Music

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Visions of the emerald beyond
Marvelous creation from McLaughlin.
John M has really gotten into the jazz and funk with this!
Probably their best
Mahavishnu I Is Better. So Is Apocalypse

Visions of the Emerald Beyond
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Apocalypse
Between Nothingness and Eternity
Birds of Fire
The Inner Mounting Flame
The Lost Trident Sessions

ASIN: B0000027EU
Release Date: 1990-12-29

Tracks:

Eternity's Breath Part 1
Eternity's Breath Part 2
Lila's Dance
Can't Stand Your Funk
Pastoral
Faith
Cosmic Strut
If I Could See
Be Happy
Earth Ship
Pegasus
Opus
On The Way Home to Earth

Amazon.com

Even though it is not as consistently convincing as Mahavishnu's first two albums, this fifth, 1975 outing nonetheless provides plenty of the same listening rewards--urgent, inexorably forceful jazz-rock fusion with an intense interactivity among the players. Jean-Luc Ponty provides the fresh interest. Always most convincing when employed, rather than in charge, here he revels in the open spaces and blissed prompting that McLaughlin's celestial-run formula provides. The album was one of a few later Mahavishnu recordings that announced that the revolutionary band's mission was near completion, and perhaps already played out. McLaughlin's playing soars at some points, but it was time for him to leave the capsule, and settle into a new phase: his extraordinary Shakti collaborations. --Peter Monaghan

Customer Reviews:

Visions of the emerald beyond.......2007-03-30

All the great groups seem to hit that stride of 3 or more great albums. This is one of their best 3 along with the inner mounting flame and birds of fire. They really made their best music on these records.

Marvelous creation from McLaughlin........2007-02-21

The title of this review summarizes my feelings.
Fantastic playing, recording, mixing & production.
As an historic MO fan, I had already bought this gem in LP format in the seventies, but this CD edition is incomparably better.
The 1990 issue adds clarity, quality and emotion.
Although some people may attribute "commercial" aspects for the MO-2,
I believe "Visions" is still MO best album ever.
Ponty added dynamic, rhythm and speed to the music, a master amidst the masters...
I agree that both lineups have this pros & cons, and this is not under trial.
Worth each cent you pay and more....

John M has really gotten into the jazz and funk with this!.......2007-01-10

What an etherial display of John Mclaughlin's and Jean Luc Ponty's collaboration attempt. This Attempt works well.
PLeased to own it.

Probably their best.......2005-12-30

This is a classic and probably their best recording.
I would skip track four as it spoils the work here,
but otherwise a classic rock/jazz/fusion at the height of this band career.

Mahavishnu I Is Better. So Is Apocalypse.......2005-12-02

The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Apocalypse
The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Visions of the Emerald Beyond

Mahavishnu II was nowhere as good as MI, but it had its good points in this inaugural album, most notably the pristine of electric violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. McLaughlin still generates the heat but sounds like he is recycling more forceful work from earlier albums. The drumming, bass and keyboards are unexceptional but not notable. There is a pretty vocal solo by keyboardist Gayle Moran on "Smile of the Beyond." All in all, there's too much recycled in this album, the musicians (Ponty and McLaughlin excepted) are mediocre at best, and the Buddhist propagandizing seems egregious. But at least it's better than the next album, Visions of the Emerald Beyond, which has almost nothing to recommend it, except for its moments of ersatz funk ("Cosmic Strut," "Can't Stand Your Funk").

Average customer rating:

Worth The Wait - Incredible Performances!

Return to the Emerald Beyond
Mahavishnu Project
Manufacturer: Cuneiform
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Phase 2
Back on the Corner
Brown Street
Metheny Mehldau Quartet
Pilgrimage

ASIN: B000KRN2GW
Release Date: 2007-01-16

Tracks:

Eternity's Breath
Lila's Dance
Can't Stand Your Funk
Pastoral
Faith
Cosmic Strut
If I Could See
Be Happy

Tracks:

Earth Ship
Pegasus
Opus 1
On The Way Home To Earth
Smile Of The Beyond
Vital Transformation
Sister Andrea

Customer Reviews:

Worth The Wait - Incredible Performances!.......2007-01-25

"Apocalypse" and "Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" represented ambitious new directions for The Mahavishnu Orchestra in the mid 1970s. The band expanded from a quartet to an actual orchestra with impressive results. Sadly, these were the last offerings of new material by this amazing band.

For the last 30 years, we could only hope that some lost studio recordings or live performances might be unearthed and released. It's almost beyond belief that, except for "The Lost Trident Sessions", there isn't more Mahavishnu Orchestra music out there.

