vedder- Why would Al's wife be in love with the Pearl Jam frontman anyway? C

3. Pretty Fly For A Rabbi- parody of "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" by the Offspring. Expect many odd Jewish words. B+

4. The Weird Al Show Theme- the theme to Al's dearly departed show on CBS or NBC, I forgot. Very stupid! B

5. Jerry Springer- parody of "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies. Extremely raunchy but well-sung. B

6. Germs- very dull at first but gets better at the end. C+

7. Polka Power- includes Al's renditions of songs by Spice Girls, Marcy Playground, Marilyn Manson, Hanson, Beastie Boys and more. Very good! B+

8. Your Horoscope For Today- apparently, I should get ready for an unexpected trip when I fall screaming from an open window. And I should work a little bit harder on improving my low self esteem: I'm a stupid freak. A-

9. It's All About The Pentiums- parody of "It's All About the Benjamins" by Lil Kim and some other bozos. Great work with those computer geek terms, Al! A-

10. Truck Drivin' Song- a kid in my 6th grade class (back in 1999) said this is making fun of Al's wife. Must be a cross-dressing song. Creeeeeepy. C+

11. Grapefruit Diet- parody of "Zoot Suit Riot" by Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Oh boy, get ready for ALL the fat jokes Al left out of his old hit "Fat"! B

12. Albuquerque- Get ready for 12 AND A HALF MINUTES of the sad story of Al's childhood with saurkraut, a plane crash near Albuquerque, a run-in with a huge Albanian hermaphrodite with a Flock of Seagulls haircut and only one nostril and meeting Zelda, a calligraphy entusiast with a slight overbite and hair the color of strained peaches. B

Weird Al, The King With The Midas Touch
Weird Al Yankovic, the King of Parody, strikes gold with "Running With Scissors," arguably his best album yet, and highlighted by the single best song he's ever done, "The Saga Begins." To the tune of Don McLean's "American Pie," "Saga" captures the story of "Star Wars, Episode I, The Phantom Menace" to perfection; it's all there, and it's brilliant. Pearl Jam fans especially will get a kick out of "My Baby's In Love With Eddie Vedder," but even those not familiar with them will get the drift, and it's hilarious. Then there's a foray into the world of high-tech, computers and the internet in "It's All About The Pentiums," with a great line, "What kinda chip you got in there, a dorito?" Also included in the twelve cuts is the obligatory polka piece, "Polka Power!" And yes, there's one about food, "Grapefruit Diet." Country fans get a taste with"Truck Drivin' Song," and television talk show host "Jerry Springer" gets the treatment in a song about a guy addicted to the show. This is one funny album from beginning to end, and I highly recommend it to anyone just looking for a good time and plenty of laughs.

I love this album except for one thing.
When he parodied Sean "P Diddy/Puffy" Combs' "It's All About the Benjamins" he parodied that annoying rock remix version with Foo Fighters leader/ ex- Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. I like both songs (P Diddy and Weird Al's) but I can't stand the instruments used in this version. I think Weird Al should used the music from the original version of P Diddy's "No Way Out".

One of Al's best albums
It's hard to believe Weird Al Yankovich has been at it for over 20 years now. "Running with Scissors is the follow up to the mega popular album "Bad Hair Day." A lot of expectations where put out and Al doesn't disappoint us.

Al give us a good mixture of new material and parodies. The one knock that can be said against the paraodies is the lateness in a lot of them. The Saga Begins is a hilarious song. It came out a little to late after Star Wars Episode One. Al didn't get the MTV exposure like he did on Amish Paradise and the song flopped in that area. The song however is great writing by Al and is quite funny. It goes along great to American Pie and is one of the better parodies written by Al.

It's All About the Pentiums is a fantastic song. The one knock again is how late Al was with this song. If he had put this out right after Puffy had lost some of his popularity instead of a year this could have been a hit. The internet had also lost some it's mystic awe by this point and was available in more homes. The song however is great songwriting and Al proves again he is rap. It's got some great computer dialogue.

Grapefruit Diet is a great song. Al does a perfect job writing a perfect paraody. Everything sounds good and its a perfect parody of Zoot Suit Riot by Cherry Poppin Daddies.

I didn't like Germs. Why do you go out and paraody Nine Inch Nails at this point. Nobody is talking about them anymore. Why parody Offspring at this point. Pretty Fly for a White Guy was so overplayed on the radio and people were sick of it. Pretty Fly for a Rabbi is a wasted song. It's good song writing that will only be appreciated by his fans and not all of the public.

The new material is good. I love the polka song. It's got a lot of hits from the late 90's from semi-sonic to the spice girls and more. Jerry Springer is a great song and it's one I think should have gotten some radio play. Al could have had a field day if he had made a video for this song. Albuquerque is one of the funniest songs Al has written. It's over 11 minutes long and is full of great lines and plenty of energy.

Thi is a fantastic album. It's got lots of great material. I wish the album had come out earlier though. This could have such a big album, but despite that I love it. It's funny and has lots of great songs. Mad props to Al for making a great album.

Al Doesn't Disappoint
This is a great Weird Al CD. Al doesn't disappoint and this may be his best album yet. I going to break it down and rating every song on a scale of 1 to 27.

The Saga Begins - This is a parody of "American Pie". Al sings another Star Wars song and while in my opinion it's not as good as Yoda it's still good. Rating: 23

My Baby's In Love With Eddie Vedder - Al sings a song about a jealous guy whose girlfriend falls in love with Eddy Vedder. Rating: 18

Pretty Fly For A Rabbi - Parody of "Pretty Fly For A White Guy". Al sings about a rabbi who really knows his shtick. Rating: 20

Weird Al Show Theme - The theme song to Al's short lived Saturday morning TV show. We learn Al really makes a mighty fine
Jellybean and Pickle sandwich (for what it's worth). Rating 24

Jerry Springer - Parody of "One Week". Al sings about everyone's favorite trash TV show. Rating: 19

Germs - A song about... germs. Probably my least favorite on this disc but still good. Rating: 16

Polka Power - One of Al's polka melodies. Rating: 21

Your Horoscope For Today - Al takes the funny idea of fake horoscopes and runs with it. The result, hilarity! Rating: 25

All About The Pentiums - Parody of "All About The Benjamin's". A song all about computers. Being a geek, this is one of my favorites. Rating: 26

Truck Driving Song - A strange, strange song that could have only come from the mind of Weird Al. Rating: 19