Enter The Mahavishnu Project in 2004 with "Phase 2" and again in 2007 with "Return To The Emerald Beyond", both stellar offerings by a band that embodies what we appreciated about The Mahavishnu Orchestra: extraordinary musicianship and impassioned performances of some truly amazing music.

The performances by The Mahavishnu Project on "Return To The Emerald Beyond" capture the fire, nuances and precision of the original Emerald Beyond-era Mahavishnu Orchestra. Stylistically, the performances are impressively faithful to the originals, but the players stretch out on their own enough to make this recording a very worthy companion to the original.

If you are a die-hard Mahavishnu listener, your collection must have these albums. You will not be disappointed. Very highly recommended.

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Escape from Twilight
Emerald Sun
Manufacturer: Lmp
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Waterlines
Vengeance Rising
Unia
Ghost Opera
Dragonheart

ASIN: B000NJLXA4
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

Sunrise 1:29
Scream Out Loud 5:09
High In The Sky 6:48
The Traveler 0:57
Sword Of Light 5:58
Eyes Of Prophecy 4:40
Escape From Twilight 5:47
Emerald Sun 6:43
H.M. 4:33
The Story Begins 4:35
Not Alone 5:37

Album Description

Escape From Twilight, the debut album of Emerald Sun, one of the biggest hopes in the Melodic Power Metal sector, will enthuse every fan of Helloween's "Keepers-era", Stratovarius and Rhapsody. But Emerald Sun are much more than a band with song-writing talent and musical skills which equal those of the old heroes. With their very own instinct for enthralling passages, toughened in the fire of countless, sweaty live shows, the band sends the listener on a trip from one climax to another.

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Emerald City
John Vanderslice
Manufacturer: Barsuk
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000RGSOS2
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Tracks:

Kookaburra
Time To Go
Parade, The
White Dove
Tablespoon Of Codeine
Tower, The
Minaret, The
Numbered Lithograph
Central Booking

Album Description

Vanderslice recorded this album in the midst of anguishing legal limbo after a visa application for his French girlfriend was rejected by US immigration. The album takes its title from a reference to the "Green Zone" in Iraq, but its themes are broad.

Average customer rating:

Draw your emerald blade!
Compilation is very well done
Amazing album, for fans & non-fans
I don't know why I'm the first to review this????

Tales from the Emerald Sword Saga
Rhapsody
Manufacturer: Lmp
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Symphony of Enchanted Lands
Symphony of Enchanted Lands, Vol. 2: The Dark Secret
Triumph Or Agony
Rain of a Thousand Flames
Legendary Tales

ASIN: B0001DD968
Release Date: 2004-03-01

Tracks:

Warrior Of Ice
Rage Of The Winter
Forest Of Unicorns
Land Of Immortals (Remake)
Emerald Sword
Wisdom Of The Kings
Wings Of Destiny
Riding The Winds Of Eternity (Edit)
Dawn Of Victory
The Village Of Dwarves
Rain Of A Thousand Flames
Knightrider Of Doom
March Of The Swordmaster
Power Of The Dragonflame
Lamento Eroico
Holy Thunderforce (Video)

Album Description

For the past seven years or, to be more precise, since the opening tones of their sensational debut album, Legendary Tales, Rhapsody have been one of the most unusual phenomena of the current metal scene. The huge range of their creativity, the number of legendary compositions that the Italian band, with their primary members, guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboarder Alex Staropoli, have released so far is now documented in their "Best Of" album Tales From The Emerald Sword Saga. Rhapsody is unique in the true meaning of the word. 16 tracks, the most unusual and the favourites in the Rhapsody saga to date, with a total playing time of over 70 minutes, as well as several valuable add-ons, (something which has almost become a firm tradition for Rhapsody) make Tales From The Emerald Sword Saga a highly interesting release for fans old and new.

Album Description

Full Title - Tales From The Emerald Sword Saga. 2004 album from the progressive metal outfit features 17 tracks including 'Rage Of The Winter' (Symphonic Version), 'Land Of Immortals' (Remix), 'Holy Thunderforce' (Remix), & an edited video clip of 'Holy Thunderforce'. Limb Music Productions.

Customer Reviews:

Draw your emerald blade!.......2006-08-14

If you've never listend to Rhapsody, you're missing out on one of the most unique musical experiences of our time. The idea of composing and reinventing the 'bard's tale' of eras past is the unifying theme throughout Rhapsody's releases. Take one part Spinal Tap showmanship, one part Iron Maiden, the vocals of Queen, throw in some Bach and Beethoven, back it up with a full choir, have the band dress up like renfair geeks, hit blend, and you've got Rhapsody.