Grapefruit Diet - Parody of "Zoot Suit Riot". Al sings about a fat guy that goes on a Grapefruit Diet. It kind of felt like Al was trying to use some the fat jokes left-over from when he wrote "Fat". Rating: 18

Albuquerque - My favorite song on this album. There's really nothing I can say to describe it but trust me it's good. Rating 27 ... Read more

Album Description

This is Cross's second album for Sub Pop, and is the follow-up to 2002's Grammy-nominated "Shut Up You Fucking Baby!" On this specially priced disc, Cross continues to skewer everyone and everything in his path. "A truth teller in the noble tradition of Bill Hicks, Richard Pryor, and Lenny Bruce...as urgent and outraged as a Noam Chomsky lecture, but infinitely more entertaining"--The Onion. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Best thing to happen to comedy since "FRIENDS"
Why would David Cross name this cd "It's not funny"? It IS funny! Soooooooo deliciously funny. Now that America's favorite sitcom. Friends, is over, it's time for americans to embrace the good, family friendly ,and above all patriotic, comedy of Mr David Cross.

I never watched that Mr Show thing he did, but I loved David's role in "Men in Black II" (my favorite movie of all time!). Plus I saw him in Celebrity Poker Showdown (too bad my hunky Ben Affleck lost). And he was really funny there. He wore a BATH ROBE! And a Yamukah (is that how you spell it?) Jewish people are so funny! Ha ha!!

The bits on the album are really funny. And they prove you don't have to have a potty mouth to make people laugh. In the first track, titled: "Certain Leaders in Government Look or Act like Certain Pop Culture References" he does a HILARIOUS impersonation of George W. Bush as Justin Timberlake. "Cry me a river, Irak!" LOL!!!!! You gotta hear it to believe it!

Track #7 is also hilarious. He talks about his mom, who's chinese/Jewish, and speaks funny! It's sooo great! Dat Phan, you better watch out, cause David Cross just may take away your thunder!!!

My favorite, though, HAS to be track #4. There's nothing funnier than fart jokes!

The cd isn't perfect, though. I was really dissapointed with track #10 - in the live show, he used props (which I'm told is something he frequently does), and it just doesn't translate well into an album. But maybe they'll release "It's Not Funny" as a DVD, and then we'll get to see all those "things to do with used pantyhose" he talks about. Can't wait!

David Cross proves that you don't have to be some "intellectual" to enjoy good comedy. Who cares about what's going on in the world? Just enjoy a good laugh with song parodies, or the proliferation of Starbucks (wich he talks about in track #3. It's soooo true!!!!!!!)while you flip through the TV Guide to see at what time "American Idol" is on. Isn't that what American freedom is all about?

Buy this cd, and hear it while you salute the American flag. It will make you proud to be a part of this great nation that never, ever makes mistakes.

David Cross is a true American. God bless him, and our white troops.

Can't... stop... laughing
This album was in my Amazon recomendation, so I decided to check out the reviews. Now, I'm not a big fan of stand-up comedy, but if this album makes me laugh half as much as these reviews do, then this may the best CD... ever.

Lets begin:

"I don't think God likes this...,"
Well I happen to be a good friend of ol' Yahweh, and he's loves comedy. Who are you to say what he likes and dislikes, blasphemer?

"When Mr. Cross started in saying he'd rather hear the death rattle of his only child rather than the sublime sounds of Creed I immediately turned off the CD and burst into tears."

Burst into tears? Because some jerk you don't even know insulted Creed? Or perhaps its the joke about his only child dying, well to be fair, that kid is a brat.

"DAVID CROSS WILL BURN IN HELL!!!!!!!!!"

I hope that this review is a joke; as it is quite funny. G.W. Bush is the "best smelling president we've ever had"? I have always thought that he wears a bit too much Aquavelva, but that's just me.

"Our President would NEVER lie to his people, he knows it's a sin to lie!"

An american president lie?? Life as we know it would cease to be! No... I mean the exact opposite of that, life would continue as it has with every other politician telling bald-face lies.

Oh no... I think that I've written a review of the reviews.

David Cross would burn in H-E-DOUBLE-L...
if that place it existed! Crazy Bible-Thumping MORONS!

Ha,ha!

Charles McHutchence
Harrison Greely III wrote:

I have not heard this CD, but I read the reviews and I am offended. I was born and then raised. During that period I was taught. Within that time I forgot a lot, but I remember that if someone disagrees with me then they are wrong. I believe in things that are true.....isn't that what beliefs are anyway? Someone once told me that beliefs are personal opinions, but I told him thats what he thought.

Harrison Greely III CLAIMS to have read the reviews, but what is he REALLY reading?

paid for by Charles McHutchence

Dull
I bought his last boring "comedy" CD and gave it away. The person I gave it to bought this one, and demanded I give it a try. Being open minded, I did. And I got the same result. His stand up sucks. By far, the worst delivery of any comic going today. He just stammers and babbles, and can't sell a joke to save his life. The only thing that offended me was the waste of my time. I see why 99 percent of people haven't a clue who David Cross is. He has absolutely nothing. Comics are supposed to be funny. This CD is placed in the comedy section at the local CD store, yet it contains nothing funny. The fact that this CD sits anywhere near George Carlin's CDs is an insult in itself. Maybe he should attend a comedy show, see how the pros do it and try again. If you have never heard the comedy albums of Dave Attell or Mitch Hedberg, do yourself a huge solid and buy those CD's right now. That is comedy. Not this. This is a test pattern with lots of "um" and "you know". I am starting to wonder why I thought he was funny in the first place. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This sublime, tranquil recording features 11 haunting ambient tone poems for treated piano. They are crafted from simple chords, arpeggios, or melodies that are frequently trailed by delicate electronic whispers to produce dreamy results. Even though Budd and Eno chose to compose and record in a minimalist style, their gorgeous, moody music evokes so much more, for the reverberating spaces between the notes are just as important as the notes themselves. In an interesting experiment, both "Against the Sky" and "An Echo of Night" explore the same melancholic musical theme in different settings--the former is a sparse piano piece with gentle electronic treatments, the latter is a murky synth work set against a nocturnal outdoor backdrop. (Budd later explored the theme again as the ethereal elegy "Olancha Farewell" on his 1986 solo album, Lovely Thunder.)Beautifully understated, the slow-motion ballet of The Pearl is a piece of striking ambient impressionism that was highly original in its day, well before the myriads of New Age imitators its composers spawned, and it remains fresh and vital two decades later. --Bryan Reesman ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Harold Budd, Part 2
This album and the preceding one, "Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror", really have to be taken together in the same listen. They both feature the same sparse piano melodies over a treated Eno-scape. These two albums are my favorites for relaxation, reading, painting - you name it, they're great for it. That's why it's called "Ambient" music - it is made to fit in with almost any atmosphere, blending with, as Erik Satie once said, "The sounds of the knives and forks at dinner".
My favorite time to listen to these records is in a rainstorm, especially with distant thunder in the background. The rain sounds seem to bring out subtleties in the music that can't be heard otherwise.
So if you like Eno's "Ambient 1" or "Discreet Music" or Steve Roach's "Structures from Silence", this is the album for you.