Yes, the high fantasy story is cheesy as hell, but it works and rather infectous too. It's part of their charm. On the music side, it's really amazing how well fast paced speed metal anthems combine with classical music (often with full choir back up singers and latin verses) to create one of the most epic and exhilirating modern 'symphonies' I've ever heard. Probably the best comparison would be Nobuo Uematsu's "One Winged Angel" remix for Advent Children. If you liked all that pomp, rocking speed and over the top craziness, there's no doubt you'll find Rhapsody a breath of fresh air from the staleness of the music scene in general.

Most of the songs are blazingly fast, with lots of screaming guitar and bass work and intense drums but can also be surprisingly melodic. The keyboard trumpets, organs, pianos etc punctuate key moments and set up the songs very nicely, while the violin work adds an eeire beauty to even the most hardcore tracks. The great thing is how the songs can change tempo, instruments, vocal range and style (alternating between classic and metal and sometimes playing simultaniously) on a dime seemlessly for a wonderful variety of sounds within a single song. Dawn of Victory is perhaps the best example of this along with Winds of Eternity. But ultimately, it's Fabio Lione's vocals and Luca Turilli's composing and guitar that hold this band together. Their enthusiasm and passion for what they do shines through in every one of Rhapsody's songs. It takes a brave man to rock it hard about dragons and dark lords, but if anyone is up to the challenge, it's these two. Turilli especially deserves a lot of credit for knowing when to go all out and when to be suble. Despite what critics have said in the past, Rhapsody does back off the gas... when it suits them.

The only thing that's criminal about this release is the exclusion of Eternal Glory, one of the strongest tracks of Symphony of Enchanted Lands. But that is what full albums are for afterall.

Still, if you're looking for a CD that shows what Rhapsody is all about, this is a good place to start. So, take a listen to the preview tracks listed on full albums here at Amazon, and take your first step into a larger music world.

Compilation is very well done.......2005-12-01

Covers the first four Rhapsody recordings at 70 minutes plus plus the 'mini' 48 one.

Each recording contains about 15 minutes of music, or 4 songs, plus one song from the mini at 3 minutes.

Note - there is not a remix but an edit on one of the songs, read the song is cut.

It gives a good introduction to Rhapsody and a good sample of each cd (except the mini)

It reprints the lyrics and gives a good introduction to the band.

That said, the video does not justify buying the cd if you already have these recording.

For a compilation it is very well done and deserves a 4 for the info noted above, except one more tune should have come from the mini

By the way, why does Amazon include a 'NO' in 'was this review helpful to you?'. People are only human and don't like opinions that differ from themselves. With some who are less mature, this the 'NO' makes it too easy express such displeasure.

Are they trying to discourage negative reviews, hence not purchase the CD. Such reviews only help a person in not being dissatisfied a product that received positive reviews

Amazing album, for fans & non-fans.......2005-06-12

Rhapsody has a lot of fans, especially those who love power metal, and for good reason - the orchestration & arrangements are used to great effect in their albums. The level of composition complexity is only outclassed by Nightwish in the world of modern music. This particular album is a compilation album of excellent songs from various Rhapsody albums, along with bonuses of a good symphonic version of Rage Of The Winter, a remix of Land Of Immortal, an edit of Riding The Winds of Eternity, a remix of Holy Thunderforce, & a video of the band playing Holy Thunderforce live (can't have too much Holy Thunderforce, now can we? ;) ).

Now, all Rhapsody fans know already that these are some great songs. It doesn't take someone who has a trained ear to love songs like Warrior of Ice, Rage Of The Winter, Wisdom Of The Kings, Dawn Of Victory, Holy Thunderforce, Power Of The Dragonflame, Riding The Winds of Eternity, Rain Of A Thousand Flames, & Knightrider of Doom. And that's not all! The other songs also are very enjoyable as well. These songs not only catch the ear, but contain a compositional depth that arises partly from the epic nature of these songs (as each Rhapsody album is an epic covering a part of a tale, just as the namesake of this album implies).

In short, if you're new to Rhapsody, buy this album, then buy the other Rhapsody albums (starting with Legendary Tales, and continuing in chronological order of their release). You won't be disappointed if you love music! If you're a current Rhapsody fan, this album might bolster your appreciation of them, and is also recommended.

I don't know why I'm the first to review this????.......2004-10-19

The first thing holding me back from buying this album is the fact that they forgot to include Eternal Glory!! Perhaps my fav or in the top 5 Songs of all from Rhapsody. I don't know why they wouldn't include such an awsome and glorious muscial composition. Luca, if you ever read this WHY!!! But I have to agree that the rest of the tracks are very worthy of inclution. Oh well, maybe next time.

Average customer rating:

Amazing, heartfelt album!
Five Galaxies
A rich tapestry of sounds and imagery
Astonishing
Emerald Rose is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Archives of Ages to Come
Emerald Rose
Manufacturer: Emerald Rose
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Celtic Crescent
Bending Tradition
Fire In The Head
Rite the First Time
Hair Of the Frog

ASIN: B000BGQXTU
Release Date: 2005-09-02

Tracks:

Come To The Dance
Before the Twilight Falls
Take Me Down
Four Doors To Elfland
Queen of Argyll
Three More Drops
Autumn in Asheville
Gwydion's Song To Lleu
Wheel of Fortune
Four Jacks
Irish Heartbeat
Dagger of the Moon
Urania Sings
Whistler's Farewell
Dance of the Rats
We Come From Monkeys

Product Description

Archives of Ages to Come, the fifth commercial CD from Emerald Rose, is an "evolutionary moment" for the band. Not just Celtic folk anymore, the songs include elements of jazz, rock, pop, and world-beat, along with messages both ancient and relevant to modern times. The sixteen tracks on this CD range from Gypsy/Pagan chant (Come To The Dance), to heartfelt Celtic mythological ballads (Before the Twilight Falls, Gwydion's Song), to rocked-up Pagan anthems (Three More Drops, Four Jacks). Scientists and astronomers will appreciate "Urania Sings", a rock ballad about the muse of astronomers, while fans of the Allman Brothers might groove on "Autumn in Asheville", a jazzy instrumental. There's also the band's well-known humor twist, with "Dance of the Rats" describing a kitchen nightmare, and the evolution rant "We Come From Monkeys" rocking down on fundamentalist nonsense with some heavy guitar and dance beats. There's even a couple of covers of Celtic classics: "Queen of Argyll" from Andy M. Stewart and "Irish Heartbeat" from Van Morrison. Somehow, it all ties together into an emotional journey that we hope will delight you again and again!

Customer Reviews:

Amazing, heartfelt album!.......2006-03-19

With every new album, Emerald Rose keeps getting better and better. I'm not just referring to the enthusiasm of a fan here, though certainly there is plenty of that; the quality of musicianship, which was never bad, has increased exponentially for this recording.

The very first song, Come to the Dance, pulls the listener in immediately and definitely makes it difficult NOT to dance or at least move around a bit.

Before the Twilight Falls is one of my new Emerald Rose favorites. This haunting love song is full of longing and in-between spaces akin to Ladyhawke, and some of the harmonies just reach in and tug at the heart in ways that really enhance the song.

Three More Drops makes reference to Taliesin and Cerridwyn without specifically mentioning their names and incorporates the shapeshifting inherent in that legend. It's fun and thought-provoking at the same time.

Gwydion's Song to Lleu has a more mellow pace, but I still find myself humming it at the strangest times; I'd probably be singing it, but I don't know a bit of Welsh!

Four Jacks is not a song about a particularly nice poker hand, but rather about celebrating the divine masculine throughout the seasons. It provides some nice balance to the lovely songs Emerald Rose sings celebrating the divine feminine, such as Urania Sings.

Irish Heartbeat is one I particularly enjoy, extolling the virtue of spending time with one's cherished family and friends, reminding the listener that there is where one may find the care and support each of us need.

The new version of Dagger of the Moon is leaps and bounds above the previous version. Though the tune is the same, the music enhances the lyrics much better in this new version and really contributes to the feeling of mysticism the song conveys. There are even a couple of places in the song where the listener can easily be convinced that they are howling at the moon, though done in a way that has plenty of plausible deniability.

Whistler's Farewell is another pleasant surprise; I was sure that it must be a traditional song they'd come across, but the lyrics and music were written by Emerald Rose's Arthur Hinds. What an amazingly authentic Celtic feel!

Dance of the Rats makes me smile every time I hear it; is it a dream sequence, or isn't it? This song and We Come From Monkeys provide a bit of lightheartedness after the emotional and mystical journey through which the band has taken the listener through the rest of the album, giving a satisfying finish.

Archives is truly the best release yet by Emerald Rose, with superior quality of vocals and instrumentation and a definite sense that they have connected with the meanings behind their lyrics in much more than a superficial way. I can't rate this album highly enough!

Five Galaxies.......2006-03-05

Five stars doesn't do this album justice, so I'm amplifying the rating by a few orders of magnitude.

All of the musical threads that ER have been spinning since the beginning are woven together in this album: Pagan anthems ("Come to the Dance" is MY song, but I'll let you listen to it if you promise to dance), updated Celtic song, the Bardic tradition, and uber-geek humor.