Sonic wallpaper
As with Eno and Budd's best ambient work (together and apart), The Pearl is a wash of atmospheres and colors that blends with its surroundings. Music for talking, reading, sleeping, working, meditating or just about anything else, it's as simple and minimalist as it can get yet never sounds weak or disposable.

This time, the basis is simply piano with some "treated" effects. That's it. The Pearl doesn't have quite the variety of sounds & positive tone of Apollo, the relaxing haziness of Ambient 1, or the pure soundscapes of Ambient 4. The mood is occasionally sad, but mostly just.. peaceful. The song titles give the impression of the melodies themselves; ethereal, barely there, as fleeting and beautiful as a sunbeam or a bright fish in a stream. Lovely and subdued. If you enjoy music that fills the room and wraps you in a quiet ambience, well.. you should probably have this album already. If you're only curious to start, I'll just suggest that The Pearl and Eno's Music for Airports are two of the finest to begin with.

Aptly named The Pearl-- Pure and luminous
I love Brian Eno and Harold Budd's music. The drifting effect of ambient music is soothing yet interesting to the ear and it really does create an atmosphere in the space in which you are playing it.

The Pearl is mostly "treated piano" (gosh, as a lifelong player, I sometimes shudder at what they do to my favorite instrument, but it sounds divine.) Even though there is less of the electronic spacey effect, these pieces create an incredible sense of mood and emotion. "Late October" really has the feel of the regret of late autumn, when cold winter is on the way and only a ghost of happy times in summer and a glorious fall remain in a russet-colored landscape. "An Echo of Night" is mysterious and dreamy.

Though the Ambient 1-4 were my favorite albums by Eno and Budd, Pearl is pushing its way right up there for "most listened-to." If you are a fan, I'd say this is one that you have to have. I just love it.

Incredibly sublime experience that brings deep serenity
Never before have I owned a CD such as this one that each time I listen to it I become blissed out.
Harold and Brian are both geniuses.
I only have about 4 of Harold's CD's but his gifted piano compositions affect me like no other...
I thoroughly recommend this music to take you into those places within yourself that are characteristic of the most serene and tranquil states ever imaginable.
Harold, you're brilliant.

perfect
this is a perfectly gorgeous record. all the others here say it better than I could. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Clay Aiken may look wide-eyed and unassuming, but when it comes to figuring out what his fans want for Christmas, he's got it all figured out. On Merry Christmas with Love he so cannily anticipates the musical sugarplums dancing in the heads of his devotees that you half expect him to climb down the chimney and hand-deliver it. Key to the dozen-song collection's appeal is its straightforwardness: Parting ways with the sea of celebrities who use holiday discs as an excuse to cut loose, Aiken banishes irony and coyness so absolutely here that certain carols--the medley "Hark the Herald Angels Sing/O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Silent Night" especially--take on church-like tones; expect tree trimmers to put aside their tinsel and contemplate the meaning of the season. Yet don't expect them to miss out on any merriment. On less chestnutty selections like the ballads "Mary Did You Know" and Celine Dion's "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day," Aiken lets it rip, reining in a passion and pure-heartedness so believable that fans will wish he, rather than the guy in the red velvet suit, were Santa Claus. -Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Further Proof that PT is the Best Band in the World
I saw these guys last year in Montreal on the Damnation in Absentia tour with Opeth, so I already knew they were an amazing live act, but I was still shocked by Warszawa. I don't usually go in for live albums, as I prefer the studio stuff, but if it's got PT's name on it, I will pick it up. The best thing about this CD is that it's mostly made up of songs off of the Lightbulb Sun and Stupid Dream albums, which are currently out of print, so it's a great chance for those who don't own those albums to hear some of the songs. The live version of Shesmovedon is astounding, and it was awesome to hear the crowd clapping along at the beginning of Voyage 34.

The production is beautiful, and I would expect no less from Steven Wilson. Every note is crystal clear, there's enough crowd noise to let you know that they're playing live without drowning out the music, and everyone in the band is in top form.

If you've never heard Porcupine Tree before, I think this is as good a place as any to start. You get a good range of their sound (from accessible songs like the 5 minute Shesmovedon to epic ambient explorations like the 12 minute Russia on Ice, and even the extended jam session that is Voyage 34). The fact that the songs showcased are not readily available (pending reissues on Lava/Atlantic) only adds to this album's value. Also, according to their website, this album is a limited edition, so I suggest getting it while you can.

1. Even Less (7:36) 5/5 *
2. Slave Called Shiver (5:08) 5/5
3. Shesmovedon (5:21) 5/5 *
4. Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth Before it is Recycled (5:01) 5/5
5. Lightbulb Sun (5:59) 5/5 *
6. Russia on Ice (12:26) 5/5
7. Where We Would Be (3:40) 5/5
8. Hatesong (8:36) 5/5 *
9. Stop Swimming (7:08) 5/5
10. Voyage 34 - Phase 1 (12:37) 5/5 *
11. Signify (5:40) 5/5

* My Favorites.

PS. All the 5/5s probably seem excessive only to those who have not heard this album.

could it ever get better?
As someone who discovered PT in 1998 or so, based only on "Waiting" and the Signify album, which I loved, I have foundthe band to be nearly permanently stuck in my car's CD player. In Absentia became a permanent fixture. The quiet songs just blow me away. The harmonies....how could it get better? I got the Stars Die compilation and Coma Divine, but my latest purchase of Warzsaza sent me into raptures. The opening cut, "Even less", has the most gorgeous guitar riff, anthemic and soaring, and the rest of the album takes off from there. Harmonies, fabulous guitar and keyboard work as always, and SW's beautiful vocals. The guy is a genius!! I cannnot stop playing this CD. I am hoping that Deadwing will be as good.

Even Better Live
I thought that PT would find it difficult to reproduce the progressive feel of their studio albums in a live context...boy was I wrong !! Even though the concert was designed to be recorded, the guys do a magnificent job of giving their sound an additional live energy that leads me to conclude it their finest work. If you only get one album this year this is it ! Quite a few tracks from their Lightbulb Sun album with a good mixture from everywhere else.If the hairs on your neck don't stand up at the spacey keyboard riffs of Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth, or the brilliant guitar on Voyage 34, then you don't have a soul for progressive rock.

A great live recording.
I am one of the many fans who became a PT addict after buying In Absentia.Since then I have bought pretty much any Porcupine Tree album I could find-seems to be the trend with new fans.This was my most recent purchase except for Deadwing.

This is a great live recording of the band after the release of Lightbulb Sun.Lightbulb Sun is one of the most beautiful albums I own (then again most of what I own is extreme metal haha) and the songs on here sound just as good live as they do on cd.They don't sound exactly like the album either, in case you are worried that this isn't worth buying.Stupid Dream is one of the only PT albums I haven't been able to get my hands on, but after hearing the tracks on here I am anxiously waiting for the rerelease.The sound quality here is great and the songs, which are great to begin with, are played beautifully.

I have one complaint with this album, and that is with the setlist.Over half the tracks (6 in total) are from Lightbulb Sun, and they are all played consecutively.Unfortuneately the one song from this performance not included on the album was "Tinto Brass" from Stupid Dream.The inclusion of that would have balanced this a bit better but I guess it was the last song so it was the one to get cut.That's really a minor gripe though.Probably should be 4.5 stars.

2001 European Tour Live In Poland
It's been a long wait since In Absentia until the upcoming new CD, so to help pass the time I snagged this up when I spotted a single copy at the music store.I'm glad I did, but I'm a PT convert so that didn't surprise me.

Steven Wilson and company are fantastic live, away from all of Wilson's studio wizardry.There's bands that can't play live and bands who can, and Porcupine Tree definitely can.The band's inventive arrangements make this interesting even if you have the studio albums.

Wilson's guitar solos take the tastefulness and bluesy tone of David Gilmour and mix it with a dose of acid-rock wah-wah, some strummed acoustic and a dash of metal.Richard Barbieri's atmospheric keyboards range from prog to electronica but stay mostly on the prog side.Colin Edwin's bass is outstanding as always, if a bit undermixed here.The now departed Chris Maitland was a monster on drums.

Porcupine Tree is in my opinion quite simply the best band working in the progressive rock field these days, and this live collection bears this out.Can't wait for the new one! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Canada's Godspeed You Black Emperor raise the ante on their already ambitious orchestral rock by releasing a double CD of material as their second full-length album. The group combines the drums and guitar of typical rock-band instrumentation with horns and strings to create a music built around drones and slowly evolving melodic figures. It rises and falls from delicate introductory passages to unabashed grand climaxes. Their juxtaposition of drums with violins and lush romantic tonality brings to mind Rachel's, but their compositional scale and the pounding repetitive intensity of their dynamic peaks evoke Glenn Branca's The Ascension. Although the two discs are indexed at only two 21-minute tracks each, the package includes a handy road map to the movements into which each is subdivided. The opening piece starts with five minutes of a 15-beat circular melodic pattern that is gradually embellished as the volume swells to an ecstatic roar. The release drops down to a pastoral drone that rebuilds to support an acid-etched guitar solo, which in turn yields to a unified 4/4 kraut rock pound that eventually explodes, leaving behind field recordings of public announcements mingled with wandering late-night Swell Maps piano. The other pieces use a similar set of sonic building blocks to take the listener on comparable journeys. Fans of Godspeed's previous work will be very happy, and the curious might want to hop on board as well. --Bob Bannister ... Read more

Reviews (135)

Awe.
Godspeed You Black Emperor!'s second full length attempt continues their tradition of completely extraordinary, breathtaking music. The songs buildup, climax, and end wonderfully. Especially "Sleep", my personal favorite song on the album. The music can be described as an orchestral effort that combines 3 guitars, 2 bassists, 2 drummers, violin, and cello, with eletronic ambience. It is not like 'classical' in overall sound, but perhaps partly in song structure. It is more of a combination of orchestra and rock. Hence, its usually classification in the "post-rock" genre.

You must have patience. There is a lot of ambience within this album. However, it is definitely worth it to listen to songs in their full length, even though they are quite long songs (usually around 20 minutes each.) The songs also contain much buildup: like an approaching thunderstorm, the clouds come in setting the scene for the beautiful cataclsym at hand. The forceful wind arrives and wrecks the setting that was once full of grace. Lightning bolts with thundering crashes fill the scene with fear but awe at the same time...

If you are into creative, beautiful (but also pensive), complex, outstanding bands, look into this album and the rest of GYBE!. If you love dull, repetitive bands and lack patience, then stay away. Simple as that.

An Orchestral Masterpiece
Since its release in 2000, Godspeed You Black Emperor! has influenced many bands on the art rock scene. When the band formed years ago in Canada, as a nine piece band without any lyrics... well, lets just say Im surprised they made it this far.

The album has the illusion that you are listening to a full orchestra, instead of guitars, basses, pianos, etc. The band has amazing talent, and if you aren't afraid of some odd music for just easy listening, then I think this is a wonderful album.

As 20 minutes go by, you still have the sense that you just listened to about 5 songs, not just one, which is what makes this band so unique. They have the ability to take up so much time, and still have the songs not seem monotonous, which is something which hasnt been achieved since the days of full symphonies that WERE pop music.

This is one of my favorite albums to sit and listen to, especially when I'm reading. You dont get distracted by any lyrics that you have the urge to sing along to, and somehow it is softly comforting.

Comprised of two disks, the first disk to me is beautiful and seems more sculptural. The second disk is more violent, more tomultuous, sadder.

This is a WONDERFUL album, and I strongly recommend it to those fans of art rock or modern classical (oxymoron?) If you prefer something with vocals (okay, so maybe this does have some guy talking about Coney Island and then some little kids singing in French, but im not sure those are "vocals") then I suggest a band like Sigur Ros, who has the same eerie type of landscapes. Rockier, go with Mogwai.