They even cover the Silly Wizard classic, "Queen of Argyll." Talk about cheeky!

That should NOT work. Definitely one of those things "you can't do." In that sense, this album shows just how far behind dedication and talent can leave conventional wisdom.

Five of the songs on this album can be found on other ER releases, although that counts four from the limited edition "Songs from the Night Sky." I believe those four are essentially or exactly the same recordings, whereas the version of "Dagger of the Moon" on Archives is a complete remake.

The production values, arrangements, and execution on Archives are stellar. There are so many pinpoint details of phrasing and ornamentation sparkling through this album that one really needs to sit down and listen to it (for many of the cuts, this will likely only happen when you tire of dancing around like Puck on Starbucks).

The vocals are astounding on this album. "Dagger of the Moon," for example, is light-years beyond the version previously recorded. The sequence of "Four Jacks" to "Irish Heartbeat," had me in tears by the end of Heartbeat. For the record, that's not easy. The last time music made me cry just for sheer beauty, it was a masterful performance of a song of Guillaume de Machaut that did it, which puts ER in exalted company indeed.

I don't know if anyone is put off by the explicit Paganism of many of the songs. I would say they needn't be: this isn't shrill, teenage-angst, moaning-about-the-Burning-Times fluff here; this is a mature, intelligent, fully-fledged worldview that the Emperor Julian would be proud to acknowledge.

The album ends with a supernova of silliness, in the form of the new fairy-tale-cum-pizza-nightmare "Dance of the Rats" and the Professor Boggs (Larry) special, "We Come from Monkeys," an irreverent, arrogant, and completely correct flip-off of the anti-Darwin crowd. The comic relief is a good way to wind this down, because the other songs have carried us to such heights and depths that we're likely exhausted and in need of a laugh.

A rich tapestry of sounds and imagery.......2005-12-02

Archives is ER's best effort to date. The opening strains of "Come to the Dance" invite the listener to journey with the band through an album that is diverse yet perfectly blended. Combining blues, rock and Celtic music to form what is truly the Emerald Rose sound, Archives delights the senses and emotions. The delicate music and theme of "Before the Twilight Falls" gives way to devotion to beauty in "Queen of Argyll" concluding with the driving political stance of "We Come From Monkeys." It is a CD that will make you want to rejoice, tap your foot and dance.

Astonishing.......2005-10-23

If Emerald Rose "bent tradition" in their aptly named 2000 release, now at last they've broken it open like an egg. And a sound lustrous and wonderful has emerged.

This is a polished, multi-threaded collection that combines Celtic and World influences with stunning Rock. The tracks merge lyric penny whistle with harmonious voices, throbbing drums with kick-ass guitar. But most remarkable is the vision presented by these songs--a blend of magic and science, Goddess-consciousness and humor, politics and myth. This is song-writing so good it will break your heart one moment, make it soar the next.

In a lesser work, the title might be prententious. Instead it perfectly expresses an artistry that reveres the past but is savy to the present and peers resolutely at the future. Listen to this CD and, to borrow a phrase from one of the songs, you just might "evolve a bigger mind."

Emerald Rose is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-10-20

I have been listening to Emerald Rose for years, have been to many so their concerts, and own most of their CDs. I have to say that Archives of Ages to Come is the best one yet. They have truly grown into their own with this one. If you've never listened to any of their music, I highly suggest you buy this CD, it is the true peak of their musical talents. Blending traditonal with modern, and throwing a bit of humor into the mix gives you a feeling of harmony that no other band could ever achieve.
I love you guys!!!
Barbara

Average customer rating:

More production please!
A Must-Have CD
Oh brother, art thou Witches or Pagans?
Hard to keep
Decisions, decisions...

Bending Tradition

Manufacturer: Emerald Rose
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Fire In The Head
Rite the First Time
Archives of Ages to Come
The Best of Pagan Song
Celtic Crescent

ASIN: B00004U9TM
Release Date: 2000-06-16

Tracks:

Penny In The Well
Fire In The Head
Lucky Man
Jigs:Green Hills of Garland/The Gallagher Lass/The Ferret's Nose
Red-Haired Mary
Pagan Girl
Come By The Hills
Merry May Folk
Johnnie Cope
Castle of Arianrhod
Freya Shakti
Unfinished Business
Hills of America

Album Description

"Bending Tradition" draws heavily from Celtic roots, but moves in many directions, blending pop/rock, jazz, world beat, and mystical ideas into a unique "brew." Rich chorus vocals, driving guitars, bodhran and congas, pennywhistle, and original songwriting provide a strong new voice in Celtic fusion.