Beautifull
First of all this music is not for everyone, some find it boring and repetitive(i hope that I spelled taht correct). However if you enjoy long instrumental music, this is THE album for you.
I discovered this band through a live performance I heard on the radio, I was so hypnotised by the music, that I went out and bought every album they had out. I have to say that this is my favorite together with the slow riot EP. These two records are simply the best in this sort of music.
If you like bands like Mogwai or Explosions in the sky, you should really buy this album. You can also try any A Silver Mount Zion album, they're beautiful as well.

soundtrack to the fall
Right around 1998, American culture transformed. It became, suddenly, the horrible beast it is today. This is the soundtrack for that era, which I term "The Fall." This is the soundtrack for the few intelligent kids set adrift in a society full of morons and paranoid psychos.

This is music for people that have more going on in their heads than "I need to look cool, I need to ride the latest trend, I need to conform, I don't want to think too much about anything."

Mesmerizing
Godspeed You Black Emperor's are without a doubt in a league of their own. There have been just a few albums that have had such a tramendous effect on me and this is one of them. Its very hard to rightly categorize their work because it is incredibly fresh and original. Their music blends in contemporary classical influences (reminiscent of Arvo Part, Gorecki , Morton Feldman ) with a post rock style. The group consists of 9 members with 2 members playing cello and violin. One word that I can think of to categorize GYBE is APOCALYPTIC. This will be the album played when the the world and human kind will come to a dreadful end. What is remarkable about their sound is that the guitars are not used in the traditional sounding manner. The guitars are used in a droning way, evoking spacious and dreamful sounds that fit so well with the string section. Its very easy to forget that what you are hearing are guitars because of them sounding so full and orchestrated. Another wonderful aspect of their work is the slow ambient soundscapes athe begining of each song that work up to a crescendo that later explodes into a large epical and orchestral blast of music. The field recordings heard on some of the intros fit brilliantly with the bleak mood of the music with one of them being children laughing and playing which creates a contradiction to the whole melancholic feeling of what is heard. Behind their tragic sound their lies a sense of hope in each song. Any of Godspeed's recordings should be without hesitation in a music lover's library. I strongly recommend this to anyone who wants to experience dreamy and fresh sounding music. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Unlike the ever-experimenting Lambchop, to whom they are often compared, Calexico stick to their niche. Since Calexico don't spring as many stylistic surprises on us as the sprawling Nashville ensemble, their track record is also less erratic. While Feast of Wireis a bit quieter than its three full-length predecessors, it also fits neatly into an ever-impressive body of work. John Convertino and Joey Burns--the Tucson band's core--only confirm their status as folk storytellers, their songs as irreducibly American as Cormac McCarthy novels, and their trademark Southwestern, sun-baked Ennio Morricone sound continues to be ambitiously timeless. "Black Heart," for instance, begins like a Portishead outtake before swelling majestically. Even when they shuffle styles ("Close Behind" marries '60s western grace with assured melodic chops, and "Attack El Robot! Attack!" goes off in an almost Devo-like direction before smoothly segueing into the full-on mariachi extravaganza of "Across the Wire"), they retain an immediately identifiable personality. Calexico may not make headlines, but this album solidifies their standing as one of the most endearingly idiosyncratic bands on the American scene. --Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Junkmedia ... Magazine Review
Joey Burns and John Covertino's Calexico was pretty much written off as a sun-baked side project until their sophomore release, The Black Light, appeared on the scene. Taking its cue from Cormac McCarthy's heat-warped perspectives of the American Southwest, the record was neon tumbleweed tequila music that floated above an undercurrent of violence with cinematic grace. It was a major step forward in defining the band's sound and served notice that they would not be following the spaghetti-western chuck wagon. Instead, the album celebrated the magically real convergence of culture that occurs in the borderlands, explicitly linking their name and physical geography to a musical one.

Calexico's third release, The Hot Rail, continued to expand on this formula. It was an album that unfolded with a filmic fluidity to reveal desert noir folk singers and Technicolor mariachi bands playing for pretty girls throwing flowers and men sharpening knives. Not surprisingly, it was their most successful record to date.

Feast of Wire may soon change that, as the band once again ups the ante by widening their scope of sound. Cool West Coast jazz, eerie string sections, and dub are added to the storytelling folk, mariachi horns, kitschy border ballads, and sun-cracked soundscapes that rounded out previous efforts. If that sounds like a handful, it's because it is. Lesser talents wouldn't be able to hold it all together, but Calexico seamlessly blends these disparate parts into one of their most satisfying listens yet.

Sure, with so much to hear and such a range of styles, the album can take a couple of listens before it starts to bloom. That said, after these requisite spins, one can't help but admire how smoothly Feast of Wire glides from track to track, style to style. As on past albums, the band does an excellent job sequencing the record by situating slower instrumental passages between the more traditional songs. These musical bridges help bind the album together and create a total listening experience that is becoming increasingly rare today. For example, after the Marty Robbins-influenced border ballad "Across the Wire," the band segues into "Dub Latina," a trippy, melodica laced instrumental which in turn flows into the rousing "Guero Canelo" with its speak and spell rapping and ebullient background singers. It's a heady mix, and though the three songs couldn't be more different, they end up making a wonderful suite within the record.

Likewise, the gothic, string-laden "Black Heart," which is unlike anything the band has done before, dissolves into pulsing synths at the beginning of "Pepita" before ushering in a multitude of beautifully picked acoustic guitars and a forlorn-sounding pedal steel. The disturbingly pretty pop song "Not Even Stevie Nicks ..." immediately follows, telling the tale of a man driving his car off a cliff and being found later, "in the motor." I guess if the Gold Dust Woman can't help, there's no point in thinking about tomorrow.

And while Feast of Wire continues to reveal new sounds at every turn, the most surprising track on the album comes near the end when the band falls into the cool jazz of "Crumble." It's wholly unexpected, approximating the sound of what Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain would have been like were it a collaboration with Charles Mingus. It's perfectly placed to knock out any last vestiges of resistance, leaving even the most hardened listener to break into a smile.

As the final track, "No Doze," slowly recedes with a moaning cello and static, it becomes crystal clear that Burns and Covertino threw the maps out the window long ago and are blazing their own trail through the musical desert. How could you not want to follow along behind?

-- Barin McGrath

Finally finding their feet....
While some of the previous reviews gush with overwhelming awe, others fault Burns and Convertino for over-emphasizing the mariachi influences and chicano-inspired cover-art. What I like about this album is that Calexico has taken those border influences and integrated them more fully adding hints and flavorings but never letting it overpower. I wouldn't take the disguntled AZ fan's quip so serious about using a mariachi band for back up as offensive except that it shows a niavete on the reviewer's part. If street-cred was so important the Rolling Stones, Los Lobos, Wilco, etc. would not have been allowed to do anything. Ever listened to Exile on Main St? Its a heavily influenced blues album but being honkies Mick and Keith should have hung it up then lest they get other ideas. Los Lobos is as divergent as any band but does being latino preclude them from playing rock and experimenting with their sound or should they have marginalized themselves to playing mariachi and ranchera music?

Feast of Wire shows Calexico growing sonically and finding their own musical voice without relying on their influences and musical tastes as heavily as before. The sign of a good band is one that continues to explore its roots and yet create its own sound from that history. Calexico is moving in that direction. This album is a marker for the next phase of Calexico. Fans of music and the band should take heart that Burns and Convertino are growing and showing greater musical depth with each release leaving us with hopes for future jems likes this.

Calexico became a prsonal theme
This album is so different and so diverse it will be like nothing you have ever heard before. Just when one track mellows you out the next track will take your breath away. This album should be illegal because it is so addicting. Calexico is the most innovative band I have heard in a long time. I turn everyone on to it.

A Sweeping Southwestern Soundscape
My first taste of Calexico was a song they did on a Lee Hazlewood tribute album. I was intrigued by their sound and decided to get one of their CDs to broaden my overview. For no particular reason, I settled on Feast of Wire.
There is a lot to like here, with a multitude of musical influences evident. Listening through, I swear at times I'm hearing Neil Young or Ennio Morricone. At other times, I hear the sounds of funk-soaked jazz soundtrack music a la Barry Adamson. And always around the corner one hears strains of the borderlands sounds that have come to be known as desert rock. Even the cover art is evocative of the southwestern frontier.
My favorite songs here are Sunken Waltz, Quattro, the Morricone-infused Close Behind, Dub Latina, Guero Canelo, and the Adamsonian soundtrack jazz of Crumble.
With Feast of Wire, Calexico offers a sweeping southwestern soundscape that will carry you far away from the cares of the day. I recommend this to anyone who is musically adventurous and has a taste for the borderlands in their blood.

For best results, see live
My first introduction to Calexico was seeing them playing live at Somerset House in London in the summer of 2003, and they were absolutely breathtaking. As with all live bands, the studio album is always something of a anticlimax, as it's almost impossible to recreate the atmosphere and rush of seeing them live. Still, it's a grower of an album and is a must for any respectable record collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This sentimentally over-the-top spoken-word recording was originally issued in 1973, during the height of Watergate and the final, unsettling days of the Vietnam War. In the wake of September 11, 2001, the John Wayne Estate reissued it on CD. And why not? Marion Morrison, a.k.a. John Wayne and the Duke, remains an enduring symbol of America--a country with an endlessly conflicted legacy of largely improvised symbolism, national myths, revised-on-a-dime history, and the freedom to make a buck on effusive patriotic rhetoric. Kitsch collectors may welcome the chance to own a true genre staple in digital sound, while others may yet find genuine solace in its orchestra-and-choir-backed oratory. With a poetic sensibility that seldom strays from the "Carolina pines/Appalachian mines" level of its opening verses, Wayne's processed voice (which betrays the health problems that would be his demise) expounds on topics that range from his homeland's undeniable natural beauty to his son's high school football career and the wisdom of a fictionalized aging Mexican caballero. The would-be idealism in "The Hyphen" aims to erase ethnic and racial boundaries, yet modern hyphenated Americans may find continued prejudice and the vagaries of history have rendered its rhetoric distinctly double-edged. Still, Wayne's love of country emanates from every track. Patriotism may be the last refuge of scoundrels, but it's been graciously hospitable to Hollywood icons, from the Duke to Dutch Reagan. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Heart-warming and inspiring...
I am the proud owner of this on vinyl. I have been listening to it, for obvious reasons, lately and decided I needed to see if it was available on CD. I am thrilled to find that it is.
John Wayne took his responsibity to the American people for the persona of "John Wayne" very seriously. The words and music are a stirring proclamation about what is right with America.

America, Why I Love Her
In typical John Wayne style, he talks of all the pride and reasons he loves America. We owned this album on original 8 track tape and are estatic that it was re-released. Especially in these times, this CD will touch the hearts of many Americans. No one with even a little pride in this great nation will come away with less than goose bumps and a sense of oneness. A great album then and NOW>

I pledge allegiance to the Duke
The year was 1973. Patriotism was at an all time low thanks to Vietnam and Watergate. One man decided to do something about it. From out of the west came... an actor. No, not Ronald Reagan! It was John Wayne! Yes, the Duke himself. He recorded a narrative tribute (with orchestra and chorus) to America. Wayne himself did not sing, which may have been for the best. I don't know if this album restored anyone's patriotism. I admire John Wayne as an actor, but honestly, this album is kind of corny and boring. If you are more of a flag waver than I am, you may get more out of this album than I did.

John Wayne is The West
I've always loved John Wayne and so has my dad and when this cd came out to commemorate 9/11, we loved it and still do!

The "DUKE"
I do not yet have this cd, but have heard some songs from it, I loved them. John Wayne is awesome!!! He is my Fav actor as well!
CAS ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Vocal and instrumental music in a brilliant combination
This is the album that finally convinced me of David Bowie's genius. Of course, he has help from people like Brian Eno and Iggy Pop (who sings backing vocals on "Sound And Vision"), but this is very clearly a David Bowie album.

The songs are epigrammatic - short terse lyrics - with colourful and interesting instrumental accompaniment. The instrumental pieces (they are NOT songs! and should not be referred to as such) range from disco styled pieces ("Speed of Life" and "A New Career In A New Town") to more pensive, ambient styled and lengthy works on side two of the original LP.

One wonders what Mr. Bowie was listening to during this Berlin period? Gorecki, perhaps? It doesn't really matter because this is a splendid album from one of contemporary music's greatest figures. I feel that his previous albums became 'mere pop music' after the release of Low.