Customer Reviews:

More production please!.......2006-08-02

I was really excited to get this album, but was disappointed with the slightly less than mediocre quality of it. First of all, there was no production value at all. It sounded as though the musicians themselves recorded it in one of their garages and produced it on one of their laptops. While for some people or bands this isn't a problem, the band members themselves play their instruments and sing slightly better than you'd hear in a karaoke bar I suppose, so that might give you some idea about the production quality as well. I think the part that bothered me the most is that no matter the genre, I expect my music to be up to a minimum standard artistically, which this album really wasn't. I applaud their efforts to be sort of a light-hearted selection in a genre that sometimes takes itself a tad too seriously, but the quality simply wasn't there to carry off the whole package. I would not recommend buying this album unless you are already a fan or don't mind somewhat simplistic lyrics and trite rhyming schemes. I really really wanted to like it.

A Must-Have CD.......2004-08-14

I first heard of Emerald Rose at the Bardic Circle on Witchvox. "Freya, Shakti", "Fire in the Head": these quickly became two of my favorite songs. The live Fire in the Head rose to my most-listened song very quickly. I lived off of MP3.com for some time.

When I came to buy an ER CD, this was high on the list. I came into it loving Freya, Shakti and Fire in the Head. "Pagan Girl" I had heard wonderful things about (I understand why: a GREAT song).

Penny in the Well and Merry May Folk are just awesome songs. This is my CD of choice when I drive, now.

All in all, I am able to listen to this CD almost non-stop, skipping only 2 songs that I don't particularly like.

I HIGHLY recommend this CD as one of the greatest musical compilations that I own.

Oh brother, art thou Witches or Pagans?.......2004-07-29

Several of the tracks presented here are stunning. 'Penny in the Well'...'Freya Shakti'...'Hills of America'...even an understated version of ELP's 'Lucky Man'. All deserve kudos.
The one problem I have with EMERALD ROSE though is their Celtic Warrior/Pagan/Wiccan/Folk schtick.
Why does it seem to me that the Wiccan belief has co-opted all things Pagan? If ER is more than Wiccan (ie goddess worship), then they should explore more of the Pagan world outside of the feminine principle. I mean they use the imagery of celtic-pagan-warrior enough, but there is more to the mythos than just the lighthearted pagan as posey+ ring-around-the-maypole imagery.
I feel EMERALD ROSE is on the verge of something important. It is imperative that they define themselves more specifically, musically. Go outside the SAFE zone, challenge their fanbase, add more diverse instruments (i mean the pennywhistle featured alot is VERY good,but) perhaps even add another member to tne band.
I just wish the music was grittier, more pagan,less Wiccan. I don't want them to slip into complacency. Sorry ER if I sound like I'm being disrespectful, after all, I'm the thorn in your foot, the worm in the wood. your friendly PICT, for now.

Hard to keep.......2004-05-17

Here is a hint. DO NOT LOAN THIS CD TO ANYONE. Even your trusted friends will turn on you and growl viciously if you suggest it is time for the CD to come back to you. Happened to me just last night. So off I went to the band's website to buy another copy. Dang it. But I did buy the full set of all four.

I've had the sheer pleasure of hearing this group perform in public. It was my first time to hear the "Shakti" piece. Everyone in the auditorium was on their feet dancing. It is a chant to overcome the dirge-like chants so many of us know.

Their traditional pieces are incredibly well done. The penny whistle rivals the best work I've ever heard.

And the original songs such as "Pagan Girl" will bring a smile to your face or a tear to your eye.

These guys are true bards in the oldest sense of the word. Don't let this CD escape your notice. Truly some of the best new music I've heard in a long while.

Decisions, decisions..........2003-06-17

How do you tell a soon-to-be Emerald Rose fan which CD to buy first? It is a tough decision, but this CD is often the first choice.
This CD contains some of their best ballads, and is a good sampler of their more traditional songs plus their Pagan songs. It does NOT contain any of their purely humorous songs, or their downright *odd* songs, but that does give this album a continuity of feel that some of the others lack.

It is NOT all ballads, and does contain some of their more justly famous "get up and dance" tunes, but the ballads are the stand out stars of this album in my opinion. "Penny in the Well" (track one), a postively stellar cover of "Lucky Man" (track three, "Castle of Arianrhod" (track 10) and "Hills of America" (track 13) showcase their slower ballad work amazingly. In fact i have been stunned to find i prefer Emerald Rose's version of "Lucky Man" to the origional by Emerson Lake and Palmer!

Still, no album of theirs would be complete without some of the spectacular drumming, wonderful pennywhistle, and magnificent energy of such songs as the traditionally based "Fire in the Head" (track 2),and "The Gallagher Lass" (part of track 4). I dare you to listen to their jigs and not get up and dance! (warning: this is real excersize, and you *will* feel it later)

This CD has a few of their more famous pagan songs, like "Freya Shakti" (track 11), "Merry May Folk" (track 8), and "Pagan Girl" (track 6) that are practically required listening for any of the Pagan community. "Freya Shakti", especially, is destined to be one of those songs that will be sung and enjoyed at festivals by people who may never even know who wrote it!
Pity, that. I guess we will just have to tell them so they can enjoy the rest of the Emerald Rose play list!

If you are looking for a CD that is NOT obviously Pagan, but is still good solid Emerald Rose, i suggest "Celtic Crescent" which contains no overtly Pagan songs.

Average customer rating:

Good, grows on you.

Emerald Vulture
Sourvein
Manufacturer: This Dark Reign
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000AC7P8I
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Tracks:

Blessed
Emerald Vulture
Witch Rides out...
Heart of Ebon

Customer Reviews:

Good, grows on you........2006-10-02

At first I thought the album was alright. Good, but nothing great. I took a few more listens and it's really grown on me. Really good sound quality really brings the heaviness home. The riffs are definitly fatter, or at least more fatter than previous. No one particular track really stands out over the other, they are pretty much all good.

A fantastic evolution of Sourvein's style. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Music for the mature listener.
Quite a talent

Ganado Red
Jay Hirsh
Manufacturer: Mighty Emerald
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00018J7HS
Release Date: 2004-02-01

Tracks:

Watermelon Skies
Heaven in the Wind
Daddy is the Engineer
Ganado Red
Slow Train to New Mexico
Don't Know Who You Are
Turn of the Century
Walk All Over the Sky
Bluebird
All that I Can Say
Love Lies Watching

Customer Reviews:

Music for the mature listener........2006-02-25

I bought Ganado Red without listening to any of the tracks available at Jay Hirsh's site. It was well worth the investment and I have enjoyed listening to it many times. In a class all of its own you can hear a folk-jazz influence. Of course there are times when I hear portions of the great sounds Jay wrote when he was with Mr Flood's Party that recorded a first rate rock album in 1969. This collection of songs demonstrates the maturity that Jay Hirsh has developed over the years. It makes for a pleasurable listen. All the instruments are played by Jay except for some guest guitar work. Let's hope there is more to come !

Quite a talent.......2005-12-10

This is a fine effort frmo Hirsh, who is a terrific singer and songwriter. His earlier efforts (Mr. Flood's Party and Mike Corbett and J. Hirsh with Hugh McCracken) are also quite unique a worth checking out.
This album is filled with lush songs, sofistication and great lyrics.

Emerald Aether: Shape Shifting/Reconstructions Of Irish Music

Average customer rating:

Zornithologist
Refreshing for Laswell listeners, and...
Hare in the CD, and certainly no
Pretty good... (3.5 stars)

Emerald Aether: Shape Shifting/Reconstructions Of Irish Music
Bill Laswell
Manufacturer: Shanachie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004NH93
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

The Wayfaring Stranger
The Stride Set (Reels)
The Labouring Man's Daughter
We Dreamed Our Dreams
Wendel's Wedding
The Gray Selchie
Dark Green
Wind Chimes And Nursery Rhymes
One, I Love
La Bruxa
The Hare In The Heather
Coaineadh Na Dtri Muire (Lament Of The Three Marys)
Slieve Russell, Jimmy Wards J.G.
The Beauty Spot (Reels)

Amazon.com

Bill Laswell has made something of a career by wedding traditional song forms to high-tech, glossy production. On Emerald Aether, Laswell aims his sights on Irish music. With tracks by Solas, Matt Malloy, Jerry O'Sullivan, and others as source material, Laswell has laid a sturdy foundation. When his experiments work, the effects can be intoxicating. Laswell adds a propulsive beat box to a galloping reel by Solas and the track bristles with energy. On Jerry O'Sullivan's "Wind Chimes and Nursery Rhymes," Laswell adds only the slightest electronic gauze, making the tune sound all the more delicate. Some of the material, however, simply doesn't work. Karan Casey's gossamer rendition of "The Laboring Man's Daughter" is destroyed by clumsy beat boxes and DJ scratching, which make the song sound more like a collision than a construction. Regardless of the misses, Laswell's sonic explorations never fail to place the source material in a new (and often challenging) context. --S. Duda

Customer Reviews:

Zornithologist.......2003-08-12

I like a lot of the Laswell library but certainly not everything. As an Irishman I've got to say that Bill has hit the nail on the head here. This is a stunning work but be prepared for something "more" than your standard Irish ditties performed by an Irish ensemble. This is Irish music thrown head-over-heals into the 21st Century. Scary.....but worthy. An essential CD for anyone who wishes to explore the melding of Irish and Dub.