Launching Pad...
I once thought that I knew everything about synth-music (a term I find myself using more often since "synthpop" is a term that just seems to take away from the real meanings behind songs). I once thought that David Bowie was just another glam-rocker from the early 70s who happened to hit it big with Let's Dance sometime in the early 80s, with apparently no consideration as to what happened inbetween. On a whim, I bought David Bowie's latest album, Heathen, and read about the return of the Berlin trilogy producer-Tony Visconti. Upon hearing that album, an insatiable desire for hearing all of Bowie's "electro" material was firmly established. I took a chance and decided to begin at the starting-point of the trilogy.
Low caught me completely off guard. Early industrial came to mind. Then, ambient soundscapes, then...well, I just gave up trying to put a label on everything. It was all just so unique and different, nothing I had ever heard had really touched upon this particular type of sound. The instrumentals, Speed of Life, A New Career in a New Town, and Art Decade seemed so claustrophobic and yet, so expansive at the same time. The seemingly suicidal despair of Breaking Glass, Always Crashing in the Same Car (great titles!), and Subterranians seemed so comforting at the same time. Finally, this was an album with genuine angst, not the commercialized angst force fed by record companies through bands like Korn, Slipknot, or Blink 182. As far as I'm concerned, there's no better album than Low to throw you into the pit of despair, then pulling you out again by actually enabling you to meditate and move on.
Since purchasing this album, I have bought several other Bowie albums, namely Hunky Dory, Station to Station, Heroes, Lodger, Scary Monsters, and 1. Outside. Even after hearing them all ten times or more, Low remains my favorite Bowie album. There's not a single note on it that I would say was wasted.

Bowie's best album
David Bowie's Low is far from both his "folk" work of the early 70s and his "soul" work of the mid 70s. At its higher moments, Low mixes Bowie's knack for songwriting with Eno's amazing instrumentation ("What in the World," "Sound and Vision," "Be My Wife"), but the best moments of the album are Bowie and Eno's collaborative ambient songs on the album's second half.

Low is my favorite Bowie album. It still sounds like the future more than 2 decades after its release. Most people remember Bowie for Ziggy Stardust, but this album is far more impressive. Eno and Bowie used technology to their advantage to make an experimental pop classic.

Yes, it took >25 years for me to admit it, but yes, 5 Stars
I bought it when it came out. A piece of vinyl; that week's purchase. Played it to my friends; we weren't so sure; we weren't saying 'No', but we weren't saying 'Yes' either.

Slide the timer forward to now.

I can look back and realise it's one of those albums which has been in my brain for all that time. Hovering in the background. Understated , but always there in the subconscious.

How do I know? I just picked it up again afer a long hiatus and found out, for the first time, what I had always suspected ~ what a wonderful, wonderful album this is.

I think I'd better say that again, in case you weren't listening - What a wonderful album this is.

Ahead of its time
"Low" is one of my favorite experimental albums. It was released in 1977 and it sounds like it was released in 1980. Peter Gabriel's "melting face" album is obviously influenced by the type of experimentation here. This just shows that Bowie and Eno were brilliant in making experimental music together. Bowie was doing post -punk new wave on "Low" before anyone else. His rampant experimentation and sound scapes are amazing. I like how the album uses the first lyrical songs as a general introduction to the sound scapes, which are the emphasis on the album. The album seems to move the listener through a continuous experience. You really feel that the order and nature of the songs take you somewhere on this album. The experimentation here will set the foundation for post -punk new wave for the next 5 or so years, and this alone justifies the historical importance of "Low." But music fans know that the real test of an album is just listening to it, and this album passes that test by taking you to musical realms you never thought existed.

If you like "Low" then you will probably like some of "Lodger." ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

This is it--the one Monty Python album that you must have. A compilation drawn from various films, TV series, and performance sketches, The Final Rip Off consists of two CDs of absolute classics. One of the very first tracks is the famous "Constitutional Peasant" scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Also included are "Spanish Inquisition," "Argument," "Lumberjack Song," and several other sketches that have achieved much-deserved pride of place in popular culture. The members of Monty Python are quite aware of this--the much-loved dead-parrot sketch is listed here as "Parrot (Oh, Not Again)." It's a testimony to the artistry, not to mention timing, of the group that the great majority of this stuff is still funny after decades of wear. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Compilation to end all compilations!
If you absolutely HATE Monty Python, if you can't stand the weird antics, the bizarre songs, the nonsensical sketches....listen to this and change your mind! :) However, if you're like most Python fans, you will instantly be in heaven listening to this compilation of all the most famous sketches and songs from the original series, as well as excerpts from their classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" ("You silly English kiiiiiiiniggets!").

This awesome 2-CD set features the essential classics: Fish License, Argument Clinic, Cheese Shop, SPAM! Perfect for in-the-car insanity! I find myself singing along and mock-tap dancing to "I Like Chinese" everytime....a bit dangerous, perhaps, but somehow necessary. :)

So get the Final Rip-off....when you're sick of listening to stupid radio and don't feel like sitting in silence, break it out and enjoy the ride. You'll have your 7 best (and certainly wackiest) friends right in the room with you.

This is a great 2-CD set, it's funny, and a good buy.
This is probably the best Monty Python CD or CD's there is. It's jammed packed full of funny sketches and songs from all of their previous albums. It's basically a 2-CD compilation for the price of 1-CD. Get it. It's good!!!

Another Python compilation
If you're looking for the LIMITED new material on this album, like I did, you'll be disapointed, as there's maybe a total minutes of new material, which is simply Micheal Palin, bantering about nothing.

If your looking for sketches that you haven't heard for a while, or at least not the Drury Lane versions, sadly, I still don't Drury Lane, then get this album. There is also a small booklet with new stuff, and pictures some of which I haven't seen anywhere else. It's not essential, but you can still have a nice time.

Classic Python Goodness
As a long-time Python fan, I jumped at this CD when I saw it at a pretty good price. It's loaded with nearly two hours of goodies on two discs -- tons of classic sketches, sound bits from the movies and the lot. The Spam song? It's here. The Lumberjack song? Got it. Sit On My Face? Fear not. The only notable absence is "Every Sperm is Sacred" from "The Meaning of Life," which would have been nice to have, but isn't a requirement for me to fully enjoy this CD, especially since we've got greats like the Parrot sketch and the cheese shop.

Just one caveat, though... what on Earth is that picture on the cover supposed to be? Ew. Gross.