Refreshing for Laswell listeners, and..........2002-07-22

... excellent for the Laswell-noobs as well.

There were years during which I was picking up Laswell's many discs of ambient/world fusion, and especially at first, there were some releases which were breaking ground and getting a lot of play on my stereo. But over time, it began to seem as if Laswell was re-hashing much of the same territory in his spate of releases... it seemed like there was a new one every other month!

Recently however, I dove back into his recent attempts, and this was one of the ones I liked most. It's Laswell doing some of his finest balance-work between traditional and electronic music; you can find Laswell albums in which the traditional/world music being appropriated is lost in an ambient mix; and you can find Laswell albums that are barely electronic at all (and actually, though I'm a huge elecronic fan, I think that these albums are usually a safer bet).

But here on Emerald Aether - for the most part, it seems like Laswell is walking with confidence on a musical tightrope. The traditional Irish music leads often, and becomes a flavor for the electronic music (not all of which is ambient - some tracks can easily find a home in a hip-hop set) when it doesn't. And with an exception or two (as the two other reviewers here have mentioned, actually), the electronic music doesn't overwhelm what are some excellent performances by the Irish artists named in the track listing.

A note on the first Karen Casey song (track 3) - I first listened to it on headphones, and felt that the beats were simply going against the grain of the melody and mood of Casey's singing. But when I heard it again on my stereo, it sounded a bit more in synch... I'm not sure what to make of that, I'll just need to listen to it some more.

Amazon has a snippet from the 2nd track up there... definitely give it a listen. When that track hit me for the first time (and it hit me alright... like a big green train, that turns out to be made of leaves (uhm, yeah, it's time for bed for me)), on my headphones, I was amazed. And as I said, refreshed. I've generally had some trepidation about Laswell's many many releases, and this one (and Hashisheen, actually) have completely restored my faith in the man. I figured this album would be a 4 or 4.5 star release (to get nitpicky on it all), but I guess because of its impact on me, and for its sheer accessability for any listener, I'll crank it up to 11 (er, 5).

Furthermore, if you've heard little or no Laswell, this is a pretty safe place to begin. As I said, I think it's a very accessable album, regardless of your usual interests, and it doesn't fall prey to the appropriation of a certain style of music as simple gimmickry. People who chanced on this page looking for traditional Irish music might well want to give this a try.

Hare in the CD, and certainly no.......2000-06-13

After famously reconstructing Davis and Marley, Laswell turns his attention towards more traditional music with a host of well qualified musicians at his side.

Karan Casey proves herself to be a very talented singer, although Laswell may have drowned her tones under heavy beats during track 3, she returns with the outstanding track 9 (One, I Love).

Track 5, (Wendel's Wedding) is beautiful. Not overly produced or remixed, simple yet effective. Hearing a musician breathe on a trance recording is a rare treat, and Laswell doesn't intefere with the simple yet enchanting melody that flows like the Corrib River through so many different turns, and even manages to finally arrive at a soundscape similar to my memory of Galway Bay.

Solas put in an astonishing performance for track 10 (La Bruxa) which Laswell then joins with brilliance to track 10 (The Hare in the Heather), another track where his mastery of the studio is demonstrated, as is Cathie Ryan on track 12 (Coaineadh Na Dtri Muire).

The rhythms Laswell composes around the music may be intrusive to some, but I feel he's really trying to marry the contemporary with traditional, not an easy task and one which could be quite badly done. His talent prevents him from doing a very poor job, and although some may disagree with a thumping bass in parts, it all works very well. Sleeve notes by William Murphy also make for very interesting thoughts about western music in general.

I mainly purchased this album because I had moved to Ireland for work, and I was eager to see whether Laswell had been enchanted by the charm of the place, as it is so easy to do. Obviously, this man's deep musical understanding has allowed him to appreciate Irish-Celtic music for what it is, and in the process shows him to be one of the true musical geniuses of our time.

Of course, you cannot talk of Irish music without thinking of dancing, spontenaity and Guinness. This has it all - apart from the black nectar, so I'm taking one star from the rating.

Pretty good... (3.5 stars).......2000-06-10

I'm a Laswell freak, he occupies most of the right side of my CD rack.

This disc is pretty good. There's some trancendental moments indeed. I admit I'm not really an Irish music fan to start... but I definitely appreciate this disc.

One thing though Bill, the two Karan Casey tracks.. I'm sorry, but I didn't dig em. Like the reviewer up top said, it sounds more like a collision than a collusion. I still love you though!

Music:

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