Very weird, very funny
This is a very weird but highly hilarious sketch. On the first CD, the sketches are on different tracks than as said on the back of the case. The sound quality with the live performances isn't very good, but they are extremely funny. ... Read more

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This three-CD set collects many of Tom Lehrer's tunes, described by Time magazine as "brilliant and coruscating parodies," bringing back a bygone era when the "liberal consensus," as Lehrer calls them, knew who they were and could, therefore, laugh at both themselves and the well-defined enemy. Delivering clever, witty rhymes about topical subjects was Leher's strength. In "Wernher Von Braun" [the Nazi German scientist who later worked for NASA], Lerher sings: "I'll sing you a tale of Wernher Von Braun / A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience / Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down / 'That's not my department,' says Wernher Von Braun." Using a rollicking piano as accompaniment, Lehrer will remind some of Mark Russell, the current political satirist, but Lehrer's more pointed humor and grating, nasal voice make him a much tougher listen. His Jimmy Durante-like delivery, however, doesn't completely trump his truly quick mind and clever use of language. --Wally Shoup ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Satirist for the ages
The first time I heard a Tom Lehrer song was in one of my classes in junior high school circa 1972-73-Later on,I started listening to Dr.Demento's nationally syndicated radio show & found out that Lehrer is a regular fixture of that program-This box set is fantastic!!!-Lehrer is truly possessed with a rapier like wit & he's one hell of a songwriter-Certainly if a DJ were to play some of the more salacious songs like "Smut","I Wish I Were in Dixie","My Home Town",& "Masochism Tango",he would probably be out of a job (Excepting Dr.Demento,of course)-Disc 3,which is comprised of songs that Lehrer wrote for the short-lived TV series "That Was The Week That Was",are obviously dated by today's standards,but they're still quite hilarious-I also enjoyed the book that came with this set-The Dr.Demento bio on Lehrer's career makes for great reading-It's too bad that Lehrer has packed it in for good-Just think,he could've come up with more topical material such as Watergate,the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky affair,Reaganomics-the possibilities are endless-Anyway,lovers of satire,take heed & purchase this boxed set-You won't regret it.

Lavish treatment of this generation's greatest satirist
Tom Lehrer is one of the greatest anomalies in popular music: he burst on the scene for a dozen years with five albums (two of which where essentially live versions of studio recordings), then retired into academia, not performing in public for decades. To further discourage any chance of his becoming popular, his song medium was "novelty" parody and social satire, both of which tend to have short shelf lives.

Despite all this, Lehrer's pointed wit has remained popular among a small but passionate group who appreciate brilliant, cutting comments about the hypocrisies of our race relations ("National Brotherhood Week"), collegiate life ("Bright College Days"), and parodies of every song type.

This box set combines all of Lehrer's previously released albums, plus a smattering of bonus tracks, including songs written for the children's show "Electric Company" (who would've thought that the man who wrote "Masochism Tango" and "Vatican Rag" would be a good educational influence on children?)

The real bonus of this handsome box set, however, are the (hard-cover bound!) lavishly illustrated liner notes, which include an interview, notes, complete lyrics, and rare photos. Rhino did its homework on this one, and it shows. It would've been nice to hear some of the real obscurities ("Physical Revue" or the "Subway Song"), but I guess those would entail another studio session.

There are only a handful of novelty songwriters who deserve this kind of treatment, and none with the relatively limited output that Lehrer has. Congratulations, Rhino for a beautiful package on one of the seminal performers of this age.

America¿s great musical satirist
The complete Tom Lehrer oeuvre is to be found in this outstanding box set. For the uninitiated, Tom Lehrer was a recording artist, whose incredible wit and singular ability to comment on politics of the time with a hummable melody is unparalleled. Contained within are his first two studio recordings, which allows the listener to focus on the clever melodies and wordplay, but the real gems are his three live recordings where audience reaction to Lehrer's outrageousness and his command of a crowd are on fine display. College fight songs ("Fight Fiercely, Harvard"), folk music ("The Irish Ballad," "Clementine"), and even the Boy Scouts ("Be Prepared) are all fair game. Lehrer is at his finest when creating a melody that is pleasant and enjoyable and then putting in lyrics that horrify the listener. (Ex: "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" which is simply one of the funniest songs ever.) Included are some recordings that Lehrer did with a full orchestra, that work very well (Although Lehrer himself was not totally comfortable recording them).There are some relatively new cuts that Lehrer did in the 90's and a special treat for those of you who grew up in the 70's, Lehrer's songs for The Electric Company, which are still a lot of fun, but this is basically everything that Lehrer did during his relatively brief musical career, before returning to academia. I discovered Lehrer's work in the 70's and am glad that this set exists for my listening pleasure. (Now that I've written all these nice things, Mr. Lehrer, can I go home now? Please?)

Most beautiful box set I've ever seen
Tom Lehrer is brilliant, and some of the other reviews will eloquently tell you why. Chances are if you are looking at thsi item, you already know his brilliance. Even if you have the original CDs, you may want to get this, for it is the most beautiful box set I have ever seen. The hardcover, full color book has fun comments, Mad Magazine excerpts, and all the lyrics. The only improvement I could think of is I wish the "Critical disdain for Tom Lehrer" sticker that is on the shrink wrap had been put in a place where it could stay in good condition.

Repetitive Redundancy
I love Tom Lehrer's work, BUT... When you buy this boxed set, don't expect each of the CDs to have unique songs. The same songs appear on all three CDs. They may have been recorded at different times, but I had hoped to purchase a set of CDs with unique songs on them. Too much redundancy! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good walkin'
This is an excellent walking tape. I use it on the treadmill at the gym, and I can normally walk about 3.5 mph on this one. I break a sweat by the time it's over...and yes, it is lively music; just the kind you want to walk to!

Too slow for me
I go to an advanced-step aerobics class at my gym. We usually work with songs with a 140-145 bpm. I'd heard that this was a great CD for that type of class...boy was I fooled!! It is just way too slow for me. The highest bpm in this CD is 126. We don't even warm-up to that! I know, the CD even said "Moderate Pace", I should've known. Also, these songs are very lame. I don't know what happened to SHAPE this time. These songs can be anything you want, but hits they are NOT. Anyway, if you really want a CD for an fun, fast-paced aerobic work out, I don't recommend this CD.

Upbeat music but not exactly "hits"
When I think of "hits," I think of songs that hit and stayed on the charts. Most of these songs don't fit that category. In fact, I didn't recognize most of them.

That said, this is a lively mix of music that keeps you moving. It won't be my favorite in my exercise collection, but I will use it and enjoy it.

Great Pace, Good Music
This is really a great workout CD. The songs are very lively and motivating and the pace is pretty steady and consistent. It runs at about 125 beats per minute which allows for optimum performance of step aerobics and kick boxing workouts, but also works well for running, ab workouts, etc. I highly recommend this CD for anyone who wants to workout and have fun at the same time!!

Keeps you motivated
Great collection, the music flows from one cut to the other without losing the beat, very important for maintaining your stride. Upbeat tunes, fun to dance, walk to, EFX, treadmill my favorites. I've now got all of the Shape CDs and they are the best! ... Read more